Attacks of the Enemy against the will of God

III. Attacks of the Enemy against the will of God

A. Proverbs 10:25 (brackets added) – “When the whirlwind [storm] passes by, the wicked is
no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”

1. Though it is true some storms come because of our disobedience and some because
of the disobedience and bad decisions of others, Scripture tells us that some storms
are simply direct attacks against the will of God for our lives because of our
obedience.

2. Don’t assume your storm is a Jonah storm caused by disobedience or a Paul storm
caused by the disobedience of others.

3. Some storms come because you are doing what is right, doing what God said, and
acting on His Word, and the storm is simply an attack against that Word (Mark 4:17).

B. The disciples’ storm – Mark 4:35-41
1. Jesus gave His disciples a directive: “Let us cross over to the other side.”

2. The disciples did precisely what Jesus told them to do—they were 100 percent in the
will of God (Mark 4:36).

3. A great windstorm arose, and water was filling their boat.

4. Jesus was asleep, at peace, and His disciples were terrified.

5. They responded to all this by saying:
a. “Lord, You don’t care about us.”
b. “We are perishing—we are all going to die!”

6. Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and waves and called the disciples into faith.

7. When they came to the other side as Jesus had instructed them, they discovered a
great ministry assignment—deliverance for the demon-possessed man at Gadara—
which reveals the very reason for Satan sending this storm: He didn’t want this man
free from his bondage and control (Mark 5:1-20).

8. The disciples got into their storm by doing exactly what Jesus told them to do.

9. Disciples get out of these kinds of storms by:
a. Refusing to assume God doesn’t care for and love you

b. Refusing to agree with the worst-case scenario as final authority in this situation

c. Exercising spiritual authority over the storm

d. Realizing there are great ministry opportunities on the other side of the storm

IV. Inward storms
A. Psalm 61:2 – “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is
overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

B. Proverbs 12:25 – “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word
makes it glad.”
1. If you are depressed and downcast instead of encouraged and filled with hope, it is
because you have been allowing anxiety to fill the thoughts of your mind.

C. Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; [7] and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.”

1. Anxiety and the peace of God cannot coexist.

2. Cast your cares upon the Lord.

3. Make your focus Him, not your problem.

4. Praise Him in the storm!