Do You Still Have No Faith? Mark 4:35-41

Mark 4:35-38 35 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Mark 4:39-41 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

Humanistic Approaches to Doubt “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.” (Rene Descartes – 1596-1650) “Doubt everything. Find your own light.” (Buddhism)

What is doubt? Basic definition: “to be uncertain; to lack confidence, or to consider unlikely.” The first expression of doubt in the Bible is found in Genesis 3, when Satan tempted Eve. We are responsible for our own doubting (Zechariah – Luke 1)

James 1:5-8 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Thought: God has given us His Word as a testimony – a constant reminder of all that He has done in the past so that we have ample reason to trust Him for the present and the future. “11 I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. 12 I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples.” (Asaph – Psalm 77:11-14)

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

The Big Idea: HOW can we doubt the plans and promises of the Lord IF we truly know who He is and what He has done?

Faith is obedience (4:35-36) 35 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.

Faith will be challenged (4:37, 39) 37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up… 39And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. The instantaneousness of the storm The intensity of the storm The initiator of the storm

Faith (or lack thereof) will be exposed (4:38) Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" They doubted Jesus’ concern

Hebrews 4:14-16 “14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need

Lamentations 3:21-26 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. 22 The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. 26 It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.

Faith (or lack thereof) will be exposed (4:38) Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" They doubted Jesus’ concern They doubted Jesus’ control They doubted Jesus’ covenant

Faith must be learned (4:38-41) 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" They learned about Jesus’ power They learned about Jesus’ promises They learned about Jesus’ purposes They learned about Jesus’ Person “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” ~Spurgeon

The Big Idea: HOW can we doubt the plans and promises of the Lord IF we truly know who He is and what He has done?

Do You Still Have No Faith? Mark 4:35-41