The Why and the What - “Never Give Up” Mark 4:35-41

Sunday am - May 3, 2020 – Bro. Mike Roberson

Introduction: Storms of life destroy inaccurate expectations.

FBC Canton Values believers who make Christ the Center of all their decisions: The WHY is about what we believe in that motivates us. The WHAT is about our

values.

So, WHAT do we value and how do we prove we value that we value these

things?

We prove what we value by demonstrating in nonverbal ways what our

values are. For example, below you will read our values and the supporting

actions that prove those values:

Christ-Centered Believers

● You put Christ first in every decision you make.

● You search God’s word for the practical application for every

decision.

● You study God’s word daily.

● You memorize God’s word.

● You live your life so others know what Christ is like.

● You are genuine and regularly active in your worship of the Lord.

When a believer holds inaccurate expectations, they are headed for serious

disappointment and potential discouragement.

But God takes an opportunity in our inaccurate expectations to reveal to us a

different perspective of who He is!

Think of;

Jacob who stole the birthright given to him by prophetic dream and found

himself cast out from his homeland.

It was while fleeing for his life that God gave a him a new perspective:

Jacob’s Vow at Bethel

Genesis 28:10-22 10 Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a

certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of

the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached

to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your

father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your

descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall

spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in

your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and

will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave

you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did

not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none

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other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” 18 Then Jacob rose early

in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and

poured oil on top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place [d]Bethel; but the name

of that city had been Luz previously. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be

with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and

clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord

shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house,

and of all that You give me I will surely give a [e]tenth to You.”

"Sulam Ya'akov" (Jacob's Ladder) sculpture in Givat Mordechai, Jerusalem.

Jacob’s expectations were shattered, but his vision was empowered to see His God, and

our God in a brand-new splendid way.

That is what is about to happen to the disciples on the sea of Galilee here in this

passage.

I pray it is what about to happen to us in this storm!

How do we respond to God when all our expectations are removed?

Do we give up? Do we persevere?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greatsayings.net%2Fsayings-about-gf-and-bf%2F&psig=AOvVaw0rpxk5KBp4o8Q7wVnomGgG&ust=1588330630664000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNCQ_eL_j-kCFQAAAAAdAAAAABADhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F538813542893475297%2F&psig=AOvVaw0-fGKFkTixix6B-KsA10J-&ust=1588330791538000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCODOvYeAkOkCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Our response to God during those moments determines our walk with God after

those moments.

Let’s stand and read and pray for the Lord to destroy our inaccurate expectations and

give us a new view of Himself! And help us to never give up!

I. Before the Storm. vs. 35-36

a. Learn the difference between what God said and what you heard.

i. He said that they were going to cross over to the other side.

ii. He did not say the crossing would be easy.

iii. b. Learn what it means for God to carry you, not for you to carry God.

Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will

carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry and will deliver

you.

i. ‘they took Him along in the boat.’

1. Are we sure they took Him or did He take them?

a. Are you sure who is carrying you today?

ii. He sent them into the boat.

iii. He sent them into the storm.

1. He is in control.

c. Live in community. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also

ought to love one another.

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i. ‘Other little boats where with them.’

1. They were smaller boats.

a. And there will be other boats that are in more danger than

your boat.

II. During the Storm. vs. 37-40

a. Trust that the storm is only unexpected to those who are limited.

i. The storm arose.

ii. The storm beat.

iii. The storm fills.

1. b. Remember the unlimited Savior never sleeps.

i. He is working not resting.

ii. He is aware not asleep.

iii. He is caring not harming.

iv. c. The Unlimited Savior speaks to remove fear and build faith.

i. Why are we so fearful? Because we do not understand His perfect

love!

1. δειλός, -ή, -όν, (δείδω to fear), timid, fearful: Matthew 8:26;

Mark 4:40; in Revelation 21:8 of Christians who through

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/matthew/8/26/s_937026https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/mark/4/40/s_961040https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/revelation/21/8/s_1188008https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideo.ibm.com%2Frecorded%2F120418971&psig=AOvVaw0F2_9rGv2HV_UmVjMhCSI4&ust=1588332478133000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCMDd2ayGkOkCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAUhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Falabastergrace.com%2Fblogs%2Flatest-news%2Fposts%2Fgod-never-sleeps&psig=AOvVaw2G88onjFNwCzO52ddaQ-l_&ust=1588332120967000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIi__YiFkOkCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

cowardice give way under persecutions and apostatize. (From

Homer down.)

a. But the fearful, G1169 and unbelieving, and the

abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and

sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part

in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is

the second death.

b. ii. Why do we have no faith?

1. Where is our conviction that God will perform His word in the

storms? Our conviction much too often rests on our inaccurate

expectations and not on what He really promised

Chuck Smith: Sermon Notes for Mark 4:40

"PROBING QUESTIONS" I. "WHY ARE YOU SO FEARFUL? A. They had good reasons to be fearful. 1. They were in a fierce storm. a. They were seasoned seamen, and they knew that the ship was in danger of sinking. They were familiar with the sea of Galilee, and they knew the danger of these sudden storms. b. We read that the ship was full of water. c. They had been no doubt bailing the water out but they could not keep up, it is coming in faster than they can bail it out. 2. The Lord was asleep and seemingly unaware or worse yet unconcerned with their danger. a. They awoke the Lord with the words, "Don't You care if we perish?" b. We sometimes can identify with their plight. 1. It seems as if we are in fierce storms, and we feel that we are about to go down. 2. It seems that the Lord is not concerned with our predicament. As though He is asleep or unaware that we are about to go under. B. They had good reason not to be fearful. 1. At the beginning of the story they had the command of Jesus, "Let us pass over unto the other side."

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a. Note Jesus said, "Pass over," when Jesus says pass over there is no way that you can go under." b. We need to listen more carefully to the commands of Jesus. 2. Jesus was on board ship. a. When Jesus is on board our ship, we have no need to fear. b. The presence of the Lord should dispel all fear. 1. David said, "Ye though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with Me." 2. Through the prophet Isaiah God said, ISA 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. II. THE SECOND QUESTION, "HOW IS IT THAT YOU HAVE NO FAITH?" A. Remember that He is talking to His disciples. This question seems like a rebuke. B. Their fear was a sign of their lack of faith. Faith and fear are mutually exclusive. If you have fear, you do not have faith, if you have faith, you will not fear. 1. Your circumstances may be fearful, but you will not fear. Passing through the valley of the shadow of death would be a fearful experience if we did not know that the Lord was with us. 2. You are His child, you have no need to fear, your heavenly Father is watching over you. 3. How many times the Lord told His disciples not to worry. a. The phrase, "Take no thought" that was used so often by Jesus, is literally, "Take no anxious thought." b. He is saying that as His children, we are not to worry. c. Worry and fear are Siamese twins. C. This question might be better asked of you who have not yet come to faith in Jesus. "Why is it that you have no faith?" 1. People often say that they have intellectual problems with Jesus. What is it about Jesus that you find it so incredible, that you can't believe in Him? 2. What is it in the Bible that stumbles you and causes you to doubt? 3. What do you have to gain by not believing? 4. I can tell you that you have a lot to lose by not believing, mainly your own soul. MAR 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. JOH 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOH 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. JOH 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

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JOH 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 5. There is much to gain by believing. JOH 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. JOH 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. JOH 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. JOH 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 1PE 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 1JO 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6. How do you account for the more than 300 prophecies written 400 years and more before His birth, that were fulfilled by Him? III. All of us sooner or later are going to find ourselves in the midst of a fierce storm that will threaten our survival. A. You cannot escape the fact that one day you are going to be facing death. 1. The Bible declares that it is appointed unto man once to die. 2. That is one appointment that you cannot cancel. B. One day you are going to find your life tossed in the storm over which you have no control. You will come to the realization that you are going under, your boat is sinking. 1. Your very survival will be dependent on whether or not Jesus is on board your ship. 2. You cannot know how comforting it is to know that the Lord is with you when the storm begins to rage, you can have this confidence, for He said, ISA 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. C. One big question remains, have you invited Jesus on board your ship?

III. After the Storm. v. 41

a. If we never give up: We will have reverential trust driven by new

revelation of God’s identity.

i. We will never know Him until the storms hit!

b. We learn how to never give up when we understand the cycle of trust.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/john/5/24/s_1002024https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/john/6/35/s_1003035https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/john/6/47/s_1003047https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/john/7/38/s_1004038https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/john/11/25/s_1008025https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1peter/2/6/s_1153006https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/1john/5/5/s_1164005https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/isaiah/43/2/s_722002

Conclusion: Has this storm destroyed your inaccurate expectations? Are you

walking by faith during this storm? Do you understand God does not want you to

give up, ever?

D. Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee. David Guzik

1. (Mar 4:35-39) Jesus rebukes the stormy Sea of Galilee.

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over

to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in

the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great

windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him,

“Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked

the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there

was a great calm.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/mark/4/35-39/s_961035

a. Let us cross over to the other side: Jesus made a promise to His disciples. He

didn’t say, “Let us perish in the middle of the Sea of Galilee.” He promised His disciples

that they would cross over to the other side.

i. “The Lake of Galilee is 13 miles long at its longest, and 8 miles wide at its widest. At

this particular part it was about 5 miles across.” (Barclay)

ii. “Jonah ended up in a storm because of his disobedience, but the disciples got into a

storm because of their obedience to the Lord.” (Wiersbe)

b. They took Him along in the boat as He was: Jesus taught the multitude from a

boat just off the shore of the Sea of Galilee. When the teaching was finished, He didn’t

return to shore. He just said to the disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

i. “Now the teaching was over; He was weary; He was craving for a period of rest. And

so He bade His disciples to cross the lake, and that is the moment to which our text

refers – they took Him even as He was... They had not waited till any cloaks were

brought. They had not sent a messenger ashore. Weary, and probably hungry, they

had taken Him even as He was.” (Morrison)

ii. We must take Him as He was.

· Not as we wish Jesus was. · Not as others may present Jesus. · Not as you might see Him in the lives of others.

c. And a great windstorm arose: The Sea of Galilee is well known for its sudden,

violent storms. The severity of this storm is shown by the reaction of the disciples (we

are perishing). Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen on this very lake,

and they were frightened and feared perishing in this storm.

d. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow: Jesus’ true humanity is shown by His

brief sleep on the boat. He became weary and sometimes caught a bit of sleep

wherever He could.

i. Think of all the worries that might have kept Jesus awake. He could worry about the

religious and political leaders who plotted against Him. He could worry about His family

who thought He was crazy. He could worry about the overwhelming crowds with their

overwhelming needs. He could worry about the disciples He chose. He could worry

about the future, because He knew what His destiny was. With all these things to worry

about, Jesus wasn’t worried. He slept in a rocking boat.

ii. “The Lord’s sleep was not only the sleep of weariness: it was also the rest of faith,

for there is a rest of faith as well as a watch of faith.” (Cole)

e. And they awoke Him: The wind didn’t wake Him, the arguing of the disciples didn’t

wake Him, and water splashing over the boat didn’t wake Him. But at the cry of His

disciples He instantly awoke. Jesus is like the mother who sleeps through all kinds of

racket, but at the slightest noise from her little baby, she instantly awakes.

f. Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing? Notice the “we.” Their idea was,

“Hey Jesus, You’re in trouble here too. Maybe You had better wake up, get a bucket

and start bailing along with us, because we are perishing!”

i. “It was not a request to Him to do anything; but a protest against His apparent

indifference.” (Morgan)

ii. The disciples were afraid, but at the same time there were several experienced

fishermen among them. They knew they were in jeopardy (Luke 8:23) but probably felt

they knew what to do. They worked hard at bailing out the water, at rowing in a certain

rhythm, at piloting the boat in a certain direction. They were annoyed that Jesus didn’t

help them.

iii. “There may be both a sleeping Christ and a sleeping church, but neither Christ nor

his church can perish. If our Lord be asleep, he is asleep near the helm – he has only

to put his hand out and steer the vessel at once. He is asleep, but he only sleeps until

we cry more loudly to him. When we get into such trouble that we cannot help

ourselves and feel our entire dependence on him, then he will reveal his power.”

(Spurgeon)

g. Then He arose and rebuked the wind: Jesus didn’t merely quiet the wind and the

sea; He rebuked the wind and the sea. This, together with the disciples’ fear and

what Jesus will encounter at His destination, give the sense that Satan had a

significant hand in this storm.

i. Rebuked... “Peace, be still!” The same terminology was used when Jesus rebuked

and silenced demons. This was a spiritual battle as much as a weather crisis. “Jesus

addressed the raging storm as a ‘force’ threatening him and his disciples. The force of

the sea was muzzled as Jesus subdued it with his sovereign word of authority.” (Lane)

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/luke/8/23/s_981023

ii. As well, Mark tells us other little boats were also with Him. When Jesus calmed

the stormy Sea of Galilee, He did not only rescue Himself and the disciples, but all the

others in the little boats.

2. (Mar 4:40-41) Jesus rebukes His disciples.

But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that

even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

a. Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? Jesus didn’t say,

“Wow, what a storm!” Instead, He asked, “Why is it that you have no faith?” The

storm could not disturb Jesus, but the unbelief of His disciples disturbed Him.

i. It was not their fear of the storm that made Jesus say they had no faith. A small boat

in a big storm is a scary place, and the initial fear itself isn’t wrong. What the disciples

chose to do with the fear made all the difference.

ii. Jesus could say they had no faith because they did not believe His word. They each

heard Jesus say, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake” (Mark 4:22). Jesus did

not say, “Let’s do the best we can and maybe we’ll all drown.” He promised a safe

arrival, and the disciples could have chosen to trust in that promise, but they didn’t. In

this sense they had no faith.

iii. Jesus could say they had no faith because they accused Jesus of a lack of care

towards them. When they woke Him, they said, “Do you not care that we are

perishing?” (Mark 4:38) When we think Jesus doesn’t care about us, it shows we have

no faith, because we don’t believe the truth about Jesus. It takes great faith to trust the

sleeping Jesus, to know that He cares and works for us even when it does not seem

like it. But this is the kind of trust God wants to build in us.

iv. Jesus could say they had no faith because they forgot the big picture. The disciples

should have known that God would not allow the Messiah to perish in a boat crossing

the Sea of Galilee. Could the story of Jesus possibly end with Him drowning in a boat

accident on the Sea of Galilee? “Our fears are often intensely silly, and when we get

over them, and ourselves look back upon them, we are full of shame that we should

have been so foolish. Our Lord kindly censured their unbelief because it was

unreasonable.” (Spurgeon)

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v. We could put the emphasis: How is it that you have no faith? Of all people, Jesus’

own disciples should have had faith. Would Jesus put the same question to us? “After

all I have done in you and for you, how is it that you have no faith?“

b. They feared exceedingly: The total calm of the sea should have filled them with

peace, but instead, they were just as afraid when He calmed the storm as when they

were in the midst of it.

c. Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him! The disciples ask a

good question: Who can this be? It can only be the Lord, Jehovah, who only has this

power and authority. O Lord God of hosts, who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your

faithfulness surrounds You. You rule the raging of the sea; when waves rise, You still

them. (Psalm 89:8-9)

i. In the span of a few moments, the disciples saw both the complete humanity of

Jesus and the fullness of His deity. They saw Jesus for who He is: truly man and truly

God.

ii. All this shows the abiding care Jesus has for His people. “There are many Christians

today who seem to think the boat is going down! I am tired of the wailing of some of my

friends who take that view. The boat cannot go down. Jesus is on board.” (Morgan)

https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psalms/89/8-9/s_567008