No Fear, Just Faith

Introduction

Several years ago, a publication called USA Weekend ran a story entitled “Fear: What Americans are Afraid of Today.” A poll was conducted, and people were asked to name the things they feared the most. 54% of those surveyed said that they were afraid of being in a car crash. 53% said they were afraid of having cancer. Among other fears listed in the survey were AIDS, Alzheimer’s, inadequate Social Security, and natural disasters.i

Fear is a subject with which most of us are familiar. Dean Martin once said, “Show me a man who doesn’t know the meaning of fear and I’ll show you a dummy who gets beat up a lot.”

There is a sense in which fear can be beneficial to us. Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…” It is wise to fear the Lord.

While we should revere and fear the Lord, apart from Him, the Word of God calls upon us to live fearlessly in this world. The phrase “fear not” appears some sixteen times in the New Testament alone.

As children of God, are lives are to be lived in faith, not fear. We are to trust the Lord with our lives, in spite of the daunting challenges, dark trials, and desperate battles we all have to face.

In Mark chapter four, we find the disciples panic-stricken and fear-fettered during a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee.

After Jesus stopped the storm, He asks them a pair of good questions. In verse 40, He asked them, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

That night, as the boat began the fill with water, and the disciples envisioned their own burial at sea, they had no faith, just fear.

As we examine this story, however, we learn that they had every reason, even in the middle of that storm, to be completely opposite of what they were. They could have had no fear, just faith.

There are three wonderful truths that we draw from this story that enable us to face the storms of life with no fear, just faith. Notice first of all, that even in the storm:

I. The Promise Of Jesus Secures Us

In verse 35, before the disciples began their journey out on to the Sea of Galilee, the Lord Jesus said something to them that at the time seemed insignificant, though it could have helped them had they remembered it in the storm.

Verse 35 says, “…he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.” It was the Lord’s plan to go from one side of the lake to the other. Because the Lord planned to reach the other side, His plan was as good as a promise. Though the disciples thought they were going to die that night in the storm, had they recalled what Jesus had said, they would have known that for them to die in the storm would be for the Lord Jesus to break His word.

Likewise, though the storms of life may rage, we have a word from God regarding our trip through life. Philippians 1:6 says, “…he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

We got in the boat with Christ the day we were saved. Though at times the wind blows hard, and the storm rages around us, God has told us where we are going.

Notice a couple of things about the promise that secures us. Notice first of all that this promise is:

A. A Promise For Our Deliverance

There are those who take the presence of a storm in their life as an indication that God has failed them, or that His Word has not come true. However, in our text, Jesus made no assurances for an easy journey. He did not promise His disciples that there would be no storm, or that the sailing would be easy.

Notice again His words in verse 35. He said, “Let us pass over…” That phrase comes from one Greek word that literally means “to go through.”

Nowhere is the Christian given a guarantee of clear skies and calm seas as they journey through life. No, in fact, storms are part of God’s providential plan for the lives of His children.

What is promised for the followers of Christ is that regardless of the storm that blows, we are going through. We may enter the storm, but the assurance for the believer is that at some point we will exit the storm as well.We may get wet at times, but we will not drown. We may get soaked by the storm,  but we will not sink in the sea! We have a promise for our deliverance.

Notice further that the promise that secures is not only a promise for our deliverance, but it is also:

B. A Promise For Our Destination

Notice again in verse 35. Jesus said, “Let us pass over unto the other side…” The destination was the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Though the storm would toss the ship, and turn it from its course, the promise of the Lord Jesus assured the fact that at some point that little ship was going to  reach the other side.

The disciples thought the ship was going to end up at the bottom of the lake. The only destination they saw for themselves was a watery grave. Yet, the Master had clearly stated that they were going to the other side. Their arrival at that destination was certain before the journey even began.

The Word of God tells us that this world is not the final stop on our itinerary. We are pilgrims passing through, in search of another city. Our Savior has promised that we are going to reach the other side some day.

Though the blackness of sky, the billows of the sea, and the blowing of the storm all conspire to make us doubt, are arrival in heaven is guaranteed by the promise of the Lord Jesus.

Last year, for vacation, Angel and I went on a cruise. The original itinerary had us visiting Jamaica and Grand Cayman. However, a hurricane rerouted the entire trip, and we instead stopped in the Bahamas and Cozumel, Mexico. Though we wanted to visit the original locations, we were still in the Caribbean, and a bad day in the Caribbean beats a good day anywhere else, so we didn’t complain too much.

The good news for the believer is that no matter how bad the weather may be in this life, one day, by God’s grace, and in fulfillment of His promise, we are going to reach the shores of Heaven. The itinerary of the believer will never be changed by a storm. We may have to go into the storm, but we are going to make it through, and on to our final destination. We can have no fear, just faith, because the promise of Jesus secures us. Notice also secondly that:

II. The Presence Of Jesus Settles Us

Verse 37 of our text tells us that a great storm arose as the boat made its way across the Sea of Galilee. We are told that the storm became so violent that the waves began to pour into the ship and fill it with water.

Understandably, this alarmed the disciples. In fact, they were so shaken up that when they came to Jesus, they were pretty sure that they were going to die. When they came to Jesus, rather than ringing His hands, He was snoring. Verse 38 says, “And [Jesus] was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.”

The truth is that though things looked bad, the disciples could have been at ease as well. Though  the Savior may have been asleep, He was asleep on the ship with them. His presence alone should have been enough to settle the scared disciples.

Yes, the storms of life may rock our little boats, but we can be settled in the storm knowing that Jesus is with us.

Notice a couple of things about His settling presence. Notice first of all that:

A. His Presence Insured Them

The infamous Titanic, built in 1912, was dubbed by some as “unsinkable”. A deck hand was reported to have said, “God himself could not sink this ship.” Unfortunately, on April 14th, on its maiden voyage, the Titanic ended up at the bottom of the Atlantic.

If there ever has been such a thing as an unsinkable vessel, it was this little boat that carried the Lord and His disciples that night on the Sea of Galilee.

You see; it was foreordained that Jesus should die on the cross; not in a boat. These disciples should have seen the Son of God resting in that storm-tossed boat, and known that they were not going to sink. His presence in their ship was insurance that they were not going down. No vessel that carries Jesus will ever be overcome by the storm, or buried in the sea.

If Jesus Christ lives in your heart, then you too are an unsinkable vessel. You may be tossed by the storm, but you will not be toppled in the storm. Your boat may be full, but you are not going to sink. For you to perish would mean that Christ would perish with you. His life is secure, and therefore so is yours! He is with you, and you are safe in the storm.

Notice not only that His presence insured them, but notice also further that His presence had a settling effect on them because:

B. His Presence Instructed Them

The wind was howling, the thunder was crashing, and the waves were pouring over into the boat. The disciples turned to the Lord, only to find Him sound asleep, resting on a pillow.This was one of  those many moments when the disciples were no doubt astonished by the actions of the Lord Jesus. Yet, as surprising as His sleeping in a moment such as that must have been, in His serenity and calmness there was a great lesson.

Jesus rested, not because He was unaware of the storm; He knew about it before it ever began. He rested because He was unafraid of the storm. His life was in the hands of the Father, and the Father would let nothing happen to Him that was not for His ultimate good.

Beloved, the Lord Jesus goes through the perils of life alongside us, and through every burden and battle, He is unshaken and undaunted. He doesn’t ring His hands, worried about the outcome.

We need to look to Him, and learn from Him. Our journey may not always be calm, but that does not mean that we cannot be. We can rest, even in the raging storm, knowing that Christ is with us, and our Father is in control.

The Native Americans had a unique practice for training their young braves. On the night of a boy’s thirteenth birthday, he would be blindfolded, and carried deep into the woods, and left there for an entire night. Every sound would frighten the young man as he imagined all the dangers around him. As the morning began to break, and the boy could begin to make out the things around him, just a few feet in front of him he would see the figure of a man with a bow and arrow. It was his father that had stood with him through the night.

Trials will come, but we can be settled by the presence of our Lord Jesus. He is there, though we may not always realize it.

There is one more truth we find in this text that enables us to live with no fear, just faith. Notice not only that the promise of Jesus secures us, and the presence of Jesus settles us, but notice also thirdly and finally that:

III. The Power Of Jesus Saves Us

The disciples, no longer worried about Jesus getting his beauty sleep, woke him up and said in verse 38, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” This somewhat ignorant question was answered by the Lord as He stood up and performed a meteorological miracle.

Verse 39 says, “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Like a whipped puppy, the waves laid down at the command of their Creator. This story reminds us that our salvation in and from the storm always comes from the power of the Lord Jesus.

Notice a couple of truths about the Lord’s power. Notice first of all:

A. He Can Stop The Storm

There is another translation of verse 39 that I love. It is from Kenneth Wuest’s translation. It says, “And having awakened, He rebuked the wind and said to sea, Be getting calm; hush up and stay that way.”ii

Mark says in verse 39, that Jesus told the sea to “be still.” The Greek word translated “still” literally means to be muzzled.

With the authority and power that can only belong to God, the Lord Jesus shouted over the storm, and demanded it to settle down and be quiet.

Verse 39 says, “…And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”

The truth is that our Lord has the power to stop a storm just as quickly as it arises. He has the authority to command our problems to be solved and settled immediately.

The disciples could have stood on that ship and shouted at the wind, and barked at the waves until they were hoarse, but it would have made no difference.

Likewise, all our struggling and worrying over our storms is to no avail. They will blow until the Lord says, “Stop!”

Have you turned to Him? The disciples knew that He was the one to look to when threatened by the storm. Have you looked to Him?

Notice not only that He has the power to stop the storm, but notice also further that:

B. He Can Strengthen The Saint

Yes, the Lord Jesus has the power to tame the tempest and stop the storm. Yet, His power does not stop there.

When verse 39 says that “there was a great calm”, I have a feeling that it is not just referring to the water. The Lord’s words to the storm had the same effect upon His disciples.

I have seen times when Christ stops the storm, and I have also seen times when He strengthened the saint in the storm. Both are impressive.

It could be that what you need more than fair weather is a firm heart. Perhaps what Christ wants to do for you is not stop the storm, but rather strengthen your faith. He can do both, or just one. Regardless, we are saved from the storm, not by worrying about it, fretting over its outcome, or trying to fix it ourselves. We are saved by the power of the Lord Jesus. He is the Master of the Sea and the Saints. His word is what calms them both.

Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” For the believer, in every storm tossed journey there is an opportunity to see the power of God displayed in your life.

Next time it is stormy, don’t look at the sea; look at the Savior.

Conclusion

When the winds quit howling, and the swelling sea became a glassy calm, the Lord Jesus turned to those wide-eyed disciples, with their mouth’s agape, and said, “Why were you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”

Those are good questions. They are good questions for us today. In the midst of our circumstances, when we panic, fret, and fear what might be, the Lord must surely wonder why we are so afraid, and why we have no faith.

When you recall that we have the Savior’s promise, the Savior’s presence, and the Savior’s power, no matter how rough the sea gets, we can live with no fear, just faith.

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i Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes, p. 295
ii The New Testament: An Expanded Translation; Wuest, Kenneth, p.89