Sermon notes: When our trust in God is tested

Key reading: Matthew 8:23–27

Times when our faith is tested

• A business that goes wrong, threatening our finances and security
• The opportunity we have so hoped will come through, falls through
• The medical diagnosis you were not expecting

A truth: These experiences will continue to occur this side of eternity

What Jesus calming the storm teaches us

The storms of life come unexpectedly and it seems we are hemmed in on every side

(you can’t exactly jump out of the boat)

Sometimes we think heaven is sleeping on our matter

The disciples were wise, they woke Jesus because Jesus was sleeping (or was he?)

The incident shows Jesus’ divine and human nature – the hypostatic union. Jesus is fully God and fully man.

Jesus will show his divinity in two ways

• You of little faith.
  A reminder that “He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps …” Psalm 121:4. Jesus is always “God with us”
• He commands the wind and the waves to be still. This is profound in the context of Psalm 107:29-31

Two key things we have established

God is always with us

God is able to get us out of the storms of life

Example. Exodus 14:13–14

Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Nick’s story

He was out of options. He had tried to help himself but it was hopeless

He was in danger of freezing to death

He calls on God in desperation

God’s answer, “Take twenty steps”

Nick’s response could be – I have walked this place a thousand times

The disciples – we have fished all night and have caught nothing

What twenty steps may God be asking you to take? Pray, Fast, Listen, Act

Key point: Do not let your deliverance/progress/breakthrough die on the hill of but, what-if, how-about, etc.

See Isaiah 30:21

Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it”

Nick’s reflection – video 2

DOES GOD ALWAYS DELIVER US FROM OUR HARD PLACES?

From our perspective – no

From God’s perspective – yes

Prayer

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