WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.500 In that. 00:00:02.140 --> 00:00:05.020 People are often marked by storms. 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:15.080 When I was in college, I preached at churches primarily around the Charlotte area, but all over North Carolina. 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:17.839 ! And one weekend, I stayed with a family overnight. 00:00:18.740 --> 00:00:21.280 And I had arrived to their home in the dark. 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:27.080 And the next morning, when I looked out the window in the bathroom, I looked out in the backyard. 00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:29.879 I was stunned by the damage that was in their backyard. 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:35.399 And they shared with me how Hurricane Hugo had devastated them. 00:00:35.460 --> 00:00:38.859 And over breakfast that morning, they told me about that story. 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:42.159 I went on to New Orleans Seminary. 00:00:42.340 --> 00:00:47.859 And while I was in seminary, shortly after I got there, Hurricane Andrew hit South Louisiana. 00:00:48.780 --> 00:00:49.500 That's how they say it. 00:00:49.679 --> 00:00:50.439 We say Louisiana. 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:53.179 But anyway, if you live there, you'll understand why they call it Louisiana. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:53.620 But anyway. 00:00:54.640 --> 00:00:59.240 But Hurricane Andrew had done a tremendous damage to them. 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:05.240 And I went down and helped clean up and helped tear down houses so they could rebuild them. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:08.820 And I saw that devastation up close for, I guess, the first time. 00:01:08.819 --> 00:01:11.399 I pastored in South Mississippi. 00:01:11.399 --> 00:01:13.359 And I always heard people talk about Camille. 00:01:13.919 --> 00:01:16.039 And I didn't know who she was at first. 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:18.619 And then I quickly learned she was not a person. 00:01:18.739 --> 00:01:19.419 It was a storm. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:20.420 A catastrophic storm. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:23.200 A catastrophic storm that hit in 1969. 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:28.439 But at that time, more than two decades later, it had left its mark still. 00:01:28.560 --> 00:01:34.719 And people talked about, well, that was either before Camille or after Camille. 00:01:36.280 --> 00:01:37.780 I pastored in South Carolina. 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:39.320 I moved back to North Mississippi. 00:01:39.659 --> 00:01:43.260 And I heard story after story about Hurricane Katrina. 00:01:43.260 --> 00:01:43.340 Yeah. 00:01:45.420 --> 00:01:49.359 The news covered New Orleans and the mess of New Orleans at Katrina. 00:01:49.540 --> 00:01:52.740 But it went way beyond that as well. 00:01:53.420 --> 00:01:55.219 And the Mississippi coast was hit hard. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:00.840 And the church that I pastored had teamed up with several other churches in that area 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:05.260 and had traveled tirelessly in the aftermath to walk through that. 00:02:05.360 --> 00:02:09.159 One of the greatest ministry efforts that that church had ever produced in missions 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:11.080 was through Katrina. 00:02:11.080 --> 00:02:12.219 And they've been marked by it. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:16.700 In September 2024, our whole region was rocked by Helene. 00:02:17.320 --> 00:02:20.900 North Carolina still is hurting from it in some parts. 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.720 Many of you were marked by that. 00:02:24.820 --> 00:02:26.100 Storms mark our lives. 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:29.320 But it's not just natural storms that do it, that leave scars. 00:02:29.439 --> 00:02:32.120 There are health storms that do it. 00:02:32.660 --> 00:02:36.560 There are relational hurricanes that happen in our life. 00:02:36.660 --> 00:02:39.360 There are career tsunamis that hit. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:47.640 And the kind of earthquakes that come when someone we love, life unravels before us and falls apart. 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:51.820 And we strive to help them put it back together. 00:02:51.980 --> 00:02:56.320 I don't need to give you a lot of examples because you already know that. 00:02:56.560 --> 00:02:58.820 Because storms mark us. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.540 In our passage today, the disciples are in a storm. 00:03:04.539 --> 00:03:08.900 And they had Jesus with them. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:16.979 But even with his presence, they were still in a storm. 00:03:18.199 --> 00:03:20.840 It's found in Mark chapter 4, beginning in verse 35. 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:21.500 And it says, 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:49.860 And they woke him and said to him, 00:03:49.860 --> 00:03:54.200 Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:58.700 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 00:03:58.860 --> 00:04:00.200 Peace be still. 00:04:00.940 --> 00:04:04.620 And the wind ceased and there was great calm. 00:04:05.640 --> 00:04:06.540 And he said to them, 00:04:06.920 --> 00:04:08.180 Why are you so afraid? 00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:11.000 Have you still no faith? 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:18.019 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 00:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.639 Who then is this? 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:26.899 That even the wind and the sea obey him. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:31.160 When you look at the previous chapters that we've covered, 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:35.160 you find out that Jesus and his disciples had been crowded by people. 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:40.340 And although there would be ministry on the other side of the water, 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:46.360 all indications were that Jesus was looking to get them away from that crowd 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:47.900 as urgently as possible. 00:04:49.820 --> 00:04:51.140 Jesus was warned. 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:55.820 They placed him in the stern on a cushion. 00:04:56.280 --> 00:04:58.600 That was the seat of honor of sorts. 00:04:58.820 --> 00:04:59.860 It was as if they said, 00:04:59.940 --> 00:05:01.040 Listen, you rest. 00:05:01.740 --> 00:05:02.720 We got this. 00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:04.400 They were fishermen. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:07.540 They felt like they were on their turf. 00:05:08.940 --> 00:05:14.120 However, violent storms on the Sea of Galilee are not unusual. 00:05:15.160 --> 00:05:16.880 It's not a large body of water. 00:05:17.020 --> 00:05:20.400 It's 13 miles long and it's 7 1⁄2 miles wide. 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:23.560 However, its natural setting makes it dangerous. 00:05:25.220 --> 00:05:27.780 It sits nearly 700 feet below sea level 00:05:27.780 --> 00:05:30.940 at the bottom of a rift between the Arabian Desert 00:05:30.940 --> 00:05:32.660 and the Mediterranean Sea. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:36.900 And it is surrounded by sheer cliffs on the east. 00:05:37.900 --> 00:05:42.040 When cool air rushes down from Mount Hermon, 00:05:42.140 --> 00:05:44.300 which stands 9,200 feet tall, 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:48.700 and it funnels through the narrow passes around those cliffs, 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:53.500 it collides with the warm tropical air over that lake 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:57.320 and it leads to sudden and violent storms. 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:02.459 That is apparently what happened to them. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:05.699 After I preached the morning of the early worship, 00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:07.680 somebody came to me afterwards and said, 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:11.399 When I was taking a tour in Israel and I got out on that boat 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:13.839 and went out on the Sea of Galilee, 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:17.420 just a little water hit the side of the boat 00:06:17.420 --> 00:06:19.959 and the guy turned the boat around and started coming back shore. 00:06:19.959 --> 00:06:24.199 And he said, Now, you wonder why I'm doing that, 00:06:24.279 --> 00:06:27.799 but if we don't respond quickly, we may not make it back. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:30.979 And he said, By the time we got back, 00:06:31.339 --> 00:06:34.359 he said it was worse than anything I've ever experienced on Joe Cassie. 00:06:34.479 --> 00:06:37.419 Just that quickly it happens. 00:06:37.979 --> 00:06:39.279 So it's a setup for that, 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:41.899 and apparently that's what happened to them that day. 00:06:42.539 --> 00:06:45.459 The waves overwhelmed the boat and water began to fill in it 00:06:45.459 --> 00:06:46.439 and they were terrified, 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:48.739 and they were terrified for good reason. 00:06:48.859 --> 00:06:50.459 We're not talking about an overreaction here. 00:06:50.539 --> 00:06:52.559 These are fishermen, seasoned fishermen. 00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:54.000 They're used to such storms. 00:06:54.479 --> 00:06:57.399 They're accustomed to the violent temper of this sea. 00:06:58.479 --> 00:07:02.059 In reality, even modern-day captains on powered vessels 00:07:02.059 --> 00:07:05.719 watch the weather patterns closely on this sea 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:09.920 to avoid the very thing that we read about in this passage. 00:07:10.960 --> 00:07:13.860 But what they didn't realize at that time was this. 00:07:14.760 --> 00:07:17.680 They had sailed into that storm for a reason. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:20.860 It was going to be a lesson for them. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:23.840 And it was not only a lesson for them, 00:07:23.900 --> 00:07:25.560 but I believe it's also for us. 00:07:26.780 --> 00:07:28.800 And by the way, I've heard this before, 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:30.080 and I've said this before, 00:07:30.340 --> 00:07:32.920 and I'll probably say it again, and it's still true. 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:35.520 So I want you to let your guard down and hear it, okay? 00:07:35.720 --> 00:07:42.300 All of us are either coming out of a storm, 00:07:42.840 --> 00:07:45.920 going into a storm, 00:07:46.320 --> 00:07:49.720 or right now in the middle of a storm. 00:07:53.900 --> 00:07:57.100 This is common ground. 00:07:58.200 --> 00:08:01.240 And we do a lot from Sunday to dress up and look pretty 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:02.780 and look like we got all right together. 00:08:02.780 --> 00:08:02.840 All right. 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:07.620 But the reality is, 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:10.180 I learned a long time ago, 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:11.480 there's a pain on every pew. 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:17.980 A storm is common ground. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:22.320 You don't have to act like you don't know what we're talking about today 00:08:22.320 --> 00:08:24.220 because you do. 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:26.040 Or you will 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:28.340 because it's common ground. 00:08:28.339 --> 00:08:32.000 So the lessons that they learned that day, 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:34.659 I hope we can learn as well. 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:35.799 When in the storm, 00:08:36.199 --> 00:08:37.199 remember some things. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:39.259 One, remember this. 00:08:40.120 --> 00:08:42.659 When we don't think that he cares, 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:44.199 he does. 00:08:46.419 --> 00:08:47.439 These were fishermen. 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:50.159 They had been in storms before. 00:08:50.339 --> 00:08:51.519 This storm was different. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:52.360 It was at night, 00:08:52.439 --> 00:08:54.000 which makes it worse. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.120 But this storm was extremely violent. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:08:59.080 Mark calls it a great windstorm. 00:08:59.960 --> 00:09:01.960 Matthew calls it a great shaking. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:06.460 Even literally a sea quake. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:09.600 And this matters. 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:12.460 It wasn't like they had caused the storm. 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:16.139 They had not disobeyed. 00:09:16.139 --> 00:09:20.779 They had left when Jesus told them to leave. 00:09:20.899 --> 00:09:22.840 They went where Jesus told them to go. 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:23.840 Listen to me. 00:09:24.299 --> 00:09:26.659 Storms even come when we are obedient. 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:32.319 When they looked to Jesus, 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:33.439 he was asleep. 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:34.759 And they misunderstood that. 00:09:34.819 --> 00:09:37.059 They assumed that he was indifferent to the matter. 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:39.100 And they asked him, 00:09:39.139 --> 00:09:40.919 Teacher, don't you care that we're perishing? 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:44.899 Now we know that now he never sleeps 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:45.819 and he never slumbers, 00:09:45.820 --> 00:09:48.740 but sometimes his silence feels like he's sleeping. 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:52.740 Have you ever felt like you were trying to 00:09:52.740 --> 00:09:54.740 wake God up asking him, 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:55.600 don't you care? 00:09:57.040 --> 00:09:59.680 I mean, it could be when we feel friendless. 00:10:01.520 --> 00:10:03.360 Or it could be when our car breaks down. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.260 It could be when a loved one's sick. 00:10:10.800 --> 00:10:12.920 Or when a family's crumbling. 00:10:12.919 --> 00:10:17.000 Or when a job's played out. 00:10:18.539 --> 00:10:20.599 Or our bank account's drying up. 00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:24.399 Or our test result is pending. 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:28.679 And maybe it's not even a prayer. 00:10:28.679 --> 00:10:30.019 Maybe it's just a thought. 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:33.220 Does God really care about my circumstances? 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:37.480 And he quickly answered the question in his action. 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:41.199 By the way, in their world and in their culture, 00:10:41.319 --> 00:10:44.220 a sleeping deity was not a sign of weakness. 00:10:44.319 --> 00:10:45.439 It was a sign of control. 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:50.700 It was not that Jesus was unaware of the storm. 00:10:50.820 --> 00:10:53.100 He was at rest in the midst of the storm. 00:10:53.760 --> 00:10:54.060 Listen. 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:57.960 He is at rest in our storms. 00:10:59.860 --> 00:11:02.180 He's not panicked by the things that panic us. 00:11:02.179 --> 00:11:07.039 The storm did not expose his indifference. 00:11:08.719 --> 00:11:11.179 The storm showed their spiritual immaturity. 00:11:13.839 --> 00:11:16.699 We're not alone when God is silent in our storms. 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.120 Actually, he's in the boat 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:25.519 through every wave that we face along the way. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.759 And of course he cares. 00:11:26.859 --> 00:11:28.519 And never think that you're alone. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:34.600 God may be quiet, but he is in your boat 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:38.480 through every wave that you face. 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:42.620 When you don't think he cares, he does. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:46.199 Second thing to remember in a storm is this. 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:51.340 When we don't think he's in control, he is. 00:11:53.819 --> 00:11:57.199 Now, can you imagine this is a sturdy fishing vessel 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.879 able to hold several men, 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:01.680 but it was actually no match for a 10-foot wave. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.080 And the boat plunges, nose first, into a wall of water. 00:12:05.180 --> 00:12:07.240 The force of the waves tip it dangerously 00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:11.180 until the bow feels like it's pointing straight up. 00:12:12.180 --> 00:12:14.259 And just when you think that you're about to be 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:16.280 thrown backwards, it pitches you forward 00:12:16.280 --> 00:12:18.900 into a valley of another wave. 00:12:19.000 --> 00:12:20.860 And hands are everywhere, gripping the mast, 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:24.060 grabbing the rails, desperately trying to pull 00:12:24.059 --> 00:12:27.000 everything together, all but one set of hands. 00:12:27.439 --> 00:12:28.500 And he's asleep. 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:33.459 He's sawing laws in the stern of the boat. 00:12:35.699 --> 00:12:37.599 They're amazed, maybe a little angry, 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:40.479 and they wake him and they ask him if he cares. 00:12:40.659 --> 00:12:43.479 And with his voice, the storm is gone. 00:12:43.579 --> 00:12:45.319 He simply stands up and says, 00:12:45.839 --> 00:12:48.039 peace, be still. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:52.539 Literally, he's saying, be silent. 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:58.759 Even stronger than that, the text tells us, 00:12:59.459 --> 00:13:00.980 literally, it'd be, be muzzled. 00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:08.480 It is the same command that he used for the demoniac 00:13:08.480 --> 00:13:10.980 in Mark chapter 1 that we looked at a few weeks ago. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:13.740 God's in control. 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:17.060 And the disciples would have known Psalm 107 00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:18.680 a whole lot better than we would, 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:19.539 where it says, 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:21.720 they reeled and staggered like drunken men 00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:23.779 as were at their wit's end. 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.920 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:28.620 and he delivered them from their distress. 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:30.840 He made the storm be still, 00:13:30.879 --> 00:13:32.480 and the waves of the sea were hushed. 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:35.800 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, 00:13:35.800 --> 00:13:39.080 and he brought them to their desired haven. 00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:44.139 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, 00:13:44.360 --> 00:13:48.100 for his wondrous works to the children of man. 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.740 Only the Lord does that. 00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:54.840 When he speaks, things change. 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.780 And I'll tell you another story 00:13:55.780 --> 00:13:57.060 that must have echoed in their mind, 00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:59.600 and it's echoed in mine, it may echo in yours, 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:02.840 and that's Jonah, who was running from God. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:05.300 He got in a boat that went the opposite direction 00:14:05.300 --> 00:14:06.680 that God told him to go. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:08.700 A mighty storm came. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:11.680 All the men called upon their gods, 00:14:11.800 --> 00:14:13.020 but Jonah was asleep. 00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:17.320 They wanted to do everything they possibly could, 00:14:17.379 --> 00:14:18.940 so they woke him up and said, 00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:20.960 why don't you call on your God? 00:14:21.020 --> 00:14:25.040 And when they realized that he worshiped the real God, 00:14:25.140 --> 00:14:25.879 they panicked. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.580 They didn't know what to do with him, 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:31.660 and Jonah invited him to throw him overboard. 00:14:31.940 --> 00:14:33.080 They were afraid to do that 00:14:33.080 --> 00:14:34.879 because the God who had caused the storm 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.980 was the same God they wanted to appease, 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:38.639 and so they didn't quite know what to do. 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.980 He had convinced them to do that. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.100 They threw him over, 00:14:41.259 --> 00:14:42.960 and there was a great calm. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.580 I want you to notice in verse 41, 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:49.800 it says that they were filled with great fear. 00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:51.360 They were terrified, 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.500 terrified, and that's after the storm's gone. 00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.240 The storm was gone, 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.240 yet they were terrified. 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:58.340 Terrified of what? 00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.460 Of Jesus? 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.580 Of his power? 00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:05.300 They were no longer concerned about the weather. 00:15:05.400 --> 00:15:06.780 They were now focused on Jesus. 00:15:06.920 --> 00:15:11.220 They were now beginning to see who he really was. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.560 Only God himself can calm the storms, 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:16.440 and the rain, 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.180 and the sea, 00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:20.180 and suddenly as they're in that boat, 00:15:20.259 --> 00:15:22.540 it dawns on them maybe like it never had before. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.840 He is here, 00:15:24.060 --> 00:15:26.600 right here with us, 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.279 and he's in control. 00:15:31.420 --> 00:15:33.759 Even though we may not feel like it, 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.639 he's in control. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:41.300 And when we don't feel like he's in control, 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:42.600 he is. 00:15:45.440 --> 00:15:47.220 The other thing I think we need to remember is this. 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:50.340 When we don't know if we can trust him, 00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:53.000 we can. 00:15:53.000 --> 00:16:00.419 These men had reasons to not be overwhelmed by the storm, 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.320 yet they were. 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:05.159 Storms are a part of life. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:06.100 They're going to come, 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:08.639 and when they do, 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.519 the question is, 00:16:09.580 --> 00:16:10.820 are we going to trust God enough 00:16:10.820 --> 00:16:14.039 to not lose our faith through those storms? 00:16:17.460 --> 00:16:19.379 I think some things that we need to do, 00:16:19.779 --> 00:16:20.919 they need to do as well. 00:16:20.919 --> 00:16:22.899 One is remember his promise. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:27.659 He told them in verse 35 00:16:27.659 --> 00:16:29.279 that they were going to the other side. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:33.240 He didn't say, 00:16:33.399 --> 00:16:35.220 we're going to try to get to the other side. 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:35.960 That's not what he said. 00:16:36.440 --> 00:16:36.980 He said, 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.519 we're going to the other side. 00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:42.240 Isaiah 43 verse 2, 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:43.059 the prophet said, 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:44.580 when you pass through the waters, 00:16:44.700 --> 00:16:45.700 I'll be with you. 00:16:45.799 --> 00:16:46.860 That's what God says to us. 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:51.860 It don't say around the waters, 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.279 it says through the waters. 00:16:56.820 --> 00:16:58.519 The psalmist says in Psalm 56, 00:16:58.639 --> 00:16:59.159 three and four, 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.240 when I am afraid, 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.379 I put my trust in you. 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:01.940 In God, 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.060 whose word I praise, 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:04.180 in God I trust, 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.740 I shall not be afraid. 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:09.539 When you do not think you can trust him, 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.960 I want you to remember his promise 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.559 to you. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:15.539 But also, 00:17:15.639 --> 00:17:17.019 I want you to recognize his presence. 00:17:19.919 --> 00:17:21.079 He was with them. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:24.740 He might have been silent. 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:28.579 It might have felt like he wasn't interested, 00:17:28.879 --> 00:17:29.440 but however, 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.500 their impression of him 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.179 did not change the reality of him. 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:35.259 Did you get that? 00:17:35.259 --> 00:17:38.960 Our impression of him 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.519 does not change the reality of him. 00:17:43.220 --> 00:17:44.400 He was on it. 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.940 When I read this, 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.460 it reminds me of the upper room. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.299 Christ is in the upper room 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:54.359 with his disciples. 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.700 He has ministered to them 00:17:55.700 --> 00:17:56.980 for three and a half years, 00:17:57.299 --> 00:17:58.099 ministered with them 00:17:58.099 --> 00:17:59.200 for three and a half years. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:02.279 In the latter part of those days with them, 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.619 he began to prepare them 00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:05.659 for a day when he would no longer be with them. 00:18:05.699 --> 00:18:06.500 And he told them 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:08.039 that they were going to come after him 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.000 and that he was going to die, 00:18:09.339 --> 00:18:10.199 but he'd rise again. 00:18:10.339 --> 00:18:12.179 And he began to tell them those things 00:18:12.179 --> 00:18:13.419 and they didn't really want to hear it. 00:18:13.579 --> 00:18:15.299 They couldn't imagine a change like that. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.739 And so that night 00:18:18.739 --> 00:18:20.579 before he goes to the Garden of Gethsemane 00:18:20.579 --> 00:18:21.439 and is arrested, 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:23.979 he takes them into the upper room 00:18:23.979 --> 00:18:25.279 and he tells them 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:27.339 about how he will soon 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:30.239 no longer be physically with them, 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:31.339 but that does not mean 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:32.319 he would leave them. 00:18:33.619 --> 00:18:36.079 He says in that 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.699 longest discourse we have 00:18:37.699 --> 00:18:39.479 of Jesus at one time anywhere, 00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.819 it's in John 13 through 17, 00:18:40.979 --> 00:18:42.179 most of which at least 00:18:42.179 --> 00:18:43.139 was in the upper room. 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:44.619 And he says there, 00:18:44.659 --> 00:18:45.899 I will not leave you comfort 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:46.899 lest I'll come to you. 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.979 He promises them that. 00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:51.719 They may feel like they're alone, 00:18:51.779 --> 00:18:53.079 but he's not going to leave them like that. 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.899 F.B. Meyer was a great theologian, 00:18:57.459 --> 00:18:58.679 contemporary in London 00:18:58.679 --> 00:19:00.379 with Spurgeon, 00:19:01.459 --> 00:19:02.699 good friends with D.L. Moody. 00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.920 And he said this, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.279 he said, 00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:06.120 they that bear Christ's company 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:08.180 must prepare for squalls. 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.120 Yet why should we fear 00:19:11.120 --> 00:19:12.519 when the master is on board? 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:16.779 When we don't think 00:19:16.779 --> 00:19:17.440 we can trust him, 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.900 we can. 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.500 We just kind of need 00:19:18.500 --> 00:19:19.279 to remember his promise. 00:19:19.840 --> 00:19:21.000 He didn't bring us this far 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:21.840 to let us fail 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.600 and just recognize his presence. 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:24.900 He will never leave us 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:26.279 nor forsake us. 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:28.940 And when you don't think 00:19:28.940 --> 00:19:29.859 we can trust him, 00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:32.379 we need to be able 00:19:32.379 --> 00:19:34.019 to rest in his peace. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.759 By the time the storm stops, 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:40.839 something else has started. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:41.920 The wind is quiet, 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:43.180 the waves have laid down, 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.440 the danger has passed, 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:45.779 but the disciples 00:19:45.779 --> 00:19:46.980 are not relieved. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:48.420 They are unsettled. 00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:51.259 And Mark tells us 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:52.279 that they are filled 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.480 with great fear. 00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:55.860 They're not fearing 00:19:55.860 --> 00:19:56.800 the storm anymore, 00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:57.940 but they fear the one 00:19:57.940 --> 00:19:58.560 who's standing 00:19:58.560 --> 00:19:59.720 in the boat with them. 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:04.840 Storms are terrifying. 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.920 But a Savior 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.279 who speaks to storms 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.259 and stops them, 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:11.240 that's something else 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:11.740 altogether. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:15.299 Isn't it interesting 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:18.980 that the very storm 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.740 that made veteran fishermen 00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:22.400 panic made the Lord Jesus 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:22.980 drowsy? 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:27.000 That what put fear 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.759 in their eyes 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.700 put him to sleep? 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.319 That the boat 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:33.819 that felt like a certain tomb 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.799 to his disciples 00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:36.579 was a steady cradle 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.319 to Christ? 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:39.160 It's wasn't that Jesus 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.779 was unaware of the storm. 00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:42.160 Jesus was at peace 00:20:42.160 --> 00:20:43.740 in the midst of the storm. 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:46.119 He also tells them 00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:46.879 in the upper room 00:20:46.879 --> 00:20:48.220 in John 14, 27, 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:49.539 Peace I leave with you, 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:50.700 my peace I give to you, 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:52.019 not as the world gives 00:20:52.019 --> 00:20:52.859 do I give unto you. 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:53.819 Let not your hearts 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:54.319 be troubled, 00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:55.299 neither let it be afraid. 00:20:56.039 --> 00:20:57.279 The peace he gives, 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:58.160 and I want you to get this, 00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.619 is not an absence 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.259 of storms or trouble. 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.660 The thunder is going 00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:04.180 to roll in our lives. 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:05.619 It's not the absence 00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.639 of tough times. 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.980 It is the presence 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:09.200 of Christ 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.759 through all of us 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.720 and Jesus could have 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.960 rebuked them harshly. 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.480 He could have pointed out 00:21:15.480 --> 00:21:16.539 their immaturity, 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.799 but instead he patiently 00:21:18.799 --> 00:21:21.420 asked them two questions, 00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:24.400 not to shame them, 00:21:25.140 --> 00:21:27.299 but to invite them 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:29.519 to see what this moment 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.259 had revealed. 00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:30.740 He said, 00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:32.839 why are you so afraid? 00:21:34.279 --> 00:21:35.960 Have you still no faith? 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:41.799 The storm did not create 00:21:41.799 --> 00:21:42.620 their fear. 00:21:42.799 --> 00:21:43.740 It exposed it. 00:21:45.480 --> 00:21:48.960 The storm did not reveal 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:51.039 who Jesus was. 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.299 It confirmed it. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:55.500 And the greatest storms 00:21:55.500 --> 00:21:56.319 that we face 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.360 are not wind 00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.779 and they're not waves. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.840 They're not even the losses. 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.319 They're not even 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.440 the disappointments. 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:04.360 They're not even 00:22:04.359 --> 00:22:05.439 the diagnoses. 00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:08.519 The greatest storm 00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.419 that we face 00:22:09.419 --> 00:22:11.479 is the unbelief 00:22:11.479 --> 00:22:14.719 that reveals itself 00:22:14.719 --> 00:22:15.719 in our hearts 00:22:15.719 --> 00:22:16.339 in the midst 00:22:16.339 --> 00:22:17.019 of our hardship. 00:22:17.899 --> 00:22:19.099 And the question 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:19.859 of whether we can 00:22:19.859 --> 00:22:21.419 really trust the Lord. 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:24.319 And that is the question 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.059 that the storms 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:25.919 bring to light. 00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:29.299 Isn't it interesting? 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.399 Isn't it interesting? 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:33.600 Did Jesus know 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.540 this storm was coming? 00:22:39.540 --> 00:22:40.560 Before they ever 00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:41.400 stepped in the boat? 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:43.600 If you go back 00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:44.019 and look, 00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:45.460 he had been sharing 00:22:45.460 --> 00:22:46.860 with them how faith works. 00:22:49.040 --> 00:22:51.040 He had been telling them 00:22:51.040 --> 00:22:52.320 how the kingdom grows. 00:22:53.620 --> 00:22:54.620 He had been 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.940 telling them, 00:22:56.120 --> 00:22:56.740 talking to them 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:57.920 about trusting God 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.660 with things 00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.940 that we cannot control. 00:23:00.200 --> 00:23:01.360 And now on the water 00:23:01.360 --> 00:23:03.259 is a great object lesson 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:04.180 for the disciples. 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.480 This storm 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:08.460 is not punishment. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.720 I want you 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:12.120 to understand 00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.740 something today. 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.680 If you've given 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.500 your heart and life 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:15.800 to the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:17.039 if you're a Christian 00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:17.660 that's dedicated 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.580 to following him, 00:23:19.019 --> 00:23:20.820 God does not punish you. 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:22.220 Your punishment 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:23.300 has already been taken. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:23.700 Do you know 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.500 who took on 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.039 your punishment? 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:26.539 Christ Jesus 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.619 took on your punishment 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.359 on the cross. 00:23:30.099 --> 00:23:31.559 God's not mad at you. 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:35.119 God's not punishing you. 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:39.079 This is not a rebuke. 00:23:39.159 --> 00:23:40.500 It is a living illustration. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:42.099 This is the curriculum 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.879 of God. 00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:45.119 Not because we deserve storms. 00:23:46.119 --> 00:23:47.819 Not because every storm 00:23:47.819 --> 00:23:48.799 is caused by sin. 00:23:48.879 --> 00:23:49.619 Don't misunderstand me. 00:23:49.899 --> 00:23:51.259 Sin causes huge storms. 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.460 But not every storm 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.519 is caused by sin. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:57.379 This storm 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:58.319 was not caused 00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.440 by their sin. 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.440 It was not. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.940 But because storms 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:04.500 are often 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.319 where our faith 00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.019 is clarified 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.180 and our trust 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.619 is formed, 00:24:09.639 --> 00:24:10.740 he teaches us 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.119 in that. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.019 He teaches us 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.639 that we can trust 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.259 Jesus 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.859 in the storm. 00:24:17.619 --> 00:24:18.940 That when we think 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.700 he don't care, 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:20.660 he does. 00:24:21.559 --> 00:24:22.519 And when we think 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:23.319 he's not in control, 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.379 he is. 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.439 And so Mark 00:24:28.439 --> 00:24:29.500 ends this account 00:24:29.500 --> 00:24:30.259 the way life 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.119 often happens. 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:33.519 Not with an explanation, 00:24:34.359 --> 00:24:36.299 but with a question. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:39.119 He says, 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.419 they ask, 00:24:40.679 --> 00:24:42.439 who then is this 00:24:42.439 --> 00:24:45.319 that even the wind 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:46.599 and the sea 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:48.240 obey him? 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:54.420 and no answer 00:24:54.420 --> 00:24:55.019 was given. 00:24:58.620 --> 00:24:59.839 Their eyes 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:00.680 are fixed 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.700 upon him 00:25:01.700 --> 00:25:06.079 as they marvel 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.460 at who they look to. 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.539 Their eyes 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:13.200 are fixed 00:25:13.200 --> 00:25:14.019 on him 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:15.839 and that is 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.480 exactly 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:17.980 where 00:25:17.980 --> 00:25:19.000 they needed 00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:19.519 to be. 00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:22.980 And it's 00:25:22.980 --> 00:25:23.359 exactly 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.079 where we need 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.139 to be. 00:25:26.500 --> 00:25:27.480 Fixed on him. 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.299 Because folks, 00:25:31.299 --> 00:25:34.859 once you know 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.960 who's in the boat 00:25:35.960 --> 00:25:36.599 with you, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.919 the storm 00:25:38.919 --> 00:25:39.980 is not the focus. 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:43.440 The focus 00:25:43.440 --> 00:25:44.519 is upon the Lord 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:47.319 who's right there 00:25:47.319 --> 00:25:48.079 with you 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:49.819 in the midst 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:50.419 of your storm. 00:25:50.420 --> 00:25:55.279 there's some 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.220 storms here today. 00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:59.320 I know of some. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.660 I know of few. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.920 I don't know of most. 00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.700 But I know 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.300 the storms. 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:14.860 Been doing this 00:26:14.860 --> 00:26:15.360 long enough 00:26:15.360 --> 00:26:15.779 and praying 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.200 for people 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:16.700 long enough, 00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:17.500 praying with people 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:17.980 long enough, 00:26:18.080 --> 00:26:18.600 talking to people 00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.019 long enough 00:26:19.019 --> 00:26:19.300 to know 00:26:19.300 --> 00:26:20.100 there's some storms. 00:26:20.420 --> 00:26:24.960 And I want you 00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:25.320 to know 00:26:25.320 --> 00:26:25.820 that if there's 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:26.539 never been a time 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:27.120 in your life 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.779 when you surrender 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.240 your life 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:28.680 to the Lord 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.580 Jesus Christ, 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:32.259 I don't know 00:26:32.259 --> 00:26:32.820 how else 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:33.539 to help you 00:26:33.539 --> 00:26:34.480 except to bring 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.320 you to the one 00:26:35.320 --> 00:26:36.800 who can calm 00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:37.259 your storm. 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.279 If you've never 00:26:42.279 --> 00:26:42.900 asked the Lord 00:26:42.900 --> 00:26:43.779 Jesus to forgive 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.660 you of your sins, 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:46.440 to come into 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.019 your life 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.740 and to change 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:47.980 you, 00:26:48.060 --> 00:26:48.680 I want you to know 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:49.640 that is the next 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.400 step that you 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.200 need to do 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.180 in your life, 00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:52.500 period. 00:26:54.340 --> 00:26:54.900 That's where 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.500 a relationship 00:26:55.500 --> 00:26:56.120 starts. 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:59.259 And if you feel 00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.440 alienated from God 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.000 as if you're 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:02.060 separated from God, 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:02.720 do you know 00:27:02.720 --> 00:27:03.620 why you feel that? 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.440 Because you are 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.519 if you don't have 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:05.880 a relationship 00:27:05.880 --> 00:27:06.259 with it. 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.580 So it starts there. 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:12.240 and then if you do 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.159 know that you have 00:27:13.159 --> 00:27:13.579 a relationship 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:13.980 with him, 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:15.960 if you've surrendered 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:16.759 your life to the 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:17.839 Lord Jesus Christ, 00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:20.819 you need to remember 00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.720 some things 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.839 for the storms. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.259 You might be in the 00:27:25.259 --> 00:27:25.720 middle of one. 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.939 Some of you are, 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.220 I know. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.259 Some of you are 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.059 coming out of it 00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:32.599 and you're walking 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.379 with a limp. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.419 And then who knows 00:27:37.419 --> 00:27:38.240 what tomorrow holds 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.059 except the one 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.720 who holds tomorrow. 00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.960 You might just need 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.679 to lay your storm 00:27:44.679 --> 00:27:45.279 down before the 00:27:45.279 --> 00:27:45.799 Lord today. 00:27:48.639 --> 00:27:49.339 You've been trying 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:49.919 to control it 00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.480 yourself. 00:27:53.179 --> 00:27:53.819 And you need 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.139 to surrender 00:27:54.139 --> 00:27:54.559 to him. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:57.319 I'm here to pray 00:27:57.319 --> 00:27:57.859 for you 00:27:57.859 --> 00:27:59.259 if you'd like 00:27:59.259 --> 00:27:59.740 for me to. 00:28:00.919 --> 00:28:01.700 You can lay your 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.139 storm down 00:28:02.139 --> 00:28:02.740 at this altar. 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.960 You can do it 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:04.619 where you stand. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.240 But let's don't 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.879 go through these 00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:13.679 things alone. 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.639 It always amazes 00:28:18.639 --> 00:28:19.039 me 00:28:19.039 --> 00:28:21.139 that oftentimes 00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:22.159 when people go 00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:23.139 through difficulties 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:24.059 and storms, 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:26.839 they'll tell me 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:28.079 when we get 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.639 through this 00:28:28.639 --> 00:28:29.200 we'll be back 00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.799 to church. 00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:31.779 Now I'm not 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.200 talking about 00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.740 something that's 00:28:32.740 --> 00:28:33.419 a health crisis 00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.039 that won't allow 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:34.700 you to be in public. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:35.480 I'm just talking 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:35.899 about somebody 00:28:35.899 --> 00:28:36.279 who's going 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.559 through something. 00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.419 We feel like 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:38.480 everybody can see 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.200 straight through us 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.519 and they know 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:39.879 everything that's 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:40.379 going on in our 00:28:40.379 --> 00:28:41.279 lives and we 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:41.919 just can't face 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:42.319 anybody. 00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.359 And I'm just 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:43.759 telling you, 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.179 there's a Greek 00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:44.679 word for that, 00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.079 baloney. 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:46.859 There's so much 00:28:46.859 --> 00:28:47.299 going on in 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.859 people's lives 00:28:47.859 --> 00:28:48.259 today, 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:50.119 they don't know 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.579 what's happening 00:28:50.579 --> 00:28:51.159 with you. 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:53.240 And they got so 00:28:53.240 --> 00:28:53.919 much stuff going 00:28:53.919 --> 00:28:54.200 on. 00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:54.980 They ain't got 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:55.400 time to worry 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:55.799 about you. 00:28:56.160 --> 00:28:56.340 I mean, 00:28:56.420 --> 00:28:57.620 they may pray 00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:57.920 for you, 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.279 don't misunderstand 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.960 me about that, 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.360 but I'm just 00:28:59.360 --> 00:28:59.720 telling you, 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.120 people aren't 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:01.700 sitting back 00:29:01.700 --> 00:29:02.180 drinking a 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:02.660 checklist, 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.019 are they going 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.420 to show up 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.019 or not because 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.600 I know what's 00:29:04.600 --> 00:29:05.039 going on in 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.340 their life. 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:05.920 It's just not 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.279 true. 00:29:06.420 --> 00:29:06.779 That's the 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.580 evil one. 00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:09.240 God's going 00:29:09.240 --> 00:29:11.079 to show up. 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:13.259 And I'll tell 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.559 you what he 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:13.819 does, 00:29:13.879 --> 00:29:14.379 he loves to 00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:15.119 polarize us, 00:29:15.159 --> 00:29:15.619 he loves to 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.480 isolate us, 00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:16.939 he loves to 00:29:16.939 --> 00:29:17.679 get us alone 00:29:17.679 --> 00:29:18.319 in the hardest 00:29:18.319 --> 00:29:19.839 of times so 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:20.480 he can beat 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.179 us down. 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:22.699 And the 00:29:22.699 --> 00:29:23.619 reality is, 00:29:24.059 --> 00:29:24.720 what we need 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.179 to acknowledge 00:29:25.179 --> 00:29:25.539 more than 00:29:25.539 --> 00:29:26.240 anything else 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:27.539 is the one 00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.059 that is the 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.779 master of the 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:30.159 storm is right 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:31.119 there with me. 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:32.240 And he's got a 00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:33.039 whole crew of 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.039 people that 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:34.700 love me 00:29:34.700 --> 00:29:35.259 dearly, 00:29:35.359 --> 00:29:36.440 that will love 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:37.099 me through 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:38.159 what's going 00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.619 on in my 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.099 life. 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.759 Just drop a 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.279 facade. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:49.279 Be honest 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.839 with God. 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.379 Be honest 00:29:52.379 --> 00:29:53.019 with ourself. 00:29:54.920 --> 00:29:55.619 And look 00:29:55.619 --> 00:29:56.019 to him. 00:29:58.379 --> 00:29:58.879 Heavenly 00:29:58.879 --> 00:29:59.180 Father, 00:29:59.259 --> 00:29:59.819 I love you. 00:30:00.700 --> 00:30:01.399 I thank you 00:30:01.399 --> 00:30:01.920 Lord for your 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.579 love for us 00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.179 and I ask 00:30:03.179 --> 00:30:03.819 today that 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.559 we'll lay our 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:05.159 storm down 00:30:05.159 --> 00:30:05.759 before you, 00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.199 oh God. 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.399 That we'll 00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:09.019 trust you. 00:30:10.779 --> 00:30:11.399 Whether it 00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:11.919 appears you're 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.439 asleep, 00:30:14.639 --> 00:30:15.079 whether we're 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:15.819 waiting for you 00:30:15.819 --> 00:30:16.439 to say peace 00:30:16.439 --> 00:30:17.019 be still. 00:30:19.019 --> 00:30:19.779 God, I pray 00:30:19.779 --> 00:30:20.099 that we'll 00:30:20.099 --> 00:30:20.939 trust you today 00:30:20.939 --> 00:30:21.759 with all of 00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.480 our lives. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.539 Lead us, 00:30:25.699 --> 00:30:25.819 Lord, 00:30:26.439 --> 00:30:27.299 to follow 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:27.799 your lead. 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.519 In Jesus' 00:30:29.740 --> 00:30:29.960 name, 00:30:30.099 --> 00:30:30.339 amen.