Jesus asks, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that he have no faith?” He wanted us to dig deeply into that perspective and confidence that helped him see beyond the immediate situation. Why is it that we doubt and get stuck in just looking at the present and not fully trusting that God has our best interests at heart. Jesus had no fear because he saw the end of the situation. As humans we fear when we face situations or storms in life.
Mark 4:35-41 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 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. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 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. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Paul was confident God would finish the work he started in the Philippians. He encouraged them to look to the future outcome. He wanted them to understand what happened to him was for the furtherance of the gospel.
Philippians 1:1-12 Paul and Timotheus…to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi…Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you allmaking request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel…Being confident…that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it…Even as it is meet for me to think…because I have you in my heart… in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel,ye all are partakers of my grace. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence…Being filled with the fruits of righteousness…by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. But I would yeshould understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Paul had caused a lot of suffering for the church before he was saved, but he suffered much for the church after getting saved. Now showing off his bonds caused others to grow bold to preach.
Philippians 1:13-16…my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren …waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife…also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely…to add affliction to my bonds:
Paul wanted the Philippians to see past what was happening and to know the future was good. He said if God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:28-31 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son …Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Jesus wanted the apostles to get past their fear of what was happening. When he asked why they had no faith, he wanted them to see the mystery of his purpose and his will, like Paul wrote about. God knows things beyond what we do and looks at them from an eternal perspective. He makes the mystery of his will known to us and we have to submit our will to his. Our initial reactions are due to our human emotions. We tend to take our trials personally, but we move as mature saints toward that eternal perspective. We can be sure of good in our future.
Ephesians 1:7-11 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his goodpleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ…even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
There’s a lot of trusting when the verse says, “in all thy ways acknowledge him…” People see us trusting and God blessing.
Proverbs 3:5-9 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and heshall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
In the depth of our rest, something happens like we’re in another dimension with lots of grace and help from God. We see that however God works things out, it’s going to be great.
Psalm 37:3-11 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
If we trust God and get our roots down deep, he will work things out wonderfully. Hannah earnestly prayed in anguish and poured out her heart to have a child. God used her son Samuel greatly and all Israel was blessed (I Samuel 1:10-11). Joseph had an awful situation when his brothers sold him to be a slave in Egypt. He took a bad situation and it turned into a blessing for the whole nation of Israel (Genesis 37:31-36,Genesis 50:18-20). Israel also suffered as slaves in Egyptian bondage for 400 years because of what Joseph’s brothers did (Acts 7:6-7). Ruth’s trust and submission to Naomi and God took a bad situation and turned it to a good situation and a blessing (Ruth 2:11-4:17). Our submission to God opens the way for miracles. Our suffering can produce something terrible when the devil is in it. However, our suffering can produce something amazing when God is in it. When we suffer, people are watching and can be affected by it so God gets the glory.
Can we trust and know that God will work things out for his glory? Will we let him?
Isaiah 41:10-15 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded:they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing …For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob…I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.
How you go through your trial may cause someone close to get saved, sanctified, and really sold out!
Isaiah 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the Lord hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Jesus has what we need. We just have to trust in him and his power.
Ephesians 1:18-21 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
(Notes from the Mature Class Bible Study, teacher Helene Goble)