TEXT:  Mark 6:45-52

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE WIND WAS AGAINST THE DISCIPLES.

B.      CONTRARY WINDS CAN BE BENEFICIAL.

C.      MAN ALWAYS HAS SOME CONTRARY WIND OR OBSTACLE.

          1.       Keeps life from becoming dull.

          2.       Inspires the mind - initiative, ambition, imagination.

I.      WE MUST ROW AGAINST CONTRARY WINDS.

A.      NO ESCAPE BY SIMPLY BECOMING A CHRISTIAN.

          1.       God blesses the christian and the alien( Matt. 5:45 ).

          2.       Some disappointments are a result of our faith( 2 Tim. 3:12 ).

          3.       Some are just a part of life( Gen. 3:17-19 ).

B.      JOSEPH CONTINUALLY FACE CONTRARY WINDS.  Give examples.

C.      PAUL - A LIFE OF TROUBLE( 2 Cor. 11:24-27 ).

II.     GOOD IN CONTRARY WINDS - THE NEED TO STRUGGLE.

A.      ADVERSE WINDS DISCIPLINE US.

          1.       We learn to become more dependent on God( James 4:15 ).

          2.       God knows we need chastisement( Heb. 12:11 ).

B.      THEY TRY OUR FAITH( 1 Pet. 1:6-9 ).

          1.       We need to know where we stand( 2 Cor. 13:5 ).

          2.       Abraham( Heb. 11:17 ) and passed( Gen. 22:12 ).

C.      THEY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRUE QUALITY TO SHOW

          ITSELF - JOB.

          1.       Job lost all in one day( 1:13-19 ).

          2.       The greatness of his character was manifest( 1:20-21 ).

          3.       He suffered physically and was deserted( 2:7-10 ).

          4.       He answered thus his chiding friends( 23:10 ).

D.      THEY MAKE US STRONG( 1 Tim. 4:7-8 ).

          1.       The refining of the fire( 1 Pet. 1:6-9 ).

          2.       Patience( James 1:2-4 ).

II.     SOME CONTRARY WINDS WE MUST FACE.

A.      BETRAYAL OF SUPPOSED FRIENDS.

          1.       Job( Job 19:19 ).

          2.       Jesus( Matt. 26:49-50;  10:24 ).

B.      PERSECUTION BY ENEMIES( Matt. 5:10-11;  1 Pet. 4:4 ).

C.      LYING TONGUES AND GOSSIP( Prov. 26:22-28 ).

          1.       Is it true that where there is smoke there is fire?( 1 Pet. 4:4 ).

          2.       How we respond makes a difference( Rom. 12:14 ).

D.      FINANCIAL BACKSETS( Luke 12:15;  1 Tim. 6:6-10 ).

E.      ACCIDENTS WHICH BRING PHYSICAL AND FISCAL INJURY.

F       LOSS OF HEALTH.

          1.       God cares and delivers( Psa. 55:22;  116:1-8;  Luke 12:6-7 ).

          2.       Sometimes we must learn to put up with the infirmity( 2 Cor. 12:7-10 ).

G.      DISAPPOINTMENTS OF VARIOUS KINDS.

          1.       Suffered by all - even Paul( Rom. 1:13;  2 Tim. 4:9-10 ).

          2.       If our hope is rightly placed, we will overcome( 2 Cor. 4:16-18 ).

H.      THE SPECTRE OF DEATH.

          1.       We must learn to accept death as a reality for us( Ecc. 8:8;  Job 1:21 ).

          2.       There is a lesson for the living( Ecc. 7:1-4;  2 Sam. 12:23 ).

          3.       There is hope( 1 Thess. 4:13-14, 18 ).

IV.   FAITH IS SOMETIMES LOST WHEN THINGS GO WELL

        ( Psa. 55:19 ).

A.      THE RICH FOOL AS AN EXAMPLE( Luke 12:16-20 ).

B.      THE KEY IS MAINTAINING FAITH IN TRIAL( Psa. 27:13-14;  30:4-5 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      STORMY WAVES CAUSE THE ANCHOR TO TAKE A STRONGER GRIP.

B.      CONTRAY WINDS CAN BE BENEFICIAL, MAKE US STRONGER.

C.      I MUST USE THE WIND, NO MATTER WHICH WAY IT BLOWS, TO DRAW    CLOSER.