Sunday Morning Series - Hope That Does Not Waver - Misdirected Hope

Text: Mark 4:35-41

When the evening came, Jesus instructed the disciples to pass over to the other side of the Sea. So, they sent away the multitudes, joined Him in the ship, and set sail. The wind whips up the sea, and they find themselves in a life and death situation.

Jesus is in the back of the boat, asleep on a pillow. Some of them are fisherman by profession, so they do what they know to do: they start bailing. Finally, they realize they're losing the battle. Water is coming into the ship faster than they can get it out.

Their hope was to cross to the other side. They had a word, a command, from Jesus Himself. When all their efforts end in failure, they begin to ask questions. They wake up Jesus. "Master, don't you care that we perish?" Questions contrary to the Word give rise to answers that can misdirect our hope.

They probably wondered why Jesus didn't get up and help them bail. Maybe some questioned the wisdom of leaving at that particular time.

The boat in this story represents the church, while the sea represents the world. They were in the world but not of it. If we get on a boat, we'd better be prepared to get wet. We're told in Scripture that in the world we'll have tribulation. Relationships will experience problems. You'll buy a house, and have goofy neighbors. It doesn't mean you missed it or did anything wrong. Don't lose heart. Jesus has said He's overcome the world.

When they woke up Jesus, He immediately took charge. No he didn't pick up a bucket and begin to bail or organize them into teams. He rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to calm down. He then asked the disciples a couple of choice questions. "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

A wrong or misdirected hope will empty you of faith and fill you with fear. When our focus is on our problems, it's easy to think Jesus doesn't care. They had not lost faith in Jesus, but fear stopped them from moving out in faith.

We tend to look at our works and measure our storms by them. Instead, we should look at our storms and measure our faith by them. How many times have we questioned why storms come into our lives? I do so much for God and try to live according to His ways? Storms come to try to defeat your faith. Godly hope is fulfilled by faith; worldly hope is fulfilled by works. We are delivered by our faith, not our works.

Works is bailing out the water. Faith is rebuking the wind and calming the sea from the side of the boat. Instead of relying on your own efforts to solve the problem, use your faith to stop the storm in your life.

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If you're visiting or live in the area, you're welcome to worship with us. Zoe Christian Fellowship is located at 1111 Easton Rd., Warrington, PA. Our Sunday morning service begins at 10:00 A.M.