Everybody's Faith Will Be Tested

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. (Luke 8:22-39, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Let us look at the sequence of events: 

1.    The disciples have been with Jesus for some time now and have seen Him performing miracles on a daily basis.  They know He is the Messiah.  Nothing is impossible for Jesus to overcome.  The blind see, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life.  

2.    Jesus tells them to cross over to the other side of the lake and it appears the disciples go without even asking why they should go.  The disciples took the first step of faith by doing what Jesus said without asking WHY?    

a.    Peter and most of the other disciples worked on the water for a living and probably could see that a great storm was brewing.  They could have asked Jesus to hold off until the storm blew by them.  They would be sailing into a storm from a place of safety. 

b.    Also, the other side of the lake was where the Gentiles lived.  Why should they risk their lives and get themselves dirty by associating themselves with these unclean people (Jews and Gentiles did not associate with each other)? 

3.    They are now in the middle of the lake, the violent storm is sweeping over them, they are taking in some water, the waves are 20 feet high (actual recorded wave height on the lake), it’s dark, they cannot see anything, and everything appears hopeless.  They think in their hearts they are going to die (all their faith is now gone).  So they wake up Jesus who is still sleeping on the boat and Jesus rebukes the wind and the raging waves. The storm immediately disappeared; all was calm.  Then Jesus asked the disciples, "Where's your faith?"  The disciples failed the test again; as we all do. 

Jesus was trying to build up the faith of His disciples just like a track coach builds up his long distance runners.  You cannot run a long distance race without building up your endurance over time.  You start by running one mile then increasing your mileage over time.  You have to keep it up and you can never stop.  It matters what you eat, drink, and how much sleep you get.  You have to be dedicated and be able to work through the pain.  It is never easy.  At times you will want to give up and quit.  Jesus knew what was ahead of the disciples and knew they needed great faith in order to carry out His great commission.  Jesus allowed the violent storm in order to test and build up the disciple’s endurance (faith).

 

Later on, we finally see Peter’s faith perfected.  In Acts 12:1-17, we see Peter sleeping as he is chained to two guards awaiting his brutal death scheduled for the next day.  At night, an angel of the Lord wakes Peter up from his sleep, his chains falls off him, the prison doors are opened for him, and somehow the prison guards do not stop him or see him leaving the jail cell.  Just like Jesus sleeping in the boat during the violent storm; Peter was now sleeping and resting in the mighty power of God even though everything looked hopeless from the world’s view.   

 

 

POINT OF PONDER:

• Like the disciples, Jesus will take us through many storms, trials, and tribulations in our lives in order to build up our endurance (faith) that He knows will be needed in our future.   
• The amount of faith we will need in our lives usually increases as we get older.  Just like a long distance runner, we build up our endurance and stamina (faith) for longer and harder trials within our lives.
• Instead of asking God why this is happening to me and telling God why everything looks hopeless and impossible; we start asking God how this will be used to bring Him the most glory.  It’s all about Him and it’s not about me.
• Yes, building up endurance is going to be painful, hard and difficult at times.  Sometimes we will want to quit and give up; however, we know God is there for us and will never give us more than we can handle.  We are unable to see the big picture.  
• We need to take immediate action when God directs us to do something; instead of waiting on God to first answer all of our many questions of why, when, how, where, who, etc.  We need to be submissive to God and walk by faith.  A lot easier said than done. 
• Sometimes the storms, trials and tribulations God allows in our lives are used in ways to bring Him glory.  I know a lot of people who are going through difficult situations with awesome faith.  People who do not know God yet as savior may become believers because they are watching these people going through their difficult situations with great faith.  This is what some people call a sermon in action.  I would rather see a sermon than hear a sermon anytime; as some of the older people of faith would tell me.
• We need to trust and rest in the power of the Lord when things look hopeless within our lives.  God will get the most glory when He comes to rescue you from a situation that appears impossible to man.

 

 

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, perfect my endurance (faith) so I can carry out Your will on earth.  Help me to be more like Jesus; to be able to sleep in the middle of the storm and rest in Your perfect peace.  Forgive me for questioning Your ability to overcome things within my life and start asking how my trials will be used for Your glory. 

 

 

WHO AM I?

I am Max Peeples, a man in the process of building up his own endurance (faith) as it will be needed in the future.  Attached is a picture of my beautiful wife on the Sea of Galilee.  Thankfully there was not a violent storm while my wife was on the boat.