Comfort And The Cross

Comfort And The Cross

Preacher Huijun - 10 December 2015

Jesus Calms The Storm

"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?" - (Mark 4:35-41) Often, we find ourselves asking God the same question - God, don't you care if I am upset, if I have enough money, if others bully me, if my loved ones leave me? If you do care, why are you not helping me? " Like the disciples, after seeing the miracles Jesus had performed, it is easy for us to forget that God still loves us and He is in control when storms attack (unrest/ unexpected turbulence) us in life. When the storm becomes so overwhelming yet God does not release us from the circumstances, we may feel that God really does not care and He is harsh to us! Indeed, God does not remove us from our discomfort, inconvenience, and problems at times. But the greater truth is, like this story, Jesus is in the same boat as us! He is omnipotent and most importantly, He cares! Satan is always giving us a lopsided perspective about God and ourselves in storms, so that we will be seeing things from Satan's side instead of looking to Jesus and trusting in His unfailing love and sovereignty, Satan wants to weaken our faith so that we will no longer desire God in our lives. Storm in inevitable, for Satan exists. But the greater truth is, God is with us even during the storms, and it is by trusting in the whole character of Jesus (instead of the byproducts of storms - our feelings and analysis) that we can be soar above the storm. Lets muster our faith and pray to God to have mercy in us during the storm, and trust not our fear and feelings which only make us dwell on the problems, not Jesus.

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1. The traps of Comfort.

  • “Suffering”: Abstract
  • The problem of “not having problems”
    • Resistant to even little inconveniences
    • Stay in comfort zones
  • <Lk 9> 23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
  • Spiritual battles faced in comfort:
    • People proud toward God (no need for Him)
    • God-loving spirit put to sleep
    • Flesh is stirred up

2. Be intentional about carrying the cross in the midst of comfort.

  • [one slide] Cross and Comfort: Opposites or Correlated?
  • If we do not carry cross intentionally:
    • Devil will get us
    • World will consume us
    • Many things other than God will influence us
    • Accusations grow
    • Get listless about “God-stuff”
    • Evangelism becomes non-urgent
  • People who want to live by the truth will remain in a constant state of battling and tension
  • Carry the Cross: Centre on God, Gospel and Kingdom 

3. The importance of gatherings.

  • <Heb 10> 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
  • <Mt 18> 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
  • Value creates Momentum
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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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