WEBVTT

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 Okay, good morning, Watermark. The scripture reading comes from the book of Matthew, chapter 14.

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 Please follow along on the bulletin or on your own Bible.

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 Starting in verse 13, we read,

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 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.

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 But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

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 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

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 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said,

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 This is a desolate place, and the day is now over.

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 Send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.

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 But Jesus said, They need not go away. You give them something to eat.

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 They said to him, We have only five loaves here and two fish.

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 And he said, Bring them here to me.

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 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish,

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 he looked up to heaven and said a blessing.

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 Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples.

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 And the disciples gave them to the crowds.

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 And they all ate and were satisfied.

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 And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

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 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,

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 while he dismissed the crowds.

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 And after he had dismissed the crowds, 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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 But a boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves.

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 For the wind was against them.

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 And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea.

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 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said,

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 It is a ghost.

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 And they cried out in fear.

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 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,

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 Take heart.

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 It is I.

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 Do not be afraid.

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 And Peter answered him,

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 Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.

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 He said,

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 Come.

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 So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

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 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink.

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 He cried out,

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 Lord, save me.

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 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him,

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 O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

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 But when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

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 And those in the boat worshipped him, saying,

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 Truly, you are the Son of God.

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 This is the Word of God.

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 Great.

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 Thank you, Iris.

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 Let's pray together and ask God to speak to us from his Word.

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 Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit,

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 we gather this morning to declare your praises,

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 to sing and to worship you in song,

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 to listen to the testimonies of brothers and sisters,

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 to see the gospel demonstrated in baptism later,

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 and to hear you speaking to us from your Word.

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 God, we want to hear your voice, Lord.

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 We don't just come to fill our minds with Christian information.

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 We come to encounter you, the living God, in your living Word.

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 And so come and speak to us this morning, Lord.

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 Come and prepare our hearts, God.

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 Come and help us to see the living Christ in these pages of Scripture.

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 And help us to trust you, God,

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 in the storms of life and the challenges that we face.

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 God, help us to see you for who you are

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 and to trust you and to worship you.

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 Come and have your way, we pray.

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 God, we pray for those of us maybe this morning

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 that are particularly in the storms of life,

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 are particularly in a very difficult place.

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 God, won't you come to us?

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 Won't you come and walk to us in the storm, God,

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 and come and draw near to us?

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 We really need you, Lord, and we want to walk with you.

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 You know the challenges we face.

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 You know the waves that buffered us.

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 Christ, come and have your way in your life, in our lives, we pray.

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 In your wonderful and gracious name, amen.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Making mature disciples, or making mature disciple-making disciples

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 of Jesus Christ who impact Hong Kong for the glory of God.

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 I hope that if you've been part of Watermark for some time,

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 you'll recognize those words.

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 Those are our mission statement as a church.

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 A one-sentence summary that describes so much of who we are and what we're doing.

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 Why do we do the things that we do?

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 Why do we not do the things that other people do, other churches do?

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 Why do we do things the way that we do them?

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 What is it that we're on about?

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 In many ways, those questions are answered in this one-sentence summary.

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 We are a church which is laser-focused in its dedication and mission

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 to make mature disciples who will then disciple others.

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 And as the gospel gets into our lives, as we gospelize one another,

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 it will overflow into every area of our lives so that we impact this great city of Hong Kong

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 for God's glory and the good of our city.

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 You should know this.

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 We are not a particularly fancy church, and we're not trying to be a particularly fancy church.

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 We're not trying to be a particularly big church or a well-known church or the talk of the town.

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 We don't need our name written in lights.

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 That can be somebody else's responsibility.

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 What we are focused on, our purpose and existence,

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 is to help us, those of us that are part of Watermark,

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 to mature and grow in our faith,

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 and to disciple and gospelize one another so that we bless our city for God's glory.

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 And if you haven't worked out yet, let me tell you a little secret.

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 The elder pastors, we have an agenda for your life.

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 This is our hope and goal.

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 And the reason why that is the case is because we believe Jesus has an agenda for our lives.

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 This is Jesus' agenda for us, that we will become mature disciples of Jesus.

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 Remember in Matthew chapter 4, Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee or the Lake of Galilee,

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 and he called some very ordinary people, fishermen, tax collectors, ordinary people.

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 He says, come and follow me, which means come and be with me,

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 come and become like me, come and do the things that I do.

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 Be my disciple, my apprentice, my Talmudim.

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 And then later on, at the end of Matthew, Matthew 28,

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 Jesus says to those same disciples three years later,

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 Okay, you're ready, you go out and make disciples.

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 But unlike other rabbis in the first century,

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 Jesus doesn't say, go and make disciples of yourself.

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 You know, you become your own rabbi and make your own disciples.

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 You go out into all nations and make disciples of me,

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 baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

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 teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.

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 Jesus sends his disciples out to go and make other disciples.

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 This is what Jesus has called us to do.

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 This is what we're on about.

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 When you join Watermark Church, again, I hope you realize this.

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 If you didn't, let me tell you.

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 You join a discipleship journey.

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 You join a family, but not just a family,

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 a family that is wanting to shape us and inform us and disciple us

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 to become the people Christ has called us to be.

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 On Friday night, Claire and Nikki and I were just talking about

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 how it's possible to be a Christian for 20 years

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 and yet still be a baby Christian, still be very immature.

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 You can have 20 years experience, but only one year of maturity.

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 We were just talking about how Nikki became a Christian last year

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 and yet just how much she has grown and what a joy that has been.

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 Now, all of this, what does this have to do with Matthew 14

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 that Iris read to us?

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 Well, great question.

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 In our passage today, we're going to see one way

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 how Jesus makes disciples.

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 How Jesus grows us and matures us

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 into the kinds of people that he wants us to be.

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 Remember Matthew 4, Jesus calls his disciples.

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 Matthew 28, he sends them out.

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 In the middle, Matthew 14, we're going to see one angle

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 of how Jesus grows us and matures us into his disciples.

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 Okay?

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 Now, before we dive in too much,

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 one of the things we should notice in this passage

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 is there are two stories that are very similar.

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 They have the same outline and the same structure.

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 If you've got your bulletin, you might want to open this up.

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 Look at how they both begin.

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 Both stories, the feeding of the 5,000 or the 10,000,

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 however many thousand there were, there were many,

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 and Jesus walking on the water,

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 they both occur in a desolate place,

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 a God-forsaken place.

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 One occurs in the wilderness.

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 I think it's verse 13.

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 The other one occurs in the storm-tossed seas.

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 In the biblical language,

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 the wilderness is always a picture of a God-forsaken place.

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 And when the seas are raging and storming,

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 it's a picture of the world and the chaos

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 and the evil of the world.

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 That's why in Revelation chapter 4,

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 remember the sea before the throne of God is crystal clear.

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 It's a sea like glass because God's presence there

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 has conquered the chaos of the world.

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 And so both these stories occur in a God-forsaken place,

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 so to speak.

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 Notice also how both stories begin with Jesus

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 retreating from the busyness of ministry

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 in order to spend time in prayer.

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 Look at verse 13.

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 When Jesus heard these things,

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 he withdrew from there in a boat

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 to a desolate place by himself.

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 Verse 23.

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 Or 22.

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 Jesus made the disciples get into a boat

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 and go across the other side.

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 After he had dismissed the crowds,

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 he went up to the mountain by himself to pray.

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 And both stories begin with Jesus retreating,

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 withdrawing,

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 to spend time with his Father,

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 communing with his Father in prayer.

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 And this is something we see throughout Jesus' ministry.

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 He's constantly withdrawing

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 from the demands of life

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 and the pressures of ministry

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 to spend time with his Father

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 so that when he does minister,

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 he does so out of a healthy soul,

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 out of having been close with God.

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 And something God's been speaking to us about as a church,

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 that we need to slow down.

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 We need to be more like Mary,

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 not so much like Martha.

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 We need to be those that commune with God.

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 And then, of course,

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 notice both stories.

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 Jesus performs this outrageously awesome miracle, right?

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 Jesus feeds 10,000 people from a McDonald's Happy Meal.

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 Okay?

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 Jesus walks on the storm-tossed sea,

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 a couple of hundred meters,

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 maybe a kilometer or so,

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 out in the middle of the lake.

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 Jesus then walks in the water

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 and he quietens with the word

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 all the wind and the waves.

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 He brings them into submission.

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 This is not just some party trick

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 or something a magician could conjure up,

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 something an illusionist could conjure up

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 to wow the crowds.

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 This is nothing less than the sovereign God

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 who is in control and charge of all creation.

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 And, of course, that's what we're meant to see,

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 that Jesus is the sovereign creator God.

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 The one who speaks the bread into being

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 is the one who spoke galaxies and universes

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 and stars into being.

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 The one who commanded the wind and the waves to be quiet

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 is the one who commanded their existence

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 in the first place.

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 And so here we have these two stories

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 paralleled very similar in structure

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 in which tells us about Jesus,

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 tells us about his prayer life,

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 it tells us that he's the sovereign creator God.

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 But in addition to that,

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 it's gonna tell us how does Jesus

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 form and shape disciples after himself?

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 Okay, that's the big idea

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 that I think Matthew wants us to see here.

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 And so, like any good sermon,

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 we've got three points, okay?

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 And so the first one is this.

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 How does Jesus make mature disciples?

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 Well, the one way he does it

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 is he reveals our need for him.

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 He reveals our need for him.

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 Jesus Christ would often deliberately include

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 his disciples into situations

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 which were way beyond their control,

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 way outside of their comfort zone,

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 or their ability,

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 so that they had to rely on him,

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 and doing so would learn to trust him

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 and worship him.

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 You see that?

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 Jesus would often bring his disciples

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 into a situation

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 in which they're way out of their league,

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 and in doing so,

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 they are forced to then realize

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 we don't have what it takes,

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 we need him,

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 and in doing so would rely on him

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 and would trust him and worship him.

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 Look at verse 15 and 16 in your bulletin.

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 It's evening time,

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 which means it's late afternoon in this context.

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 Jesus had been teaching.

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 The disciples noticed it's pretty late.

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 And so they come to Jesus and they say,

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 Jesus, time to wrap things up.

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 Let's send these people away

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 so that they can go and get food.

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 And look what Jesus says,

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 verse 15.

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 They don't need to go away.

00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:34.059
 You give them something to eat.

00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:37.279
 Where are the disciples going to get enough food

00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.200
 to feed 10,000 people?

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.700
 Where are they going to find enough money

00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:42.500
 to buy this?

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:44.580
 Clearly Jesus is asking them

00:13:44.580 --> 00:13:45.519
 to do the impossible.

00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:47.519
 And of course Jesus knows

00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.559
 exactly what he's doing.

00:13:49.219 --> 00:13:50.799
 He's not reluctant to help them.

00:13:51.500 --> 00:13:53.139
 Jesus doesn't feed them later on

00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.679
 because he says,

00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:56.439
 okay, fine, I guess I'll do a miracle.

00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:58.419
 We kind of left things a little late.

00:13:58.559 --> 00:13:59.759
 Jesus knows the whole time

00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.939
 exactly what he's doing.

00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:02.959
 He's drawing his disciples in.

00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:04.119
 He's saying, no, you do it.

00:14:04.459 --> 00:14:05.819
 So that they'll come to the place

00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:07.500
 where they realize they can't do it

00:14:07.500 --> 00:14:10.919
 so that Jesus will show them who he is.

00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:13.419
 And Jesus does the same things

00:14:13.419 --> 00:14:14.339
 a couple of hours later.

00:14:14.339 --> 00:14:16.559
 He sends his disciples out onto the lake

00:14:16.559 --> 00:14:19.059
 knowing full well a momentous storm

00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:20.000
 is coming their way.

00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:21.639
 Verse 22 says,

00:14:22.079 --> 00:14:24.939
 Jesus made the disciples go out into the boat.

00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:26.299
 And the English translation there

00:14:26.299 --> 00:14:27.039
 is not very clear.

00:14:27.459 --> 00:14:28.000
 The Greek says,

00:14:28.339 --> 00:14:29.439
 he compelled them.

00:14:29.739 --> 00:14:30.719
 He forced them.

00:14:31.359 --> 00:14:33.219
 Jesus deliberately forced them

00:14:33.219 --> 00:14:34.859
 to go in the boat onto the storm

00:14:34.859 --> 00:14:36.439
 knowing that a storm is coming.

00:14:37.179 --> 00:14:38.500
 Jesus draws them in

00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.819
 and puts them in a situation

00:14:39.819 --> 00:14:41.419
 way beyond their ability

00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:43.859
 so that they're forced to recognize

00:14:43.859 --> 00:14:45.139
 their need for him.

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:47.399
 And when Jesus does come

00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:48.159
 to rescue them

00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:49.720
 and Peter says,

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:52.179
 it's you, the Christ?

00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.639
 If it really has caused me

00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:54.679
 to walk on the water

00:14:54.679 --> 00:14:55.679
 and Jesus says,

00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.279
 come, walk to me

00:14:57.279 --> 00:14:58.580
 on the raging seas.

00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:00.980
 Obviously, it's beyond Peter's ability.

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:04.019
 And notice how in both of these stories,

00:15:04.220 --> 00:15:05.960
 Jesus leaves things really late.

00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:07.559
 I mean, somebody needs to help Jesus

00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:08.659
 with his timekeeping.

00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:10.460
 Early on, he could have said,

00:15:10.539 --> 00:15:11.539
 listen guys, it's getting late.

00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:12.879
 Why don't you go and get a meal?

00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:13.240
 Right?

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.860
 And then we can continue this tomorrow.

00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:16.620
 But Jesus leaves things

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.819
 till it's too late

00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:19.879
 so that the disciples

00:15:19.879 --> 00:15:20.600
 will be in a place

00:15:20.600 --> 00:15:21.740
 where they have to trust him.

00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:23.659
 And notice in the second story,

00:15:23.819 --> 00:15:25.059
 Jesus sends his disciples

00:15:25.059 --> 00:15:26.100
 after sunset,

00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:27.840
 he goes up into the mountain

00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.779
 and then it tells us

00:15:29.779 --> 00:15:31.240
 that he comes to them

00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:32.740
 in the fourth watch of the night

00:15:32.740 --> 00:15:34.919
 which is between 3 a.m.

00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.240
 and 6 a.m. in the morning.

00:15:37.819 --> 00:15:38.379
 In other words,

00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:40.340
 Jesus sends them out after sunset

00:15:40.340 --> 00:15:43.120
 and eight to 10 hours later,

00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:44.840
 he comes to rescue them.

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:47.919
 Jesus knows that a storm's coming.

00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:49.220
 He could have just said,

00:15:49.419 --> 00:15:49.699
 listen guys,

00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:50.939
 best you stay here tonight.

00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:52.480
 Tomorrow we'll go over the water.

00:15:52.939 --> 00:15:54.939
 But he compels them to go out.

00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.500
 Do you see what Jesus is doing?

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:59.399
 He's orchestrating things

00:15:59.399 --> 00:16:00.259
 so that the disciples

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.639
 are out of their depth

00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:03.120
 so that they'll be forced

00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:05.159
 to rely on him.

00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:08.340
 Friends, as you read the scriptures,

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.120
 God is constantly doing this.

00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:13.100
 Remember how Moses

00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:14.639
 in Exodus chapter 3

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.100
 comes face to face with God

00:16:16.100 --> 00:16:16.659
 and God says,

00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.480
 I've heard the cries of my people.

00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:19.759
 I've seen their agony.

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:20.980
 I know what they're going through.

00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:22.279
 I'm sending you

00:16:22.279 --> 00:16:23.779
 to go and speak to Pharaoh

00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:24.560
 and deliver them.

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.899
 And Moses says,

00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:26.360
 Jesus,

00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.179
 God,

00:16:27.299 --> 00:16:27.840
 great idea.

00:16:27.899 --> 00:16:28.539
 I'd love to go.

00:16:28.620 --> 00:16:29.419
 There's only one problem.

00:16:29.580 --> 00:16:30.960
 I can't really speak.

00:16:31.700 --> 00:16:32.700
 There's a problem here.

00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:33.580
 You're going to have to

00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:34.419
 send somebody else.

00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:35.419
 And God says,

00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:35.600
 no,

00:16:35.659 --> 00:16:37.240
 you're the exact person I want.

00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:38.360
 I will go with you.

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:41.159
 Moses goes to Pharaoh.

00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:42.539
 Pharaoh eventually

00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.639
 saves,

00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:44.980
 delivers them

00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:45.860
 or sets them free

00:16:45.860 --> 00:16:46.740
 by the blood of the Lamb.

00:16:46.840 --> 00:16:47.919
 God rescues them

00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:48.980
 way beyond

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:49.899
 what Israel could do.

00:16:50.279 --> 00:16:50.779
 They're saved.

00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:51.759
 They're coming out of Egypt.

00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:52.620
 They're rejoicing

00:16:52.620 --> 00:16:54.139
 until they come to a roadblock.

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.779
 There's a sea in front of them.

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:56.580
 There's mountains

00:16:56.580 --> 00:16:57.440
 on the side of them.

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.519
 Pharaoh's army

00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.659
 is chasing them behind.

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.799
 They're cornered

00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.659
 all four sides.

00:17:01.740 --> 00:17:02.659
 Where are they going to go?

00:17:03.720 --> 00:17:04.980
 God rescues them.

00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:06.539
 Remember how

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.740
 God says to Abraham,

00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:08.180
 Abraham,

00:17:08.519 --> 00:17:08.900
 you're going to be

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.980
 the father of many people.

00:17:11.579 --> 00:17:12.460
 All the descendants

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:13.519
 of the world

00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:14.319
 are going to be blessed

00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:14.920
 through you.

00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.700
 You're going to have

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.740
 descendants as great

00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:18.000
 as the stars in the sky,

00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:19.180
 the sea and the sand shore.

00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.620
 I'm going to bless you

00:17:20.620 --> 00:17:21.299
 and your family.

00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:23.019
 There's just one problem.

00:17:23.160 --> 00:17:24.120
 Your wife is barren

00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:24.860
 and you cannot have

00:17:24.860 --> 00:17:25.400
 any children.

00:17:26.400 --> 00:17:27.360
 What's he going to do?

00:17:28.360 --> 00:17:28.779
 Friends,

00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:29.400
 remember how God

00:17:29.400 --> 00:17:30.160
 calls Gideon

00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.019
 to lead the battle

00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:32.099
 against the Midianites.

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.960
 There's 120,000

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.539
 Midianites

00:17:34.539 --> 00:17:35.539
 camped against them

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.519
 and Gideon says,

00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:36.759
 okay,

00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:37.559
 I'll get my army.

00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.299
 Okay,

00:17:38.379 --> 00:17:39.039
 30,000.

00:17:39.139 --> 00:17:40.039
 That's all I can muster

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.139
 but that'll have to do.

00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.359
 30,000,

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:44.319
 we'll take on 125,000.

00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.279
 God says,

00:17:45.359 --> 00:17:45.759
 no, no, no,

00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.960
 your army is too big.

00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.259
 Just whittle them down.

00:17:48.740 --> 00:17:48.980
 Okay,

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.680
 they get whittled down

00:17:49.680 --> 00:17:50.519
 to 10,000.

00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:50.859
 Okay,

00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.119
 God,

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.119
 this is not looking good.

00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.559
 10,000 against 120,000

00:17:54.559 --> 00:17:55.579
 but I guess

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:56.240
 if you're with us

00:17:56.240 --> 00:17:56.940
 we can do it.

00:17:57.399 --> 00:17:57.779
 God says,

00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:57.960
 no,

00:17:58.039 --> 00:17:59.399
 your army is still too big.

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:00.480
 Whittle them down

00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.279
 to 300.

00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:02.539
 Okay,

00:18:02.639 --> 00:18:03.579
 now you're 300.

00:18:03.579 --> 00:18:04.799
 Now you're ready to go.

00:18:05.899 --> 00:18:06.079
 Friends,

00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.079
 you see what God is doing?

00:18:07.399 --> 00:18:08.299
 He's constantly

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.460
 bringing his people

00:18:09.460 --> 00:18:10.299
 to the place

00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.559
 where they're way

00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:12.379
 out of their depths,

00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:13.259
 where they cannot

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.439
 save themselves

00:18:14.439 --> 00:18:16.259
 so that they must

00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.240
 rely on God,

00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.919
 the one who saves them.

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:21.119
 And when we read

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.839
 the New Testament,

00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:23.319
 we see the same thing.

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:24.500
 The apostles

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.099
 who accomplish

00:18:25.099 --> 00:18:26.139
 great things for God

00:18:26.139 --> 00:18:27.399
 are constantly

00:18:27.399 --> 00:18:28.679
 being led by God

00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:29.579
 to the place

00:18:29.579 --> 00:18:30.159
 where they do not

00:18:30.159 --> 00:18:30.779
 have control.

00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.440
 Listen to what

00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:32.819
 the apostle Paul says

00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:34.899
 in 2 Corinthians 1.

00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:35.940
 He says,

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:36.740
 We do not want you

00:18:36.740 --> 00:18:37.319
 to be unaware,

00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:38.019
 brothers,

00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:39.240
 of the affliction

00:18:39.240 --> 00:18:40.579
 we experienced in Asia.

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:42.319
 We were so utterly

00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:43.019
 burdened

00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.480
 beyond our own strength

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.539
 that we despaired

00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.779
 of life itself.

00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:47.859
 Indeed,

00:18:48.099 --> 00:18:49.240
 we felt we had received

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.240
 the sentence of death,

00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:52.339
 but that was to make us

00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:54.059
 rely not on ourselves,

00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.680
 but on God

00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.099
 who raises the dead.

00:18:58.359 --> 00:18:59.119
 Paul goes on later

00:18:59.119 --> 00:19:00.079
 in the same book

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.799
 in 2 Corinthians

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.339
 and he says,

00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.819
 I will boast

00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:04.099
 more gladly

00:19:04.099 --> 00:19:04.799
 of my weakness

00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.799
 so that the power

00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:07.079
 of Christ may rest in me.

00:19:07.479 --> 00:19:08.419
 For the sake of Christ,

00:19:08.719 --> 00:19:09.579
 I'm pretty happy

00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.639
 to be full of weakness,

00:19:10.879 --> 00:19:11.379
 insults,

00:19:11.419 --> 00:19:11.759
 hardships,

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.699
 persecutions,

00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.419
 calamities.

00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.779
 When I am weak,

00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:15.559
 when I've come

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.479
 to the end of myself,

00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.779
 that's when I know

00:19:17.779 --> 00:19:18.239
 I'm strong

00:19:18.239 --> 00:19:19.039
 because that's when

00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:19.839
 Christ's strength

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.959
 is at work within me.

00:19:22.599 --> 00:19:23.539
 This is the way

00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.459
 that God is working.

00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:25.359
 This is how God

00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.419
 grows his people.

00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:29.080
 One of the greatest

00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:30.160
 Christian thinkers

00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:31.160
 of the last century,

00:19:31.300 --> 00:19:32.240
 an amazing man

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.860
 by the name of J.I. Packer,

00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:34.820
 he passed away

00:19:34.820 --> 00:19:35.700
 earlier this year

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.700
 in his mid-90s

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.779
 or maybe late last year

00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:39.640
 and he wrote a book

00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:40.740
 based on 2 Corinthians

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.160
 called

00:19:41.160 --> 00:19:42.900
 Weakness is the Way.

00:19:43.580 --> 00:19:44.779
 It's a very unusual book

00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.880
 and it's all

00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:47.580
 unpacking 2 Corinthians

00:19:47.580 --> 00:19:48.960
 but listen to what he says.

00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.120
 He says,

00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:51.240
 the way of the true

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:52.360
 spiritual strength

00:19:52.360 --> 00:19:54.200
 leading to real fruitfulness

00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.180
 in the Christian life

00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:55.759
 and service

00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.039
 is the humble,

00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.119
 self-distrustful way

00:19:59.119 --> 00:19:59.900
 of consciously

00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.359
 recognized weakness

00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.940
 in spiritual things.

00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:04.359
 The Apostle Paul

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:05.059
 demonstrated

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:06.599
 a sustained recognition

00:20:06.599 --> 00:20:08.160
 that feeling weak

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:08.720
 in oneself

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.279
 is part of the cause

00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:11.579
 for the Christian life

00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:12.539
 and therefore

00:20:12.539 --> 00:20:13.900
 something one may

00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:15.559
 properly be content with.

00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:16.819
 In this,

00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:17.839
 Paul models

00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.099
 that the discipleship,

00:20:19.279 --> 00:20:20.180
 spiritual maturity

00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:21.160
 and the growth

00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.400
 that all believers

00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:23.420
 are called to pursue,

00:20:24.099 --> 00:20:25.000
 for all Christians,

00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.700
 the likelihood

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:27.039
 is that as our

00:20:27.039 --> 00:20:28.500
 discipleship continues,

00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:29.940
 God will make us

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.579
 increasingly weakness

00:20:31.579 --> 00:20:32.140
 conscious

00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:33.440
 and pain aware

00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:34.799
 so that we may learn

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.480
 with Paul

00:20:35.480 --> 00:20:36.579
 that when we are

00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.859
 conscious of being weak

00:20:37.859 --> 00:20:38.900
 and able

00:20:38.900 --> 00:20:39.960
 out of our depth,

00:20:40.359 --> 00:20:41.960
 then and only then

00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:43.559
 may we truly become

00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:44.799
 strong in the Lord.

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:47.000
 God is doing

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:47.019
 and that's what God is doing.

00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:47.799
 That's what Jesus

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.700
 is doing with these

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.159
 disciples.

00:20:49.399 --> 00:20:50.240
 He brings them

00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.059
 to a situation

00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:52.279
 where they do not

00:20:52.279 --> 00:20:53.139
 have what it takes,

00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.099
 where they cannot do

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.980
 what he's asking them

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.399
 to do

00:20:55.399 --> 00:20:56.500
 so that they'll look

00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.059
 to him

00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:58.240
 and he will show

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.700
 them who he is.

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.139
 He's revealing

00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:01.980
 their weakness.

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.319
 He does this

00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:04.779
 with Paul.

00:21:04.940 --> 00:21:05.639
 He does this

00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.639
 with all Christians.

00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:08.899
 Another great example

00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:09.379
 of this

00:21:09.379 --> 00:21:10.220
 is a man by the name

00:21:10.220 --> 00:21:11.240
 of George Mueller.

00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:13.440
 If you have heard of him,

00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:15.059
 he was a German Christian

00:21:15.059 --> 00:21:17.299
 in the 19th century,

00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:18.180
 the 1800s.

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.140
 He grew up

00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.839
 in not a Christian home

00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:21.799
 but his dad

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.539
 wanted him to be

00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.120
 a pastor,

00:21:23.380 --> 00:21:23.900
 a clergyman

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:24.960
 because in Germany

00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:26.039
 in the 19th century,

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:27.160
 if you worked

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.200
 for the Lutheran church,

00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:29.099
 the state paid

00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:29.620
 your salary

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:30.440
 and it was a very

00:21:30.440 --> 00:21:31.319
 lucrative career.

00:21:31.859 --> 00:21:32.859
 These days we become

00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.339
 bankers

00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:33.920
 and those days

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.819
 you became pastors

00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:37.059
 and maybe still

00:21:37.059 --> 00:21:37.500
 these days

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.240
 we become pastors,

00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:38.500
 right?

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.380
 If you think of

00:21:39.380 --> 00:21:40.880
 celebrity pastors

00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.320
 online,

00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:42.040
 that's a whole

00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:42.500
 other story.

00:21:42.580 --> 00:21:42.780
 Anyway,

00:21:43.120 --> 00:21:43.800
 George Mueller.

00:21:44.280 --> 00:21:45.120
 His dad wants him

00:21:45.120 --> 00:21:46.260
 to become a clergyman

00:21:46.260 --> 00:21:47.260
 so he sends him

00:21:47.260 --> 00:21:48.060
 off to seminary

00:21:48.060 --> 00:21:49.020
 but he doesn't

00:21:49.020 --> 00:21:49.680
 give rocks

00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:50.200
 for God

00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:50.920
 and the church.

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:51.600
 In fact,

00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.240
 when his mom

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.940
 is dying

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:54.000
 on her deathbed,

00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:55.400
 he's busy gambling

00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:56.260
 and getting drunk

00:21:56.260 --> 00:21:56.880
 down the road.

00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:57.680
 He was addicted

00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.220
 to gambling.

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.420
 He's an alcoholic

00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.540
 as a teenager,

00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.540
 14 years old.

00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.360
 Anyway,

00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.380
 he goes off to seminary,

00:22:03.500 --> 00:22:04.560
 doesn't care at all

00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:05.060
 but he thinks

00:22:05.060 --> 00:22:05.500
 he's going to get

00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:06.100
 a good degree,

00:22:06.180 --> 00:22:06.560
 he's got a good

00:22:06.560 --> 00:22:07.320
 career lined up.

00:22:07.860 --> 00:22:08.600
 At the end

00:22:08.600 --> 00:22:09.320
 of the seminary,

00:22:09.420 --> 00:22:10.500
 a friend drags him

00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.480
 into a prayer meeting

00:22:11.480 --> 00:22:13.059
 and he encounters

00:22:13.059 --> 00:22:13.900
 the living God

00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:15.220
 just like Mark

00:22:15.220 --> 00:22:15.700
 in hospital,

00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.039
 right?

00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:19.339
 He confesses,

00:22:19.619 --> 00:22:20.319
 I believe in God

00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:20.759
 the Father,

00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.500
 I believe in Christ

00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:21.900
 the Son,

00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:22.839
 I believe in the Holy Spirit.

00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.519
 He falls to his knees

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.299
 and his life

00:22:25.299 --> 00:22:26.039
 is turned around

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.420
 and he realized

00:22:27.420 --> 00:22:28.259
 that God has called

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.779
 him to ministry

00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:29.559
 but not to become

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.619
 a rich clergyman,

00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:31.740
 he becomes a missionary

00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.920
 and so he goes

00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.380
 to England

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.920
 and he decides

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.480
 to work with

00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:35.799
 the poor,

00:22:35.900 --> 00:22:36.420
 the vulnerable,

00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:38.160
 children of society,

00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.240
 the orphans

00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.960
 and the marginalized

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:41.380
 and he starts

00:22:41.380 --> 00:22:42.259
 educating

00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:45.059
 the poor people

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:46.099
 of English society

00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:47.720
 and he starts

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.799
 a school

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.299
 and he starts

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:49.920
 an orphanage

00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:51.039
 and by the end

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.640
 of his life

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:52.359
 he has started

00:22:52.359 --> 00:22:54.180
 120 schools

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.920
 educating

00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:56.620
 120,000

00:22:56.620 --> 00:22:57.279
 children.

00:22:58.200 --> 00:22:59.019
 He pretty much

00:22:59.019 --> 00:22:59.819
 no fee

00:22:59.819 --> 00:23:00.579
 paying schools,

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:01.759
 educated them

00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.160
 himself,

00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:02.740
 paid for it

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.779
 largely his own way.

00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:05.180
 In addition to that

00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.819
 he sets up

00:23:06.819 --> 00:23:08.119
 tens of orphanages,

00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:10.019
 has 10,000 orphans

00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.779
 come through his care

00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.519
 that he feeds,

00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.200
 educates

00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:12.740
 and provides

00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.119
 for them.

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.480
 He prints,

00:23:14.639 --> 00:23:15.079
 he decides

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.900
 people need Bibles

00:23:15.900 --> 00:23:16.700
 so he prints

00:23:16.700 --> 00:23:18.579
 300,000 Bibles,

00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.500
 1.5 million

00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:21.319
 New Testaments

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.000
 he prints

00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.859
 and distributes

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.639
 to those

00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:24.519
 that don't have

00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.259
 Bibles

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.839
 and he does this

00:23:26.839 --> 00:23:27.480
 refusing

00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.759
 any fundraising

00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.220
 efforts.

00:23:29.660 --> 00:23:30.319
 People came to

00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:30.519
 him and said

00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.379
 let's fundraise

00:23:31.379 --> 00:23:31.640
 and he said

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.079
 no, no, no

00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:32.900
 God will provide

00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.680
 let's not ask

00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:34.579
 anybody for money

00:23:34.579 --> 00:23:35.599
 so he wouldn't

00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:36.519
 ask for any money.

00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:39.019
 10,000 orphans

00:23:39.019 --> 00:23:40.579
 120,000 children

00:23:40.579 --> 00:23:41.339
 in his schools

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.680
 a million Bibles

00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:44.059
 in his ministry

00:23:44.059 --> 00:23:44.900
 he raised

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.460
 the equivalent

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:47.359
 of 120 million

00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.140
 pounds

00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:49.740
 worth of money

00:23:49.740 --> 00:23:50.700
 in today's value

00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.839
 without any

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.420
 fundraising

00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.140
 no government

00:23:53.140 --> 00:23:53.759
 support.

00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:55.299
 But listen to

00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:56.220
 what George Mueller

00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:56.940
 writes

00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.500
 he says

00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.720
 we should not

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.299
 shrink back

00:23:59.299 --> 00:24:00.319
 from opportunities

00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.160
 where our faith

00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:01.960
 may be tested.

00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.619
 The more I am

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:04.180
 in a position

00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:05.019
 to be tested

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.579
 in faith

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.519
 the more I have

00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.220
 the opportunity

00:24:07.220 --> 00:24:08.259
 of seeing God's

00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.259
 help and deliverance.

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:11.299
 Every fresh instance

00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.240
 in which he helps

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.039
 and delivers me

00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.599
 will increase my faith.

00:24:15.180 --> 00:24:15.700
 The believer

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.460
 should not shrink

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.700
 back from situations

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:19.160
 positions or circumstances

00:24:19.160 --> 00:24:20.539
 in which his faith

00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.240
 may be tested

00:24:21.240 --> 00:24:22.319
 but he should

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.539
 cheerfully embrace

00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.819
 them as opportunities

00:24:24.819 --> 00:24:25.980
 to see the hand

00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.440
 of God

00:24:26.440 --> 00:24:27.200
 stretched out

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:27.660
 in help

00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:28.839
 and deliverance.

00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:30.400
 Thus will his faith

00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.099
 be strengthened.

00:24:31.940 --> 00:24:32.420
 And we can tell

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.380
 story after story

00:24:33.380 --> 00:24:33.839
 after story.

00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.980
 Friends this is what

00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.940
 God is doing here.

00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.799
 This is what he's doing

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.539
 with the disciples.

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.279
 And if you want

00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.640
 to take discipleship

00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.920
 of Jesus seriously

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:44.099
 which if you're part

00:24:44.099 --> 00:24:44.539
 of Watermark

00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.220
 we hope you do

00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:46.099
 and we will help

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:46.700
 you do that

00:24:46.700 --> 00:24:48.740
 God will do

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.420
 the same for you.

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.460
 He will call you

00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:51.259
 into situations

00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.019
 which are way

00:24:52.019 --> 00:24:52.960
 beyond your control

00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:54.319
 outside of your ability

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:55.919
 way beyond you

00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.659
 in order to reveal

00:24:57.659 --> 00:24:58.859
 your need for him

00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:00.439
 to expose your weakness

00:25:00.439 --> 00:25:01.279
 so that you can come

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.379
 to the end of yourself

00:25:02.379 --> 00:25:04.019
 and wholly rely

00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.119
 on him.

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:08.500
 How does God grow us?

00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.980
 He reveals our need

00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.379
 for him.

00:25:11.119 --> 00:25:11.399
 Now

00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:13.339
 God does more than that.

00:25:14.059 --> 00:25:15.039
 In revealing

00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.919
 our need for him

00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:17.500
 he doesn't just want

00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.359
 to humble us

00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:18.859
 and say

00:25:18.859 --> 00:25:20.399
 be humble

00:25:20.399 --> 00:25:21.019
 suckers

00:25:21.019 --> 00:25:22.240
 realize you're just human

00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.099
 I am God

00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:23.960
 rah rah rah

00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.799
 he wants to reveal

00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:26.660
 our need for him

00:25:26.660 --> 00:25:27.859
 so that we can see

00:25:27.859 --> 00:25:28.660
 who he is.

00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:30.039
 And that's the second thing

00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.700
 to reveal

00:25:30.700 --> 00:25:31.759
 who he is.

00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:34.359
 In these stories

00:25:34.359 --> 00:25:36.000
 Jesus does

00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.839
 two things

00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:38.359
 to reveal

00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:39.019
 who he is.

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.740
 We spoke about

00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.259
 the fact that

00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:42.339
 the miracles

00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:43.120
 reveal him

00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:43.759
 to be mighty

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.240
 and sovereign

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.220
 that he's the creator

00:25:45.220 --> 00:25:46.480
 God of all creation

00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:47.319
 the sovereign Lord.

00:25:47.819 --> 00:25:48.500
 But Jesus wants

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.339
 to show his disciples

00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:50.160
 more than just

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.440
 that he's powerful

00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:52.080
 and mighty

00:25:52.080 --> 00:25:53.740
 he wants to show them

00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:55.059
 that he is the one

00:25:55.059 --> 00:25:55.779
 true God

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:57.380
 the creator of heaven

00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:57.680
 and earth

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.539
 the sustainer

00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.160
 of everyone

00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.000
 and everything

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.039
 as the catechism says

00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:01.460
 that he is

00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:02.580
 the one true God

00:26:02.580 --> 00:26:03.039
 of Israel

00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:03.799
 the God of Abraham

00:26:03.799 --> 00:26:04.740
 Isaac and Jacob.

00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.039
 Look at the first

00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:07.160
 story with me

00:26:07.160 --> 00:26:08.120
 in chapter 14.

00:26:08.680 --> 00:26:09.660
 Jesus takes these

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:10.519
 loaves and fishes

00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:12.519
 and he multiplies them

00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.200
 into a feast

00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:14.200
 for many thousands

00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:14.740
 of people.

00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:16.400
 But in verse 19

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:18.059
 Matthew doesn't comment

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.840
 on the fish at all

00:26:18.840 --> 00:26:20.000
 he only talks about

00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:20.580
 the loaves.

00:26:20.660 --> 00:26:21.180
 Look at what he says

00:26:21.180 --> 00:26:22.420
 in verse 19

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:22.799
 it says

00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:23.799
 then he ordered

00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.259
 the crowd

00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.840
 to sit down

00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.360
 in the grass

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.759
 taking the loaves

00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:29.259
 and two fish

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:29.660
 he looked up

00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.019
 to heaven

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.100
 then he broke

00:26:31.100 --> 00:26:31.600
 the loaves

00:26:31.600 --> 00:26:32.200
 gave them to

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.720
 the disciples

00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:33.640
 and they gave

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:34.380
 them to the crowd.

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.560
 In other words

00:26:35.560 --> 00:26:36.180
 he deliberately

00:26:36.180 --> 00:26:37.500
 neglects the

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.519
 comment on the fish

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.000
 and I think

00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:39.440
 what Matthew

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.080
 is doing here

00:26:40.080 --> 00:26:41.200
 he wants his

00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:41.620
 congregation

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:42.519
 to think back

00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.539
 to another time

00:26:43.539 --> 00:26:44.600
 in Israel's history

00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.539
 where God

00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:46.480
 fed his people

00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.100
 in the wilderness

00:26:47.100 --> 00:26:48.220
 with bread.

00:26:48.220 --> 00:26:50.380
 Matthew wants

00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:50.940
 us to see

00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.759
 that Jesus

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:53.180
 is the God

00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:53.920
 that provided

00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.819
 manna in the

00:26:54.819 --> 00:26:55.100
 wilderness

00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:56.079
 for his people.

00:26:56.620 --> 00:26:57.240
 In other words

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.220
 Matthew wants

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:58.660
 us to see

00:26:58.660 --> 00:26:59.460
 just as God

00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.460
 provided manna

00:27:00.460 --> 00:27:01.339
 for Moses

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.860
 and the people

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:02.259
 in the wilderness

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.240
 so Jesus

00:27:03.240 --> 00:27:04.100
 providing bread

00:27:04.100 --> 00:27:04.640
 for his people

00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:04.920
 here

00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:06.279
 Jesus is

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.380
 Jehovah Jireh

00:27:07.380 --> 00:27:08.600
 the great provider.

00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:10.259
 But in the second

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.220
 story it's even

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:11.799
 more obvious.

00:27:11.900 --> 00:27:13.279
 Look at verse 27

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:13.880
 with me.

00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:15.540
 The disciples

00:27:15.540 --> 00:27:16.480
 are in the boat

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:17.220
 the wind and the

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.080
 waves are buffeting

00:27:18.080 --> 00:27:18.400
 them.

00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:19.340
 Jesus comes

00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.120
 walking to them

00:27:20.120 --> 00:27:20.720
 on the water

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:22.200
 and by the way

00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:25.700
 it says here

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.520
 when they were

00:27:26.520 --> 00:27:27.340
 a long way off

00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:27.920
 the Greek says

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:29.100
 many hundreds of

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.880
 meters possibly

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.720
 a kilometer and

00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:31.380
 a half into the

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:31.600
 water.

00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.720
 Jesus wasn't just

00:27:32.720 --> 00:27:33.320
 walking on the

00:27:33.320 --> 00:27:33.900
 shore he wasn't

00:27:33.900 --> 00:27:34.520
 just walking in

00:27:34.520 --> 00:27:35.300
 water that deep

00:27:35.300 --> 00:27:36.580
 sometimes we think

00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.440
 maybe Jesus

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:37.920
 walked on the

00:27:37.920 --> 00:27:38.340
 water and was

00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.160
 only an inch deep

00:27:39.160 --> 00:27:39.940
 Jesus is about

00:27:39.940 --> 00:27:40.780
 a kilometer in

00:27:40.780 --> 00:27:42.060
 he walks towards

00:27:42.060 --> 00:27:43.860
 them and they

00:27:43.859 --> 00:27:44.599
 are freaked out

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:44.959
 because they

00:27:44.959 --> 00:27:45.439
 think they see

00:27:45.439 --> 00:27:46.479
 a ghost and

00:27:46.479 --> 00:27:46.839
 look at what

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.479
 Jesus says

00:27:47.479 --> 00:27:48.500
 take heart

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:49.819
 it is I

00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:51.259
 do not be

00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:51.959
 afraid.

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.459
 Now again

00:27:53.459 --> 00:27:53.899
 the English

00:27:53.899 --> 00:27:54.599
 translation here

00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.179
 doesn't really

00:27:55.179 --> 00:27:55.719
 help us.

00:27:56.059 --> 00:27:56.619
 The Greek says

00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.779
 take heart

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:59.839
 it is I am

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:01.199
 do not be

00:28:01.199 --> 00:28:01.819
 afraid.

00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:02.919
 Do you see

00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:03.839
 where Jesus is

00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:04.099
 going?

00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.759
 If you're new

00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:06.500
 to church this

00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.039
 might be new

00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:07.379
 to you.

00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.599
 In the Old

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.319
 Testament God

00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.039
 gives himself

00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:10.939
 a name.

00:28:11.379 --> 00:28:11.639
 He gives

00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.240
 himself a very

00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:13.179
 unusual name.

00:28:13.180 --> 00:28:14.039
 the name

00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:14.440
 that God

00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:15.120
 gives himself

00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.900
 is I

00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.759
 am or I

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.560
 am that I

00:28:17.560 --> 00:28:17.880
 am.

00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:18.900
 Remember when

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.539
 Moses meets

00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.259
 God at the

00:28:20.259 --> 00:28:21.039
 burning bush in

00:28:21.039 --> 00:28:21.700
 Exodus chapter

00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.799
 3 God

00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:23.460
 says Moses

00:28:23.460 --> 00:28:24.180
 go to Pharaoh

00:28:24.180 --> 00:28:24.740
 and tell him

00:28:24.740 --> 00:28:25.779
 God says let

00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.660
 my people go.

00:28:27.320 --> 00:28:27.640
 And Moses

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.100
 says well there

00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.480
 are lots of

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.420
 gods which

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.980
 god is it?

00:28:30.080 --> 00:28:30.600
 Who should I

00:28:30.600 --> 00:28:30.920
 say?

00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.080
 And God

00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:32.779
 says tell

00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.779
 them that

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:35.140
 Yahweh I

00:28:35.140 --> 00:28:35.900
 am who I

00:28:35.900 --> 00:28:37.440
 am says let

00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.100
 my people go.

00:28:38.200 --> 00:28:38.640
 God gives

00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.539
 himself a name

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.940
 and the name

00:28:40.940 --> 00:28:41.720
 is this unusual

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:43.039
 name that he

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:43.500
 is.

00:28:43.579 --> 00:28:44.240
 It describes

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.819
 his essence.

00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:46.420
 God simply

00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.279
 is.

00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.119
 He is the

00:28:49.119 --> 00:28:49.960
 one true

00:28:49.960 --> 00:28:50.980
 supreme God.

00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:51.980
 He's not just

00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.359
 the God of

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:52.740
 the Jews.

00:28:53.159 --> 00:28:53.639
 He's not just

00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.039
 the God of

00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.399
 Israel.

00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.460
 He's not just

00:28:55.460 --> 00:28:55.859
 the God of

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.480
 America or

00:28:56.480 --> 00:28:56.859
 the God of

00:28:56.859 --> 00:28:57.500
 white people.

00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.720
 He is the

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.740
 one true God.

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.019
 He's not just

00:29:01.019 --> 00:29:01.839
 the God of

00:29:01.839 --> 00:29:02.980
 ancient times.

00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.420
 He's not a

00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.159
 God limited to

00:29:04.159 --> 00:29:04.899
 a time or

00:29:04.899 --> 00:29:05.720
 geography or

00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.259
 space.

00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.599
 He is who

00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:07.960
 he is.

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:08.460
 He is the

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.839
 supreme being

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.859
 of all

00:29:10.859 --> 00:29:11.419
 time,

00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.619
 all nations,

00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:13.879
 all countries,

00:29:14.179 --> 00:29:15.619
 all galaxies,

00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.679
 all everything.

00:29:16.879 --> 00:29:18.119
 He is who

00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:18.779
 he is.

00:29:19.199 --> 00:29:19.779
 He is the

00:29:19.779 --> 00:29:20.399
 absolutely

00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:21.879
 supreme being.

00:29:22.699 --> 00:29:23.000
 And his

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.859
 name is

00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.419
 I am

00:29:25.419 --> 00:29:26.559
 Yahweh.

00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:28.980
 In fact so

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.639
 important was

00:29:29.639 --> 00:29:30.220
 his name that

00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.639
 if anyone

00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.519
 abused it

00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.480
 they would be

00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.079
 stoned to

00:29:33.079 --> 00:29:33.480
 death.

00:29:33.799 --> 00:29:34.639
 God's name is

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.019
 sacred.

00:29:36.220 --> 00:29:36.779
 But it's more

00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.159
 than that.

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.640
 It's his

00:29:37.640 --> 00:29:38.900
 covenant faithful

00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:39.320
 name.

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.720
 Whenever God

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:41.019
 in the Old

00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:41.860
 Testament uses

00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:42.540
 his name

00:29:42.540 --> 00:29:43.920
 Yahweh it's

00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:44.560
 meant to

00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.960
 remind God's

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.660
 people of his

00:29:46.660 --> 00:29:47.840
 covenant faithfulness

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:48.620
 that when God

00:29:48.620 --> 00:29:49.740
 has spoken he

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.580
 will deliver.

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.160
 Friends look at

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.980
 what Jesus says

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.300
 here.

00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.680
 Do not be

00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:55.160
 afraid.

00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:58.220
 I am is

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.640
 here.

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.680
 He's saying

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.480
 the God that

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.320
 rescued his

00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:02.980
 people from

00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.259
 Egypt, the

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.180
 God who saved

00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:05.480
 them and

00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:05.980
 delivered them

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.640
 from Babylon,

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.820
 the God who

00:30:07.820 --> 00:30:09.100
 for generations

00:30:09.100 --> 00:30:10.000
 has been there

00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:10.640
 for his people

00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.600
 is with you

00:30:11.600 --> 00:30:12.480
 in the boat.

00:30:13.200 --> 00:30:13.780
 Do not be

00:30:13.780 --> 00:30:14.240
 afraid.

00:30:15.300 --> 00:30:16.020
 Friends in

00:30:16.020 --> 00:30:16.780
 contemporary

00:30:16.780 --> 00:30:18.300
 Christianity we

00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:19.020
 think that God

00:30:19.020 --> 00:30:20.040
 rescues us from

00:30:20.040 --> 00:30:20.840
 the storms of

00:30:20.840 --> 00:30:21.680
 life as Mark

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.020
 said earlier so

00:30:23.020 --> 00:30:24.820
 that we can get

00:30:24.820 --> 00:30:25.500
 back on with

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.020
 our lives.

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.060
 We come to

00:30:27.060 --> 00:30:27.680
 church, we say

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:28.360
 a prayer, we sing

00:30:28.360 --> 00:30:29.000
 some songs, we

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.540
 drop some money

00:30:29.540 --> 00:30:30.000
 in the offering,

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.840
 God will forgive

00:30:30.840 --> 00:30:31.600
 us, he'll rescue

00:30:31.600 --> 00:30:32.060
 us from our

00:30:32.060 --> 00:30:33.240
 storms, save

00:30:33.240 --> 00:30:34.120
 us so that we

00:30:34.120 --> 00:30:34.700
 can get back to

00:30:34.700 --> 00:30:35.420
 a comfortable and

00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.180
 easy life.

00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:37.660
 But Jesus

00:30:37.660 --> 00:30:38.380
 wants to come

00:30:38.380 --> 00:30:39.060
 to us in the

00:30:39.060 --> 00:30:40.000
 storms of life

00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:40.580
 so that we

00:30:40.580 --> 00:30:41.420
 can see him

00:30:41.420 --> 00:30:42.120
 for who he

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.480
 is.

00:30:42.920 --> 00:30:43.600
 That he will

00:30:43.600 --> 00:30:44.200
 open our

00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:45.080
 eyes to see

00:30:45.080 --> 00:30:45.920
 that he is

00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:46.500
 God and that

00:30:46.500 --> 00:30:47.060
 we are not.

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:47.800
 That we will

00:30:47.800 --> 00:30:48.900
 be humbled to

00:30:48.900 --> 00:30:49.820
 worship him.

00:30:50.280 --> 00:30:50.960
 When Jesus

00:30:50.960 --> 00:30:51.640
 comes to us in

00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:52.280
 the storms of

00:30:52.280 --> 00:30:53.040
 life it's not

00:30:53.040 --> 00:30:54.120
 just to help

00:30:54.120 --> 00:30:54.860
 us get along

00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:55.420
 so that life

00:30:55.420 --> 00:30:55.920
 can be more

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:57.320
 comfortable, it's

00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:57.740
 that he can

00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:58.600
 save us, that

00:30:58.600 --> 00:30:59.360
 he can rescue

00:30:59.360 --> 00:31:00.520
 us so that we

00:31:00.520 --> 00:31:01.240
 can see him

00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.860
 for who he

00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.120
 is.

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:03.040
 And that's

00:31:03.040 --> 00:31:03.520
 what he does

00:31:03.520 --> 00:31:04.140
 here in these

00:31:04.140 --> 00:31:04.800
 stories.

00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.879
 He comes

00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.200
 to his

00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.539
 disciples, they're

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.139
 way out of

00:31:08.139 --> 00:31:09.339
 their league, and

00:31:09.339 --> 00:31:10.039
 he says, let me

00:31:10.039 --> 00:31:11.059
 show you who I

00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:11.379
 am.

00:31:12.119 --> 00:31:14.099
 I am not just a

00:31:14.099 --> 00:31:14.960
 wise man, I'm

00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.059
 not just a sage, I'm

00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.680
 not just a good

00:31:16.680 --> 00:31:17.539
 moral man, I'm not

00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:19.399
 just a teacher, I am

00:31:19.399 --> 00:31:20.500
 who I am, I am the

00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:22.119
 eternal, uncreated,

00:31:22.419 --> 00:31:23.159
 sovereign, supreme

00:31:23.159 --> 00:31:25.559
 God, I am God.

00:31:26.839 --> 00:31:27.440
 Friends, are you

00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:27.899
 going through a

00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:28.720
 storm in life at the

00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:28.919
 moment?

00:31:28.920 --> 00:31:31.120
 some challenge that

00:31:31.120 --> 00:31:31.980
 is beyond you?

00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:33.539
 Do you feel

00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.460
 overwhelmed, do you

00:31:34.460 --> 00:31:35.680
 feel buffeted by the

00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.660
 storms and the wind

00:31:36.660 --> 00:31:37.259
 and the wave?

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.580
 Jesus wants to

00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:41.440
 reveal himself to

00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.480
 you in that place.

00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:45.539
 He wants you to see

00:31:45.539 --> 00:31:46.460
 him for who he is.

00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.080
 Friends, maybe you

00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:48.660
 hear this morning

00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:49.320
 and you're not a

00:31:49.320 --> 00:31:50.620
 Christian, and things

00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.400
 are not going well in

00:31:51.400 --> 00:31:51.960
 your life, and you

00:31:51.960 --> 00:31:52.860
 think, where is God?

00:31:52.900 --> 00:31:54.019
 If only he cared, maybe

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.480
 he would do

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:54.920
 something.

00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:56.680
 Friends, because he

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.820
 cares, he's doing

00:31:57.820 --> 00:31:58.140
 something.

00:31:58.580 --> 00:31:59.320
 He's bringing you

00:31:59.320 --> 00:32:00.120
 right into the eye

00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:00.720
 of the storm.

00:32:01.400 --> 00:32:02.300
 He's bringing you to

00:32:02.300 --> 00:32:02.960
 a place where you

00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:03.980
 cannot save yourself

00:32:03.980 --> 00:32:04.880
 so that you can see

00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:06.880
 you need him, so that

00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:07.880
 he can save you.

00:32:08.460 --> 00:32:09.360
 Friends, maybe Jesus

00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:10.240
 brought you here this

00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.400
 morning to save and

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.140
 rescue you.

00:32:12.620 --> 00:32:13.400
 He took Mark to a

00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.500
 hospital bed.

00:32:15.360 --> 00:32:16.220
 He took the disciples

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.960
 into the eye of the

00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:17.240
 storm.

00:32:18.360 --> 00:32:19.200
 Maybe he's doing the

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:20.000
 same for you because

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.400
 he wants to save you.

00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:24.640
 Jesus grows in his

00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:25.840
 disciples by bringing

00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.420
 them to the place

00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:27.120
 where they need him,

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:28.539
 by revealing himself

00:32:28.539 --> 00:32:29.359
 finally and fully.

00:32:29.979 --> 00:32:30.739
 Thirdly, let's look,

00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:31.979
 Jesus calls us to

00:32:31.979 --> 00:32:32.639
 worship him.

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.119
 Now, in Matthew's

00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:35.099
 gospel, it's not very

00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:36.019
 clear because he

00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:37.139
 doesn't say how the

00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:38.819
 crowds responded after

00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.819
 they'd been fed this

00:32:39.819 --> 00:32:40.799
 massive feast, but in

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.579
 John's gospel, John

00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:42.179
 tells us.

00:32:42.719 --> 00:32:44.019
 They cry out, this

00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:44.959
 indeed is the prophet

00:32:44.959 --> 00:32:46.579
 who has come into the

00:32:46.579 --> 00:32:46.899
 world.

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.779
 Jesus feeding the

00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.939
 5,000 leads to

00:32:49.939 --> 00:32:50.279
 worship.

00:32:50.479 --> 00:32:51.199
 But look at the end

00:32:51.200 --> 00:32:52.259
 of the second story.

00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.860
 Jesus rescues the

00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.559
 disciples there in the

00:32:57.559 --> 00:32:57.779
 boat.

00:32:57.880 --> 00:32:58.840
 Look at verse 33.

00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:00.019
 He quietens the wind

00:33:00.019 --> 00:33:00.600
 and the waves.

00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.920
 He gets into the boat

00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.340
 with them.

00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.380
 And then Matthew tells

00:33:03.380 --> 00:33:05.080
 us, those in the boat

00:33:05.080 --> 00:33:07.920
 worshipped him, saying,

00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:10.200
 truly you are the son of

00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:10.779
 God.

00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:14.319
 Up until this point in

00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.340
 Matthew's gospel, the

00:33:15.340 --> 00:33:16.980
 disciples have never said

00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.319
 that.

00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:18.859
 In Matthew chapter 4,

00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:21.000
 God says at Jesus'

00:33:21.139 --> 00:33:22.619
 baptism, this is my son

00:33:22.619 --> 00:33:23.399
 with whom I'm well

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:23.759
 pleased.

00:33:23.879 --> 00:33:24.759
 In Matthew chapter 8,

00:33:25.039 --> 00:33:26.299
 the demons confess, you

00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:27.220
 are the son of God.

00:33:27.819 --> 00:33:28.759
 But the disciples have

00:33:28.759 --> 00:33:29.559
 never said that.

00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:31.139
 Until now.

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.859
 And the reason is

00:33:32.859 --> 00:33:34.059
 because no first

00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.079
 century Jew would

00:33:35.079 --> 00:33:37.200
 ever think of ascribing

00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:38.439
 to another human being

00:33:38.439 --> 00:33:39.059
 divinity.

00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:39.619
 I mean, that's the

00:33:39.619 --> 00:33:40.480
 height of blasphemy.

00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:41.299
 You get stoned for

00:33:41.299 --> 00:33:41.539
 that.

00:33:42.200 --> 00:33:43.700
 No Jew would ever call

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:45.000
 another man God.

00:33:46.139 --> 00:33:47.019
 And yet here the

00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:48.900
 disciples, having seen

00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:50.960
 who Jesus is, they

00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.059
 worship him.

00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:54.339
 Truly you are the

00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:55.420
 son of God.

00:33:58.779 --> 00:34:00.039
 Friends, Jesus wants

00:34:00.039 --> 00:34:01.039
 to bring us to the

00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:02.639
 place of seeing how

00:34:02.639 --> 00:34:03.460
 desperately we need

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:03.660
 him.

00:34:04.539 --> 00:34:05.700
 Jesus wants to reveal

00:34:05.700 --> 00:34:06.940
 himself to us and then

00:34:06.940 --> 00:34:08.400
 Jesus calls us to

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:09.360
 worship him.

00:34:10.179 --> 00:34:10.759
 You know, that's the

00:34:10.759 --> 00:34:11.400
 point of Sunday

00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.659
 worship, why we gather

00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.139
 on Sundays.

00:34:13.239 --> 00:34:14.079
 We don't just gather to

00:34:14.079 --> 00:34:14.900
 fill our minds with

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.759
 Christian information.

00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:16.679
 You can do that at

00:34:16.679 --> 00:34:17.399
 home online.

00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:18.719
 You can read a book

00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:19.419
 or read the Bible.

00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:21.379
 We gather because six

00:34:21.379 --> 00:34:22.339
 days a week we are

00:34:22.339 --> 00:34:23.719
 buffeted by the storms

00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.179
 of life.

00:34:24.299 --> 00:34:25.239
 We are buffeted by

00:34:25.239 --> 00:34:27.079
 false truths that tell

00:34:27.079 --> 00:34:28.239
 us that life is found

00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:29.039
 in all sorts of other

00:34:29.039 --> 00:34:29.379
 things.

00:34:29.799 --> 00:34:31.359
 And we gather weekly on

00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:33.159
 a Sunday to be reminded

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:34.559
 who Jesus is.

00:34:35.059 --> 00:34:36.199
 To be reminded how much

00:34:36.199 --> 00:34:37.339
 we need him and to

00:34:37.339 --> 00:34:38.359
 worship him.

00:34:38.919 --> 00:34:40.559
 To lift him up and to

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.639
 ascribe to him that you

00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:42.759
 are God and that I am

00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:42.919
 not.

00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.279
 You are worthy of my

00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:45.000
 entire life.

00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:48.019
 This is what Jesus

00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.840
 calls us to do.

00:34:49.640 --> 00:34:50.580
 But oh friends, can't

00:34:50.580 --> 00:34:51.560
 you also see in the

00:34:51.560 --> 00:34:52.580
 story the gospel?

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:54.580
 Can't you see how God

00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:55.700
 is revealing to us the

00:34:55.700 --> 00:34:56.260
 gospel here?

00:34:56.780 --> 00:34:57.720
 Because the gospel

00:34:57.720 --> 00:35:00.019
 tells us that we too

00:35:00.019 --> 00:35:02.019
 cannot rescue ourselves

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:02.780
 and cannot save

00:35:02.780 --> 00:35:03.240
 ourselves.

00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.600
 The whole point of the

00:35:05.600 --> 00:35:06.519
 Bible is to bring us to

00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.620
 a place where we see

00:35:07.620 --> 00:35:09.040
 that we are desperately

00:35:09.040 --> 00:35:09.519
 in trouble.

00:35:09.640 --> 00:35:10.420
 We are not just in the

00:35:10.420 --> 00:35:11.140
 storms of life.

00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:12.739
 The storms that we

00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:14.719
 face are not just a bad

00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:16.039
 day at the office or

00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:16.519
 COVID.

00:35:17.359 --> 00:35:18.779
 We are in the storm of

00:35:18.779 --> 00:35:19.900
 God's judgment because of

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:20.379
 our sin.

00:35:21.019 --> 00:35:22.539
 And we cannot save

00:35:22.539 --> 00:35:23.019
 ourselves.

00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:25.079
 It is utterly beyond

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:25.519
 us.

00:35:26.299 --> 00:35:27.179
 And so the point of the

00:35:27.179 --> 00:35:28.519
 gospel is to reveal to

00:35:28.519 --> 00:35:29.819
 us that we need a

00:35:29.819 --> 00:35:30.099
 savior.

00:35:30.920 --> 00:35:32.099
 We need one who was

00:35:32.099 --> 00:35:32.980
 with the father,

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:35.119
 communing, who left the

00:35:35.119 --> 00:35:36.159
 comfort of heaven to

00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:38.159
 come down and to be with

00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:38.500
 us.

00:35:38.500 --> 00:35:40.699
 To walk into the storm

00:35:40.699 --> 00:35:41.699
 that we were facing,

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:43.099
 into the very wrath of

00:35:43.099 --> 00:35:44.500
 God and to take it upon

00:35:44.500 --> 00:35:46.579
 himself on the cross so

00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:47.880
 that we could be saved.

00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:49.800
 And as we look upon that

00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:51.239
 man, behold the man upon

00:35:51.239 --> 00:35:53.460
 the cross, we see him for

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.039
 who he is.

00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:55.420
 We see that Jesus was not

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:57.099
 just a good man, not just

00:35:57.099 --> 00:35:58.400
 a moral teacher, not just

00:35:58.400 --> 00:36:00.000
 a sage who said wise

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.380
 things.

00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.940
 The point of the cross is

00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:04.000
 to reveal to us who he is

00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:05.500
 and how great need for him

00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:08.460
 and then to lead us to

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.059
 worship.

00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.780
 Friends, at the heart of

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.480
 the gospel is the

00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:12.800
 declaration we need him

00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:14.119
 for this life and for

00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:14.960
 life to come.

00:36:15.619 --> 00:36:16.360
 But at the heart of the

00:36:16.360 --> 00:36:17.500
 gospel is that Jesus came

00:36:17.500 --> 00:36:18.460
 to do that for us.

00:36:19.119 --> 00:36:19.900
 Remember Ephesians

00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:21.280
 chapter 2, as for you,

00:36:21.340 --> 00:36:22.320
 you were dead in your

00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:24.199
 trespasses and sins in

00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:25.099
 which you walked in the

00:36:25.099 --> 00:36:26.539
 following the prince of

00:36:26.539 --> 00:36:27.400
 the power of the air,

00:36:27.739 --> 00:36:29.119
 enslaved to the desires of

00:36:29.119 --> 00:36:30.099
 the lusts of flesh and

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:31.239
 under God's wrath and

00:36:31.239 --> 00:36:31.559
 judgment.

00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:33.059
 But because of his great

00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:35.480
 love for us, this God,

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.780
 who loves us immensely

00:36:37.780 --> 00:36:39.820
 and his great mercy has

00:36:39.820 --> 00:36:41.199
 made us alive with Christ

00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:41.500
 Jesus.

00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:42.500
 You are saved, you are

00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:43.739
 raised with Christ Jesus

00:36:43.739 --> 00:36:45.179
 and he has made you

00:36:45.179 --> 00:36:45.860
 alive with Christ.

00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:48.260
 This is by grace, not

00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:48.900
 through works.

00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:50.400
 This is not of your own

00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.579
 doing.

00:36:50.679 --> 00:36:52.480
 It is a gift of God so

00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:54.559
 that no one can boast.

00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:56.539
 This is what Jesus is

00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:56.840
 doing.

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:58.820
 He came to his disciples

00:36:58.820 --> 00:36:59.699
 in the storm.

00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:01.440
 He comes to us in the

00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:02.739
 storm so that we can see

00:37:02.739 --> 00:37:04.440
 he is the one true God

00:37:04.440 --> 00:37:06.000
 and worship him.

00:37:06.800 --> 00:37:07.820
 Friends, what about you?

00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:10.300
 Do you want to grow in

00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:10.639
 grace?

00:37:10.940 --> 00:37:11.780
 Do you want to become the

00:37:11.780 --> 00:37:12.900
 mature disciple that Jesus

00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:13.760
 is calling you to be?

00:37:14.579 --> 00:37:16.320
 Maybe Jesus is leading you

00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:17.360
 into the storms of life.

00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.360
 Maybe he is leading you to

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:19.380
 a place that is utterly

00:37:19.380 --> 00:37:20.440
 beyond your control.

00:37:21.280 --> 00:37:22.480
 In his kindness, he is

00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:23.380
 bringing you to a place

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:24.720
 where you see your great

00:37:24.720 --> 00:37:25.460
 need for him.

00:37:26.519 --> 00:37:27.659
 He wants to open your

00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:28.940
 eyes so that you can see

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:30.000
 him, that you can cry out

00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.320
 to him.

00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:31.599
 That you, like the

00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.420
 disciples, can say,

00:37:32.420 --> 00:37:33.420
 Jesus, save me.

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:35.119
 And then you can worship

00:37:35.119 --> 00:37:35.440
 him.

00:37:36.639 --> 00:37:37.840
 Let's pray together.

00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:42.220
 Lord Jesus Christ, we do

00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:43.019
 come before you this

00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:44.280
 morning and God, we

00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:46.240
 acknowledge that in your

00:37:46.240 --> 00:37:47.599
 kindness, God, you often

00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:49.240
 lead us to places that are

00:37:49.240 --> 00:37:50.059
 not always comfortable.

00:37:50.720 --> 00:37:52.059
 But because you want to

00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:54.220
 save us from the delusion

00:37:54.220 --> 00:37:55.260
 of thinking that we can

00:37:55.260 --> 00:37:55.900
 save ourselves.

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:58.480
 You want us to see you for

00:37:58.480 --> 00:37:59.980
 who you are and to cry out

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:01.380
 to you and to be saved.

00:38:02.619 --> 00:38:04.059
 Lord, we know that this is

00:38:04.059 --> 00:38:05.360
 not only the way into the

00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:06.559
 kingdom, this is also the

00:38:06.559 --> 00:38:07.380
 way of the kingdom.

00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:08.920
 This is the Christian life.

00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:10.219
 It's not only the way how

00:38:10.219 --> 00:38:11.659
 that we become Christians,

00:38:11.780 --> 00:38:12.740
 it's how we deliver as

00:38:12.740 --> 00:38:14.099
 Christians, constantly

00:38:14.099 --> 00:38:16.240
 dependent on you, aware of

00:38:16.240 --> 00:38:18.039
 our need for you, no longer

00:38:18.039 --> 00:38:19.199
 trying to save ourselves.

00:38:19.360 --> 00:38:20.519
 And so God, I pray for us

00:38:20.519 --> 00:38:21.099
 as a church.

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:23.900
 Lord, no doubt almost all of

00:38:23.900 --> 00:38:25.280
 us here are facing storms of

00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.059
 various kinds.

00:38:26.740 --> 00:38:27.840
 For some of us, we've lost a

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:28.219
 loved one.

00:38:28.219 --> 00:38:29.859
 For some of us, it's our

00:38:29.859 --> 00:38:30.259
 children.

00:38:30.419 --> 00:38:31.139
 For some of us, it's our

00:38:31.139 --> 00:38:31.599
 parents.

00:38:31.799 --> 00:38:32.879
 For some of us, it's at work.

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.500
 For some of us, it's the

00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:35.719
 longings of our hearts.

00:38:36.859 --> 00:38:37.959
 God, for some of us, it's the

00:38:37.959 --> 00:38:39.159
 words that people have spoken

00:38:39.159 --> 00:38:39.799
 over us.

00:38:40.739 --> 00:38:42.179
 God, for some of us, it's

00:38:42.179 --> 00:38:43.299
 mental health challenges.

00:38:44.579 --> 00:38:45.759
 For some of us, it's fear

00:38:45.759 --> 00:38:46.439
 about the future.

00:38:46.639 --> 00:38:49.239
 God, every one of us are

00:38:49.239 --> 00:38:50.239
 facing the storms.

00:38:51.859 --> 00:38:53.199
 Lord, help us to not try and

00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:53.879
 save ourselves.

00:38:54.899 --> 00:38:56.279
 Help us to fall onto our

00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:56.659
 knees.

00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:59.139
 open our eyes, we pray, and

00:38:59.139 --> 00:39:01.379
 to call out to you, to

00:39:01.379 --> 00:39:03.199
 worship you for who you

00:39:03.199 --> 00:39:03.399
 are.

00:39:04.299 --> 00:39:05.359
 We pray this in your

00:39:05.359 --> 00:39:06.219
 wonderful and your

00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:07.119
 glorious name.

00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:08.420
 Amen.

00:39:10.299 --> 00:39:12.079
 I want to ask if we can take

00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:12.899
 a few minutes.

00:39:12.980 --> 00:39:13.899
 We should have a slide.

00:39:13.980 --> 00:39:14.879
 I think there's a next

00:39:14.879 --> 00:39:15.899
 slide, the response.

00:39:16.359 --> 00:39:16.819
 We should have two

00:39:16.819 --> 00:39:17.279
 questions.

00:39:17.980 --> 00:39:18.980
 What is it that God is

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.859
 wanting to say to us

00:39:19.859 --> 00:39:20.079
 today?

00:39:20.519 --> 00:39:21.639
 I hope it's been relatively

00:39:21.639 --> 00:39:22.039
 clear.

00:39:22.480 --> 00:39:24.359
 If not, we can start again.

00:39:24.440 --> 00:39:25.059
 Should we go back to the

00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.239
 beginning?

00:39:25.920 --> 00:39:27.219
 But secondly, what does it

00:39:27.219 --> 00:39:28.179
 look like for us to

00:39:28.179 --> 00:39:28.679
 respond?

00:39:29.480 --> 00:39:30.440
 You know, when God speaks to

00:39:30.440 --> 00:39:31.460
 us, he's not just wanting to

00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:32.299
 fill our mind with

00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:32.860
 information.

00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:34.380
 He speaks so that we will

00:39:34.380 --> 00:39:35.299
 respond to him.

00:39:36.279 --> 00:39:37.039
 It's like when you have a

00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:37.920
 conversation with someone,

00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:39.460
 when someone talks, we don't

00:39:39.460 --> 00:39:40.179
 just say, okay, that's

00:39:40.179 --> 00:39:40.639
 interesting.

00:39:41.340 --> 00:39:42.239
 In order to build

00:39:42.239 --> 00:39:43.599
 relationship, we respond.

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:44.880
 What does it look like to

00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:46.539
 respond to God this morning?

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:48.000
 Let's take a few minutes and

00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:49.679
 reflect on that.

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:52.960
 And then Cynthia will lead us

00:39:52.960 --> 00:39:54.179
 in a song of worship.