WEBVTT

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 I would like you to take your Bibles this morning and turn in them to John chapter 6.

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! Yesterday as I finished the sermon that I preached for my mother's memorial, I summarized

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! I summarized a pastor's responsibility in the pulpit.

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 It's not a very complicated job in that a pastor really has the responsibility of making

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 much of Jesus and putting people on the spot of saying yes or no to God.

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 I trust that as you take your Word in hand and follow, as we study in John chapter 6,

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 that you will also multitask in praying that the Word of God would have free course and

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 that it would make an impact on your life and that you would leave here this morning

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 if you don't know Christ, that you would leave here knowing Him and believing in Him for eternal

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 life. That's one.

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 Another thing is this, is if you are here and you know Christ, I trust that you leave here

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 this morning with a greater affection and a delight in Him and thinking to yourself,

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 the day is coming that I'm going to see Him face to face. That's going to be good.

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 I want you to turn in your body. You're in John. Can you multitask? Put a finger in John chapter 6

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 and go to a verse that kind of is a driving thought behind what we're going to study.

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 Turn to 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 8.

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 If I were to...well, there are a number of verses that are important to me, so I'll get in trouble

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 with that one. But it's probably a verse that in the last 10 years has been one of the things that

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 has driven me forward in my growth with loving Christ. It's this passage. 1 Peter chapter 1 verse

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 8, it says, though you have not seen Him...stop just for a moment. Hey, look at me. Can you love

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 somebody you don't know? Come on. Can you really love somebody you don't know? Let me just throw out

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 a couple names and just see if they really resonate with your soul. Genghis Khan. Oh, yeah. Warm fuzzies

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 for him. You know, it's like, Julius Caesar, huh? No, no. Face it, we can't love somebody we don't know.

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 And here is Peter saying, though you have not seen Him, you love Him. What that undeniably points to

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 is that Peter recognized that believers, you and me today, can know Him. And how do we end up knowing

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 Jesus? How do we end up genuinely, truly loving Him? It is by discovering the beauty and the glory

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 of Christ in the Scriptures with the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Can you kind of track that in your

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 mind? How is it that we grow in loving Christ? It is by discovering the beauty and the glory of Christ

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 in the Scriptures with the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Hey, listen. If the Holy Spirit is not helping

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 you to grow in your affection for the Lord Jesus Christ, it's not going to take place. More

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 information apart from the enabling of the Spirit of God is just more information.

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 And so if you're sitting here this morning and you do not have a love for the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 there is something deeply wrong. And I pray that the preaching of the Word of God this morning brings

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 you to the point of saying, I desperately need God to do a work in my heart.

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 And I trust that this morning that our study, go back now if you would to John chapter 6,

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 ends up really giving to you just a welling sense of, man, I can't believe the Jesus that loves me

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 and that is my Savior and that someday I am going to see face to face. You know, it's like, wow.

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 I hate it. I have to talk about my mom. She's with the Lord. But I remember about two weeks ago,

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 mom had about three or four dips where we thought she was going to die and she didn't and then she did.

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 But I remember about two weeks ago, maybe three weeks ago, she had a picture of dad hanging there

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 where she was and she said, you know what, I want to cross up there right next to dad.

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 So that the first thing I see is Jesus and the second thing I see is dad, okay?

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 I want it to be that way in my life, right? The first thing I think about is Jesus. Everything else is second.

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 And I trust that part of our study this morning will give to you a growing affection for the Lord Jesus

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 that you will have a longing to see Him face to face, right?

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 Let me have you look now with me to the passage beginning there in verse 16.

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 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.

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 It was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them.

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 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.

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 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,

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 and they were frightened.

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 But He said to them, it is I.

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 Do not be afraid.

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 Then they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

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 One of the things that I have worked at in our studies in the book of John

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 is that for the most part, I have kept the cross-references primarily within the book itself.

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 And I don't think that is a necessary discipline for every time a pastor preaches.

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 But in my work in the book of John, I've wanted to stay kind of focused in that and limit it.

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 But we're going to step beyond that this morning in particular,

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 and we're going to rely upon the synoptics because there are details that I think really help us appreciate

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 what was going on in this seemingly kind of minor little picture in the ministry that Christ had to His disciples.

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 So as we take up this passage, let's recognize, first of all, supreme protection.

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 Not immediately on the face of it.

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 And you might be thinking that the protection that I am referencing really is what happened in the storm,

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 and that's not the case.

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 Our text, beginning there in verse 16, is rather innocent on the face of it.

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 And if we're not paying attention to the context,

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 and we don't kind of begin to think outside of this passage itself

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 and recognize both the hearts of the disciples and things we find elsewhere,

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 we probably just gloss over and move on.

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 And it tells us there on the passage that when evening came,

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 the disciples got in the sea in the boat,

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 and they launched out across the Sea of Galilee, actually a large lake.

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 But we need to ask ourselves a question, why?

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 Why did they do that?

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 We do get some idea from John chapter 6, verse 14 and 15,

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 so let's kind of go back a little bit and see where that takes us.

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 When the people saw the sign that He had done,

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 they said,

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 this is indeed the prophet who has come into the world.

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 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king,

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 Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by Himself.

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 You see, what had happened, and it's important for us to recognize,

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 is that after Jesus had performed the miracle in turning five loaves and two little fishes

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 into a meal for probably 20,000 people,

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 the people were very impressed with this.

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 This was a significant miracle,

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 and it's one that they could kind of relate to personally.

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 And it, whoa, I mean, how many of you like to have free food for the rest of your life,

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 never worry about dinner,

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 or how many of you have ever called up your wife at lunchtime and said,

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 hey, what's for supper?

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 Jesus is taking care of it.

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 It's all right.

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 You know what I mean?

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 Hey, they liked the idea of having everything cared for,

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 and they were pressing,

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 and they were really kind of fired up to get Jesus to be their king.

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 Now, finger in John, turn back to Matthew chapter 14.

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 Matthew chapter 14 gives us a little further information

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 that colors our understanding of what we see there in John chapter 6, verse 16.

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 In verse 22 and 23, let me read it to you.

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 Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat

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 and go before him to the other side while he dismissed the crowd.

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 And after he had dismissed the crowds,

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 he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

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 When evening came, he was there alone.

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 I want you to recognize that, for one,

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 Jesus actually forced his disciples to leave the environment

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 in which everything was just completely enthusiastic

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 in its endorsement and approval of Jesus,

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 and at least what he had done on the surface.

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 He sent the disciples away.

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 He made them go.

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 Not only did he make the disciples go,

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 but he dismissed himself from the crowd,

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 and he removed himself to a distant place

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 and stepped away from them

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 and departed from the environment

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 where the temptation and the enthusiasm of the moment,

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 everybody,

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 we want you to be our king.

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 He got out of that situation.

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 I want you to recognize that in dismissing the crowd,

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 Jesus protected his mission

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 and his own heart

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 from being sidetracked

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 by his temporary approval rating

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 from the ministry and the mission

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 that his father had sent him to accomplish.

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 How many of you like when people like you?

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 Huh? Huh?

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 On the very face of it,

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 we like compliments,

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 but even more than that,

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 we take great comfort

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 when people appreciate what we're doing

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 and let us know how important we are.

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 And, you know,

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 you have to stop and realize

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 that it wasn't just Jesus

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 that was affected by the attitudes of the crowd,

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 and Jesus had the wisdom and heart of his father

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 to know what he was there doing.

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 I want you to recognize

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 that the disciples, without question,

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 must have been carried away a little bit

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 by kingdom-itis.

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 What do I mean by kingdom-itis?

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 Think with me.

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 The disciples,

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 if you kind of would track a little later

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 in the book of John

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 and actually in the synoptic gospels,

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 do you remember what their standard arguments

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 and disputes were about?

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 It was about who was going to be

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 the greatest in the kingdom.

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 Hey, the day is coming

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 when Jesus is going to be on the throne,

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 and I'm going to be his right-hand man,

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 and when I walk in the room,

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 everybody's going to stand up and say,

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 yeah, Tim, what does Jesus want?

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 You know, it's like,

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 huh, really important person.

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 I'm close to Jesus, you know.

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 And the disciples were all about this,

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 and here, the moment was in front of them,

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 20,000 people saying,

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 we want Jesus, we want Jesus.

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 And how were the disciples getting into this?

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 Whew, this is the moment.

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 Guys, it's going to happen.

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 It had been a little rocky here,

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 you know, cleansing the temple

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 and having a little spitting matches

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 with the Pharisees.

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 Those haven't gone over very well,

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 but now where are we?

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 Jesus has fed the 20,000,

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 and everybody's with him.

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 It's time to step up and take control.

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 And Jesus grabs his low-life disciples.

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 He says, listen, I love you.

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 Get in the boat.

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 No, no, no, Jesus.

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 Do you understand?

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 The moment it could pass,

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 they may not like you so much tomorrow.

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 By the way, you move a little bit ahead

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 in John chapter 6,

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 and you find that Jesus preached his,

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 what is known as

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 disciple elimination sermon, right?

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 But here is Jesus

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 at the moment of opportunity,

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 and everybody is saying,

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 we want you to be our king.

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 And he grabs his disciples,

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 and he says, hey, out of here.

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 I want you to understand that

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 in doing so,

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 Jesus, for one thing,

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 protected himself.

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 He stayed focused on the mission

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 of our salvation,

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 not in being a secular king

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 and making a momentary difference

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 in minor issues of politics

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 there in Judea and Jerusalem.

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 Jesus also protected his disciples.

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 I want you to recognize

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 that their desire for Jesus

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 to be elevated really had its roots

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 not in their affection for him principally

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 as the Lord of glory

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 and the Savior who came into the world

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 to save sinners.

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 We know from repeated illustrations

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 in the Gospels

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 that their interest was

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 in their own position.

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 They were interested in themselves.

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 And Jesus, knowing the frailty

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 of their hearts,

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 he said, hey, listen,

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 we're not going to be riding in motorcades.

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 We're not going to have everybody

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 kind of bowing and scraping for us.

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 We're not going to be flying around

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 in private jets

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 and doing wonderful things

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 in arenas

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 and making lots of money

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 off of this.

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 Here, guys,

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 out of here.

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 You can imagine

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 the disciples

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 kind of saying

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 in their hearts,

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 what's the deal with Jesus?

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 Everybody loves him,

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 and they love us too.

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 Why are we doing this?

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 And so I kind of want you

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 to imagine with me,

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 here's Jesus saying,

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 there's a time for you

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 to get away

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 from the temptation

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 of the moment,

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 get out of the situation.

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 And so to you as believers,

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 I say along with Jesus,

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 get in the boat, believer,

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 and get away from temptation.

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 When you find yourself

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 in the situation

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 where your heart

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 is being drawn

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 to the affections

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 of the world

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 and things that have

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 no eternal consequence,

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 it is time

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 to get in the boat

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 and get away

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 from the situation.

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 And by the way,

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 where did they go

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 when they got into the boat?

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 They went into a storm.

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 So I think it's fair

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 for us to recognize

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 that because of Christ's love

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 for you

00:15:29.059 --> 00:15:30.579
 and Christ's love for me,

00:15:30.879 --> 00:15:32.639
 He will take us away

00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.740
 from a place

00:15:33.740 --> 00:15:35.500
 that will overwhelm us,

00:15:36.199 --> 00:15:38.799
 but He may well lead you

00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:39.639
 into a storm

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.639
 at the same time.

00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:42.720
 Isn't that strange?

00:15:43.339 --> 00:15:44.600
 Because we like to think

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:46.379
 that if we're following Jesus,

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.419
 it's all going to be

00:15:47.419 --> 00:15:48.419
 smooth sailing

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:49.659
 and everything's going

00:15:49.659 --> 00:15:50.259
 to be perfect

00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:51.319
 and we're not going

00:15:51.319 --> 00:15:52.159
 to have any troubles.

00:15:52.299 --> 00:15:52.959
 Well, Jesus said,

00:15:53.059 --> 00:15:54.120
 hey, out of here, guys.

00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.360
 I want to protect you.

00:15:55.439 --> 00:15:56.059
 Get in the boat.

00:15:56.219 --> 00:15:56.379
 Get!

00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.279
 And off they go

00:15:58.279 --> 00:15:59.240
 and the next thing

00:15:59.240 --> 00:15:59.659
 they have

00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:00.839
 is a mess on their hands.

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.199
 Now for these

00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:05.179
 simple little fishermen

00:16:05.179 --> 00:16:06.579
 that became disciples,

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.799
 getting into a boat

00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:10.679
 and rowing across

00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.659
 the Sea of Galilee

00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:13.679
 was no big detail.

00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:16.120
 Thanks to Google

00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:17.159
 and Wikipedia,

00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:18.939
 I know that a rowboat

00:16:18.939 --> 00:16:19.679
 about this size

00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:20.740
 probably make about

00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:22.199
 two, two and a half hours,

00:16:22.659 --> 00:16:24.579
 two and a half miles per hour

00:16:24.579 --> 00:16:26.019
 and possibly

00:16:26.019 --> 00:16:27.299
 ten miles across.

00:16:27.479 --> 00:16:29.139
 And so they kind of imagined

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.379
 a late night arrival

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.379
 on the other shore

00:16:31.379 --> 00:16:32.779
 and back off they were

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.099
 to wherever they wanted to rest.

00:16:34.100 --> 00:16:34.840
 and that's not the way

00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:35.460
 it worked out.

00:16:37.659 --> 00:16:38.879
 You notice there

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:39.639
 in verse 18

00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.159
 it says,

00:16:40.560 --> 00:16:41.720
 the sea became rough

00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.300
 because a strong wind

00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:43.960
 was blowing.

00:16:46.300 --> 00:16:47.420
 He had sent them away

00:16:47.420 --> 00:16:48.720
 from the temporary approval

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:49.540
 of the throng

00:16:49.540 --> 00:16:51.680
 and he'd gone up the mountain

00:16:51.680 --> 00:16:52.680
 to pray alone.

00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:55.040
 And as he prayed

00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:56.240
 throughout that night,

00:16:56.920 --> 00:16:58.540
 here were the

00:16:58.540 --> 00:17:01.040
 seamen disciples

00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:01.800
 rowing

00:17:01.800 --> 00:17:03.600
 and as they began to row

00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:04.660
 things got tougher

00:17:04.660 --> 00:17:05.099
 and tougher

00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.140
 and they had a headwind

00:17:06.140 --> 00:17:07.579
 and when you're rowing

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.700
 a large rowboat

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:10.099
 with a bunch of guys in it

00:17:10.099 --> 00:17:11.460
 and there's a headwind against,

00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:12.240
 they weren't making

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.279
 any headway at all hardly.

00:17:14.579 --> 00:17:15.559
 It tells us there

00:17:15.559 --> 00:17:16.400
 that they'd made

00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:17.680
 about three or four miles.

00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:21.160
 And if you pay attention,

00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:21.940
 they were in,

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.000
 as it says here,

00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:24.599
 in the fourth watch.

00:17:25.299 --> 00:17:26.220
 That's between three

00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:26.880
 and six o'clock

00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.339
 in the morning.

00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:29.900
 And so if you turn

00:17:29.900 --> 00:17:30.380
 into your Bible,

00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.240
 you're there in John,

00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.000
 keep your finger there,

00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:32.819
 but I want you to go over

00:17:32.819 --> 00:17:33.400
 to Mark

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:38.060
 in Mark chapter 6,

00:17:38.140 --> 00:17:38.860
 we read that

00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:40.120
 things were not going

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:40.780
 well at all.

00:17:40.860 --> 00:17:41.580
 Verse 48,

00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.360
 he saw them

00:17:44.360 --> 00:17:45.200
 that they were making

00:17:45.200 --> 00:17:46.240
 headway painfully

00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.800
 for the wind

00:17:46.800 --> 00:17:47.660
 was against them

00:17:47.660 --> 00:17:49.560
 and about the fourth

00:17:49.560 --> 00:17:50.480
 watch of the night,

00:17:50.620 --> 00:17:51.500
 he came to them

00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.940
 walking on the sea.

00:17:57.580 --> 00:17:59.040
 We don't do boat rides

00:17:59.040 --> 00:17:59.720
 very often

00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.620
 and I would venture

00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.540
 to say that if I were

00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:03.299
 to ask how many

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:03.879
 of you have rowed

00:18:03.879 --> 00:18:04.980
 across a lake before,

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.379
 there are very few

00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.279
 of you that would say

00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.099
 you've done that.

00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.819
 Rowing is hard work.

00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.119
 It really is.

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:17.680
 And rowing a boat

00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.740
 that can carry

00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:20.460
 12 men

00:18:20.460 --> 00:18:22.259
 means pushing

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.359
 a lot of water

00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:24.200
 out of the way

00:18:24.200 --> 00:18:25.399
 with brute force

00:18:25.399 --> 00:18:26.700
 to make any headway.

00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:29.740
 these guys had been

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.019
 rowing all night

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:34.080
 and the storm

00:18:34.080 --> 00:18:35.160
 got stronger

00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:36.180
 and more powerful

00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:37.460
 and they were

00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:39.420
 aware that they were

00:18:39.420 --> 00:18:40.400
 in a difficult

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:41.259
 place.

00:18:41.480 --> 00:18:42.340
 It says there

00:18:42.340 --> 00:18:42.759
 in Mark,

00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.400
 and we look at it,

00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:43.600
 it says,

00:18:43.980 --> 00:18:44.700
 they were making

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.740
 headway painfully.

00:18:47.799 --> 00:18:48.900
 What had begun

00:18:48.900 --> 00:18:50.840
 as a quiet boat ride

00:18:50.839 --> 00:18:53.379
 had turned

00:18:53.379 --> 00:18:54.159
 into an absolute

00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:54.839
 disaster.

00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:56.699
 Now,

00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:57.500
 they were experienced

00:18:57.500 --> 00:18:57.919
 fishermen,

00:18:58.959 --> 00:19:00.220
 but it's understandable

00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.980
 that the storm

00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.679
 became more

00:19:01.679 --> 00:19:02.619
 than they could bear.

00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:03.220
 Incidentally,

00:19:03.659 --> 00:19:04.299
 this is not

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:05.159
 the only storm

00:19:05.159 --> 00:19:05.899
 that is recorded

00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:06.879
 in the Gospels.

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:09.139
 It's the second one

00:19:09.139 --> 00:19:10.119
 in which the disciples

00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:11.079
 found them

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:12.220
 in a mess.

00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:13.679
 Can I give you

00:19:13.679 --> 00:19:14.199
 just a little bit

00:19:14.199 --> 00:19:14.619
 of detail

00:19:14.619 --> 00:19:15.299
 on the first one?

00:19:15.379 --> 00:19:16.319
 Because in the first one,

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.179
 guess who was

00:19:17.179 --> 00:19:17.639
 in the boat

00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:18.120
 with them?

00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:20.240
 It was Jesus.

00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:22.180
 And where was he?

00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:23.600
 In the boat,

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:24.940
 asleep.

00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.900
 I mean,

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.160
 he was just,

00:19:28.380 --> 00:19:29.280
 you know,

00:19:29.300 --> 00:19:29.900
 just resting

00:19:29.900 --> 00:19:30.560
 and these guys

00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:31.540
 were just sweating

00:19:31.540 --> 00:19:32.920
 bullets in the storm

00:19:32.920 --> 00:19:34.120
 and finally

00:19:34.120 --> 00:19:34.920
 they wake him up.

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.360
 I like it

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:35.960
 in the King James.

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:36.220
 It says,

00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.300
 carest thou not

00:19:37.300 --> 00:19:38.160
 that we perish?

00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:38.860
 You know,

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:39.020
 I mean,

00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:39.180
 hey,

00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:40.060
 if you like a little

00:19:40.060 --> 00:19:40.680
 King's English,

00:19:40.800 --> 00:19:41.259
 there it is.

00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:42.320
 Carest thou not

00:19:42.320 --> 00:19:43.280
 that we perish?

00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:43.600
 You know,

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:43.840
 it's like,

00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:44.740
 where are you,

00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.140
 bud?

00:19:45.320 --> 00:19:46.180
 We're suffering

00:19:46.180 --> 00:19:46.860
 and you're not

00:19:46.860 --> 00:19:47.520
 paying attention.

00:19:47.640 --> 00:19:50.560
 How'd that one end up?

00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:51.860
 Remember?

00:19:53.360 --> 00:19:54.759
 Jesus calms the storm

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.640
 and everything's okay.

00:19:56.020 --> 00:19:56.160
 Well,

00:19:56.180 --> 00:19:56.780
 here they were

00:19:56.780 --> 00:19:57.560
 rowing again.

00:19:58.700 --> 00:19:59.780
 Knowing the disciples,

00:19:59.940 --> 00:20:00.460
 I don't think

00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.460
 one of them thought

00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.420
 or one of them

00:20:02.420 --> 00:20:03.280
 said to the other,

00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:04.400
 wouldn't it be nice

00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.140
 if Jesus showed up

00:20:05.140 --> 00:20:05.480
 right now?

00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:07.080
 Do you think

00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:07.640
 the disciples

00:20:07.640 --> 00:20:08.640
 were thinking that way?

00:20:09.040 --> 00:20:09.360
 No?

00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:10.240
 They were just

00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.300
 pulling on the oars

00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:12.120
 and come on,

00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:12.460
 John,

00:20:12.540 --> 00:20:13.180
 will you put a little

00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:14.320
 more back to this thing?

00:20:14.600 --> 00:20:15.360
 Do you realize

00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:16.240
 we've only made

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:16.840
 three hours,

00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.080
 you know,

00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:18.139
 three miles here,

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:19.839
 we are not doing very,

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:21.319
 nobody stopped to think,

00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.699
 oh man,

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:24.039
 I wish Jesus were here.

00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:25.740
 We could really use

00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:27.259
 Jesus' help right now.

00:20:27.679 --> 00:20:28.019
 Man,

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:30.059
 why hasn't he come to hell?

00:20:30.159 --> 00:20:31.000
 That didn't go

00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:31.679
 through their minds.

00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:32.359
 They were doing

00:20:32.359 --> 00:20:33.339
 their own thing.

00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:35.740
 We've done that too,

00:20:35.799 --> 00:20:36.179
 haven't we?

00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.500
 Haven't we?

00:20:38.419 --> 00:20:39.259
 Bit in the boat,

00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:40.359
 slogging across

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.179
 through the problem

00:20:41.180 --> 00:20:42.480
 and never stopped

00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.200
 for a moment

00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.759
 to say,

00:20:43.960 --> 00:20:44.299
 Jesus,

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:45.460
 we need your help.

00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.019
 I want you to mark,

00:20:49.820 --> 00:20:50.799
 still there in Mark

00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.640
 chapter 6.

00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.600
 Let me read it again

00:20:54.600 --> 00:20:54.860
 to you.

00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.259
 It says,

00:20:55.820 --> 00:20:56.759
 and he saw that they

00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:57.720
 were making headway

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.340
 painfully,

00:20:59.340 --> 00:21:00.340
 for the wind

00:21:00.340 --> 00:21:01.820
 was against them.

00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.560
 I want you to understand

00:21:04.560 --> 00:21:05.500
 that Jesus had,

00:21:05.620 --> 00:21:06.220
 for one thing,

00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:07.340
 sent his disciples

00:21:07.340 --> 00:21:09.500
 away from the temptation

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.059
 of popularity

00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:14.299
 into a difficult situation.

00:21:15.779 --> 00:21:16.940
 I think sometimes

00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:17.779
 we assume

00:21:17.779 --> 00:21:19.079
 that the difficult

00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.680
 situations we are in

00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.900
 happen to us

00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:23.240
 because Jesus

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:24.619
 is not paying attention.

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.339
 That's not necessarily

00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.140
 the case.

00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:30.240
 Sometimes he puts us there,

00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.319
 and he puts us there

00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:33.400
 to teach things

00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.099
 about his sufficiency

00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:37.299
 that we would not

00:21:37.299 --> 00:21:39.480
 learn apart from that.

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:42.980
 over in 2 Corinthians

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:44.000
 chapter 12,

00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:45.059
 the apostle

00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:46.539
 recounts

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.640
 or shares with us

00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.400
 the experience

00:21:48.400 --> 00:21:49.559
 of having some kind

00:21:49.559 --> 00:21:50.519
 of physical affliction.

00:21:50.900 --> 00:21:52.039
 The Bible doesn't tell us,

00:21:52.140 --> 00:21:52.960
 but it does tell us

00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:54.400
 that he pled with the Lord

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.039
 three times

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.920
 to have it taken away,

00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:56.940
 and the Lord said,

00:21:57.059 --> 00:21:57.759
 no, no, no.

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.640
 I've allowed this

00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.779
 in order that you

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.539
 might learn

00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:03.460
 my sufficiency.

00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:03.920
 He said,

00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:05.900
 when I am weak,

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:07.559
 what Paul says,

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.559
 when I am weak,

00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:09.319
 then he is strong.

00:22:09.319 --> 00:22:10.299
 I find out

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.500
 his sufficiency

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.740
 in the moment

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.980
 of my distress

00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:16.599
 because that's where

00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:17.240
 I discover

00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:18.159
 that he can help

00:22:18.159 --> 00:22:18.939
 the best.

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.240
 I want you to understand

00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:24.559
 that Jesus sent

00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.220
 his disciples

00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:26.159
 into the storm

00:22:26.159 --> 00:22:28.759
 knowing what was

00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:29.500
 going to come,

00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:31.200
 and we can count

00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:31.799
 on Jesus

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.619
 to send us

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.359
 into storms.

00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.960
 Don't think to yourself

00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.539
 that being a believer

00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.559
 is going to mean

00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:39.120
 that you have

00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.079
 some kind of

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.779
 contractual guarantee

00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.980
 that you're not going

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.680
 to have problems

00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.400
 in your life.

00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.279
 That's not true.

00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:46.920
 That's not true.

00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.480
 In fact,

00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:49.840
 if you were to track

00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.559
 through the Scriptures,

00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:51.380
 you will find

00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.460
 over and over again

00:22:52.460 --> 00:22:54.400
 that in both

00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:55.000
 the Old Testament

00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.720
 and the New Testament

00:22:55.720 --> 00:22:56.860
 that God uses

00:22:56.860 --> 00:22:58.360
 problems and difficulties

00:22:58.360 --> 00:22:59.960
 to make us stronger

00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:00.779
 in our walk

00:23:00.779 --> 00:23:01.460
 and our confidence

00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.039
 in him.

00:23:02.259 --> 00:23:03.539
 Over in Exodus,

00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:04.140
 and you don't need

00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:04.700
 to turn there,

00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:06.240
 Exodus chapter 13

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.620
 verse 17 says this,

00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:09.340
 when God led

00:23:09.340 --> 00:23:09.840
 his people

00:23:09.840 --> 00:23:10.700
 out of the land

00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.160
 of Egypt,

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.240
 he took them

00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.460
 the long way

00:23:13.460 --> 00:23:15.980
 because he was concerned

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.299
 that when they

00:23:17.299 --> 00:23:18.200
 eventually got

00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:19.140
 to Palestine,

00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.340
 to the promised land,

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.380
 if they hadn't

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.340
 been toughened up,

00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.140
 they would have been

00:23:23.140 --> 00:23:24.440
 too much of the wuss.

00:23:24.660 --> 00:23:24.860
 Do you know

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:25.380
 what a wuss is?

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:25.960
 How many of you

00:23:25.960 --> 00:23:26.720
 know what a wuss is?

00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.759
 A wuss is just

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.900
 kind of a Casper

00:23:29.900 --> 00:23:30.460
 milk toast.

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:30.660
 You know,

00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.240
 it's a guy

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:31.519
 who doesn't

00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.380
 have any backbone.

00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.440
 He said,

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:35.779
 he was concerned

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.360
 that when they

00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:36.800
 arrived,

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.279
 they wouldn't

00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.240
 have the guts

00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:38.880
 to do what

00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:39.740
 needed to be done,

00:23:39.820 --> 00:23:40.300
 which was go

00:23:40.300 --> 00:23:41.259
 sticking long

00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.019
 pointy spears

00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:42.560
 in people's

00:23:42.560 --> 00:23:43.460
 bodies and

00:23:43.460 --> 00:23:44.180
 killing them.

00:23:44.220 --> 00:23:44.460
 He said,

00:23:44.700 --> 00:23:44.840
 hey,

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.500
 you weren't

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.480
 into the battle.

00:23:47.120 --> 00:23:47.720
 God toughened

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.100
 them up.

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:50.040
 God left

00:23:50.040 --> 00:23:51.220
 enemies in Israel.

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:52.480
 It also tells us

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.340
 in the Old Testament,

00:23:54.580 --> 00:23:55.400
 God left enemies

00:23:55.400 --> 00:23:56.860
 in Israel in order

00:23:56.860 --> 00:23:57.620
 that the coming

00:23:57.620 --> 00:23:58.560
 generation would

00:23:58.560 --> 00:23:59.340
 know what it was

00:23:59.340 --> 00:23:59.860
 to deal with

00:23:59.859 --> 00:24:00.500
 adversity and

00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:00.839
 hardship.

00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:02.319
 So,

00:24:02.479 --> 00:24:03.219
 I want you to

00:24:03.219 --> 00:24:04.019
 recognize that

00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.859
 Jesus takes us

00:24:04.859 --> 00:24:05.659
 into storms and

00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:06.459
 He has an intention

00:24:06.459 --> 00:24:07.199
 in doing that.

00:24:07.779 --> 00:24:08.579
 But there's something

00:24:08.579 --> 00:24:09.299
 else that I want you

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.179
 to mark here in

00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:10.819
 this passage.

00:24:11.359 --> 00:24:11.719
 Remember,

00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:12.799
 Jesus had gone up

00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:13.659
 the hill to pray

00:24:13.659 --> 00:24:14.679
 and He had spent

00:24:14.679 --> 00:24:16.079
 a great deal of time

00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.299
 in sweet communion

00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.119
 with His Father.

00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.639
 And prayer with

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.500
 His Father

00:24:20.500 --> 00:24:22.219
 was not an obligation

00:24:22.219 --> 00:24:23.199
 or something to be

00:24:23.199 --> 00:24:23.619
 endured.

00:24:24.019 --> 00:24:25.199
 It was a time of

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:27.100
 enjoyment and blessing

00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:28.240
 and peace.

00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:31.420
 But I am struck

00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:32.220
 by the fact that

00:24:32.220 --> 00:24:33.140
 even in the midst

00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.160
 of Christ's prayer

00:24:34.160 --> 00:24:35.440
 with His Father,

00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.559
 He had His eyes

00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.580
 set on His disciples.

00:24:39.259 --> 00:24:40.279
 That's what we know.

00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:41.519
 And so,

00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.460
 you can count on

00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:44.000
 Jesus watching over you

00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:45.180
 and watching over me

00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.920
 with unconditional love.

00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:49.220
 One of the books

00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:50.320
 that Judith and I

00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:51.300
 over the years

00:24:51.300 --> 00:24:53.259
 have found to be

00:24:53.259 --> 00:24:53.860
 so blessed

00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:55.380
 is a book by

00:24:55.380 --> 00:24:56.700
 K. Arthur

00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:57.120
 called

00:24:57.120 --> 00:24:58.320
 As Silver Refined.

00:24:59.140 --> 00:24:59.840
 It's a book

00:24:59.840 --> 00:25:01.180
 that God brought

00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:01.940
 providentially

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.779
 into our lives

00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:03.480
 at a point of

00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.539
 real difficulty

00:25:04.539 --> 00:25:05.120
 and heartache.

00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:06.360
 And one of the things

00:25:06.360 --> 00:25:07.860
 that K. Arthur

00:25:07.860 --> 00:25:08.620
 points out

00:25:08.620 --> 00:25:09.440
 is that there's not

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.600
 a moment in our life

00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:12.500
 that comes to us

00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.140
 that has not

00:25:13.140 --> 00:25:14.380
 already been measured

00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.500
 in the hands

00:25:15.500 --> 00:25:16.539
 of a loving Father

00:25:16.539 --> 00:25:18.000
 He never lets

00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:18.960
 something happen

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.500
 to us

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:20.359
 that He's not

00:25:20.359 --> 00:25:21.379
 already weighed

00:25:21.379 --> 00:25:22.420
 and measured

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.720
 for its effect

00:25:23.720 --> 00:25:24.259
 on you

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.879
 and His care

00:25:25.879 --> 00:25:26.399
 and love

00:25:26.399 --> 00:25:26.960
 means that

00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:27.859
 that circumstance

00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:29.259
 that you find yourself in

00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.420
 is going to be something

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.480
 that is going to produce

00:25:31.480 --> 00:25:32.019
 growth

00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:33.759
 and maturity in you.

00:25:35.039 --> 00:25:35.539
 You know,

00:25:36.460 --> 00:25:38.619
 we sometimes look

00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:39.399
 at the hardships

00:25:39.399 --> 00:25:40.200
 and difficulties

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.079
 that we're enduring

00:25:41.079 --> 00:25:41.519
 and we think,

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.799
 I can't go through that.

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.579
 I don't know why

00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.480
 I'm in this situation.

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.759
 I want you to know

00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.420
 that in the midst

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.180
 of the situation

00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.440
 Jesus is paying attention.

00:25:48.879 --> 00:25:49.839
 He knows what

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:50.660
 you're going through

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:52.279
 and He cares for you

00:25:52.279 --> 00:25:53.680
 and He is in control

00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:54.440
 of that moment.

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:57.079
 There's one other thing

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.920
 that I want you to find

00:25:57.920 --> 00:25:58.640
 there in the passage

00:25:58.640 --> 00:25:59.259
 and turn back

00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.379
 to John chapter 6

00:26:00.379 --> 00:26:01.279
 if you will

00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.980
 and I want you to find

00:26:01.980 --> 00:26:03.119
 sufficient encouragement.

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:05.059
 Not only was Jesus

00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:06.460
 protecting His disciples

00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:07.740
 by taking them away

00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:08.519
 from the temptation,

00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.960
 not only was He

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.660
 paying attention

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:11.420
 to their need

00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.160
 in the middle

00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:12.759
 of the storm,

00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.539
 but He brought

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:15.259
 sufficient encouragement.

00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.700
 In John chapter 6

00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.519
 verse 19,

00:26:18.599 --> 00:26:19.299
 here's what we read.

00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:19.619
 It says,

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.700
 When they had rowed

00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.779
 about three or four miles,

00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:22.579
 they saw Jesus

00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:23.579
 walking on the sea

00:26:23.579 --> 00:26:25.220
 and coming near the boat

00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.980
 and they were frightened.

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.640
 They were tired.

00:26:33.879 --> 00:26:35.279
 They were completely

00:26:35.279 --> 00:26:36.700
 overwhelmed by the storm.

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:39.940
 And you can imagine

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:40.940
 twelve wet,

00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:42.420
 frustrated fishermen

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.819
 together in a boat

00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.519
 kind of commiserating together.

00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.360
 How many of you

00:26:46.360 --> 00:26:47.680
 find that grumbling

00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:48.319
 and complaining

00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.480
 just makes things go better?

00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.180
 Raise your hand

00:26:51.180 --> 00:26:51.340
 and say,

00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:52.480
 I know that.

00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:54.259
 But even though

00:26:54.259 --> 00:26:55.039
 we know it doesn't

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.059
 make things go better,

00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.779
 how many of us

00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:57.360
 do it anyway?

00:26:59.039 --> 00:26:59.940
 I'm just guessing

00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:00.700
 that the disciples

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.779
 were kind of commiserating

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.420
 with each other.

00:27:03.380 --> 00:27:03.660
 I mean,

00:27:03.840 --> 00:27:04.019
 hey,

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.220
 fuss, fuss, fuss,

00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.380
 and suddenly,

00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:07.900
 you know,

00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.400
 rowing and someone

00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:09.980
 looks over there.

00:27:10.819 --> 00:27:11.180
 Whoa,

00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.079
 who is that?

00:27:12.519 --> 00:27:13.519
 Walking on the water?

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:13.799
 I mean,

00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.660
 talk about a pretty

00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.680
 spectacular miracle.

00:27:15.880 --> 00:27:16.039
 I mean,

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.940
 that had to be

00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.660
 a little unnerving,

00:27:17.720 --> 00:27:17.900
 you know.

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.339
 Whoa.

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.799
 In fact,

00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.400
 you know what?

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.339
 Let's go back

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:26.180
 to Matthew chapter 14 again

00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:27.180
 because we're going

00:27:27.180 --> 00:27:28.240
 to see that it wasn't like,

00:27:28.360 --> 00:27:29.000
 hey, Jesus,

00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.039
 good to see you.

00:27:30.120 --> 00:27:30.779
 Come on over

00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:31.620
 and help us.

00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.940
 Matthew chapter 14,

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.680
 let's get a picture

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.360
 of this thing.

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:38.360
 there they are,

00:27:38.600 --> 00:27:38.960
 sweating.

00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:41.120
 Jesus arrives.

00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.579
 Not a one of them said,

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:42.880
 whew,

00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.980
 glad you're here.

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.319
 Seeing you reminds me

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:47.400
 of the last time

00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:48.160
 you helped us.

00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.480
 No,

00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.299
 that's not what happened.

00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.380
 Matthew chapter 14,

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:53.019
 verse 26 and 27,

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.279
 it says,

00:27:54.380 --> 00:27:55.140
 but when the disciples

00:27:55.140 --> 00:27:55.980
 saw him walking

00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.500
 on the sea,

00:27:56.600 --> 00:27:57.600
 they were terrified.

00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.640
 How many of you

00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:01.460
 have been terrified before?

00:28:01.460 --> 00:28:03.799
 I mean absolutely

00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:04.640
 to the point

00:28:04.640 --> 00:28:05.319
 that you couldn't

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.079
 get your breath.

00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:08.980
 That's what happened here.

00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:11.840
 They were terrified.

00:28:14.180 --> 00:28:14.920
 And it says,

00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:15.579
 it's a ghost

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.539
 and they cried out

00:28:16.539 --> 00:28:17.180
 in fear.

00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:17.539
 I mean,

00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:19.240
 these are adult men.

00:28:19.640 --> 00:28:20.319
 Do you get that?

00:28:21.920 --> 00:28:22.120
 Now,

00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.680
 listen to me.

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.299
 Adult men,

00:28:25.940 --> 00:28:27.079
 men who had spent

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:28.059
 their lives

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.419
 on that lake

00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:30.139
 fishing,

00:28:30.679 --> 00:28:32.240
 for them to cry out

00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:32.980
 in terror

00:28:32.980 --> 00:28:34.179
 meant that they

00:28:34.179 --> 00:28:34.879
 were absolutely

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.599
 overwhelmed

00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.639
 by what they saw

00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.199
 in the moment.

00:28:39.059 --> 00:28:39.960
 And listen to what

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.619
 Jesus said.

00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.299
 Verse 27,

00:28:42.419 --> 00:28:42.839
 and immediately

00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.879
 Jesus spoke to them

00:28:43.879 --> 00:28:44.220
 saying,

00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.279
 take heart.

00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.500
 It is I.

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.960
 Do not be afraid.

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:52.139
 Take heart.

00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:54.179
 It is I.

00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:56.639
 Do not be afraid.

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.960
 And so as you

00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:00.059
 pick up on this,

00:29:00.399 --> 00:29:01.139
 I want you to stop

00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:01.720
 and realize

00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.359
 that the ones

00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:03.259
 we're talking about

00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:05.119
 are hand-picked men,

00:29:05.299 --> 00:29:06.599
 at least 11 of them,

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.439
 that are going to be

00:29:07.439 --> 00:29:08.539
 pillars of the church.

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:12.099
 The New Testament church.

00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.659
 And here they are

00:29:14.659 --> 00:29:16.779
 in storm number two,

00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:20.259
 completely overwhelmed.

00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.960
 And so when you find

00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:24.079
 yourself on occasion

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:25.259
 completely overwhelmed

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.199
 and later on

00:29:26.200 --> 00:29:26.980
 kind of frustrated,

00:29:27.120 --> 00:29:28.860
 how come I didn't get it?

00:29:29.140 --> 00:29:30.000
 Will you be patient

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.680
 with yourself

00:29:30.680 --> 00:29:31.840
 as Jesus has been

00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:32.700
 patient with you

00:29:32.700 --> 00:29:34.059
 and as Jesus was

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:35.100
 patient with the disciples?

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.299
 Don't you wish

00:29:36.299 --> 00:29:37.400
 that spiritual growth

00:29:37.400 --> 00:29:38.519
 happened on a

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:40.559
 more rapid pattern?

00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.519
 Bear with it.

00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.580
 Jesus is far more

00:29:44.580 --> 00:29:45.840
 patient with our frailty

00:29:45.840 --> 00:29:46.860
 than sometimes

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.900
 we are with ourselves.

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.799
 And here is Jesus.

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.180
 Instead of berating,

00:29:50.360 --> 00:29:51.240
 instead of chewing up

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:51.779
 the disciples

00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.580
 and spitting them out,

00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.240
 hey guys,

00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.140
 what's the problem?

00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:55.180
 Do you remember

00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:56.220
 the last storm?

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.640
 What about the feeding

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:58.039
 of the...

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.720
 No, he didn't do

00:29:58.720 --> 00:29:59.180
 any of that.

00:29:59.400 --> 00:29:59.839
 He says,

00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:02.460
 hey, calm down.

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.059
 It's I.

00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.220
 Take heart.

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.319
 And so I want you

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.400
 to understand this morning

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:14.079
 that for one thing

00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:14.660
 as believers

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.380
 you're going to find

00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.279
 yourself in storms.

00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:17.660
 Admit it.

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:19.039
 There are going

00:30:19.039 --> 00:30:19.659
 to be storms.

00:30:20.779 --> 00:30:22.099
 Don't get caught

00:30:22.099 --> 00:30:23.240
 by the enemy

00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:26.220
 with this unbelievable

00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:27.519
 and unreasonable

00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.759
 expectation that

00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:29.740
 just because you're

00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:30.220
 a Christian

00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.220
 you're not going

00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:31.899
 to have heartaches

00:30:31.899 --> 00:30:32.639
 and difficulties.

00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:35.079
 You will have them.

00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:37.759
 But here's what

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.740
 I want you to understand.

00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.940
 Jesus is with you

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.920
 in your storm.

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.980
 That's what we see here.

00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:47.639
 He had been watching

00:30:47.640 --> 00:30:49.320
 even in the time

00:30:49.320 --> 00:30:50.940
 of his sweet communion

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.880
 with his father.

00:30:52.300 --> 00:30:53.340
 He had his eyes

00:30:53.340 --> 00:30:54.560
 on his disciples.

00:30:55.580 --> 00:30:56.420
 Do you understand that?

00:30:57.500 --> 00:30:59.759
 He knew their need

00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:01.180
 and at the right moment

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:02.140
 he showed up

00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.780
 and when he did

00:31:02.780 --> 00:31:03.540
 they were terrified

00:31:03.540 --> 00:31:04.520
 and he says,

00:31:04.620 --> 00:31:05.620
 hey, calm down guys.

00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.440
 It's me.

00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:08.580
 It's me.

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.420
 I am so overwhelmed

00:31:12.420 --> 00:31:13.180
 when I stop

00:31:13.180 --> 00:31:13.800
 and think about

00:31:13.800 --> 00:31:14.580
 Christ's love

00:31:14.580 --> 00:31:15.160
 for his own.

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:18.400
 Weak as the disciples

00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.620
 were at grasping

00:31:19.620 --> 00:31:20.820
 the glory of Christ

00:31:20.820 --> 00:31:21.800
 and his ability

00:31:21.800 --> 00:31:23.560
 to take care of needs.

00:31:25.040 --> 00:31:26.180
 Overwhelmed as they were

00:31:26.180 --> 00:31:26.960
 by the storm

00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:27.800
 and then overwhelmed

00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:28.880
 as they were

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:30.320
 by his presence,

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.940
 Jesus very tenderly

00:31:33.940 --> 00:31:34.640
 dealt with them

00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:35.519
 in their frailty

00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:37.880
 without scolding them.

00:31:38.940 --> 00:31:40.340
 And mark one other thing.

00:31:41.080 --> 00:31:42.160
 Look in verse 21.

00:31:42.160 --> 00:31:44.540
 Then they were glad

00:31:44.540 --> 00:31:45.340
 to take him

00:31:45.340 --> 00:31:46.140
 into the boat

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:48.420
 and mark the last

00:31:48.420 --> 00:31:49.060
 little part

00:31:49.060 --> 00:31:50.560
 and immediately

00:31:50.560 --> 00:31:51.440
 the boat

00:31:51.440 --> 00:31:52.740
 was at the land

00:31:52.740 --> 00:31:54.340
 to which they were going.

00:31:58.920 --> 00:32:00.259
 I want you to mark this

00:32:00.259 --> 00:32:01.120
 in your own thoughts

00:32:01.120 --> 00:32:02.340
 in your own life.

00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:03.720
 Jesus will meet your need

00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:07.480
 and he will take his disciples

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.540
 to the other side.

00:32:09.580 --> 00:32:10.120
 Do you know that?

00:32:10.119 --> 00:32:12.339
 Where you are

00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:13.399
 in your difficulty

00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:14.739
 and the storm of life

00:32:14.739 --> 00:32:15.679
 that you're enduring,

00:32:16.319 --> 00:32:17.459
 I want you to know this,

00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:19.139
 that Jesus is committed

00:32:19.139 --> 00:32:20.579
 not to abandon you

00:32:20.579 --> 00:32:21.559
 and not to leave you

00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.239
 in that mess

00:32:22.239 --> 00:32:23.319
 and that heartache.

00:32:23.399 --> 00:32:24.079
 Do you know what he said?

00:32:24.339 --> 00:32:25.119
 To his disciples,

00:32:25.239 --> 00:32:25.539
 he said,

00:32:25.619 --> 00:32:26.619
 Lo, I am with you

00:32:26.619 --> 00:32:27.639
 even unto the ends

00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:28.199
 of the age.

00:32:28.579 --> 00:32:31.159
 I am there with you.

00:32:32.619 --> 00:32:33.479
 Listen to me carefully.

00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.199
 I want you to get

00:32:34.199 --> 00:32:35.239
 your hands around this.

00:32:35.240 --> 00:32:38.480
 The principal purpose

00:32:38.480 --> 00:32:39.720
 of this book

00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:46.099
 is not to give us

00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.000
 more information

00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:50.880
 but to bring us

00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.819
 face to face

00:32:51.819 --> 00:32:52.400
 with the lover

00:32:52.400 --> 00:32:53.240
 of our soul

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.400
 and establish

00:32:54.400 --> 00:32:55.380
 a permanent,

00:32:55.920 --> 00:32:56.500
 personal,

00:32:56.839 --> 00:32:58.559
 genuine relationship

00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:00.180
 with the Lord of glory.

00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:02.400
 Do you understand that?

00:33:02.400 --> 00:33:05.500
 And when you read

00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.840
 this story about Jesus

00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:07.620
 and the storm,

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.360
 you have to think

00:33:08.360 --> 00:33:08.980
 to yourself,

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.580
 man,

00:33:10.280 --> 00:33:12.100
 if he put up

00:33:12.100 --> 00:33:13.040
 with those disciples,

00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.400
 I got a chance.

00:33:16.800 --> 00:33:18.120
 He loves me

00:33:18.120 --> 00:33:21.100
 and he is not

00:33:21.100 --> 00:33:22.580
 turning his back on me

00:33:22.580 --> 00:33:23.540
 in the midst

00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:24.180
 of the mess

00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:24.900
 and the heartache

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.780
 and the difficulty

00:33:25.780 --> 00:33:27.140
 that I am enduring.

00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.600
 That's my Jesus.

00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.240
 Do you know that?

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.299
 Do you know that?

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:36.279
 And so my question

00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:37.359
 this morning is this,

00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:37.920
 truthfully,

00:33:38.900 --> 00:33:39.620
 I want you to think

00:33:39.620 --> 00:33:39.779
 of that.

00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:41.120
 Do you know him?

00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:44.160
 Do you know him?

00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:46.859
 I'm not talking

00:33:46.859 --> 00:33:48.240
 about chronology

00:33:49.279 --> 00:33:49.960
 of the Bible.

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:50.779
 Well, I remember

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:51.359
 that he came

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:53.240
 and he did this.

00:33:53.660 --> 00:33:54.180
 No.

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.440
 Do you know him?

00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:58.420
 Do you have

00:33:58.420 --> 00:34:00.319
 a personal relationship

00:34:00.319 --> 00:34:02.119
 with the Lord Jesus Christ?

00:34:03.700 --> 00:34:04.399
 And by the way,

00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.159
 how do we get that?

00:34:06.960 --> 00:34:08.219
 Oh, it's by going

00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:08.579
 to church

00:34:08.579 --> 00:34:09.400
 on a regular basis

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.360
 and checking the box

00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.299
 that says I was there.

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.119
 You know,

00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:13.179
 it's maybe I need

00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:13.739
 to be baptized

00:34:13.739 --> 00:34:15.000
 or maybe I need

00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:15.679
 to take communion

00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.440
 or maybe,

00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:16.739
 you know,

00:34:16.779 --> 00:34:17.299
 hey, listen.

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:20.239
 Here's the way

00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:21.019
 a person comes

00:34:21.019 --> 00:34:22.119
 to a personal relationship

00:34:22.119 --> 00:34:22.619
 with Christ.

00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:23.500
 I want you to hear this

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.019
 and get it clear

00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:24.500
 in your mind.

00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:28.280
 You come to a personal

00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.519
 relationship with Christ

00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.559
 with, first of all,

00:34:30.940 --> 00:34:32.300
 sensing the convicting

00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.579
 power of the Holy Spirit

00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:35.380
 that says I am a bankrupt

00:34:35.380 --> 00:34:37.599
 and miserable sinner

00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:38.300
 in the presence

00:34:38.300 --> 00:34:39.360
 of a holy God

00:34:39.360 --> 00:34:40.559
 and there is nothing

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.619
 I can do

00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:43.940
 that can bring to me

00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:45.440
 credit and glory

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.360
 and worth

00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:48.300
 and I stand justly

00:34:48.300 --> 00:34:49.480
 condemned before God.

00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:52.199
 the first place

00:34:52.199 --> 00:34:55.780
 that we come to

00:34:55.780 --> 00:34:58.539
 is an understanding

00:34:58.539 --> 00:35:00.360
 of our own unworthiness

00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:02.760
 and brokenness.

00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:05.039
 The second thing

00:35:05.039 --> 00:35:05.699
 that happens

00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:07.320
 is that the Spirit of God

00:35:07.320 --> 00:35:08.119
 gives to us

00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:08.719
 a conviction

00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:10.559
 that we can't solve

00:35:10.559 --> 00:35:11.920
 the problem ourself

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:15.340
 and we reach out

00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.980
 by faith

00:35:15.980 --> 00:35:17.039
 and take the finished

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.940
 work of Christ

00:35:17.940 --> 00:35:19.800
 when He died on the cross

00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:20.720
 in your place

00:35:20.720 --> 00:35:22.099
 He satisfied

00:35:22.099 --> 00:35:23.059
 the judgment

00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.000
 of a holy God

00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:24.760
 against you

00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:25.960
 and He is willing

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:27.440
 to give to you

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.480
 all the credit

00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:30.400
 of His holy

00:35:30.400 --> 00:35:31.960
 righteous life

00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:33.280
 and your sins

00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:34.059
 are covered

00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:35.579
 by His blood.

00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:36.960
 Do you know something

00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:37.700
 it says in the Bible?

00:35:38.059 --> 00:35:39.119
 It says that He only made

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:40.460
 one O-N-E

00:35:40.460 --> 00:35:41.000
 one

00:35:41.000 --> 00:35:42.400
 one sacrifice

00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.119
 for sin

00:35:43.119 --> 00:35:44.079
 it's done

00:35:44.079 --> 00:35:44.860
 it's settled

00:35:44.860 --> 00:35:45.700
 it's permanent

00:35:45.699 --> 00:35:47.739
 and what does

00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.339
 the Bible say?

00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:50.119
 Whosoever calls

00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:51.039
 upon the name

00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.619
 of the Lord

00:35:51.619 --> 00:35:53.359
 say it with me

00:35:53.359 --> 00:35:54.739
 shall be saved.

00:35:55.759 --> 00:35:56.899
 Let's close in prayer.

00:35:59.619 --> 00:36:00.500
 Holy Father

00:36:00.500 --> 00:36:02.579
 we are

00:36:02.579 --> 00:36:03.919
 we are overwhelmed

00:36:03.920 --> 00:36:06.320
 with

00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:06.320


00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:06.320


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