WEBVTT 00:00:02.466 --> 00:00:03.233 Good morning. 00:00:03.233 --> 00:00:20.600 Before we get started, the message that I'm going to speak about today is on storms, and, we woke up to news this morning and the news over the weekend about this terrible storm that has devastated parts of Texas. 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:29.500 Dozens of children seem to have been swept away by a river over a flash flood. 00:00:29.865 --> 00:00:41.633 The 26ft wall of water comes rushing down a basically a dry riverbed unexpectedly, and has just washed away Christian church camp for children. 00:00:41.633 --> 00:00:43.533 So it's pretty awful news. 00:00:43.533 --> 00:00:52.466 So the governor of Texas kind of asked for his state to kind of turn this into a day of prayer for the families and for those lost. 00:00:52.466 --> 00:01:02.832 And I thought, speaking about storms, I thought this would be just a good opportunity for us to pause a minute and just pray for those associated in Texas with this tragedy. 00:01:02.832 --> 00:01:08.400 So if you would just take a moment and just silently pray to yourself, I'll wrap this up. 00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:11.132 But let's just pray for those in Texas right now. 00:01:19.865 --> 00:01:24.832 God, we lift up those that are that are affected by this tragedy in Texas. 00:01:24.832 --> 00:01:25.700 We don't know them. 00:01:25.700 --> 00:01:27.033 We're not close to them. 00:01:27.033 --> 00:01:33.000 But, God, we, God, we pray for them and God like we're going to hear about today. 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:37.033 What do you do when tragedy strikes and you don't know how to even pray for that God? 00:01:37.033 --> 00:01:42.733 And that's where we are right now, and that's where those families are with this unspeakable tragedy that they're had that they're having to navigate through. 00:01:42.733 --> 00:01:51.665 But God, we just pray, Lord, for those that are in the search teams out there, God that, that they would be able to do their job and find those that are lost. 00:01:51.665 --> 00:01:53.066 So we pray for miracles. 00:01:53.066 --> 00:01:58.665 We pray for those that would, even be assumed to be lost and assumed to be gone. 00:01:58.665 --> 00:01:59.500 But Lord, here they are. 00:01:59.500 --> 00:02:03.000 We pray that we would hear stories about that God and Lord, we pray for the families. 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:06.599 We pray for the parents that are that are having to deal with this. 00:02:06.599 --> 00:02:17.500 Lord, we just pray your Holy Spirit would just engulf that place God and Lord, somehow some way through this they would be able to see Jesus. 00:02:17.500 --> 00:02:22.032 God, we lift up the state of Texas to you now and we pray this in Jesus name. Amen. 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:25.199 Yeah, thank you all for that. 00:02:25.199 --> 00:02:36.665 A couple months ago, John asked me if I would be willing to speak again on, Sunday morning, to which I said, let me think about it. 00:02:36.665 --> 00:02:37.332 And that is true. 00:02:37.332 --> 00:02:39.165 I did not say yes right away. 00:02:39.165 --> 00:02:47.699 But it just so happens that about that time we had I had taught a life group lesson just it was in the curriculum that we use, and it was about storms. 00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:50.165 And I just felt like this was a good opportunity. 00:02:50.165 --> 00:02:53.932 That was I really resonated with what that life group lesson was about. 00:02:53.932 --> 00:02:58.932 So I'm sort of going to take that material and expand on it a bit. 00:02:59.300 --> 00:03:11.932 Since John did ask me to speak, I would ask for you to direct any and all complaints to John C Majors at johncmajors@vvc or valleyviewchurch.org. 00:03:11.966 --> 00:03:13.165 I'll give you a second to write that down. 00:03:15.400 --> 00:03:17.633 So, we're going to talk about storms a little bit. 00:03:17.633 --> 00:03:20.532 So, those of you that know me, I like to run. 00:03:20.532 --> 00:03:22.699 So I'm a runner and I run trail races and stuff. 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:26.099 So one of my favorite all time races that I ran was in the year. 00:03:26.099 --> 00:03:28.133 It was, I can't remember. 00:03:28.133 --> 00:03:34.699 It was about the year 2018, but it was a trail race that I ran on this Christmas tree farm in Fleming County. 00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:36.300 It was on a Christmas tree farm. 00:03:36.300 --> 00:03:39.733 Whoever the whoever assumed that they would have a trail race there. 00:03:39.733 --> 00:03:42.599 But it was this very rugged, hilly course and that. 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:45.432 And the concept is you're on a relay team. 00:03:45.432 --> 00:03:49.500 So it's me and three other guys, and we relay kind of around this course. 00:03:49.500 --> 00:03:58.733 It's a ten K course, which is about 6.2 miles, and you're running through this rugged, hilly course, and then you're carrying like a timing chip, like a baton. 00:03:58.733 --> 00:04:02.832 And then when you finish your lap, you hand it off to your teammate. 00:04:02.832 --> 00:04:06.199 And then they run the same course only in the opposite direction. 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:08.233 And you kind of alternate like that. 00:04:08.233 --> 00:04:14.500 And the goal is to do it ten times as quickly as possible. 00:04:14.500 --> 00:04:16.600 Sounds fun right? 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:17.165 It was fun. 00:04:17.165 --> 00:04:18.365 I really enjoyed it. 00:04:18.365 --> 00:04:22.000 But something unusual happened in this race. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:24.033 As if the race wasn't unusual enough. 00:04:24.033 --> 00:04:27.699 So I was running the last lap or the anchor lap, right? 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:29.300 So I'm supposed to bring it home. 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:38.699 Our team is in second place. Now, the first place team, they were a group of former cross-country runners with the University of Kentucky. 00:04:38.699 --> 00:04:39.899 So I don't count them right. 00:04:39.899 --> 00:04:40.800 They're doing their own thing. 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:44.865 They won. Good for them. Woo hoo! We're in second place. 00:04:44.865 --> 00:04:47.600 And the third place team is pretty good. 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:49.233 And they're not that far behind us. 00:04:49.233 --> 00:04:54.833 So I'm starting my last lap and I've got about a half mile lead on their last guy. 00:04:54.833 --> 00:04:58.500 But he's faster than me and I know he's faster than me, so I know I've really got to push it. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:09.365 So I get about a mile into this race and you go off a main path into the deep woods, and I can see as I'm about to enter the woods and it's a beautiful sunny day. 00:05:09.365 --> 00:05:10.500 It's been hot. 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:13.100 It's been I mean, it's been really, really hot. 00:05:13.100 --> 00:05:25.500 It was mid-July and it was so hot, actually, that they literally had to helicopter a guy who had passed out due to heat exhaustion, they had helicoptered him to a hospital in Lexington. It was that hot. 00:05:26.165 --> 00:05:34.800 So I'm I'm starting to enter the woods and I see the sky becoming consumed with this black storm cloud. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:36.100 I mean, it looks ominous. 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:38.165 It's really kind of scary. 00:05:38.165 --> 00:05:40.432 But you keep you keep running forward. 00:05:40.432 --> 00:05:43.833 So pretty soon I'm in the woods and the storm just opens up. 00:05:43.833 --> 00:05:50.533 It is like no storm I had literally ever even driven through, much less been out in the middle of the woods in. 00:05:50.533 --> 00:05:53.533 Torrential rain, almost like a monsoon. 00:05:53.533 --> 00:05:55.565 Thunder and lightning was ferocious. 00:05:55.565 --> 00:05:57.833 The wind was like a hurricane wind. 00:05:57.833 --> 00:06:02.899 And I'm out there like an idiot, running through the woods carrying a timing chip by myself. 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:06.733 There's no one around me, so I have a choice to make. 00:06:06.733 --> 00:06:08.033 I'm only about a mile in. 00:06:08.033 --> 00:06:10.932 Do I turn around, head for safety, go back where I came from. 00:06:10.932 --> 00:06:12.665 Do I seek shelter in the woods? 00:06:12.665 --> 00:06:14.300 That's not a good idea if it's lightning. 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:15.766 But I'm in the woods. What do you do? 00:06:17.266 --> 00:06:18.100 The hills. 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:20.533 The trail hills that I had to go up and down. 00:06:20.533 --> 00:06:26.600 They were dry before, but now they're just little rivers of mud and rock and grossness. 00:06:26.600 --> 00:06:27.833 But I keep pushing forward. 00:06:27.833 --> 00:06:48.033 I decide to keep moving forward. It-- I kind of felt like if you ever seen the movie Forrest Gump, there's a scene where Lieutenant Dan is sitting on top of the mast of the boat, their shrimp boat, and he's like, in this storm, and he's yelling at God, is that the best you can do? 00:06:48.033 --> 00:06:49.132 I kind of felt like that. 00:06:49.132 --> 00:06:52.132 It is, but I was more like saying, okay, God, I get it. 00:06:52.132 --> 00:06:54.033 That's enough. 00:06:54.033 --> 00:06:58.300 Well, pretty soon I reached the end of the course and I reached the end. 00:06:58.300 --> 00:06:59.333 I reached the finish line. 00:06:59.333 --> 00:07:01.600 And usually there's a bunch of people there cheering for you. 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.800 Yay! Troy made it! There was nobody there. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:05.800 Where were they? 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:09.065 Well, they were seeking shelter in a barn that was close by. 00:07:09.065 --> 00:07:10.165 So I'm by myself. 00:07:10.165 --> 00:07:11.333 Nobody's looking around. 00:07:11.333 --> 00:07:14.065 I'm like, who? Who even saw that I finished? 00:07:14.065 --> 00:07:21.033 Well, one of the race directors comes out and she said, excuse me, sir, we've got to pause the race, because it's too unsafe. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:23.899 I said, yeah, no, I just finished. 00:07:23.899 --> 00:07:25.399 She said, oh, you just finished? 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:27.300 Yes, I just finished. My team is done. 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:28.800 We came in second place. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:34.000 So then my teammates come running out and they're like, we thought you were hiding somewhere. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:37.033 We thought you were seeking shelter like a sane person would. What? 00:07:37.033 --> 00:07:38.466 You just kept running through that? 00:07:38.466 --> 00:07:41.033 I was like, yeah, I wanted to maintain our lead. 00:07:41.033 --> 00:07:42.632 Of course I did. 00:07:42.632 --> 00:07:46.733 By the way, pretty soon the third place guy comes and finishes right behind me. 00:07:46.733 --> 00:07:51.466 He had actually closed the gap on me like I thought he would, but we still beat him. 00:07:51.466 --> 00:07:57.199 I was very happy about that, but I learned a lot about myself during that race. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:00.233 When you're out in the elements like that, you really learn a lot about yourself. 00:08:00.233 --> 00:08:01.565 Like, what do you do? 00:08:01.565 --> 00:08:02.833 Do you stop? 00:08:02.833 --> 00:08:04.233 Do you hide? 00:08:04.233 --> 00:08:06.000 Do you turn around? 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:06.800 Do you quit? 00:08:08.233 --> 00:08:14.932 I learned not I learned a lot about myself, not just physically, mentally and emotionally. 00:08:14.932 --> 00:08:18.932 I learned that storms pop up at the most unexpected times. 00:08:18.932 --> 00:08:26.565 This was a literal storm, obviously, but there are storms in our life that'll just pop up. Things that you don't expect. 00:08:26.565 --> 00:08:33.832 But many times at the end of those storms life physical, emotional, mental and spiritual growth we didn't even know we needed. 00:08:33.832 --> 00:08:42.265 In the book of John chapter six, the disciples encountered a terrible storm as they're crossing the Sea of Galilee. 00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:47.232 They weren't expecting it, and they were without Jesus. 00:08:47.232 --> 00:08:50.100 Jesus had sent them on. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:54.133 But through this event, they learned a few valuable spiritual lessons. 00:08:54.133 --> 00:08:56.000 I want to prepare you ahead of time. 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:59.332 I got a lot of scripture in here, so we're going to be doing a lot of reading of Scripture. 00:08:59.332 --> 00:09:00.765 It'll be on the screen. 00:09:00.765 --> 00:09:05.033 You can look it up in in your copy of the word if you like. 00:09:05.133 --> 00:09:10.299 There's going to be a lot of Scripture starting with this one John chapter six, verses 16 through 18. 00:09:10.299 --> 00:09:17.299 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and went over the sea to Capernaum. 00:09:18.466 --> 00:09:22.666 And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 00:09:22.666 --> 00:09:25.899 Then the sea arose, because a great wind was blowing. 00:09:25.899 --> 00:09:30.666 There's another version that says, A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. 00:09:31.765 --> 00:09:36.865 So this scene takes place right after the feeding of the 5000 by the way. 00:09:36.865 --> 00:09:39.899 They had had that whole scene, the fishes and the loaves. 00:09:39.899 --> 00:09:41.232 Now they're crossing the sea. 00:09:41.232 --> 00:09:44.932 Jesus has retreated to be by himself, which I'll address in a minute. 00:09:44.932 --> 00:09:48.732 The disciples headed out across the sea without Jesus at night. 00:09:48.732 --> 00:09:52.832 This would not have been unusual for them. They were fishermen by trade. 00:09:52.832 --> 00:09:54.365 They were comfortable on the water. 00:09:54.365 --> 00:09:56.932 They were comfortable on the water at night. 00:09:56.932 --> 00:09:59.000 Fishing is sometimes better at night. 00:09:59.000 --> 00:10:00.566 So they're familiar with that. 00:10:00.566 --> 00:10:08.932 They would be familiar with crossing this particular body of water, and they would be familiar and expecting seas to kind of be a little bit rocky. 00:10:08.932 --> 00:10:12.566 Even storms storms occur on this body of water. 00:10:12.566 --> 00:10:13.765 They would have expected that. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:16.732 They weren't fishing. 00:10:16.732 --> 00:10:18.232 They were crossing the water. 00:10:18.232 --> 00:10:21.666 But regardless of their intent, they would have been confident that they could do it. 00:10:21.666 --> 00:10:24.832 It's important to know that this is not a big body of water. 00:10:24.832 --> 00:10:29.332 The sea of Galilee at its widest point, it's about eight miles across. 00:10:29.332 --> 00:10:32.600 So during the day you could see from one side to the other. 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:35.200 On a clear day you could see from one side to the other. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:36.865 So. So it's a body of water. 00:10:36.865 --> 00:10:40.899 It's kind of deep, but it's not like an ocean or a lake where you can't see where you're going. 00:10:40.899 --> 00:10:42.832 They're familiar with it. 00:10:42.832 --> 00:10:45.299 So they felt confident of traveling. 00:10:45.299 --> 00:10:51.100 These these men were skilled on the water and they were without Jesus. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:52.932 But what could go wrong? Right. 00:10:52.932 --> 00:10:54.232 We got this. 00:10:54.232 --> 00:10:56.033 But Jesus had a different plan. 00:10:56.033 --> 00:11:03.966 Jesus was about to use the coming, unexpected storm as another miraculous faith building event for the disciples. 00:11:04.932 --> 00:11:12.966 Even though it's a relatively small body of water, kind of ferocious storms still occur, still occur the topography of the area. 00:11:13.365 --> 00:11:23.500 There's the the air around on the sea is kind of warm, and winds from the east blow in kind of over the hills, in the mountains. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:34.633 And that cooler air from the east mixes with the warm air over the sea, and it causes storms to occur, sometimes pretty ferocious storms with large swells of water there. 00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:36.566 They're expecting that that could happen. 00:11:36.566 --> 00:11:40.033 That's not normal, but well, that is normal. There is. 00:11:40.033 --> 00:11:44.732 There was something unusual about this particular storm, though, something that they weren't expecting. 00:11:44.732 --> 00:11:45.966 It was different. 00:11:45.966 --> 00:11:47.365 It was harder. 00:11:47.365 --> 00:11:51.732 In fact, they panicked because it scared them. 00:11:51.732 --> 00:11:53.765 They didn't know how to respond. 00:11:53.765 --> 00:11:54.832 They were confused. 00:11:54.832 --> 00:11:55.799 They were turned around. 00:11:55.799 --> 00:11:57.700 They didn't know which way to go. 00:11:57.700 --> 00:12:03.166 In fact, they were basically lost in this essentially a big lake. 00:12:04.432 --> 00:12:08.166 The storm was that bad and they panicked that much. 00:12:09.100 --> 00:12:11.633 Jesus wasn't with them physically. 00:12:11.633 --> 00:12:16.265 He had pulled away, like I said, to recover and reflect on some recent events. 00:12:16.265 --> 00:12:21.832 Like I said, the feeding of the 5000 that had just happened, that's a pretty big event. 00:12:21.832 --> 00:12:26.500 His cousin, John the Baptist had just died. 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:28.832 He had just found out about that. 00:12:28.832 --> 00:12:31.832 That would be cause for some reflection. 00:12:32.332 --> 00:12:36.832 The disciples had also just come back from their time being away for ministry. 00:12:36.832 --> 00:12:38.566 He had sent them out to minister. 00:12:38.566 --> 00:12:41.533 They had come back and we're sharing stories about that. 00:12:41.533 --> 00:12:44.066 There's a lot for Jesus that he needed to process. 00:12:44.066 --> 00:12:46.566 So he needed to be by himself. 00:12:46.566 --> 00:12:54.000 And there seems to be an understanding that Jesus would catch up. Probably on a boat the next day. 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.332 Jesus would catch up to them. 00:12:55.332 --> 00:12:57.100 That was the assumption. 00:12:57.100 --> 00:13:02.100 But we see this in John chapter six, verse nine, verses 16 through 19. 00:13:02.966 --> 00:13:08.533 So when they had rode about 3 or 4 miles or about halfway across, remember it's about eight miles across. 00:13:08.533 --> 00:13:16.832 About halfway across they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat, and they were afraid. 00:13:16.832 --> 00:13:20.500 But he said to them, it is I do not be afraid. 00:13:21.365 --> 00:13:23.232 So I want to hit on this just a little bit. 00:13:23.232 --> 00:13:30.832 There are many passages in Scripture where, where we hear that where an angel or God or Jesus or the writer is telling us to not be afraid. 00:13:30.832 --> 00:13:35.332 I want to highlight some of these, and later on I'm going to bring them back in to highlight a point. 00:13:35.332 --> 00:13:37.033 But I just wanted to mention these to you. 00:13:37.033 --> 00:13:38.399 Feel free to write these down. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:41.332 Sometimes life gets hard and life gets fearful. 00:13:41.332 --> 00:13:44.100 Maybe write down these scriptures so you remember them. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.466 We see in Joshua one nine. 00:13:46.466 --> 00:13:47.865 This is one of my favorite scriptures. 00:13:47.865 --> 00:13:55.033 The Lord is transferring power from the children of Israel, from the recently deceased Moses over to his second in command, Joshua. 00:13:55.033 --> 00:13:58.732 Joshua, the Lord is speaking to Joshua. 00:13:58.732 --> 00:13:59.932 He's reminding them. 00:13:59.932 --> 00:14:02.265 He's reminding him of this promise. 00:14:02.265 --> 00:14:03.666 Have I not commanded you? 00:14:03.666 --> 00:14:06.100 Be strong and of good courage. 00:14:06.100 --> 00:14:11.299 Do not be afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:19.799 That's not the first time Joshua and the nation of Israel at that point had heard that Moses has shared that same word from the Lord earlier in a speech. 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:22.500 6. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:28.932 God had provided the same message of reassurance to them in this way be strong and of good courage. 00:14:28.932 --> 00:14:35.066 Do not fear, nor be afraid, for the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. 00:14:35.066 --> 00:14:38.066 He will not leave you nor forsake you. 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.700 Here are some other scriptures 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:43.765 10-- fear not, for I am with you. 00:14:44.200 --> 00:14:46.832 Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 00:14:46.832 --> 00:14:47.932 I will strengthen you. 00:14:47.932 --> 00:14:49.066 Yes, I will help you. 00:14:49.066 --> 00:14:52.932 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 00:14:52.932 --> 00:14:57.466 1-- the Lord is my light and my salvation. 00:14:57.566 --> 00:14:59.500 Whom shall I fear? 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:01.732 The Lord is the strength of my life. 00:15:01.732 --> 00:15:03.832 Whom shall I be afraid? 00:15:03.832 --> 00:15:11.332 33, this one's pretty familiar probably-- these things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. 00:15:11.332 --> 00:15:14.932 In the world you will have trouble or tribulation. 00:15:14.932 --> 00:15:23.899 I like to highlight that word will-- in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world. 00:15:25.466 --> 00:15:39.932 So as we continue to look at this scene on the water, I wanted to bring out a couple other versions of it because two of the other because two of the other gospels talk about this same scene, but they bring about differences, they bring about different details. 00:15:39.932 --> 00:15:42.732 And I'm going to insert those into my points here in a little bit. 00:15:42.732 --> 00:15:45.600 But let's finish up with John chapter six, verse 21. 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:49.765 This is the John's narrative to sort of wrap it up. 00:15:49.765 --> 00:15:56.832 Then they willingly received him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. 00:15:56.832 --> 00:15:59.633 Well that's pretty cool. 00:15:59.633 --> 00:16:01.133 Well, let's see what Mark has to say. 00:16:01.133 --> 00:16:04.133 Mark chapter six, verse 49 through 51. 00:16:05.633 --> 00:16:11.899 And when they saw him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him, and were troubled. 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:15.500 But immediately he talked with them, and said to them, be of good cheer. 00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:17.932 It is I do not be afraid. 00:16:17.932 --> 00:16:20.865 Then he went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. 00:16:20.865 --> 00:16:24.466 And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 00:16:25.732 --> 00:16:29.365 There's one more version of this in Matthew chapter 14. 00:16:29.633 --> 00:16:35.566 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a ghost. Pause. 00:16:35.566 --> 00:16:39.232 Does anybody else read that like Scooby Doo, or is it just me? 00:16:39.232 --> 00:16:41.033 Right. 00:16:41.033 --> 00:16:43.332 A ghost. 00:16:43.332 --> 00:16:46.332 Anyway, and they cried out in fear. 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.932 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, be of good cheer. 00:16:49.932 --> 00:16:52.133 It is I do not be afraid. 00:16:52.133 --> 00:16:56.200 And Peter answered him, saying, well, this is interesting, right? Lord? 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:00.500 If it is you, command me to come to you on the water, how many of us would have done that? 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.466 So Jesus said, come. 00:17:02.466 --> 00:17:06.932 And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 00:17:06.932 --> 00:17:10.932 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink. 00:17:10.932 --> 00:17:18.200 He cried out, saying, Lord, save me! And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and called him and said to him, oh, you of little faith. 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.000 Why did you doubt me? 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.465 And when they got into that, and when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 00:17:24.465 --> 00:17:29.432 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, truly you are the Son of God. 00:17:29.665 --> 00:17:32.232 We see in this scene that Jesus is who he says he is. 00:17:32.232 --> 00:17:36.066 Jesus is showing the disciples that he is who he says he is. 00:17:37.432 --> 00:17:40.833 Jesus is teaching them to look for him for help in their time of trouble. 00:17:40.833 --> 00:17:48.099 He is the Son of God, the ruler of the universe, master over all creation and their help in time of need. 00:17:49.032 --> 00:17:59.633 One of our former pastors used to say, you're either coming out of a storm, you're going through a storm, or you're about to go through a storm. 00:17:59.732 --> 00:18:02.865 I'm going to talk a little bit about some storms that we go through. 00:18:02.865 --> 00:18:09.465 This was a real storm that those that the that the disciples had to navigate through. 00:18:09.465 --> 00:18:12.833 I've ran through a real storm that I had to figure out. 00:18:12.833 --> 00:18:18.700 But sometimes there are storms in our life that aren't thunder and lightning, but they're pretty ferocious. 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:20.665 Why does God allow us to go through storms? 00:18:21.932 --> 00:18:23.333 Why can't I mean, I'm a Christian. 00:18:23.333 --> 00:18:26.566 Why can't God just let good things happen to me? 00:18:26.566 --> 00:18:32.833 There's an old adage that says, smooth seas make poor sailors. 00:18:33.932 --> 00:18:38.833 President Franklin Roosevelt said a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:49.500 Storms teach us resiliency how to push through hard times and to rely on the Lord in our times of trouble. 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:52.400 So what will our response be when storms do come? 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.165 What do you do when you don't know what to do? 00:18:57.032 --> 00:18:58.000 Some examples. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:03.032 What do you do, teenagers, when you're getting bullied at school? 00:19:03.032 --> 00:19:05.700 That's a storm. 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:09.333 And I know there are other teenagers probably in the room, but they're kind of concentrated over here. 00:19:09.333 --> 00:19:10.900 So I'm going to speak to them for just a second. 00:19:13.432 --> 00:19:16.799 What do you do when you're getting bullied at school and it happens? 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:18.532 It probably happens to every single one of you. 00:19:18.532 --> 00:19:19.833 It happened to me. 00:19:19.833 --> 00:19:24.333 I got bullied relentlessly at school, in middle school, and high school for various things. 00:19:24.333 --> 00:19:25.465 What do you do? 00:19:25.465 --> 00:19:27.532 Let me give you some advice. 00:19:27.532 --> 00:19:32.932 Your value is not dependent upon what other people think or say about you. 00:19:33.133 --> 00:19:35.232 It doesn't matter. 00:19:35.232 --> 00:19:36.066 Think to yourself. 00:19:36.066 --> 00:19:37.732 Is what that person saying true? 00:19:37.732 --> 00:19:39.066 Probably not. 00:19:39.066 --> 00:19:40.566 They're just mean people. 00:19:40.566 --> 00:19:41.766 There are mean people. 00:19:41.766 --> 00:19:42.965 There are mean kids. 00:19:42.965 --> 00:19:44.633 There are mean adults. 00:19:44.633 --> 00:19:46.165 And we have a choice to make. 00:19:46.165 --> 00:19:54.032 Are we going to value what they say over what God tells us in Scripture, or are we going to trust in the promises that we are a child of God? 00:19:54.032 --> 00:19:59.000 We have a purpose and he has created us uniquely and wonderfully. 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:03.200 That is a promise that he has for us. 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.932 And let me just address this too. 00:20:05.932 --> 00:20:09.532 If you're somebody who likes to pick on other people, stop it. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:12.032 Just stop it. 00:20:12.032 --> 00:20:13.700 You don't have to. 00:20:13.700 --> 00:20:17.232 And if you see other people being picked on, step in. 00:20:17.232 --> 00:20:25.633 Not in a mean way, not in a confrontational mean, I'm going to beat you up retaliate way, but stick up for your friends that are getting picked on. 00:20:26.032 --> 00:20:29.099 Being being bullied and picked on is a big deal. 00:20:29.099 --> 00:20:30.766 And don't let adults demean that. 00:20:30.766 --> 00:20:32.833 It is a big deal. It's a big deal to you. 00:20:32.833 --> 00:20:35.465 Let adults know about it too, so that they can help you. 00:20:35.465 --> 00:20:36.532 And that's a storm. 00:20:36.532 --> 00:20:41.500 That's a real storm that these folks have to deal with almost on a daily basis. 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:44.500 Other storms that we have to navigate. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.732 What about, what about when you don't know how you're going to pay your bills? 00:20:49.865 --> 00:20:53.500 You have too much month left at the end of your money. 00:20:53.799 --> 00:20:56.965 Your car needs to be repaired again. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:02.000 That school keeps sending your kid home. 00:21:02.566 --> 00:21:06.232 It's a week to payday and food is running short. 00:21:06.232 --> 00:21:09.232 You get that eviction notice. 00:21:10.432 --> 00:21:12.599 What about if it's even more serious? 00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:15.599 What if that loved one passes away? 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:20.200 My, what if your father dies? 00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:23.400 What if your mother dies? 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:27.299 My father used to sit right where Ms. Barbara is sitting right now. 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.133 Right up there. 00:21:28.133 --> 00:21:29.732 We used to sit there for years. 00:21:29.732 --> 00:21:31.266 Every time I look up there. 00:21:31.266 --> 00:21:34.266 I think of my dad sitting right there. 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:38.833 That's a storm when somebody you love passes away. 00:21:38.833 --> 00:21:40.465 What do you do? 00:21:40.465 --> 00:21:50.932 What do you do when you start googling the results of the tests that you just had on MyChart, and you see scary words. 00:21:51.165 --> 00:21:54.165 The doctor says cancer. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.900 Or your spouse says it's over. 00:21:56.900 --> 00:21:58.500 We're done. 00:21:58.500 --> 00:22:04.432 These are real storms, real life things that we've got to navigate and look through. 00:22:04.432 --> 00:22:05.865 Life is full of storms. 00:22:05.865 --> 00:22:07.865 It's always going to be that way. 00:22:07.865 --> 00:22:14.700 No one worth listening to ever promised that life would be easy, especially if you're a Christian. 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:17.732 But through storms, God has lessons to teach us. 00:22:17.732 --> 00:22:20.633 So here's four lessons that he's going to teach us through storms. 00:22:20.633 --> 00:22:24.365 One is to trust these are not on the screen. 00:22:24.365 --> 00:22:28.465 You just have to write them down or remember them. One is to trust. 00:22:28.465 --> 00:22:32.465 For one thing, remember the disciples were out on the sea on their own. 00:22:32.465 --> 00:22:33.900 But Jesus was watching. 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:38.066 Jesus was aware of what was going on while he wasn't present. 00:22:38.066 --> 00:22:39.965 He was watching them from a distance. 00:22:39.965 --> 00:22:44.400 He was allowing them to struggle because he had a greater plan in store for them. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:48.365 While it was hard and scary, he was not going to let them falter. 00:22:48.365 --> 00:22:59.099 In fact, I think it's safe to say that Jesus knew the type of storm they were about to go in, and he let them go into it because he knew he would be with them to face it. 00:23:00.066 --> 00:23:04.299 He knew he had a lesson for them to learn at the end of it. 00:23:04.299 --> 00:23:11.133 Going back to Matthew's account, when Peter came out, when Peter came out of the boat and started to sink. 00:23:11.133 --> 00:23:23.599 Jesus is teaching Peter and the others that even and especially during storms when it's most difficult to trust, we need to keep our eyes and faith focused on him. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:31.200 So I tell our life group all the time, and they probably get tired of hearing me say this, but I think about this when I'm at work and in other situations. 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:37.066 He has not brought me this far for me to fail. 00:23:37.165 --> 00:23:41.165 He has not brought you this far for you to fail. 00:23:41.165 --> 00:23:42.865 Or to put it another way. 00:23:42.865 --> 00:23:46.099 We didn't come this far to only come this far. 00:23:47.532 --> 00:23:50.400 Our life won't always be easy. 00:23:50.400 --> 00:23:52.465 There will be storms. 00:23:52.465 --> 00:23:54.099 There will be obstacles. 00:23:54.099 --> 00:23:55.633 We will stumble. 00:23:55.633 --> 00:23:56.833 We will fall. 00:23:56.833 --> 00:23:58.865 It will be hard at times. 00:23:58.865 --> 00:24:03.200 But we need to trust that there is a greater plan at work. 00:24:04.432 --> 00:24:05.165 Second point. 00:24:05.165 --> 00:24:06.599 First one was trust. 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:09.532 Second one is surrender. 00:24:09.532 --> 00:24:14.932 We learned to submit to God's authority that he has over the lives and circumstances surrounding us. 00:24:14.932 --> 00:24:21.566 Remember back in John it said they willingly received him into the boat and the boat was immediately where they were headed. 00:24:21.566 --> 00:24:23.032 They were rescued. 00:24:23.032 --> 00:24:30.766 They were rescued by surrendering their control over their circumstances to Jesus, and they arrived safely at the end of their journey. 00:24:30.766 --> 00:24:33.766 So we have trust and we have surrender. 00:24:33.865 --> 00:24:36.833 The next one is courage. 00:24:36.833 --> 00:24:42.165 In the book of Mark that we read, that account, we saw that he was walking on the sea. 00:24:42.165 --> 00:24:43.365 They were scared. 00:24:43.365 --> 00:24:44.932 And he says, be of good cheer. 00:24:44.932 --> 00:24:46.432 Do not be afraid. 00:24:46.432 --> 00:24:48.465 And then he went up into the boat. 00:24:48.465 --> 00:24:55.900 In their great hour of trouble, distress, and need, Jesus was showing them that they needed to have the courage to focus on him. 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:58.633 See, when we get scared, when we get fearful, when we're. 00:24:58.633 --> 00:25:00.066 When we're afraid. 00:25:00.066 --> 00:25:05.099 We tend to take the focus off of the Lord and put it on our our own strength. 00:25:06.566 --> 00:25:08.665 And we can't do anything in our own strength. 00:25:08.665 --> 00:25:11.000 We need to keep our focus on him. 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:14.766 He is teaching them to keep your eyes on me. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:27.299 That great theologian, John Wayne once said, courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway. 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:32.333 I have that on a magnet in my office, by the way, at work. 00:25:32.333 --> 00:25:43.066 When faced with a tough situation like maybe I have an uncomfortable meeting I have to have with somebody, or maybe I've been asked to speak to a roomful of people while being live streamed over the internet. 00:25:43.066 --> 00:25:49.299 When you're faced with a difficult situation, or when I am, I tend to tell myself this one thing. 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:53.532 And I've said this to my kids on certain occasions over the years, too. 00:25:53.532 --> 00:25:56.000 What's the worst that can happen? 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:59.732 I'm not going to die, right? 00:25:59.732 --> 00:26:01.165 What's the worst that could happen? 00:26:01.165 --> 00:26:06.965 Nearly everything I've ever been afraid of or nervous about hasn't been nearly as awful as I thought it was going to be. 00:26:06.965 --> 00:26:10.500 In fact, it usually turns out for the better. 00:26:10.633 --> 00:26:12.000 So think about this. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:15.133 What if that thing you're so worried about? 00:26:15.133 --> 00:26:17.833 What if it all works out? 00:26:17.833 --> 00:26:22.400 What if it's actually better than you could have ever imagined? 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:28.599 Focus on being courageous by giving your fear of tomorrow over to the Lord. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:37.200 In Matthew chapter six, verse 34, it says this-- therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. 00:26:37.200 --> 00:26:40.333 Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. 00:26:40.333 --> 00:26:45.266 Don't let the fear of tomorrow steal your joy from today. 00:26:45.665 --> 00:26:46.599 We have trust. 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:49.232 We have surrender. We have courage. 00:26:49.232 --> 00:26:53.032 And the last one is storms teach us to prepare. 00:26:53.032 --> 00:26:54.500 This won't be the last storm. 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:58.200 Whatever storm you just came out of won't be the last one. 00:26:58.200 --> 00:27:01.032 Whatever storm you're about to go into, it won't be the last one. 00:27:01.032 --> 00:27:04.700 Whatever storm you're in right now, it won't be the last one. 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:06.465 That's not very encouraging. 00:27:06.465 --> 00:27:09.566 But every storm that we go through prepares us for the next one. 00:27:11.333 --> 00:27:18.133 The Lord uses tough times to build us up, to make us stronger for his purpose. Resiliency. 00:27:18.133 --> 00:27:21.133 When the next storm comes, you, Bill, you will be ready. 00:27:21.133 --> 00:27:22.665 Remember when times get tough. 00:27:22.665 --> 00:27:26.700 He didn't bring you this far to only bring you this far. 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:33.066 33, back when I read earlier these things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. 00:27:33.066 --> 00:27:38.333 In the world you will have trouble, but I have overcome the world. 00:27:38.333 --> 00:27:42.833 Jesus is teaching the disciples and us that he is the one who will see us through storms. 00:27:42.833 --> 00:27:48.133 You may fall and you may stumble, and it will be hard, and you may not see a lot of good in it, but keep this in mind. 00:27:48.133 --> 00:27:55.599 Philippians one verse six says this-- he who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:02.165 I'm going to wrap this up with a little story. 00:28:02.165 --> 00:28:05.165 In 1870. 00:28:05.566 --> 00:28:08.266 Most of you weren't alive then. 00:28:08.266 --> 00:28:14.500 A wealthy Chicago real estate developer lost his four year old son to scarlet fever. 00:28:15.465 --> 00:28:16.732 That wasn't enough. 00:28:16.732 --> 00:28:24.965 Two years later, a great fire ravaged the city of Chicago, the Windy City ravaged, and he was a real estate developer. 00:28:24.965 --> 00:28:27.432 He lost most of his investments. 00:28:27.432 --> 00:28:30.432 His personal income was devastated. 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:45.932 So while recovering from these tragedies, in 1873, he decided to take his wife and four and four children, four girls on a trip to Europe. 00:28:45.932 --> 00:28:48.932 A much needed vacation, if you will. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:53.833 At the last minute, some business matters came up that he had to attend to. 00:28:53.833 --> 00:28:57.766 He couldn't leave right then, so he said, you all go ahead without me. 00:28:57.766 --> 00:28:58.432 I'll catch up. 00:28:59.833 --> 00:29:02.000 So his wife and four daughters start. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:03.066 They hop on the ship. 00:29:03.066 --> 00:29:05.333 They’re crossing the Atlantic Ocean. 00:29:05.333 --> 00:29:10.566 Along the way that ship collides with another ship. 00:29:11.266 --> 00:29:15.932 The ship, carrying his wife and four girls sinks into the ocean. 00:29:17.066 --> 00:29:21.165 Hundreds of people die, including the four daughters. 00:29:21.165 --> 00:29:27.700 The wife is somehow saved, her and I think 27 other people are saved in the ocean. 00:29:28.200 --> 00:29:34.665 They find her clinging to a piece of the vessel she's rescued, brought on board ship. 00:29:36.133 --> 00:29:39.165 She arrived safely to where they were headed in France. 00:29:39.165 --> 00:29:42.165 And she telegraphs her husband 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:45.799 saved alone. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:54.200 There was another, I read another account or two where it says. She said saved alone. 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:56.865 What shall I do? 00:29:56.865 --> 00:29:57.665 He. 00:29:57.665 --> 00:30:03.133 He then immediately drops everything as anyone would, and starts heading across the Atlantic to be with his wife. 00:30:05.965 --> 00:30:08.165 As they're on the ship. 00:30:08.165 --> 00:30:13.799 They start to reach the point where the accident happened. 00:30:13.799 --> 00:30:18.133 The captain knows the story, so he notifies the man. 00:30:18.133 --> 00:30:20.232 We're approaching the area. 00:30:20.232 --> 00:30:23.799 Obviously, he was very emotional with this. 00:30:24.932 --> 00:30:29.566 They were passing over the area that his four little girls had drowned. 00:30:31.066 --> 00:30:50.465 From that tragedy he wrote soon thereafter these words-- When peace like a river, attendeth my way. 00:30:51.532 --> 00:30:58.000 When sorrows like sea billows roll. 00:30:59.032 --> 00:31:08.066 Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say. 00:31:09.066 --> 00:31:11.766 It is well. 00:31:11.766 --> 00:31:18.365 It is well with my soul. 00:31:19.432 --> 00:31:24.032 There are other verses, though Satan should buffet, That trials should come. 00:31:24.032 --> 00:31:26.500 Let this blessed assurance control. 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:32.133 That Christ has regarded my helpless estate and Hath shed his own blood for my soul. 00:31:34.133 --> 00:31:36.532 My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought. 00:31:36.532 --> 00:31:41.333 My sin, not in part, but the whole, is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more. 00:31:41.333 --> 00:31:44.099 Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul. 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:47.099 And then there's the fourth verse. 00:31:47.766 --> 00:31:49.865 Feel free to sing along. 00:31:49.865 --> 00:31:58.299 And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight. 00:31:58.833 --> 00:32:05.599 The clouds be rolled back as a scroll. 00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:15.500 The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend. 00:32:15.833 --> 00:32:25.000 Even so it is well with my soul. 00:32:25.165 --> 00:32:27.099 And then the refrain goes. 00:32:27.099 --> 00:32:37.266 It is well with my soul. 00:32:38.665 --> 00:32:49.432 It is well, it is well with my soul. 00:32:49.566 --> 00:32:53.299 That song that you've heard your whole life came out about from that tragedy. 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:55.732 And how many times have we sang that song? 00:32:55.732 --> 00:32:58.400 And it has ministered to us and it. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:00.066 And it resonates within us. 00:33:00.066 --> 00:33:05.133 Because times are tough and life is hard, and storms come and we don't know what we're going to do. 00:33:05.133 --> 00:33:07.165 God, it's not fair. 00:33:07.165 --> 00:33:09.400 Why do I have to go through this? 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:12.633 There's lessons to be learned from that song. 00:33:12.633 --> 00:33:21.365 I hope you, when you hear that song, you maybe think about it differently with that story because out of great tragedy comes great promise and great hope. 00:33:21.365 --> 00:33:23.766 Whatever storm you're facing, you're not alone. 00:33:23.766 --> 00:33:28.066 In fact, often God will send someone to help support you and love you through it. 00:33:28.066 --> 00:33:33.099 Just trust that no matter the storm, God is preparing you for something greater. 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:40.665 So have the courage to keep moving forward, trust in his promises, and surrender to his presence and purpose for your life. 00:33:41.633 --> 00:33:45.932 I'm going to wrap this up in prayer, and then John's going to come up to close out the service. 00:33:45.932 --> 00:33:48.000 God, we thank you for the message of hope. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:59.333 We thank you for this message, God, that we recognize that when storms do come, great storms, literal storms, but even figurative storms that we see in our lives, God, that we would keep our focus on you. 00:33:59.333 --> 00:34:04.133 Times are tough, God, but we know that you didn't bring us this far to only come this far. 00:34:04.133 --> 00:34:08.932 You have a greater plan and purpose at work in our lives that we can't even understand or see. 00:34:08.932 --> 00:34:12.132 But we trust you and we give those to you right now. 00:34:12.132 --> 00:34:14.032 We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.