Going Through the Storm to Claim Victory (part 1) by Brother Curtis Hansen

         Our scripture reading is going to be in the book of Mark this morning. If you may remember the last sermon given by Brother Curtis on July 3, the scripture was in the same chapter which we will read from today. However, we are going to go back to the 36th verse of the 4th chapter. It's going to set up some things before we get into the text for this morning's sermon. 

        36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

        37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

        38 And he was asleep in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, care thou not that we perish?

        39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

        40 And he said unto them, What are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

        41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

        This scripture is a prelude leading into what our sermon is focused upon. Jesus has spoken to the multitudes in the parable of the seeds and then also added about your faith as a grain of mustard seed. By verse 36, Jesus was wanting to take a boat to the other side. If you noticed also there other little ships that went with his boat. On this journey, it wasn't just merely Jesus and his disciples. There were people from the multitude to follow. Now, the country of Gadarenes is part of the Decapolis and comprised of Gentiles rather than Jews living there. Given that in chapter 5, Jesus is immediately approached by a man with an unclean spirit, there should be no surprise as to what that storm in verse 37 truly was. If one man had so many spirits, what does it say about the entire area? A manifestation of evil disguised as a storm of wind. In verse 39, Jesus rebuked the wind. What is the other thing he rebukes or we have the capability to rebuke? The enemy! The points to the message are 1) The Storm 2) Legion and 3) The Pigs.

         We start with point 1, the storm.You have to get through the storm in your life. God will have a test for you within the storm. If you have the test and you are prepared it should be easy. Mark's theme of his gospel is the authority of God. Authority is illustrated and not explained. Each illustration builds from the previous one. Our lives should reflect Jesus every day. There are people who are strong in confidence that are ignorant in knowledge. We should operate and live life at a 2 when our surroundings are at a 12. The purpose of your life, what it was designed to do is sometimes being the example of calm in the middle of madness and uncertainty. The ship moving across the sea was toward a purpose. Satan wants to take what is valuable to you by testing you. You cannot get to the miracle without a storm.

        You cannot claim new territory without at storm. The enemy will scrap, fight, negotiate you not to give you any new ground in life. The storm was from a demonic presence. You are going to face that wherever you go. The storm was brought upon by the presence of Legion on the shore. If you want to see if you have the peace of God and authority it is on how you go through storms in your life. We will go onto chapter 5 of Mark starting with verse 1.

        1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

        2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.

        3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains.

        4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

        5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

        6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

        7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

        8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

        9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

        10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

        11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

        12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

        13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, ( they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

        14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

        15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

        16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

        17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

        18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

        19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

        20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

        To be concluded Monday July 25