1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:06,320 It's great to see you. Welcome. 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,120 We're doing a series through the book of John and I think Wendy 3 00:00:10,120 --> 00:00:15,680 did an amazing freaks last week. And so we're going to continue. 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:18,080 You probably think we're going to John 7, but we're not. 5 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:22,560 We're going to continue on John chapter 6 on walking on the 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,320 water. Amen. 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,240 And I want to thank somebody who bought me this cup with my name 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,800 on it, so none of you know what's inside of it. 9 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,480 And somebody bought me this hat with Ecclesiastes on it and said 10 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:41,720 it's the longest series they've ever been in the church. 11 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,840 So you'll see. Ecclesiastes, I want to thank 12 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:45,920 you for your deep interest in my well-being. 13 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:50,720 It's very, very kind of you. The man who bought me this hat 14 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,760 has just won the Lotto and this is all I got. 15 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:58,680 But I'm going to highlight him next week. 16 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,760 We're going to have a light on him and he'd like to share his 17 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,200 proceeds. He's bit torn by his gambling 18 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,640 habit. He's very torn, in fact, by his 19 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,400 name's Lawrence. He's setting up this big guy and 20 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,560 he's quite guilty because he's a Christian and he's a gambler. 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:14,160 But but but he's won the lottery. 22 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,320 He bought me this hat and he'd like to share his money with 23 00:01:16,320 --> 00:01:18,160 you. So just ask for a guy called 24 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,080 Lawrence, got tattoos. He's got a beautiful wife. 25 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:22,680 He's not that beautiful. But just ask him to share his 26 00:01:22,680 --> 00:01:24,240 money with you. He might buy you a hat. 27 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:30,600 OK, good to have you back, Stephen and Kath. 28 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,960 So let's have a look at John chapter 6 and verse 16. 29 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:40,880 When evening came, say evening, his disciples went down to the 30 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:45,480 lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for 31 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:50,200 Capernaum. By now it was dark, say dark, 32 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,320 and Jesus had not yet joined them. 33 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:56,440 How many of you feel like that sometimes in your life? 34 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:01,560 We kind of go on these journeys in the dark without Jesus. 35 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,320 Scary. And probably here today, there 36 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,720 are people who are on journeys in the dark without Jesus. 37 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,960 And I'm a pastor and everybody says all you worry about is 38 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,760 advocates and important people. Most of my life is spent with 39 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:20,560 people who are in boats and dark places without Jesus. 40 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,760 That's where most of my life is spent with actually just people 41 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,760 that are really panicking in their lives going through tough 42 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,040 times and I'm a pastor to those people. 43 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:37,240 Mostly. A strong wind was blowing and 44 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,680 the waters grew rough. How many of you feel like that 45 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,800 right now? A strong wind was blowing and 46 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:50,680 the waters grew rough. And when they had rode 3 and a 47 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,920 half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on 48 00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:59,320 the water, and they were terrified by the water or by 49 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:01,720 Jesus. They were fishermen. 50 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:08,360 They knew about storms. But he said to them, it is I 51 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:15,080 don't be afraid. If you take Siri and you go 52 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,400 Siri, how many times in the Bible does it say do not be 53 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:24,680 afraid, Don't do it now. But the answer will be 365 54 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:37,240 times. Just think about that tomorrow. 55 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,640 Siri, how many times does the Bible say do not be afraid? 56 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:47,040 Monday? How many times Tuesday do not be 57 00:03:47,040 --> 00:03:49,040 afraid for every day of the year. 58 00:03:51,600 --> 00:03:53,640 Then they were willing. They were willing to take him 59 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,560 into the boat. Now I would also be and 60 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,960 immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 61 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,560 You've got to read sometimes in different versions. 62 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,720 So let's read it in the book of Mark, the same account. 63 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:13,000 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and 64 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,440 go on ahead of him to bedsider. So you've got to ask the 65 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:18,079 question. You can keep the scriptures up. 66 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,040 Did they just get in the boat and Jesus went to pray, or did 67 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,400 Jesus put them in the boats? And the first point is simply 68 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,080 this. Jesus sent them. 69 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,560 And while everybody has been panicking about the Dolenberg 70 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:34,760 family, I'm absolutely theologically convinced and have 71 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:38,000 been since the day that lockdown happened, that God sent them to 72 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,680 the Middle East. God knew about the missiles. 73 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,280 God knew about the war. God knew about Donald Trump's 74 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:46,560 decision. And he never, ever spoke to them 75 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,760 at night in the vision and said, don't go to the Middle East 76 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,040 because it's going to be dangerous. 77 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,600 God said to them, go to the Middle East because it's going 78 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:56,760 to be dangerous. You understand that? 79 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,320 And I think we have a theology that says if I come to Christ, I 80 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,920 will avoid all the storms. I'm telling you, if you come to 81 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:05,240 Christ, He will send you into storms. 82 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,760 It's absolutely essential for our growth and our maturity. 83 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:17,000 There are 5000 people or we say 5000 men with women, 20,000 84 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:25,680 people and 19,988. He sends away and says go home. 85 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,520 But you 12 guys, I'm going to send you into the middle of a 86 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,800 storm and instead of feeling like you're being affected by 87 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:35,800 that, you should say thank you God for trusting me enough 88 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,040 because there's something that you want to do in my life by 89 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,160 sending me into a storm because you're going to teach me 90 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,240 something that's going to help other Christians. 91 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:49,000 I've absolutely I never feared once I prayed, I cried, I got on 92 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,080 my knees for the dollar bid, but not once that I feared because 93 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:56,520 as I was reading the scripture, God says do not be afraid. 94 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:02,440 The safest place for Daniel was to be in the lion's den because 95 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,480 God wanted him in the lion's den. 96 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,920 And the safest place for the Dolenbergs was to be in the 97 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,720 Middle East because God wanted them in the Middle East. 98 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,320 Amen. You've got to understand that 99 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,120 I've seen people get sick, I've seen people get hurt, I've seen 100 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,080 people get killed. I've I've done funeral after 101 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,160 funeral and somehow in the midst of that storm, we've got to 102 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:26,360 believe that Jesus is doing something. 103 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,320 There are all sorts of storms. Jonah created his own storm. 104 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,960 Jonah's storm was a storm of disobedience. 105 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:38,560 And sometimes if you commit adultery, your marriage will hit 106 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,120 a storm. They think what I must do about 107 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:41,720 that. Rory. 108 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,400 Well, I'll tell you what Jesus did when they asked him for a 109 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:46,920 sign, he said, I will give you no sign. 110 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,680 The storm that Jonah was in was a storm of disobedience. 111 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:54,120 And when they said to Jesus, give us a sign, he said, I'll 112 00:06:54,120 --> 00:06:57,120 give you no sign, but the sign of Jonah that even when he went 113 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,920 through his own storm, he redeemed Jonah for his 114 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:02,960 disobedience storm. He can take your disobedience 115 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,680 storm and link it to his storm and bring redemption to your 116 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,080 life. That's phenomenal. 117 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,960 While he dismissed the crowd after leaving them, he went on 118 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:17,480 the mountainside to pray. You think who was he praying 119 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:18,480 for? Just keep the scriptures up. 120 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:23,520 He went to pray. Stephen called us to pray. 121 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,440 Every time John the Baptist was was was killed, Jesus went to 122 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:28,920 pray. He doesn't go to the source of 123 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,480 pain, He goes to the source of healing. 124 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,600 He feeds the 5000 immediately goes to pray. 125 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:37,840 He has to deal with pressure. He tries to deal with his, his, 126 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,160 his diary, it says very early in the morning, while it was still 127 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:42,680 dark, Jesus got up, went to a solitary place, left the house 128 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,840 and he prayed. His disciples came to him and 129 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,000 said, everybody's looking for you. 130 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:47,280 He says, good, let's go somewhere else. 131 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:51,000 His, his diary was set by pray and our lives are set by our 132 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,360 Diaries and we're running ourselves absolutely stupid and 133 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:56,600 wondering why we can't cope when times get tough. 134 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:00,760 So he goes on the mountainside to pray. 135 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:10,160 He sends them into a storm. When evening came, the boat was 136 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:12,400 in the middle of the lake and he was alone on land. 137 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,360 He saw the disciples straining at the oars. 138 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:21,920 How you doing guys? The only says in the ESV Bible. 139 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:24,560 I don't like the ESV Bible. So it says in the ESP Bible. 140 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:28,920 He saw them painfully making headway. 141 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:34,520 This is how the mathematics works. 142 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,880 In the 4th watch of the night, Jesus goes out to him. 143 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:42,600 They've rode 3 1/2 miles. It's about 5 kilometers in nine 144 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,720 hours. That is 500 meters an hour. 145 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:52,840 They've got big trouble. And you think I'm straining at 146 00:08:52,840 --> 00:08:56,960 the oars, I'm straining at the oars, I'm straining at the oars, 147 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,160 I'm straining at the oars. And you know what the Bible 148 00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:03,640 says? He saw them say he saw them 149 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:05,480 today. What? 150 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:07,080 I would have 4 points. He sent them. 151 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:15,320 He saw them, He settled them, and he sheltered them. 152 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:19,760 He sent them. He saw them, he settled them and 153 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:25,520 he sheltered them. I want to say this to you, even 154 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:29,680 if you don't feel like you can see God, I want to tell you 155 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:30,760 this. God can see you. 156 00:09:32,560 --> 00:09:37,840 God can see you. Many years ago I preached the 157 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:39,800 scripture, but I went away with my two children. 158 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:42,680 I only had two then, but I went away with my two children. 159 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:45,840 I said to my wife, I want to find the phrase that my children 160 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:51,040 use the most on a whole holiday. We went to the sea and I wanted 161 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:52,320 to know the phrase they used the most. 162 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:53,960 This is the phrase they used the most. 163 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,640 Look, Dad. Watch me, Dad. 164 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:03,720 Watch me dad dive in, watch me dead dive in, watch me dead, 165 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,600 catch a wave, watch me dead, watch me dead, watch me dead, 166 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,240 watch me dead and the way the devil works, he says. 167 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:13,240 I'll take it away and you'll feel unbelievably isolated. 168 00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:18,800 Nobody's watching you. I've watched 4 rugby matches in 169 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,560 the last four weeks, 2 by one son and two by the other son and 170 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:25,560 they've lost all four. It's not great watching a losing 171 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,720 rugby match. I'm watching you. 172 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:36,320 Are they feeling bad? They leave me here. 173 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:45,520 I saw yesterday one of my sons hurt his ankle, strapped it up. 174 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:47,920 Their team were losing. But you know what he wanted to 175 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,080 do? He wanted to know whether his 176 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:52,280 father was watching him or not. He looked through all the crowd, 177 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,120 looked through all the crowd. And then once he could see my 178 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:59,360 eyes, he was OK. And once they had their team 179 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:02,120 talk, his brothers were there, his sister was there, his mother 180 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,320 was there, everybody was there. But he wanted to see into my 181 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,200 eyes. I want to tell you, whatever 182 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:15,320 storm you're in, however rough it is, he sees you. 183 00:11:17,080 --> 00:11:24,200 He sees you, he's watching you. Psalm 121 says He watches my 184 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,480 coming and going both now and forevermore. 185 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:32,320 He watches my coming and going both now and forevermore. 186 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:41,240 Let's go back to the Scripture. He saw the disciples straining 187 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,160 at the oars because the wind was against them about the fourth 188 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,440 watch of the night. The first watch is 6 to 9. 189 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:52,680 The second watch is 9 to 12. The third watch is 12 to three. 190 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:57,160 The 4th watch is 3 to 6. You say, Lord God, how long is 191 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,840 it going to take? As long as it's necessary for 192 00:11:59,840 --> 00:12:02,320 you to realize that you're not in control of your life. 193 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,840 As long as it takes for you to realize that you're not in 194 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:10,360 control of your life. He's just fed the 5000. 195 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,400 They've got 12 basket fulls of food. 196 00:12:14,680 --> 00:12:18,280 It's just as absolute abundance. And when God is providing for 197 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:23,360 me, it's absolutely remarkable, but I can't build the church on 198 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:26,280 that. When there's abundance in the 199 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,040 church and there's people and there's money and there's it's 200 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:31,720 so easy to build the church, but I have to build the church 201 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:36,480 knowing that in the midst of the storm, he's still with us. 202 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:40,800 He's still with us. And I've seen so many people 203 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:43,560 give up on a God that they don't even know because they think the 204 00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:46,880 God they know will never put them into any form of danger, 205 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:51,200 toil or strife. He said, but Rory, what about 206 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,120 the storm that they were in regards said be still in the 207 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:53,920 storm. Calm down. 208 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,760 That also happens, but this also happens. 209 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,560 He wants to raise disciples. He wants to raise disciples. 210 00:13:02,560 --> 00:13:05,760 People that represent him, that can handle hard times without 211 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,400 throwing their toys out the cart in the 4th watch of the night. 212 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,120 Maybe you're sitting now and it's changing, but you think 213 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:13,840 God, first watch, you weren't there. 214 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:15,120 God second watch, He sells there. 215 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:17,120 The whole time I was on the mountain praying, you can't see 216 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,000 me because the wind and the storm were So what? 217 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,160 But I was watching you. I was sitting with you. 218 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,400 I'm dealing with you. I'm trying to tell you you're 219 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:32,680 not in control of your life. He was about to pass by them. 220 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,200 They pass by. Just say pass by. 221 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,840 You think Gee God, that's you're not such a cool God. 222 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:47,080 We had trouble when you pass by. OK for a CUM 1000 Rand voucher 223 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,600 or maybe a ticket to Nampur Nampur. 224 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,160 Can you tell me why that pass by is there? 225 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:04,880 Look at it, look at the words. Why? 226 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:13,960 Why would Jesus pass by them? CEM 1000 bucks and buy the 227 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,920 latest CDO. We don't do CDs anymore. 228 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,120 Why was it there? He wanted to ignore them. 229 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,480 He wanted to ignore them intentionally. 230 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,080 Intentionally. With the Manchester United 231 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:27,520 jersey on. Don't sit next to your friend, 232 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:30,840 Brooke. I'll sit next to him, enjoying 233 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:34,040 the, the, the, the the gathering of stupidity. 234 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:39,040 Your, your your mate. Let them know he's there. 235 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,960 Hey, to let them know he's there. 236 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,880 Why? They don't have to be. 237 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:47,720 They're not alone. They're not alone. 238 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:49,440 But but, but, but if you're alone, they pass by. 239 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,760 Why? Well, think about, just think. 240 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:54,240 You've got to you've got to understand the Bible to 241 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,080 understand the story. So think why? 242 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,120 Why? Can you imagine if Stephen and 243 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:04,480 Kathy are sitting in the Middle East and I've got one of the 244 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:07,280 things on him? They got a flat out from Doha on 245 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,720 Thursday and just as they're about to leave for the airport, 246 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,000 3 bombs exploded over their heads. 247 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,640 And you think and Jesus just turned his head and passed by. 248 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,160 Thank God. What kind of God would that be? 249 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:32,280 Let's go to Exodus 33. Moses said, please show me your 250 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,200 glory. And he said, I will make all my 251 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,280 goodness pass before you, and I'll proclaim before you my name 252 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,400 the Lord, and I'll be gracious to him. 253 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,080 I'll be gracious, I'll sow mercy on who must. 254 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:45,320 But he said, you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me 255 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,800 and live. And the Lord said, Behold, there 256 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:50,880 is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock while my glory 257 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:55,400 passes by, and I'll put you in the cleft of the rock, and I 258 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,840 will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 259 00:15:58,840 --> 00:16:01,560 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but 260 00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:02,960 my face shall not be seen. Let's go. 261 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:08,600 Exodus 34 And the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there 262 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,800 with him and proclaimed his name the Lord and he the Axel wording 263 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:15,720 is passed by in front of Moses proclaiming the Lord the Lord, 264 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:19,400 the compassionate and gracious God slow to anger, abounding in 265 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:21,480 love and faithfulness, maintaining love, 2000s 266 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,880 forgiving wickedness, rebellions and keep that there. 267 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:26,600 You know what friends he didn't pass by like to miss them. 268 00:16:26,760 --> 00:16:28,800 He passed by to show them his glory. 269 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,000 He passed by to show him his glory. 270 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,000 And so the storm that some of us are in are storms of sin. 271 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:39,640 And we go deep down, deep down, right at the bottom when we down 272 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:45,160 think, God, would you save me? And he comes past compassionate 273 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,720 and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, forgiving 274 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:53,440 wickedness, rebellion and sin. And they get this hope in the 275 00:16:53,440 --> 00:17:02,040 middle of the storm. You know Psalm 29 says, let's 276 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:07,400 see what Psalm 29 says, ascribe to the Lord Almighty ones, 277 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,599 ascribe to the Lord glory in strength, ascribe to the Lord, 278 00:17:09,599 --> 00:17:12,000 glory to his name, worship the Lord in the splendor of His 279 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,240 Holiness. The voice of the Lord is over 280 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:20,119 the waters, the God of glory. Imagine I just got to just think 281 00:17:20,119 --> 00:17:21,599 of this. I'm talking to you in storms 282 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:33,480 when rough seas storm Bah, Bah do not be afraid. 283 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,200 Do not be afraid. No, the Bible says his voice 284 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,600 thunders so when God said do not be afraid, he didn't stole the 285 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:43,640 storm and say do not be afraid his voice was above the storm. 286 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,240 Amen. Brilliant say God of glory. 287 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,640 This is what Exodus says. Lord God, do not send us up from 288 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,160 here unless your glory goes with us for what will distinguish us 289 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,640 from everybody else on the and the way we find God's glory is 290 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:02,960 in the storm, not when we see the feeding of the 5000. 291 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:06,880 It's in the storm. And I want to say to you, 292 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:10,680 friends, and I don't want to say this to Stephen because because 293 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:14,400 he is mature, but what God has put the Dolenberg through right 294 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,560 now is to see God's glory in the midst of the storm so that they 295 00:18:18,560 --> 00:18:22,200 can come back and teach people who are in storms not to panic. 296 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:26,040 Because the voice of the Lord is louder than the storm. 297 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:29,480 His voice is over the storm and everybody saying stop the storm, 298 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:31,320 stop the storm. He says, my voice is above the 299 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:31,960 storm. Excellent. 300 00:18:36,080 --> 00:18:37,880 So I'm 107, please stay with me. Amen. 301 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:40,640 You should be being deeply challenged. 302 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,600 No, you should be. You should be being because I 303 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:49,360 tell you what, I sit in my office, friends, many times and 304 00:18:49,360 --> 00:18:52,440 I weep with people going through storms and I'm thinking God is 305 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:57,720 making you a disciple. And if I pulled out the fish and 306 00:18:57,720 --> 00:18:59,560 bread, you'll say, hey, God is good. 307 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,880 Actually, let's go back to Mark chapter 6. 308 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:11,400 We'll come back to Psalm 107. Let's go to verse 51. 309 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:14,520 Look there, He says. Then he climbed into the boat 310 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:17,000 with them and the wind died down. 311 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,400 Remember, he's already passed by. 312 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:23,040 They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about 313 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,960 the loaves because their hearts were hardened. 314 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,960 Can you imagine feeding 20,000 people and still not 315 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:37,520 understanding God? 20,000 people and still not 316 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,880 understanding God? So God says, OK, I'm going to 317 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,480 have to get your attention another way. 318 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,720 You 12 go there, you 20,000 go there, and you guys are going to 319 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,240 go and find out about me and the fourth watch of the night. 320 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:52,160 I'm a faithful God, I'm in control, and you actually don't 321 00:19:52,160 --> 00:20:00,480 have the solution. Psalm 107, please. 322 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,560 Others went out on the sea and ships. 323 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:08,440 They were merchants on the mighty waters. 324 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,600 They saw the works of the Lord. His wonderful deeds in the deep, 325 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:17,800 for he spoke and stirred up a Tempest that lifted higher the 326 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:18,880 waves. Who did that? 327 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,560 Who did that? Who did it? 328 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,360 God did it. So don't sit here and and and 329 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:33,600 blame a God that is putting you through a process of maturity 330 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:40,000 and say, Hey God, where are you? He will come, I don't know what 331 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:41,520 what she will come on but he will come. 332 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:50,680 I never had this story in my notes but many of you might not 333 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,000 know the story but I was trying to lose weight and I've got 334 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:56,320 issues with my head and I was cycling with one of my fat 335 00:20:56,320 --> 00:21:00,200 Afrikaans friends. Fat English guy and a fat 336 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,000 Afrikaans guy. We finished cycling, used to 337 00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:04,960 shake my bicycles handle and say well done bicycle for carrying 338 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:12,600 that fat English guy. But I broke my pubic bone. 339 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,080 I went over a thing and I broke my pubic bone and I was too 340 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:17,760 embarrassed to go and see the doctor. 341 00:21:18,360 --> 00:21:23,400 So I ended up with a major, major infection that landed me 342 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,720 in a urinary hospital that had no space in the men's section. 343 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:33,520 So I was in the women's section of a urinary hospital, and I 344 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:39,120 felt like I was in the deepest, darkest storm of my life with 345 00:21:39,120 --> 00:21:42,080 God not watching me. And I asked this question, Lord, 346 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,560 am I so arrogant that I've ended up here? 347 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,880 And God, by his grace, never answered that question. 348 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:56,080 But I knew the answer was yes. I knew the answer was yes. 349 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:05,360 And I had to see the glory of God pass me by sitting with 350 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:10,760 those seven women. You're about to have female 351 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,400 operations. Sitting with those seven women, 352 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:17,640 I had to watch Jesus pass me by and say I'm gracious and 353 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,560 compassionate and slow to anger and abounding in love, 354 00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:24,480 maintaining love to thousands, forgiving wickedness, rebellion 355 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,440 and sin. I said, God, will you have mercy 356 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,520 on me? What could I say? 357 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:32,280 Hey, Lord, God, I'm serving with my whole life. 358 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,600 How the heck did I end up here? I wanted you here. 359 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:45,300 I wanted you here. Do you feel the storm settling 360 00:22:45,300 --> 00:22:47,620 in your heart already? You should. 361 00:22:49,260 --> 00:22:53,980 You should. Others went out on the sea and 362 00:22:53,980 --> 00:22:55,740 ships, over merchants on the mighty waters. 363 00:22:55,740 --> 00:22:58,460 They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep 364 00:22:58,460 --> 00:23:03,040 say the deep. And we saw in John the Dark God 365 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:06,000 works in the deep and the dark places He For he spoke and 366 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:08,400 stirred up a Tempest that lifted higher the waves. 367 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:11,600 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths, say 368 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:15,880 depths in their peril. Their courage melted away. 369 00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:20,160 They reeled and staggered like drunken men. 370 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,520 They were at their wits end. Say wits end. 371 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,600 You know when you're in trouble, people say to you got to keep 372 00:23:25,600 --> 00:23:28,120 your wits about you. That's wisdom. 373 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:30,600 They'd come to the end of their wisdom. 374 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:34,240 God wanted to bring his disciples to the end of their 375 00:23:34,240 --> 00:23:40,400 wisdom. And they cried out to the Lord 376 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:42,560 in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. 377 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,840 He stole the storm to a whisper. The waves of the sea were 378 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:47,800 hushed. You can put up the Charles 379 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:52,640 Spurgeon quote, please. All believers have not the same 380 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,440 deep experience. Dear God, please don't send me 381 00:23:55,440 --> 00:23:58,800 to the Middle East with bombs going off above me, because I 382 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:02,760 don't think I'll cope that well. Not all believers have the same 383 00:24:02,760 --> 00:24:05,280 deep experience, but God knew that they could handle it, so He 384 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:09,600 sent them. Not all believers have the same 385 00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,520 deep experience but for wise ends. 386 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:15,440 I've come to my wits end but for wise ends because God wants to 387 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,880 break in but for wise ends that they may do business for him. 388 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,560 The Lord sends some of his Saints to the sea of soul 389 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:29,120 trouble You've got. Why? 390 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:31,240 Why am I sitting in this hospital, God? 391 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,200 Because I want you to come to the end of your wisdom. 392 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:44,910 I want you to come to the end of your strength. 393 00:24:46,350 --> 00:24:49,750 Well, you're not in control of your life or your money. 394 00:24:50,430 --> 00:24:52,950 I've seen many people come to church, clap their hands, jump 395 00:24:52,950 --> 00:24:56,390 around, but the control belongs to themselves, not to Jesus. 396 00:25:06,120 --> 00:25:09,480 And there they see, as others do not, the wonders of divine grace 397 00:25:10,360 --> 00:25:14,960 sailing over the deeps of inward depravity, the wastewaters of 398 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:20,480 poverty, the billows of persecution, and the rough waves 399 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:24,680 of temptation. They need God above all others, 400 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:35,200 and they find Him. God called us to build a church 401 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,480 in White River. I went there one day, 12:00. 402 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,120 I met a couple on the veranda. I said, oh, you're right. 403 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:45,320 They said no, not really. We have a son in Johannesburg. 404 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:51,040 He's in a storm, deep storm, deep storm, going up and down at 405 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,760 the deep and dark places. I phoned him. 406 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:58,160 I said, hey bud, my name is Rory Dyer, I'll be your friend. 407 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,160 He said, I don't want, I don't want Jesus. 408 00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:01,480 I don't want pastors, I don't want anything. 409 00:26:01,480 --> 00:26:03,960 I said, let's find my mouth. But when you're really in 410 00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,120 trouble, phone me. And one day very early in the 411 00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:10,440 morning, maybe about the fourth watch of the night, somewhere 412 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:16,360 between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning, after being in a very 413 00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:20,520 dark and deep place, very dark and deep place, I got a phone 414 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,160 call said, hey, Rose said how you, buddy? 415 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:30,560 OK, Said no. I saw the glory of God pass in 416 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:35,000 front of this man, this man, my friend, gracious compassion, 417 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:36,800 it's slow to anger, bounding in love. 418 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,360 And he was some White River. And this is my other friend. 419 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:44,880 He's from Durban, he's subdurban. 420 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,360 And I find him, he's just visiting from Derby. 421 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:49,040 He's my friend, been my friend for 30 years. 422 00:26:50,080 --> 00:26:52,280 And I found my friend and Derby and I said I've got a friend 423 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,520 from White River, but he's, I don't even know. 424 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:55,760 You guys will sit opposite each other. 425 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:59,560 Today I phoned my friend. I said, listen, we need to send 426 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:01,400 him for help, so I'm going to put him on an airplane. 427 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,400 Will you pick him up? So put him on an airplane and he 428 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:04,920 picked him up and we're sitting here today. 429 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:06,200 You know why the three of us are here? 430 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,600 Because in the midst of a very dark storm, the God of 431 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:18,160 compassion walked past us. And he phoned me this week. 432 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:19,200 He said, hey, Rob, I've got a friend. 433 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:21,400 I don't even know what you do, but what you've done. 434 00:27:22,360 --> 00:27:25,520 Why are you here? But I know the waters are rough. 435 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:29,880 I know the waters are rough, I know, I know the sea is going up 436 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,200 and down and I know it's like the 4th watch of the night. 437 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:40,600 And God brought you to the place where Jesus the God of glory 438 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:46,400 passes by, and he says to you above the storm of your life. 439 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:58,440 Young man, do not be afraid. And to you, so do not be afraid. 440 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:00,080 And to you, ma'am, do not be afraid. 441 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,640 Do not be afraid, do not be afraid. 442 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:13,600 And when he got in the boat, when he got in the boat, in the 443 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:16,360 story of John, it said they landed at the other side. 444 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:22,200 Invite Jesus into your boat. The marriage storm, the 445 00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:25,440 financial storm. Invite him in and you'll get to 446 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,720 your destination much quicker in trying to row by yourself. 447 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:31,160 Amen.