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Sunday Message for the Bilingual Brethren - 21 June 2020 : "The Testing of Faith of the Disciples"

Text: Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25
21 June 2020

BILINGUAL WORSHIP 21 June 2020

Title: The Testing of Faith of the Disciples

Text: Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25

INTRODUCTION

1. Goal: To help people find faith

That was the commitment of the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Reasons:

a) Faith helps us in life
b) Faith pleases God
c) Faith leads to blessings

3. Many were helped

a) The sick especially
b) They got to know Jesus better
c) They were helped along the way

THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

1. They were called “Disciples”

a) This simply means that they were learners
b) There was much to learn
c) They were invited to follow Jesus
i) This is commonly known as a Call
ii) They could respond positively or negatively

2. Lessons Jesus taught

a) There were important Bible lessons
b) There were lessons about the kingdom of heaven
c) There were lessons about our character
d) There were lessons about faith

3. Learning and Testing

a) Testing will come
b) We may pass the test
c) We may fail the test
d) But we can learn valuable lessons along the way

4. Lessons to be learned

a) About ourselves
b) About the Lord
c) About the true state of our faith

HOW JESUS MOVED FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER

1. Usually they walked

2. Sometimes they would have to take a boat trip

THE SEA OF GALILEE
Largest fresh water lake (It was called a sea)

1. Length
21 km

2. Breadth
13 km

3. Depth
43 m

4. Fishing industry
In the shallower parts, fishermen caught fish as their livelihood.
At least four followers were fishermen (Peter, Andrew, James and John)

5. Ferry service
Boats ferried people from one side to the other.

A BOAT TRIP ACROSS THE SEA OF GALILEE

1. Jesus wanted to go across to visit the other cities
This was not unusual

2. Jesus was in a boat with His disciples

3. It was evening
Mark 4:35

4. He had a long and hard day:

a) He taught
b) He healed many
c) He was tired and resting

A SUDDEN STORM CAME UP

1. A great tempest
Matthew 8:24

2. Water swamped the boat
Matthew 8:24

3. A great windstorm
Mark 4:37

4. They were in jeopardy
Luke 8:23

WHAT WAS JESUS DOING?

1. He was at the back of the boat

2. He was resting (sleeping)
Matthew 8:24; Mark 4:38

THE FEAR OF THE DISCIPLES

1. They woke Jesus up urgently
Luke 8:24

2. These were the things they said to Him:

a) Lord, save us! We are perishing!
Matthew 8:25
b) Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?
Mark 4:38
c) Master, Master, we are perishing!
Luke 8:24

THE AMAZING RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

1. He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea
And there was a great calm
Matthew 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24

2. He said, “Peace, be still”
And the wind ceased and there was a great calm
Mark 4:39

THE WORD JESUS SPOKE TO HIS FOLLOWERS

1. “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”
Matthew 8:26

2. “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
Mark 4:40

3. “Where is your faith?”
Luke 8:25

THE ASTONISHED WORDS OF THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS

1. The men marvelled, saying,
“Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Matthew 8:27

2. And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another,
“Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Mark 4:41

3. And they were afraid, and marvelled, saying to one another,
“Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
Luke 8:25

THE LESSONS LEARNED

1. Their faith in the Lord Jesus

a) Little Faith
b) Almost no faith
c) Ineffective faith

2. Their knowledge of Jesus

a) Limited
b) They needed to learn even more

3. A healthy fear

a) Reverence
b) High regard

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To keep learning

2. To deepen our faith

3. To have an even higher regard for the Lord Jesus Christ