OPENING SCRIPTURE: Mark 4:35-41

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

What does “The Storm” mean for a believer?

• Storms can look like: Health crises, financial hardship, loss or grief, relationship conflict, spiritual doubts, fear or anxiety.
• Storms reveal: what we trust, what we fear, who we believe Jesus really is.

Faith is not proven in calm waters. Faith is revealed in the storm.

In 1871, evangelist Dwight L. Moody faced one of the most devastating storms of his ministry—the Great Chicago Fire.

The fire destroyed thousands of homes and devastated the city. Moody’s church building and ministry resources were completely lost.

For a moment, everything he had built seemed gone.

But Moody did not abandon his faith or his mission. Instead, he continued preaching hope and helping rebuild the community. In fact, his ministry grew stronger afterward and eventually reached millions around the world.

The storm didn’t stop the work of God. It deepened it.

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God – Corrie ten Boom

Storms make the future uncertain, but faith remembers who is in the boat.

LESSON 1: Storms Do Not Mean Jesus Is Absent

When you pass through the waters, I WILL BE WITH YOU; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2 NIV)

• God promises: His presence.

Even though I WALK THROUGH THE DARKEST VALLEY, I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NIV)

• You are going to walk though it and not camp there.
• God is ahead on this- His presence is leading the way.

The security of His presence in the storm is guaranteed!

God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

• God’s presence is constant.

Fear grows when we forget His nearness.

• Faith has a muscle memory remembers God…it remembers His presence…it remembers His safety, it remembers His provision.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: remind yourself daily: “God is with me in this moment”

LESSON 2: Storms Reveal the Depth of Our Faith

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40 NIV)

• Jesus presented them with a test that would strengthen their faiths.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PERSEVERANCE. (James 1:2-3 NIV)

• Testing refines maturity. Faith grows in the difficult seasons.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: During storms, make a choice to replace fear with the word, with worship, with wholesome fellowship.

LESSON 3: Jesus Has Authority Over Every Storm

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “QUIET! BE STILL!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Mark 4:39 NIV)

• Jesus did not remove the disciples from the storm. He revealed His authority within the storm.

God will not remove us from the storms, but He will empower us to go through or to speak peace to those storms.

• Jesus promised that His Spirit would live inside every believer.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because HE LIVES WITH YOU NOW and LATER WILL BE IN YOU. (John 14:16-17 NLT)

• His power, His authority live in us

THE SPIRIT OF GOD, who raised Jesus from the dead, LIVES IN YOU. (Romans 8:11 NLT)

• The power and authority that raised Christ from the dead is in me.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: When storms rage around you, use the authority of God in you to anchor you, to bring peace.

CONCLUSION:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?