The Storm

I have been in rain storms.

I have been in snow storms

I have been in hail storms.

I have been in ice storms.

I have been in wind storms.



And now I have been in a virus storm.



There is an event in the life of Jesus and His disciples that helps us know how to handle storms.



In Matthew 14:22-33 we see Jesus and His disciples face a storm. In this passage we see truths that will enable us by God’s power to walk through a storm.



Verses 22-23

Immediately He made the disciples get into a boat and go before Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.



The disciples leave. They go on before Jesus. Jesus stays and prays.



Verse 24

But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.



A storm comes up as the disciples are in the boat in the middle of the sea. They are in the middle of a storm and they are in trouble.



Verse 25

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.



The fourth watch of the night is between 3 am and 6 am. The disciples had been in the boat battling the storm all night long. Then Jesus shows up. He is walking on the water. He is overcoming natural law and coming to help them.



Verse 26

But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.



The disciples misunderstood the situation. Their fear had overcome their faith and they didn’t recognize that was Jesus.



Verse 27

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”



Jesus immediately speaks and tells them to be encouraged because it is Him and not a ghost and so they don’t have to be afraid.



Verse 28

And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water.”



Peter needed more proof and so he tells Jesus that if it is really Him, command him to come out to meet Him by walking on the water.



Verse 29

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.



Jesus commands Peter to come. Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water going to Jesus.



Verse 30

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”



Peter is looking at Jesus and walking on the water, but he begins to see and feel the storm and takes his focus off Jesus and begins to sink. He cries out to Jesus to save him.



Verse 31

Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”



Jesus immediately grabs Peter and saves him. Jesus asks Peter why he doubted or why did he take his focus off Him.



Verse 32

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.



Jesus and Peter get into the boat with the other disciples and the storms stops.



Verse 33

And those in the boat worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”



The disciples worship Jesus as God right then and right there in the boat.



Following Jesus will lead to storms.



The Truths from this Event



Jesus is interceding for us. When the disciples are out in the boat in the storm, Jesus is praying for them.



Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus is at the Father’s right hand and He is interceding for us.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living with the faith that Jesus is constantly interceding for us.



Jesus joins us in the storm.



Jesus overcomes natural law to come to the aid of His disciples. We are told in Luke 1:37 nothing is impossible for God. Jesus can and will do anything to accomplish His will in our lives. He will, through His power, deliver us from any storm.



Jesus’ message is “Don’t be afraid”. Because Jesus is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present and all-loving we don’t have to be afraid.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in faith in Jesus, not fear of circumstances.

Jesus’ call to us is to trust Him. There are many things we are told to trust because Jesus is the only thing that can hold us no matter what the circumstances are.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is trusting Jesus above everything else.



Jesus calms the storms we face. Jesus is more powerful than any storm, problem, sin, or doubt. He understands our fears and He is willing to take all of our problems, sins, and doubts and replace them with His peace.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing the peace of Jesus in the storm.



This is to lead to our worship of Jesus as God.



With Trust in Jesus, Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                             Joe