“BUT GOD"!!!!

 Luke portrays Christ as The Perfect Savior, The Son of Man

Text: Luke 8:22: Now it came to pass on a certain day that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. 23: But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. 24: And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25: And he said unto them, ”Where is your faith”? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, “What manner of man is this! For he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him”. 26: And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

In our text, the disciples find themselves in a terrible storm. Now many times storms catch us when we're not expecting them. This was probably true for the disciples, as this storm came even when Jesus was with them in the ship!

But in this story, Jesus reveals Himself as the God who is bigger that our storms.

And I think our view of God is very important, because how we view God will determine how we view ourselves. And I'm sure that all of us know that God IS bigger than our storms, but if you're like me, you just sometimes need to be reminded. One thing is for sure in this story:

The storm was not as big to Jesus as it was to the disciples! And even though the storm was above their head, it was still under His feet!

Don’t start with me about “The Feet!” Can I talk to you for a few minutes about “The Feet” (We’re coming back to the storm).

I want you to notice that the feet carry the head. The feet are what carry the entire body, including the head. How many know that the Bible refers to the church as the body of Christ and Christ as the Head. What I’m saying to you is that Christ has no way of going to the world without you carrying Him. The feet which are on the body carry the Head. We must carry Christ to the world. If He’s going to save the nations, we must carry Him there. If He’s going to deliver those that are bound by witchcraft, demons, and evil spirits and sicknesses, we must carry Him there. The feet (the church) carry the Head (Jesus Christ). The head would be helpless without the feet.

In the natural, the feet nor the head, neither one is of any power within themselves.  They must have one another.  Now we are the body of Christ we have the feet and are the feet that carry the Head which is “The Christ, everywhere He goes!” Hallelujah! Oh, c’mon somebody!

(Getting back to “The Storm”)

What is a storm?  It is a serious disturbance of any element of nature; a violent upheaval of nature; a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, or a violent outbreak of thunder and lightning, unaccompanied by strong winds.

A storm can also brew within the human being. This can happen by being in a disturbed or agitated state, such as storms of emotions or a sudden outburst or violent commotion.

And here is what Jesus and the disciples were faced with trying to get over to the other side.

Jesus had a plan. And what was that plan? It was for Him and His disciples to make it to the other side of the lake. That was God's plan as well!

We to go through various "storms (disturbed or agitated) of life." Your storm may be when someone you love dearly dies unexpectedly, and you don't understand it. It may be when your job is not going the way you need it to go. It could be when you feel betrayed by those you love and no one understands your heartache.

Our storm can be when life has us so confused we don't know where to turn or what to do. It may even be when Satan whispers in your ear, "It's no use, and it will never work, you may as well give up."

What can we do when heartache comes knocking on our door and we feel overcome by despair or bound by a feeling of hopelessness?  First of all we start by realizing that God has a plan and His plan is greater than our feelings!

His plans consist of his intention, interpretation, inclination, intervention and His instructions for our lives as we weather the storms.

I God’s Intention (the object intended; purpose or attitude toward the effect of one's actions or conduct):  [His intent and purpose all refer to a wish that one has and means to carry out; or having a goal or determination to achieve something]: “Is Bigger Than Our Storm” (Luke 8:22). 

People of God, each of us have encountered situations where we just felt like throwing in the towel. We felt like the whole world was against us. We felt like no matter what we did things would turn out bad. We’ve often said to ourselves, “No matter what I do things still won’t change.”  Or we feel that we have gotten so far down that there is nothing that can bring us up.  Brothers and sisters, I want you to know today that that is not so. “BUT GOD”!!

We have to realize that because we serve a risen Savior, we can live victorious lives.

There are a number of powerful two-word phrases found in the Word of God.

Phrases such as: Healed all; gathered in; cast out; raised up and pulled down.

Each of these phrases is used in context with the power of God.

However, there is one phrase used some forty three times in Scripture that surpasses them all.

 And that phrase is “BUT GOD”! This small two-word phrase communicates a tremendous message to all that hear it.

 Brothers and sisters, you have to realize that I’m speaking to you today from God’s perspective!

The word “BUT” is a conjunction, that means on the contrary, yet God.

Contrary is defined as opposite in direction or position; unfavorable or adverse.

 Yet means at the present time; it means now: and in the time still remaining; before all is done.

I’ll say it again “This small two-word phrase communicates a tremendous message to all that hear it.”

It is God’s response to Satan’s challenge!  It is the bottom line!  It is the last word!  It is all over, but the shouting!  

“But God”, when viewed in relation to the challenges of life, it is what up is to down; what death is to life; what in is to out.

“But God” stands totally opposed to the negative roar of the world. The world says no — “But, God” says yes! The world says can’t — “But, God” says can! The world says won’t --- “But, God” says will! The world says stop — “But, God” says go! The world says don’t — “But, God” says do! The world says defeat — “But, God” says victory!  “But God” climbs the highest mountain; crosses the darkest valley; and sings songs of victory in the midnight hour!

·        Acts 16:25: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  Vs 26: And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

“But God” exclaims, “I’m going to the enemy’s camp and I’ll take back what he stole from me!”

·        Judges 7:9: And it came to pass the same night that the LORD said unto him (Gideon), “Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand”!!!!

So, let’s kick that door in and take what’s rightfully ours. Satan is under our feet!!!  So let’s pick up our feet this day and tread all over that enemy until we get back our lives……health…….finances……….mind………..whatever area you feel defeated in.

“But God” is courageous, confident and conclusive!”

Listen people of God, you have to realize that I’m speaking to you this day from God’s perspective!

Too many times we look at things through our own eyes and can only see failure.

“But God”, this two-word phrase, tell us to look at it as God sees it!

People of God I’m encouraging you to put your Kingdom glasses on and see things as God see them!

I want you to know it’s not over until God says it’s over!

Sometimes when we go to a sporting event or watch it on TV, if our team is not winning as the end draws near, we see some people leave before it’s over, not knowing that we might see a miraculous ending!

I’ve come to urge you people of God to stay for the entire game — wait until the last seconds tick off the clock; wait until the “home team” has had its chance! Wait until the last out is made! If you quit too soon, you’ll leave before victory is seen!

I want to tell you this day that the jury may still be deliberating in your situation — all the votes are not in -- the fat lady has not sung — God hasn’t had His final say in your situation!

I’m telling you this day that in that book of miracles we read from every day, there are many instances where our adversary is confounded and confused.  Isaiah 54:17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn.

There are stories of his (the adversary; devil) elaborate schemes going wrong, because he failed to realize that God would have the final say!

The devil had worked so hard to get everything just right, yet (at the present time; now: and in the time still remaining; before all is done): just when he thinks he is victorious, he hears, “But, God”!

There are things (situations, events, affairs, circumstances) as Minister Hansley said unto us, God calls “light afflictions” things that are meant to make us feel sorry for ourselves! Things that are meant to make us give up! Things that are meant for bad, “But, God” means them for good!

So, the intention or purpose God takes us through are things to make us stronger! I don’t know if you realize it or not, but among the thorns you generally will find a beautiful rose! Yes, Satan means it for bad, “But, God” means it for good! Those times when everything is going well in our lives and then all of a sudden it seems like the bottom falls out, remember, Satan means it for bad, “But, God”!

II. His Interpretation (the process of explaining the meaning of something):  “Is Bigger than Our Storm” (Luke 8:23).

Jesus is asleep in the storm and evidently has been asleep for a good while. Isn't that strange? How could Jesus sleep through a storm? The disciples literally thought they were dying! Obviously, the storm was not as big to Jesus as it was to the disciples!

I wonder: Do we sleep well when problems are consuming us? Not really huh!
When problems consume you, you normally have a hard time sleeping . . .

But not Jesus!!!! He was sound asleep through all the turmoil of the raging storm. The disciples interpreted this storm as something terrible!  The fact is, they could not change their circumstances!  There was absolutely nothing they could do about the storm!  That’s hard to deal with sometimes, isn’t it?  Do you ever wish you could change your circumstances?  We may as well accept that!  We need to realize that God doesn’t see the storm the way we see the storm.  His interpretation is bigger than our storm.                                                                                                        

 Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

God sees the storm as a means of advancement. He uses storms of life to test us to help us get closer to Him. God uses the dark, scary, uncertain times of life as an opportunity for Him to demonstrate his power not ours, but His power (dunamis) which is His force; miraculous mighty working miracle; might and strength is used for God to get the glory, through us.

God wants to use our trials to get us to just trust in Him, believe and have faith in Him.
I wonder: When our "storm" starts to devastate us, do we want to take God's interpretation of our storm? Or do we want to just develop our own interpretation? When trouble comes down on us, do we carelessly say like some, "God doesn't care — or He'd do something for me?"  Why is this happening to me?

Our problems/light afflictions are sometimes just opportunities in "work clothes." He's testing our faith. We must not forget: Faith is taking God at His Word despite the circumstances. And faith is often claiming God's promise in the midst of bad circumstances. So, the interpretation/process is simply establishing our faith.

Like the disciples, we may be in a terrible "storm." We may be so scared that we're biting our nails off. But it's good to know that God is not biting His nails off, because His interpretation is bigger than our storm!

III. His Inclination (a tendency toward a certain condition, action).  This means, "the action of bending toward something”:  “Is Bigger Than Our Storm” (Luke 8:23-24)………Course of Action 

When the Bible says the ship was "filled" with water it means they were losing "control" of the ship, and the water was controlling the ship. Rather than the boat controlling the boat, the storm was controlling the boat. The word "jeopardy" indicates that they feared death! They thought, "It's over!" But they did the right thing, they went to Jesus! And while they were literally going down, Jesus was rising up!

Jesus "arose," but not the way you and I would have arisen! Have you ever been awakened suddenly from a deep sleep? Our normal response is to be startled, bewildered, confused and to rub the sand out of our eyes, right? However, Jesus didn't do that. He arose and immediately He inclined Himself to them. He responded on their behalf.

Listen, people of God Yeshu’a is inclined to our needs!

·        Psalms 34:15: The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are opened unto their cry. (BSB- Berean standard Bible says; His ears are inclined to their cry).

·        Philippians 4:19: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.     

     He will respond to us as well.  That's His nature! Immediately Jesus inclined Himself to them! God is never in such a deep sleep that He doesn't hear our faintest whisper.  Psalm 121:4: He will never slumber nor sleep.  Aren't you glad for that? Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." God wants us to call on Him!

One amazing thing that doctors have verified is that a mother often has a special "ear" for her baby's cry. Mothers can often distinguish their own baby's cry in a room of crying babies.  For most men, one child's cry is the same as another. If you've heard one, you've heard them all, but not to a mother.  Why? It’s because God made her with a special "ear" for her baby. She is inclined to hear her baby.  It’s the same comparison with God's ear for the cry of His children.

·        Psalms 34:17-18 says, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit." In your trouble, cry out to God.   

     How many know He's waiting for you.  And His inclination is to help us!

Although Jesus was sleeping, the disciples misunderstood the nature of His sleep. They evidently thought that "sleeping" meant that He was unaware of their present danger, or that He was unconcerned for their personal lives, or maybe He was unable to make the difference that they needed.

But good God Almighty! Jesus was no less God when He was asleep than when He was awaken.  Jesus was no less God when He was lying down than when He was standing up.  And that same Jesus (Iesous’)[-ee-ay-sooce’] rebuked the wind and storm and produced a calm!

·        Psalms 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

No matter how dark our life may seem, we must believe the truth that His inclination is bigger than our storm!

IV. His Intervention (interference so as to modify a process or situation):  “Is Bigger Than Our Storm” (Luke 8:25).

These disciples had seen other miracles before, but notice what they said:    "What manner of man is this?" The way He intervened was unreal! They were saying, "It's not human!"

Let me ask you something: If God can control the wind and the waves; don't you think He can control your storm?  If God can alter the very laws of nature, I believe He can help us with our problems! 

There is no storm too big for Our God to handle! Do you believe that?

Even the wind recognized His authority, and the storm was just a platform for Him to do His work on or as Evangelist Mary says, “Flex His muscles!”

·        Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

I don't understand how He does it, but God can even use the junk in our life to bring glory to Himself.  God desires to use everything that happens to us for our good and His/God's glory.  Do you believe that He can do that in your life?

Thank God that His intervention is bigger than our storm!  ”BUT GOD”!!

(Last but certainly not least)
V. His Instruction (knowledge or information imparted): “Is Bigger Than Our Storm”:  1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV). 

·        Vs 13: There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The disciples learned some things through the storm that they might not have learned any other way. (You want to talk about a teaching experience).

A. They learned something about their faith (Luke 8:25)

 Jesus asked the disciples, "Where is your faith”?  He asked a good question. I don't know where their faith was, but I know where it wasn't. Their faith may have been in the size of the boat, to withstand the storm. Their faith may have been in their ability to out-row the storm. Their faith may have been in the strength of their anchor. I don't know where their faith was, but I know where it wasn't: It wasn't in Christ. They learned something about their faith from the storm, and we do too!                                          

When God sends a storm your way, you see how many different things you’ve been leaning on!  "Where is your faith?" How would you answer? Some probably would confess that their faith is in people or things. Some people's faith is only in the pleasures that this life can offer.  But those pleasures only last for so long. Many only have faith in their finances and in the thing’s money can buy.                     Again, but they don't satisfy.

·        1^st Corinthians 4:18:  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

You see the tabernacle and the Temples in the Old Testament were only  temporary, because God had promised of a permanent one. So, the body of every man is the promise of an imperishable one, even the body of Christ. We must look at ourselves not as flesh and blood but as Spirit.

Our thoughts must change to a new state of consciousness. We must gain an understanding of God as Spirit and must understand our own relation to Spirit.

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Romans 8:14 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 8:16 

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

We see the disciples also learned something about their future (Luke 8:26)

They did get to the other side!  God wasn't through with them yet.

He had something else for them beyond the storm.

And when the storms of life beat down on us, we need to realize that there is life beyond the storm. 

God is not finished with us yet.  It is merely a setup for a comeback!!!!

Noah got drunk………..BUT GOD!!!!

Jacob lied………..BUT GOD!!!!

Moses murdered………..BUT GOD!!!!

Rahab was a prostitute………..BUT GOD!!!!

David had an affair………..BUT GOD!!!!

But God still used them.

He can use you, too!

Satan says, “You can’t make it on your own”.  “But, God” says, “If I am for you I am more than the world against you”!

Satan says, “Hold on to all your problems for no one can help you”.  “But, God” says, “Cast all your care on me for I care for you”!

Satan says, “Take the easy way out”.   “But, God” says, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but he that endures to the end, shall be saved”.

Satan says that “Your enemies have you surrounded, come out with your hands up”.  “But, God” says, “I’ll make your enemies your footstool”!

Satan says, “Sickness will follow you”.  “But, God” says “By His stripes we are healed”!

Satan says, “There’s nothing else the doctors can do”.   “But, God” says, “I can change the diagnosis”!

I’m just trying to tell you today that no matter what the situation, no matter how bad it might look, no matter how bad you have been or been mistreated, remember that whatever comes, “But, God”!

Nobody else “But God”!

“But God” can do anything but fail!    CLAP YOUR HANDS FOR GOD!!!

 

Assist Pastor, Jackie Burton