Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Christ Calms the Storm
Transcript
- 0:00We're going to begin our service singing in Psalm 93 from Sing Psalms, Psalm number 93, Sing Psalms.
- 0:19It's on page 123.
- 0:21The Lord is King, is throne in jewels, majestic in his height.
- 0:25The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength and might.
- 0:30The world is founded, firm and sure, removed it cannot be.
- 0:34Your throne is strong and you are God from all eternity.
- 0:39The seas, O Lord, have lifted up, they lifted up their voice.
- 0:43The seas have lifted up their waves and made a mighty noise.
- 0:46The Lord enthroned on high is strong.
- 0:50More powerful is he than thunder of the ocean waves or breakers of the sea.
- 0:56Your royal statutes, Lord, stand firm and changing is your word.
- 1:02And holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.
- 1:07Psalm 93, the whole Psalm, the Lord is King.
- 1:10The Lord is King, is throne in jewels, majestic in his height.
- 1:30The Lord is King, is throne in majesty and arm with strength and might.
- 1:47The earth is King, is throne in majesty and arm with strength and might.
- 1:49The earth is King, is throne in majesty and arm with strength and might.
- 1:54The earth is King, is throne in majesty and arm with strength and might.
- 2:01The earth is King, is throne in majesty and arm with strength and might.
- 2:06The earth is tener to marche and gravity and arm with он in majesty and arm with strength and hands.
- 2:07The earth is King, is throne in majesty and arm with strength and arm with strength and de Sedans in majesty and arm with strength and amaze.
- 2:09The earth is Gravel has lifted up hisanza in majesty and arm with strength and arm with strength.
- 2:10The earth is Jeans in majesty and arm with strength and arm with strength and arm WITH strength and arm with strength and arm with strength and arm with strength and arm's vigor.
- 2:33Take out their voice.
- 2:39The seas have lifted up their wings
- 2:47and made a mighty noise.
- 2:55The heart and throat are high,
- 3:03is strong, more powerful is thee
- 3:12than thunder on.
- 3:17The oceans wait,
- 3:21are ravers of the sea.
- 3:29Pure for the statutes,
- 3:35heart and firm,
- 3:38and changing into word,
- 3:45and holiness adores your hands,
- 3:54for endless chains, O Lord.
- 4:00Let us bow in prayer.
- 4:07O Lord, we give thanks tonight that you are the God who are enthroned on high,
- 4:13majestic, glorious, sovereign in your power.
- 4:17We pray for the faith that will see this,
- 4:20because without faith it is impossible to know it,
- 4:24to believe it, to accept it.
- 4:26But we give thanks, Lord, that where there is faith, that faith grows, that faith is enabled to strengthen,
- 4:33and to delve into deeper things, and come to a greater persuasion and knowledge of your truth.
- 4:39And we pray, O Lord, that we may praise you with all our heart, and that we may seek to exalt your name in praise,
- 4:48exalt your name in our mind and in our hearts, in our lives.
- 4:53We pray that even as we gather here together, that we may realize that we are in the presence of the King,
- 5:00the one who is all-glorious, enthroned in glory and majesty,
- 5:04who is worshipped eternally by the hosts of heaven,
- 5:08and by the church here on earth.
- 5:11We long for the day when we will all be together, encircled around that throne,
- 5:17being led by the shepherd who is shepherding us even now,
- 5:22but will shepherd us throughout an endless eternity.
- 5:26And we pray, O Lord, that you will grant us grace as we wait upon you,
- 5:30so that we will hear what God the Lord will speak,
- 5:33that you will open our ears to hear, our hearts to understand,
- 5:38our minds to lay hold upon the truth.
- 5:41Keep away distracting thoughts,
- 5:43because we know that we are more prone to wander in God's house than probably anywhere else.
- 5:49Because so often when we come here, we don't come alone,
- 5:52because the enemy of our soul will seek to distract us,
- 5:56and take us away from the truth.
- 5:58Take us away from this word, which makes us wise unto salvation,
- 6:04because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
- 6:09And so, Lord, we pray for receptive hearts,
- 6:13hearts that are willing to be changed and transformed by the power of your own spirit.
- 6:19And we pray that we may seek to become more Christ-like,
- 6:23and forgive us, Lord, for when we don't.
- 6:26Forgive us, Lord, when our actions betray the very confession that we make,
- 6:33and where our speech betrays that confession as well.
- 6:38O Lord, help us then to resemble Jesus more and more,
- 6:42as your spirit works in us, conforming us more to the image of Christ.
- 6:47We pray then that you will help us all as we wait upon you tonight.
- 6:52And we ask that you will bless us.
- 6:56It's a wonderful privilege to be blessed by God,
- 6:59an enriching experience.
- 7:02And we pray that we will be able to say, because we have been with God,
- 7:07that it's been good for us to be here.
- 7:10We pray for all who gather as we do tonight, up and down our land,
- 7:14and indeed throughout the nations of this world.
- 7:17And we realize with the different time zones,
- 7:20that there is almost an encircling praise of God taking place throughout the whole world.
- 7:27And we give thanks for that, for your people are many,
- 7:31although we are often led to believe they are few.
- 7:34We're given that picture in the book of Revelation,
- 7:37of that great multitude that no one can number.
- 7:40And so we give thanks, Lord, that you are taking in and gathering your church throughout all nations.
- 7:47We pray then that you will help us and bless us.
- 7:50We pray your blessing on the youth fellowship tonight.
- 7:53We give thanks for our young people.
- 7:55We pray, Lord, that you'll watch over them in the age that they grow up in,
- 8:00an age where there are so many issues and difficulties ahead of them,
- 8:04and where there are pressures that we as older people don't realize or understand.
- 8:12And ask, Lord, that you will be with them.
- 8:14Grant them grace and guidance,
- 8:16and that the teaching that they have when they're young may be embedded in their heart.
- 8:21For your word tells us, train up a child in the way that he'll go.
- 8:26And when he's old, he will not depart from it.
- 8:29And so we pray, Lord, to give thanks for the teachings that we've had.
- 8:35And we pray that we might be ready to pass on what we have learned
- 8:39and what we have known to those who are younger.
- 8:42And so we pray your blessing upon our young people here in the congregation.
- 8:47And we give thanks, Lord, for all the work that is done amongst them.
- 8:53Remember, as we say, the fellowship tonight.
- 8:55Remember the Sunday school and the creche and the twinnies.
- 8:58Remember the youth club and remember all the explorers and all the different work that goes on with our young.
- 9:05Lord, our God, we remember those who have gone away to university and colleges and places of learning
- 9:11and to different maybe apprenticeships, different things away from home,
- 9:16some for the first time adjusting to a new way of life.
- 9:19Lord, we commit them to your care and keeping.
- 9:22We give thanks for families.
- 9:25Lord, we know that for some people, families, while bringing the greatest joy, for some they are nourishing great sorrow.
- 9:34We pray for all those who know what it is like to have lost a member of their family.
- 9:41And we realize that it is one of the most painful things in this world,
- 9:46because we always expect that the younger will be the ones who will lay to rest the older.
- 9:54But sometimes, sadly, it's the reverse.
- 9:57And so we pray for all such tonight who grieve in a special way.
- 10:02And we pray, Lord, that you will draw close to them and undertake for them and do them good.
- 10:08We pray, Lord, to bless the congregation just now at a time of vacancy.
- 10:14Pray, Lord, in light of the vacancy committee and the meeting on Tuesday,
- 10:19that your wisdom and direction will be given and that throughout time it will become evident and clear in the way in which we're to go.
- 10:27We pray your blessing upon Colin, who's intermoderated, and ask your blessing to be upon him and his leadership.
- 10:33We give thanks for him.
- 10:34We pray for Colin Murdo and we pray your blessing upon him with the extra responsibilities that he has.
- 10:41And we give thanks for bringing him here, Lord.
- 10:44We pray for Joanne and the family.
- 10:47We pray for Joanie and Marissa and Danny.
- 10:50We pray, Lord, that you'll bless them as a time of a needed break comes up and that you will bring back safe and sound afterwards, refreshed.
- 11:00Lord our God, we pray to bless us nationally and internationally, particularly in light of the way that nationally we tend to be turning away from you more and more.
- 11:11And where our leaders are set upon so often forgetting what you have to say and thinking only of what they have to say.
- 11:22Oh, Lord, we pray to influence advisors to our politicians as well as the politicians themselves.
- 11:29We pray, Lord, that heavenly wisdom will be given even when they don't ask for it.
- 11:34But we pray, Lord, that we may see our duties.
- 11:38We're told to pray for those in authority over us.
- 11:41It is incumbent upon us.
- 11:43And so we pray that we may be constantly doing so.
- 11:47And help us, Lord, have a boldness in prayer and a faith in our prayer, a faith in prayer, that faith centered in you.
- 11:55We pray then that you will bless us.
- 11:57We pray as we saw there where Tesco are considering opening on the Lord's Day.
- 12:04And we realize that that would have a huge impact upon our community.
- 12:09And we are aware first and foremost upon your day and what it brings to us, the day of rest that you have given to us for our bodies, our minds, but particularly our souls.
- 12:23It would have far-reaching consequences.
- 12:27And we pray, Lord, that they may reconsider this decision that they're making or about to make.
- 12:33We pray, oh, Lord, that you will guide your people throughout this land and all the different places of occupation that you've placed them in, that there will be an influence for good there.
- 12:46We pray for your church worldwide.
- 12:49We pray for the persecuted church, particularly in lands of oppression, lands of darkness, lands where there is no gospel freedom.
- 12:58Oh, Lord, deliver the persecuted even tonight.
- 13:01Turn the persecutors into your followers in the same way as you turned Saul of Tarshish to become a great missionary.
- 13:10You are the unchanging God.
- 13:13We pray that you will guide us as we wait upon you.
- 13:17And we pray that you will forgive us all our sin.
- 13:20We confess our sin before you again, acknowledging that in so many different ways we let you down and we let ourselves down.
- 13:28And so we ask that you will forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- 13:33Be with those who are going through difficult times in this particular time of their life, where their own world has been turned upside down.
- 13:44Whether these troubles are physical or mental or whether they're social or family or financial or in whatever area, Lord, where there is a storm in their life.
- 13:57We ask, Lord, that you will intervene and that you will calm the storm and that you will help them and that you will bless them.
- 14:05Watch over us, then, Lord, as we wait upon you.
- 14:08Cleanse us from our every sin.
- 14:10In Jesus' name we ask it.
- 14:11Amen.
- 14:12I'm going to sing again from Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter.
- 14:16Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter, 1 to 7.
- 14:20It's on page 271.
- 14:23God is our refuge and our strength and streets of present aid.
- 14:29Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.
- 14:33Though hills amidst the seas be cast, though waters roaring make.
- 14:37And troubled be, yea, though the hills by swelling cease to shake.
- 14:42A river is whose streams do glad the city of our God, the holy place wherein the Lord Most High hath his abode.
- 14:50God in the midst of her doth dwell.
- 14:52Nothing shall her remove.
- 14:54The Lord to her unhelper will, and that right early prove.
- 14:59To the end of verse 7, Psalm 46, 1 to 7.
- 15:02God is our refuge and our strength.
- 15:05It mandates a blessed shining peace, people ofabad.
- 15:06Of the light earth follow yippee who doesn't belong peace.
- 15:08That made us, people of God, indeed woogue, the blood behind us and cannot жив that provinusið,
- 15:10God has them as we many ast misleading as paths are not estarful as any of our solidMIN.
- 15:12The heavy chamber shed
- 15:19His grace of present day
- 15:26Let one of all the earth remove
- 15:35We will not be afraid
- 15:42Though hills are mixed
- 15:48The seas becast
- 15:52Though waters owing gray
- 16:00And travel deep
- 16:04In all the hills
- 16:09High spreading seas to shame
- 16:17I've been the hills to streams to climb
- 16:26The saving of the God
- 16:34The holy place
- 16:39With the Lord
- 16:43Who's time hath it's a home
- 16:51How in the midst of heart of death
- 17:00Nothing shall I remove
- 17:07The Lord to her
- 17:15And ever will
- 17:17And love my journey through
- 17:24The heath
- 17:27Even which should not just be
- 17:34The kingdom's do it where
- 17:41The Lord
- 17:45God of heaven
- 17:48There in his voice
- 17:51The heath
- 17:53He hath it
- 17:55For fear
- 17:57The Lord
- 18:02Our host
- 18:05Upon our side
- 18:08That constantly remain
- 18:16The God of Jacob's
- 18:22Our refuge
- 18:25Has safely to maintain
- 18:32Let us turn now to read God's word
- 18:39In the gospel of Mark chapter 4
- 18:41Mark chapter 4
- 18:43And we pick up a reading at verse 21
- 18:46Mark 4
- 18:47Verse 21
- 18:49And he
- 18:57That's Jesus
- 18:58Said to them
- 18:58Is a lamp brought in
- 19:01To be put under a basket
- 19:02Or under a bed
- 19:04And not on a stand
- 19:05For nothing is hidden
- 19:07Except to be made manifest
- 19:09Nor is anything secret
- 19:12Except to come to light
- 19:14If anyone has ears to hear
- 19:17Let him hear
- 19:18And he said to them
- 19:20Pay attention
- 19:21To what you hear
- 19:22With the measure
- 19:24You use it
- 19:25It will be measured to you
- 19:26And still more
- 19:28Will be added to you
- 19:29For to the one who has
- 19:31More will be given
- 19:33And from the one who has not
- 19:35Even what he has
- 19:37Will be taken away
- 19:38And he said
- 19:40The kingdom of God
- 19:41Is as a man
- 19:42Should scatter seed
- 19:43In the ground
- 19:44He sleeps
- 19:46And rises night and day
- 19:47And the seed sprouts
- 19:49And grows
- 19:50He knows not how
- 19:52The earth produces
- 19:53By itself
- 19:54First the blade
- 19:56Then the ear
- 19:57Then the full grain
- 19:58In the ear
- 19:59But when the grain
- 20:01Is ripe
- 20:01At once he puts in
- 20:03The sickle
- 20:03Because the harvest
- 20:05Has come
- 20:05And he said
- 20:08With what can we compare
- 20:09The kingdom of God
- 20:11Or what parable
- 20:12Shall we use for it
- 20:14It is like a grain
- 20:16Of mustard seed
- 20:17Which when
- 20:17Sown on the ground
- 20:19Is the smallest
- 20:20Of all the seeds
- 20:21On earth
- 20:22Yet when it is sown
- 20:24It grows up
- 20:25And becomes larger
- 20:27Than all the garden plants
- 20:28And puts out
- 20:30Large branches
- 20:31So that the birds
- 20:32Of the air
- 20:33Can make nests
- 20:34In its shade
- 20:35With many such parables
- 20:37He spoke the word
- 20:39To them
- 20:39As they were able
- 20:40To hear it
- 20:41He did not speak
- 20:43To them
- 20:43Without a parable
- 20:44But privately
- 20:46To his own disciples
- 20:47He explained everything
- 20:49On that day
- 20:51When evening had come
- 20:52He said to them
- 20:53Let us go across
- 20:55To the other side
- 20:56And leaving the crowd
- 20:58They took him with them
- 21:00In the boat
- 21:02Just as he was
- 21:03And other boats
- 21:05Were with him
- 21:06And a great windstorm
- 21:08Arose
- 21:08And the waves
- 21:10Were breaking
- 21:10Into the boat
- 21:11So that the boat
- 21:12Was already filling
- 21:13But he was in the stern
- 21:16Asleep in the cushion
- 21:17And they woke him
- 21:19And said to him
- 21:20Teacher
- 21:20Do you not care
- 21:21That we are perishing
- 21:22And he awoke
- 21:25And rebuked the wind
- 21:26And said to the sea
- 21:28Peace
- 21:29Be still
- 21:30And the wind ceased
- 21:32And there was a great calm
- 21:34And he said to them
- 21:36Why are you so afraid?
- 21:38Have you still
- 21:39No faith?
- 21:41And they were filled
- 21:42With great fear
- 21:43And said to one another
- 21:44Who then is this
- 21:46That even the wind
- 21:48And sea
- 21:49Obeying?
- 21:50Amen
- 21:51And may God bless to us
- 21:52This reading of his holy word
- 21:54I'm going to sing again
- 21:56Sing psalm
- 21:57Psalm number 77
- 21:58From verse 13
- 22:01To the end of the psalm
- 22:03Psalm 77
- 22:06From verse 13
- 22:08And sing psalms
- 22:09It's on page 100
- 22:10O God
- 22:14Most holy are your ways
- 22:16What God compares with you
- 22:18You are the God of miracles
- 22:20Whose power the nations view
- 22:22You have redeemed your people Lord
- 22:25With your almighty arm
- 22:27Jacob and Joseph's children
- 22:29You delivered from all harm
- 22:32The water saw you
- 22:34O my God
- 22:35They saw and writhed in pain
- 22:37The very depths became convulsed
- 22:40The clouds poured down the rain
- 22:43The thunder rolled across the skies
- 22:46As lightning bolts were hurled
- 22:48Your thunder in the wind was heard
- 22:51Your lightning lit the world
- 22:53The whole earth trembled then and quaked
- 22:56Your path was through the sea
- 22:59Your way through mighty waters led
- 23:01Your footprints none could see
- 23:04Your people like a flock of sheep
- 23:06You guided every day
- 23:08By Moses and by Aaron's hand
- 23:11You led them on the way
- 23:13Verses 13 to the end
- 23:14Psalm 77
- 23:16O God most holy are your ways
- 23:18Of the comfishing years
- 23:37You are the God of miracles
- 23:44Whose power the nations view
- 23:49You have redeemed your people Lord
- 23:59And their reign
- 24:03The thunder rolled across the skies
- 24:11As lightning bolts were hurled
- 24:18Your thunder in the wind was heard
- 24:26Your lightning lit the world
- 24:32The thunder tremble men and wings
- 24:40Your path was through the sea
- 24:47Your way through mighty waters led
- 24:55Your footprints and blue sea
- 25:01Your thusly
- 25:16Char erste came and mos M pour城
- 25:29Amen.
- 25:34Let's turn again to the chapter we read in Mark chapter 4 and from verse 35, a very well-known section of God's word.
- 25:45Verse 35, on that day when evening had come, he said to them, let us go across to the other side.
- 25:52And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was.
- 25:57And other boats were with them and a great windstorm arose and the waves were breaking into the boat.
- 26:06So the boat was already filling.
- 26:09But he was in the stern asleep in the cushion.
- 26:12And they woke and said to him, teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?
- 26:17And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace be still.
- 26:23And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
- 26:27And he said to them, why are you so afraid?
- 26:31Have you still no faith?
- 26:33And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, who then is this that even the wind and the sea obey him?
- 26:40As you can see, these were busy days for Jesus.
- 26:46He was constantly teaching and preaching and he did so with great authority.
- 26:50We're told elsewhere that his teaching was not like the scribes or the Pharisees, that he taught as one with authority.
- 26:59And so there was this constant teaching.
- 27:01And of course, also along with the teaching, there was a lot of healing.
- 27:04So in the evening, he leaves the crowd beside and he says, we're going to go to the other side.
- 27:13And he, along with the disciples, set off across the Sea of Galilee.
- 27:18It doesn't tell us what the weather was like when they left.
- 27:21But it tells us what happened as they were on their way across, that there came this great windstorm, a great windstorm arose.
- 27:31So it would look like it was just a normal, calm evening when they left.
- 27:35But then the weather changed dramatically on the way over.
- 27:39And I'm sure we've all been at sea one time or another when it's been wild.
- 27:46And we know what it's like with the howling of the wind, it's whistling, the waves are surging and the boat is rocking backwards and forwards and side to side.
- 27:57And nobody likes being out in a storm, but I'm sure we would all prefer being on land during a storm.
- 28:06At least it's firm ground underneath rather than being out on sea.
- 28:12But anyway, here is, it's a ferocious night.
- 28:15And it's so bad that the disciples are beginning to become fearful and frightened that the boat is going to end up sinking.
- 28:25Because it tells us that the waves were coming into the boat and the boat was beginning to fill up.
- 28:32And we've got to remember that the disciples, by and large, at least a good number of them, they weren't inexperienced in the waters.
- 28:39They were seasoned sailors.
- 28:41They were fishermen by trade.
- 28:43And in fact, the likes of Peter and his brother Andrew and James and John, they were fishermen who had fished these waters day in, day out until they left their nets to follow Jesus.
- 28:58So if anybody knew these waters, like the back of their hand, it was these disciples.
- 29:04And yet they're terrified, they're petrified.
- 29:07And they feel that their end is coming.
- 29:09And in desperation, we find that they go to find Jesus.
- 29:17And we find Jesus.
- 29:19It's very interesting.
- 29:20We find him in verse 38.
- 29:22It tells us that he was in the stern asleep on the cushion.
- 29:28On the cushion.
- 29:30And just a couple of observations along the way.
- 29:32And the first thing we notice here, where we find Jesus asleep here, is pointing to the humanity of Jesus.
- 29:42Jesus is the Son of God.
- 29:45God of very God.
- 29:48Equal in power and glory to the Father.
- 29:50And yet in order to become one for us and one with us, he had to take human nature.
- 29:59Come into this world and be one with us.
- 30:03And by taking human nature, he took our nature apart from sin.
- 30:09And so we find that all the infirmity of our humanness was part of Jesus' life.
- 30:16He experienced hunger and thirst and pain, physical pain, mental pain, emotional pain.
- 30:26Everything that we experience apart from sin.
- 30:29He experienced temptation.
- 30:32Everything.
- 30:33But as God, we know that God neither slumbers nor sleeps.
- 30:37So it's here we see the humanity of Jesus.
- 30:41And we know that Jesus had spent the days teaching and healing.
- 30:47And you and I know that if we're very, very busy, and particularly if you're giving of yourself constantly,
- 30:55that you become exhausted.
- 30:56You become tired.
- 30:57And so we find that Jesus is displaying the exhaustion of humanity by simply falling asleep.
- 31:07And he's sleeping in the storm at the stern of the boat.
- 31:13And we've got to remember that this Jesus that we see here is the same Jesus tonight.
- 31:19He hasn't changed.
- 31:20And he understands all our weaknesses because he has journeyed this world in our nature.
- 31:28In fact, he still, he has risen in our nature and continues in our nature forever.
- 31:35But he understands our weaknesses, our pains, our sorrows, our temptations.
- 31:41And that means that we must go to Jesus.
- 31:43Jesus, you and I know, if you go through some pain or sorrow in life, some difficulty,
- 31:52you want to be, it's always easier to share your experience with somebody
- 31:57who's gone through a similar experience to yours.
- 32:02Because you know that they'll understand exactly what you're saying.
- 32:06Because you can share your experience with someone who might be very sympathetic
- 32:12and very understanding by nature,
- 32:15but they cannot follow your experience because they've never been there.
- 32:21But when you meet somebody who can identify totally,
- 32:25it's helpful, isn't it?
- 32:27Well, that's the thing about Jesus.
- 32:29That's why it's so important to go to him.
- 32:31Because he understands in a way and in a measure that nobody else can or nobody else is able to.
- 32:39And so it's important that we make our way to Jesus.
- 32:44And again, the other thing we see about Jesus asleep in the boat
- 32:48is that he is completely trusting in his heavenly father.
- 32:52Because in our nature, Jesus lived in absolute dependence upon the father,
- 32:59filled with the spirit.
- 33:01He wasn't exercising, as it were, his divine nature in this world.
- 33:08Yes, he's divine, but he was also human.
- 33:11And he was exercising, he was living as a human,
- 33:15but his life was lived in absolute dependence and trust in his father.
- 33:20That's why he was sleeping like a baby.
- 33:23Jesus knew that he was going to die, but not in a boating tragedy.
- 33:26He knew his time hadn't come.
- 33:30He had a lot of work yet to do for the father.
- 33:33And so he's resting completely trusting in his heavenly father.
- 33:40And it's interesting here because it's very obvious that the disciples weren't trusting in Jesus.
- 33:49Jesus is trusting in his father, but they're not trusting in him.
- 33:53Because what did Jesus say at the very beginning of the thing?
- 33:56He said,
- 33:57That's the word of Jesus.
- 34:06We're going over to the other side.
- 34:08Now, if they had faith in Jesus,
- 34:13and they were trusting in Jesus in the storm,
- 34:17they would have said,
- 34:18We're going to come through this,
- 34:20because the Lord has given his word that we're going to the other side.
- 34:23And you and I know that it's often when we're given a promise from the Lord
- 34:28that we're tested in that very thing.
- 34:31Well, they were being tested,
- 34:33and they fell badly.
- 34:34No wonder Jesus said to them at the end,
- 34:37Why are you so afraid?
- 34:38Have you still no faith?
- 34:42Because they were not trusting in Jesus.
- 34:46And so they come to Jesus,
- 34:48and they say to him,
- 34:49Teacher, do you not care that we're perishing?
- 34:52We're doomed.
- 34:54It's more or less,
- 34:55Next wave could be our last.
- 34:58You know, it's very interesting again,
- 35:01just by way of observation here.
- 35:05Here are the disciples,
- 35:07and they're terrified, they're afraid.
- 35:10And Jesus is asleep,
- 35:12but Jesus is going to care for them and provide for them,
- 35:15and still the storm.
- 35:17There was a day when almost,
- 35:20it's not that the roles were reversed,
- 35:22but when Jesus was facing his washed time on this world,
- 35:28you go to the garden of Gethsemane,
- 35:30and he took three disciples,
- 35:32three that were here,
- 35:33Peter, James, and John with him,
- 35:34and he told them,
- 35:36my soul is now troubled.
- 35:39And on the floor of Gethsemane Garden,
- 35:42he sweated,
- 35:43as it were,
- 35:43drops of blood.
- 35:44He was in such agony of soul.
- 35:47But before he left the three disciples
- 35:49to go on to his own,
- 35:50what did he say to them?
- 35:52You stay here.
- 35:54Watch and pray.
- 35:57Jesus sent them,
- 35:58left them there to pray.
- 36:01When he came back,
- 36:02how did he find them?
- 36:04They were all sound asleep.
- 36:07And there's almost an irony in what we see here.
- 36:12That these very disciples who are
- 36:14wakening up Jesus from his sleep
- 36:18are the very disciples
- 36:19who were sound asleep
- 36:21when he needed them most
- 36:23to be with them and praying.
- 36:25But before we come to
- 36:29see Christ's reaction to the storm,
- 36:32I think it's important to say that
- 36:34although Jesus has taken the disciples on board
- 36:37and they're crossing over to the other side,
- 36:40a storm,
- 36:41we mustn't assume
- 36:43because Christ is on board
- 36:45that there will be no storm.
- 36:48And that's true in our journey
- 36:50through this life.
- 36:52There are some people who think
- 36:53that the moment you become a Christian,
- 36:54that's it.
- 36:56Life is,
- 36:56life's easy now.
- 36:57Life's a bed of roses.
- 36:59That's the end of troubles,
- 37:00trials.
- 37:01And in fact,
- 37:02it's one of the things
- 37:03that Jesus tells us
- 37:05assuredly
- 37:06that
- 37:07us Christians
- 37:09that we will have troubles,
- 37:11we will have trials.
- 37:12In this world,
- 37:13he says,
- 37:13you will have tribulation,
- 37:15but be of good cheer.
- 37:17I have overcome the world.
- 37:19The troubles that afflict the just
- 37:21in number
- 37:22many be,
- 37:24but yet at length
- 37:25out of them all,
- 37:27the Lord
- 37:28does set him free.
- 37:30Out of them all.
- 37:32And so we see that
- 37:33Jesus here
- 37:35on board
- 37:36doesn't mean
- 37:37that there will
- 37:38be no storm.
- 37:40You see,
- 37:40we can't avoid
- 37:41troubles
- 37:42and storms
- 37:43in life
- 37:44because we live,
- 37:46as we know,
- 37:46in a world
- 37:48that is filled
- 37:49with difficult troubles
- 37:51and difficult traumas.
- 37:53And maybe tonight
- 37:53for you,
- 37:54maybe some of you
- 37:55are going through
- 37:56your own
- 37:56personal storms.
- 37:59Maybe,
- 38:00you know,
- 38:00sometimes
- 38:00we're very bad
- 38:02at looking at
- 38:04other people's lives
- 38:05and saying to ourselves,
- 38:06oh, you know,
- 38:06they've got a
- 38:07trouble-free life.
- 38:08We don't know.
- 38:10The very person
- 38:11that you think
- 38:12might have a
- 38:12trouble-free life
- 38:13might be a person
- 38:15who has many,
- 38:16many issues
- 38:17and troubles
- 38:18and traumas
- 38:18and personal sorrows
- 38:21that you and I
- 38:22don't know about.
- 38:24So we've got to be
- 38:25very careful
- 38:25in making our
- 38:27assessments and
- 38:27judgments
- 38:28about other people.
- 38:31But tonight,
- 38:32if you are here
- 38:33and you're going
- 38:34through your troubles
- 38:35and you're going
- 38:36through storms
- 38:37in your own life,
- 38:39remember that
- 38:40Jesus
- 38:41is
- 38:42the one
- 38:43who cares.
- 38:43because
- 38:46here
- 38:47it appears
- 38:48as if
- 38:49Jesus
- 38:49isn't bothering.
- 38:52It appears
- 38:53at this moment
- 38:53as if,
- 38:54well,
- 38:55Jesus is asleep.
- 38:57That's the criticism
- 38:58that the disciples
- 38:58have of him.
- 38:59You're asleep.
- 39:00You're sleeping.
- 39:01Here we are
- 39:02facing death.
- 39:03Next moment
- 39:04could be the last.
- 39:05What are you doing
- 39:06about it?
- 39:07You're sleeping.
- 39:08And there's
- 39:09almost a kind of a,
- 39:10there's a criticism
- 39:12in their attack
- 39:14on Jesus
- 39:15when they said,
- 39:16Master,
- 39:17do you not care?
- 39:20You know,
- 39:21that's probably
- 39:22one of the most
- 39:22harsh statements
- 39:23that could ever be
- 39:24said about Jesus.
- 39:26Do you not care?
- 39:28Why was Jesus
- 39:30in the boat?
- 39:32Why did Jesus
- 39:33come into this world?
- 39:36Because he cared.
- 39:38If Jesus didn't care,
- 39:39he wouldn't have come
- 39:39to this world.
- 39:40There would be no gospel.
- 39:42We wouldn't be meeting
- 39:43here tonight.
- 39:44There wouldn't be
- 39:44any hope for us.
- 39:46We'd have been
- 39:46left to our shelves.
- 39:49But it's because
- 39:50God the Father cared.
- 39:52It's because
- 39:52God the Son cared.
- 39:53That's why Jesus
- 39:56came into this world.
- 39:58So you can see
- 39:59how wrong
- 40:00the disciples were
- 40:01to say to Jesus,
- 40:04Do you not,
- 40:04do you care?
- 40:05Of course he cared.
- 40:08And I can say
- 40:09the same thing
- 40:10to you tonight
- 40:11because maybe
- 40:12you're saying the same.
- 40:14Does Jesus care?
- 40:16Has Jesus forgotten
- 40:17to be gracious?
- 40:18You know,
- 40:18sometimes we say that.
- 40:20As the Lord,
- 40:21that's what it tells us
- 40:22in the Psalm.
- 40:22Psalm has said that.
- 40:25Has God forgotten
- 40:26to be gracious?
- 40:28It's as if God
- 40:28has forgotten
- 40:29all about me.
- 40:31Of course he hasn't.
- 40:33Can't.
- 40:34And sometimes
- 40:35we've got to remember
- 40:36that the Lord
- 40:37has a reason
- 40:38for his silence.
- 40:40He has a reason
- 40:41at times
- 40:41for his delays.
- 40:43We can't understand them.
- 40:45But he has a purpose
- 40:46in all these things.
- 40:49But we also see
- 40:50that having
- 40:50the Lord on board
- 40:52will bring
- 40:53a wonderful deliverance.
- 40:56And just as he proved
- 40:57for the disciples,
- 40:58he will for you as well.
- 41:00Now it doesn't tell us
- 41:01that Jesus said anything
- 41:03immediately
- 41:03to the disciples,
- 41:05although maybe
- 41:05some of the other
- 41:06Gospels writers
- 41:07have a different slant
- 41:08on it.
- 41:09But he spoke words.
- 41:11He rebuked
- 41:12the wind.
- 41:14So he addressed
- 41:14the wind and the sea.
- 41:16He rebuked the wind
- 41:17and said to the sea,
- 41:20Peace,
- 41:20be still.
- 41:22I would love to have been there
- 41:23at that moment.
- 41:25You and I know
- 41:25what it's like
- 41:26on a boat.
- 41:28And as you say,
- 41:29the wind is howling.
- 41:30You go out
- 41:31on the deck
- 41:32and there's a whistle
- 41:33and there's a roar.
- 41:36Jesus rebukes that.
- 41:41And there's just
- 41:42nothing but a silence.
- 41:45And you know
- 41:46what it's like
- 41:46the surge of the sea.
- 41:47The sea is angry
- 41:49and it's
- 41:51heaving
- 41:52and surging.
- 41:54And Jesus said,
- 41:56Peace,
- 41:57be still.
- 41:58And it turns
- 41:59into like a mill pond.
- 42:03The disciples,
- 42:04if you were
- 42:04to look at them,
- 42:05they would have been
- 42:06standing there
- 42:07open-mouthed.
- 42:09Absolutely.
- 42:11We use the expression
- 42:12gobsmacked.
- 42:13They would have been
- 42:13just stunned.
- 42:15So would you.
- 42:16So would I.
- 42:17Because you and I
- 42:18know that
- 42:19a storm
- 42:20doesn't go to
- 42:21zero knots
- 42:22in a second.
- 42:24And even when
- 42:25the wind stops,
- 42:26you and I know
- 42:27that the sea
- 42:27doesn't go flat
- 42:28calm immediately.
- 42:30You go,
- 42:30if there's been
- 42:31a north wind
- 42:32out there
- 42:33and you go
- 42:34on the ferry
- 42:35the next day,
- 42:35even although
- 42:36there's no wind,
- 42:37there's still
- 42:38a roll
- 42:38in the sea.
- 42:40You see,
- 42:40the sea takes
- 42:41a long time
- 42:41to calm down.
- 42:44It's impossible
- 42:45for the sea
- 42:46to immediately,
- 42:47the wind drops
- 42:48just to go flat
- 42:48calm.
- 42:50But that's exactly
- 42:50what happened
- 42:51at that moment.
- 42:54And Jesus
- 42:55is showing here
- 42:56his own lordship,
- 42:57his power.
- 42:58He is the one
- 42:59we're going to sing
- 43:00Psalm 107
- 43:01at the end.
- 43:02He is the one
- 43:02who turns
- 43:03the storm
- 43:03into a calm.
- 43:06And we've got
- 43:06to remember
- 43:07that this surging
- 43:08sea in its
- 43:09first place
- 43:10was made
- 43:11by the Lord.
- 43:12He is the one
- 43:13who is Lord
- 43:13over all.
- 43:15The wind
- 43:15and the sea
- 43:16are his to command.
- 43:17We sang in
- 43:18Psalm 77
- 43:19and it tells us
- 43:20there,
- 43:20when the water
- 43:21saw you,
- 43:22O God,
- 43:22they were afraid.
- 43:24It says,
- 43:25the psalmist
- 43:25is personalizing
- 43:27the very sea.
- 43:29And the sea
- 43:30is,
- 43:31although we see
- 43:31the sea,
- 43:32and long ago
- 43:33the people
- 43:33used to be
- 43:34suspicious
- 43:35of the sea,
- 43:36it was looked
- 43:37upon us
- 43:37where the evil
- 43:38would come from.
- 43:41But God
- 43:41is the one
- 43:42who created all.
- 43:43He's God
- 43:44over all things.
- 43:45And in that
- 43:45Psalm it tells us,
- 43:48your way
- 43:48was through
- 43:49the sea,
- 43:51your path
- 43:52through the
- 43:52great waters,
- 43:54yet your
- 43:54footprints
- 43:55were unseen.
- 43:57Isn't that
- 43:57beautiful?
- 43:58What a
- 43:59description
- 43:59that is
- 44:00of Jesus
- 44:01on another
- 44:02occasion
- 44:03on this
- 44:03very sea,
- 44:04walking to
- 44:05the disciples
- 44:05in the storm
- 44:06again.
- 44:08There's no
- 44:08sign of his
- 44:09footprints,
- 44:10but he
- 44:11walked across
- 44:11that sea
- 44:12as if it
- 44:12was a
- 44:12pavement.
- 44:14You see,
- 44:14he's Lord
- 44:15over all.
- 44:16And we've
- 44:17always got to
- 44:17remember that.
- 44:19And we've
- 44:19always got to
- 44:19have an
- 44:20insight into
- 44:21who the
- 44:22Lord is.
- 44:23Because,
- 44:23you know,
- 44:23this is a
- 44:24funny thing.
- 44:25See it
- 44:26at verse
- 44:2736.
- 44:28It tells
- 44:28us,
- 44:29And leaving
- 44:29the crowd,
- 44:31they took
- 44:31him with
- 44:32them in
- 44:32the boat,
- 44:33just as
- 44:34he was.
- 44:36Just as
- 44:37he was.
- 44:38At that
- 44:39particular
- 44:39moment,
- 44:40although the
- 44:40disciples
- 44:41believed him
- 44:42in Jesus
- 44:43as the
- 44:43Messiah,
- 44:44they had
- 44:45no idea
- 44:46who he
- 44:46really was.
- 44:48He was
- 44:49just one
- 44:49of them,
- 44:50but still
- 44:52they believed
- 44:52in him.
- 44:53So they
- 44:53took him
- 44:54just as
- 44:54he was.
- 44:56At this
- 44:57moment,
- 44:57when this
- 44:58person who
- 44:59was just
- 44:59as he
- 44:59was,
- 45:01their whole
- 45:03vision of
- 45:03who he
- 45:04is has
- 45:04changed.
- 45:06He now
- 45:06becomes this
- 45:07awesome,
- 45:09majestic
- 45:09being.
- 45:11And they're
- 45:11hushed into
- 45:12a new type
- 45:14of fear in
- 45:14his presence.
- 45:17And you
- 45:17know,
- 45:17that's what we
- 45:18need to see
- 45:18as well.
- 45:20We need to
- 45:20see this
- 45:21Jesus in
- 45:22all his
- 45:22awe,
- 45:23in all his
- 45:24power.
- 45:24because far
- 45:25too often
- 45:25the way
- 45:26we see
- 45:27him is
- 45:27just as
- 45:28he is,
- 45:28just like
- 45:29another one
- 45:29of us.
- 45:31And we
- 45:31don't
- 45:31reverence him,
- 45:32we don't
- 45:33have the
- 45:33awe,
- 45:33we don't
- 45:34have the
- 45:34fear in
- 45:34front of
- 45:35him.
- 45:35He's
- 45:36just one
- 45:36of us.
- 45:36No,
- 45:37he's not.
- 45:38Yes,
- 45:38he is.
- 45:39But thankfully
- 45:40he's also
- 45:40God.
- 45:42And at that
- 45:42moment their
- 45:43eyes were
- 45:44opened to
- 45:44behold his
- 45:45glory,
- 45:46his majesty
- 45:46and our
- 45:47power in
- 45:48a way that
- 45:48they had
- 45:48never ever
- 45:49envisaged
- 45:50or seen
- 45:50before.
- 45:51And so
- 45:53we find
- 45:54that Jesus
- 45:54is the
- 45:55one who
- 45:55brings peace
- 45:56and he
- 45:57brings calm
- 45:58into the
- 45:59troubled
- 45:59situation.
- 46:01And you
- 46:02know the
- 46:02Lord continues
- 46:03to do
- 46:03that.
- 46:04And that's
- 46:05what if
- 46:05you're here
- 46:05tonight and
- 46:07you've never
- 46:07come to
- 46:08faith in the
- 46:08Lord Jesus
- 46:09Christ,
- 46:10there's a
- 46:10restlessness.
- 46:11It may not
- 46:12be as bad
- 46:12as a storm,
- 46:14but there's a
- 46:14restlessness in
- 46:15your heart.
- 46:17That is the
- 46:17nature of
- 46:18life.
- 46:18There is a
- 46:19restlessness
- 46:19in every
- 46:21single heart
- 46:21until they
- 46:22find rest
- 46:23in the
- 46:23Lord.
- 46:23The Lord
- 46:24has made
- 46:25us for
- 46:25himself.
- 46:27And as
- 46:27one of the
- 46:28old divines
- 46:29said,
- 46:30and the
- 46:30heart will
- 46:30be restless
- 46:31till it
- 46:31finds rest
- 46:32in you.
- 46:34And the
- 46:35greatest
- 46:35discovery that
- 46:36we can ever
- 46:36make is that
- 46:37we need
- 46:38the Lord.
- 46:40And if
- 46:40you've never
- 46:40seen that,
- 46:41ask the
- 46:41Lord tonight,
- 46:42show me
- 46:43Lord,
- 46:43show me
- 46:44myself and
- 46:44show me
- 46:45yourself.
- 46:46Show me
- 46:46my need
- 46:47of you.
- 46:48Show me
- 46:48the importance
- 46:49because,
- 46:50you see,
- 46:51unless the
- 46:51Lord does
- 46:52that,
- 46:52we don't
- 46:52see it.
- 46:54And so
- 46:54the Lord
- 46:55will calm
- 46:55the storm
- 46:57in your
- 46:57life.
- 46:57Peace,
- 46:58be still.
- 47:00And you
- 47:00know,
- 47:00that's what
- 47:01the Lord
- 47:01continues to
- 47:02do because
- 47:02he brings
- 47:04peace to
- 47:05our conscience.
- 47:07When you
- 47:07become a
- 47:07Christian,
- 47:08that's one
- 47:08of the
- 47:08first things
- 47:09that happens.
- 47:10You get
- 47:10peace in
- 47:11your conscience.
- 47:13When you
- 47:14become a
- 47:14Christian,
- 47:15you come
- 47:15by faith
- 47:16and by
- 47:17way of
- 47:17repentance.
- 47:18forgiveness,
- 47:19asking for
- 47:20the Lord's
- 47:21pardon and
- 47:22forgiveness
- 47:22and cleansing.
- 47:25And you
- 47:25know,
- 47:25when you
- 47:25receive that,
- 47:27it's one
- 47:28of the
- 47:28most
- 47:28liberating
- 47:29things that
- 47:30can ever
- 47:31happen in
- 47:32your life,
- 47:33to have
- 47:34the experience
- 47:35of a
- 47:35trouble-free
- 47:36conscience.
- 47:39Our
- 47:39consciences
- 47:39can be so
- 47:41troubling,
- 47:42but you
- 47:42know,
- 47:43when our
- 47:43sins are
- 47:44pardoned,
- 47:45and we
- 47:45have a
- 47:46sense of
- 47:46divine
- 47:47cleansing
- 47:48and
- 47:48forgiveness,
- 47:50then our
- 47:51conscience
- 47:51doesn't
- 47:52trouble us
- 47:53like the
- 47:54way it
- 47:55used to.
- 47:56And the
- 47:57Lord also
- 47:58brings peace
- 47:58to our
- 47:59heart.
- 48:00That's what
- 48:00he says,
- 48:01my peace
- 48:02I give
- 48:02you,
- 48:03not as the
- 48:03world gives,
- 48:04give I unto
- 48:05you.
- 48:06You and I
- 48:06know that
- 48:07the world,
- 48:08that there's
- 48:08an element
- 48:08you can
- 48:09have,
- 48:09when everything
- 48:10is going
- 48:10well in
- 48:11life,
- 48:11and circumstances
- 48:12and everything
- 48:13is coming
- 48:14together,
- 48:14you can be
- 48:15happy and
- 48:16contented,
- 48:17and there is
- 48:17an element
- 48:18of peace,
- 48:18that's the
- 48:18world's
- 48:19peace.
- 48:20But it
- 48:21doesn't
- 48:21last.
- 48:22Change the
- 48:22circumstances,
- 48:24pull the
- 48:24plug on
- 48:25what's
- 48:25happening,
- 48:26and the
- 48:27peace goes
- 48:27with it.
- 48:29But Jesus
- 48:30says my
- 48:30peace is
- 48:31different,
- 48:32it's not
- 48:32as the
- 48:32world gives,
- 48:34my peace
- 48:34is deep
- 48:35rooted in
- 48:36your heart.
- 48:38Your heart
- 48:39is made
- 48:39for my
- 48:40love,
- 48:41and when
- 48:41my love
- 48:42floods your
- 48:43heart,
- 48:44then my
- 48:44peace comes
- 48:45in as
- 48:46well.
- 48:47It's a
- 48:47settled
- 48:47peace that
- 48:50governs,
- 48:51yes,
- 48:51there might
- 48:53be still a
- 48:54storm in
- 48:55your life,
- 48:56the storm
- 48:56might not
- 48:57go,
- 48:58but there's
- 48:58a peace
- 48:59attached to
- 49:00it,
- 49:01a peace
- 49:02that undergirds
- 49:03your life,
- 49:05that the
- 49:05world is
- 49:06incapable of
- 49:07giving you.
- 49:09You remember
- 49:09what it was
- 49:10like when you
- 49:10became a
- 49:11Christian.
- 49:12You remember
- 49:12that peace?
- 49:14A peace
- 49:15you never
- 49:15had before.
- 49:16You might
- 49:17have had
- 49:17good times,
- 49:18happy times,
- 49:18contented
- 49:19times,
- 49:20but you
- 49:21never had
- 49:21real deep
- 49:23rooted peace
- 49:24until you
- 49:25came to
- 49:25peace in
- 49:26Christ.
- 49:27That was
- 49:27different.
- 49:29My peace
- 49:30I give you.
- 49:32Now of
- 49:32course we
- 49:32know all
- 49:34too well
- 49:34in this
- 49:35world that
- 49:35we,
- 49:36because of
- 49:36the nature
- 49:37of this
- 49:37world and
- 49:38because of
- 49:39all the
- 49:39trials and
- 49:40temptations and
- 49:41difficulties that
- 49:41we face,
- 49:43we still
- 49:44often are
- 49:44anxious.
- 49:46You say to
- 49:46yourself,
- 49:47surely the
- 49:47Christian shouldn't
- 49:48be anxious.
- 49:49Well,
- 49:51if we weren't
- 49:51anxious,
- 49:52the Lord
- 49:52wouldn't be
- 49:53over and
- 49:53over and
- 49:54over again
- 49:54in the
- 49:55word saying,
- 49:56don't be
- 49:56anxious,
- 49:57don't be
- 49:58fearful.
- 49:59If we were
- 50:00to go through
- 50:00tonight and
- 50:01to count all
- 50:02the number
- 50:02of times
- 50:03that the
- 50:04Lord says,
- 50:05fear not,
- 50:06be courageous,
- 50:07be strong,
- 50:09don't be
- 50:11anxious.
- 50:13But the
- 50:13Lord tells
- 50:13us that
- 50:14basically what
- 50:16happens when
- 50:17we become
- 50:18anxious is
- 50:19that we've
- 50:20stopped casting
- 50:22all our
- 50:22cares upon
- 50:23the Lord.
- 50:25And there's
- 50:26a beautiful
- 50:26verse, I
- 50:27think it's
- 50:27in Isaiah
- 50:28that says
- 50:29something like
- 50:30that the
- 50:31one whose
- 50:32mind great
- 50:33peace,
- 50:34well it
- 50:35says great
- 50:35peace of
- 50:35those who
- 50:36love your
- 50:36love.
- 50:37But it
- 50:38tells us
- 50:38that the
- 50:39one whose
- 50:39mind is
- 50:40fixed on
- 50:41you, that
- 50:42that person
- 50:42will have
- 50:43continued
- 50:44peace,
- 50:45perfect
- 50:45peace.
- 50:47You will
- 50:47keep in
- 50:48perfect
- 50:48peace the
- 50:50man or
- 50:51woman whose
- 50:51mind is
- 50:53fixed on
- 50:54you.
- 50:54Fixed is
- 50:55a word,
- 50:56fixed,
- 50:57fixed on
- 50:57the Lord.
- 50:59Because when
- 50:59we take our
- 51:00eyes off the
- 51:00Lord and
- 51:01we begin to
- 51:02look at the
- 51:02troubles,
- 51:03then of
- 51:03course we
- 51:04begin to
- 51:04rock and
- 51:05roll again,
- 51:05we begin to
- 51:06shake.
- 51:07It's like
- 51:08Peter walking
- 51:08on the
- 51:09water, as
- 51:09long as he
- 51:10was looking
- 51:10to Jesus,
- 51:11he walked.
- 51:12The moment
- 51:12he took
- 51:12his eyes
- 51:13off Jesus
- 51:13and began
- 51:14to look at
- 51:14the storm,
- 51:15down he
- 51:16went.
- 51:16So will
- 51:17you, so
- 51:17will I.
- 51:19But not
- 51:20only does the
- 51:21Lord bring
- 51:21peace to
- 51:22our conscience
- 51:23and peace
- 51:24to our
- 51:24heart, he
- 51:26also brings
- 51:27peace to
- 51:27our mind
- 51:28as well.
- 51:28people.
- 51:30And you
- 51:30and I
- 51:31know that
- 51:31in this
- 51:31world there
- 51:32is so
- 51:33much stress,
- 51:34so many
- 51:35things going
- 51:35on in
- 51:36people's
- 51:36lives.
- 51:39And
- 51:39underneath,
- 51:40and people
- 51:41don't recognize
- 51:42this or realize
- 51:42it, the
- 51:43bottom line
- 51:44of it all
- 51:45is sin.
- 51:46It's sin
- 51:46at work.
- 51:48Because sin
- 51:49is always
- 51:49affecting your
- 51:50thought life.
- 51:52And people
- 51:52are saying
- 51:53they've got all
- 51:54kinds of
- 51:54questions.
- 51:55who is
- 51:56God?
- 51:57Is there a
- 51:57God?
- 51:58What's it all
- 51:58about?
- 51:59Where we're
- 51:59going?
- 52:00What's the
- 52:00point in
- 52:01life?
- 52:01All the
- 52:02time there's
- 52:02these kind
- 52:03of aimless
- 52:04thoughts and
- 52:05that brings
- 52:06nothing but
- 52:06depression and
- 52:07anxiety and
- 52:08fear.
- 52:10Hopelessness.
- 52:11These kind of
- 52:12questions, that's
- 52:13all it brings.
- 52:15And this world
- 52:16is forever
- 52:16changing.
- 52:18Thoughts are
- 52:18changing.
- 52:20Opinions are
- 52:20changing.
- 52:21Fashions are
- 52:22changing.
- 52:23You can never
- 52:23keep up with
- 52:24what's in and
- 52:24what's out.
- 52:26It's always
- 52:26on the move.
- 52:28But you know
- 52:29when you become
- 52:29a Christian,
- 52:31new standards
- 52:32take over.
- 52:34These are not
- 52:34the issues that
- 52:35concern you.
- 52:37It's God's
- 52:37word became
- 52:39the rule and
- 52:40the standard.
- 52:41Not the
- 52:42fashions and
- 52:42the ways and
- 52:43the tendencies
- 52:44of this world.
- 52:46And so the
- 52:47Christian has a
- 52:48freer mind.
- 52:50Our mind isn't
- 52:51governed by all
- 52:52these 101 things
- 52:53that are going
- 52:54on, being
- 52:54bombarded,
- 52:56particularly in
- 52:56the day that
- 52:56we're living
- 52:57in with all
- 52:58the power of
- 52:59social media and
- 53:00all these
- 53:00things.
- 53:01Here we have
- 53:02the calmness of
- 53:04mind when our
- 53:06mind is fixed
- 53:07on Christ.
- 53:09And so Jesus
- 53:10says to the
- 53:11wind, peace be
- 53:13still.
- 53:14And he says the
- 53:15same to you and
- 53:16to me as well.
- 53:17And that's the
- 53:18beauty of when we
- 53:19follow the Lord,
- 53:20Jesus Christ.
- 53:23You and I know
- 53:24that when we
- 53:25follow the
- 53:25Lord, we're
- 53:27heading to a
- 53:27world of
- 53:28eternal peace.
- 53:30Never know it
- 53:31in this world
- 53:32in its fullness.
- 53:34We have the
- 53:35first fruits of
- 53:36it by accepting
- 53:38Christ.
- 53:39The fullness of
- 53:40it belongs in
- 53:41the world to
- 53:42come.
- 53:43When the Lord
- 53:43made the world
- 53:44at the beginning,
- 53:45it was a world
- 53:46of peace and
- 53:47tranquility and
- 53:47calm.
- 53:48But we know
- 53:50the impact when
- 53:51sin entered in
- 53:52the fall.
- 53:54And you go to
- 53:54Eden when it
- 53:55is broken.
- 53:56Not when it's
- 53:57beautiful, but
- 53:58when it's broken.
- 53:59And all you see
- 54:00there is expulsion
- 54:01and separation
- 54:03and restlessness
- 54:05and death.
- 54:07That's a world
- 54:08you and I live
- 54:09in.
- 54:10Turn on any
- 54:10news bulletin,
- 54:12that's all we
- 54:12see.
- 54:13Brokenness,
- 54:14restlessness,
- 54:16separation,
- 54:17death.
- 54:18It's horrific
- 54:19off on the
- 54:20news and all
- 54:21you're seeing
- 54:21barbaric
- 54:22situations,
- 54:23killings,
- 54:24stabbings,
- 54:24injustice,
- 54:26hatred,
- 54:26violence.
- 54:29Jesus came
- 54:30into this
- 54:30world because
- 54:31he cares.
- 54:33Do you
- 54:33care?
- 54:33The disciples
- 54:34said, of
- 54:34course I
- 54:35care, says
- 54:36the Lord.
- 54:37That's why
- 54:38I'm here
- 54:38tonight offering
- 54:40myself to
- 54:41you.
- 54:43And
- 54:43remember
- 54:44that the
- 54:45trials that
- 54:46the disciples
- 54:47went through
- 54:48brought them
- 54:49to see a
- 54:50greater glimpse
- 54:51of the glory
- 54:51of the Lord.
- 54:53And so it
- 54:53will be for
- 54:53you.
- 54:54You think,
- 54:55has the Lord
- 54:55forgotten me in
- 54:56the trials?
- 54:57Do you know
- 54:57something?
- 54:58You look back
- 54:59and you'll say,
- 54:59you know,
- 55:00that trial
- 55:01actually was
- 55:02for my benefit.
- 55:04I got a
- 55:04glimpse of the
- 55:05glory of God
- 55:06I hadn't seen
- 55:06before.
- 55:07I was guilty
- 55:08of looking on
- 55:09Jesus as he
- 55:10was,
- 55:12rather than
- 55:12who he is.
- 55:14Now I'm
- 55:14seeing him
- 55:15for who he
- 55:16is.
- 55:18Well tonight
- 55:18the captain
- 55:19of our salvation
- 55:20is on the
- 55:20deck of the
- 55:21ship and
- 55:22he's inviting
- 55:23us in to
- 55:24come on board
- 55:25with him.
- 55:26He doesn't
- 55:27guarantee us a
- 55:28passage where
- 55:29there won't be
- 55:29storms,
- 55:31but he guarantees
- 55:32us a safe
- 55:33passage to the
- 55:34end.
- 55:35And you know
- 55:36what matters?
- 55:37The end.
- 55:38It's not how it
- 55:39is halfway
- 55:39through or even
- 55:40three quarters of
- 55:41the way
- 55:42through.
- 55:43It's how it
- 55:44ends.
- 55:45That's what
- 55:46matters.
- 55:48And when we
- 55:49have the Lord
- 55:49with us and
- 55:50we're on board
- 55:51with the Lord,
- 55:52it's going to
- 55:53end well.
- 55:55You make sure
- 55:55it's going to
- 55:57end well with
- 55:58you by having
- 55:59Jesus.
- 56:00Let us pray.
- 56:01Lord our God,
- 56:02we pray to
- 56:02bless us tonight
- 56:03and we give
- 56:05thanks for the
- 56:05lessons that you
- 56:06teach us out of
- 56:07your word.
- 56:08Make us receptive
- 56:09to them.
- 56:10May we have an
- 56:11understanding heart.
- 56:12May we lay hold
- 56:13upon your truth.
- 56:15May it go down
- 56:15deep into our
- 56:16heart and impact
- 56:17us for good.
- 56:19Pray to take
- 56:19every single one
- 56:20of us home safely.
- 56:22Bless our homes
- 56:22and our families.
- 56:24Lord we give
- 56:25thanks that we
- 56:25experience so
- 56:27much good from
- 56:28you.
- 56:29And we know
- 56:30that every good
- 56:30and perfect gift
- 56:31is from above.
- 56:33Help us Lord
- 56:33always to be
- 56:34returning thanks
- 56:35to you.
- 56:36Grant us your
- 56:37grace then we
- 56:37pray.
- 56:38Bless the
- 56:39fellowship that
- 56:39we'll meet
- 56:40shortly in the
- 56:40hall.
- 56:41Forgiving us our
- 56:42sin in Jesus
- 56:43name we ask
- 56:43it.
- 56:44Amen.
- 56:45We're going to
- 56:46conclude singing
- 56:47in Psalm 107
- 56:48from the
- 56:50Scottish
- 56:50Psalter
- 56:50verses 26
- 56:52to 30.
- 56:54Psalm 107
- 56:55verses 26
- 56:56to 30.
- 56:57Psalm
- 56:57the
- 56:58Scottish
- 57:02Psalter
- 57:02page 384.
- 57:05Psalm 107
- 57:06They mount to
- 57:08heaven then to
- 57:09the depths they
- 57:09do go down
- 57:10again.
- 57:11Their soul
- 57:12doth faint and
- 57:13melt away with
- 57:14trouble and with
- 57:14pain.
- 57:16They reel and
- 57:16stagger like one
- 57:17drunk at their
- 57:18woods end they
- 57:19be.
- 57:19Then they to
- 57:20God in trouble
- 57:21cry who them
- 57:22from streets
- 57:23doth free.
- 57:25The storm was
- 57:25changed into a
- 57:26calm at his
- 57:27command and
- 57:28will so the
- 57:29waves which
- 57:30raged before
- 57:31now quiet are
- 57:32and still.
- 57:33Then are they
- 57:34glad because
- 57:35at rest and
- 57:36quiet now they
- 57:37be.
- 57:38So to the
- 57:38haven he then
- 57:39brings which
- 57:41they desired to
- 57:42see.
- 57:4326 to 30
- 57:44of Psalm 107
- 57:45They mount
- 57:46to heaven.
- 57:47Amen.
- 58:03感謝
- 58:10Tape
- 58:1230
- 58:16order
- 58:17robust
- 58:18round
- 58:194
- 58:229
- 58:22The
- 58:22B
- 58:27God
- 58:28and
- 58:28God
- 58:29也可以
- 58:31CHOIR SINGS
- 59:01CHOIR SINGS
- 59:31CHOIR SINGS
- 59:33CHOIR SINGS
- 59:35CHOIR SINGS
- 59:37CHOIR SINGS
- 59:39CHOIR SINGS
- 59:41CHOIR SINGS
- 59:43CHOIR SINGS
- 59:45CHOIR SINGS
- 59:47CHOIR HARM
- 59:49CHOIR SINGS
- 59:51ots
- 59:53CHOIR SINGS
- 59:55which may he start to see.
- 1:00:04I'll go to the door on my right.
- 1:00:06Now may the grace, mercy and peace of God the Father,
- 1:00:09Son and Holy Spirit rest and abide upon each one of you now and forevermore.
- 1:00:14Amen.
- 1:00:25Amen.