WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

LUKE 8:22-25

I know a man whose favorite song is ‘God is good all the time’.

And yet he suffers from a serious illness.. a progressive illness.

He continues to trust in God regardless of what life throws at him. 

His faith is not in a God of good times, but a God who is good all the time!

Today we read a passage of scripture that challenges us to be like him.

Let’s look at that passage now.. 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.

And the disciples asked, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Let’s begin with that question.. and then consider two other questions that were asked in these dramatic minutes..

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.

That is the first question.. the next is this..

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.

Isaiah reminded them of what God had done for them.. He created them.. formed them.. redeemed them.. they are His people..

Then he showed them what God had shown him.

They are in exile 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 himself 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.. feel like Jesus is asleep and doesn’t care?

Look at what he has done for us.. He is Lord.  He is God. He came to this planet as a babe.. died on the cross.. rose..

There is no greater example of love and care than this. 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.

Who is this? He is the LORD. Don’t you care? Yes. And now..

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 asking them something like this.  Where is your faith? It was strong when you could see me performing miracles.. but now.. when trouble arises.. and I am asleep.. you are full of fear.

You need not be.. because I am here! Put your faith in me at all times.. even when a storm rages.. and 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?

Horatio Spafford continued to believe when everything had crashed around him.. when many would have asked, How can you believe in Jesus now?

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. 

Let’s ponder what he wrote:

First, He remembers what the Lord has taught him to say.

When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,‘ It is well, it is well with my soul.’ 

Next, He remembers what Jesus did for him..

Though Satan should buffet, tho’  trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

And that inspires him to praise the Lord..

My sin – oh, the bliss of this glorious tho’t: My sin not in part, but the whole Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Then he looks ahead to the day.. when faith will be sight.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be roll’d back as a scroll, The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, Even so, it is well with my soul.

We can learn a lot from this man.

Don’t look at the circumstances.. the troubles and tragedies. Look at Jesus.. remember Who He is.. the Lord.. what He has done for us.. put our faith in Him!

Still need help?

Make this song your own.. ponder it.. sing it..  

It will help us trust God in the bad times.. the good times.. all the time!