Who is this Man

Main Topic

Sermon by evangelist David Fisher from Fan Into Flames Ministry, on going through storms in life, using Mark 4:35–41 (Jesus calming the storm) and Isaiah 43:1–3 to call believers to a deeper revelation of Jesus rather than just rescue from problems.​

1. Introduction: Word of God and Worship

1. Word of God as powerful and authoritative, likened to a hammer that breaks rock (Jeremiah, Jesus’ words never passing away).​

2. Welcome to Pastor Dave Fisher; context of recent ministry, prayer week, and sensing an increased move of the Spirit in the church and region.​

3. Worship as an act of defiance against the devil: choosing to shout unto God with a voice of triumph regardless of circumstances.​

4. Isaiah 43 read as a promise to God’s people: when you go through waters, rivers, and fire, God is with you and you will not be destroyed.​

2. “Going Through It”: Life’s Unrelenting Storms

1. Honest acknowledgement that many feel they are “going through it” (days, months, even decades of trial).​

2. Personal testimony of Dave and Shelley facing the most difficult mental, emotional, and spiritual season of their marriage.​

3. Introduction of Mark 4: disciples in a literal storm used as metaphor for any life trial.​

3. The Main Question: “Who Is This Man?”

1. Common application: Jesus stills our storms; affirmation that He can, does, and will.​

2. Central thesis: believers are not the main characters; the primary point is revelation of Jesus’ identity, not mere deliverance.​

3. If God rescues us but we do not gain a deeper revelation of Jesus, our faith will be shaken at the next storm.​

4. Key question from the text: “Who is this man?”—this is the heart of the narrative and the sermon.​

4. Crossing to the Other Side: Assignment and Opposition

1. Jesus’ simple statement “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake” implies divine direction and assignment, not a casual trip.​

2. On the other side (Mark 5) is the demonized man with a legion; the crossing is about confronting hell and freeing a captive.​

3. Any call to follow Jesus and advance His kingdom will be opposed by powers of darkness; storms often accompany assignment.​

4. Demons recognize Jesus’ identity and authority even before the disciples do; they know His power over them.​

5. Storms, the Enemy, and Our Focus

1. Enemy’s purpose: incite fear, paralyze faith, and block God’s purpose by overwhelming us with storms and problems.​

2. Some storms may be directly demonic; others are used by the enemy to assault mind, emotions, and focus.​

3. When overwhelmed by what we are going through, we forget what we are going to (our assignment).​

4. Disciples’ early lesson: following Jesus includes storms; in this world we will have tribulation, but Jesus has overcome.​

6. Presence in the Storm vs. Our Perception

1. Fierce storm (earthquake-like on the water); seasoned fishermen are terrified as the boat fills with water.​

2. Core promise: Jesus is in the boat—in the midst of the storm—fulfilling God’s word, “I will be with you.”​

3. Call to defiantly declare God’s word over symptoms and senses: choose His word over sight, feelings, and thoughts.​

4. Warning: if we fail to discern the source of the storm, we fight the storm instead of the enemy behind it.​

7. Jesus’ Peace and Identity vs. Disciples’ Panic

1. Contrast: disciples terrified; Jesus asleep on a cushion—same boat, same storm, radically different response.​

2. It can feel like Jesus is present but passive, silent, or indifferent; these feelings are real but not true.​

3. Jesus’ inner rest flows from knowing His Father, His identity, His origin, His assignment, and His destiny.​

4. Believers likewise know their beginning (saved), their assignment, and their end (with Him), so anything in between is in the Father’s hands.​

8. Fear, Faith, and Revelation

1. Disciples’ cry “Teacher, don’t you care we are going to drown?” contrasts Jesus’ word “We’re going to the other side.”​

2. Only one declaration can be true; revelation of who He is corrects our conclusions about our situation.​

3. Critique of purely informational faith: information about Jesus must become Spirit-given revelation in our hearts.​

4. Areas dominated by fear reveal where we lack revelation of who Jesus is (e.g., healing, provision, family).​

9. Jesus Rebukes the Storm and the Source

1. Jesus responds to their cry by rebuking wind and waves with authority (“Silence, be still” / “shut up and knock it off”).​

2. Same language used to address demons, suggesting confrontation with spiritual forces behind the storm.​

3. Believers are invited to speak with that same delegated authority to the spirit behind the storm.​

4. Emphasis: the real battle is not with circumstances but with Satan, who seeks to destroy faith and block assignment.​

10. Christ’s Deity and the Disciples’ Holy Terror

1. Immediate calm reveals Jesus is doing what only God does in the Old Testament—ruling the chaotic waters.​

2. This event unveils not just His power but His deity: Jesus is God, the eternal Word made flesh.​

3. After the calm, Jesus asks, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”—implying they need not have feared.​

4. The disciples become “absolutely terrified” in a holy way; divine presence is more awe-inspiring than any storm or demon.​

11. From Survival to Thriving: The Goal of Storms

1. God’s purpose is not mere survival but thriving in the midst of storms through deeper revelation of Christ.​

2. What we magnify (storm or Jesus) will master us; magnifying Christ brings freedom from storm-mastery.​

3. Storms can serve as opportunities for maturity and revelation (James 1:2–4 referenced).​

4. Encouragement: do not wait for storms to seek revelation; build it now in the Word.​

12. Practical Response: Defiant Declarations and Spiritual Warfare

1. Call to become a defiant people against the enemy, not against God: spiritual warfare, shouting, and praise.​

2. Personal example: walking around the house proclaiming God’s word, pleading the blood, attacking the devil by the Spirit and the Word.​

3. Use Scripture to declare truth over fear, sickness, and oppression; don’t believe everything you think.​

4. Weapons of warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to pull down strongholds and cast down imaginations.​

13. Extended Declarations: “Who Is This Man?”

1. Corporate ministry time: congregation invited to the altar to declare who Jesus is, not just receive prayer.​

2. Long series of biblical declarations describing Jesus’ identity and work (never leaving or forsaking; bread of life; light; shepherd; vine; way, truth, life; resurrection and life).​

3. Christ as reconciler, sin-bearer, seated in highest honor, head of the church, victor over sin, death, and Satan.​

4. Christ as Alpha and Omega, visible image of the invisible God, creator and sustainer, Lamb slain yet standing, coming King.​

14. Shout of Triumph and Closing Exhortation

1. Congregational Jericho-style shout as an act of spiritual warfare, linked to breaking chains and walls falling.​

2. Second, louder shout encouraged, likened to (but surpassing) cheering at a football game (Super Bowl Sunday reference).​

3. Affirmation that walls are coming down, demons are fleeing, and victories are being won because of Jesus’ kingship.​

4. Dismissal: leave with praise, a shout, and an awareness of spiritual battle; take God’s word and do warfare in Jesus’ name