Where’s Your Faith? 5 R’s to Faith & Confidence in God – Life is a Journey, part 11
Are you facing an impossible storm? Learn about God’s authority over everything and how to find confidence in Jesus.
Today, we are reminded to focus on God rather the problems we face. And we get five tips to grow our faith in Christ:
Remember Jesus reigns.
Realize Jesus is with you.
Read the Bible.
Relive Jesus’ faithfulness.
Reclaim what Satan has taken.
Through this series, you’ll learn how to live well & enjoy God's promises. You are loved by God; He knows your name. He has a plan for your life. Get helpful advice, encouragement, and hope for a life well lived in 2021 and beyond.
Are you walking in faith and victory? Set your eyes on the promises of God. You only have one life journey; say yes to Jesus. Like the parables of the buried treasure and the valuable pearl, stop at nothing to gain your entry into the kingdom of heaven.
Where is your faith?
May we never forget God’s blessings.
Tomorrow is Memorial Day. It is a day we remember and reflect on the sacrifices of those who gave their lives in armed services. Most sacrificed some, but many gave their all—the greatest sacrifice.
Remember in the Old Testament when God stopped the flow of the Jordan River and the Israelites crossed into the promised land on dry ground? Twelve men were selected to make a pile of stones next to the banks of the Jordan River on the promised land side of the Jordan. This was a memorial to remind the people of what God had done when they crossed over into the land. The people were to remember and teach the next generations what God had done. Let every day be a day we remember the presence of Jesus in our lives.
Over time, the Israelites forgot the blessings of God. May we never forget.
Will you respond with fear or faith?
Have you noticed that life can be peaceful and then quickly become troubled? Things can be as smooth as glass and suddenly the clouds blow in and the sky turns dark. The wind picks up, and what was once a calm clear day is now a dreary stormy day.
What do you do? Life’s journey can have some unexpected twists and turns.
The question is, how will we respond in those times? With fear or faith?
The disciples found themselves in a situation they were not expecting. Jesus and his disciples got into a boat and went to the other side of the lake. Crossing the lake in a boat was an everyday occurrence for fishermen. It was like any other day on the water, especially considering that some of the disciples were fisherman. In fact, storms occurring on the Sea of Galilee was nothing new. So, this day was like any other day.
‘One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”’ (Luke 8:22-25, NIV).
Jesus simply asks, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples had been with Jesus for a while. They witnessed Jesus do miracles time and again: They saw Jesus cast out evil spirits; Jesus healed a man of leprosy as well as someone who was paralyzed; he healed several people and told them that their sins were forgiven; Jesus even raised someone to life after they had died. The disciples listened to Jesus teach the scriptures regarding the kingdom of God. Yet there was so much more for the disciples to know and learn.
In this situation, the disciples thought they were about to drown. They didn’t see how Jesus could sleep in the storm. The storm was all around, and the boat was taking on water. They were all in great danger and yet Jesus was asleep.
Jesus has total authority over all things, including your situation.
The title “Master” used by the disciples here in Luke seems to indicate that they recognized Jesus’ authority. They knew Jesus had authority to heal people. What they did not realize was Jesus’ authority over nature (the wind and the water).
The disciples needed to learn that Jesus has total authority over all things.
Jesus taught with authority (Mark 1:22).
Jesus also had authority over physical sicknesses and diseases (Matthew 10:1).
Authority over nature (Matthew 28:18).
Authority to drive out evil spirits (Matthew 10:1).
Authority to forgive sin (Matthew 9:6).
Authority to judge and all authority in heaven and on earth (John 5:26-27, Matthew 28:18).
Authority to raise the dead (John 10:18).
Including the authority for eternal life to those who believe (John 17:1-2).
The disciples were about to learn that Jesus had authority over nature and the weather. This storm that the disciples experienced on the lake appears to be the first time the disciples were personally involved or experienced a need in their lives, and for Jesus to speak into their situation.
This time the disciples were not simply observers of Jesus’ authority, rather they were in need themselves and on the receiving end of Jesus’ authority. The storm on the lake was not a surprise to Jesus. It would become a teaching moment for the disciples.
Some of the disciples were fishermen and being on the water in a boat was not new to them.
Experiencing a storm on the water was not new to them either; but this time was different. This storm was much more dangerous, and they were in great danger of sinking.
The disciples thought the end was near and that they were going to die.
The storm was powerful and the only one who was not worried about the storm was Jesus. Jesus was sleeping peacefully.
It is one thing to see someone caught in a storm but it is quite another to experience the storm yourself. I would like to think that that the disciples had it all together. That the disciples would have had faith to get through any storm in life. But they did not know what was going to happen. They quickly thought that they were all going to drown, and that included Jesus.
The disciples’ focus was on the storm rather than having faith and focusing on Jesus. Yes, they were personally with Jesus. Yes, they had witnessed Jesus’ authority in other people’s lives. But their faith seemed absent now, in the midst of their time of need.
So often we can have the faith to believe and pray for someone else. We can believe for another person’s healing or deliverance. We can believe God will provide for someone else’s needs; but when it comes to our personal needs or touching our own family, our faith can become overshadowed by fear of the unknown.
I want you to notice that Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and suddenly the water became calm. Notice, Jesus dealt with the storm before confronting the disciples about their faith. It appears that the disciples needed a lesson on faith.
A lesson of trusting Jesus.
A lesson regarding Jesus’ authority over all things.
A lesson of staying calm during a storm.
A lesson concerning how Jesus is never surprised or caught off guard.
A personal lesson that will carry them through the trials in life.
A personal lesson of the strengthening of one’s faith during personal trials and life’s storms.
Sometimes God will allow storms in your life. They may be for:
Correction due to disobedience, so you’ll turn back to Jesus.
To rebuke sin.
For your own faith-building to produce fruit of righteousness.
To refine your life.
For others to witness and see the power of God and God’s Glory.
To teach dependence on God.
Some storms occur even when we are acting in obedience to what God is calling us to do. This is true in the case of the disciples. One day the disciples were following Jesus and they found themselves in a storm.
“One-Day” experiences can be life-changing.
Let me suggest that we all experience those One-Day experiences. Joseph had a One-Day experience when Potiphar’s wife lied about him and Joseph found himself in prison (Genesis 39). Moses had a One-Day experience when he witnessed an Egyptian beating a Hebrew. The next day Moses needed to run for his life (Exodus 2). Samson, Naomi, Elisha, Jonathan (Saul’s son), Job, Peter, John, Jesus, the Apostle Paul, the disciples, and many others in scripture all had One-Day experiences.
One-Day experiences are a time of testing and growing spiritually. Ordinary days that may call us to have faith beyond what an ordinary day calls for. One-Day experiences often start as ordinary days, but turn into:
A day where God does a miracle in your life.
A day where faith is tested.
A day where bondages are broken.
A day where lives are changed for all eternity.
A day when every knee will bow, and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.
The One-Day experience of the disciples in Luke 8 is when they learned about Jesus’ authority over nature. They later learned to trust Jesus in difficult situations and their faith was strengthened, having been tested.
Faith is more than just knowing about God and knowing God is able to do something. Faith is being confident that God can and will do what he says he will do.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).
5 R’s for faith and confidence in Jesus
Let me suggest to you several reasons why you can have faith and confidence in Jesus, during life’s storms.
1. Remember Jesus died and rose again on the third day.
Jesus defeated the enemy of your soul at the cross. Jesus defeated death and redeemed you. Jesus is alive and sits at the right hand of God Almighty.
Understand that Jesus was obedient to God and submitted to the cross, so that your sins would be fully forgiven and paid for. By faith you receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Jesus loves you and he laid down his life that you might have eternal life.
‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”’ (John 11:25-26).
2. Realize Jesus is with you in the storm.
Know all authority in heaven and earth is his. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus said he will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus is returning for you and desires you to be with him in glory.
3. Read and reread the word of God and allow it to saturate your mind and heart.
Make a mental note of the faithfulness of God that is seen in God’s word.
Make note of the power of God and his sovereign authority.
Make note of the promises of God and that not one has failed.
Make note of the presence of God in your situation.
4. Relive the times Jesus has been personally faithful in your life.
Answered prayers.
Peace during storms.
Removal of burdens.
Words of encouragement from friends.
Scriptures that came alive in times of need.
A person’s testimony of God’s faithfulness.
A song or sermon that ministered to you.
The assurance that everything will be OK.
5. Review and reclaim anything the enemy of your soul has taken captive.
Your peace and joy.
A relationship.
Your physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Finances.
Love for others.
Your faith to believe and expect God to do the impossible.
Let your faith in Jesus arise every day, especially during storms. Begin to thank him for what he is about to do in your life and situation. Give Glory to God in every circumstance and know beyond a doubt that God is God and Jesus has all authority.
Where’s your faith?
I would like to address Jesus’ question to his disciples: Where is your faith?
This is a question for each of us. I do not believe it is a question of “Do you have faith?” Instead, Jesus is saying: “Let me see your faith! Exercise it in your situation and life. Trust me and let your faith be seen and used.”
Activate your faith and expect God to do what only he can do. Know beyond a shred of doubt that you are loved with an everlasting love. You are the apple of his eye and he is with you in the storm; faith is the victory.
Let me ask, where is your faith?
Suggested Praise and Worship
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This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.