Celebrate God's Word - Act on It!
Introduction
For the last two weeks I’ve been drawing our attention to the importance of God’s Word in our lives and in the life of our church. I’ve presented to you that we are to “Celebrate God’s Word by Reading It!” Then I proposed that we are to “Celebrate God’s Word by Believing It!” Today I want us to “Celebrate God’s Word by Acting on It!”
If you have ten Blackbirds perched on a long limb and two decide to fly away, how many do you have left? Before you start calculating math in you head, I would suggest that you consider human nature first. Just because “some bird” decides to do something doesn’t mean it will be done. We could just as well have ten birds, or uncommitted Christians, “remaining on the limb” as we could eight because two only “decided” to fly away.
Read Mark 4:1-2; 4:33-5:1
Those who have experienced life into the later years and other observers, who have equally examined our earthly lives, have both drawn the same conclusions when examining the storms of life. They have observed that you and I are either:
1) In the midst of a storm presently,
2) Just coming out of a storm lately, or
3) About to find ourselves entering into a storm prospectively.
Storms are a part of our lives. They can come in different varieties. Like the natural storms of wind, hail, snow, and even fire, we are subject to the many storms of financial calamities, physical hurts, emotional distresses, and spiritual battles. You live long enough and you will find yourself, as the Disciples did, in the midst of a storm.
Our focus for this sermon is “What to Do in the Midst of the Storm.” I want to suggest to you that we make a “follow up decision” to “Act Upon God’s Word.” How do we “Celebrate God’s Word by Acting Upon It?” First, we act upon God’s Word by...
I. REMEMBERING THE UNFAILING PROMISES OF JESUS (Mark 4:35 and 5:1)
A. What Did Jesus Say?
What did Jesus say to His disciples in 4:35? He said, “Let us pass over unto the other side.”
B. What Happened?
What did He and the Disciples end up doing in 5:1? “And they came over unto the other side of the sea... ”
C. What Can You Depend On?
What Jesus said they would do, they did. John 17:17 declares, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is Truth.” In other words, Jesus separates us and deals with us by His Truth — His Word. We can always depend upon Him and what He says. For whatever He says will happen, will happen! God’s Word can be trusted; It can be tested and found true; and It can be taken into one’s life where one can “act upon it” with full confidence.
As David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, pens the Twenty-third Psalm, he reminds us in verse 4 that we will “walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” It is not a “boxed in canyon” but a valley, and we’re going through it. And Jesus promises us as He did the Disciples that we are going to go through the storm to the other side. The promises of Jesus are “True and Amen!” So don’t you forget what God has promised you when in the midst of your storm.
Secondly, when in the midst of the storm, act upon God’s Word by...
II. LOOKING FOR THE UNIVERSAL PRESENCE OF JESUS (4:36 and 38)
A. Where is Jesus?
The Disciples were in the midst of the boat, the boat was in the midst of the howling winds and overflowing billows of waves, and all were in the midst of the sea, but where was Jesus? Have you ever wondered where God is in the midst of your storm? Well, just like with His Disciples, Jesus is right there with you!
1. Jesus was with His disciples in the boat.
He was “with them” is the heart assurance and soul truth of the Christmas Incarnation. Never forget that “God in the flesh” is also the presence of God in your circumstances and storms, whatever they may be.
2. Jesus was asleep in the boat!
What a contrast to the anxious wringing of the Disciples’ hands as they exclaimed in disbelief, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?!”
B. No Panic in Heaven.
Many might conclude with the Disciples’ questioning of Jesus that Jesus really didn’t care for their well-being. The least He could have done was “wake up.” But long ago I learned a truth from one of my favorite preachers. It is one that is so simple in definition but has so impacted my life when applied—or acted upon. The truth is this: “There is no panic in Heaven.” You’ll never find God wringing His hands, or confiding, “Oops! I didn’t see that coming.”
C. No Storm Big Enough.
Just as Jesus was available in presence as well as power to His Disciples, He is available to you no matter where the storm is, or when it occurs, or even how big it may be. For there is no storm intense enough to distract when a Christian decides to follow through on both remembering the promises, and looking for the presence, of Jesus.
Thirdly, when in the midst of a storm, act upon God’s Word by...
III. DEPENDING ON THE UNLIMITED POWER OF JESUS (4:39)
“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 (4:39).”
A. Jesus is The Almighty.
God’s Word constantly demonstrates through teaching and witness that Jesus is Almighty.
“I and the Father are One (John 10:30).”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3).”
“All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth (Matthew 28:18).”
“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for Me (Jeremiah 32:27).
B. Jesus is The All-Deliverer!
Jesus wasn’t asleep in the boat because He was unaware of the storm, nor because He was unconcerned for His Disciples, but because He was resting in His Father’s Care and was unmoved by any threat of nature or man. He was actually demonstrating the attitude that we need to acquire in the storms of life. Brother James, you may ask, “Isn’t that being impractical?” It may be “unreasonable,” but it definitely is not unfaithful!
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect [faithful] toward Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the Elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear (Hebrews 11:1-3)
“For the LORD thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that He see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee (Deuteronomy 23:14).
Lastly, when in the midst of the storm, we need to act upon God’s Word by...
IV. UNDERSTANDING THE UNFOLDING PURPOSE OF JESUS (4:40 and 41)
A. Two Questions.
Jesus asked first, “Why are you so afraid?” Then He asked, “How is it that ye have no faith?”
B. Fear and Faith.
Don’t miss the “relationship” of fear and faith! The weightier presence of one overcomes the other! When we give in to fear it displaces faith. But when we act upon our faith it overcomes our fear.
C. The Development of Our Faith.
We must understand that the storm was Jesus’ opportunity to develop in His Disciples their faith in Him. The storms that we find ourselves in will do the same for us. For the Disciples this began to unfold, or develop, when Jesus first...
i) Expressed His Truths by Parables (4:2, 33)
“And He taught them many things by parables... (4:2).”
“And with many such parables spake He the word unto them... (4:33).”
A parable is an “Earthly story with a Heavenly meaning.”
ii) Explained His Truths in Private (4:34)
“...and when they were alone, He expounded [explained] all things to His Disciples (4:34).”
iii) Allowed His Disciples to Experience His Truth through Provings [Testing] (4:37; 40)
“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat the ship so that it was full (4:37).”
“And He said unto them, ‘Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith? (4:40).”
Christians must learn to “live by faith” ... and “die by faith,” as the case well might be. But “Biblical Faith” is not faith until “proved” or “tested.”
When trouble comes into our lives, our FAITH IN GOD’S WORD is usually the first area that Satan attacks. It was true for:
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden;
Abraham and Isaac on Mount Moriah;
Joseph in Pharaoh’s prison;
Moses in the Wilderness
The Three Hebrew Children in the Fiery Furnace;
Daniel in the Lions Den;
Jeremiah in the Pit;
John the Baptist in the Throws of Doubt;
Paul and Silas in the Philippian Jail;
Jesus in the Wilderness Temptations, and now
The Disciples in the Midst of the Storm.
God had put them all in these situations, just as Jesus had told His Disciples to get into the boat and let us pass over to the other side. Jesus was taking them on a trip that was more than just moving them from point A, to point B, geographically. He was putting them into a situation that would stretch their “Earthbound Faith” to reach new “Heavenly Heights” if they would “just get into the boat with Him.” Jesus, as Omniscient God, knew they were going into a storm, but He also knew they would go through the storm and over to the other side.
Therefore, most importantly, the final Unfolding Purpose of Jesus was to...
iv) Expose His Truth Personally (4:41)
The Disciples asked, “What manner of man is this?” I’ll answer that question for you if you don’t know. This man is JESUS!
Jesus was so human that He slept. So Divine that He stilled the storm. He is the God-Man, our High Priest, able to identify with the feeling of our infirmities, yet without sin... (Hebrews 4:15).
Who is JESUS? --Gregory of Nazianzus, A.D. 381
“He began His ministry by being hungry, yet He is the Bread of Life.
Jesus ended His earthly ministry by being thirsty, yet He is the Living Water.
Jesus was weary, yet He is our rest.
Jesus paid tribute, yet He is the King.
Jesus was accused of having a demon, yet He cast demons out.
Jesus wept, yet He wipes away our tears.
Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet He redeemed the world.
Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepherd.
Jesus died, yet by His death He destroyed the power of death.”
IMPORTANT! The Disciples not only needed to hear the truths of Jesus via parable and private explanation, they needed to see and experience JESUS as Truth, Power and Authority Incarnate—and so do we.
Jesus not only demonstrates authority over diseases and demons, but He created and controls nature in and beyond all its elegance and fury. And for His Dear Children His authority transcends all of the experiences of our lives, including the good and the bad.
TO KNOW [intimately] THE LIVING WORD, IS TO ACT UPON HIS PROMISES, POWER, PURPOSE, AND PRESENCE!
“Thou art the Lord Who slept upon the pillow,
Thou art the Lord who soothed the furious sea,
What matter beating wind and tossing billow,
If only we are in the boat with Thee?” –Amy Carmichael
Today and everyday from now, “Celebrate God’s Word”--Read It! Believe It! And Act on It!