He's Still In The Boat!

 The Lord first gave me this thought 10 years ago while at a friend's house for the weekend, from Bible college, and it has been in my journal. This past Sunday, our preacher preached on this very same thing-same passage and even the same title! So, I think this is the one the Lord wanted me to write today!(And no, I'm not giving you HIS outline! (haha)).  I love how the Lord speaks to others about the same thing He has spoken to us about!

Mark 4: 35-41 gives the account of Jesus and the disciples as they were in a boat crossing over the Sea of Galilee. The Lord had just sent away the multitude and instructed the disciples to enter into a boat. He gave them a PROMISE. "And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let US PASS OVER unto the other side." vs. 35. When the disciples entered the boat and Jesus WITH THEM, He clearly said THEY WOULD make it to the other side! When we accept the Lord as Saviour, HE HAS PROMISED "....I will NEVER leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5. Once we have entered the boat, THE OLD SHIP OF ZION, of salvation, He is there to stay with us! There is nothing that we can do to lose it, as it is HIS SALVATION-HE ALONE HAS SAVED US!. We had nothing to do for it-it was a GIFT. We were made HIS CHILD! Just as you can no more change the fact the you ARE YOUR PARENTS' CHILD, so can we not be taken out of God's family (Galatians 4:5). Once we are saved, He is FOREVER WITH US, and He will be where HE SENDS US!

After the Promise, came the Predicament. Seemingly out of nowhere a great storm arose. The Sea of Galilee is known for its strong storms that pop up because of it's geographical location.  It is nestled between two mountain ranges, at lower elevation, in essence making it a "valley." It is a prime area for the cooler air coming off the mountains and mixing with the warmer air over the water to produce storms. Is this not where the storms of life hit us? They had just been on the mountains with the Lord preaching to the multitudes, and now they were down on the water in the valley. Sometimes we can see the problems coming afar off, and sometimes we are blind-sided by them. They appear out of nowhere." They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth , and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble. " Psalm 107:23-26.  The disciples may have been taken by surprise by the storm, even though they were skilled fishermen and had fished many times in this Sea. All of us have gone through trials before, but sometimes we are still shaken to our core by the next one that comes along. Why is this? It is because we are human first of all, and secondly because the Lord is trying to help us grow. Our faith needs strengthening. He wants us to ALWAYS DEPEND ON HIM! He is the One that has allowed them to come and IS IN CONTROL of them.

Even when it seems that He is nowhere to be found, HE'S STILL IN THE BOAT! HE HAS NOT GONE ANYWHERE! The Lord was in the back part of the ship asleep. Did the Lord care that the disciples were struggling in the boat against the storm? Yes! "Casting all your care upon Him; for HE CARETH FOR YOU!' I Peter 5:7. In Mark 4:38, I see His PILLOW. The prophets before Him slept on stones for pillows, which was a picture of resting  on Jesus the ROCK, or the Promise! He was in FULL CONTROL, AND KNEW THEY WOULD REACH THE OTHER SIDE, JUST AS HE HAD PROMISED THEM!  He had given HIS WORD, OR THE PROMISE, to the disciples, and knew that they would be fine. The Lord Jesus wanted them to rest upon that PROMISE as well.  

The disciples went to Jesus with their PLEA. As the waters were beating the ship on the outside, so were the waters coming IN as well. Isn't this what happens in trials? We face problems from without AND within! Outside we fight the world, and inside we fight spiritual battles! Verse 37 says that the boat was full. How many times do we fill that we are "maxed out," and cannot take anymore? We come to our wit's end. "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.  THEN THEY CRY UNTO THE LORD IN THEIR TROUBLE, and HE BRINGETH THEM OUT OF THEIR DISTRESSES!" Psalm 107:28. We wants us to come to the end of ourselves, and admit that we have to fully rely on Him! He is our strength and salvation, Psalm 27:1.

When they made their Plea to Him, JESUS BROUGHT PEACE! "....Peace, be still! And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." vs. 39. When we cry out to the Lord of a contrite spirit, He will deliver us! He wants us to come to HIM FIRST in the storm, NOT AS A LAST RESORT! He is waiting for us to come to HIM as the disciples did. "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and HE bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." Psalm 107: 28 & 29. The Lord asked "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have NO FAITH?"vs.40. It's ALL ABOUT FAITH IN HIM AND HIS PROMISE!

After the Peace came their Puzzlement! "What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" vs. 41. "Then are they GLAD because they be quiet; so HE bringeth them unto their desired HAVEN." Psalm 107:30. How the Lord amazes us also when He answers OUR prayers! Our faith is strengthened and as a result, we SHOULD GIVE HIM PRAISE. "OH THAT MEN WOULD PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS GOODNESS, AND FOR HIS WONDERFUL WORKS TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN." Psalm 107:31.

Rest in His Promise today if you are in a Predicament. Rest on the Pillow of His Word. When we bring our Pleas to Him, IN HIS TIME He will speak Peace. Praise the Lord Jesus today for His Wonderful works to us, His children! Remember-HE'S STILL IN THE BOAT!