SEQUENCE LEADING TO FAITH - Luke 8:22-25

The Lord Already Knows The Events That Will Come To Pass In Our Lives - 8:22 "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake..."

*We do not cross the lake by ourselves - "Let us go over..."

*Our destination is already known by the Lord - "other side"

*obedience brings us to greater faith - "they launched forth"

I Peter 1:7-9 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

Trials and Storms Come and Seem to Threaten Our Lives - 8:23 "...there came down a storm of wind on the lake;"

*At times if appears to us that we are alone - "he fell asleep"

*Trials come unannounced - "there came down a storm"

*It may seem like there’s no answer - "filled...jeopardy"

Adversity is God's means of testing our work and every spiritual house is tested - Matt. 7:24-27 Cf. I Cor. 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire...

It Seems That We May Be Overcome by Their Magnitude - 8:24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish.

*The only place to find the answer is Christ - "came to Him"

*Prayer is the key to finding the answer - "awoke Him"

*Realize Who is in control - "Master, master, we perish"

Adversity is our motivation to cry out to God! Psalm 34:17

"The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

The Lord’s Great Power Becomes Evident and Overcomes Our "Great Difficulty." - 8:24 "...they ceased, and there was a calm.

*He stands in eternity ready to act on our behalf - "He arose"

*His power is evident with His spoken word - "rebuked..."

*The universe obeys His commands - "they ceased"

Adversity is God's call to identify with Christ! Romans 6:5

Christ's power in our lives - Phil. 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Every Great Difficulty In Our Lives Causes An Evaluation Of Our Faith - 8:25 "... Where is your faith?"

*Failure in faith is brought to bear as we see His great power

*Evaluation of our faith is necessary during difficulty

*Faith is strengthened as our knowledge of God increases

Adversity is God's method of purifying our faith! Heb. 11:6

Our ways are opposite of God's ways - Isa. 55:7-8

8:25 After The Lord Deals With Our "Great Difficulty" We Marvel At His Great Power And Our Faith Is Increased -

And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

*Fear of God is an obvious conclusion when we view His power - "being afraid"

*Testimony of His greatness to others strengthens our lives

"saying one to another"

*God’s power over circumstance is by His command and sovereign will - "He commandeth....obey Him"

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