Mark 4:35-41
AT WIT'S END
A number of years ago, when I was pastor of the Community Bible Church in Sweet Valley Pennsylvania, I would visit a lovely Christian shut-in by the name of Beatrice Cragle. Beatrice collected p[poetry that used to appear in newspapers. Much of it was inspirational. I now own three or four of the scrapbooks which Beatrice collected. In this collection is a poem called "Wit's End Corner." Perhaps, you have heard the expression "At Wit's End". It refers to a time in our lives when everything is going wrong, and we do not know which way to turn. A similar term which we use today is being at the end of your rope. The poem goes like this.
Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner", Christian with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you, and all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you, and you in the battle alone?
Remember at "Wit's End Corner," is just where God's power is shown.
Are you standing at Wit's End Corner," Blind with wearying pain,
Feeling you can't endure it. you cannot bear the strain?
Bruised, through the constant suffering, dizzy and dazed, and numb.
Remember at Wit's End Corner" is where Jesus loves to come.
Are you standing at "Wit's End Corner," You work before you spread,
All lying, begun, unfinished, and pressing on heart and head?
Looking for strength to do it, Stretched out trembling hands?
Remember, At "Wit's End Corner" The Burden Bearer stands.
Are you standing at Wit's End Corner", Then you stand at the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources, of Him who faileth not!
No doubt, To a brighter pathway your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at Wit's End Corner is the God who is able proved. By Antoinette Wilson in the book "Streams in the Desert"
At Wit's End - Where all problems gather.
At Wit's End - Where I feel so hopeless.
At Wit's End - Where defeat seems likely, or even certain.
At Wit's End - Where we have all been, but never enjoy being there.
At Wit's End - Caused by sickness, sin, death, finances, friends, and
unavoidable circumstances.
At Wit's End is the exact place the 12 disciples found themselves one night when there was a storm on the Sea Of Galilee, and they were in the middle of the sea! From the experience that these men had, we can learn what to do when we come to the end of our wits, at Wit's end corner.
Our Outline for this evening:
THE PLAN TO FOLLOW
THE PROBLEMS TO FACE
THE POWER TO FATHOM
THE PRIORITY OF FAITH
Jesus had been teaching all day.
Evening had arrived.
It was time to cross The Sea Of Galilee.
THE PLAN TO FOLLOW
When these disciples came to the end of their wits, they were following God's will. They were also with Jesus in the boat.
Vs. 35 - To cross The Sea Of Galilee was Jesus' idea.
He said, "Let us pass over to the other side of the lake."
My friend, when we face storms, let us make sure we are facing them because we are in God's will.
How important is God's will or guidance?
Ephesians 5:15-17 - See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is].
When we are not in God's will, we will waste time.
When we are not in God's will, we will make things harder for ourselves.
When we are not in God's will, we will have extra worries which could have been avoided, and God never intended us to have!
A classic example of things becoming miserable because of being out of God's will is the Children of Israel after they left Egypt.
God had shown His power to set them free from Egypt.
God showed His might through the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the escape of Israel on dry land, and then the destruction of Pharaoh's armies.
God's plan was to bring Israel right into the promised land.
But they rebelled. They were afraid of the giants in the land.
They didn't want to go. They cried all night, and in the morning suggested that they appoint a captain other than Moses to lead them back to Egypt.
If they had done what God wanted them to do, they would have gone into the promised land right away and conquered the land. Instead, through their rebellion, they ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. All the adults except Caleb and Joshua died before they got into the land.
Think of all the trouble they would have saved themselves, if they had only obeyed God!
So it is with you and I, we can't avoid troubles and trials, but we avoid making them worse through disobedience!
Just as Jesus gave direction to the disciples in the boat, God will give direction to you.
He promises in Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
How does God give guidance?
Most obviously, He guides with His Word.
Psalm 119:105 - Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
As I look back on my own life, I think of many times, God has guided me with His Word.
My call into the ministry
My proposal to Dottie
My call to various churches, most recently to this one
God will also speak to us as we pray. You are familiar with the words of Matthew 7:7-8 (Quote.). When it says, "Seek and ye shall find," I believe that God is telling us that as we pray for guidance, He will guide us! At one time, I considered leaving a church, and guest spoke at another one.
Everything looked good. I prayed, "Lord, if this is not your will, close the door." He did. I was disappointed, but later found it to indeed be God's perfect will. Very shortly thereafter my father-in-law became bed ridden.
This new church would have never understood. The church in Fonda,
was tremendous in their help. They knew and loved "Granddad."
God also speaks to us through His Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Finally, God will guide you through circumstances.
He will be the one who will open and close doors.
Of course, you know, that Holy Spirit leading, circumstantial leading and leading through prayer is never contrary to God's Word.
God will never lead us contrary to His Word.
Coming back to our text, Jesus said, "Let us pass over unto the other side." Let's follow His leading.
Vs. 36 - "They took Him even as He was in the ship."
Jesus went with them. He was in the boat!
Of course Jesus needs to be in the ship called "your life".
If you haven't received Him as your Savior, you need to.
If Jesus is in you boat called your life, you need to remember a couple of things.
First of all, remember that wherever you go, Jesus is with you.
Whatever storm you face, Jesus is with you.
Whatever problems, whatever joys, whatever sorrows, Jesus is with you.
That means if Jesus calls you into a life of missionary service, pastoral service, service at home in the local church, or anywhere else, Jesus will
be with you. Our attitude should be that of the hymn writer who wrote,
It may be in the valley where countless dangers hide:
It may be in the sunshine, that I, in peace abide,
But this one thing I know if it be dark or fair,
If Jesus is with me, I'll go anywhere.
If Jesus goes with me, I'll go Anywhere!
'Tis Heaven to me, Wherever I may be, If He is there!
I count it a privilege here His cross to bear.
If Jesus goes with me, I'll go Anywhere!
Another thing. If Jesus is in your boat called your life, is he a passenger, or the captain of the ship? It's obvious that although Jesus was with seasoned sailors, he was the captain.
Jesus needs to be captain in your ship and mine.
Luke 9:23 - And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
When you allow Jesus to be boss, master, captain of the ship you need not fear any storm. He's in control!
First in our text we see THE PLAN TO FOLLOW.
The plan is to follow God's leading, with Jesus in your boat, and captain of your ship.
THE PLAN TO FOLLOW
THE PROBLEMS TO FACE
Vs. 37 - I would like to tell you that when you walk in the will of God there will be no problems. But that is just not true. As long as there is a spirit named Satan allowed to mess things up, there will be problems.
Ephesians 6:12 - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
The disciples, who were simply following God's will, had a storm to face.
And this storm, was a real "doozy"!
It was a sudden, furious storm of hurricane proportions, common to the Sea of Galilee, which lies 628 feet below sea level.
There were gaps in the mountains surrounding the sea, and they served as funnels, which drew the winds down upon the waters. To capsize in such a storm meant certain death.
What lesson do we learn from this storm?
There will be storms in our lives.
Opposition by those you have the most respect for.
Sickness at what seems to be the most inconvenient times.
Health of a friend or loved one.
All the circumstances of our lives going absolutely wrong at the wrong time!
Take, for example the Apostle Paul.
God sent him to Macedonian. He saw a vision of a Macedonian, saying, "Come over and help us."
He went to a town called Philippi in Macedonian.
First, there was a very small crowd.
Second, He ended up with a demon-possessed heckler following him around.
Third, when he cast out the demon in the woman, he was unfairly accused, beaten, and thrown in jail!
But the end result was worth it! Through this storm that Paul faced, he led the goal keeper and his family to Christ, and was publicly, and apologetically released from jail by those who threw him in!
Vs. 38 - Look at the wrong way the disciples approached their
situation. They panicked!
Jesus was still in the boat, but silent.
Instead of remaining calm, because He was calm, they misunderstood, and though that Jesus didn't care.
How often in a trial, instead of prayer, and trust, do we worry, fret, and hit the panic button! We conclude that the lord just doesn't care.
Remember this: There was nothing for the disciples to fear as long as Jesus was in their boat. There is nothing to fear for us, as long as Jesus is in our boats, especially when we've mad Him the captain. it's His boat, let Him do with it as He pleases. And He pleases to take good care of us.
THE PROBLEM TO FACE
THE PLAN TO FOLLOW
THE POWER TO FATHOM
How great is the power of almighty God!
The move we understand that power, the less we will fear.
Notice the great power here.
Jesus says to the wind, "PEACE", which means "BE SILENT".
Then He says, "BE STILL", which means "BE MUZZLED AND STAY MUZZLED."
Over the last few months we have seen God's power at work.
Changing our minds about where we should minister.
Allowing the vote here to be convincing.
The sale of the house in two months time, and providing the finances to pay the mortgage.
The summer job for Donna, when we wondered if she would get one.
God's power is unlimited. We need to fathom, or understand that the power of God is at our disposal.
Philippians 4:10-13 - READ AND COMMENT
Our greatest problem is believing that God will act in great power, in His perfect time.
God has the power to still the storm going in your life.
God has the desire to still the storm in your life.
God has the power to keep you at peace even as the storm rages around you.
God will use His power in His time for His glory!
Let's believe this, and be patient.
Psalm 130:5-6 - I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul [waiteth] for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: [I say, more than] they that watch for the morning.
Psalm 27: 13-14 - [I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
There are no limits to the power of Almighty God!
THE PLAN TO FOLLOW
THE PROBLEMS TO FACE
THE POWER TO FATHOM
THE PRIORITY OF FAITH
Vs. 40 -
Why is it, Jesus asks, that you panicked?
Why is it, Jesus asks, that you fell apart under pressure?
Why is it, Jesus asks, that your testimony was absent because you went to pieces?
"HOW IS IT THAT YE HAVE NO FAITH?"
Do you realize that every time we fear instead of trust, we are displeasing Almighty God?
Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How is this faith developed?
James 1:2-4 - My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Dwight L. Moody - "I prayed for faith and thought it would strike me like lightening. But faith did not come. One Day, I read, "Now faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now began to study my bible, and faith has been growing ever since.
THE PLAN TO FOLLOW
THE PROBLEMS TO FACE
THE POWER TO FATHOM
THE PRIORITY OF FAITH