1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,760 Church and it's a blessing to be around like minded brothers and 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:07,160 sisters in the Lord who love the Lord, love God's word. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:09,920 So thank you again pastor for the invitation to come. 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:14,400 I do appreciate it and count it a privilege and an honor to be 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,280 with you to share God's word with you. 6 00:00:18,080 --> 00:00:21,640 This morning I mentioned the website baptistexpositor.com for 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:24,520 those who are interested. I also meant to mention that you 8 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:29,080 can now find our sermons on some of your podcast platforms like 9 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:32,280 Apple Podcasts and Spotify, if that's useful to you. 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,760 We're starting to upload the audio to those. 11 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,440 Obviously, if you want video, you'll need to go to the other 12 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:43,520 website to find those. So thank you again for having us 13 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,640 and trust you've been blessed from the preaching of God's 14 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:51,320 Word. Now one quick note on Australia. 15 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,840 I've been quite surprised how many people have commented about 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:57,000 our dangerous animals in Australia. 17 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:00,160 And let me just put you your mind at ease. 18 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,880 Australia is a very safe country. 19 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:05,080 If you come, you're not going to get have a boxing match with the 20 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:08,840 kangaroo, OK, That is almost unheard of. 21 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:11,240 They are not aggressive creatures. 22 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:16,360 And it's probably because, you know, the nature of of the news, 23 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:20,160 we, you know, you tend to hear about those oscillated cases of 24 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,120 things that happened. Just like in Australia, we get 25 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,680 the impression as America's pretty dangerous with the bears 26 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:27,760 and rattlesnakes. But how many of you have had a 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,560 fight with a bear yet? OK, probably not very many. 28 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,160 So just just in case, if you are wanting to come to Australia one 29 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,720 day for a holiday or a vacation, come visit our church. 30 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,000 I can almost guarantee you you're not going to get, you're 31 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,960 not going to get beat up by a kangaroo or bitten by anything. 32 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:45,600 OK. So just just just thought I'd 33 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,480 put that out there. Now, I did bring over something 34 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,920 from Australia for you to try. It's a coffee bag, OK. 35 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:54,760 It's like a tea bag but with coffee. 36 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:55,960 I don't think you have those here. 37 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,560 And we're never going to outdo you when it comes to fast food. 38 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,800 This is fast food paradise. We have fast food, but you've 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,080 got it on another level. It's like fast food on steroids. 40 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,560 I have to say though, and I hope you're not offended, I do think 41 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:10,800 we do our coffee better than you. 42 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,800 I'm yet to taste a good cup of coffee in America. 43 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,840 So anyway you can try that out. We're pretty good with our 44 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,400 coffee as we're pretty good with our dairy products as well and 45 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:22,120 our baked goods. But anyway, it's, it's fun to 46 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,080 try some different things and between Courtney and your 47 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,520 pastor, I'm definitely taking some extra kilos home. 48 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,960 My wife is already talking to me about the diet she has planned 49 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,640 for me when I get home because she says I'll look round her in 50 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:37,240 the face on FaceTime. So there you go, taking some of 51 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,400 America with me there. All right, Mark, chapter 6 52 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:44,480 tonight. And the theme has been an, an 53 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,600 emphasis, or there's been an emphasis on missions. 54 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,240 But your pastor did give me liberty just to preach as the 55 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,080 Lord would lead for the Sunday services. 56 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,480 And so as the Lord LED, we did have a missions theme this 57 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,680 morning, but tonight is not a missions theme. 58 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,200 It's more a, a, a, a message of encouragement, a message. 59 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:03,480 I trust that will be a message of comfort. 60 00:03:03,920 --> 00:03:06,040 And preaching is kind of like eating. 61 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,880 You need a balanced diet, and the Bible exhorts preachers to 62 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:14,800 reprove, rebuke and exhort. So tonight's message is more in 63 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,720 the exhort category. I hope it'll be an encouragement 64 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:22,120 and a help to you. And I have no doubt that there 65 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,760 are people here tonight who are going through difficulties, 66 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,680 going through trials. I know you've been through some 67 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,400 things as a church from what your pastor shared with the 68 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,600 passing of his brother and someone else, another sister 69 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,840 losing a or having a husband graduate to glory. 70 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,600 I think it was actually last year when he was with us 71 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,040 actually for the camp. We got the news and we prayed 72 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:45,120 for you, sister, even though we'd never met you. 73 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,760 We prayed for you as a church. And so that's just a couple of 74 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:50,760 things I'm aware of. And I'm sure there are other 75 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,080 trials and tests that people are going through. 76 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,280 So we're going to turn to Mark Chapter 6 tonight and look at 77 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,040 storms. Look at the theme of storms 78 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:00,520 tonight. The theme or the title of the 79 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:02,920 message is When Stormy Winds Blow. 80 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:08,240 When stormy winds blow, Mark chapter 6, verse 45, and we'll 81 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:12,720 read down to verse 52. The Bible reads. 82 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,880 And straightway He constrained his disciples to get into the 83 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,040 ship and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He 84 00:04:20,040 --> 00:04:23,080 sent away the people. When he'd sent them away, He 85 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:24,800 departed into a mountain to pray. 86 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:28,160 When even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and He 87 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:32,200 alone on the land, and He saw them toiling in rowing, for the 88 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:35,520 wind was contrary unto them. And about the fourth watch of 89 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,200 the night He cometh under them walking upon the sea, and would 90 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:41,240 have passed by them when He saw him. 91 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,800 When they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had 92 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:50,440 been a spirit, and cried out, for they all saw Him and were 93 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,680 troubled. And immediately He talked with 94 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:57,960 them and saith unto them, Be of good cheer it is I be not 95 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,840 afraid. And he went up unto them into 96 00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:05,840 the ship, and the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed in 97 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:09,920 themselves beyond measure, and wondered, for they considered 98 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:14,760 not the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. 99 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:16,840 Let's pray. Dear God, we pray for your help 100 00:05:16,840 --> 00:05:19,280 tonight. Thank you for this local church. 101 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,560 Lord, thank you for the warm reception to the Word of God in 102 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,800 this place. And thank you for the pastor 103 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:27,520 here. Lord, we pray for your blessing 104 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:30,720 upon him and his family and and the whole church here. 105 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,000 We pray, Lord, for the mission endeavour in Belize. 106 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,040 We pray for the trip this week that you would have your hand 107 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:38,000 upon that, that everything would run smoothly and that you would 108 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:40,120 have your will and your way and all of that. 109 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,640 Bless this church as it seeks to reach beyond its borders. 110 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:45,920 Father, we pray you would strengthen it. 111 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,880 Lord, pray you bless the missions giving as folks pray 112 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,000 about their missions commitments, faith promised 113 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:53,280 missions commitments for another year. 114 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,880 We pray you'd stir hearts to to give Lord, and we just pray for 115 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:58,720 your blessing upon the message tonight. 116 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:01,760 We pray especially for those who are hurting, those who are going 117 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:04,960 through difficulties that this message might be used as a 118 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,600 comfort to them. We thank you that one of the 119 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:10,240 titles, one of the names of the Spirit of God is the comforter. 120 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,800 And so we pray for that now in Jesus name, Amen. 121 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,800 Before we get into the passage, we just need to note the 122 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:19,320 context. If you look back in the chapter, 123 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,000 you will find the account of the feeding of the 5000. 124 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,120 And so the Lord Jesus Christ has just performed that amazing 125 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,800 miracle of turning the little boy's lunch into into something 126 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:37,160 that would feed that great crowd of people, 5000 men and women 127 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:38,960 and children. In addition to that, a great 128 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:43,080 miracle demonstrating the the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ 129 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,240 was and is the Messiah. In fact, it's one of the one of 130 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,760 the miracles that is recorded in all four gospels. 131 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:53,880 And then the Lord Jesus constrains his disciples to 132 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,480 enter into a ship and to pass over the Sea of Galilee there to 133 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,920 the other side. And you will find as you read 134 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:04,120 the Gospels, that this is the second storm in which the 135 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,640 disciples find themselves in the will of God. 136 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:09,880 You can read about the first storm back in Mark chapter 4. 137 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,600 And in the first storm, the storm, the Lord Jesus Christ was 138 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:16,840 present with them in the boat, and they even struggled going 139 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:19,520 through that storm with Christ's presence with them. 140 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:23,840 But now they would go through this storm and Christ would not 141 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,880 be physically present with them in the boat. 142 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,080 Now He was with them in spirit, as we're going to see. 143 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,160 But the Lord allowed them to go through a second storm. 144 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,640 And really as we go through here, there are both theological 145 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,840 and practical lessons that we can learn, theological lessons 146 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:44,880 in that we see the person of Christ demonstrated through this 147 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,680 miracle and other miracles, OK, the the miracles that the Lord 148 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:53,200 Jesus did revealed who he was. And then there are practical 149 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:59,600 lessons we can learn much about how how God can sustain us and 150 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,240 how God will sustain us when we are going through trials. 151 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,920 And so that's really the focus, primary focus of tonight's 152 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:11,720 message when stormy winds blow. And we're going to note tonight 153 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:16,280 7 truths that will help us as we go through storms or trials in 154 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:17,200 our lives. Now, fear not. 155 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,320 I'll just touch on some of those fairly briefly. 156 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:21,640 I'll try to be brief. OK. 157 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:24,720 That's probably one of the biggest lies preachers tell. 158 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:27,080 They say I'll be brief, and then they're not brief. 159 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,520 So brief is not my thing. But I will try and keep things 160 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,919 moving tonight for you. But I want, I just want to look 161 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:38,600 at 7 truths that will help you when you go through storms #1 162 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:43,960 when stormy winds blow, We need to remember #1 His Providence 163 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:48,760 placed me in the storm number one first truth that that will 164 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,080 encourage you. The first truth that will help 165 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:54,680 you when you go through trials, when you go through storms is 166 00:08:54,680 --> 00:09:00,200 this His Providence placed you in the storm. 167 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,320 You see that there in verse 45 and straightway he constrained 168 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,440 his disciples to get into the ship and to go to the other side 169 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:12,920 before under Beth sided. And so God the Lord Jesus Christ 170 00:09:13,680 --> 00:09:17,600 actually constrained his disciples to enter the boat and 171 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,800 he knew they were going into a storm. 172 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,520 And we need to remember that when we find ourselves in some 173 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:27,040 of those storms of life. If we're walking with God and 174 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,840 following God, we need to remember that he sometimes in 175 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:37,120 his wisdom places us in storms. He can strain them. 176 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:42,760 It means to compel. And so God was going to use this 177 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:48,080 as a refining process in the disciples lives. 178 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:49,760 And as we're going to see towards the end of the passage, 179 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:52,360 a heart problem was developing in the apostles. 180 00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,960 And no doubt part of the reason why the Lord Jesus allowed them 181 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:58,440 to go through this storm was to address that heart problem that 182 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:03,880 was beginning to develop. And you know, when we think 183 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,920 about storms in our lives, we could say there are storms of 184 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,160 chastisement and storms of refinement. 185 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:12,840 In other words, sometimes we get out of the will of God and God 186 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,840 has to chasten us. And sometimes we have storms we 187 00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,400 could say almost of our own making. 188 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,960 But let's remember that not every storm in the Christian 189 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:27,200 life is chastisement. Sometimes God allows storms of 190 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,080 refinement and, and sometimes believers can get all confused. 191 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,920 They say, pastor, I don't understand because I, I believed 192 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,040 I was moving in the direction of the will of God. 193 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:39,360 I believe I was being obedient to God and, and, and Christians 194 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,080 can get all confused. I don't understand because I was 195 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,360 just trying to do what I believed God wanted me to do. 196 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,080 And all of a sudden this storm has erupted in my life. 197 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,680 Am I out of the will of God? Am I, am I following the, the 198 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:52,960 wrong direction here? No, it could be an indicator 199 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:56,120 you're in the right, you're going in the right direction and 200 00:10:56,120 --> 00:10:59,720 God has just allowed that storm in your life, not to chasten 201 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:07,400 you, but to refine you. His Providence placed me in the 202 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,080 storm. The constraint of the command, 203 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,280 verse 45 there and then the consequence of the command verse 204 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:16,080 47 to the first part of 48. We note the timing of the storm. 205 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:21,000 It says when the even was come when the even was come that even 206 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,200 here refers to according to Robertson, to the second or late 207 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:29,160 evening around 6:00 PM John's Gospel notes that it was now 208 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,480 dark. John 617 and storms often come 209 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:34,520 in night seasons, don't they of life. 210 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:38,120 There are night seasons in the Christian life when things get 211 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:44,480 dark, when there's winds and waves and things can feel very 212 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:49,360 distressing. But remember, if you're in the 213 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:55,000 will of God and a storm comes your way, His Providence placed 214 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:59,800 you in the storm. His Providence placed you in the 215 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:01,360 storm. And so there we find the 216 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,760 apostles. There's wind, there's waves, 217 00:12:03,760 --> 00:12:06,240 they are toiling. In rowing, that word toiling 218 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,720 literally means tortured. It's the same Greek word 219 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,240 translated torment 8 times in the New Testament and pain once. 220 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,480 And so this storm was causing them some pain. 221 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:18,960 And there is pain in the Christian life. 222 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:20,880 There is struggle in the Christian life. 223 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:23,920 This is where the prosperity teachers do do us a great 224 00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,360 disservice by teaching us or giving us the idea that that to 225 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,560 be a Christian means you'll always be healthy, wealthy and 226 00:12:29,560 --> 00:12:30,960 wise. And there's no problems in the 227 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,640 Christian life. No, there are times of pain. 228 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:36,280 There are seasons of trial. There are seasons of of 229 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:38,600 disappointment. There are trials and tests that 230 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,960 come our way. But the point is, if God allows 231 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,200 that in your life, if He's allowing some pain in your life, 232 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,000 it is to make you more life. Christ, He has a purpose in that 233 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:59,690 pain. So remember that in storms. 234 00:12:59,690 --> 00:13:04,410 His Providence placed me in the storm #2 His prayers sustain me 235 00:13:04,410 --> 00:13:06,930 in the storm, in the storms of life. 236 00:13:06,930 --> 00:13:10,170 We need to remember His Providence placed me in the 237 00:13:10,170 --> 00:13:14,770 storm. And let me just say this, even 238 00:13:14,770 --> 00:13:18,160 if you are, even if you have gotten out of God's will and 239 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,120 you're being chastened, the answer is still the Lord in that 240 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,320 storm. Or if you've made, if it's a 241 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,840 storm of your own own making, Christ is still the solution. 242 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,560 His Providence placed me in the storm, but then very touchingly, 243 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:33,440 his prayers sustained me in the storm. 244 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:37,440 Look at verse 46. And when the Eden was come, the 245 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,240 ship was in the midst of the sea. 246 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,880 Sorry, verse 46. And he and when he had sent them 247 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:47,280 away, pardon me, verse 46, he departed into a mountain to 248 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,280 pray. I love that. 249 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:55,360 Now, exactly what he was praying at that time we don't know, but 250 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,080 I suggest he was probably praying for those disciples as 251 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,400 they struggled there out on the sea. 252 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,960 We know for sure that our Lord Jesus Christ prays for us, 253 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:10,800 because Romans 834 says is who is he that condemneth? 254 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:13,240 It is Christ that died, Yeah, rather that he's risen again, 255 00:14:13,560 --> 00:14:16,160 who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh 256 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,920 intercession for us. Hebrews 725 says Wherefore he is 257 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:23,200 able also to save them to the uttermost that come under God, 258 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:27,160 by him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. 259 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,080 You know, I don't know about you, but in the Christian life 260 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,240 when I'm going through something, just to know that 261 00:14:32,240 --> 00:14:34,160 other believers of praying is a great comfort. 262 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,560 But have believers say to you, brother, I'm praying for you. 263 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:43,200 That brings comfort, doesn't it? But think about the fact tonight 264 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:44,880 that the Lord Jesus is praying for you. 265 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,680 If you can be encouraged by the fact that other believers pray 266 00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,600 for you, how much more should you be encouraged in your storm 267 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,760 to know that your Savior is praying for you? 268 00:14:56,880 --> 00:15:00,880 And if he pray, if He's praying for you, that means He loves 269 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,040 you. That means He hasn't forsaken 270 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:04,920 you in the storm you're going through. 271 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:08,960 He has a purpose in that storm. And you can be assured that 272 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,400 whatever he's praying, it's according to the perfect will of 273 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:17,960 God. I love that phrase there. 274 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:20,960 And he saw them. Verse 48. 275 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,160 Can you see the picture there here? 276 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,920 The disciples, they're in the boat and you try and put 277 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,080 yourself in the scene there and the, the waves are crashing over 278 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,760 the side and, and, and we've been to the Sea of Galilee and 279 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,280 it can be beautiful and calm and just so picturesque. 280 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:37,360 But then because it's a, it's a it, it, it, it's surrounded by 281 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:40,680 mountains, you can get a wind that just comes, it comes, you 282 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,720 know, it comes down those, those wind tunnels, as it were, or 283 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,080 down those valleys and it hits the lake and it can just turn 284 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,960 the Sea of Galilee into a seething cauldron very, very 285 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:50,920 quickly. And so it's dark. 286 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,240 The even has come. And here they are. 287 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:55,960 They can't see the Lord, but the Lord can see them. 288 00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,880 And bear that in mind in your storm, you may feel like, 289 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,960 where's the Lord in all of this? And you can feel like he's 290 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:07,520 forsaking you, but just know this God knows exactly where you 291 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:09,760 are and he knows what is happening. 292 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:12,840 And the Lord saw them there toiling. 293 00:16:13,440 --> 00:16:15,360 He saw them struggling in the storm. 294 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,320 You say, why did he allow them to go through that for hour 295 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,840 after hour? Was was it because he was cruel? 296 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,920 No, because the Lord Jesus had a purpose in placing them in that 297 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:30,200 storm. So you may feel you can't see 298 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,680 the Lord in your storm, but rest assured, He sees you. 299 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:40,920 His prayers sustain me in the storm. 300 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,360 There's Christ in the mountain praying as he looks upon them. 301 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,800 What a picture, our Lord Jesus, He's able to see us from that 302 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:51,000 vantage point, isn't He? Of course we understand. 303 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,800 He's with us, the New Testament truth. 304 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:54,280 He indwells us. He never forsakes us. 305 00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:57,040 But, but what a beautiful picture here of the intercessory 306 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:59,920 ministry of the Lord Jesus, praying for those disciples. 307 00:16:59,920 --> 00:17:03,560 His prayers sustain me in the storm. 308 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,040 I don't think we think enough about the intercessory ministry 309 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:10,560 of the Lord Jesus. And so I just don't know how I 310 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,440 got through that season. I don't know how I came through 311 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:17,560 that storm. No doubt His prayers sustained 312 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:25,480 and preserved you #3 #3 His presence meets me in the storm. 313 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:27,800 His Presence meets me in the storm. 314 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:29,840 So His Providence placed me in the storm. 315 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:32,920 His prayers sustained me in the storm. 316 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:36,240 And three, His presence meets me in the storm. 317 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:38,960 Look at verse 48. And he saw them toiling and 318 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,120 rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them. 319 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:45,040 And about the fourth watch of the night, He cometh unto them, 320 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:48,280 walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 321 00:17:49,120 --> 00:17:50,680 Consider the moment of His coming. 322 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,080 The moment of His coming. The Bible tells us that He came 323 00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:58,080 at the 4th watch of the night. Now the Romans divided the night 324 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,320 into 4 watches. The first was 6:00 to 9:00 PM, 325 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:05,920 the 2nd from 9:00 to 12:00 PM, the 3rd from 12:00 to 3:00 AM, 326 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,000 and the 4th from 3:00 to 6:00 AM. 327 00:18:10,120 --> 00:18:13,320 And so that means the disciples had been rowing somewhere in the 328 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:18,960 order of 9 to 12 hours, and the Lord Jesus came to them in that 329 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:23,520 4th watch somewhere there between 3:00 and 6:00 AM in the 330 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,160 morning. And the point is, the Lord Jesus 331 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:33,440 showed up not one minute early, not one minute late, right on 332 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:37,600 time. Do you know the Lord Jesus will 333 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:40,760 only allow that storm in your life for as long as He knows 334 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,440 it's necessary? That's right. 335 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,280 And can you see Him now? He's coming to their aid just at 336 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:49,320 the right time and just at the right place. 337 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:52,160 He's never early, never late, but always right on time, in 338 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,760 accordance with His perfect will for our lives. 339 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:57,040 The moment of His coming. Aren't you thankful for that? 340 00:18:57,040 --> 00:19:00,560 The Lord knows how much we can take, and He touches our lives. 341 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,240 He makes His presence known just when we need it. 342 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,600 The miracle of His coming. The moment of His coming, The 343 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,600 miracle of His coming. Here He comes, walking upon the 344 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,600 sea. Oh, what a beautiful, majestic 345 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:13,320 picture that is. Here we have Jesus Christ, the 346 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,600 Son of God, God Incarnate. And don't you? 347 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:17,960 Don't you see the picture answer there? 348 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:21,280 What threatened to be over their heads was under his feet. 349 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,960 The storm that was over their heads was already under his 350 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:29,000 feet. Bear that in mind. 351 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,920 You say this storm is so big. I feel like it's going to sink 352 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:33,320 me. I feel like it's going to ruin 353 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,480 me. Just remember that. 354 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:37,000 All those trials, all those tests, all those difficulties 355 00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:39,160 you're going through, they're under his feet. 356 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:46,440 They're under his feet, and this is actually a demonstration of 357 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:51,160 Christ's deity, because Job, when Speaking of God, said in 358 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,600 Job 9 verse 8, which alone spreadeth out the heavens and 359 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:57,040 treadeth upon the waves of the sea. 360 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,400 Gee, Campbell Morgan wrote. It is too dark for you to see 361 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:05,720 him yet, but he is coming. He cannot leave you alone to 362 00:20:05,720 --> 00:20:07,720 perish. And mark this, he is coming over 363 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:10,200 the very waves you are most afraid of. 364 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,560 The very waves that threaten to buff it and break you to pieces 365 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,680 are the pavement for his blessed feet. 366 00:20:17,720 --> 00:20:21,320 And I don't know most of you. I've met some of you over the 367 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,320 over this last few days and I don't know where you're at 368 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:26,960 tonight, but maybe that's where you're at. 369 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:28,440 You say. I just feel like I'm like those 370 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:31,360 disciples just toiling in and I'm feeling some pain and I'm 371 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:33,960 just wondering when that storm is going to be over. 372 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,960 And I feel like those waves pastor are going to just crash 373 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:38,480 in and I'm just going to, I don't know. 374 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:40,560 I'm if I'm going to make it in the Christian life. 375 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,480 He's coming to you, Christian. He's coming to you at the right 376 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:45,360 time. And remember that all those 377 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:47,960 things that would seem to overwhelm you are under His 378 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:57,440 control #4 His precepts. Comfort me in the storm. 379 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:00,360 When stormy winds blow, we need to remember. 380 00:21:00,360 --> 00:21:02,320 His Providence placed me in the storm. 381 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,280 His prayers sustained me in the storm. 382 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,320 His presence meets me in the storm. 383 00:21:08,320 --> 00:21:11,800 His precepts comfort me in the storm. 384 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:17,680 Look at verse 49 and 50. But when they saw Him walking 385 00:21:17,680 --> 00:21:21,040 upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried 386 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,200 out, for they all saw him and were troubled. 387 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:28,000 And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of 388 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:32,600 good cheer it is, I be not afraid. 389 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,080 Can you see how the Word of God, the word of Christ, the words 390 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,880 from the lips of the Son of God, brought peace, brought joy, and 391 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:45,080 brought comfort to the disciples in that storm? 392 00:21:45,400 --> 00:21:48,200 And how many of you have found the word of God a comfort in 393 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,680 your storm? How many of you have found that 394 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:54,320 you've been going through a difficult time in your life and 395 00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,560 you've opened the pages of God's word and how God has spoken to 396 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,080 you through his word and calm and peace has has just washed 397 00:22:01,080 --> 00:22:03,920 over your soul. Thank God for the precepts of 398 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:08,080 God in the storm. His precepts comfort me in the 399 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,200 storm. And they needed that because 400 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:12,840 they were confused. They were confused. 401 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,160 But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, look at this verse 402 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:18,720 39. They supposed it had been a 403 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:23,360 spirit and cried out. We could say the disciples erred 404 00:22:23,360 --> 00:22:27,600 mentally in their storm. They supposed the word means to 405 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:32,240 think or to imagine as true. You know, there was a problem in 406 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,160 the disciples thinking in that storm. 407 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,320 And bear that in mind, Dear believer, Sometimes when you're 408 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:40,600 going through a trial, your thoughts are not going to be 409 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,160 right. Sometimes when you're going 410 00:22:43,160 --> 00:22:46,040 through a storm, your perceptions are going to be 411 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:48,240 wrong. And I'll tell our people back 412 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:53,360 home, I say do not look to your mind as an infallible source of 413 00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:54,760 truth. Did you know you're you can be 414 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,120 way out in here? Your thinking is not an 415 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:02,960 infallible source of truth. But I thought that's the 416 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,160 problem. You thought wrong. 417 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:09,080 No, seriously, our thoughts can lead us astray and that's why we 418 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,200 need our thoughts so often corrected by God's thoughts. 419 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:15,480 And bear that in mind. I'm not making a lot of your 420 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,480 trial, but I've seen it time and time again and I've seen it in 421 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,400 my own life. When when you're in the midst of 422 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,320 the storm, your thoughts can just be wrong. 423 00:23:22,560 --> 00:23:24,720 And they suppose that they saw a spirit. 424 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,880 The, the Greek word there is the word phantom or forms the basis 425 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,440 of our English word phantom. They thought they saw a ghost, 426 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,120 but it was actually the Lord. And sometimes when we're in a 427 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:36,640 trial, we can sometimes fail to discern the movement of our 428 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:39,360 Savior in that storm. And we may sometimes 429 00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,240 misunderstand and think that it's something evil. 430 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,480 It could actually be the Lord. I understand we have to be alert 431 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,600 because the devil's also out there trying to distract us, but 432 00:23:48,600 --> 00:23:52,400 in this case it was the Lord moving in that storm and they 433 00:23:52,400 --> 00:24:01,080 failed to discern that it was Him, John Butler wrote. 434 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,200 How often in our troubles we fail to discern the times and 435 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,400 situations correctly, but see dreadful phantoms in our 436 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,920 troubles when it is crossed, working for us. 437 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,560 Like the disciples, there is so much flesh in US compared to our 438 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,720 faith. So we could say they erred 439 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,400 mentally and then they erred emotionally. 440 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,440 They cried out and the two are linked. 441 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:28,000 The word, the phrase they cried out means to scream in terror. 442 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,640 These were strong men. Don't forget that. 443 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:34,160 I mean, they've been toiling and rowing for, you know, 9 to 12 444 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:35,960 hours. These were strong fishermen. 445 00:24:35,960 --> 00:24:38,560 These men knew that late, but they were in fear. 446 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,560 And when we err mentally, we often err emotionally, don't we? 447 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:52,560 We're troubled. But what grace and love from our 448 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:55,480 Lord Jesus to simply speak that word of peace. 449 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,440 You see, there was a storm on the outside for the disciples, 450 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:01,520 but there was a storm going on the inside too. 451 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:04,720 And sometimes it can be like that for us. 452 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:09,080 Circumstances around us can be battering our lives. 453 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,000 And sometimes we have a big fight, not only with those 454 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,840 external circumstances, but with our internal, with the internal 455 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,760 storm as well, in our thoughts and in our emotions. 456 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:24,120 And that's where his precepts bring comfort in the storm and 457 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,920 just quieten down those troubled thoughts and fears. 458 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,120 And so our Lord Jesus said, be of good cheer. 459 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,760 It is I be not afraid He exhausts them to be joyful. 460 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,120 He exhausts them not to be fearful. 461 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:42,080 How often does our Lord tell us how often does the word of God 462 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:47,760 tell us do not be afraid, fear not you count them up. 463 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:51,640 I don't know there's there's well over 300 times I believe in 464 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:56,040 the Bible where we have the phrase essentially fear not or 465 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:59,440 words to that effect. You say, why does God tell us so 466 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:02,960 often fear not, fear not, fear not because we just we're so 467 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:11,200 fearful. Fear not be of good cheer. 468 00:26:12,160 --> 00:26:15,600 It is I be not afraid. Now what I what I love here is 469 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,360 that between the command be of good cheer and the command be 470 00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:25,400 not afraid stands I am. You see that be of good cheer. 471 00:26:25,960 --> 00:26:30,160 It is I be not afraid, and that's significant. 472 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,920 And that's important because the only way those commands are 473 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:39,160 possible are by the I am without the I am at the sender of those 474 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:42,040 two commands. They are completely impossible 475 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:45,920 and you say, I bet it's impossible, pastor, for me to be 476 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:47,920 of good cheer with what I'm going through. 477 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,880 It's impossible for me to to not be afraid. 478 00:26:51,880 --> 00:26:53,760 Yes, it is in your human strength. 479 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:58,120 But if you have the I am in your life, then by God's grace and by 480 00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:01,600 his power you can be of good cheer and you cannot be afraid. 481 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:08,160 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 482 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,320 So tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or 483 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,480 nakedness, or peril, or sword, as it is written, for thy sake, 484 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,240 we are killed all the day long. We are accounted as sheep for 485 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,240 the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are 486 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:22,280 more than Congress through him that loved us. 487 00:27:22,280 --> 00:27:25,640 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 488 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:28,760 principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to 489 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:32,000 come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be 490 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,760 able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ 491 00:27:34,760 --> 00:27:36,160 Jesus. You say I'm going through a 492 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:37,200 storm. I don't. 493 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,840 I just don't know how I'm going to get through it and I just 494 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:41,320 don't know what the the outcome will be. 495 00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,920 I can assure you of this. That storm will never sever you 496 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:46,360 from the love of Christ. It cannot sever you from the 497 00:27:46,360 --> 00:27:52,920 love of Christ. And if you're saved, the great I 498 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:57,440 am, the Lord Jesus indwells you, and therefore being of good 499 00:27:57,440 --> 00:28:00,960 cheer and not being afraid is made possible by his power. 500 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:05,280 He's not our Lord Jesus the great I am. 501 00:28:06,160 --> 00:28:12,880 It is I comes from the Greek word words ego Amy, I am our 502 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,680 Lord Jesus is the great I am Jesus said I am the bread of 503 00:28:16,680 --> 00:28:19,320 life. I am the light of the world. 504 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,040 I am the door. I am the Good Shepherd. 505 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,040 I am the resurrection and the life. 506 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:26,520 I am the way, the truth and the life. 507 00:28:26,840 --> 00:28:33,240 I am the true vine. Our Lord Jesus is the I am, so 508 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:43,240 his precepts comfort me in the storm #5 His power enables me in 509 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:44,640 the storm. And here I'm drawing on 510 00:28:44,640 --> 00:28:46,600 Matthew's account. It's good to draw on the 511 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:48,440 different accounts there if you want to turn there. 512 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,400 Matthew 1428 to 31. We have the account of Peter 513 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:54,120 walking on the water. You're probably familiar, no 514 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,520 doubt, with that passage, But his power enables me in the 515 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:01,800 storm. And here the Peter said, Lord, 516 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:05,280 if it be thou, bid me come to thee on the water, and I'll just 517 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:07,160 turn there. Matthew 14, just for a moment. 518 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,720 Matthew chapter 14 verse 28 to 31. 519 00:29:18,520 --> 00:29:22,600 Matthew 14 verse 28 to 31. And Peter answered him and said, 520 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,400 Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 521 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:28,960 And he said, come. When Peter was come down out of 522 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:31,520 the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 523 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:34,680 When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to 524 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,000 sink. He cried, saying, Lord, save me. 525 00:29:37,800 --> 00:29:40,080 Immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, 526 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:43,560 and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst 527 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:45,560 thou doubt? And when they were coming to the 528 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:49,520 ship, the wind ceased. Look at the faith of Peter, the 529 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:51,600 faith of Peter. Now Peter could be impulsive, 530 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:54,240 but on the positive side he was at least willing to step out of 531 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:59,080 the boat. And the Lord Jesus said to him, 532 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:02,160 Come. And you think about it, that one 533 00:30:02,160 --> 00:30:05,640 word come made Peter's walking on the water possible. 534 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:07,800 Because the Christian life, if you're going to walk the 535 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:11,120 Christian life, it must be based upon divine revelation that the 536 00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,800 Christian life has to be walked according to the word of God. 537 00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:17,920 And that one word from the lips of the Son of God, come, enable 538 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,000 Peter to do the impossible and walk upon the water. 539 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,280 And you need to understand something in the Christian life, 540 00:30:23,680 --> 00:30:27,360 that the Christian life from start to finish is an impossible 541 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:31,400 life. It's an impossible walk in and 542 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:35,240 of ourselves. It takes divine power to be able 543 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:39,840 to walk the Christian life. The faith of Peter, the failure 544 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:41,320 of Peter. Something happened to Peter's 545 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:44,440 focus, which led to something happening to Peter's faith, 546 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,480 which led to something happening to his footing. 547 00:30:48,840 --> 00:30:51,720 Peter turned his eyes from the Lord to the circumstances around 548 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:56,200 him. His faith vaulted, and then his 549 00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:00,560 feet began to sink. We have to be careful, don't we 550 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:03,120 in the storm, that we don't take our eyes off the Lord Jesus. 551 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,720 That's so easy. Look at the wind, look at the 552 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:09,120 waves, look at what's going on around me. 553 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:10,720 When you do that, you begin to sink. 554 00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:14,040 Look to the Lord Jesus in your storm. 555 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:16,960 Keep looking to the Lord Jesus in your trial. 556 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:20,400 Keep looking to the Lord Jesus in that season of testing that 557 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:29,000 you're going through. And immediately Jesus stretched 558 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,280 forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of 559 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:34,320 little faith, wherefore did sour doubt? 560 00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:37,680 He cried out to the Lord there, and the Lord had pity upon him. 561 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:41,400 Aren't you thankful that the Lord is there to lift us up when 562 00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:45,400 we falter? The Lord is so merciful to us, 563 00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:52,760 we our faith is so weak, but He's there to lift us when our 564 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,640 faith falters. But the point here is that His 565 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:01,120 power enables me in the storm, enables you to walk across the 566 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:05,200 waves, the very waves that seem to threaten you. 567 00:32:06,640 --> 00:32:11,960 Number six, His peace calms me in the storm. 568 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:13,280 Back to Mark. Chapter 6. 569 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:19,240 His peace calms me in the storm. And he went up unto them into 570 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:23,280 the ship, and the wind ceased. They were so amazed in 571 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:30,320 themselves beyond measure and wondered, our Lord Jesus 572 00:32:30,320 --> 00:32:33,080 delivers in the storm and he delivers from the storm. 573 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:36,360 The Bible tells us in John chapter 6, verse 21. 574 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,240 Then they willingly received him into the ship and immediately 575 00:32:39,240 --> 00:32:40,960 the ship was at the land whither they went. 576 00:32:40,960 --> 00:32:44,080 And so God did a miracle. The Lord Jesus did a miracle 577 00:32:44,080 --> 00:32:49,360 there as he entered the ship, the ship not only did the storm 578 00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:53,160 cease, but immediately the boat arrived at the destination. 579 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:54,880 You say, oh surely you don't really believe that that 580 00:32:54,880 --> 00:32:57,280 actually happened. You're silly not to believe that 581 00:32:58,080 --> 00:33:00,680 if the Son of God, the Creator of the universe is in the boat, 582 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:04,920 anything can happen immediately. Literally, He ended the boat and 583 00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:08,040 immediately that boat appeared on the other side exactly where 584 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:11,120 they were going. And the point is, the Lord Jesus 585 00:33:11,120 --> 00:33:17,880 peace calmed the storm. His peace calms me in the storm. 586 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:21,840 He will not allow that storm to go one minute longer in your 587 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:26,960 life than He has ordained #7 number 77. 588 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:30,360 His purging refines me in the storm. 589 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:35,080 His purging refines me in the storm. 590 00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:38,040 Look at verse 52. For they considered not the 591 00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:44,720 miracle of the loaves, for their heart was Their heart was you 592 00:33:44,720 --> 00:33:47,400 with Me there in verse 52? Read it with me on the count of 593 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,360 212. For they considered not the 594 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,320 miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. 595 00:33:55,640 --> 00:34:01,320 Interesting. No doubt this is partly why the 596 00:34:01,320 --> 00:34:04,080 Lord Jesus allowed them to go through the storm, because there 597 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:07,520 was a subtle heart condition developing in the apostles that 598 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:11,960 needed to be addressed. No, storms have a way of 599 00:34:11,960 --> 00:34:15,639 bringing spiritual blind spots in our lives to the surface. 600 00:34:17,320 --> 00:34:20,120 They do. Maybe you've heard the 601 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:23,800 illustration of the tea bag. You put the tea bag into the hot 602 00:34:23,800 --> 00:34:26,840 water. The hot water, it simply reveals 603 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:33,080 what's in the tea bag. And there was a problem that had 604 00:34:33,080 --> 00:34:36,159 developed in the apostles. We could say they had a head 605 00:34:36,159 --> 00:34:38,320 problem. They considered not and they had 606 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:43,520 a heart problem. Their heart was hardened and 607 00:34:44,040 --> 00:34:45,960 they considered not. The miracle of the loaves. 608 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,080 I mean, you go back to the context there. 609 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:52,360 And before the apostles got into that boat, they had just 610 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:54,719 witnessed one of the greatest miracles our Lord ever 611 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,040 performed, the miracle of the feeding of the 5000. 612 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:02,600 And they should have considered that when they were in that 613 00:35:02,600 --> 00:35:04,800 storm. And I don't know what it is. 614 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:08,000 It's just, it's just because we're so weak, we do tend to 615 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,800 forget, don't we? When we get into a storm, we 616 00:35:09,800 --> 00:35:12,880 forget all of the demonstrations of God's power that we've 617 00:35:12,880 --> 00:35:20,160 already seen in our lives. But we should consider what He 618 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:21,880 has done. It'll help you in your storm if 619 00:35:21,880 --> 00:35:24,000 you do that. Because sometimes we just forget 620 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,600 all of what God has done and all of his sustaining grace and 621 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:29,960 sustaining power in our lives to that point. 622 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:33,240 And that's exactly what happened in the disciples lives. 623 00:35:33,640 --> 00:35:37,880 They had just witnessed that mighty miracle and yet in the 624 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:39,480 storm they didn't even consider it. 625 00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:43,760 Before we're too hard on them, I think we should admit that we 626 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:47,480 tend to do the same. And God does demonstrate his 627 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:51,000 power on our behalf, doesn't He? And he gets us through different 628 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,760 things, and He demonstrates His provision for us in miraculous 629 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:56,160 ways. But how we are like the 630 00:35:56,160 --> 00:36:00,600 disciples, how we so quickly forget and fail to consider all 631 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:03,640 of God's grace and all of God's goodness in our lives up to that 632 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:05,880 point when we find ourselves in a storm. 633 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:11,360 And so the storm was there, no doubt, to refine them. 634 00:36:12,520 --> 00:36:16,080 They had a head problem, but they had a heart problem, and 635 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:18,440 ultimately that heart problem was the source of the head 636 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:23,240 problem, for their heart was hardened. 637 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:26,040 That's interesting. The word hardened there means 638 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:29,240 calloused. That same word is translated 639 00:36:29,240 --> 00:36:31,160 blind two times in the New Testament. 640 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:37,800 There was a callousness of heart developing in the apostles, even 641 00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:43,160 in the face of one of Christ's most significant miracles. 642 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:54,360 Our hearts are just so subtle. We can be seeing God work and 643 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:59,000 seeing God do mighty things and just start to develop an 644 00:36:59,000 --> 00:37:04,360 indifference to it. In fact, I've seen Christians 645 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:09,920 who frankly get a very ungrateful spirit and they stop 646 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:15,680 really seeing all that God is doing and being appreciative of 647 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:18,360 what all of God is doing. John Phillips put it well. 648 00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,480 He said the disciples weren't gospel hardened, they were glory 649 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:25,560 hardened. Don't take for granted when God 650 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:30,920 is working in the church, don't let your heart go sour. 651 00:37:32,440 --> 00:37:35,120 Don't let your heart with God's grace, don't let your heart get 652 00:37:35,120 --> 00:37:37,120 hardened. And, and this is the nature of 653 00:37:37,120 --> 00:37:40,840 the human heart, that even even in the face of such miracles and 654 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:47,120 such wonders of God's power being displayed, we can start to 655 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:54,000 grow cold and hard. And that's where God does allow 656 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:59,080 us at times to go through storms to purge us, to refine us. 657 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:04,440 We could say storms can soften our hearts if we respond to them 658 00:38:04,440 --> 00:38:08,920 in the right way. And so keep those truths in 659 00:38:08,920 --> 00:38:10,680 mind. I trust that those 7 truths will 660 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:13,880 be anchors to you as you go through the storms of life. 661 00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:18,240 Remember when stormy winds blow. His Providence placed me in the 662 00:38:18,240 --> 00:38:21,600 storm. His prayers will sustain me in 663 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:24,480 the storm. His presence meets me in the 664 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:30,560 storm, His precepts comfort me in the storm, His power enables 665 00:38:30,560 --> 00:38:34,200 me in the storm. His peace calms me in the storm, 666 00:38:34,640 --> 00:38:37,080 and His purging refines me in the storm. 667 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:38,800 Let the Lord have His way in your life. 668 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:43,680 In that storm you look at the life of Job and what he went 669 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:48,360 through and as you just look at the whole picture you will 670 00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:54,400 notice that apart from Job, there were really 2 key 671 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:58,520 characters in the Job story, God and Satan. 672 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:07,080 God's purpose in Job's trial was to perfect Job and glorify 673 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:11,160 himself. Satan's agenda in that trial was 674 00:39:11,160 --> 00:39:14,080 to destroy God, destroy Job, and discredit God. 675 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,440 You know, it really came down to Job and Job's willingness to 676 00:39:18,440 --> 00:39:20,960 submit to what God was trying to do in that trial rather than 677 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:24,680 what Satan was trying to do. And keep that in mind in your 678 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:29,280 life as you're going through a test, going through a trial. 679 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:35,800 God is working for your good and His glory always, in fact, 680 00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:38,360 probably around the other way when it comes to the order. 681 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:40,320 He's working for His glory and your good. 682 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:47,040 But Satan wants to use that same trial or wants to get involved 683 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:51,560 in that trial and use that trial in some way, or get involved in 684 00:39:51,560 --> 00:39:54,640 a way to destroy you and bring discredit to God. 685 00:39:56,040 --> 00:39:58,440 I heard a great message on that life of Job once, and it was 686 00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:00,640 simply this. To whose purposes will you 687 00:40:00,640 --> 00:40:04,600 yield? Make sure you yield to what the 688 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:08,680 Lord is trying to do in your life in that trial, not what the 689 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:15,760 devil is trying to do. So we've got to stay close to 690 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:19,120 the Lord because storms can be dangerous times for us 691 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:28,880 spiritually, and I experienced this myself not too long ago. 692 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:33,080 In 2024, my father passed away unexpectedly and when he was 693 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:36,480 unwell, we knew that he probably didn't have many years to live. 694 00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:38,200 He'd go on dialysis for his kidneys. 695 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:42,720 And you know, we'd but we'd had hopes that he would live for 696 00:40:42,760 --> 00:40:47,480 maybe another 2345 years maybe. And I was very shocked. 697 00:40:47,480 --> 00:40:51,080 On one Monday morning I had my phone off because I have have 698 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:54,600 Mondays off for rest. And there was a knock on the 699 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:58,360 door and my brother who's also our assistant pastor was there. 700 00:40:58,360 --> 00:40:59,320 And I thought, well, what's happened? 701 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,560 My first thought was what's happened in the church, who's 702 00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:05,280 just done something terrible, you know, And he said you'd 703 00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:07,080 better come in, you'd better sit down and let him in. 704 00:41:07,080 --> 00:41:08,960 He said Dad passed away last night. 705 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:13,440 And I'm just going to be honest with you, for a number of months 706 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:17,880 I really struggled, really struggled with even some doubts, 707 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:24,360 just the shock factor. And it even surprised me just 708 00:41:24,360 --> 00:41:29,920 just how weak I was really. Now, in my heart of hearts, I 709 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:33,280 knew he's with the Lord. And I knew, you know, I knew all 710 00:41:33,280 --> 00:41:36,080 the Bible verses, but it was just a period of struggle for 711 00:41:36,080 --> 00:41:38,440 me. So what did you do? 712 00:41:38,440 --> 00:41:42,280 Well, I just endeavored to stay close to the Lord, just kept 713 00:41:42,280 --> 00:41:44,800 reassuring myself in the promises of God's word. 714 00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:48,800 And the Lord eventually brought me out of that dark storm and 715 00:41:48,800 --> 00:41:51,320 out the other side. And God will do that for you, 716 00:41:51,320 --> 00:41:53,400 too. There are seasons where things 717 00:41:53,640 --> 00:41:57,000 in the Christian life where there's dark, darkness and 718 00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:59,600 there's wind and there's waves and we can feel confused, 719 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:02,440 disorientated. The solution is not to give up 720 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:05,360 on the Lord. The solution is not to throw 721 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:08,160 away the Word of God. The solution is to keep your 722 00:42:08,160 --> 00:42:11,280 eyes fixed on the Lord and even at times when you don't sense 723 00:42:11,280 --> 00:42:14,680 His presence, just know He is there, even if you don't feel 724 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:18,000 it, and know that He will bring you through it. 725 00:42:18,640 --> 00:42:20,400 Just bathe your soul in the Word of God. 726 00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:23,560 Cling to the promises of God and the Lord will bring you out the 727 00:42:23,560 --> 00:42:27,440 other side of that trial. And it really did happen that 728 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:29,080 way for me. I'm not saying I'm completely 729 00:42:29,080 --> 00:42:31,800 over the grief, but it just brought me through the Lord 730 00:42:31,800 --> 00:42:35,200 brought me through that to where I felt like the sun came out 731 00:42:35,200 --> 00:42:37,720 again. It's hard, you know, as AI 732 00:42:37,720 --> 00:42:42,120 think, part of it was as a, as a, as a young preacher, having 733 00:42:42,160 --> 00:42:46,040 a, a godly father who'd been a pastor for 50 years, he was a 734 00:42:46,040 --> 00:42:48,600 great source of counsel, encouragement, and to have that 735 00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:50,480 removed was there's a real sense of loss there. 736 00:42:53,160 --> 00:42:57,840 And so storms, you have to be careful in storms that you don't 737 00:42:57,840 --> 00:43:00,240 allow the devil to throw you off track. 738 00:43:00,920 --> 00:43:05,280 Keep your eyes on the Lord and let him accomplish in you what 739 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:07,040 he wants to accomplish in that storm. 740 00:43:07,640 --> 00:43:08,320 Thank you, Pastor.