Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Welcome to Truth for the Journey with Pastor Jeffrey Campbell, pastor of Clifford Baptist Church in Amherst. This sermon was delivered to the congregation last Sunday and we hope you'll find peace and encouragement in hearing it today.
[00:00:11] Speaker B: Listen to a very familiar story, probably to you and to many who believe. Corrington Boone and her family were arrested during World War II for hiding Jews from the Nazis.
They were sent to the concentration camp where. Where the conditions involved cold and hunger and disease and fear and even death.
One night, Corrie told her sister Betsy that she didn't think that she can endure another minute of what they were going through.
And Betsy reminded Corrie that there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper. Still, the conditions around Corrie didn't stop or they didn't change.
And she suffered even through the midst of what she was going. The only peace that she could find was that peace that God had given her.
Corrie would later write and say, jesus doesn't always remove the storm immediately, but he rides it out with us.
And so today we talk about an unexpected storm.
Maybe the title in your Bible is like mine. Over these four verses, it just simply says the storm stilled.
I'm going to tell you today in English language, there are no adequate words to describe what Jesus actually did here.
Yes, he did stop a storm, but the power involved to do that only can come from God.
And what we see today is sometimes we forget who's in charge of the storms.
We get our eyes off of the Lord and we are left floundering as well.
Maybe you have endured a storm before, whether it's physical or spiritual, and that storm moves on. And sometimes we do forget about the God of the storm as Jesus displays his power and authority over situations. I told you last week, I'll tell you again, and I'll probably tell you again in the future. Luke 8 has become my favorite chapter thus far because what Luke is trying to teach Theophilus, any of those that read this letter is simply this. Jesus has authority over it all because Jesus is God.
For many of us, the storm may seem bigger, stronger than anything that you have been through in your life, but here's what you must leave here today. Knowing God is stronger than your storm.
He's more powerful than your storm, and he has the authority to take it over and to calm it. In his timing in Scripture, God is the only one that is in control of nature.
If you read your Bible, he has control over nature and over the seasons and over the skies and over the storms.
Many would know These scriptures by heart, reading them, learning them, memorizing from Psalm 89. Nine thou rulest the raging of the sea. When the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.
Psalm 107. 29. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Sometimes we too know scripture.
It's embedded, it's rooted in our heart, in our head. And sometimes the storms cause us to forget that God is still in control, despite what we feel, despite what's against us, despite what we are.
And so today, what do we need to know about the unexpected storm?
I'm going to ask you to do something that I do occasionally today. If you're able. I'm going to ask that you stand as we read the entirety of four verses together today.
Luke, chapter eight, starting with verse number 22.
Now, it came to pass on a certain day that he went into a ship with his disciples.
And he said unto them, let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
But as they sailed, he fell asleep.
There came down a storm of wind on the lake. And they were filled with water and were in jeopardy.
And they came to him and awoke him, saying, master, Master, we perish.
Then he rose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased. And there was a calm.
And he said unto them, where is your faith?
And they, being afraid, wondered, saying one to another, what manner of man is this? For he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him.
Lets pray Father. Thank you, thank you Lord, that your spirit meets us in this place as we rightly divide your word today, God. I pray, Lord, that you will meet every believer in the midst where they are.
Whether it is an ordinary day or a stormy day.
God, we recognize you are in control.
And as you are in control, Lord, give us the ability to keep our eyes on you.
Look to you, strengthen our faith. Lord, we pray.
Thank you for what you will teach us in this place.
In Jesus name, Amen.
You may be seated.
Really, there are three things that I hope that you take away from this message today.
Many of you have learned the story. If you hit record, rewind and go all the way back to your Sunday school classes. You have colored the pictures of Jesus on a boat with the disciples in the storm.
I don't know if those coloring books do it justice.
I don't know that my words would do it justice today.
But in four verses we are reminded of storms that come to us very unexpected in life.
And when those storms come, the first thing that you need to remember in the unexpected storm is, is the presence of Jesus. That's point number one today. In an unexpected storm, you need to be aware of the presence of Jesus. As this Bible story opens up, it's just another day in the life of the disciples.
But each day in the disciples life had a purpose.
They were being taught, they were being trained. They were learning from the greatest teacher and preacher to ever walk the soil of the earth. His name was Jesus.
And as they are in on the job training, they are constantly watching and learning about this Jesus. They have laid down their lives and their hobbies and their careers to follow this man and to learn from him.
And in doing so, he's teaching, he is investing in them and showing these disciples who he truly is.
Jesus knows these disciples will be the primary carriers of the truth of the gospel in the days ahead.
And so he is investing every moment of ordinary days into these men who will carry the truth of who Jesus really is.
If I were to Fast forward to 2026, here's what you and I need to know. You and I as Christians, as disciples of Jesus, we are the primary carriers of the truth in today's time. Amen.
You and I are carriers of the truth of the gospel and who Jesus is and what he has done.
Sometimes we look and say, oh, that's the preacher's job. No, no, no, no, no, no.
It's our job.
It's our job to carry the truth of Jesus into this world of who he is and proclaim to the world about Jesus.
Back to the disciples.
They have witnessed miracles. They have learned under his teaching. They are interested in who he is and so are many others. The crowd is growing around Jesus and, and what I want you to see is Jesus never stops teaching.
Even when he gets on a boat and tries to take a boat ride. Guess what? It's a teaching opportunity.
And so with his disciples in boat, verse number 22 tells us that they launch out to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They launch out, they're going out.
And this is a test.
It's not multiple choice. It's not write an essay.
But this trip across the Sea of Galilee is a test for those who will follow Jesus.
Remember, this isn't a charter boat.
This isn't a big speedboat.
The boat isn't big at all. It's just a fisherman's boat. The disciples will use it to cross the sea. They will steer the sails of this boat to get them where they're going. But here is the test. Look at verse number 22.
And he said unto them, let us go over unto the other side of the lake.
That's the test.
As they launch off with the orders that we're going to the other side, Jesus has given direction and instruction and also assurance that we will make it to the other side.
Jesus is with them.
How many of us believe today that Jesus is with us?
We understand that the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our life as believers. And we are carriers of the truth of Jesus.
And so no matter what comes our way, here's what we can rest assure. If you are a believer, Jesus is with you.
And so on this ordinary day, they have Jesus in the boat with them. They launch out to get to the other side of this Sea of Galilee.
They're not the only ones that will undergo a testing of their faith.
You and I, our faith will be tested as well.
If you are sitting here today and your faith has never been tested, I would question your faith, because faith will be tested.
I wrote in my notes that everybody wants smooth sailing.
But nowhere in God's word is a smooth sail promise to any one of us. Once we are believers of Jesus Christ.
In the presence of Jesus, they launch out to get to the other side of the sea.
When your faith is put to the test, the first thing you need to realize is who is with you?
Who's on your side?
Do you have people in your prayer circle?
Do you have people that know that they can lift you in prayer? Absolutely. But the ultimate question is this. Do you know that Jesus is with you? His presence is with you.
And once you grab hold to that fact, you realize this. Jesus is in your boat. And that is vital. On ordinary days or stormy days, Jesus is with you.
Maybe today you're facing uncertainty.
Here's what you need to understand.
Jesus is with you.
Maybe today. That your circumstances are out of your control.
Anybody in that boat.
When the circumstances are out of your control, guess what? They're not out of God's control.
And when obedience to God becomes a moment where our minds are filled with questions, God, is this what you really called me to?
You can rest assured that you're in the middle of God's will.
Because God has not left you forgot you, left you alone. His presence is with you.
All around this room. There are unexpected things that happen in the life of a believer. And here's what we must hold onto. Jesus is with you.
If you are a believer, Jesus is with you. With you.
Look at verse number 23 and 24.
They launch out from the coast and they set sail. And he, speaking about Jesus, fell asleep.
And there came down a storm of wind on the lake. And they were filled with water and were in jeopardy. And they came to him and awoke him saying, master, Master, we perish.
Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water and they ceased and there was a calm.
Point number two that you need to know about unexpected storms and that you need to see today is you need to see the persistence of the storm.
As they launch out across the water.
Jesus falls asleep. I love this. I love that Luke records this.
The God who created everything, the God who's in charge of everything in human form, has very, very. A very, very human side of him.
And the fact that he has been teaching, he has been ministering, he has been healing. And guess what? Jesus was tired.
I think all of us can relate to that, right?
Sometimes even ministry makes you tired.
Can I give you a little advice? Just go get some sleep.
It'd be all right.
Somebody remind me of that, okay?
Down the road. Somebody just tell me. Go get some sleep, Jeffrey.
The Sea of Galilee, the calm waters, the boat, the smooth sailing has rocked the master of the universe to sleep.
Everything is calm.
Everything is okay.
And he can rest because he's told the disciples, we're going to get over there, we're going to make it over there.
The location of the Sea of Galilee. And I'm not going to get too deep here because of the topography. I'm not a meteorologist, okay? I just want to say that before I start speaking, because of the topography of the surrounding mountains and hills around the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Galilee is a funnel, a funnel for storms to come about, you know, when it's cooler up high and warmer down low. And those air, the air mix, storms began to brew.
I told you I wasn't a meteorologist. Okay?
You just go back and read it. You look it up. Trust me, okay?
But when we understand that the conditions on this lake really are not for those that want to take a nap.
If you want to take a nap, go to your bedroom where it's silent, quiet, dark. Go to sleep there.
No. Jesus is in the middle of a place where he knows the unexpected storm could come and he's asleep, that storm comes, the boat begins to rock. The disciples and I love the King James wording here. The disciples are in jeopardy.
Not only is water beginning to take over the boat as the storm comes, but fear is as well. The water and the rain and the winds Begin to rock this boat. And the disciples panic.
If you were there and I were there, we'd probably panic too. So don't look down at them.
But what is Jesus doing?
As we think about the storms that come in our lives, they may surprise us, but they do not surprise God.
What's rocking your boat right now is not a surprise to God.
It has not caught him off guard.
But as you feel the storm begin to rock your boat, somehow those storms happen to strengthen our faith and our dependence on God. But here's a question I have for you today. Have you ever felt like God was asleep during your storm?
Can I ask that in another way?
Have you ever cried out to God, God, I need you now. And you have gotten no response.
You can nod your head.
Have you ever thought that things seem to be getting worse instead of getting better? God, I've prayed. I'm doing the right things. I'm coming to church. I'm trying to follow your will. But God, right now my boat is rocking.
I don't know how much more I can take.
And the persistence of the storm continues to make you feel like your life is in jeopardy.
You may sit here this morning and wonder, does God even care about me?
He has forgotten. He has left me to fight this alone. And the boat is taking on water.
The winds are raging.
And what the disciples have done here in scripture is they've turned their eyes to the storm and to the boat and to themselves and stood up to Jesus.
We can get our eyes on how bad things are, the practical things of life, and get them off the one who is in charge and in control of the storm.
And if we do that, it seems like we're going down. It seems like that we will die.
I can't convey the desperation here that the disciples know that their life is about to end and this storm is going to be the cause of what drowns them and kills them and takes them away.
It's so easy to get fixated on a storm or fixated on problems or issues. And let's take a lesson from Jesus. He can sleep during a storm because he knows that his father is in control.
There's a little lesson here. There's a calm before the storm. And right now what you're seeing there is a calm during the storm.
And the disciples don't have that calm, but Jesus does. What's the difference?
God's in control.
Jesus knows it, but the disciples do not.
In the middle of the storm, the only person that is calm is Jesus.
And that's because he's in control.
Though the storm may persist and our eyes be moved, circumstances have not changed that God the Father is in control. And so don't let the persistence of the storm compromise your faith in God.
I stand here today in year number four being your pastor and I'm saying I'm thankful to God that Jim Saunders didn't accept my resignation because that would have been a cheap way out.
That was the easy way out.
Some of you are ready to write your resignation to God, to simply say this, God, I'm done.
I'm done.
I've prayed and I've trusted and I've tried. And God, I've done everything that you say to do. And God, I'm just done.
And here's what I want to tell you.
Your faith matters. In those moments in the middle of a storm or you want to throw in the towel and you think it's over, the priority of your faith matters. They wake Jesus up in the middle of this storm and literally they feel like they're going to die.
The storm has raged, the fear is growing, death is knocking. Unless Jesus, you do something, it's over for us.
That's their mindset.
And so here's what I want you to see.
The first thing that Jesus does is he wakes up.
Does he criticize the disciples first?
Not yet.
Look at verse 24. Master, master, we perished. And then he arose and rebuked the wind, the raging of the water and they ceased. And there was a calm.
You see, the disciples wanted a smooth sail the entire time and that did not happen.
Part of that testing of their faith was to know that sometimes the storms of life are going to creep in. And here's what the storms of life do. They show who we really are, but they also show who Jesus truly is.
They show us we are in desperate need of Jesus help.
But the storms also show that Jesus is in control.
This rebuking of the storm, Jesus is showing many that now he has control over nature. That has been attributed to God forever and ever and ever before. Jesus now controls the storms.
And as Jesus calms this storm, we see that in the past chapters he has forgiven sin, he has raised the dead, he has healed the sick. And now even now, the storms obey his voice.
I will tell you this, faith desires calmness.
My faith desires calm, calm waters.
But my faith also knows and needs to be tested to make sure that when those rough waters come that God is still in control.
And so today there's a question that's asked here by Jesus and I want to turn that question to you today.
Where is your faith? You see that in verse 25.
The storm raged and Jesus slept.
Maybe it's been during a loss or death or grief, an accident or illness. Fear and anxiety, financial situations, family struggles. Maybe your kids or your spouse or your siblings are either driving you nuts or they won't leave you alone, or they won't talk to you.
They've gone wayward.
Maybe you deal with loneliness and what we need to see here. Sometimes the storms lead us to believe that we won't make it. Here's my question, Clifford. Where is your faith?
The disciples put their faith in their own ability and knowledge. As fishermen, they knew this sea. They knew the boat they could take care of. Getting from point A to point B on a place that they'd known so well. That was easy stuff.
They put their faith in a boat, probably one of these disciples. Boat that they jumped on. Very familiar. They knew that the boat would not let them down.
And when they can't do anything else because their ability can't quiet the storm, their knowledge can't overcome their lack of tackling this storm.
Their boat is getting ready to go under.
What do you do?
You cry out to Jesus.
When you cry out to Jesus, Faith must know that Jesus is in control.
Faith must look to Jesus to take control of the situation.
And at his word you can rest in God's plan and his purpose for your life. Faith is. Needs to be a private, everyday portion of your life.
Here's what I want you to understand as we close today. Faith just can't wait for the storms to cry out to Jesus.
Faith must constantly depend on Jesus every day. The ordinary days, the calm days.
So when the rocky days come, you know where to turn.
Church.
When we think about our faith, when we think about what's going on in our lives.
Appointed things to get to.
They're not out of his control. They're not surprises to God. You're not going to surprise God for what you go to after you leave church.
But God uses you as a believer, primary carrier of the truth of Jesus.
Are you carrying that to others today?
Maybe your feet are on solid ground and it's just another ordinary day for you. Here's what I'm going to remind you.
Look and lean into your relationship with Jesus today before the storms come.
Because they're coming.
They're coming.
Is your faith strong enough that when the storm comes that you won't rely on your own strength, but you will rely on God's strength and just because you follow Jesus doesn't mean the storm won't happen.
The storm will test.
The storm may shake.
The storm may be difficult, but it has a purpose. Church. Keep your eyes on Jesus and not the storm.
Maybe you're here today and maybe your question is one like the disciples had to ponder at the closing of our scripture.
Who is this man?
The disciples asked that question, who is this man?
Even the winds have to obey his voice today. Maybe you're here and you're wondering, who is this Jesus?
Jesus wants to lead your life.
Jesus is the one that went to a cross to pay the sin debt that you could spend an eternity with the one, the God who created you and loved you and made you.
That you could have life and have it promised to you forever and ever us to a world that desperately needs it.
God for that one that needs you.
I pray they do not leave today without surrendering to your lordship of their life.
[00:29:35] Speaker A: Clifford Baptist Church invites you to join us for worship every Sunday morning at 11am for more information about our church, please call our church office at 434-94-605 55.
