And There Came Down A Storm

Luke 8:22-25 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: 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. 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 water, and they obey him.

As Christians, we will experience storms. When we say storms, we are talking about any situation or problem in our life that is:
A. Unexpected – no warning; it caught you off guard, out in the "middle of the deep"
B. Unpleasant – cause fear, worry, anxiety, lack of sleep (Jesus slept; they didn't!)
C. Unpredictable – no idea where it's going, what will happen, how long it will stay...
D. Uncontrollable – no matter what, there's nothing you can do to stop it or change it

During a storm, we need to remember some things. We need to remember:

I. God's Presence - that he went into a ship with his disciples: He was on the boat with them!!
A. He was present in the Flood - Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark;
B. He was present in the Fire - Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

II. God's Promise - Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.
A. His promise was simple – he didn't elaborate on the details; just said we're going over
B. His promise was sure – they did reach the other side; not because of their deeds, but his!

III. God's Protection - And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish..
A. Their Approach – they went to Jesus when the storm came down
B. Their Acknowledgment – they realized he was the Master
C. Their Appeal – they asked him to do something on their behalf, or they would perish

IV. God's Power - Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water:
A. God's Timing – then he arose; he always acts before it is too late
Psalms 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
B. God's Test – he rebuked the wind, but he caused it! He was testing their faith
Psalms 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
You can't get anything done for God worrying about the storm. If it gets too bad, he'll make it stop!!

V. God's Peace - and there was a calm
A. God's Peace is Immediate – He is in full control
B. God's Peace is Instructive - What manner of man is this!

Lessons they learned from the storm
A. Nothing can hurt you when Jesus is with you
B. A child of God can never perish! John 3:16 (Master, master, we perish..)
C. Even when you think God is 'asleep', He is in full control.

OUR CALLINGS

1Co 1:26-27 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

There may be many reasons why God shouldn't have called us. But don't worry, we're in good company:
Moses stuttered.
David's armor didn't fit.
John Mark was rejected by Paul.
Timothy had ulcers.
Hosea's wife was a prostitute.
Amos' only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning.
Jacob was a liar.
David had an affair.
Solomon was too rich. ... Jesus was too poor.
Abraham was too old. ... David was too young.
Peter was afraid of death. ... Lazarus was dead.
John was self-righteous.
Naomi was a widow.
Paul was a murderer. ... So was Moses. ... So was David.
Jonah ran from God.
Miriam was a gossip.
Gideon and Thomas both doubted.
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal.
Elijah was burned out.
John the Baptist was a loudmouth.
Martha was a worrywart.
Mary was lazy.
Samson had long hair.
Noah got drunk.
Moses had a short fuse? ... So did Peter, ... So did Paul.

But God doesn't require a job interview. He doesn't hire and fire like most bosses, because He's more our Father than our Boss. He doesn't look at financial gain or loss. He's not prejudiced or partial, not judging, grudging, sassy, or brassy, not deaf to our cry, not blind to our need. As much as we try, God's gifts are free. We could do wonderful things for wonderful people and still not be wonderful.

Satan says "You're not worthy." Jesus says, "So what? I AM."
Satan looks back and sees our mistakes. God looks back and sees the cross. He doesn't calculate what you did "back then". It's not even on the record anymore. Sure. There are lots of reasons why God shouldn't have called us. But if we are in love with him, if we hunger for Him more than our next breath, He'll use us in spite of who we are, where we've been, or what we look like.

I pray that as Christians, we will step out of our limitations into the illimitable nature of who God is. Then our passion for God and our passion to tell others about Him will overcome our limitations.

The A - Z of Friendship

Pr 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

This is another piece on friendship I found in my files (I did not write it). As I review them I think of only a very few friends who meet these standards but I try to meet them with those I call my friends.
A Friend....
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust wants to be with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

Friendship

I have met a lot of people at my new job at Wal-Mart and it has caused me to think about friends. I know that "you are now or you will become who your friends are". So I found this outline and have made a study out of it and thought I would share it with you.

As social creatures living on an inhabited planet, it is impossible to avoid associations with fellow human beings. As Christians, it is important that our dealings with other people be conducted in wisdom. As Paul wrote to the Colossians (though speaking specifically of our conduct with those not Christians, it would apply to Christian friends as well): Col 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. In His all-sufficient Word, God has provided the wisdom necessary whereby we can develop good relations with those around us, and avoid the pitfalls that too often destroy good friendships. Again, a good portion of this "wisdom" is found in "The Book Of Proverbs"

I. THE VALUE OF A GOOD FRIEND
A. A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO CAN BE A SOURCE OF COMFORT...
1. In good times and in bad times - Pr 17:17
2. In some cases, even better than that provided by a brother - Pr 18:24b
B. A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO CAN BE A SOURCE OF GOOD COUNSEL...
1. Counsel can that "delight the heart" - Pr 27:9
2. The value of counsel in general is seen in Pr 11:14 A friend who can be trusted to be a source of good counsel is certainlya blessing. But having friends who are dependable is not always easy.

II. ADVICE ON THE SELECTION OF FRIENDS
A. PEOPLE YOU DO NOT WANT AS FRIENDS...
1. Gossips - Pr 20:19
2. Short-tempered - Pr 22:24-25
3. Those given to drinking and gluttony - Pr 23:20-21
4. Those given to change - Pr 24:21-22
5. Liars, those untrustworthy, and those inconsiderate - Pr 25:18-20
6. Those given to violence - Pr 1:10-19
B. THE SORT OF FRIENDS YOU WANT...
1. Those who display wisdom themselves - Pr 13:20
2. For their teaching (counsel) will help lead you in the right way - cf. Pr 13:14 As Paul said, the wrong kind of friends can be a corrupting influence (cf. 1 Co 15:33); but a friend who is good and wise is one you want to hold on to!

III. ADVICE ON MAINTAINING GOOD FRIENDSHIPS
A. THINGS TO AVOID, WHICH CAN DISRUPT A GOOD FRIENDSHIP...
1. Don't repeat everything you hear - Pr 17:9
2. Avoid senseless arguments - Pr 17:14
3. Don't overstay your welcome - Pr 25:17
4. Don't meddle in affairs not your own - Pr 26:17
5. Don't play bad jokes - Pr 26:18-19
6. Don't be a "talebearer" - Pr 26:20
7. Don't be contentious - Pr 26:21
8. Don't engage in insincere flattery - Pr 27:14 Following such advice, one is less likely to offend his or her friends. But sometimes we do, and re-gaining their confidence is not easy (cf. Pr 18:19).
B. SOLVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR FRIENDS...
1. Make sure that you are at peace with the Lord - cf. Pr 16:7
2. Be slow to anger - Pr 15:18; cf. Ja 1:19-20
3. Be slow to respond - Pr 18:13
4. Avoid quarreling - Pr 20:3
5. Speak gently - Pr 15:1
6. Speak briefly - Pr 10:19
7. Be quick to show love - Pr 10:12
8. But if necessary, rebuke rather than flatter - Pr 28:23

Properly applying the wisdom of God found in His Word can assure that we enjoy the blessings of good friends in this life, and can look forward to enjoying these dear friends in life eternal! Rather than depend upon "trial and error" to learn "how to win friends and influence people", let God's Word be your guide! But of all the friendships we could possible develop, none can excel the one we can have with HIM who truly "sticks closer than a brother"- our Lord Jesus Christ! Have you become His friend? Consider what He has done for us... "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (Jn 15:13) Consider what He asks of us... "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you." (Jn 15:14) Have you done what He commands? - cf. Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:15-16

Maniac To A Missionary

This is the outline for the message I preached on the Lord's Day. The lord used it and I thought some of you might want to have it. I know how much I like to get good outlines. May God bless His Word as we preach it.

"How Great Things The Lord Hath Done For Thee”
Mark 5:1-20
Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Here we find one of the most wonderful portions of Scripture in the New Testament. How the Lord saved a wretched, devil possessed social outcast. What a beautiful picture of what our Lord did for us when we were saved. Many people have been saved as a child and do not have a drastic change in a sin filled life. They need to remember that the Lord did the same thing for them as He did for the devil possessed man in this chapter. Many people have lived a perverted, sinful lifestyle and these portions of Scripture gives to them hope. No matter how bad you are, His grace is sufficient for salvation. Our great salvation is so taken for granted in these days by most. We get caught up in our daily “ruts” and seldom reflect upon where God has brought us from and what He still is doing for us. Many today have not experienced a true, life changing salvation experience with God. Their mouth confessed, but their lives still reflect the darkness of sin. Salvation works! This portion of Scripture tells of just such a life changing salvation of a man who lived in Gadara.

A. A Pitiful Condition
1. His Place Of Residence – “tombs” He dwelt in the land of the dead –
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
Ephesians 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
2. His Spiritual Condition – “with an unclean spirit”
3. His Social Standing – “no man could bind him, no, not with chains” He was an outcast; a social misfit.
4. His Fierce Countenance – “neither could any man tame him”
5. His Restlessness – “always, night and day…crying”
6. His Self-destruction – “cutting himself”
7. His Desire For Change – “when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him”

B. A Providential Confrontation
1. Jesus Came To Where He Was – The Tombs
2. Jesus Came To Him In Spite Of What He Was – Helpless, Hopeless,
3. Jesus Availed Himself To Him As He Was – He Changed Him After Salvation
4. Jesus Came For Him And Then Left Without Doing Anything Else – vs. 18

C. A Personal Conversion
1. He Saw Jesus – He Knew Who He Was
2. He Came To Jesus – Ran, He Greatly Desired Him
3. He Worshipped Jesus – He Knew What Was To Be Required Of Him

D. A Prolific Change – vs. 7-18
1. The Change Was Immediate – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2. The Change Was Drastic -
3. The Change Was Evident To Others -
a. He Caused The Unclean Spirit To Depart
b. He Caused Him To Sit At The Master’s Feet
c. He Caused Him To Put On His Clothes
d. He Caused Him To Be In His Right Mind
e. He Caused Him To Have A Desire To Follow

E. A Purposed Commission – vs. 19-20
1. He Was Told To Go To Those He Knew
2. He Was Told To Tell Of His Conversion
3. He Was Obedient To The Command