Fear, Anger and Confusion 4/7/24

Mark 4:35-41   nkjv          35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 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. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 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?”39 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. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

❓ When has your faith alone helped you overcome fear, unforgiveness or anger?❓❓Have you ever overcome fear, unforgiveness or anger through faith alone? ❓

⭐  Recently while watching the news, I heard the exact same thing said by the opposing sides of the political issues blaming the other for the same thing.   “They want to stir up fear and anger and feed you with a bunch of lies.” 

💥   It’s amazing how powerful fear and anger are.  

• We can be influenced and triggered by fear, anger and confusion into believing things that are simply not true and making decisions that will lead to very unhealthy, unwise and destructive behavior.

This tactic isn’t a new one at all.  Satan used it in the Garden against Adam and Eve, and he still uses it today to produce the same results:  

• Cause us to believe things that aren’t true about God and ourselves
• Cause us to make foolish and unwise decisions that lead us to self destructive behavior. 

💥   This is what I like about our story today.

💥The disciples, because of unexpected circumstances, were triggered into being fearful, angry and believing things that were not true about themselves, God and their circumstances!

⭐      Why did they get triggered? Vs 37)  

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 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?”

• The problem was not the what, but the why!
  • The boat was not the problem (began to fill)
  • Jesus asleep (silent) was not the problem
  • The storm was not the problem

💥   Jesus identified the problem. v40)  Where is your faith? 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

• Where does your faith go in crisis?  ( Daniel and the broken jaw)
• What priority does our faith have in making serious and critical decisions? 
• How strong is our faith when we respond to things?

Result:

1.     Fear makes us believe things that aren’t true! v38) And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

• This is a serious matter they were facing!  So we can’t blame them, but it wasn’t true!
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  • Overreact and make wrong conclusions about themselves and God.

You are going to die!

• What crazy things have your fears and emotions led you to believe?
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  • What unhealthy and unwise decisions have you made as a result of believing things that were not true?

2.     Believed God didn’t care! v38)  “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

• Forgot His Word. Let us go to the other side.
• Self preservation.   Abraham and the famine.  Turned aside.  Afraid to believe, trust and obey.
• DON’T KNOW WHO HE REALLY IS!!

3.     LOST CONTROL

• If we try to control what we can’t control it will:
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  • Drive us crazy
  • Act Crazy
  • Do Crazy
  • Lose hope

What does this teach?

I.     Have a relationship with God.  Know God. 

• Follow Him 
• Trust Him
• Walk in the Spirit

II.     Believe His Word.   God intends for us to live by His Word.

• Know His Word
• Let His Word set the order of life.   
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  • Man does not live by bread alone.

III.     Let Him be Godin your life!     Who is this?

• Don’t try to help Him
• Wake Him up
• Control Him

Let Him speak to your adversities.

• This takes real faith.   
• Wait on the Lord,  BE OF GOOD COURAGE, and He will strengthen your heart.

Watch out for the voice of Satan in your fear, anger and lies he wants you to believe!