10/23/2025 Midtown Church Thursday Service
Pastor Susie Gamez
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:6
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:23-27
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Hebrews 11:1-3
What Matthew 8:23-27 does NOT teach us about faith:
- Put your faith in Jesus and he will calm all the storms in your life
- Put your faith in Jesus and you will be spared from danger
- Put your faith in Jesus and life will get easier
Jesus calming the storm is not about being confronted with the power of nature; it’s about being confronted with the power of Jesus.
What Matthew 8:23-27 teaches us about Jesus:
- Jesus is UNTHREATENED by storms (and demons, people, systems etc).
- Jesus has AUTHORITY over storms (and demons, people, systems etc).
- Jesus is WITH US and FOR US through storms (that involve demons, people, systems).