PART I - How to Diminish Your Struggle Time in Every Trial

^{Luke 8}

²² One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. ²³ As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

²⁴ The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. ²⁵ Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”

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Jesus was asleep in the boat.   He turned a bench into a place to lay his head.  All was well.  He could rest.  The disciples have faith; surely they can handle anything that comes along. 

A fierce storm arose.  They couldn't battle this kind of storm.  They woke Jesus saying, "Don't you care that we are going to die?"

 

The true test of character is how we behave when we

don't know what to do." 

~John Holt

 

One storm - reveals a boat filled with water.

     One boat filled with water - reveals men filled with fear.

          Not one man filled with faith was to be found.

 

A TRUTH:  One Storm Only Needed One Man to Rebuke It!

 

The Active Faith of One Man or Woman Is Enough!

 

Fear breeds Fear!

 

Where Fear is Evident, Faith is Not!

 

With Jesus in the boat they still feared for their lies.  They had a perishing mentality. They were experiencing a "Maalox Moment!" 

 

Battered, exhausted men...high-pitched, urgent communication...intense physical weariness...and all hope gone!  How long had they toiled and trained every muscle to stay afloat?  How much water had they bailed out of the boat?  Mow many words of fear were spoken as they battled this storm with their natural abilities?

 

The disciples were competing with out of control circumstances. As long as you spar with a storm, it will continue to rage!   THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE!  Faith instead of fear would have stilled the storm.  Jesus could have slept until they arrived on the other side of the sea.

 

THEY COULD HAVE DIMINISHED THEIR STRUGGLE TIME !

 

How to identify your struggle time: 

 

-The time frame between the first evidence of the storm and the moment they called on Jesus equaled Their Struggle Time.

 

It was also their opportunity to demonstrate dominion over natural elements.  Instead, they suffered anxiety and fear.  They did all they could do using their natural abilities and reasoning.  Believers do this all of the time!  The disciples had reached the point most of us reach in a trial...

• I've done all I know to do.  I guess there's nothing left to do but pray.
• I don't know what else to do but call on Jesus
• Jesus, I've tried everything I know, You are my last resort.

"Jesus, don't you care that we are perishing?"   They included Jesus in the "we"... not realizing that  No Storm Can Cause Jesus to Perish!  He is a greater power.  Matthew 28:18 "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

 

This trial consisted of natural forces.  The Supernatural is dominate over natural forces every time...at all times! 
 

Never Underestimate the Supernatural,

Making it Less Than or Equal in Power to the Natural!

 

The following points reveal results of struggle time and little faith:

• They wasted their travel time
• They allowed needless anxiety'
• They wasted their energy
• They revealed their level of faith
• They wrestled with the storm
• They had a boat filled with evidence of the storm
• They must empty their vessel
• They received a rebuke from Jesus.

To be continued ...
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