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Mark 4:40 - Faith or Fear?

Mark 4:40 - Faith or Fear?

Mark 4:40 (NKJV) But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? 
How is it that you have no faith?"  

Mark 4:40 (NIV) He said to his disciples, "Why are you so 
afraid? Do you still have no faith?"  

Mark 4:40 (AMP) He said to them, Why are you so timid and 
fearful? How is it that you have no faith (no firmly relying trust)?  

Mark 4:40 (TLB) And he asked them, "Why were you so fearful? 
Don't you even yet have confidence in me?"  

CONTEXT

Mark 4:35-41: Jesus Calms the Storm

COMMENTARY APPLICATION

Relying on God's power (35-41). Our faith in His Word is tested 
in the storms of life. If the disciples had really trusted His Word 
(v. 35), they would not have panicked and accused Him of not caring. 
You can trust His Word, for it will never fail. [Chapter by Chapter 
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe] 

If the disciples had trusted in Him [Jesus], they would have 
been kept in peace. Their fear in the time of danger revealed their 
unbelief. In their efforts to save themselves, they forgot Jesus; and it 
was only when, in despair of self-dependence, they turned to Him 
that He could give them help.  {DA 336}   

How Adversity Reveals Our Level Of Faith; Mark 4:35-41
   When hardships come our way, do we respond, "God, I trust You 
to bring me through this"? Or do we tend to say, "I'm doomed, and 
there's nothing anybody can do"? 
   God once sent a storm on the Sea of Galilee to teach Jesus' 
disciples a lesson on faith. Jesus had said to His men, "Let us cross over 
to the other side" (Mark 4:35), and they should have taken His 
statement as a sure sign that He expected a safe trip. But when a terrible 
windstorm threatened the boat, they panicked. The terrified disciples 
asked Jesus, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 
   How many times have we said the same thing? "Don't You care, 
Lord, that this is happening to me? Don't You love me enough, Lord, to 
do something about this hardship?" 
   Jesus rebuked the wind, and immediately a great calm settled 
on the lake. Then He turned to His disciples and said, "Why are you 
so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" (Mark 4:40). 
   God has given to each one of us a measure of faith (Rom. 
12:3), and He expects us to use it to overcome our fear. Fear always 
accompanies adversity; in fact, a degree of fear is what makes something an 
adversity instead of just another experience. Fear causes us to project 
the very worst that can happen--that we will never recover, that all 
hope is lost, that we will never again enjoy some treasured thing. 
   Faith tells the opposite story. Faith says that God is in 
control and that all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28). 
Faith says that we will recover and that our final state will be 
better than anything we have experienced thus far. 
   Allow adversity to call your faith to action rather than into 
question. Adversity reveals areas in which you need to act in faith and 
not fear. When hard times come, say to yourself, "Now is the time to 
use my faith in a new way." The more you use your faith, the greater 
it grows. [Life Principles SB By Charles Stanley] 

Faith says that God is in control. [Life Principles SB By 
Charles Stanley] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

A Better Way to Live: http://www.itiswritten.com/betterway/

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Grace Notes: http://www.e-gracenotes.org/index.php

Excellent Spiritual Resource Site: 
http://www.christianlifemediacenter.com/   

More Spiritual Resources: http://www.aBible.com