Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional and our Summer Inspiration series. Today we continue to reflect on the theme of God being with us as we look at what we can learn as Jesus calms the storm.
To watch this devotional, follow the link below:
‘Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” 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 8:22-25)
This challenging and scary event is not an accident. None of us, as the organisers of the rain-soaked opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris know, can control the weather. However, Jesus can control the weather and He leads them into this storm in order to reveal something about themselves and something about Himself.
The storms reveal the condition of our faith
The storm reveals that their faith is weak, and He challenges them with, “Where is your faith?” The storms reveal whether we do truly believe that God is with us! In storms, with the addition of demonic temptation, we are tempted to believe that God doesn’t exist; or, if he does exist, that He doesn’t care for us; alternatively, we are tempted to believe that maybe He just lacks the power to look after us!
The storms improve our faith
Alternatively, storms, whilst revealing the true condition of our faith, also sanctify our faith. Storms grow us, rather like lifting heavy weights will grow muscles. The winds cause us to put our roots down further into God. The waves cause us to depend on God in a new way and find that He is present and sufficient. Storms cause us to ‘marvel’ and say, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”’ And those seek will find who Jesus is and that:
‘God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.’ (Psalm 46:1)
Community group notes and study
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Our message on Sunday, based upon Psalm 46, encouraged us to remember that ‘The Lord of Hosts’ - God Almighty - is with us. Even in the most trying storms of life we are encouraged to ‘Be still and know that I am God’. Like the disciples in the stormy sea with Jesus asleep in the boat, we are to know that He’s with us and has the authority to speak stillness over any storm.
Please read Psalm 46
Did God speak to you about anything specifically from Sunday’s message?
What would you say are the main teaching points of this Psalm?
46:4 - What is the ‘river’ and how can we enter into the ‘gladness’ that’s mentioned here?
46: 7, 11 - What does it mean for God to be ‘The Lord of Hosts’ and how is this a help in our lives?
4:10 - What does this teach about the final success of the gospel?
SIV - What attitudes and beliefs does this Psalm teach that lead us into successful mission?
SIV - Do we have any stories of how we have ‘Served, Invested, and inVited’ recently?
SIV - Spend some time together talking and praying about who and how you are seeking to bring your community to Jesus.
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