COVID-19 (4): On The Other Side

COVID-19: On The Other Side

Intro:

I am so fired up to be with you today. If you’re expecting God to move today would you give me your best emojis, maybe some “Let’s go!” or “PTL!”. We’re tuning in grateful, expectant, and ready today!

I want to go on record to say how sincerely grateful I am that you would take a pause from watching Tiger King, scrolling endless memes, and dancing on TikTok to join us here at Pinewood! C’mon now! We already know how you’ve been spending your time. And I’ll also go on record to say that I am 3/3 on everything I just listed, so there is no judgement here!

Title: On The Other Side

Theme: What story are you going to tell “On The Other Side”

Passage: Mark 4:35-41

Story: Flying to California through a storm with the family

….As we came off of the ground the plane began to make some unnatural maneuvers. There was one moment we were flying sideways, up, and down all at the same time. I tried to stay calm, especially because I kept seeing my wife look over and check to see if I was nervous. Or at least I thought I was trying to stay calm, but then later she said “I knew when I saw you get nervous that this was really bad.” I had these thoughts for only a moment and then I turned to some confession and prayer! If I was about to meet my maker then I was going to go down in faith! During the chaos I thought to myself, “What were the pilots thinking?! We should have never left that tarmac! We should have stayed safe on earth and waited longer! Do they even care that my whole family is on this flight?!”

Transition:

Maybe you’re in a “don’t you even care!” moment. Maybe you’re thinking to yourself “I thought God had given me a vision for my future and now I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Or maybe you’re in a position where you don’t even know where to turn. The disciples turned to Jesus, but maybe you are watching this and you don’t know what it even means to turn to Jesus. I want to unpack this story for just a few minutes and share some lessons that I believe will help you in the middle of your “storm”.

Context:

After Jesus had finished teaching on the hillside he told the disciples that he wanted to cross to the other side. They hopped in the boat and set sail across the Sea of Galilee. This body of water is about 700 feet below sea level and is surrounded by hills and mountains. The cool air from the mountain peaks along with the warm damp air from the Sea of Galilee would often cause violent and unexpected storms. The men on this boat though would be very familiar with these types of storms. They were seasoned fishermen and would often fish on this lake. But how many of you know, just because you are seasoned, it does not mean that you always make the best decisions in the face of uncertainty.

It’s like Mike Tyson said "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Anybody else feel that right now? Bet you didn’t think a Mike Tyson quote was coming at you today huh?! :)

Main Points: Lessons to learn in the middle of a storm

1. The Storm gives us a desperation for His presence

   1. 38 He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher! Don’t you care (everybody say “Don’t You Care?”) that we’re going to die?”

   2. Illust: Ryan setting our front yard on fire

      1. I could imagine Ryan is out there frantically trying to put out the fire that is spreading rapidly toward our newly finished cedar cabin in the woods! It wasn’t until he came RUNNING in yelling “DAD! COME QUICK!” That he found peace and assurance that everything was going to be ok.
      2. I came out and frantically ran to the water hose to put the fire out. But in his eyes, everything was going to be ok, dads here. Unlike me, Jesus is not frantically going to run out and try to solve the problem, Jesus says “peace, be still”. He alone has all the power and authority to calm the raging sea and still the chaos in our lives and hearts.
         3. Just because there is a presence of a storm does not mean there is an absence of God.
      3. He is with you. If he is Lord of your life, then He is on your boat. And He wants to hear your cries for help.
      4. Notice he doesn’t rebuke them for waking him up, he rebukes their small faith. “Did they not think I could calm this storm?” “Why did they think they were going to die, did they forget my promise?”

      5. The storm gives us a demonstration of His power

         1. 39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
         2. The disciples had been with Jesus and had seen his power demonstrated in a variety of ways, they witnessed him heal the sick, forgive sins, and even bring the dead to life, yet they doubted his power in their current situation.

      6. How many times have we seen God move in our lives, in so many different ways, but then a moment of uncertainty comes and we’re like “not sure if he’s got this one.”

      7. Personal Story: I’ve had many moments like this in my life. But can I tell you after walking with Jesus for almost three decades that He has always been there for me. He has always had my best interest in mind. He has always been by my side

         3. “No water can swallow the ship where lies the Master of ocean, and earth, and skies.” - Dr. James Cleveland

      8. I want to encourage you that no virus can swallow up the body where stands the Master of the earth, skies, and heavens. We have an eternal HOPE in Jesus Christ our Lord.

      9. If you have faith then you have all that you need to weather the storm around you. He is with you! He is for you!

      10. The storm gives us a dependance on His promises

          1. 40 Then he said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him!”
          2. Jesus had already told them that they were going to cross to the… “other side”. Were they going to trust in HisWord or fear the waves.

      11. How different would this story be had they woke Jesus up and said “I trust in your plan. What would you like me to do in this storm? What are you teaching us Jesus?”

          3. Dependance is when you fully lean on, rely on, or are controlled by something or someone.
      12. My children depend on me. I provide a roof over their heads. I provide food for them to eat. I provide guidance and wisdom in their lives. Left on their own they would be helpless.
      13. What if we depended on God like a child depends on their mom and dad?
      14. This explains why Jesus gently rebuked their lack of faith. He did not rebuke them for coming to Him. He desires their dependence on Him
      15. Jesus has never broken a promise and He’s not going to start now!

Closing:

What if Jesus is resting in His storm, to demonstrate to you that you can rest in your storm? In the eye of the storm, keep your eyes on Jesus. If He’s not worried, then I’m not worried. If He’s not anxious, then I’m not anxious. If He’s not afraid, then I’m not afraid. I will follow His lead and His example to get me through uncertain times.

There is going to be a story told on the other side. (Everybody say “on the other side”). What’s going to be your story?

Are you going to be able to say, on the other side…

• I have a deeper desperation for His presence?

  • That I came to Him for help. That I leaned in to His comfort and peace. That I sought Him in my greatest time of need.

  • I experienced a demonstration of His power?

  • That I experienced friends and family healed. That people I’ve been sharing about Jesus with said yes to Him. That He brought freedom in my life!

  • I have a stronger dependence on His promises?

  • That I trusted in His Word and stood firm on His promises over my life. That I depended on His promises and not on my problems.

I pray that you can find rest in your storm, feel the presence of Jesus, witness His power on display, and cling to His promises

It’s all about Jesus:

This story is not merely about a storm, it’s about Jesus. This is demonstrated in the final question of the disciples “Who then is this?” This is Jesus.

Jesus came down from heaven and was born of a virgin. He came to live a perfect life and to pay the penalty for our sins on a cross. Sin equals death, but God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. So that through Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, we can have life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says ”For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Romans 10:13 says “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Prayer of Salvation:

Jesus, I acknowledge that I need you

I confess that I have sinned against you

I believe that God raised you from the dead

And right now, by faith, I say “Jesus is Lord”

Thank you for forgiving me

By your grace I am saved

And by your power I am set free

Let’s pray.