Welcome to Timeless Truth with Pastor Jim Thomas. In season 2, Pastor Jim is leading us in a study of Mark. Today’s passage is Mark 4:35-41.
1. Following Jesus doesn’t mean we will always have smooth sailing
a. Storms of Correction
b. Storms of Perfection
“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
– C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
2. Following Jesus does mean we always have a Savior we can turn to.
“Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
– Isaiah 41: 10
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
– Isaiah 43:1-2
“God is God. Because he is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what he is up to.” ― Elisabeth Elliot
3. When you have a healthy fear of God you don’t need to have an unhealthy fear of anything else.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
– Proverbs 1:7
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and his children will have refuge.
– Proverbs 14:26
Jesus, Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”
“Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms; it comes from having Jesus in the boat.”
– John Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat
