1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,800 You're listening to the Bridgetown Church Podcast with 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,840 Pastor Casey Kendall, where our vision is Jesus, our mission is 3 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:09,760 people, and our cause is love. Thanks for tuning in. 4 00:00:10,040 --> 00:00:13,360 Let's dive in. Great to see all of you this 5 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,800 morning. Nine years. 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:22,840 Let's go. Nine years of God's faithfulness 7 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:28,000 to us as a church. 9 years of God's faithfulness and testimony 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,720 to you. 9 years of grace. Nine years of mercy. 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:36,120 Nine years of God moving us into places we never thought we would 10 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,520 be and doing things we never thought He would do. 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:46,000 Nine years of justice, watching God do amazing works in our 12 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,600 midst. And I just want to thank you for 13 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:50,840 being here today. We are worshipping Jesus today. 14 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,520 We're pointing to him. We're celebrating Jesus and all 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,920 that He's done because he who began a good work in US is 16 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,360 faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,280 We believe that if we miss Jesus, we've missed the whole 18 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:07,440 point of the service because He is the only one that has the 19 00:01:07,440 --> 00:01:11,320 power to forgive sins because he died the death that we should 20 00:01:11,320 --> 00:01:14,120 have died because He lived the life that we should have lived. 21 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,840 And not only did Jesus bear our sin, but he took upon the cross 22 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:23,360 and defeated hell and the grave. He rose again three days later 23 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,960 and we get to celebrate the fact that God is good. 24 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,360 In nine years. We've celebrating that God is 25 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,720 faithful still. We are part of a city that God, 26 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:39,240 I believe, is on the move with Pastor Kevin at Grace Glendora, 27 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:46,040 Pastor Johnny D here at Glendora Community, Amen, Pastor Bruce at 28 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:51,080 Cornerstone Fellowship here in Glendora, Pastor Dave at Church 29 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:53,920 of the Open Door, Pastor Gary who's at Glen Kirk. 30 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:58,160 God is on the move in this city, and I believe that we are part 31 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:00,960 of the story. We're part of God's story 32 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,200 because we never thought we would be in Glendora. 33 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,600 We thought we'd be in Pasadena, then we ended up in Monrovia and 34 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:11,000 then by God's faithfulness, we went to Duarte and then by God's 35 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,920 faithfulness through COVID, we ended up here in Glendora. 36 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:17,200 Whoever thought we would be in a building, Amen. 37 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,640 Right next to a park. So after this, we're going to 38 00:02:20,640 --> 00:02:24,880 celebrate with a huge after party. 123 Burger Company is 39 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:26,920 here, handles ice cream will be here. 40 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,800 We have lattes that are free. You don't have to pay. 41 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:31,880 They're free for you. We've already paid for them, 42 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,680 grabbed them after church, our church gathering. 43 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:38,000 We have face painting today. It's going to be great. 44 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:41,000 That's for the children. But if you're still a child at 45 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,000 heart and you want to face your paint, paint your face. 46 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:46,840 Excuse me, Face your paint. Yes, that's good. 47 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:48,960 That's a good sermon title. Face your paint. 48 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,800 We want to encourage you. Take your kids over there. 49 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:54,280 It's all free today. We love you. 50 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,280 God bless you. Thank you for being here. 51 00:02:56,400 --> 00:03:00,120 If you have your Bible handy, turn to the Gospel of Matthew 52 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:05,120 chapter 14, the Gospel of Matthew chapter 14. 53 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:10,080 I'm only going to read one verse with you, but I want to go over 54 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:13,920 many verses with you, but I just want to set the scene as we lead 55 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:18,440 into today's gathering. You having a good time this 56 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,560 morning? Amen. 57 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:23,400 Amen. The Bible tells us in the book 58 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:28,360 of Matthew chapter 14, beginning in verse 31, Mark chapter 4, 59 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:34,080 Matthew chapter 14, excuse me, verse 31, Matthew chapter 14. 60 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,200 Let me get that straight again. Verse 31. 61 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,640 And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, and he caught him 62 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:48,200 and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? 63 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:55,400 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 64 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:01,840 When they got into the boat, Jesus and Peter, the wind 65 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:04,280 ceased. And then those who were in the 66 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:10,800 boat came and they worshipped him, saying truly, you are the 67 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,480 Son of God. We have a custom here at 68 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,320 Bridgetown Church. If you would just look at your 69 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,240 neighbor and act like you're a preacher today and say, 70 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,840 neighbor, my neighbor, I'm going to make it through. 71 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,920 I'm going to make it through neighbor, my neighbor. 72 00:04:31,280 --> 00:04:36,720 I'm going to make it through this past nine years, we've seen 73 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:41,120 some amazing things happen by the hands of God. 74 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:46,200 We've seen God sustain us in a place that we thought and people 75 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,560 told us that we would actually be ruined in. 76 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,920 We came down to a city and into an area that someone told us 77 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:56,760 that our kids would no longer walk with Jesus and follow Jesus 78 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,920 and they would become demon possessed just like Los Angeles 79 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,680 is demon possessed. That is not true. 80 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:06,320 We have come and saw amazing things that God has done. 81 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:10,800 He has packed houses with people that have a heart to fill and 82 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,400 seek His will. We've seen God fill houses and 83 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:19,000 backyards with people that have a passion to worship His name, a 84 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,080 desire to pray, a desire to seek His face. 85 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,160 We've seen people healed in front of our eyes. 86 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:29,080 We've seen marriages restored. We've seen prodigals brought 87 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,760 back to Jesus Christ. We've seen that God is faithful 88 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,840 still in the midst of everything that we've ever gone through in 89 00:05:36,840 --> 00:05:39,600 our lives. And my whole message theme was 90 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,240 going to be that God is faithful still. 91 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,120 And as I was celebrating with all of you yesterday at our 92 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,400 first annual Bridgetown Bowl watermelon eating contest, water 93 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,760 balloon toss, we played volleyball and we got a little 94 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:02,600 hurt during kickball. It was so full of life that I 95 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:08,760 went from there into a house that was full of grieving and 96 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,760 sat by the bedside of one of the ladies who attends our church 97 00:06:13,160 --> 00:06:15,640 who's in the final stages of her life. 98 00:06:17,560 --> 00:06:22,800 And as I sat there, I realized that the question would not be, 99 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,560 is God faithful still? What God was asking me in 100 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,000 difficult circumstances is the question I want to ask you 101 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,600 today, and is that is, will you be faithful still, even though 102 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,840 you don't understand what you're facing, even though you don't 103 00:06:37,840 --> 00:06:41,280 really know everything that you're going through, that you 104 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:45,080 will make it through because the power of God will accomplish 105 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,920 that because the presence of Jesus is with you. 106 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,680 And I want to ask you a question today that as you've come into 107 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:56,240 this place, will you just be a fan of Jesus or will you really 108 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,640 be a follower of Jesus Christ? I want us to come to the 109 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,480 conclusion with resolve within our own hearts and lives that we 110 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:09,840 are not going to be the one who was on the outside enthusiastic 111 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,960 with an admirer attitude, that we're going to be the follower 112 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:18,360 that has an adherent devotion to Jesus Christ. 113 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,680 It was Dietrich Bonhoeffer who once said these words in his 114 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,280 book, The Cost of Discipleship. He said when Christ calls a man, 115 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:32,280 he bids him come and die. And being a follower of Jesus is 116 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,320 not just about you going to church. 117 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,840 Being a follower of Jesus is not that you just raised your hand 118 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,840 during an altar call. Being a follower of Jesus is not 119 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,000 that. You have three different Bibles 120 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,440 and three different versions, and you've highlighted all of 121 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,160 them. Being a follower of Jesus Christ 122 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:53,800 is not just you. You were singing the worship 123 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,360 song. Being a follower of Jesus is not 124 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,400 that you just attended VBS or being a follower of Jesus isn't 125 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:04,040 just meaning that you wear Christian witness T-shirts. 126 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,920 Being a follower of Jesus is not that you dissed Harry Potter and 127 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:13,400 you loved Lord of the Rings. Being a follower of Jesus is not 128 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,680 that. You just kissed dating goodbye 129 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,480 and now you're giving yourself to every religious worldview of 130 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,360 that's around you. You see, being a follower of 131 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:26,960 Jesus is you are willing to give all of your heart because he 132 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:32,480 gave all of his life for you. And I am coming to a spot in my 133 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:38,080 life where the words of Paul are ringing true ever so much in my 134 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,960 heart that I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer 135 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:47,320 I who live, but Christ lives in me. 136 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:51,120 And the life that I now live, I live by faith and the Son of God 137 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:55,680 who gave himself for me. I believe in what Paul said, 138 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,160 that we have crucified the flesh with its passions and its evil 139 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,840 desires. I believe what Paul said in 140 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:07,480 Romans chapter 12 verse one, that we present our bodies as 141 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:11,720 living sacrifices. Listen, it's his way, it's his, 142 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:16,000 His word, it's his worth. Out of nine years. 143 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:20,160 We exist to reach people where they are AT and to connect them 144 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:25,320 to everything that God has for their life in Christ Jesus. 145 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:30,240 In light of all of that, I love what Mr. Dahan said. 146 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,240 He said to come to Christ will cost you nothing, to follow 147 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:38,640 Christ will cost you something, but to serve Christ, it will 148 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:42,480 cost you everything. And so I asked ask you today, 149 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:46,760 are you just a fan or will you be a follower of Jesus Christ 150 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,960 because he has promised that you will make it through. 151 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:53,040 The question is not that you will get through. 152 00:09:53,280 --> 00:09:58,840 The question is, is will you be faithful to get through what God 153 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,440 has called you into? You see, when we come to Matthew 154 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,520 chapter 14, Matthew chapter 14 preaches a very amazing message 155 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:13,400 to us that Jesus is faithful. Still in Matthew chapter 14 is a 156 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,960 story in your Bible that you have often read on many 157 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,760 occasions. You've not only read the story, 158 00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:24,400 you've actually seen the story laid out for some of us on felt 159 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:27,920 board, for some of us through Veggie Tales, for some of us 160 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,400 through Christian cartoons, whatever it might be. 161 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,360 You've seen this story played out. 162 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:37,440 And here's what happens when we're familiar with stories in 163 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:40,720 the Bible. We commit a crime as a Christian 164 00:10:40,720 --> 00:10:45,520 and we begin to believe that God's Word can't teach us a new 165 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:49,160 thing. And so we begin often times to 166 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:55,040 gloss over the story. And what we often find is that 167 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:59,760 the breath of life in God's text has become dull to us because 168 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,400 the story has become so familiar to us. 169 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,920 So I want to ask you a question if you would just follow along 170 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,160 with me for a minute and that is this. 171 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,760 During the story Don't tune me out. 172 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,400 That was a good spot for an Amen. 173 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,000 You have heard the story. You've seen the storm. 174 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:23,560 You have heard the voice calling you out of the boat, out of your 175 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:27,520 security, and into the wild waves of your calling. 176 00:11:28,520 --> 00:11:34,360 And will you be faithful still to all that God has for you? 177 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,600 Now, I believe in the story that we're in today is that God 178 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:44,200 allows us to have three mindsets in the midst of the story As we 179 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,200 talk about being faithful still to what God has for us, I 180 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,720 believe there is for some of us in here. 181 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:55,640 We could have the crowd mindset. We can have the crown mindset 182 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,560 when it comes to the storm. The crowd mindset is this 183 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:03,280 immediately Jesus made his disciples in verse 22 of your 184 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:08,640 Bible get into the boat and go before him to the other side 185 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:12,240 while he sent the multitudes away. 186 00:12:12,440 --> 00:12:15,920 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up on a 187 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:20,560 mountain by himself to pray and when evening had come he was 188 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:25,800 alone there. The crowd mindset, notice in the 189 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:31,520 context of our Scripture, Jesus is just fed the 5000. 190 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:33,840 He has taken a little boy's lunch. 191 00:12:33,840 --> 00:12:36,880 Can you imagine, moms, you've made lunch for your little boy 192 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:40,760 and all of a sudden they present their lunch to Jesus and Jesus 193 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:44,720 blesses it and he breaks it and the disciples distribute it. 194 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:50,200 They feed over 5000 men, not counting women and children. 195 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:54,760 And in the context, this is a very popular setting. 196 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:59,840 This is a very engaging time that this is a moment where this 197 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:04,240 little boy, it must have been just in awe of who Jesus is. 198 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,080 This is a moment where everyone's tummy is full, 199 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:14,320 everyone's heart is happy. Everyone's looking at Jesus 200 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:20,360 saying, will you be our king? And it's in the midst of this 201 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:24,280 that Jesus takes his disciples immediately. 202 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:29,000 And he made his disciples get into the boat. 203 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:33,840 He separates his disciples from the crowd. 204 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:39,800 Why is this? It's oftentimes because what the 205 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:44,920 crowd wanted was popularity. What Jesus wanted was purpose. 206 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:51,000 And so in the midst of our story here is the multitude that's 207 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:57,760 mentioned to us once in verse 22 and also in verse 23. 208 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:04,760 This is thousands of people that are celebrating Jesus for all 209 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:09,480 the wrong reasons. And there is for us a great 210 00:14:09,480 --> 00:14:15,560 danger as a church and as our church grows, that we've become 211 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,600 in a risk of this where we become part of the crowd but not 212 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:26,280 really connected to the King. There's a danger for us in the 213 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:32,440 midst of all of our storms is that it's easy to hide in the 214 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,960 midst of a crowd. It's easy to hide in a big 215 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:41,040 church, but you are searched out in a small one. 216 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,680 And we like to put it this way, at Bridgetown Church, though we 217 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:47,880 might be small, we're going to love you large. 218 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,480 And you might have missed recently about 3 weeks and 219 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,080 someone comes up to you and asks you, where have you been? 220 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,000 I've been praying for you for the last three weeks. 221 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:04,880 Every single day. We pray that you might come in 222 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:08,160 here as a stranger, but you leave as family. 223 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,600 We pray that you have come to a place that you know that you can 224 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,800 hide, but you cannot be healed. We want you to come into a place 225 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,520 where you know that the love of God is for you, and that will be 226 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:26,760 expressed through His people. You see, here's the danger. 227 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,400 It's easy to appear as if you're connected, but you're still just 228 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:35,160 part of the crowd. There's a difference between the 229 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:38,720 crowd and the committed, and here it is. 230 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:43,360 The crowd takes what Jesus has. The committed stays for who 231 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,600 Jesus is. I'm going to say that again. 232 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:54,160 The crowd takes what Jesus has. The committed stay for who Jesus 233 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,840 is. The crowd mindset treats 234 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,720 Community Church like an automatic car wash. 235 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:07,000 I come, I shifted into neutral, I take my hands off the wheel, 236 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,920 and by the time I'm done, I better be all cleaned up for the 237 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,480 week ahead. No, no, no, no, no, no Listen, 238 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:19,560 listen. Commit yourself of Christ. 239 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,600 The invitation is to this when I talk about commitment at church. 240 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:28,600 Invest your time, your talents, your treasure into the House of 241 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,200 God so you will be transformed by the presence of God. 242 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,520 And in so doing you create disciplines and patterns and 243 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:39,880 habits in your pursuit of God. You see, the crowd just wanted 244 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,720 free food and all the things that came from His hand, but not 245 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,880 the discipline to stay close enough to see his face. 246 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:51,840 And I think the danger in the new year ahead of us as a church 247 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:55,080 is that we only want what Jesus has to give. 248 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,560 But we don't worship for who Jesus is. 249 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:02,040 And we can go through horrible times and terrible times. 250 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:05,960 In that terrible time, in bitterness of our own soul, we 251 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:09,760 distance ourselves from the God who created us and loved us. 252 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:16,319 You see, the crowd mindset brings us to a place where a lot 253 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:20,680 like Jesus, people want their pastor or someone that's a 254 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:24,880 spiritual leader in their life to cook the food, chew the food 255 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,560 for them, and prepare the food for them and bring the food to 256 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,200 their mouth. But here's what I want to 257 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:36,120 challenge you to do church. You have to feed yourself. 258 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:40,960 If we only come to be fed on Sunday mornings and we're 259 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,640 neglecting the Word of God throughout the week, I have not 260 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:49,960 done and fulfilled my calling. My calling is to point you to 261 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:55,120 Jesus and the authority of Scripture and what He wants to 262 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:57,880 give you. DCI could lead you to water, but 263 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:59,240 you're going to have to drink the water. 264 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,280 I could be the pastor where I, I, I, I, I have to fight the 265 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,880 urge of the crowd mindset because you have to realize 266 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:12,240 pastors sometimes can get into numbers but not into names. 267 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:19,600 And we could be all about that, which is big, but not really. 268 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:22,680 Live in the bigness and glory of God. 269 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,880 And I'm not saying that healthy things don't grow, but if I only 270 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,920 seek to build a big church without discipling the people in 271 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,280 the church, I've missed everything about what God has 272 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,800 called us to do. Did you see? 273 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,760 It's the crowd mindset. Where, where where you have to 274 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:47,480 realize that you have a story, you have some value to give, and 275 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:51,440 you have the opportunity to receive, but not just consume, 276 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:55,360 but to contribute to what God has for you. 277 00:18:55,360 --> 00:18:59,560 Can I just share this today? Free food doesn't birth strong 278 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:03,320 disciples. Free food doesn't birth strong 279 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:05,840 disciples. They were there when it was 280 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,760 good, but what about when it was hard? 281 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:12,120 Where was the crowd in the Garden of Gethsemane? 282 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,720 Where was the crowd when Jesus would be hanging upon a cross 283 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,040 and burying the sins of humanity? 284 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:24,880 Where was the crowd when Jesus was being beaten and suffering 285 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,240 on our behalf? Did you see? 286 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,920 Here is a great question for 2025. 287 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:32,240 Who's in your life because of the free food? 288 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:33,840 Or who's in your life because of you. 289 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:38,920 And this is important because the crowd mindset comes to a 290 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:43,040 place where you you can watch everything that's happening 291 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,720 around you. But what happens when the food 292 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:50,240 runs out? Jesus has fed the 5000 and he 293 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:54,240 sends his disciples away. Listen and he says to the 294 00:19:54,240 --> 00:20:00,400 people, get into the boat. Some people in the crowd. 295 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:07,720 Will stay until they disagree or they're offended, but this is 296 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:10,680 Jesus bringing his disciples to a new level. 297 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:15,920 I remember what Nimzi told us when she first came to 298 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,400 Bridgetown Church. She was our first convert. 299 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,560 She said. I came for the tacos, but I 300 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:31,280 stayed for Jesus. And we want you to come because 301 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,920 of the hamburgers, but we want you to stay for Jesus. 302 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,920 We want you to see that we love you and demonstrate hospitality, 303 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,840 but we want you to meet Jesus. We want you to know that he is 304 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:45,200 the only one that can forgive your sin. 305 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:50,400 Because I think a lot of times, I was at a high school once 306 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:54,280 preaching in it, a student said, hey, I got to go. 307 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:56,040 And I said no, no, no, you need to sit here. 308 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,760 He said, no, I'm just here for the free food. 309 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,240 I said, no, I have some food to give you that you'll never 310 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,120 hunger again. And I think we need to 311 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:06,680 understand that God brings us to a place where we will never 312 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,760 hunger again for the things of the world. 313 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:13,920 Will you be faithful still? And I believe we have an entire 314 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:19,080 generation of young people and older people who want to be fans 315 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:21,280 of Jesus, but not really followers of Jesus. 316 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,720 I think we live in a time in an age where people love what's 317 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,360 free, but they don't consider the cost. 318 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,760 We have a time where it might be a long time that we need to 319 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:37,040 follow Jesus, but we only want the good time to follow Jesus in 320 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:40,080 church. We come to a place, often times 321 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:44,120 in life, where church has high entertainment and low 322 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:48,480 discipleship, and I want to encourage us to press in to 323 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,440 multiply communities as a church. 324 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,960 I want to encourage us to come to a spot where we will have 325 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:58,720 deep formation as we follow after Jesus Christ. 326 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:02,600 Look what Jesus does. He's forming his disciples by 327 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:08,360 giving a separate and distinct identity apart from the crowd. 328 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,400 He separates them. No, Notice what he does. 329 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,440 This is what he does. Jesus could do more with 12 than 330 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:20,840 he could with 5000, and that is because of this. 331 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,720 It's not because of the size of the crowd, but the depth of 332 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,880 their commitment that will determine how God will use them. 333 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:35,520 So I ask you this question, will you be faithful still? 334 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:38,440 I just look at your neighbor and say I'm going to make it 335 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:43,040 through. Even when I'm not faithful, I'm 336 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:46,920 going to make it through because God's going to pull me through. 337 00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:50,040 I could have a crowd mindset or listen to this. 338 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:52,360 I could have a storm mindset in here. 339 00:22:52,720 --> 00:22:56,040 Listen to what happens in verse 23 through 26. 340 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,480 And when he had sent the multitudes away in Matthew 14, 341 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,000 he went up on a mountain by himself to pray. 342 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:04,600 And when evening had to come, he was alone. 343 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:10,040 The Bible says and but the boat was now in the middle of the 344 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:11,400 sea. Ever felt like you were in the 345 00:23:11,400 --> 00:23:15,160 middle? Jesus is not around. 346 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,360 Can I just give you one thing I've learned over the last nine 347 00:23:18,360 --> 00:23:19,800 years? I hope this helps you. 348 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,240 Jesus is silence doesn't mean his absence. 349 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:30,080 They're in the middle of the sea and notice what happens and 350 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:33,840 they're in the middle. They find themselves at the spot 351 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:38,440 tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 352 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,960 Now in the 4th watch of the night, Jesus went to them 353 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,960 walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him 354 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:48,080 walking on the sea, they were troubled saying it's a ghost. 355 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:52,800 And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to 356 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:56,080 them saying, be of good courage. It is. 357 00:23:56,080 --> 00:24:02,400 I do not be afraid. And then notice Jesus tells his 358 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:06,600 his men, get into the boat and I'm going to send you to the 359 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:10,520 other side. And when I send you to the other 360 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,960 side, I'll give you the destination, but I won't give 361 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:18,400 you your itinerary. I want to know the itinerary to 362 00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:21,880 the destination. Jesus doesn't give them the 363 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:26,440 itinerary because if some of us saw the itinerary, we wouldn't 364 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:30,360 want to get to the other side. And Jesus says, I'm going to, 365 00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:32,040 I'm going to get you to the other side. 366 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,720 And so here's the disciples all gathered together on a boat. 367 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,320 Jesus is up in a mountain and he's praying. 368 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,960 And here are the disciples and they're rowing. 369 00:24:40,960 --> 00:24:46,240 And the Bible says that they were in the middle of the sea. 370 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,720 They were too far to go back and they were too far to go ahead. 371 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,360 You ever been where you've just doubted that God really called 372 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:57,080 you into something? You ever been in a place where 373 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:00,760 you're like, I'm too far into this right now, but I, I want to 374 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:05,480 go back, but I, I can't, I want to be single again in my married 375 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,000 life. I can't. 376 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:10,480 I, I want to know, I don't want to finish college. 377 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,920 I'm right in the middle of this. I want, I'm too. 378 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:15,760 I'm like right in the middle of it all. 379 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:19,680 Now notice what happens. They were tossed by the waves. 380 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:25,480 The waves at this time could be upwards to 10 feet high. 381 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:35,360 And the Bible says notice this, they were going against the 382 00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:38,680 wind. The wind was contrary to how 383 00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:41,920 they were rowing. So notice this, it's dark 384 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:47,640 outside. The waves are high and the wind 385 00:25:47,640 --> 00:25:52,520 is against them. And notice what happens in the 386 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:57,160 midst of all of this. Jesus says in the beginning, 387 00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:05,200 I'll take you to the other side, but I'm stuck in the middle now. 388 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:10,880 When I hit the middle, I often forget the promise. 389 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,320 But the promise was not just about a place. 390 00:26:14,520 --> 00:26:19,040 The promise was about the process, and in the process of 391 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:23,600 what was happening, I could get this storm mentality. 392 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:29,760 And the storm mentality is this, that I measure the storm, but I 393 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:34,200 don't treasure Jesus. I measure the storm. 394 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:38,800 I'm consumed with the storm. I'm consumed with how big it is, 395 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,320 but I'm not consumed with how big Jesus is anymore. 396 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:49,080 And because now the waves are big, Jesus becomes small. 397 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:53,040 And I've seen too many people leave when they're right in the 398 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:58,800 middle of the storm because they aren't happy and because it just 399 00:26:58,960 --> 00:27:03,200 gets too hard. I don't know if you if you've 400 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:06,360 ever seen that in life where it's just been the middle has 401 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:09,520 been the most messiest place for you. 402 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,600 But I believe God is not just about blessing, He's about 403 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:16,040 testing. And if I want the blessing, I 404 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,200 actually have to go through the testing. 405 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:21,960 I'm stuck in this situation. Financially, I'm right in the 406 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:23,960 middle. Maritally, I'm right in the 407 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:27,480 middle as a single. I'm stuck in my Lyme's disease. 408 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:31,040 I'm stuck in this house. I'm stuck with these kids. 409 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:38,760 No one in here. I'm stuck in my depression. 410 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:43,920 I'm stuck in this anxiety. I'm stuck and I'm tossed up and 411 00:27:43,920 --> 00:27:48,000 down, up and down. The life that I live is contrary 412 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,080 to the life that I thought I would be living. 413 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:56,480 And the storm has come to me because of the will of God. 414 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:02,600 You're not outside of the will of God if you face a storm. 415 00:28:04,280 --> 00:28:08,960 These men were right in the middle of where Jesus told them 416 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,320 to be. And because they were right in 417 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:15,120 the middle, Jesus knew the storm was coming. 418 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:18,040 Yes. Did Jesus directly put them in 419 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:19,200 the storm? Yes. 420 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:23,560 They were safer in the storm, in God's will than on the land with 421 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,840 the crowd out of God's will. Can I just say this to you that 422 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:31,440 security is not found in your circumstances, It's found in 423 00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:36,280 your Savior. Can we just, it's hot outside. 424 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:39,000 It doesn't have to be too cold in here. 425 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,000 If you feel like the preaching is good today, just say Amen a 426 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:46,400 little bit. But listen, listen, I can't 427 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:50,360 follow when the heat is on and the rain's coming down and the 428 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:56,000 sun is not shining. Listen, God forms us in the 429 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:59,360 storm. God forms us in the storm. 430 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:02,480 And I'm going to make it through. 431 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:09,640 I'm I'm going to make it through according to the text, I'm going 432 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:13,720 to make it through. Jesus knew where they were, 433 00:29:14,000 --> 00:29:18,080 Jesus saw where they were, and Jesus went to where they were. 434 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:24,040 You see, being formed so our faith will not fail is in the 435 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:28,760 midst oftentimes of the storm. The storm does not mean that God 436 00:29:28,760 --> 00:29:32,560 is mad at them, or that you messed up or that things won't 437 00:29:32,560 --> 00:29:35,680 get better. It just means you're human. 438 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,920 And in all of this, God makes his present most felt when life 439 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:45,960 seems the most difficult. And it's in this place where 440 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:49,520 Jesus arrives. Now Mark tells us that Jesus was 441 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,640 about to pass them by. How cruel. 442 00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:56,200 I I was reading this this week. Like how what it was Jesus 443 00:29:56,200 --> 00:30:00,200 joking with them like the Bible, Mark said that Jesus was about 444 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:05,800 to pass them by. What was he's like, hey guys, I 445 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:10,200 see you there. I'm in the light and there you 446 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:13,440 are in the midst of everything right now, and I see you there, 447 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:17,360 but I'm about to pass you by. I think sometimes we read that 448 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:21,360 like, God, you did pass me by. God, you put me here. 449 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:27,840 God, you're punishing me. God, this is too hard and this 450 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,280 is what happens. I think we missed the connection 451 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:34,360 when Mark said that Jesus was about to pass them by. 452 00:30:34,680 --> 00:30:41,040 What he was doing was tying Exodus chapter 3 to Mark chapter 453 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:46,960 6 because when Moses wanted to see the glory of the Lord, the 454 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:52,400 Bible says that God told Moses to hide his face and the glory 455 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:57,360 of God pass by him. What the reality of the text is 456 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:03,840 teaching us is this is that in the storm, it wasn't just about 457 00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:07,360 the revelation of the disciples, It was about the revelation of 458 00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,120 Jesus. You see, in the midst of the 459 00:31:10,120 --> 00:31:14,160 storm, the disciples would believe during this historical 460 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:19,440 time that storms were created by evil spirits and demonic forces. 461 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:26,200 And here is Jesus trampling over the one thing that was causing 462 00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:31,120 them fear. And sometimes in the midst of 463 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:35,560 the storm, I want to be safe more than I want to see Jesus. 464 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:39,840 This is happening at the Bible says that the 4th watch of the 465 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:44,160 night. This is 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM just 466 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:50,960 before the breaking of the dawn. And it's here in this moment 467 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:57,080 that the size of the waves and the gust of the winds that have 468 00:31:57,080 --> 00:32:02,400 Hanford the reality of life for the disciples. 469 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:05,200 But this is just before the breaking of the dawn. 470 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:10,040 And here Jesus, the Bible says he presents themself and notice 471 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:11,960 what they did. They cried out for fear. 472 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:16,320 It's a ghost and they cry out for fear. 473 00:32:16,840 --> 00:32:21,000 And notice what Jesus does? He doesn't condemn them. 474 00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:26,960 He doesn't say, oh come on guys, didn't you just see I fed 5000 475 00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,880 people. He doesn't go to the disciples 476 00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:34,680 and say what you guys thinking? Notice Jesus's words 477 00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:38,240 immediately. Jesus spoke to them saying be of 478 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:48,520 good courage, be of good courage, be of good courage, be 479 00:32:48,720 --> 00:32:50,840 of good courage. Why? 480 00:32:51,160 --> 00:32:53,880 I could have a crown crowd mindset, I could have a storm 481 00:32:53,880 --> 00:32:57,560 mindset, but I also can have a boat mindset. 482 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,960 No, no, no. Notice this, Jesus, there's a 483 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:05,160 difference between you being in a storm and a storm having you. 484 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:12,960 And I truly believe there's a difference in our lives where we 485 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,800 need to hear the first thing and see the first thing that Jesus 486 00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:18,920 does. Jesus doesn't speak to the 487 00:33:18,920 --> 00:33:21,720 storm. He actually speaks to the 488 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,560 disciples who have a storm within them. 489 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:29,360 And notice what Jesus doesn't do first. 490 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:34,320 He doesn't fix the problem. He doesn't bail them out. 491 00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:36,800 He speaks directly to their heart. 492 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:42,360 And Jesus speaking directly to their heart as he's walking on 493 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:47,400 the water, He tells them be of good cheer, take courage. 494 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:51,520 He says, be of good courage, it is I. 495 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:58,080 And do not be afraid. No, notice this, that the term 496 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:02,200 be of good cheer and take courage means to radiate courage 497 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:05,160 from your inner life. And notice what he does. 498 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,840 He first doesn't rebuke the storm. 499 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:10,920 He rebukes their fear in the midst of the storm. 500 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:15,920 Because if I don't first deal with my fear in the storm, I'll 501 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:18,760 get into another storm and do the same thing. 502 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:24,159 And so Jesus brings them back to this place where he rebukes 503 00:34:24,280 --> 00:34:29,400 their fear and says it is, I notice this, his presence, do 504 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:30,880 not be afraid. They're panic. 505 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:35,440 It's the presence of Jesus that diminishes the panic of men and 506 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:41,760 women because He is the author of peace and the perfector of 507 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:45,000 our own souls. No, notice this. 508 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,400 Being afraid is normal. It's a human response. 509 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:50,639 But carrying a spirit of fear is different. 510 00:34:51,360 --> 00:34:54,159 Carrying an attitude of this fear is different, and that is 511 00:34:54,159 --> 00:34:56,920 this is it. Your fear dominates everything 512 00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:59,320 about you. In Second Timothy chapter one, 513 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,520 verse 7, the Bible says that God has not given you a spirit of 514 00:35:02,520 --> 00:35:07,480 fear, but of love and power and a sound mind. 515 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:10,520 Will you just remember this as we celebrate today? 516 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:19,320 Will you remember this today that storms in your life, they 517 00:35:19,320 --> 00:35:21,040 don't change you, they just reveal you. 518 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:27,600 And I think sometimes we could blame things on our storm, but 519 00:35:27,600 --> 00:35:30,960 what the storm does is it just reveals what's already on the 520 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:35,960 inside of your heart. And that can only be worked 521 00:35:35,960 --> 00:35:41,280 through if what's revealed is no longer concealed, but confessed. 522 00:35:42,280 --> 00:35:48,240 And what God does in the midst of this is he takes our fear and 523 00:35:48,240 --> 00:35:54,480 he brings it up to his presence. And that is this God taking what 524 00:35:54,480 --> 00:35:58,080 is impossible and making it possible. 525 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:01,040 But here's the boat mentality. And that is this. 526 00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:04,800 I could stay in the boat in all of my I fear, or I can walk in 527 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:08,680 courage. Listen, this is what happens. 528 00:36:08,920 --> 00:36:12,120 Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it's you, command me to 529 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:14,680 come to you on the waves and on the water. 530 00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:17,840 And so he said, come. And when Peter had come down out 531 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:20,640 of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 532 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:22,840 Listen. But when he saw that the wind 533 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:26,360 was boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink. 534 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,200 He cried out saying, Lord, save me. 535 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:31,920 Notice his cry. And immediately Jesus stretched 536 00:36:31,920 --> 00:36:35,040 out his hand, and he caught him and said to him, Oh, you have 537 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:39,960 little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, 538 00:36:39,960 --> 00:36:43,760 when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 539 00:36:43,880 --> 00:36:47,040 And then those who were in the boat came and worshipped him, 540 00:36:47,040 --> 00:36:51,880 saying, truly, you are the Son of God. 541 00:36:51,880 --> 00:36:54,400 Can you imagine the disciples with Peter? 542 00:36:55,600 --> 00:36:57,240 I'd have told Peter, like Peter, be quiet. 543 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:03,560 Peter's like, Hey, Lord, if it's you, command me to be out of 544 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:07,320 this boat right now. All the disciples now in fear. 545 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:09,880 They wanted to be safe. They wanted to be dry. 546 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:12,840 They wanted to be comfortable. They wanted to be reassured, not 547 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:14,480 controversial. Don't ever say anything 548 00:37:14,480 --> 00:37:17,960 controversial as a pastor because the word of God goes 549 00:37:17,960 --> 00:37:19,520 against some things of our culture. 550 00:37:20,600 --> 00:37:24,480 I would rather join Jesus in the waves than stay in the boat with 551 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:28,040 fear. I would rather, through this 552 00:37:28,040 --> 00:37:32,080 journey of the last nine years, experience waves of revival 553 00:37:32,240 --> 00:37:34,200 rather than waves of just my own safety. 554 00:37:35,440 --> 00:37:42,760 I would rather in our church to walk out like Peter and put my 555 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:46,760 foot in the water, even though sometimes I might put my foot in 556 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:51,160 my mouth. I would rather a lot like Peter, 557 00:37:51,640 --> 00:37:56,480 find myself a little bit crazy, a little bit loud mouthed, a 558 00:37:56,480 --> 00:38:07,040 little bit more to say, Jesus, if it's you, we're going. 559 00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:12,280 If it's you, Lord, we're going. And you might be sitting into 560 00:38:12,280 --> 00:38:16,400 this place right now, and it might be that you are in the 561 00:38:16,400 --> 00:38:23,000 middle of some deep, dark storm that the Lord is calling you out 562 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:27,680 of the boat to take a step that you never thought He was going 563 00:38:27,680 --> 00:38:30,880 to call you to take. And that is upon water that you 564 00:38:30,880 --> 00:38:35,640 never thought you could walk on. But when Jesus is present, he 565 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:41,640 brings us to a place where the storm might come. 566 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:45,160 But I'm going to put my eyes on the Savior. 567 00:38:45,160 --> 00:38:48,680 And even though sometimes I feel like I'm dipping and drowning, 568 00:38:48,920 --> 00:38:54,240 I'm going to reach out my hand and say to the Lord, save me. 569 00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:57,640 Save me Now. Here's what I want you to 570 00:38:57,640 --> 00:39:00,400 remember as we close this out after nine years. 571 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:11,720 We can stay in the boat or we can walk on the water. 572 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:20,880 One person believes that nothing irritates religious people more 573 00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:23,680 than someone who leaves the boat of safety and is willing to get 574 00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:30,200 crazy for Jesus. If not us, then who? 575 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:35,880 If not now, then when? If not here in Glendora, then 576 00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:40,960 where the storm and the Savior are competing for one thing in 577 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:47,080 your life, your worship, the storm and the Savior competing 578 00:39:47,080 --> 00:39:50,520 for the same thing, and that is your worship. 579 00:39:50,880 --> 00:39:54,760 Will you be a fan or a follower of Jesus? 580 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:57,120 And I believe for some of you, it's time that you get out of 581 00:39:57,120 --> 00:39:59,760 that boat. For some of you, it's not just 582 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:02,200 time you get out of the boat. It's time that you stop 583 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:04,200 listening to maybe some people that are in the boat. 584 00:40:05,960 --> 00:40:09,000 Maybe it's time for you to cry out to God and see what God will 585 00:40:09,000 --> 00:40:13,360 do in your life. I don't know if you've ever met 586 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:15,320 a man by the name of Steele Johnson. 587 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:22,920 Steele Johnson didn't make it to the Olympics in 2020, but he did 588 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:26,560 make the Olympics in 2016, but in 2009. 589 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,920 Still, Johnson had a horrible accident. 590 00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:35,720 He was doing a dive, practicing a dive that was 30 feet up in 591 00:40:35,720 --> 00:40:39,720 the air, and while he was jumping, he hit his head on the 592 00:40:39,720 --> 00:40:44,920 diving board and he fell 30 feet unconscious into the water. 593 00:40:49,040 --> 00:40:56,200 Brain trauma, he began to forget all types of things about his 594 00:40:56,200 --> 00:41:00,840 life. And in this place, he decided to 595 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:04,480 do one thing and that was not to give up. 596 00:41:05,200 --> 00:41:13,320 In 2009, in 2016, he actually in 2016, he got the silver medal in 597 00:41:13,320 --> 00:41:19,160 Brazil for the Summer Games. But then now going for the 598 00:41:19,160 --> 00:41:23,600 Olympics in 2020, he was hindered by not a head injury, 599 00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:27,440 but a foot injury. And it was in this midst that 600 00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:32,280 despite this injury to his foot, despite all the surgeries and 601 00:41:32,280 --> 00:41:35,840 therapies that he did on his foot, it wouldn't heal quickly 602 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:38,880 enough, causing Johnson deep disappointment and financial 603 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:42,800 hardship. And he lost his spot in the 2020 604 00:41:42,800 --> 00:41:45,120 Olympics. And it was agonizing for him, he 605 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:50,640 writes. But this year on this year, 606 00:41:50,640 --> 00:41:53,720 excuse me, The Olympian, still Johnson took a deep dive into 607 00:41:53,720 --> 00:41:58,080 God's faithfulness long ago. Johnson, he was nearly killed 608 00:41:58,360 --> 00:42:01,320 unconscious. He eventually recovered and kept 609 00:42:01,320 --> 00:42:03,000 diving. But this is what Johnson told 610 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:08,040 his fans due to this injury. I don't understand the timing of 611 00:42:08,040 --> 00:42:12,880 this and may never know why the pain hit its critical point at 612 00:42:12,880 --> 00:42:17,320 the Olympic trials, but I know that God is good and that there 613 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:19,240 will be blessings in this decision. 614 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:22,800 Listen to what He says. My identity is rooted in who 615 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:27,160 Jesus says I am, and it might take me a while to fill 616 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:30,920 contentment, but I'm choosing to believe that the Lord is 617 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:35,560 faithful always. I'm choosing to believe that the 618 00:42:35,560 --> 00:42:40,520 Lord is faithful always. I'm choosing to believe over the 619 00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:43,520 injury of our marriage that the Lord is faithful always. 620 00:42:44,360 --> 00:42:47,240 I'm choosing to believe over the injury I feel like I've 621 00:42:47,240 --> 00:42:50,040 experienced through singleness that the Lord is faithful 622 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:52,400 always. I'm choosing to believe in the 623 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:55,600 diagnosis of cancer that the Lord is faithful always. 624 00:42:56,080 --> 00:42:59,080 I'm choosing to believe that in the pain of my depression, my 625 00:42:59,080 --> 00:43:02,480 anxiety, and my fear, that the Lord is faithful always. 626 00:43:02,680 --> 00:43:05,280 I'm choosing to believe with my children that the Lord is 627 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:09,040 faithful always. I'm choosing to believe to get 628 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,720 out of the boat and to walk on the water because the Lord is 629 00:43:13,720 --> 00:43:18,800 faithful always. And so I ask you today, knowing 630 00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:23,840 that Jesus came and he died on the cross for our sin, maybe 631 00:43:23,840 --> 00:43:27,160 you've bought into the gospel of Jesus, but you never really sold 632 00:43:27,160 --> 00:43:31,920 out for the gospel of Jesus. And in this nine year birthday 633 00:43:31,920 --> 00:43:37,520 party, I want to call the church to sell out for the gospel, to 634 00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:45,520 give in to Jesus, to get out of the boat and come and say, now 635 00:43:45,720 --> 00:43:50,960 me and here, Lord, meet me now meet me here. 636 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:55,000 And do this again, Lord, as I step out of the boat and out of 637 00:43:55,000 --> 00:43:57,600 my fear. And I want to call you to Jesus 638 00:43:57,600 --> 00:43:59,080 today. You might have never walked with 639 00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:00,720 him. You might have walked with Him a 640 00:44:00,720 --> 00:44:03,680 long time, but I want to call you to take a step out of that 641 00:44:03,680 --> 00:44:11,040 boat and experience the exhilarating power and presence 642 00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:15,200 of Jesus when you obey His command. 643 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:19,560 We hope you enjoyed this message and we'd love for you to join us 644 00:44:19,560 --> 00:44:21,720 in person every Sunday at 10:30 AM. 645 00:44:22,120 --> 00:44:24,120 For more information and updates, visit 646 00:44:24,120 --> 00:44:26,760 wearebridgetown.com. Thanks for tuning in and we'll 647 00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:27,560 see you next week.