WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.059 Mark chapter 6. What do you do when the storms come? After giving the invocation and sitting on the front row in a suit on the first day of July in 2023 on Main Street in Pickens. 00:00:17.059 --> 00:00:34.320 My family had to take the walk of shame and leave the Trump rally early due to the heat. Heat hit me like it never had before and I could tell that he was not going to stop talking anytime soon. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:47.259 So my family and I took the shame walk and left early. I crashed on the couch. I had a headache. That's a rare thing for me. The heat had got me and I woke up about 30 minutes later to a torrential storm. 00:00:48.500 --> 00:00:59.539 It was bad. There were strong winds. There was thunder. There was lightning. They were popping all around while hell fell from the ground. I thought Pickens was under the wrath of God. 00:00:59.539 --> 00:01:09.819 It felt like a tornado, but instead it was probably a microburst. We lost trees. We lost power. And I was wondering what in the world was going on. 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:20.400 I had moved from Tornado Alley in Mississippi and I lived there 15 years. I've been in Pickens for four years. Been back in Pickens for four years. 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:29.460 I've seen as many storms here as I did there for 15 years. Kind of amazing, really. I don't care for storms. Storms are rough. 00:01:29.540 --> 00:01:44.400 But the reality is there are other kind of storms that hit life as well. More personal storms. Storms that are deeper. Storms that are more difficult. 00:01:46.040 --> 00:01:54.080 And in our passage today, the apostles were in a literal sea storm, but they also had personal storms going on as well. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:59.019 I want you to see this. It's in Mark chapter 6, beginning in verse 45. 00:02:00.099 --> 00:02:00.459 It says, 00:02:00.459 --> 00:02:14.340 Immediately he made his disciples get into a boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:18.340 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:24.240 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 00:02:24.240 --> 00:02:28.860 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:32.680 And about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea. 00:02:33.700 --> 00:02:41.300 He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out. 00:02:41.300 --> 00:02:45.960 For they all saw him and were terrified. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:48.520 But immediately he spoke to them and said, 00:02:48.620 --> 00:02:50.960 Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid. 00:02:51.600 --> 00:02:54.480 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:56.620 And they were utterly astounded. 00:02:58.420 --> 00:03:01.360 For they did not understand about the loaves, 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:06.220 for their hearts were hardened. 00:03:06.219 --> 00:03:12.919 They did not understand about the loaves. 00:03:13.060 --> 00:03:13.759 What a statement. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:18.060 There's a lot of people that don't understand about the loaves. 00:03:18.419 --> 00:03:20.599 I was a religious studies major in college, 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:25.759 and one of my final assignments was to write a paper on the miracles of God. 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:29.579 And I read about several of the miracles, 00:03:29.780 --> 00:03:34.680 and I read about them from several perspectives across the spectrum. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:43.159 One liberal theologian said that what happened at the feeding of the 5,000 00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:46.319 was everybody just got caught on to what the boy was doing. 00:03:46.419 --> 00:03:48.939 He shared his lunch, so they decided to share theirs. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:53.620 Everybody just pinched in, and there was enough and more than what they needed. 00:03:54.699 --> 00:03:59.099 The problem with that evaluation is that that's not what Scripture says. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:05.500 And Scripture is very clear to emphasize how insufficient the people were at that time 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:10.340 and how impossible the miracle of Christ was. 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:11.199 It was amazing. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:16.199 Another theory is that Jesus just backed up to a cave, 00:04:16.860 --> 00:04:22.379 and someone kept secretly handing him food as if he was creating it 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:25.100 to form an illusion. 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:27.560 That's not an illusion. 00:04:27.660 --> 00:04:31.220 That's a lie, which is impossible for Christ to do. 00:04:32.260 --> 00:04:35.780 Those ideas are made up in our attempts to explain something 00:04:35.780 --> 00:04:38.379 that is not able to be explained. 00:04:39.660 --> 00:04:44.260 You don't have to know how it was miraculously done 00:04:44.260 --> 00:04:50.100 except to know that it was done miraculously by the hand of God. 00:04:50.100 --> 00:04:54.700 But once you see something like that, 00:04:55.520 --> 00:04:58.700 you ought to get in on what's going on. 00:04:59.560 --> 00:05:00.520 It ought to catch on. 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:03.360 The apostles did not. 00:05:04.939 --> 00:05:08.480 And the reason why they didn't catch on to what God was doing 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:11.200 is because their hearts were hardened. 00:05:13.540 --> 00:05:17.379 We miss a lot of things that God is doing because our hearts are hardened. 00:05:17.379 --> 00:05:22.560 It's heart problems. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:27.199 And the worst heart problem is the hardening of the heart. 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:30.699 So I ask you this morning, do you have a hard heart? 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:36.159 I want to go over some indicators briefly this morning with you. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:38.560 Indicators of a hard heart. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:42.280 The first one is a wayward mind. 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:48.120 After the miraculous feeding, Jesus rushed the apostles to the boat 00:05:48.120 --> 00:05:50.379 to get them out of that area. 00:05:50.680 --> 00:05:54.759 John tells us that the crowd that was fed that day 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:59.180 was attempting to take Jesus by force and make him king. 00:06:00.340 --> 00:06:02.800 Now, you need to understand the circumstances. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:07.819 These are Jews that are living under the oppressive rule of the Romans. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:12.120 They know enough about prophecy to know that there's a coming Messiah 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:15.360 that will take over and rule the world. 00:06:15.819 --> 00:06:20.860 And they wanted that Messiah to be Jesus to come to rule through Israel 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:24.740 and that would be defeating to the Romans. 00:06:25.980 --> 00:06:28.420 Forty years later, they actually fought the Romans 00:06:28.420 --> 00:06:31.900 and Jerusalem fell because of it. 00:06:32.900 --> 00:06:35.560 But that was not what Jesus came for. 00:06:35.900 --> 00:06:37.720 Now, understand, he'll be back. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:41.700 But that is not what he came for the first time. 00:06:42.819 --> 00:06:46.340 He dismissed the crowd and they left. 00:06:47.700 --> 00:06:48.960 And then he went to pray. 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:52.000 What was he praying about? 00:06:52.860 --> 00:06:54.060 Well, we can speculate, 00:06:54.340 --> 00:06:56.819 but I believe we can speculate rather keenly, quite honestly. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:06:59.420 Because the people wanted him to be king. 00:06:59.620 --> 00:07:03.560 That's the same temptation that Satan threw at him in the desert. 00:07:05.099 --> 00:07:07.800 And I believe Jesus had already dealt with that temptation. 00:07:08.439 --> 00:07:11.959 So I believe the wants of the people were not a temptation at all. 00:07:12.899 --> 00:07:15.060 But I believe it was something for him to pray through. 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:18.539 I believe his prayer was threefold. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:22.139 I believe he prayed for the task that was at hand 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:24.219 and the expectation that the people had 00:07:24.219 --> 00:07:25.740 and the conflict between the two. 00:07:25.740 --> 00:07:30.300 And I believe he prayed for God to give him direction and clarity through that. 00:07:30.960 --> 00:07:33.500 I also believe he prayed for the training of the twelve. 00:07:34.460 --> 00:07:36.420 And that is, from this point on, 00:07:36.519 --> 00:07:38.699 you will begin to see a turn happen 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:41.199 where he begins to prepare the disciples 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:44.900 for when he would no longer physically be present with them. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.420 They were hard-hearted 00:07:47.420 --> 00:07:50.199 after seeing miraculous things happen. 00:07:50.199 --> 00:07:52.420 And I believe it was a prayer concern of his 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:54.860 that their hearts would be more ready to receive 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:57.079 what he was going to teach them. 00:07:57.159 --> 00:07:57.899 It burdened him. 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:00.579 If you don't believe that, read John chapter 17. 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:03.439 John chapter 17 gives us a great example 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:05.639 of how Christ prayed 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.339 for not only them, but also for us. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:11.519 And I believe the third thing he prayed about 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:12.759 was the coming of the cross 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:15.139 because he knew it was coming and he was praying. 00:08:16.099 --> 00:08:18.519 I assure you those are matters of his prayers. 00:08:18.679 --> 00:08:19.779 And when the storm came, 00:08:20.139 --> 00:08:21.819 it was a bad storm. 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.639 They were in the middle of the sea. 00:08:24.179 --> 00:08:27.279 The journey they were taking was not to be but four miles. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:30.019 But they had rode all night. 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:35.639 John tells us that they left as it turned dark. 00:08:36.899 --> 00:08:44.039 And Jesus came to them between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the morning, 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:46.120 which is the fourth watch. 00:08:46.959 --> 00:08:50.159 So 6 p.m., or when the sun goes down, 00:08:50.659 --> 00:08:53.959 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. is the first watch of the night. 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:57.379 9 a.m. to midnight is the second watch of the night. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:09:00.200 12 to 3 a.m. is the third watch of the night. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:03.440 And the fourth watch of the night is 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. 00:09:03.820 --> 00:09:06.240 They left when it started turning dark. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:08.700 He didn't get to them to the fourth watch. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.220 They had been rowing all night 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:13.920 in an attempt to get only four miles. 00:09:14.060 --> 00:09:16.680 The storms, especially, they were straining. 00:09:16.820 --> 00:09:18.340 And the storms, especially the rough ones, 00:09:18.600 --> 00:09:20.160 will make your mind wonder. 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:23.780 It'll make you wonder, where is he? 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:27.879 It'll make you wonder, does he care? 00:09:29.700 --> 00:09:31.560 They had wondered through another storm. 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:34.720 The storm in Mark chapter 4 is not the same storm as here. 00:09:34.820 --> 00:09:36.000 They had been through another storm. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:37.860 And that time they wondered where he was 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:38.740 and what he was going to do about it. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.860 And he was even in the boat with them. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:45.460 Now remember, it says they were utterly astounded 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:47.600 because they did not understand the feeding. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:49.740 That means they were amazed. 00:09:49.740 --> 00:09:52.080 It means they were out of their mind. 00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:56.860 Their minds were not tuned in to get what God was really up to 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:59.500 through the ministry of Jesus. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:04.100 And the state of the heart makes for a mind 00:10:04.100 --> 00:10:06.940 that is not in tune to the things of God. 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:10.860 Hard hearts lead to wayward minds. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:14.000 That's why Proverbs 4, verse 23 says, 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.500 Keep, that also means guard, 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.419 keep your heart with all vigilance, 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:22.139 for from it flows the springs of life. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:23.779 Guard your heart. 00:10:24.639 --> 00:10:27.360 Wayward minds are not fully focused on the Lord, 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:29.180 and that's due to distractions. 00:10:29.179 --> 00:10:32.099 Now, the distractions that the disciples dealt with 00:10:32.099 --> 00:10:33.739 was other people's expectations. 00:10:34.699 --> 00:10:36.419 They had just heard them people talking about that 00:10:36.419 --> 00:10:37.299 when they were on the shore. 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:39.039 And I bet some of those disciples said, 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:40.219 Yeah, become king. 00:10:40.339 --> 00:10:41.179 We'll be in your cabinet. 00:10:42.839 --> 00:10:45.459 So it'd be easy to be distracted by those things. 00:10:45.959 --> 00:10:49.319 As well, they were distracted by the storm that they were facing, 00:10:50.620 --> 00:10:52.799 the noise that was around them. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.439 We're distracted as well. 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:56.939 We're distracted by busy schedules. 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:01.280 We're distracted by the storms in our lives that come. 00:11:02.380 --> 00:11:05.840 We're distracted by the carnal noise that's all around us. 00:11:07.260 --> 00:11:10.080 You'll hear me time and time again tell you 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.400 to spend time daily in God's Word. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:16.040 Be laser-focused to build a pattern in your life 00:11:16.040 --> 00:11:19.240 to pray to God, hear from God, 00:11:19.340 --> 00:11:21.540 and then leave that time with God, 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.320 walking in the way of God. 00:11:23.460 --> 00:11:25.440 It'll keep you from a hard heart. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.840 It'll keep you from a wayward mind. 00:11:28.880 --> 00:11:32.700 That's an indicator, that mind is, of a hard heart. 00:11:32.780 --> 00:11:34.740 Another indicator is distracted eyes. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:38.160 Distracted eyes is an indicator of a hard heart 00:11:38.160 --> 00:11:40.020 because Jesus sees their struggle 00:11:40.020 --> 00:11:41.640 and He comes walking to them on the water. 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:44.880 Instead of marveling at His divine ability, 00:11:45.460 --> 00:11:47.360 they've mistaken Him for a ghost. 00:11:48.880 --> 00:11:51.660 Hard hearts make for distracted eyes. 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:52.960 Now, what were they distracted by? 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:54.780 Well, they were distracted by the storm, for one. 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:58.660 We get distracted by storms. 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:02.940 The storms we face will surely cause us 00:12:02.940 --> 00:12:05.600 not to look to the Lord at times, clearly. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:07.800 We get distracted. 00:12:09.639 --> 00:12:12.120 In the pretty days of life, it's easy to look to the Lord. 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:16.400 When the tough stuff comes, it's tough to look to the Lord. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:18.480 Life storms are tough. 00:12:18.480 --> 00:12:20.420 They are easily distracted. 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:24.519 But the disciples were also distracted by their culture 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:28.220 because pagans of the Greco-Roman world 00:12:28.220 --> 00:12:31.800 believed that the spirits of those that drowned 00:12:31.800 --> 00:12:33.940 would roam in those waters. 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:38.800 And they also believed that spirits that came at night 00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:40.580 were bringing disaster. 00:12:40.580 --> 00:12:43.740 Now, if you put those two myths together, 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.700 what the disciples saw, 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:50.600 based upon the culture of the day in which they were living, 00:12:51.500 --> 00:12:53.740 was that the people who had died in those waters 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:55.160 had come up out of those waters 00:12:55.160 --> 00:12:58.379 and was going to cause disturbance to them that very night. 00:12:58.440 --> 00:12:59.480 That's why they said, 00:12:59.580 --> 00:13:00.580 it's a ghost! 00:13:04.320 --> 00:13:05.480 Let me tell you something, friend. 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:12.920 If you listen to the myths and the mistruths of the world, 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:15.159 you'll easily get distracted. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.840 I told you in the beginning 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:20.560 when we started looking at Mark a long time ago 00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:22.039 that Mark writes in a hurry. 00:13:22.139 --> 00:13:22.800 He's a man. 00:13:22.920 --> 00:13:23.759 He writes in a hurry. 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:25.279 He don't get into details. 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:30.100 Ladies, when we don't know all the details, it's biblical. 00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:35.720 Mark wrote fast. 00:13:37.180 --> 00:13:38.580 He didn't give all the details. 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.740 And he leaves out a key part of this event. 00:13:43.920 --> 00:13:45.680 It could be because he wrote in a hurry, 00:13:45.920 --> 00:13:48.080 but the reality is, 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:50.540 I also told you when we first began studying this book, 00:13:50.920 --> 00:13:54.300 that we believe that Mark got his information from Peter. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:57.840 Mark was just a teenager at the most 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:59.560 when Jesus' ministry was going on. 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:01.979 So he got his information from Peter, 00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:04.079 and he recorded that from Peter. 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:08.779 And Peter, after the Spirit came upon Peter in Acts, 00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:11.359 and he preached that powerful sermon in Acts chapter 2, 00:14:11.579 --> 00:14:13.399 something changed in Peter's life. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.639 No longer did Peter say dumb things 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:16.719 and stick his foot in his mouth. 00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:19.319 And no longer was Peter all consumed with himself. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.099 Instead, he and Paul 00:14:22.099 --> 00:14:24.739 were the ones that make up the rest of the book of Acts. 00:14:24.739 --> 00:14:29.039 Peter literally became the leader of the apostles. 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:31.059 Peter, during that time, 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:32.839 as he preached the gospel, 00:14:33.059 --> 00:14:34.099 Peter was a different fan. 00:14:34.319 --> 00:14:36.239 And Peter did not want to be talked about. 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:42.039 So it's very possible that the reason why Mark didn't even include this account 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:45.239 is because Peter didn't want it in there. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:49.080 He gained a humility after receiving the Spirit of God 00:14:49.080 --> 00:14:53.159 that we didn't see when we watched his activity in the Gospels. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:57.120 But Matthew talks about what happened. 00:14:58.460 --> 00:14:59.419 And I want you to see what happens. 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:01.080 It's in Matthew chapter 14, verse 28. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:01.560 It says this, 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:03.759 And Peter answered him, 00:15:04.239 --> 00:15:05.859 Lord, if it's you, 00:15:06.859 --> 00:15:08.699 command me to come to you on the water. 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:11.239 And Jesus said, 00:15:11.299 --> 00:15:11.559 Come. 00:15:13.059 --> 00:15:14.339 So Peter got out of the boat 00:15:14.339 --> 00:15:15.179 and walked on the water 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.000 and came to Jesus. 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:18.459 But when he saw the wind, 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.039 he was afraid and began to sink. 00:15:20.119 --> 00:15:20.599 He cried out, 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:21.859 Lord, save me! 00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:24.339 And Jesus immediately reached out his hand 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:25.159 and took hold of him, 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:25.779 saying to him, 00:15:25.839 --> 00:15:26.939 O you of little faith, 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:28.360 Why did you doubt? 00:15:29.460 --> 00:15:30.960 And when they got in the boat, 00:15:31.780 --> 00:15:33.100 the wind ceased. 00:15:33.940 --> 00:15:36.080 And those in the boat worshipped him, 00:15:36.200 --> 00:15:36.500 saying, 00:15:36.900 --> 00:15:39.980 Truly, you are the Son of God. 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:43.820 Now when you look at Peter's account, 00:15:44.160 --> 00:15:45.380 or what happened to Peter, 00:15:45.560 --> 00:15:46.600 what went wrong? 00:15:46.760 --> 00:15:48.500 Do you notice what went wrong with him? 00:15:48.840 --> 00:15:51.280 The moment he took his eyes off of Christ 00:15:51.280 --> 00:15:54.720 and put them on the winds and the waves around him, 00:15:54.900 --> 00:15:56.200 he began to sink. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:16:00.080 That is a principle that we need to remember in our lives. 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:02.840 When your eyes are taken off of Jesus, 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:05.960 you are bound to sink every time. 00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.379 You will. 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:12.940 An indicator of a hard heart is distracted eyes. 00:16:14.280 --> 00:16:17.160 Another indicator of a hard heart is dull ears. 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.180 Verse 50 says, 00:16:19.280 --> 00:16:21.000 But immediately he spoke to them and said, 00:16:21.100 --> 00:16:22.100 Take heart, it is I. 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:23.520 Do not be afraid. 00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:26.240 The term take heart there means take courage, 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:27.000 be brave. 00:16:27.259 --> 00:16:29.840 It's a term that only Jesus uses in the New Testament. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.360 And Jesus uses it seven times in the Gospels, 00:16:33.579 --> 00:16:35.059 one time in the book of Acts. 00:16:35.340 --> 00:16:37.980 However, even though he says it to them, 00:16:38.279 --> 00:16:41.860 they are utterly astounded due to their hard hearts. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:48.519 Hard hearts will lead you to hear but not heed God's word. 00:16:50.419 --> 00:16:51.779 And if you ever wonder 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:56.019 how someone can come to church time and time again, 00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:58.159 hear the message of God's word, 00:16:58.379 --> 00:17:00.539 but remain in a sinful pattern 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:06.900 and never seem to be affected by the convicting of the power of God's word 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:08.400 through the Holy Spirit, 00:17:08.579 --> 00:17:10.140 there's a reason for that. 00:17:10.140 --> 00:17:11.320 It's a hard heart. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:18.180 Dull ears are an indicator of a hardened heart. 00:17:19.780 --> 00:17:20.880 One more indicator. 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:23.860 A silent tongue. 00:17:26.259 --> 00:17:28.280 Matthew 12, verse 34 says, 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.060 Jesus said, 00:17:29.140 --> 00:17:30.880 For out of the abundance of the heart and the mouth speaks. 00:17:32.580 --> 00:17:34.680 What is it that you love to talk about? 00:17:34.680 --> 00:17:37.640 When you get the opportunity, 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.740 what is it that you love to talk about? 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:40.519 That means that whatever that is, 00:17:40.560 --> 00:17:41.580 that means the most to you. 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:44.320 That's what means the most to you. 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:48.019 And Scripture says that in order to be saved, 00:17:48.120 --> 00:17:49.160 you have to use your tongue. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:51.539 It does. 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:53.019 Romans 10, 9 says, 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.779 If you confess with your mouth, 00:17:55.379 --> 00:17:55.920 that's verbal, 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:59.139 that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:00.440 you will be saved. 00:18:00.519 --> 00:18:02.460 For with the heart one believes and is justified, 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:04.779 and with the mouth one confesses, 00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:05.279 that's verbal, 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.039 and is saved. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.900 Romans 10, 13 says, 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:11.180 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord, 00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:11.839 that's verbal, 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:14.660 will be saved. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:19.620 An outward expression of our faith is necessary to come to Christ. 00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:24.720 An outward expression of our faith is also evidence that we have Christ. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.540 Mark 8, verse 38, 00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:27.160 Jesus said, 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:32.140 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:35.320 of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed 00:18:35.320 --> 00:18:39.240 when he comes into the glory of his Father with his holy angels. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:18:42.019 In other words, if you're ashamed of him, 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:44.220 you're not of him. 00:18:45.660 --> 00:18:51.060 And an outward expression of our faith is one of the defining marks of genuine faith 00:18:51.060 --> 00:18:55.279 because the Great Commission tells us that as we go, 00:18:55.340 --> 00:18:56.519 it's actually a part of the simple there, 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:57.960 going, in other words, 00:18:58.040 --> 00:18:59.240 or as we go, 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.779 we share. 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:03.480 We make disciples by sharing the gospel. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:08.540 And if you're not doing that, 00:19:09.300 --> 00:19:11.460 and there's a silent tongue before the Lord, 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.220 it's a sign of a hard heart. 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:16.620 Now, I've got great news for you today. 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.500 Something changed that day. 00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:25.839 I believe it even changed in that boat before they got out. 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:28.519 It might have been Peter walking on the water, 00:19:28.619 --> 00:19:29.960 maybe the calming of the sea, 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.880 maybe the combination of all of that. 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:35.359 However, Matthew tells us that before they got to shore, 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:37.619 they worshipped him saying, 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:40.259 Truly, you are the Son of God. 00:19:40.259 --> 00:19:41.240 They went from saying, 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:43.220 It's a ghost to saying, 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:45.359 Truly, you are the Son of God. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.599 And the next day, 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:48.920 Jesus teaches a hard truth, 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:53.400 and most of those people that are following him leave. 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:58.300 And in John chapter 6, verse 66, 00:19:59.300 --> 00:20:01.780 he looks at the 12 of them and says, 00:20:03.780 --> 00:20:07.200 Let me read the passage. 00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:09.820 After this, many of his disciples turned back 00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:11.400 and no longer walked with him. 00:20:11.400 --> 00:20:14.180 So Jesus said to the 12, 00:20:14.700 --> 00:20:17.360 Do you want to go away as well? 00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:22.259 And Peter, the dude that sank, 00:20:24.100 --> 00:20:25.180 answered him and said, 00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:30.000 Lord, to whom shall we go? 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:34.279 You have the words of eternal life. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:38.019 And we have believed and have come to know 00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:40.640 that you are the Holy One of God. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:45.200 And I'm telling you folks, 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:47.180 from the evidence of the Gospels, 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.279 something changed that day. 00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:54.400 It's been said they went from wondering to worshiping. 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:58.380 It's been said that they went from confusion to confession. 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:00.980 From fear to faith. 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:04.680 His power, his teaching, his salvation, 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:10.140 and their faith in him made a world of difference. 00:21:10.520 --> 00:21:14.040 We have the opportunity to hear the Gospel today 00:21:14.040 --> 00:21:17.460 because of the impact that the Holy Spirit of God 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.900 had upon these disciples 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:22.560 when they surrendered their life to follow the Lord. 00:21:24.600 --> 00:21:26.100 The question is, 00:21:26.099 --> 00:21:28.639 how does it affect us? 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:33.539 Are you struggling with a hard heart today? 00:21:36.019 --> 00:21:37.299 There are indicators. 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.919 A wayward mind. 00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:45.619 Distracted eyes. 00:21:48.679 --> 00:21:49.679 Dull ears. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:51.279 Hearing stuff but not listening. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:54.759 A silent tongue. 00:21:54.759 --> 00:21:54.819 A silent tongue. 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.460 If you've got heart problems today, 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.240 come to Jesus. 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:03.879 Come to Jesus. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:07.339 Take your heart problems to the Lord. 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:11.720 He will cure what ails you. 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:14.319 He'll meet you where you are 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:16.180 and make you whole. 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:18.559 With every head bowed, 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.139 every eye closed, 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.080 I ask you this morning. 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:23.740 If you've ever given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus, 00:22:24.620 --> 00:22:26.360 maybe you've been one of those 00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:30.560 that have been inside the doors of the church 00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:31.440 many, many times, 00:22:31.500 --> 00:22:32.560 but in reality, 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:39.360 you've got a wayward heart. 00:22:39.359 --> 00:22:45.799 You've got distracted eyes. 00:22:48.379 --> 00:22:49.259 Dull ears. 00:22:53.079 --> 00:22:57.339 Just not functioning for the Lord Jesus. 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.379 My friend, 00:23:00.439 --> 00:23:01.919 until you surrender your life to the Lord, 00:23:02.159 --> 00:23:03.199 there is no hope. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:07.400 If you've never given your heart and life to the Lord Jesus, 00:23:08.080 --> 00:23:09.319 I encourage you today, 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.120 as we stand and sing, 00:23:11.160 --> 00:23:11.740 you can come down and say, 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:12.600 Pastor, I want to be saved. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.620 Maybe you've done that, 00:23:13.660 --> 00:23:15.620 but you've never outwardly acknowledged that. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:18.640 Jesus, by his commissioned example, 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:19.940 tells us to do that through baptism. 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:22.120 We're going to do that in a couple of weeks. 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.480 If you've never been baptized as a believer, 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:24.360 I encourage you to come. 00:23:26.039 --> 00:23:28.500 Maybe God's drawing you to Pickens First Baptist Church, 00:23:28.600 --> 00:23:29.940 and if that's the case, you come. 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:34.220 But maybe it's just that when you look at the indicators, 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:36.360 the symptoms of a hard heart, 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:40.440 you look at your life, 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.460 and you realize, 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:46.080 I need God to do a heart procedure on me. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:50.860 I need God to work in me today. 00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:54.320 Whether it's in the pew where you stand, 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.340 or whether it's at this altar, 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.720 or whether it's a pastor praying for you, 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:59.320 deal with that today. 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:04.460 You didn't get that diagnosis on your own. 00:24:04.539 --> 00:24:06.500 That's the Holy Spirit of God working in you. 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.580 Repent of that today, 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:10.700 and deal with that for his honor. 00:24:11.900 --> 00:24:12.600 Heavenly Father, 00:24:12.740 --> 00:24:14.380 lead us right now 00:24:14.380 --> 00:24:16.900 to simply be obedient to follow you 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:18.620 in everything that we do, 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.279 Lord, I pray. 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.580 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:21.700 Amen. 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:22.080 Amen. 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.580 Amen. 00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.080 Amen. 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:23.080 00:24:23.080 --> 00:24:23.700 Amen. 00:24:23.700 --> 00:24:24.080 Amen. 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:24.080 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:26.080 Amen. 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.080 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.080 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.080 00:24:26.080 --> 00:24:26.080