WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:19.160 Hello everyone again. Man, we're back here. Just even worshipping just then, just taking me back to all those years that we had of COVID and figuring out how it was still important to see each other's faces. 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:31.620 So we're here. It's funny, I was just thinking, I dug out some things. Here are some of the things that I'd accumulated over COVID, trying to be an amateur podcast preacher. 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:39.700 So I've got some kind of microphone that I used, had to use this kind of stand to help me look taller. 00:00:41.019 --> 00:00:45.519 Apparently there was a right angle that you have to do to see, otherwise people could see. 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:50.340 Apparently, just for a bit of vanity's sake, some people said I was too dark, so I had to use this whole thing. 00:00:51.720 --> 00:00:55.620 This was hard to use, and so I remember all these things. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:01.280 Anyway, not using any of them right now, by the way. So this is just pure natural beauty, unfiltered. 00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:10.480 Wow, Kelly, you don't have to laugh out loud on the chat. That's quite something. Thank you, Kelly. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:19.820 I always feel encouraged. But I have said this. I've said this. I'm just going to keep talking. I'm not even going to look at you guys now, so you guys will disappear. I won't even know. 00:01:19.819 --> 00:01:34.239 Anyway, I was thinking that I do miss some parts of COVID. There are some parts, not the actual germ itself, but the lives we got to live in some way, how it forced us to be simple. 00:01:34.500 --> 00:01:41.219 It forced us to really streamline everything down. And it really asked us the question, what is the most important thing to you? 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:45.640 I guess two things that really came up for me was one that it just gave us the rest that we needed. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:56.659 There's a group of us that just came back from Young Life Camp this last week, and praise God, literally, we got everyone out of the campsite, the scheduled time, and then the T3 came. 00:01:56.920 --> 00:02:03.039 And just when we thought, well, still got to go to church, still got to do the thing, not got to, get to, want to. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:07.960 And then the Lord comes out with this and tells us, hey, let's have some rest. 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:11.860 And so that's something that actually maybe we've forgotten. I've forgotten. 00:02:12.480 --> 00:02:15.819 A lesson that I learned during COVID was just being able to rest was important. 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:19.280 And the second thing was just to control what is really even control. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:20.939 You're not really in control. 00:02:21.620 --> 00:02:28.520 The moment something happens like this, you can't, I mean, with this, it was only two days ago, Johnny and I were talking and Cam going, oh, is this type you're going to hear? 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:31.319 And we looked on the observatory and it's, oh, no, no, it looks like it's going to go another way. 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:32.840 It might not even be a T3. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:34.979 And then before you know it, with T9, T10. 00:02:36.539 --> 00:02:40.359 It's funny, this today, I was going to be talking about science and faith. 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:47.299 But I'm going to leave that sermon for just a couple of weeks later now when we're back in person again. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:52.299 But isn't it amazing that we can't even forget, forget control. 00:02:52.419 --> 00:02:54.280 We can't even predict the climate. 00:02:54.280 --> 00:02:59.719 We can't even, like science with all its advancements, we can't really even truly predict. 00:02:59.819 --> 00:03:01.659 We can't control where the wind blows. 00:03:01.659 --> 00:03:11.500 And if that doesn't humble you as you look outside now and you see the world, at least the city, coming to a halt. 00:03:11.500 --> 00:03:15.340 There is so much that is not in our control at all. 00:03:15.340 --> 00:03:18.280 And I want to continue the theme of scattering. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:21.819 And really, with that same thought, we can't control. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:23.219 We gather. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:24.340 That's what we can control. 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:26.979 We get together to glorify God. 00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:31.620 We devote ourselves to each other, to the word, to teaching fellowship, breaking bread and prayers. 00:03:31.680 --> 00:03:32.620 We can do all those things. 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:37.280 But the moment you scatter, it's really not up to us. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:44.560 We had an incredible time at Young Life Camp where so many young people said yes to Jesus for the very first time. 00:03:44.900 --> 00:03:49.280 And Young Life has a very tried and tested formula. 00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:57.740 It has a recipe to kind of help create the environment that is most conducive for young people to be open to God. 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:00.420 And you can do everything that you can do in your power. 00:04:00.419 --> 00:04:02.719 And yet really, it's just the Holy Spirit and God that does it. 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:07.919 And often even where you go, who you speak to is really out of our control. 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.119 And maybe that's the theme of even just scattering is that so much of it is not in our control. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:21.279 Later in the year, we're going to be in Acts 8, where we see Philip just being guided by God, zapped away by God to different places to just share the gospel. 00:04:21.419 --> 00:04:24.259 You see in Acts 16, God tells Paul, hey, go here, go there, go there. 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:25.039 Don't go here. 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:30.360 You see, even when it comes to scattering, when it comes to sharing the gospel, it's not really us going, okay, well, 00:04:30.420 --> 00:04:31.379 I'm going to do this. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.480 I'm going to sing this song. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:36.300 I'm going to do this and speak to this person. 00:04:36.340 --> 00:04:37.640 And these people are going to come to Christ. 00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:38.379 It's never like that. 00:04:38.819 --> 00:04:39.580 It's never like that. 00:04:39.580 --> 00:04:42.280 There is so little control that we have. 00:04:43.080 --> 00:04:46.780 Apparently, there's this quote that's been attributed to St. Augustine, but it says this, 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:49.060 without God, we cannot. 00:04:49.819 --> 00:04:51.259 Without us, he will not. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:53.520 Without God, we cannot. 00:04:54.080 --> 00:04:55.500 Without us, he will not. 00:04:56.120 --> 00:05:02.680 And this is the idea of, hey, it's not in our control, but all we can do is just be willing. 00:05:03.220 --> 00:05:04.740 All we can do is be available. 00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:10.579 All we can do is be obedient, to be receptive to him and say, God, take us, use us. 00:05:11.160 --> 00:05:14.040 Let us do whatever it is that you need us to do. 00:05:15.800 --> 00:05:17.519 Without God, we cannot. 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:19.100 Without us, he will not. 00:05:19.100 --> 00:05:27.700 And so just, I think that's the spirit that I'm hoping that we can even just instill in each other today in this series, but from this point as well. 00:05:28.280 --> 00:05:34.520 But I want us to turn to the Bible, the Bible that I talked about last week. 00:05:34.920 --> 00:05:36.980 I want to go to Mark chapter four. 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.520 Mark chapter four, it's, you know, it's about the wind and the waves. 00:05:42.640 --> 00:05:46.900 I wonder where I got that inspiration from to come to this topic today. 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:52.719 Mark chapter four, verse 35 to 41 is what I'm going to be going through today. 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:53.419 And it's going to be special. 00:05:53.479 --> 00:05:56.000 I'm going to do a short talk, but then I'm going to actually talk. 00:05:56.419 --> 00:05:58.239 I'm not going to be me that's going to talk. 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:01.479 I'm going to interview and actually ask a few people to share some different things as well. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.919 Not on the spot as I usually do, but I have prepared them, gave them at least a couple of hours notice. 00:06:08.939 --> 00:06:10.179 So they are ready. 00:06:11.799 --> 00:06:12.879 I just thought of this. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:14.599 We do this when we're together. 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:23.879 I know that we're all very comfortable in our beds or on our sofas, but can I be ambitious and ask us to stand for the word of the Lord? 00:06:25.460 --> 00:06:29.120 And honestly, I have no way of knowing whether you are, especially or not, if you've got your video off. 00:06:29.240 --> 00:06:30.700 But the Lord can see. 00:06:31.020 --> 00:06:32.140 The Lord will be able to see. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:38.480 But just make sure that your camera angle is kind to you when you are standing up. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:46.340 I will read it just so we don't have to buff around with the microphone situation. 00:06:48.640 --> 00:06:51.540 The book of Mark, chapter four, verse 35. 00:06:51.540 --> 00:06:53.800 Jesus calms a storm. 00:06:53.800 --> 00:07:00.040 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, let us go across to the other side. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:04.120 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. 00:07:04.660 --> 00:07:05.820 And other boats were with him. 00:07:06.460 --> 00:07:11.700 And a great windstorm arose and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. 00:07:11.699 --> 00:07:15.939 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. 00:07:16.539 --> 00:07:20.019 And they woke him and said to him, teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:25.779 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace, be still. 00:07:26.860 --> 00:07:29.439 And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:32.120 He said to them, why are you so afraid? 00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:33.939 Have you still no faith? 00:07:33.939 --> 00:07:42.079 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him? 00:07:43.219 --> 00:07:50.819 Jesus, we come to you now as your children, as brothers and sisters, as family, as friends. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:53.159 Recognize that you are in control. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:53.759 You are sovereign. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:55.620 Even the wind and waves obey you. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:58.659 And we're going to take this short, familiar passage. 00:07:59.779 --> 00:08:02.980 And we bring it to you, Lord, and ask, would you highlight something to us? 00:08:02.980 --> 00:08:03.900 Would you speak to us? 00:08:04.540 --> 00:08:05.879 Your word is living and active. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:07.240 Speak to us today. 00:08:07.580 --> 00:08:08.200 Show us something. 00:08:09.580 --> 00:08:10.120 Be with us. 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:11.319 Join us on this call. 00:08:13.200 --> 00:08:14.200 In your name we pray. 00:08:14.680 --> 00:08:14.920 Amen. 00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:16.780 Please take a seat. 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:26.759 Again, so super familiar passage. 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:31.340 It's one that I just, I always love. 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:37.539 Every time the winds come and it's just something, it's just, it speaks to me. 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:39.919 And again, and again, so I'm just going to quickly go through it verse by verse. 00:08:40.519 --> 00:08:43.360 I know attention span is particularly short on Zoom too. 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:45.240 I'm not going to be too long. 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:46.459 Verse 35. 00:08:46.659 --> 00:08:51.279 On that day when evening had come, he said to them, let us cross to the other side. 00:08:52.579 --> 00:08:55.240 So anyway, don't you find that interesting? 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.340 Jesus knew what was going to happen. 00:08:57.879 --> 00:08:58.659 And he said, let's go. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:02.440 He knew about the storm, but they didn't yet. 00:09:02.820 --> 00:09:03.820 And yet he said, let's go. 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:05.539 There's going to be a storm there. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:07.419 And there's something I want to show you. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:17.940 I find that particularly interesting because so often we associate God and we associate us going to him and him telling us, can you remove the storms? 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:19.440 Can you prevent the storms? 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:25.600 Can you take us to a place where there is no storm, where there is no trial and tribulation, where there is no challenge? 00:09:26.380 --> 00:09:31.460 Because you're God and you have my comfort as your priority. 00:09:32.100 --> 00:09:35.800 Well, he does not seem to have their comfort as his priority. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:37.040 I find that. 00:09:37.160 --> 00:09:40.060 I mean, every time we go home, we pray for a smooth fire. 00:09:40.140 --> 00:09:40.860 We pray for good weather. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.420 We pray for no delays. 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:45.159 And of course, all those things love to have. 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:48.759 But yeah, when it comes to God, I think he sometimes does those things. 00:09:48.839 --> 00:09:51.459 And yet sometimes he has something even bigger at play here. 00:09:51.740 --> 00:09:53.240 And he says, let us cross to the inside. 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:58.459 And I'm reminded of Psalm 23, where it says, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing. 00:09:58.620 --> 00:10:00.019 He leads me beside still waters. 00:10:00.159 --> 00:10:01.779 So he leads me to all the smooth places. 00:10:01.979 --> 00:10:04.120 He lets me have these refreshing, restoring moments. 00:10:04.599 --> 00:10:08.579 He leads me on the right path, is verse three, for his namesake. 00:10:08.580 --> 00:10:12.940 And then it's just a hard pivot in Psalm 23 into verse four. 00:10:13.500 --> 00:10:14.860 He leads me on the right path. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:19.440 And then verse four is, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:10:20.060 --> 00:10:23.360 It's like, wait, but we just said that he leads us on the right path. 00:10:24.139 --> 00:10:27.340 So does that mean the right path includes the valley of the shadow of death? 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:28.220 And the answer is yes. 00:10:29.480 --> 00:10:30.440 And that the answer is yes. 00:10:30.500 --> 00:10:32.300 There's no way about it. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:37.000 Jesus here says, let's cross to the other side, knowing very well there's something in the middle. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:42.620 But when you are in charge of the wind and the waves, when you are in charge of the Hong Kong observatory, 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:47.080 you can essentially do whatever you want, knowing that you have a greater purpose here. 00:10:47.740 --> 00:10:53.840 Something that I repent on straight away, not just help me not idolize smooth travel, 00:10:53.940 --> 00:10:59.500 help me not idolize comfort, help me not idolize avoiding pain and challenge and storms, 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:01.940 recognizing that they will be part of it. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.620 And you said you promised that they would be part of it. 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:08.620 And then it's funny because they go, they go on the boat, they take him. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:11.399 And then a great windstorm arose and the waves are breaking. 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:19.519 Verse 38, it says, but he was in the stern asleep on a cushion, on a memory foam cushion. 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:21.519 He took his memory foam cushion with him in his backpack. 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:23.700 He told them, let's go into the storm. 00:11:23.940 --> 00:11:25.220 He says, you guys stay out here. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:26.560 There's going to be something fun happening. 00:11:26.740 --> 00:11:27.580 I'm going to take a nap. 00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:28.659 Where's my cushion? 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:29.340 Give me my cushion. 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:31.940 And then he just goes and lies down and almost makes a point. 00:11:32.460 --> 00:11:35.180 And hey, this doesn't phase it. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:36.860 And of course, they're panicking. 00:11:37.560 --> 00:11:39.540 Remembering, these guys are pros on the lake. 00:11:40.160 --> 00:11:41.680 They know what to do in storms. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:44.259 And yet here, they're panicking. 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:46.300 So it was a great windstorm. 00:11:46.440 --> 00:11:48.700 I mean, this is a great storm. 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:52.940 But I can imagine if it's a great windstorm described by these people, it will have been pretty epic. 00:11:52.940 --> 00:11:58.840 So they're in a panic and they go to, well, wait, you've got us out here and now you're asleep and you're not helping. 00:11:59.900 --> 00:12:02.280 We know you're a carpenter, so you don't have the fisherman skills. 00:12:02.540 --> 00:12:04.440 And yet, but you should be doing something. 00:12:05.520 --> 00:12:08.260 Anyway, you boys out here, do you not care? 00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:11.580 And it makes me think, wow, do we have that sometimes? 00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:17.680 You know, when suffering comes or when challenges come, you know, I say suffering, we're in Hong Kong. 00:12:17.820 --> 00:12:20.080 We're in a very comfortable city. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:25.360 And when we say suffering, it's often not really the suffering that the people in the Bible or people in the rest of the world are going through. 00:12:25.639 --> 00:12:28.460 Our suffering is, why is our Wi-Fi not working? 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:32.379 Why is the job that I really want not coming to me? 00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:35.040 Why is the spouse that I'm hoping for not coming to me? 00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.120 That's the God where I am. 00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:39.220 So often we just need perspective once again. 00:12:40.300 --> 00:12:44.680 And you can see them just saying, don't you care that we're perishing? 00:12:44.780 --> 00:12:45.980 Don't you care that we're dying? 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:47.620 And of course, the answer is he does care. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:51.799 He does care, but he doesn't care just about whether we're dying here on this earth. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:53.159 He cares about our eternity. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:56.820 His main priority is not just our comfort here on earth. 00:12:57.340 --> 00:13:00.879 His main priority is preparing us for a lifetime with him. 00:13:01.039 --> 00:13:04.820 And that's a different, he's got something bigger in mind. 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:08.019 So the answer to that question is he does care. 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:12.759 And it reminds me again, Psalm 23, he leads you on the right path. 00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:16.039 That path involves the valley of the shadow of death. 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:20.879 And he'll take you there, but you don't have to fear because his rod and his staff will be with you. 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:27.079 And even in the presence of your enemies, even in the presence of the storm, he prepares a table before you. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:30.840 What he's saying is, hey, I know you're scared about those things over there. 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:32.539 Come and sit down with me. 00:13:33.120 --> 00:13:34.840 In my presence, you're going to be just fine. 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.399 Now, that's it. 00:13:36.920 --> 00:13:38.060 That's what he's trying to teach them. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:40.120 That's what he's trying to show. 00:13:40.660 --> 00:13:45.160 That actually, even with all those things happening, he's the one who has the final say. 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:47.960 And it makes me think, do I truly believe that? 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:53.160 And often, I think I'm most anxious when I take on the role of God myself. 00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:56.560 When I think I have to control this and I have to do this. 00:13:56.800 --> 00:14:00.440 And that's when I'm most anxious because if I don't do it, then things are going to fall apart. 00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:01.259 Well, that's not true. 00:14:01.340 --> 00:14:03.139 That's me again taking the role of God. 00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:04.919 And you see here, he wakes up. 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:08.899 He says, he actually, he doesn't even bother answering the question of do you care. 00:14:09.199 --> 00:14:11.460 And he says, peace, be still. 00:14:13.139 --> 00:14:14.080 Peace, be still. 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:18.519 And I can just imagine this would have been a great movie scene, I'm guessing. 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:21.039 And it completely stopped. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:25.279 It makes me think of Psalm 46. 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:29.519 Sometimes we have these Bible verses that we've grown up with. 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:30.919 Psalm 46, verse 10. 00:14:31.099 --> 00:14:34.860 And some of our worship team a couple of months ago were sharing about their favorite worship songs of all time. 00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:38.339 And the song still came up a lot by Hillsong. 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:41.639 Reuben Morgan, I think, is the writer of the song. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:47.840 When the oceans rise and plunders roar, be still and know that I am God. 00:14:48.939 --> 00:14:53.699 And I always think about that passage and go, okay, I need to be still and know that I am God. 00:14:53.779 --> 00:14:54.699 He is God. 00:14:54.700 --> 00:15:01.120 I need to go find myself by a nice lake, go on a solo retreat, spend some time in just peace and quiet. 00:15:01.879 --> 00:15:03.540 But that's not what that passage is saying. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:08.980 If you look at Psalm 46, it is not a retreat in Bethany in Chongchow. 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:12.259 It is not just peace and quiet. 00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:14.900 He says, be still and know that I am God. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:16.480 The wording there is freeze. 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.420 Stop. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:18.580 Stop fighting. 00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:21.580 The passages just before are the nations are at war. 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:22.840 They're fighting against each other. 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:24.080 There's things happening. 00:15:24.180 --> 00:15:25.399 There's chaos happening around. 00:15:25.660 --> 00:15:30.360 The circumstances that are out of their control, they feel as though they're having to fight for themselves, fend for themselves. 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:34.360 And he's saying, stop, freeze, pause, be still. 00:15:35.060 --> 00:15:35.639 I am God. 00:15:35.740 --> 00:15:37.420 I will be exalted among the nations. 00:15:38.160 --> 00:15:38.980 I have control. 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:42.480 I am the only one who can dictate what will happen. 00:15:43.259 --> 00:15:46.100 It's basically saying, relinquish your desire to be God. 00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.400 You cannot be God. 00:15:47.460 --> 00:15:48.160 You are not God. 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:48.860 I am. 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.060 Let go. 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:53.139 You don't really have control. 00:15:53.479 --> 00:15:55.399 And it will take a severe weather warning. 00:15:55.619 --> 00:16:01.879 It will take a severe health issue to remind you, to remind us that we are not God. 00:16:01.959 --> 00:16:02.759 Isn't that crazy? 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:07.719 I'll talk a little bit about this in a couple of weeks when it comes to science and medicine and all the progress we've made there. 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:11.239 And so often we know so much about this world now. 00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.819 We know so much about human bodies now. 00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:15.980 We are wise in our own eyes and we don't feel as though we need God anymore. 00:16:16.060 --> 00:16:17.140 We'll choose science over faith. 00:16:18.840 --> 00:16:24.600 Until science fails us, until we realize we're still going to die, until we realize there's an illness that we can't fight. 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:28.320 And suddenly we're like, okay, maybe there is something more. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:32.040 Maybe there is a God who actually is in control. 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:36.740 God's just saying, why are you still so afraid? 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:38.740 Have you no faith? 00:16:38.940 --> 00:16:40.580 Have you still no faith? 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:41.720 And it's funny. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.000 They were afraid when the storm was around. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:45.519 Verse 41. 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:49.980 And they were filled with great fear when he stopped the storm. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:59.639 It reminds me of that quote, I can't remember who it was, D.L. Moody maybe, where it says, if you don't fear God, you'll fear everything else. 00:16:59.700 --> 00:17:01.259 If you fear God, you won't fear anything else. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:05.339 You see their fear of God overcome it. 00:17:06.019 --> 00:17:08.980 Basically usurps their fear of the circumstances around them. 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:18.779 Because they say, wow, this God can utter a few words, three words here, and completely stop the wind and the waves. 00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:23.380 He is God and we are not. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:30.660 When was the last time you stopped, froze, dropped your weapons? 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:36.099 Whether it's at work, whether it's at home, whether it's in a relationship, whether it's in your friendship, whether it's in your career. 00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:41.059 And you just say, God, I'm only here because you put me in. 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:43.240 I'm only here because you let me in. 00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.659 I trust you. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:17:46.839 I'm only you. 00:17:47.939 --> 00:17:48.779 You are the boss. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:49.980 You are the CEO. 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:53.699 You are the only one who is in control. 00:17:55.679 --> 00:17:56.779 Why am I still afraid? 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.759 Have I still no faith? 00:17:59.619 --> 00:18:01.539 You look back on your life and you say, wow. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.299 The goodness of God is just everywhere. 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:06.419 The fingerprints are everywhere. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:08.440 And somehow in this moment, we're still afraid. 00:18:09.680 --> 00:18:11.919 Even though he's been good for it every single time. 00:18:13.180 --> 00:18:15.399 So he asks us, why are you still afraid? 00:18:15.879 --> 00:18:22.159 Romans 8 says, how will he who gave his son to you not graciously give you everything else that you need? 00:18:22.539 --> 00:18:25.720 This person gave his son for us. 00:18:26.559 --> 00:18:27.099 This God. 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:34.200 Why are we so afraid that he's going to come through for us about this job or this place that we need to stay or whatever it is? 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:37.900 God is truly in control. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.660 And so that's my little sharing here. 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:42.720 And I always finish sharing about this passage. 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:45.940 And some of you have heard me say this because I think it's just the most beautiful part. 00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:47.940 And it's speaking to those who are believers. 00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:53.220 So if you're here and you are a follower of Christ and you have said, Jesus, I follow you. 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:59.460 I trust you with everything, even though I'm still going to wrestle with you about all these other things and all these other idols that I'm holding on to. 00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:03.680 And all these other cushions and water floats that I have, plantation devices that I'm going to rely on. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.039 I do trust you. 00:19:06.120 --> 00:19:08.840 I want to really convict you because it convicts me every time. 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:12.340 I want to just go back into the beginning of that passage. 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:18.299 Tucked him secretly, almost, verse 36 at the end. 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:24.259 So he says, hey, let's cross to the other side, knowing full well that he's trolling them, knowing full well that he's setting them up. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:28.759 He's throwing himself an alley-oop for one of the greatest miracles that they're going to see as fishermen. 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.379 And so they leave. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:33.559 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in their boat, just as he was. 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.200 And it's just one sentence. 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:37.720 Actually, I didn't come up with myself. 00:19:37.819 --> 00:19:41.079 It's just one of the live staff from a couple of years ago shared this with me. 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:44.279 And I was like, this is just what a profound truth that's here. 00:19:45.079 --> 00:19:45.980 And it says this. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.759 And other boats were with him too. 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:52.319 So he says, let's go out into the lake. 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:53.939 And so they say, okay, let's go. 00:19:54.019 --> 00:19:56.359 And so they all get into one boat together and they go. 00:19:56.539 --> 00:20:03.699 Now there's a whole group of people who are just desperate for him, who want to know more about him, who want to be healed by him, who aren't allowed on the boat. 00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:05.859 And so they're like, hey, he's going. 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.899 Let's follow him. 00:20:06.939 --> 00:20:08.980 Let's try and figure out a way to get to where he's going. 00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:10.419 So they jump on their own boats. 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.720 Boats that don't have him. 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.220 And they all get onto the lake. 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.779 And they all have this storm. 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:20.519 Now, the disciples who were with him on their boat, they were terrified. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:26.500 But can we spare a thought just for a moment for those who are in all the other boats who didn't even have him? 00:20:29.199 --> 00:20:36.480 Sometimes we as Christians who say we follow Christ, who believe and trust in him, we panic when there's a little storm. 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:37.759 And sometimes it's not even a storm. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.119 It's just a little wobble on the waves. 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.539 It's just turbulence. 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:44.500 And we get all panicky and we get terrified and we are afraid. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:51.039 And we completely neglect to think that there are people out there who don't even have that same hope that we have. 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:54.079 We don't even have that relationship with Jesus that we have. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:03.900 Can we spare a thought and remind ourselves there are people out there who don't even know that there is a savior, that they feel as though they are drowning, that they feel as though this will be the last day they live. 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.900 And they don't know that they're not. 00:21:04.900 --> 00:21:06.620 And they don't know that there is a savior out there for them. 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:24.059 So as Christians, whilst we're still just absorbed and engrossed in our own situations in our own lives, can we spare a thought and go, actually, there are other boats out here on the lake with us who do not have the Christ, who do not have the Lord, who do not have the one who the wind and waves obey. 00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:28.940 Can we stop there and go, wow, we need to tell them about this guy. 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:39.559 We need to somehow get a megaphone and shout across this lake and say, don't worry, you will not die today because on our boat there is a savior whom the wind and the waves obey. 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.419 Trust us. Trust him. 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:47.579 We don't trust us in terms of we're not going to be able to do it, but he will. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.859 Would you believe us? 00:21:49.159 --> 00:21:55.539 We are all witnesses of this, which is what Peter said when he's facing the Sanhedrin and the council. 00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:56.980 We are witnesses of this. 00:21:57.559 --> 00:21:58.220 Trust him. 00:21:59.899 --> 00:22:01.639 Can we spare a thought to those people? 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:08.480 Can us as the church just get out of our own heads, get out of our own circumstances and go, there is a storm. 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:10.220 Yes, this world is dark. 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:14.279 Yes, but we are called more than just to hold on to him ourselves. 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:17.480 We're called to grab on to other people as well. 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:30.720 To bring that good news that, hey, on this lake with us in this storm, there is one who will stop everything, who has dealt with everything, who threw himself into the storm for us and showed us that it can be defeated. 00:22:31.740 --> 00:22:32.900 That's the hope that we have. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.960 Are we willing to do that? 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.480 It's been an hour. 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:39.799 We're going to keep it short and simple and actually wrap up here. 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:41.860 I want to just ask a few people to pray. 00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:51.279 There was a life group that was supposed to be in charge of setting up the room for us and welcoming us. 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:54.860 They have been let off the hook today, my Saved by Typhoon. 00:22:54.859 --> 00:23:00.439 But I'm going to ask them to help say some prayers. 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:07.000 Yeah, dear God, I just want to thank you for a time at home. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.600 Thank you that we get to come together as a community. 00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:14.860 Yeah, just in this storm, God. 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:17.400 Thank you for keeping us safe and keeping us warm. 00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:24.600 Just thank you for everyone who's served at the Young Life Camp this weekend or in the past week. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:26.640 God, that you'll continue to bless them. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:32.900 You'll protect them against any spiritual attacks or just any doubts that they may be having from the camp. 00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:38.900 Just want to pray for any seeds that you've planted, that you continue to sprout them and continue to help them grow. 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:47.280 Pray for the young people, that they continue to build their community as well amongst their friends and that they continue to spread your word. 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.440 God, in your name we pray. 00:23:48.580 --> 00:23:48.759 Amen. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:56.300 Dear God, thank you for the opportunity to just reach out to new people. 00:23:56.299 --> 00:24:26.279 Thank you for the opportunity to be here. 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.419 Lay eyes on before. 00:24:27.960 --> 00:24:32.539 Just have the courage to reach out to them and tell them about the gospel. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:35.220 And just give us eyes to see. 00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.519 Give us the words to speak. 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:41.180 Give us the hands and to just to lay hands and pray for them. 00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:44.940 And yeah, just give them peace, Lord. 00:24:45.139 --> 00:24:45.980 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:24:46.220 --> 00:24:46.460 Amen. 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:50.299 Yeah, Father, I want to thank you. 00:24:50.399 --> 00:24:52.299 I want to praise you for today. 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:58.200 I want to thank you for giving me a wife that told me not to serve during TA. 00:24:58.659 --> 00:25:00.779 God, and keep me safe during this time. 00:25:01.159 --> 00:25:02.759 God, we just want to thank you. 00:25:02.839 --> 00:25:16.619 I pray that your Holy Spirit would just invade this virtual space, that you would invade each of our homes and convict us in the same way that you've convicted the hearts of the young life leaders and the people who head that whole movement. 00:25:16.619 --> 00:25:27.059 Father, I pray that, you know, we are scared to move out of our comfort zone to reach those who are not reached. 00:25:27.059 --> 00:25:31.819 But Lord, at the same time, I pray that you will replace that fear with the fear of you. 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:36.119 And just as James said, the fear of God drives out everything else. 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:38.319 And so, Father, we want to thank you. 00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:54.339 I pray that you would just focus our minds, focus our minds onto a single point as to where we could focus our energy, our strength, our life force, God, and how we can reach those who reach more people, God. 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:58.879 And I know that, Lord, that you have a mission for every single person on this call. 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:02.619 I know that you have a special calling for each person in this call. 00:26:02.679 --> 00:26:07.439 And I pray that you would reveal that calling to them right now, Father. 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:17.399 I pray that the Holy Spirit would just speak to us, that the Holy Spirit would just convict us and just speak in that still small voice, even after this call, God, to show us where to scatter. 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.259 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:18.619 Amen. 00:26:19.619 --> 00:26:19.980 Amen. 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:21.379 Amen. 00:26:22.419 --> 00:26:23.039 Thank you. 00:26:23.139 --> 00:26:23.879 Thank you, gentlemen. 00:26:23.880 --> 00:26:24.980 Good to see everyone. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:25.860 Can I ask you this?