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| Title: | Jesus and Your Storm: Dealing with our Fears |
| Reference: | Luke 8 |
| Notes: | Luke 8: 22-25: Jesus Calms the Storm and our Fears ebc 2 09
Twice email this week: Notification: Due to recent budget cuts, plus the rising cost of electricity and natural gas, health care expenses, as well as current market conditions,
The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off indefinitely. We apologize for any inconvenience. Our Light is Jesus: All of us experience fear at times in our lives: A few years ago the Gallup organization asked Americans what they were most afraid of. Number one on the list was snakes (51% of Americans). The second on the list was public speaking (40% of Americans). In fact, a lot of people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of dying. Other statistics: 37 % reported a fear of heights, 34 % fear being closed in small spaces, 27 % fear spiders and insects, 21 % afraid of needles and getting shots 20 % afraid of mice/rats, 18 % afraid of flying on airplanes. I’m sure you could fill in a few fears here:
Fears vary: some fears are intense and overwhelming; others simmer inside us for long periods of time.
Some fears are rational, some irrational. But the truth is that fears can preoccupy & shut down our lives.
My fears: prison, flying, failure, serious health problem, finances-children, job transition…as a child: the high dive at the community pool.
* What life storms are you facing today? hurting marriage, a child who is struggling to find their way, a financial crisis,
a long illness or condition that limits your life, a feeling of distance in your spiritual life, uncertain future, unemployment, retirement. Fear is the enemy of the spiritual life. It can shut us down. “What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Is a revealing question that brings to light the fear that grips us and immobilizes us. Fear is a powerful force: fear of rejection, failure, the unknown, being honest, sharing our feelings/ heart, change, making decisions, being different, becoming involved. We fear for our children, our families, our communities, our school, our careers. We fear the economy, our investments, for our country. We fear sharing our faith, afraid we might be mocked or ridiculed or misunderstood. We fear living. We fear dying. Fear is brutal. We fear darkness. It was in the darkness of night that Nicodemis came to see Jesus. He came in the darkness of fear to see the Light of the world. Jesus calls Nicodemis to let go, let the wind of the Spirit take him, to embrace the adventure of faith, to move from being an admirer to a true follower. Story of the man who fell off the cliff, clinging to a vine: Anybody up there? Yes. What should I do? Let go. Anybody else? Fear holds on. Faith lets go. Faith believes. Some storm lessons: * STORMS CAUSE FEAR:
The Movie: The Perfect Storm 8: 22-24: “One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let's go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep.
A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went & woke him, saying, ‘Master, we're going to drown!’” Mark: furious storm/ Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? Matthew: “Lord, save us, we’re going to drown!” Storm came out of nowhere- common for Sea of G due 700 feet below sea level w mtns cool air/ caught fisherman off guard. Feared for their lives. This was their daily world. Jesus slept. When storms hit our first emotion is fear. Living in Springfield, MO we often had tornados. Every summer I remember having to go into basement while the winds rattled the windows.
Remember fear and amazement at the power of nature. When we face a lifestorm, we feel the same fear in the depth of our souls. Storms change our routines and affect our lives. Storms remind us how fragile, frail and finite we are. Storms remind us how short and unpredictable life can be and limited we are in controlling our world. Been reading the book of Job. When times are good, we begin to live under the illusion that everything is fine, no problems, THEN the phone rings: come to the police station, you’re child is here or come to the hospital, there’s been an accident or Dr: test results are in, hey mom/ dad, I’m moving back home… okay… Or “When I saw the 2 for 1 tatoo sale, I just couldn’t pass it by, you’ll like them.” Storms cause us to take our eyes off God and focus on the size and scope of the problem that is immediately before us. Notice how quick the disciples forget Jesus’ power as they watched the storm. Whenever we take our eyes off God, we feel fear and begin to sink. When Jesus was walking on the water and the disciples were in a boat and Peter said, “Lord, let me walk to you.” Peter began to walk on water to Jesus. Mt. 14:30, “But when he saw the wind and waves, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’”
* Fear happens when we focus on the wind and waves instead of our God, who has promised to be with us, to protect us, to hold us close, keep us safe. * There are three basic storm responses: freeze, frenzy, faith… Another: fright, fight or flight.
Jonah gets a call from God, he goes the other way. Gets on a ship. Sky looks stormy Jonah goes to sleep below deck. A raging storm hits. Sailors bail frantically while Jonah sleeps. Finally find Jonah and ask him to do something because they’re going to do. Pray to your God. Jonah comes clean/ gets thrown in.
Some people freeze. The storm catches them off guard, paralyzed, unsure, frozen. That’s me?/ Jonah:
Others respond with a frenzy of activity: thinking they can work their way out of the storm like the sailors who tried to row Jonah to show before the storm overwhelmed them, threw Jonah overboard.
Running w Katy, attacked by two dogs, kept running, kept nipping, starting kicking, hand motion/ heart
I do both: sometimes I freeze/ get down/ pity party; sometimes: work harder trying to gain control.
But I think the goal in the midst of lifestorms is not to freeze or frenzied activity but confident faith.
I think of Abraham who left his country, his family, his community/ home town and sets out to a new land. Responding to God’s call in our lives, we leave behind our past, the familiar, the comfortable, the known. We go with God into the unknown where the promise of God’s blessing waits for us. Abraham let go… Fear is for the birds… well which bird are you?
Ostrich who buries his head in the sand at any sign of danger. Instead of facing his fears, he hides.
Chicken Little- got hit by acorn, thought the sky was falling so ran around like a chicken w head cut off.
Eagle- who sees the situation and then flies above the situation to gain a view from above-like God/ Is. 43
* 365 times Bible says,“Be not afraid or Fear not.” Every day, God’s message is go forth in faith-Ps 23
Greg Levoy: “Jesus promised those would follow him only three things: they would be absurdly happy, entirely fearless, and always in trouble.”
That’s right. There’s joy & passion & problems. If you’re in a lifestorm right now that is causing you fear remember that storms bring us to the edge and force us to face some tough issues about ourselves, life, God.
Our faith is tried and tested- good. * STORMS TEST FAITH: (picture of tornado over a white house)
8: 24: “Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples.”
Mark 4: Jesus- “Quiet/ Peace! Be still! Then the winds died down and it was completely calm. Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Ken Gire, “Jesus awakes to a dozen pair of faithless eyes, bloodshot with terror. He turns his piercing gaze toward the storm.
He gets up and speaks to the wind first and then to the waves, almost as if speaking to unruly children, playing too loudly in the house. Quiet! Be still! Immediately the rough-housing stops. Without so much as a word or a whine or a whimper in reply. The sail falls limp. The boat steadies. The storm is over. But with the storm calmed and the danger gone, why are the disciples still afraid? Why? Because within their minds they find themselves facing a more terrifying storm… a storm crisis of faith: Who is this man that even the winds obey? Have you really asked this question in your own life? Who is this man? Is God real or is all faith fake?
The disciples were forced to face the reality of Jesus’ life/ power and the weakness of their own faith.
The d. had seen Jesus cast out demons, give strength to useless arms/ legs, sight to the blind and people raised from the dead.
They had seen Jesus’ power/ the storm forced them to face the question: Who is he? Jesus: How can you see my power and still have no faith? It’s possible to be close to Jesus all our lives & never really believe his power to change lives, calm storms. So close that we miss the real thing? Charles Spurgeon: “Those who navigate little streams and shallow cheeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but those who ‘do business in great waters,’ these see God’s wonders in the deep. Among the huge Atlantic waves of grief, poverty, temptation and criticism, we learn the power of our great God because we feel the littleness of man.” As we face the waves of problems, we see God. Sir Frances Drake:
Storms always reveal the true nature/ depth of our faith. Storms always bring us to a point of decision: will we believe that God is good when we experience the death of a loved one or some senseless tragedy? Storms cause some people give up on God and move on: Storms cause some to get lost in fear, doubt, depression and despair. But storms can also lead to renewed faith and greater devotion.
Job believed in God despite all the tragedies, the crisis, the pain he experienced.
The disciples didn’t expect a storm to hit. Storms often hit without warning. The winds blow hard and the rains fall heavy.
I remember during on difficult time in my life as I stood by a lake during a thunderstorm, the thought came to me: “You can’t stop or control the winds that blow through your life but you can hold the hand of the One who said, “Peace, be still.” Serenity Prayer is great: In the midst of any storm: focus on the cross. God’s love for you has been revealed and settled there.
* STORMS DEVELOP FAITHFULNESS/ CHARACTER:
James 1: 2, “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” Perseverance to maturity- complete, lacking nothing.
Storms are often God’s way of leading us back to dependence upon him. Think of the Prodigal Son.
Scott Peck: “It is in this whole process of meeting and solving problems that life has meaning… it is only because of problems that we grow mentally and spiritually.
It is for this reason that wise people learn not to dread but actually to welcome problems and actually to welcome the pain of problems.” Old Ben Franklin has said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.” “If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.” Storms develop character b/c storms force reflection, re-assessment and re-direction…force us to think. How many agree with me that the worst storms in your life taught you the most important life lessons?
Half M: running at 8 mile mark, tired, when I saw a man w Is. 40 on his shirt- “Thy who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.” Thanks! Reflected on it. Started flying, running, then walking. Been running through the winter, I’m up to a 6 miles as my basic run. This used to be my upper limit/ 10K. *What keeps me going thro the race is this image:
the moment when I cross the finish line & see Jesus. * When fearful, remember: patience is a virtue. Sometimes it’s best to hold off or stay put…take a breath
Old story of the farmer whose donkey fell into a well. Tried to pull him out, then decided he was old and he would just bury him and be done with him. He invited neighbors to help,
all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone’s amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well, trotted off! Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step. That’s the key to perseverance. Like James 1: When Jesus walked on the water, the disciples in the boat were terrified but he said to them, “Take courage. It’s me.” I’m here: you’re not alone in the storm.
* The good news is that Jesus is able to say to any storm we face: "Peace, Be Still!" Can you picture Jesus, in the midst of your lifestorm right now, looking at you and saying these words? Close your eyes and picture this, hear it. Year ago when we lived in C and Kurt was a toddler (smaller than me), we were at a Park listen to the WV Symphony and waiting for the fireworks display. During the concert,
Kurt was playing, jumping, dancing, singing, completely carefree and happy. Then the lights on the ball field when out and the first fireworks went off with a loud boom and bright burst of light. Kurt stopped dancing and immediately ran into my arms, buried his head in my chest and held on tight as the firework exploded all around. When he finally looked up, I asked him, “What is it, Kurt?” He responded with the sincerity only a three year old boy can muster, “It’s a storm, daddy, it’s a storm.” The storms that blow in and out of our lives are a lot like fireworks. We’re going along, life is good, carefree, we’re dancing & singing while we listen to the music,
when suddenly the lights go out and our lives are overwhelmed with explosions, strange lights and loud noises. Some of the storms we encounter are as brief as fireworks. Some last for years but when you’re in the middle of a lifestorm, you wonder if you’ll survive, if you hang on for even one more day. Cry out in pain & anger. The best response when the lights go out and the storm hits is to do what Kurt did: run to your Father’s arms, hold on tight, and bury your head in his heart of love and compassion.
Our God can kill any storm that threatens to destroy us. Isaiah:“Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind has stayed on Thee. David says in Ps. 138: 3, “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.”
Footprints is a powerful story but raises the question, “Why were trying thro life alone?”
God uses people to help bring peace and hope to people drowning in a life storm.
Sam Bolian: Lessons We Learn in Life: “Give me strength to cope with this situation”
The question remains for each one of us to answer: "Who is this Man that even the winds and waves obey?"
Have you done business with God? Considered his offer of love through the cross? Great song: “Because He Lives”, I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know, who holds the future and life is worth the living, just because He lives.
Growing up sayings: “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Hmmm. Okay, make today count. Then I remember: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Hmmm. Okay, don’t wait to deal with God, do it now. “The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step.” Today, you can move closer to Jesus. Today you can decide to follow him, to get baptized, to get involved in ministry. Are you willing to step out: “This one thing I do, forgetting what is behind me, I press forward by faith.”
1 John 4:8 reminds us that “perfect love casts out all fear.” Fearful? Fall more in love with God.
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