WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:05.360 So today you you probably noticed a theme in the uh the worship songs. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:09.279 Uh they they kind of knew they they knew what I was preaching, and so there was a theme. 00:00:09.359 --> 00:00:13.199 So if you haven't picked up the theme for the morning yet, you you're about to pick it up. 00:00:13.279 --> 00:00:17.199 Uh, because sometimes storms you can see coming. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:22.079 Sometimes you you know, are you uh any storm chasers in your house? 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:24.320 I got a lot of storm chasers in my house. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:28.719 Uh so when they see dark clouds on the horizon, they're like, storms are coming. 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:31.359 Uh I'm like, everybody calm down, okay? 00:00:31.440 --> 00:00:34.240 Not every storm is an EF5 tornado, okay? 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:35.920 Unless you ask Isaiah. 00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:42.399 If you if you want a good laugh, go ask Isaiah about tornadoes uh and carve out about 30 minutes because you're gonna need it. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:49.200 Uh and so, but sometimes we see storms coming, but other times they come out of nowhere. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:54.880 Maybe a phone call, a diagnosis, a bill, a conversation we weren't ready for. 00:00:55.039 --> 00:01:01.520 Uh and for me, I you know, I have so many storms in my life, and and I was trying to whittle it down to one. 00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:07.920 But the one that I thought would be most helpful to you, the Lord brought to my mind on my my drive into work one day. 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:13.439 Um, you know, everybody grows up and they think that marriage is gonna be a fairy tale. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:16.400 Raise your hand in here if you thought marriage was gonna be a fairy tale. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:17.760 Just be honest, okay? 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:24.079 I thought I thought that I'd get married and my wife would wake up every morning, good morning, handsome. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.000 I'm so happy you're next to me, right? 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.040 And she still does that every day. 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:32.799 Uh, but yeah, I thought that was that's what marriage was gonna be. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:39.200 And so when Crystal and I, if you don't know our story, we we met in Abilene, and Crystal grew up most of her life in Abilene. 00:01:39.280 --> 00:01:42.480 I grew up most of my life here uh in the Johnson County area. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:44.400 Not gonna tell you where because you're gonna judge me. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:45.760 Uh, but it was Burleson. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:47.439 I didn't get to choose it, it was my parents. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:50.640 Uh and so, but I came to Cleveland as fast as I can, right? 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:58.400 Uh, but you know, and so I met Crystal while I was at college and I was on staff at a church in Midland, Texas. 00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:03.200 And so when we got married, I got offered a full-time position at the church that I was at at the time. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:09.120 And so we got married and moved two hours away from Crystal's parents. 00:02:09.280 --> 00:02:13.199 Now, Crystal had lived with her mom and dad pretty much all of her life. 00:02:13.360 --> 00:02:18.800 Even in college, she paid for a dorm but slept at her parents' house uh because she was in Abilene. 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:20.319 So that's just what she did. 00:02:20.479 --> 00:02:22.960 She she was always a homebody, even to this day. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:27.759 Crystal would love to be at home, watching a TV at home. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:29.840 That's that's what she she wants to do. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:30.879 That's her happy place. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:36.639 And some of you introverts are like, Yes, give me the crime, drama, murder, mystery, snap. 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:38.319 That's where she wants to be, right? 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:47.520 Uh, and so when I took her away from the home that she knew, you know, me evil men, took her away and we got married. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:51.439 Crystal, when we, you know, you thought, hey, we're married. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:53.039 This ought to be the honeymoon phase. 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:54.639 We ought to be, it'd be ought to be awesome. 00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:57.599 And for the first couple weeks, it was it was nice. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:02.000 And then Crystal slipped into a deep dark depression. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:10.159 And there was times that I would walk into the room and she'd be sitting in our bed crying, saying that she missed home. 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:12.800 But she said, Don't worry, I'm really happy. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:16.560 Like, you seem happy. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:33.759 And so there was many a weekend where we'd leave on Friday, spend Friday and Saturday with her parents, stay till like 11 o'clock at night because we were young and 20 and could do that, drive at midnight to Abilene, get up and do church the next morning when we went to bed at 2 a.m. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:35.759 Because she missed her mom and dad. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:41.840 And and for me as a young married man, I was like, am I not enough? 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:47.439 And it was a storm for us because, you know, I wanted to be there for my wife. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:54.639 I wanted to love her, but you know, I was going through the adjustments of getting married, and and it was a huge adjustment for her. 00:03:54.800 --> 00:03:59.439 And what was amazing is God met us in our storm. 00:03:59.599 --> 00:04:03.520 It wasn't a storm that we were ready for, it wasn't a storm we were prepared for. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:07.439 We both expected we'd get married and all of our problems would be solved, right? 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.520 We get to spend every night with each other, we wouldn't have to tell each other goodnight. 00:04:12.319 --> 00:04:16.639 And we got there and it wasn't what we expected it to be. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:23.040 But what was amazing is without that storm, we wouldn't be here today. 00:04:24.480 --> 00:04:32.480 God used the storm of the first 10 months of our marriage to unsettle us to the point that we are your pastors now. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:39.680 And so sometimes God uses storms to redirect you. 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:44.000 Sometimes God uses storms to go, hey, are you listening? 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:49.519 And so this morning, when we say storms, I think we always assume they're bad. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:52.959 But sometimes storms are a good thing. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:57.040 Now, this morning, that's where the disciples find themselves. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:01.199 In Luke chapter 8, if you want to grab your Bibles, you can go ahead and head that way. 00:05:01.439 --> 00:05:05.519 Jesus told them, Let us go across the side of the lake. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:09.040 And that's exactly where Jesus told them to be. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:12.800 But yet, the storm still came. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:17.279 Because following Jesus does not make you storm-proof. 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:23.759 You can be right in the middle of God's will and still find yourself right in the middle of a storm. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:30.399 The question isn't whether the storm will come, the question is where is your faith when the storm comes? 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:38.879 Because the storm may be bigger than you, but the storm is never bigger than your Jesus. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:41.600 And that's what you have to remember. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:44.480 There is no storm that is greater than our God. 00:05:45.439 --> 00:05:49.839 Just like we're saying, the storm may surround us, but we're not gonna fall. 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:50.319 Why? 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:52.319 Because God is holding us up. 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:59.920 So if you're keeping, if you're taking notes today, the title of my message is Keeping the Faith in the Middle of the Storm. 00:06:00.160 --> 00:06:01.839 Keeping the faith in the middle of the storm. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.040 If you have your Bibles, grab them. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:04.319 Go to Luke chapter 8. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:06.560 We're gonna start in verse 22 this morning. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:09.600 I'd like to make a quick announcement, if you will allow me. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:15.199 Uh, coming up in two weeks, two weeks from this Sunday, is Kick Off Sunday. 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:16.319 Anybody excited? 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:17.600 Kick Off Sunday. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:19.839 So we we it is back. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:26.079 I know everybody gave, I heard the complaint departments you hated dressing up for a 15-year anniversary. 00:06:26.160 --> 00:06:30.720 Uh, so the staff fought me and brought back uh the football jerseys. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:37.279 So the football jerseys and and the jerseys are gonna be back on uh the second Sunday of September, whatever that is. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:38.560 I think it's the 13th. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.639 Uh, and we're gonna have kickoff Sunday. 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:46.079 After the second service, we're gonna clear all the chairs from in here and have lunch provided. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.319 Uh, and so we're gonna have church and food. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:48.879 Amen. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:55.759 Uh and so uh if you come to the first service and you'd like to come back after the second and have lunch, you're more than welcome to do it. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:59.360 Uh, unfortunately, we just don't have a spot unless you want to donate$2 million. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:00.959 We could probably get it done for that. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:04.399 Uh, we could have uh another spot to do that. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:11.360 Uh, but it it if the Lord tarries and doesn't give us$2 million between now and two weeks, we'll do it after the second service, okay? 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:16.319 Uh and so we're we're gonna be excited to have time and wear your football jerseys. 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:20.079 It is the first Sunday of the NFL season, but it's also our fall kickoff. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:25.600 And we want to encourage you that if you bring a friend that day, you will get an exclusive t-shirt. 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.120 You're like, Pastor, why are you bribing me to bring friends to church? 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:31.040 Because that's what you're supposed to do. 00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:36.160 You're supposed to find friends that are lost and say, Hey, don't you want to find Jesus? 00:07:36.319 --> 00:07:39.439 And we'll give you a t-shirt if you do what the Lord commands you to do. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:40.160 Amen. 00:07:40.480 --> 00:07:43.600 And so we're really excited about that that day. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:47.600 So find you a lost friend and say, Hey, I know we're not friends, but I want to get a free t-shirt. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:48.720 Would you come to church with me? 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:49.199 Okay. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.839 So let's get into it. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.639 Luke chapter 8, we're gonna start in verse 22. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:59.920 One day he got in the boat with his disciples and he said to them, Let us go across to the other side. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:11.279 So they set out, and as they sailed, he fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filled, they were filling with water and were in danger. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:17.680 Point number one Obedience doesn't guarantee calm waters. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:22.959 Obedience doesn't guarantee calm waters. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:26.399 I think sometimes we think, God, I did what you told me to do. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:27.759 He's like, so? 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:28.959 Right? 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:34.879 Jesus told his disciples to go across the lake. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:38.159 And while they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:38.720 Okay? 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.600 Now you nap people, any nap people in the room? 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:44.080 I'll sleep when I'm dead, okay? 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:49.360 You nap people, you're like, I want to be more like Jesus, I want to take a nap, okay? 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:50.799 Don't come at me with that. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:51.200 All right. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:56.000 So, but here's your theological proof if you want to throw it in your spouse's face that Jesus took a nap. 00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:01.360 But suddenly a violent storm arose and the boat began to fill with water. 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.559 And there was real, the Bible said, danger. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:12.639 Faith doesn't pretend there is a storm, faith recognizes there is a storm, but there's also Jesus. 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:22.879 And don't miss this: the storm didn't mean they had missed God, the storm meant they were exactly where Jesus wanted them to be. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:31.440 In fact, theologically, Jesus sent them into the storm. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:38.399 If we truly believe that he's fully God and fully man, and we'll we'll discuss this in hell and other hot topics, right, Steven? 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:42.879 If you truly believe, there's the plug for your class, sign up for it today. 00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:45.519 Uh he he only slipped me a 20 for that. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:50.240 Uh but if you want to give me more, I'll plug your group too. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:58.240 Uh if you want to believe that he's fully God and fully man, he knew that the storm would be there, and he sent him in there anyway. 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:00.480 But think about it. 00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:03.759 Anybody ever been on an airplane and had turbulence? 00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.200 Yeah. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.200 I remember back, I remember back one of our trips to Guatemala. 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:17.440 We were we were flying into Guatemala City, and it's it's kind of a it's kind of a deep bank because it's it's at elevation, and so there's mountains all around. 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:19.519 Uh, and it was raining as we were coming in. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.519 Uh, and you know, you look out the window and you see the ground getting closer, closer, closer. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:29.759 And we got to the point to where I was waiting for the the tires to go, right? 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:35.120 And the pilot goes, and we take off. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:40.720 And I'm like, I'm sitting there going, What is happening? 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:45.440 Like, is like you have the moment, it's like, is this it for me? 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:47.440 Is this my time? 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:55.200 But when I was young, uh, my dad flew a lot with the military and he taught me something because we had a bumpy landing one time. 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:59.039 Uh, and and he said, always watch the stewardess or the flight attendants. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:00.480 They're not stewardess anymore, sorry. 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:02.000 Uh, watch the flight attendants. 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:05.360 If the flight attendants aren't nervous, you're okay. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:07.120 Because they fly every day. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:17.039 So I was in the aisle, so or I was in the, I think I was in the middle seat because I'm a good leader and I don't make uh my team, I don't make them take the middle seat, I take the middle seat because I'm a good leader. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:17.440 Amen. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:25.600 Uh and so I leaned over, I don't remember who it was, to look at the flight attendants, and they're and they're they're okay, but they're annoyed. 00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.720 And I'm like, we're gonna be okay. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.000 We're gonna be okay. 00:11:30.240 --> 00:11:36.559 What had happened is American Airlines is cheap and does not pack enough fuel for a go-around. 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:43.679 So we had to fly to El Salvador, gas up, and be two hours late getting back to Guatemala. 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:47.200 And so that's what happened, but we didn't die, so praise the Lord. 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:57.600 But the thing is, is sometimes you interpret a storm as uh evidence that God has left you. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:03.919 But instead of asking, why is there a storm, you should ask, who is in the boat with me? 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:13.279 Jesus never promised a storm-free life, but he did promise his presence. 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:20.159 The disciples let the storm make them forget that Jesus had already said, Let us go across to the other side. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:23.759 Jesus had already told him, we're gonna get to the other side. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:35.279 But your faith in the calm, because the storm comes, you need something stronger than your emotions to hold on to. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:40.080 The problem is some of us, our faith is not grounded enough in God. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:43.919 Our emotions dictate our response when the storm comes. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:53.600 The thing is, the disciples, Jesus, he was taking a nap because he knew the storm was coming, but he knew he was going to get to the other side. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:13:02.080 The disciples freak out because their faith is grounded in their emotions, not in the word of God. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:07.759 Listen, the storm can change everything around you, but it can't change the one above you. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:13.440 It can change everything around you, but it can't change the one above you. 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.279 Let's keep going, verse 24. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:22.480 And they went and woke him up saying, Master, master, we are perishing. 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.519 How many of that would be you? 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.200 We're gonna die, is what they said. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:33.120 Okay, Luke made it a little more eloquent. 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:36.799 They're like, Bro, why are you asleep? 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:46.080 Okay, and he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was calm. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:49.679 Any of y'all ever been on a boat where it was going? 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:56.000 And if you were on the men's fishing trip, we're we're reeling it and stuff going. 00:13:57.440 --> 00:13:59.679 I got it, I got it. 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:03.600 Then somebody said, I got a barracuda. 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:07.759 I'm like, I'm going over here because I can't, I'm not falling into a barracuda. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.559 I'm not gonna be on that TikTok video, right? 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:19.360 But imagine you're in that and Jesus goes, stop, and it just goes calm. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:23.120 Can you imagine what can you imagine how trippy that was? 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:30.559 Number two, faith knows where to run when fear hits. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:37.840 The disciples were a bunch of chickens, but they knew who to run to. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:43.360 Because they were just they were crying, Jesus, master, master, master, we're perishing. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:47.200 The fear was real, but notice what what they did with it. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:49.039 They took it to Jesus. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:54.799 Faith isn't pretending that you're not afraid, it's knowing where to run when you are afraid. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:15:06.159 Jesus gets up, rebukes the storm, everything becomes calm, and the one who created the wind speaks, and the wind obeys. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:14.720 Anybody have any scared a cat any scaredy cats of the storms in your house? 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.440 Like, I used to hate, knowing Maddie used to be the worst. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.600 The younger two, I guess because they're three and four, they're built different. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:30.159 But you know, you you just build them harder as you as you go along, right? 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:34.960 Or maybe you care less as a parent and just make them, I don't know, you can figure it out. 00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:55.039 But I always used to remember, you know, you know how in the middle of the night you wake up and you hear the storm, and I would hear we're in we have a two-story house and the kids are upstairs and we're downstairs, and I'd hear and then just a second later, my door would open. 00:15:55.360 --> 00:15:58.159 Tad, did you hear the storm? 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.080 Yeah. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:06.559 And then I'd always say, if I'm not up, you shouldn't be up. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:09.440 But let's be honest. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:13.039 If a tornado takes me while I'm asleep, I'm fine. 00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:14.399 I ain't getting up, right? 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:15.039 Right? 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:17.519 Three in the morning, a tornado comes through. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:19.039 Everybody's like, How did they die? 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.039 I was like, I'm not getting up, right? 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:25.919 Like, if that's how Jesus chooses to take me, I'm cool with it, right? 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.200 I'll be there. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.519 But what do your kids do? 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.840 They they run looking for an explanation. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:33.759 Dad, are we gonna be okay? 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:34.799 I just woke up. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.399 I don't even know where I am. 00:16:38.639 --> 00:16:41.679 But the kids run to somebody they trust. 00:16:42.480 --> 00:16:49.200 Maybe spiritual maturity isn't being afraid, it's knowing where to run when you are afraid. 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:55.279 So, what's your first response when life falls apart? 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:59.519 Worry, panic, or is it prayer? 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:04.880 Because prayer isn't our last resort, it should be our first response. 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:11.920 So bring your fear, bring your family, your finances, your future, bring it all to Jesus. 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:19.359 Because faith isn't pretending the storm doesn't exist, faith is refusing to face it without Jesus. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:25.279 Because fear says we're all gonna die. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:31.200 But faith says Jesus is in the boat. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:34.079 So we're gonna be okay. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:36.960 So here's what I want you to hear this morning. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:48.319 No matter what you face today, no matter what news pops up to you, just remember Jesus is in your boat. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:51.279 So you're gonna be okay. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:17:55.359 There's nothing that the devil can throw at us. 00:17:55.759 --> 00:18:03.839 There's nothing that is ever gonna be a surprise to God because Jesus is in our boat. 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:08.079 Verse 25, let's read the last of the story. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:16.480 He said to them, Where's your faith? 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.599 Right? 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:22.000 How many times you don't have to raise your hand, how many times have God said that to you? 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:23.279 Where's your faith? 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:23.759 You know? 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:26.799 He said that with me with Guatemala the last three times. 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:31.440 The first time he read it, he goes, Where's your fa first time we raised our goal? 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:37.519 I don't remember what our goal was the first year, but the first time he goes, Why didn't you think I could do that? 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:41.119 If I told you to do it, why didn't you think I could do it? 00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.079 Like, but listen, man, I yeah, right. 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:53.119 And they were afraid, they marveled, and they said to each other, Who is this? 00:18:53.759 --> 00:18:59.519 That he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:05.359 They're figuring out, man, maybe he really is the son of God. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:13.599 But yet, they still scrambled when he was arrested. 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:19.119 Number three, the storm isn't just something to survive, it's something God can use. 00:19:21.119 --> 00:19:22.720 That's what we don't like. 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:33.119 We want a storm-free life that everything goes okay, that everybody likes us, nobody's upset with us, everybody's our friend. 00:19:34.720 --> 00:19:37.359 But that's not the life that God promised it. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:41.279 That's not why this story is in the gospels. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:44.559 After Jesus calms the storm, he says, Where's your faith? 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:50.400 Not do you have faith, it's where did your faith go when the storm showed up? 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:52.400 He's like, You should have had faith. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.759 I've taught you this. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:58.880 Storms have a way of revealing what we really trust. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.400 Do you trust yourself or do you trust God? 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:10.880 So when the disciples ask the most important question, who in who then is this? 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:16.960 The point of the story is not just look at what Jesus can do, it's but look who Jesus is. 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:26.160 The one who heals the sick, the one who commands demons and now controls the winds and the waves. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:28.640 He's more than a teacher than a prophet. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:30.079 There's something to this. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:36.319 And if he is Lord over the storms, you can trust him over your storms. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:44.880 You know, an anchor doesn't stop storms. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:53.440 If you've ever been on a boat, see the massive anchors, but it keeps the storm from deciding where you end up. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:55.680 You know what's cool? 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:03.039 Chris and I had the opportunity to go sailing, uh, and I'm the guy that likes to know how everything's working. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:11.519 And so I would help the captain uh put the, and I I think I was annoying to him because he was like a young 2020, he never wore a shirt. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.880 And I'm like, bro. 00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:18.319 But let's be honest, if I look like that, I'd probably never wear a shirt either. 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:23.839 But I don't look like that, so I wear a shirt because nobody wants to see Chewbacca. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:35.519 But anyway, uh right uh but so we're at the front of the the ship, and what we would do is is everywhere you went, they had they had anchor balls or mooring balls. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:46.000 They would dig down, sometimes they'd put a car in the in the bottom of the of the sea and attach a rope to it so that you could come and hook into it. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:50.799 And and no matter you, you would spin around that, but you're not gonna go anywhere. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:54.799 And so the anchor would hold you to a point. 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.599 Now, the storm can come and blow you around and move you around, but you're always gonna. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.440 Stay planted. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:12.880 The key to that is sometimes Jesus doesn't immediately remove the storm, but he teaches us to trust the anchor through it. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:16.079 The wind can blow you around. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:20.480 It may blow you from side to side, but you don't leave that point. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:26.240 Because if you're not anchored, you could end up on the shore, and then you're in big trouble. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:29.440 Because there's no internet on those shores. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:36.000 And I don't know if you've lived in a first world, but when there's no internet, there's problems. 00:22:36.240 --> 00:22:41.039 Like in the bar household, our power went out, and they weren't worried about the AC. 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:44.079 They were like, Dad, can I use your hotspot? 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.559 Right? 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:52.160 And I realized my kids are soft, and if the world ever ends, they're done, right? 00:22:53.119 --> 00:22:57.680 Because faith trusts Jesus before the outcome is clear. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:02.799 You may know, you may not know what happens next, but you know who Jesus is. 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:09.039 So your boat may be shaking, but your savior isn't. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:14.319 And so peace isn't found in knowing what happens next. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:18.720 Peace is found in knowing who is with you next. 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.880 And guys, that's what you have to understand. 00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:29.839 The storms are gonna come, the storms are gonna blow, but God is our anchor, he is the point that we anchor to. 00:23:30.000 --> 00:23:37.599 The devil may try to blow us all around, but we're not going anywhere because our anchor is firmly in the ground. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:47.519 The problem is too many of us think we don't need the anchor. 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:56.720 Too many of us think that we're strong enough to do it without the help of somebody else. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.400 See, that's me. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.720 I'm a I'm a I'm a go I'm a go-getter. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.640 If it needs to be done, it's done. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.839 That's me. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:08.079 But that doesn't play out well in my spiritual life. 00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:14.960 Because if I always trust myself to do everything, I'm not trusting the one that commands everything. 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:21.279 And that's what we have to do. 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:25.440 So, what are our transformational moments this morning? 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:30.160 As the worship team comes back, what is what is God saying to us today? 00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:31.920 Number one. 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:42.799 What storms are you facing right now that you need to stop trying to control and start trusting Jesus with it? 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:53.039 You know, I know that many are facing in our church it seems to be an unusual time that a lot of people are facing cancer. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:25:01.519 It seems that many are facing financial hardship when diesel's five dollars and gas is almost four. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:05.200 But we all still have to drive, amen. 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:07.039 Because it's 104 outside. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:08.960 I'm not walking anywhere. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:12.720 Uh now it may be it may be 99 today. 00:25:12.960 --> 00:25:14.640 It's not quite gonna be 100, I heard. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:18.640 At least that's that's what my watch said, but still gonna be hot. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:22.480 But what storm are you facing? 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:31.279 Because the problem is sometimes we want to bear down and control it, but God says, I'm in control, don't worry. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:36.400 Number two, when fear hits, where have you been running first? 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:41.680 And what would it look like to bring your fear to Jesus today? 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.440 You know, maybe you're struggling in your own walk with God. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:48.880 God says, Bring it to the altar today. 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:53.519 Maybe you don't know where your next paycheck's gonna come from. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:55.839 Jesus says, bring it to the altar today. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:26:00.319 Maybe you got a diagnosis and you're not sure how long you're going to live. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:04.160 Jesus says, bring it to the altar today. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:14.720 And the third, can you trust Jesus before the storm changes simply because you know who he is? 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.920 And that's the key this morning. 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:24.880 The key is trusting Jesus before the outcome because you know Jesus controls the outcome. 00:26:26.319 --> 00:26:34.720 Now listen, I I stand up here as your pastor and and and I know I look like on the outside that I have all the faith in the world. 00:26:35.440 --> 00:26:41.759 But there's many times that I get on this stage and go, Lord, I hope you do it. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:48.799 You know, when I get up here and and say, Lift your hands to the Lord, what happens if nobody lifts their hands, right? 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.880 Sorry, right? 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:57.759 You know, there there takes some faith to get up here and do this, but the same is true in your life. 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:01.359 It takes some faith to follow Jesus. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:07.519 But if you follow him and do what he says, you don't have to worry about anything else. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:13.359 Because maybe today you don't need Jesus to explain the storm. 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:17.839 Maybe you just need to trust the one who's in the boat with you. 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:24.000 And listen, this morning, that's that's what I want you to take away. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:26.160 Don't worry about the storm. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:29.119 Worry about the one who's in your boat. 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:36.000 But that question comes to you. 00:27:36.480 --> 00:27:38.720 Who have you let in your boat? 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:40.960 Maybe it's your pride. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:46.559 Maybe it's like, I don't need Jesus, I can steer this boat just fine. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.880 That's probably a lot of us. 00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:56.160 But this morning, Jesus is saying, if you'll let me in the boat, it doesn't matter if I'm sleeping, I'm still in control. 00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.319 God doesn't sleep. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.400 Maybe that's another hell and hot topics. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.599 Does God sleep, right? 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:04.079 Stephen has enough. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:05.119 He doesn't need more. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:08.000 And and and you know, that's the thing. 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:10.880 It's it's do we do we trust God? 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:22.640 And so this morning, as we go into our altar time, whatever storm you're facing, just make sure Jesus is in your boat. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:31.039 And so before we get there, I want to give everybody in the room an opportunity to make sure Jesus is in your boat. 00:28:32.079 --> 00:28:37.200 Because you may have lived your whole life for yourself. 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:44.240 You may have lived your whole life going after what you want, but Jesus says, I want to be in the boat with you. 00:28:44.480 --> 00:28:49.759 And the way we allow our boat, or the way we allow him in our boat is through salvation. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:53.119 It's saying, Jesus, I want you to drive my boat. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:56.240 My life is the boat, and I want you to drive it. 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.400 And that's what salvation is. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:08.960 It's I think sometimes we try to overcomplicate it, but it is a very complicated thing, but all it is is just give your whole life to him and let him be in control. 00:29:09.440 --> 00:29:11.359 And that's what salvation is. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:17.599 And so this morning, if you're sitting there and you're like, Man, Pastor, I don't know that I've ever let Jesus in my boat. 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:19.759 I'm gonna give you an opportunity to do that today. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:23.119 I'm gonna ask everybody to bow their head and close their eyes all over the room. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:29.279 If you're sitting there this morning, and you're like, man, Jesus is not in my boat. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:31.119 I'm about to say a prayer. 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:44.319 And I truly believe that if you mean the words that you pray, that Jesus comes into your life, and if you allow him, he will be the Lord of your life. 00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:52.000 So as I pray, you can repeat after me softly in your chair, but give your heart over to Jesus today. 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:54.720 If that's you, repeat after me, dear Jesus. 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.319 I'm a sinner. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.519 I need your love in my life. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.240 Forgive me where I've failed you. 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:04.960 I give my heart to you today. 00:30:05.599 --> 00:30:09.279 Take my life, use it for your purpose. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.799 In Jesus' name. 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.440 Amen.