Life Ministries

“Any Port In A Storm”

Please read - Luke 8:22-25  and Acts 27:12-25

    Here we have two different stories concerning boats in a storm. They have some similarities, however they have different outcomes. Today I want to look at the natural, literal, things that are taking place…as well as the symbolism of the many storms we may face in life…all of which have the same outcomes, if we cry out to or call upon God in the midst of the storm. What these two stories are really about is faith overcoming fear… and understanding that it is our faith in the power of God – and, our past experiences with God, that will help our faith overcome our fear of the storm, whatever that storm may be. Whether it is the disciples or the Apostle Paul, or you and I – it’s all about knowing and believing that God is who He says He is, and that God can do what He says He can do!

    A. C. Dixon once said “When we depend on organizations, we get what organizations can do. When we depend on education and technology, we get what the limitations of education and technology can give us; both of which depend on man and what man can do. But, when we depend upon and call upon God, we get what only God can do!
    Do you suppose it is possible that we have become so self-sufficient that we think we don’t need God? While we may be quick to answer “No way” think about this; If we get sick, we go to the doctor; if our property is destroyed or stolen, we file a claim; when we need food, we go to the grocery store; when we need clothes, we go to the clothing store; when we need money, we go to the bank or we go to plastic; If we have relational problems, we go to counselors; and many times, when the storms of life come at us, we either persevere in our own strength, or we draw from the help of family and friends…Not that any of this is wrong or bad, but we have to ask the question; “Where is God?”… “Who needs God?”  
    We can imagine at first, the disciples were probably relying on their own knowledge and skills as fishermen and sailors. They had certainly experienced storms before. It wasn’t until they realized that they were about to go under that they finally called out to the Lord, and were saved.
    It had been a long day of ministry for Jesus, so he withdrew to the stern of the boat and collapsed into a deep sleep. The disciples hoisted sail and set out to make the five mile trip across the lake. Then, unexpectedly, “without warning” Matthews account of the story says, they were in the midst of a terrible storm. Symbolically, God uses this story to remind us of a world where storms rise up out of nowhere and blindside us. If you have ever suffered a life threatening disease, you know this world. When the Dr. comes back with a bad report, or the phone rings in the middle of the night and a voice says; “I’m afraid I have some bad news”…you know this world.  Notice that even when Jesus is in the boat…the storm comes!
    Listen to the cry of the disciples; here in Luke they cry out “Master, Master, we are going to drown!”... In Matthew they say, “Lord, save us, we are going to drown!”... And, in Mark they cry out “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”...I think that all these things were said, and probably more! In the story from the Book of Acts – verse 20 says that “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved”…What had happened? Their faith had become paralyzed by fear! In reality, their problem was not the storm raging around them…it was the unbelief within them! You see, fear will always maximize the problem and minimize God…
    There is a true story of how the storms of life washed ruthlessly over one man named Horatio Spafford.  Some months before the great Chicago fire in 1871, he had invested heavily in property on the shore of Lake Michigan…but his holdings were wiped out by the disastrous fire. Just shortly before this, he had experienced the death of his son. Desiring a break from all the stress for his wife and daughters, and wishing to join D.L. Moody in an evangelistic crusade in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family. In November of 1873, due to last minute business, he had to remain in Chicago, but he sent his wife and daughters on ahead as scheduled. On November 22^nd. their ship was struck by another vessel and sank in 12 minutes. Several days later the survivors finally landed in Wales. Mrs. Spafford immediately cabled her husband with just two words; “Saved alone”… Shortly thereafter Spafford left to join his wife… and somewhere in that trip he penned these words that described both his grief and his faith; “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, It is well, with my soul.”