The Purpose of Life's Storms (Luke 8:22-25)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
3 May 2020
Life has its stormy moments. The disciples literally had such a moment— facing death in a storm.
Jesus sent his disciples into this storm. Hereby learn that being a disciple of Jesus Christ may mean facing severe storms. He himself was sent from heaven into the storms of a fallen world. And did he not send his disciples into the midst of wolves? (Matt.10:16).
Jesus was with his disciples during the storm. He is always with his people. He knows all about our storms. He is with us in every one of them.
The storms of life may be life threatening. The disciples cried out that they were perishing. We also may have life-threatening moments. When life is threatened cry out to the life-giver who is Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
Jesus knew about the storm. The storm was foreordained for the Lord knows everything beforehand.
If God foreknows and foreordains all things why pray? First, we are not fatalistic. We believe in a sovereign God who is in control and directs everything that happens.
Secondly, our prayers are a contributing factor to God's purposes. Whether he answers with a no or a yes our prayers flow with the purposes of God.
Consider that Jesus was foreordained to die. Yet he prayed. His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane were part of God's fulfillment of the preordained death of Jesus.
Consider that Paul was foreordained to suffer for the gospel. Yet he prayed three times that the thorn in his flesh would be removed. The Lord declined Paul’s prayer but Paul's prayer was a contributing factor to God's purposes.
Our prayers are in partnership with God's purposes. They are like a drop of water flowing into the mighty flowing river of God's will. We must pray in the midst of storms. God has given us the privilege of being partners with him in the fulfillment of his preordained purposes. Let us pray. Let us be part of God’s fulfillment of divine purposes.
While the disciples were fighting the storm Jesus was seemingly indifferent to their plight. He was fast asleep. The things that bother us do not bother Jesus. He is the master of every situation.
Jesus rose from sleep. This is resurrection language. In the midst of despair there is hope because Jesus arose. Jesus rose from death. The early church was revived.
Jesus rebukes the wind and waves. There is calm. Rebuke is only for that which is wrong or evil. Thus Jesus rebuked Satan and demons. But why did he rebuke the wind and waves? It was because they were the symptoms of a fallen sinful world. They were the effect of the fall. Jesus rebukes such. In the midst of the present corona virus pandemic do we not have justification to ask Jesus to rebuke this virus?
The elements being calmed Jesus challenges his disciples and asks where is their faith. In crisis, where is your faith?
The whole point of this storm was that the disciples would ultimately ask who is Jesus who by his word calmed the wind and the waves. The issue they faced and the one we all face is who is Jesus?
He is God and man. This is seen clearly in this narrative. Jesus was asleep thereby showing he was truly human. Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves thereby showing he is divine.
This was the issue. Who is Jesus Christ? It is the same issue today— who is Jesus Christ?
The disciples came gradually to a clearer understanding of who Jesus is. They understand progressively. We also come progressively to faith in Christ.
Come to Jesus and cry out to him in your storms. He is here. He hears prayer. He will give you calmness and you will realise you are part of his divine purposes. What a privilege!