1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:05,280 Good morning folks. Love you. 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:10,960 Just to take a seat. We're going to carry on this 3 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:12,840 morning. This morning in the. 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,560 Weeks running up to Easter we're. 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,720 We're in the middle. Of this series called Living in 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,000 the Shadows. And if you're visiting us today 7 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,240 because someone else has invited you along, I hope they told you 8 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,560 that we're talking about death at the moment. 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:28,720 And if you feel like you want to. 10 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,440 Walk out. I would love for you to stay. 11 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,480 And hear me out, because we're also talking about hope. 12 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,000 And we're basing our talks. And some brilliant material. 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:43,000 From Lagan Valley Vineyard. And yeah, we're going on this 14 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,760 journey together through Lent to the to towards Easter. 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,520 So I just want to pray before we start. 16 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,760 Holy Spirit, you're already here and we've already sung to you 17 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,440 this morning about you being the tender gardener of our hearts 18 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,720 and how you tend the soil of our soul. 19 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:06,360 And, and I ask Holy Spirit, you would just increase your 20 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,600 presence in this place right now and that you would do what you 21 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,360 want in this room with us this morning. 22 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:15,600 Amen. And I just. 23 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:18,040 Want to say. Right from the start that if you 24 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,560 feel a little bit uncomfortable that we're talking about it this 25 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:26,040 morning, that's OK because we're not very good about talking 26 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,120 about dying or death. We tend to avoid the subject or 27 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:32,640 push it away. But one of the. 28 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,600 Reasons why we're doing this series and why it's so important 29 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:40,880 is because death is inevitable, it's going to happen to us all, 30 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:43,720 but because we don't like. Thinking and then because. 31 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,440 We don't talk about it. We often then don't know what to 32 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,760 say or do when it comes near to us. 33 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,320 We're not equipped in the face of it. 34 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,960 So this morning I'm aware as. We've been going through this 35 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:59,960 series, we're really aware that. This might open. 36 00:01:59,960 --> 00:02:03,200 Stuff up for some of you. And we realized that. 37 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:07,040 Just talking about something like this in the space of 25 38 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,720 minutes or so. It's not very. 39 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,000 Long and you might need more time to process. 40 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,080 Stuff and stuff that. Might come up and and in small 41 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,200 groups. We're encouraging our small 42 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,880 groups to continue the conversation and just to be a 43 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,640 safe space where people can and talk and we can pray with each 44 00:02:23,640 --> 00:02:25,200 other about what's come up for us. 45 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,280 If you're not yet in a small group, this might be a good way 46 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:32,160 to kind of go get stuck into one, but also do come speak to 47 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,200 any of us if stuff is coming up for you as we're going through 48 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,760 this this journey together. So what does the? 49 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:41,920 Bible say about death it. Says don't avoid the. 50 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:46,680 Subject Psalm 19, verse. 12 Libby looked at this a couple of 51 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,040 weeks. Ago it tells us to. 52 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:51,240 Number our days. So that we may gain. 53 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,240 A heart of wisdom. And without being morbid, 54 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,120 there's something about contemplating the inevitability. 55 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:02,040 Of our own physical death that grows wisdom in US. 56 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:06,000 And right from the off I want to say that whilst physical death 57 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,600 is going to happen. It's inevitable. 58 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:10,560 God did. Not design this. 59 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:12,480 World with death. In it. 60 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:15,680 And sometimes what we feel when death comes close is almost 61 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,400 like. This sense of outrage, right? 62 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,400 This is wrong. This should not be. 63 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,080 And that's because that's true. It shouldn't be like this. 64 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,960 We're living in a world that is. Fallen that is subject to death. 65 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,320 And decay, and it's not part of God's design. 66 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:32,920 And if you've been with us in the last couple of. 67 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:34,680 Weeks you will have heard us talk. 68 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:36,920 About this idea that we live in a. 69 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:42,560 World of competing shadows and Psalm. 20. 3 uses this picture 70 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,920 of God being like a shepherd caring for his sheep. 71 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:49,200 And it speaks. Of the Valley of the Shadow of 72 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,240 Death verse. Four in Psalm 20. 73 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,400 Three says this even. Though I walk through the 74 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,320 darkest. Valley and some translations say 75 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:58,280 through the valley of the shadow of death. 76 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,120 I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 77 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,120 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 78 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:07,280 Many of you will know that shadow. 79 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,320 You've experienced it. Some of you have experienced it 80 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:14,080 more recently the than others, and you know what it feels like. 81 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,480 You know, times when that shadow has come close to you. 82 00:04:17,959 --> 00:04:19,519 And maybe some of you are living. 83 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:24,800 Under that shadow right now. And yet Psalm 91 speaks a very. 84 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,040 Different shadow in verse. One it says this. 85 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:31,720 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the 86 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,000 shadow of the Almighty. And in that. 87 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,160 Shadow, we are promised rest. So life in this world is about 88 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,320 both shadows. The shadow of death and the 89 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,360 shadow of God. Physical death is inevitable, 90 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:51,800 but hope in the face of physical death is available, is available 91 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:54,240 for us and for those that we love. 92 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,280 And as I've been preparing this talk, it's. 93 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:01,080 Caused me to think of some of the deaths. 94 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,480 That I've been close. To or have friends who have been 95 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:08,880 close to over the past couple of years, the death of a newborn 96 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,080 baby. A preschooler. 97 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,080 A teenager. Two good friends who died very 98 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:17,000 suddenly after short illnesses in their early 50s. 99 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,680 Grandparents who died in their 80s and a dear old family friend 100 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,800 who. Died at the ripe old age of 99. 101 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:28,640 Such a range. Of life and death. 102 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,280 Such a range of feelings and thoughts. 103 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,680 All of them speak of. Pain and loss, and some of them 104 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:40,160 tell of unspeakable tragedy. There's something that happens. 105 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,400 Deep inside us, when we hear these stories or come close to 106 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:48,680 these things and we feel it deeply in our bodies, we can 107 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,080 literally feel sick if we. Contemplate the death. 108 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,120 Or a close to death moment of someone that we love and if 109 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:56,960 we're. Honest for many. 110 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,000 Of us, whether we're or wear it, wear of it or not. 111 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,520 We can be like God. Please don't let that happen. 112 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,760 To me or to. Someone that I love. 113 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:07,360 Because we don't want to feel that kind of pain. 114 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,160 And maybe if we take a closer look for some of us. 115 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,800 Maybe we've even fallen into this thing of. 116 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:14,640 Living our lives as if. We're trying to. 117 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,520 Dot all the. IS and cross? 118 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,480 All the T's in the hope that this thing. 119 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:22,720 Called death, or at least unexpected or untimely. 120 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:25,840 Death could we somehow keep. That from our door. 121 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,000 Much like crossing our. Fingers or touching wood like 122 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:33,880 we're almost bargaining with God instead of trusting the very 123 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,920 person and goodness of God who says he is with us, come what 124 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,200 may. Anne Voskamp. 125 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,360 I love her writing. She says this in one of her 126 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:46,520 books. It's when our hurting hearts. 127 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:50,200 Tenderly break that the scales on our eyes can break, and we 128 00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:53,520 can clearly see how we had strong faith all along. 129 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,960 But perhaps in all the wrong things it can. 130 00:06:56,960 --> 00:06:59,120 Turn out that. Maybe we had more faith in 131 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,360 strong hands and broad backs and good health and good news and a 132 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,080 good word from good people and an extra dose of all. 133 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,320 Kinds of great self. Sufficiency than in God's Word 134 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:15,400 and goodness, that's the pause for thought there. 135 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:20,200 Here in this church, one of our. Values is to be real, Real with 136 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,720 the God that we know and are learning to trust more and more, 137 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:26,640 and real with each other when it comes to what goes on in our 138 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,760 lives. There are times when. 139 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,400 The shadow of death comes close to us and it breaks our hearts, 140 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,880 but even then the shadow of God is available to us. 141 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:42,040 And with that shadow comes hope. We experience the presence of 142 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,920 God, His. Peace and the hope. 143 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:49,280 Of sheltering in his shadow, as well as the brokenness of our 144 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,640 world and the heartache that comes from death right in the 145 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:58,120 thick of it. We experience both together, of 146 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,520 course. We just want the good stuff. 147 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:02,200 We would rather avoid the heartache. 148 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,760 None of us want any unwelcome curveballs to come our way. 149 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:09,280 But Jesus calls us as we get to know him more. 150 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,480 He calls us out of our. Pursuit of certainty into this 151 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:18,320 thing called trust with him God calls us to trust him in the. 152 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:22,600 Face of the unknown and he says there will be trouble. 153 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:27,160 But I will be with you and if you've read this book called the 154 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:28,800 Bible. We know how the. 155 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,000 Ending goes Darkness has not overcome the light. 156 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:37,720 Good triumphs over evil. The thing is, we live in a. 157 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,600 Culture, that is. Obsessed with the here and now 158 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,520 but life with. Jesus causes us to. 159 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,280 Lift our heads to something further. 160 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,080 And beyond to look to our future hope and if. 161 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:51,440 You were with us when we last met Libby. 162 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,520 Talked about this. She talked about what happens. 163 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:56,400 Next. After this life, and if you 164 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:58,920 weren't here, I'd encourage you just to give it, give it a 165 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,640 listen and you can do that via our website or on Spotify or 166 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:07,160 Apple, those kind of things. This is what John sees. 167 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:09,800 And recalls in Revelations chapter 21, if you've got a 168 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,920 Bible and you want to turn to it, we're starting at verse one. 169 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:14,600 OK? It will appear on the screen as 170 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,560 well. This is what John sees. 171 00:09:16,560 --> 00:09:19,880 He has this vision and this is. This is what he says. 172 00:09:20,080 --> 00:09:22,600 Then I saw a new. Heaven and a new earth. 173 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:26,400 For the 1st heaven and. First Earth had passed away. 174 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:30,480 And there was no. Longer any sea I saw the holy 175 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,040 city, the new. Jerusalem coming down of. 176 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:37,120 Out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed 177 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,480 for her husband. And I heard a loud. 178 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,800 Voice from the throne saying, Look, God's dwelling. 179 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,320 Place is now. Among the people he will dwell 180 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:47,480 with. Them they will. 181 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,480 Be his people. And God himself will be with 182 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,120 them and be their gods. He will wipe every tear from 183 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,920 their eyes. There will be no more death or 184 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:01,680 mourning or crying or. Pain for the old order of things 185 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:06,680 has passed away. At the end of this. 186 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,080 Age. Everything will be made new. 187 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,840 It's going. To look like new heavens, new 188 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,000 earth. With us in resurrected bodies, 189 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,840 thank the Lord, completely connected to God. 190 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,920 Being with Him and joining with Him to draw out all of the 191 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,320 things that He's hidden around us to His glory and for the. 192 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:30,480 Flourishing of everyone. John says God himself will wipe 193 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:33,280 away every tear, that there will be no more death or mourning. 194 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:37,120 Or crying, or pain. All of it will be gone and God 195 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:41,280 himself will live with us. Don't you just long for that 196 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:44,680 day? That's the assurance that we're 197 00:10:44,680 --> 00:10:48,720 given from God himself that one day all of the things that 198 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,720 trouble us, all of the things that. 199 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:53,800 Harm us? All of the things that break our 200 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,440 hearts will be no more. It's going to be glorious. 201 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:02,120 But what do we do now? What do we do in the meantime? 202 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:06,680 A couple of years ago, my mom was. 203 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:09,680 Scheduled to have a major operation, she was just about 204 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:12,360 to. Turn 80 and we had this date in 205 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,280 the. Diary just before Christmas when 206 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,720 she was going to go into hospital and we didn't. 207 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:19,760 Know if. She was going to make it through 208 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:22,200 the procedure. Having that just before 209 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,160 Christmas felt. Like. 210 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,440 Heightened and I remember it felt so hard leading up to that 211 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:31,920 date not knowing. If this would be the beginning 212 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:33,800 of the end for her. And the only way that I can 213 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,640 describe it is like I felt. Anticipated grief. 214 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:43,120 Does that make sense? And she got very, very ill. 215 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,960 And even now, when I think back to sitting by her bed. 216 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,560 In hospital and. Then the car journeys home with 217 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:51,600 my dad. It was. 218 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:54,960 Really, really hard. And but the reality is there 219 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,760 will come a day where we. And our loved ones won't be here 220 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,280 anymore. But what do we do while we wait 221 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,320 for that day? And in the passage that we've 222 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:06,080 just read, John writes. Then I saw a. 223 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,360 New heaven and a new earth. For the 1st. 224 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,800 Heaven and the 1st. Earth had passed away and there 225 00:12:10,800 --> 00:12:15,400 was no longer any sea. Why does John say? 226 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,840 That what does that mean? Like I. 227 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,240 Love the sea like I love looking at the sea. 228 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,320 I love a. Walk on the beach and the other 229 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,880 day I went. Down to South end I was 230 00:12:27,080 --> 00:12:28,320 visiting. My brother. 231 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:32,200 The sun was shining, the water was in it. 232 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,280 Was like felt like holiday. I was just literally driving 233 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:37,560 along the sea front. I love dipping my feet in the 234 00:12:37,560 --> 00:12:39,400 water. If it's warm summer's day, I 235 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,560 might even venture in. I know. 236 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,120 Some of you guys are like, I do cold water swimming. 237 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,920 Like you're just like a wuss. I'm like, yeah, I am a. 238 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:48,080 Wuss. But there we go. 239 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,760 OK. There was no longer any sea. 240 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:52,520 Seems like a really strange thing to. 241 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,280 Say, don't you think? But there's something we need to 242 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,840 know about what the sea represents to John's. 243 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:01,440 Culture and mindset and. When we understand what the sea 244 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,640 represents. All of a sudden. 245 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,480 This takes. On more meaning. 246 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:09,120 And The thing is that in the time of John's writing, the sea 247 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:13,200 represented chaos. The sea was a metaphor for 248 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,960 chaos, and it was a. Place of literal chaos. 249 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,240 You see the? Sea is deep and dark. 250 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,400 Have you ever been in? Really deep water. 251 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:26,800 Where your feet cannot touch the bottom and you know. 252 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,600 There's a lot of. Sea beneath you, right? 253 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:32,120 It's deep. It's like you don't know what's 254 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,720 lurking beneath the surface. Like if something. 255 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:36,160 Brushes over your foot. You're like. 256 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:40,280 Oh, what was that? The sea is deep and dark. 257 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,440 It's unpredictable, it's powerful, and it's utterly. 258 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,800 Uncontrollable. And then the kind of folklore of 259 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:50,240 the day, The sea was this realm of monsters. 260 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,000 People literally believed that there were monsters that lived 261 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:54,920 in the deep and the dark down there. 262 00:13:55,680 --> 00:13:59,200 The sea represented the. Opposite of God's goodness and 263 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,840 His order of his life. And his love, the sea was 264 00:14:02,840 --> 00:14:05,360 something unpredictable and something very. 265 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,880 Much to be feared it. Represented the dominion of 266 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:13,920 darkness and death. And John's revelation speaks of 267 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:19,640 an age to come when chaos ends, when there is no more sea, no 268 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,360 more phone calls. That turn your world upside down 269 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:27,920 no more heartbreaking diagnosis if you've got a. 270 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,000 Bible, why don't you? Turn to Matthew chapter 14. 271 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,200 We're going to look at a story as we unpack this a little bit 272 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,360 more. So Matthew chapter 14, and we're 273 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:41,160 going to begin at verse 22. Many of you will be familiar 274 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,360 with this story. So let me just set the scene. 275 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:48,920 Jesus has just seen this amazing miracle of feeding thousands and 276 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:51,840 thousands and thousands of. People. 277 00:14:52,080 --> 00:14:56,200 With just the contents of one small boy's packed lunch box, 278 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:59,280 he's just done this. Incredible thing that 279 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:02,840 everybody's seen. And then immediately after. 280 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,480 This is what happens. So it's Matthew chapter 14. 281 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:10,160 Sign at verse 22. Immediately, Jesus made the 282 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,120 disciples get into the. Boat and go on ahead of him to 283 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,240 the other side. While he dismissed the. 284 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,040 Crowd after he had dismissed them, he went up on a 285 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:23,200 mountainside by himself to. Pray later that night he was 286 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:25,400 there. Alone, and the boat was already 287 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:28,240 a considerable distance from land. 288 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,840 Buffeted by the. Waves because the wind was 289 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,680 against it. Shortly before dawn, Jesus went 290 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:38,400 out to them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw 291 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:39,920 him. Walking on the water, they were 292 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:42,680 terrified. It's the ghost, they said, and 293 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:46,960 they cried out in fear, Jesus immediately said to them. 294 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:51,240 Take courage it is. I do not be. 295 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:55,160 Afraid, Lord, if it's you, Peter replied. 296 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,280 Tell me to come to you on the water. 297 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,960 Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the 298 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,680 boat. And walked on water and came 299 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:08,400 towards Jesus, but when he saw. The wind he was. 300 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:09,640 Afraid. And he began. 301 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,200 To sink. And he cried out, Lord. 302 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,920 Save me immediately. Jesus reached out his hand and 303 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:18,960 caught him. You have little faith, he said. 304 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:20,120 Why did? You doubt and. 305 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:22,760 When they climbed into the boat, the. 306 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:26,080 Wind died down and then those who were in the boat worshipped 307 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,360 him, saying truly you are the Son of God. 308 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,240 So Jesus says to his disciples, you go on ahead and then out of. 309 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:40,360 Nowhere like the wind. Picks up and the sea gets 310 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,320 rougher and the boat gets carried. 311 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:46,640 Further and further away from the shore and they're battling 312 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:50,600 against the wind now. These are the same waters you 313 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:52,480 might have. Heard of before Libby? 314 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:54,960 Mentioned it last week. Last time that we. 315 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,240 Met where there was this massive storm. 316 00:16:57,360 --> 00:16:59,200 Jesus and his disciples were in the boat. 317 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:01,240 Jesus was asleep. The disciples were like. 318 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:03,880 There's a massive storm going on. 319 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,359 They're fearing for their lives and Jesus spoke and everything. 320 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:09,400 Turned to calm. These are the very same waters. 321 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,240 So and if you've. Heard today's? 322 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,160 Story before of Jesus walking on the. 323 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,520 Water, maybe that's what. You think it is like, like, it's 324 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,520 amazing. Like he literally defies physics 325 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,880 and he walks on water. But The thing is to the people 326 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,760 who were there. At the time and the people who 327 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:32,680 then heard what happened. They would have heard this. 328 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:34,520 Account very differently because. 329 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:37,560 This is not Jesus. Walking on water. 330 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,480 This is Jesus standing. On the sea. 331 00:17:43,000 --> 00:17:46,680 And if you understand. What the sea is, you understand 332 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:51,040 why that is a whole other thing. And we might have to do 333 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,040 something of a mind. Shift here to hear what is 334 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,560 really happening. So some of the men on this boat 335 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,400 are seasoned fishermen. They're skilled sailors. 336 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:01,760 They've been battling. Against the wind, it's just 337 00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:03,600 before dawn. There's no hint of. 338 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,040 Light at all. It's the darkest hour of the 339 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:10,200 night. 4:00 in the morning, pitch black in the middle of a 340 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:15,600 storm. Far from land, I'm someone who 341 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,520 doesn't mind weather, which is probably quite a good thing 342 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:22,080 living in the UK I love. Watching a huge thunderstorm. 343 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,520 Where the sky flashes with lightning if it's. 344 00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,840 Really foggy, I want to go out in it. 345 00:18:28,320 --> 00:18:30,600 If it's really windy. Or rainy I can. 346 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,720 Find it exhilarating to be out there because there's. 347 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:35,760 Something about the power of it all. 348 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,320 That makes me think of God, but this wasn't like that. 349 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:44,080 This was scary. And I don't know if you've ever 350 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,920 been out in a wild. Storm with Gale force. 351 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:51,000 Winds where it's strength. Can feel overwhelming it's. 352 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,440 Capable of tearing down. Structures and causing terrible 353 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:58,600 damage and when. I was in my mid 20s. 354 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:01,600 I was asked to. Join a youth team to take. 355 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:04,480 Some young people away on a. Camping weekend to the Brecon 356 00:19:04,480 --> 00:19:08,600 Beacons in Wales. These were young people who were 357 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,320 not. Used to camping, it was their 358 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,000 first time camping. And we ended up one afternoon 359 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:18,920 hiking up this mountain and the. Weather suddenly, like out of 360 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,760 nowhere turned. And before we knew. 361 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:23,840 It we could hardly. See in front of our. 362 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:28,040 Faces because this kind of cloud mist had come down. 363 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:32,040 We didn't know where the path was or how close to. 364 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,400 The edge. We were the person who was. 365 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:38,040 Leading the group had kind of like trekked on, like felt. 366 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,000 Like in the distance? We were tagging. 367 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:42,520 Behind with some of these kids like why am I here? 368 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,760 And I'm thinking, why am I here? And the wind was. 369 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:48,280 Wild and fighting cold. And. 370 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:53,160 We didn't want to be there and I remember this girl saying to me, 371 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:57,000 I don't want to be here. I don't want to be here either, 372 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,760 but I was trying to just say we've just got to keep going. 373 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,120 Like we've just got, we've got to get. 374 00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:05,800 Through this thing and we were. Soaked through and it felt like 375 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:08,320 a long way from home and it felt. 376 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,520 Really scary. And I was just thinking about 377 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:13,560 that as I was thinking about this. 378 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,120 Story because. Being out in something like 379 00:20:16,120 --> 00:20:19,600 that, you're so aware of how small you are against the 380 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:21,120 elements and how. Powerless. 381 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:24,320 You are against them. And in this account, multiply by 382 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:26,720 even more because they're not even on dry land. 383 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:29,680 They're like on this sea and they're being buffeted around. 384 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:31,560 They're exhausted. They're. 385 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,080 Soaked through. And maybe they're thinking 386 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,560 they're not going to make it. And then in the middle of it 387 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:40,440 all, someone sees something. In the dark. 388 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,160 The text says they were terrified. 389 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:46,600 They see this figury thing on the. 390 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,440 Water and they. Think it's a ghost and the 391 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,760 reason they think it's a ghost is because of what the sea 392 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,400 represents in their mind this is the realm of the dead so if 393 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,880 anybody's walking around out here it's some form of monster 394 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:03,960 or demon or ghost, they're convinced of it these are grown 395 00:21:03,960 --> 00:21:07,840 men these are seasoned fishermen crying out in. 396 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:11,160 Fear. And then this voice comes. 397 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,200 To them on the wind, take courage. 398 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,080 It's me. Don't be afraid. 399 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:21,720 Carried on the very thing that's coming against them. 400 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:24,320 Is the voice of God to comfort them? 401 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:27,960 God doesn't send things like storms. 402 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,600 And death and horrible diagnosis into our lives. 403 00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:35,320 But on those things that feel like chaos, his voice. 404 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,560 Can be found in the shadow of death. 405 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:45,720 The shadow of God is available. The voice of comfort comes from 406 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:49,560 within the storm. It's me, says Jesus. 407 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,800 Don't be afraid. Jesus comes walking. 408 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,720 Towards his fearful followers. Standing on top of the. 409 00:21:56,720 --> 00:22:01,840 Chaos that is haunting. Them standing on the very thing. 410 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:05,880 That they are fighting against. And if we're familiar with this 411 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,440 story, I think sometimes what can happen is that we can 412 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:10,960 picture the scene a little bit wrong. 413 00:22:10,960 --> 00:22:13,840 We can think of like a still lake. 414 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:17,280 On a beautiful sunny day. Like that is not. 415 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,480 What is happening here? Think of a wild storm and a 416 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:24,520 saving lives at sea. Tragedy unfolding in the. 417 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:30,200 Pitch black crashing waves. Everyone, the disciples and 418 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,440 Jesus, are drenched. Jesus. 419 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:40,720 Soaked through is literally wearing on his person what they 420 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:45,560 are afraid of the. Sea and he's standing. 421 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:52,120 On top of it and he is at peace. And this picture is a. 422 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:55,760 Foretaste of the cross where Jesus wears. 423 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:59,800 The very thing that. Torments us all called death. 424 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,080 The disciples don't know that in this. 425 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,240 Moment, But we do. In this moment where he's 426 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:10,400 wearing the thing that they're terrified of, he's helping them 427 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,480 to see that one. Day, he's going to do that 428 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,840 again. He'll wear this thing that 429 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,920 haunts us. All and he'll wear it with 430 00:23:19,920 --> 00:23:23,880 peace. And Jesus speaks comfort to. 431 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,720 Them in this moment. Just as he speaks. 432 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:32,360 Comfort to us, not just in the storm, but sometimes through the 433 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:35,600 storm. He doesn't send the storm. 434 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,280 But sometimes he speaks. Through it and. 435 00:23:40,760 --> 00:23:43,040 When they heard. His voice Peter says, Lord, if 436 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:49,400 it's you, tell me to come. And when Jesus invited people to 437 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:51,120 follow. Him to be his disciples back 438 00:23:51,120 --> 00:23:53,000 then, He. Wasn't saying come and learn 439 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,200 some of the things that I. Know, he was saying. 440 00:23:55,200 --> 00:23:59,760 With me you can live like. Me, you can do the things that I 441 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,120 do. And so when Peter sees Jesus 442 00:24:02,120 --> 00:24:05,000 standing on the sea, he says the way I know. 443 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:07,120 It's you, Lord. Is if you say I can. 444 00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:10,080 Do it too. And so he says, Lord, if it's 445 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:15,920 you, tell me to come. And Peter, who has been battling 446 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,720 against his storm all night long, fearing for his life, gets 447 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:21,960 out of the boat in the middle of everything that's going. 448 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:25,960 On around him and he ends up. Standing on the sea with. 449 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:30,680 Jesus. One day there. 450 00:24:30,680 --> 00:24:33,600 Will be no more sorrow or pain or death. 451 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,800 But in the meantime, Jesus invites us to learn to hear the 452 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:43,040 voice of God coming on the winds of the storms of our lives, 453 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:47,160 saying, come, come and stand out here with me. 454 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:49,760 Come and. Stand on this thing. 455 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:54,080 Learn to stand. On top of the fear of death, 456 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:59,720 knowing that we will get soaked by it and at times we might even 457 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:05,480 feel like we're drowning under it in the face of what feels 458 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:09,360 impossible because of our humanity and the physicality of 459 00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:12,720 the rage. You see, Jesus says come stand 460 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:18,080 on this thing with me. And Peter walks towards. 461 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:21,320 Jesus And then we see in verse 30 it says this. 462 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:24,760 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and he began to sink. 463 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:27,720 When he saw what what he was up against, he was. 464 00:25:27,800 --> 00:25:29,520 Overwhelmed and he. Sinks. 465 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:31,760 He's in the. Water fighting for his. 466 00:25:31,760 --> 00:25:34,400 Life and he cries out, Lord save me. 467 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,400 I don't know if you've ever found yourself saying that. 468 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,120 Maybe not just for you, but for someone you love. 469 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,440 I have. Lord save me. 470 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:51,880 Would you save this person that I love at their moments of utter 471 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:54,440 desperation? Lord, don't let this. 472 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:57,280 Thing that I think is about to happen, happen. 473 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,520 Don't let that happen to me. Don't let that happen to that 474 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:04,160 person that I love, but in this moment. 475 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:09,000 What happens verse 31 says this? Immediately Jesus reached out 476 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:10,760 his hand and. Caught him. 477 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,000 Because in the moment of deepest desperation, when Peter cries 478 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,160 out, his arms flailing and going under, Lord save. 479 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:21,440 Me it says that. Immediately Jesus. 480 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:23,160 Reaches out his hands and catches him. 481 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:27,760 Sometimes we can feel like we're walking on water and then in a 482 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:31,440 moment, with one phone call or one piece of news, it's like 483 00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:34,880 we're going under. Everything changes. 484 00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:36,880 And we're now being. Consumed. 485 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,880 By this thing that. We fear the most. 486 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,800 That can happen. But Jesus reaches out his hand 487 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:48,840 and catches Peter. Being caught doesn't always 488 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,760 mean. That the thing that we long not 489 00:26:51,760 --> 00:26:52,600 to. Happen. 490 00:26:52,960 --> 00:26:56,800 Doesn't happen. We all know that's not the case. 491 00:26:58,360 --> 00:27:01,440 I would be lying, you would be. You'd just like we'd be pulling 492 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:04,200 them all over our eyes if I pretended anything different but 493 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:05,560 the. Presence of Jesus. 494 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:07,560 God with. Us and the hope. 495 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:12,280 That he gives is available to us in the darkest moments and times 496 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,680 of our lives. Why did you doubt? 497 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:17,560 Says Jesus. It's not a rebuke. 498 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,000 He just asks. The question. 499 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:21,480 Why did you doubt? Because I'm. 500 00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,760 Standing on the. Sea and he helps. 501 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,560 Peter into the boat and the wind subsides. 502 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:32,520 There's something about an outstretched arm. 503 00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:36,840 That makes the hope. And presence of Jesus available 504 00:27:36,840 --> 00:27:39,920 to us. Many of us, when we've walked 505 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:42,640 through experiences of loss and grief, are feeling like we've 506 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:47,520 been overwhelmed by the storm. Often our impulse is to raise a 507 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:49,480 fist. Like why God but. 508 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,560 What we? See, here is a slightly 509 00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,600 different posture. What we see here is an 510 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:59,160 outstretched arm. And I wonder if we can learn to 511 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:01,640 ask the very real. Questions that we have. 512 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:03,920 And we ask the questions, but. Why golf? 513 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:06,040 Like How? Long must this go on. 514 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:07,920 For. If we can ask those. 515 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:11,200 Questions with an open hand, With a hand reaching out to 516 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:16,360 Jesus, it changes things. If in the moments of our deepest 517 00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:19,040 pain, instead of raising a fist, we. 518 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:21,440 Reach out a hand. We make ourselves. 519 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:24,600 Available for Jesus to reach out and grab us. 520 00:28:25,120 --> 00:28:26,960 It doesn't take our questions away. 521 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:29,640 But we can know that God is with. 522 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:36,000 Us in the face of death, there are days when you can feel like 523 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,200 you're standing on the sea. Buoyed by the prayers of other 524 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,280 people. And there are days when you 525 00:28:43,280 --> 00:28:46,680 can't help but think. And on those. 526 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:49,920 Days we cry out, Lord, save me. We. 527 00:28:50,000 --> 00:28:52,520 Open up our hand. God, would you save me? 528 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,840 One day the Kingdom of God will bring about new creation and 529 00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:04,160 there will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, 530 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:09,600 no more pain, no more sea. This is our hope. 531 00:29:11,520 --> 00:29:12,960 Everything around us says live for. 532 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:17,960 Now, but if we follow Jesus, we can live from then in the 533 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:23,000 presence of the sea, covered by it, but not consumed by it. 534 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:27,960 Learning how to stand. On it, with open hands and our 535 00:29:27,960 --> 00:29:34,880 eyes on Jesus. Why don't we just pray? 536 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:36,240 Just stay where you are for now.