Sermon am 30102005

30th October 2005 AM

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH? Pastor Linton Smith

There are times when life is smooth and there are times when it seems to come crashing down around us.

Horatio Spafford went through such a time. In 1873 fire destroyed everything he owned.. and then his wife and four children were involved in a tragedy at sea. They were crossing the Atlantic in one of the largest ships afloat. It was rammed by an English iron sailing ship and sank within two hours. His wife was spared but his four children perished. As soon as it could be arranged Spafford himself set sail to join his wife. The captain pointed to the very spot where his children had been drowned. How did he respond? He wrote the amazing song, It is well with my soul.

I often wonder how I would respond.. do you?

Today we are looking at Luke 8:22-25. Jesus had had a very busy day. When evening came He said to His disciples, Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” They set out. What a relief it must have been.. the calm.. the peace.. time to rest. Jesus went to the stern of the boat.. lay down.. and fell asleep. They sailed on.. and then their peace was shattered.

A squall came down on the lake.. churned up the water.. the waves were huge.. the boat was being swamped. The disciples were terrified.. and Jesus was still asleep! They woke Him and shouted into the wind.. Master, Master, we’re going to drown. Jesus got up.. rebuked the wind and the raging waters.. and the storm subsided and all was calm.

Three questions were asked during these dramatic minutes..

Let’s think about them one by one.

q DON’T YOU CARE IF WE DROWN?

Luke 8:24.. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

They were crying out for help.. and asking a question. In Mark’s gospel..

Mark 4:38.. Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?

Many people – and many of us - have asked questions like that of God when life has come crashing down around them – perhaps a tragedy.. an illness.. a bitter disappointment.. Where are You, God? Don’t You care?

The people of Israel reacted like this. They had been overrun by the Babylonians.. and taken into exile.. and they felt that God had completely forgotten about them.. dumped them.. wasn’t doing anything to help them..

Isaiah said to them..

Isaiah 40:27.. Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel , “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

It seemed to them as though God was asleep. But He was far from asleep. He showed Isaiah what He was doing.. we read about it in Isaiah chaps 40-45.. They were exiled because of their sin.. but now their sin has been paid for.. and a deliverer is on his way.. a Persian king.. Cyrus.. he will send them home.. Jerusalem will be inhabited again.. and the Temple will be re-built..

Isaiah was amazed.. and exclaimed..

Isaiah 45:15.. Truly you are a God who hides himself, O God and Savior of Israel .

God was still there.. still caring.. still active.. working out His plan.. but He had hidden Himself.. and hidden what He was doing from their eyes.

Are we struggling today.. cannot make sense of what is happening.. or get even a glimpse of what God is doing? Take this to heart.. He has not changed.. has not forsaken you.. He is at work.. and one day.. perhaps not until heaven.. we will see what He was doing.

I like the way William Cowper put it..

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

q WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

Luke 8:24,25.. He 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.

Their faith in Jesus had been growing as they had got to know Him, had listened to the things He was teaching and watched the things He was doing.. They had seen a leper healed.. a paralysed person walk.. a dead person come to life! But now.. their faith had been severely tested… and they had panicked.

Jesus asked them, Where is your faith? He was not accusing them.. or putting them down.. but gently asking them.. where is your faith placed? Is it placed only in the things you see Me doing? It needs to be placed in Me.

I am with you.. even when I am asleep!

Are we sometimes like these disciples? When we can see that Jesus is at work.. can see answers to prayer.. see things working out.. we believe.. and rejoice.. but when it seems to us that He is asleep.. doing nothing.. do we still believe?

The people to whom the letter to the Hebrews was written were facing a severe test. Hang on to the faith.. and be persecuted and poor.. or let go of the faith and be well off financially.. The writer said to them..

Hebrews 13:5,6.. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

When Peter wrote his letter the people were also facing a time of severe trial.. he wrote..

1 Peter 3:13-15.. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

In times of testing.. trial.. discouragement.. talk to yourself.. remind yourself Jesus is Lord! Trust Him.

Do as the Psalmist does in Psalm 42:3,5.. My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” .. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

q WHO IS THIS?

Luke 8:25.. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Luke does not answer the question.. but leaves it hanging for you and me to answer.. Who is this?

He is a human being just like us. He gets tired.. and sleeps.

Hebrews 2:14,17.. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity.. he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest..

He understands us.. in fact no one understands like Jesus!

But He is far more than just a human being like us.. look at how He calms the storm.. and the waves.. He is God.. this is the kind of thing that only God can do.. In Psalm 107 we read about a storm at sea. The sailors are about to perish… Then we read..

Psalm 107:28-30..Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

Who saved them? The LORD.

Jesus now does just that for His disciples.. and shows them and us who He is.. He is the LORD.. He is God.

He is One we can trust.. even when we cannot see what He is doing!

But how do I know that He cares for me?

Talk to yourself about Him.. He is God.. came from heaven.. suffered and died for every human being – and that includes me. He cares!

He rose from the dead. He lives! He is at work even when I cannot see what He is doing. I will trust Him. I will take to heart what He says in..

John 14:1,27.. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me..Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

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