Well, we're
having a wonderful time.
00:00:51.61\00:00:53.85
We really are. And
Danny, I will tell you that
00:00:54.35\00:01:00.32
I was blessed by the
music we just had so much.
00:01:00.52\00:01:03.26
Absolutely. And to know all of
these folk, that they love Jesus
00:01:03.49\00:01:06.43
and it's not a game for them...
it's not an entertainment deal,
00:01:06.83\00:01:10.17
they just love the Lord.
None of them ask for a dime.
00:01:10.37\00:01:12.73
When they come out here
they don't ask for a penny.
00:01:12.93\00:01:14.47
No. We call them, they'll
say: "We'll be happy to come" -
00:01:14.67\00:01:17.01
that's right - "and minister. "
00:01:17.31\00:01:18.64
That's right. So we're
just so thankful for that.
00:01:18.74\00:01:20.88
Amen. And I got a text message
from Don Jacobsen and he and
00:01:21.04\00:01:24.31
Ruthie are watching on
their iPhones in a motel out...
00:01:24.41\00:01:28.55
They've got a speaking
appointment this weekend
00:01:28.68\00:01:31.42
but they were telling me
how much they were enjoying
00:01:31.82\00:01:33.99
the music. They said
they were really blessed
00:01:34.09\00:01:37.49
by the music, We'll, we're
going to have some more music
00:01:37.79\00:01:40.36
in a minute. We
are in just a moment
00:01:40.56\00:01:42.50
we're going to have
Yvonne Lewis, but our speaker
00:01:42.80\00:01:45.40
tonight is Pastor
Doug Batchelor, an author,
00:01:45.50\00:01:48.57
an evangelist. And we've
known Doug for a long time -
00:01:48.77\00:01:52.67
yes - and in fact I think
it was 1997 was the first time
00:01:52.77\00:01:57.05
he came to 3ABN. We did a
satellite program with him -
00:01:57.15\00:02:01.82
um-hmm - and I remember that.
And then we've been doing them
00:02:02.28\00:02:05.05
almost every year since.
We've... for many, many years.
00:02:05.15\00:02:07.79
And that first one we were
in the little Boss Auditorium
00:02:07.99\00:02:10.73
over at the other
building over here.
00:02:10.93\00:02:12.39
Wasn't very big. But we had...
People at home had all the
00:02:12.59\00:02:17.27
literature so we had home
churches. Everybody get in your
00:02:17.37\00:02:20.37
churches, invite your neighbors.
00:02:20.57\00:02:22.47
And I think Doug can tell us
00:02:22.67\00:02:24.01
there was between
5,000 and 6,000 baptisms
00:02:24.14\00:02:26.61
so we said: "You know what?
Satellite evangelism works" -
00:02:26.91\00:02:29.84
It does work - and we're going
to keep doing it till the Lord
00:02:30.05\00:02:32.08
comes - yes - or till He tells
us to stop. " And I don't think
00:02:32.18\00:02:35.02
He ever will 'cause He said:
"Go ye into all the world. "
00:02:35.12\00:02:37.25
You know, an amazing thing:
when you look at the way that
00:02:37.55\00:02:40.02
membership of God's
remnant church has exploded
00:02:40.22\00:02:44.49
it's done so since 1984.
00:02:44.69\00:02:47.43
And television, the media...
When people see this message
00:02:47.73\00:02:53.67
you see it's like one of the
television speakers was telling
00:02:53.87\00:02:56.64
me - radio and television
- not long ago he said:
00:02:56.74\00:02:59.64
"I've got 30 minutes a week,
" but he said: "3ABN has 24/7
00:02:59.84\00:03:05.08
that the message
is going into homes. "
00:03:05.28\00:03:08.28
You see the
difference in that, folks:
00:03:08.48\00:03:10.45
it's not just one time a week
with a big bright light all of
00:03:10.65\00:03:14.52
a sudden and when people
might be asleep or they might be
00:03:14.62\00:03:18.03
gone to church themselves
00:03:18.23\00:03:19.66
but we are there when
they are ready to watch.
00:03:19.86\00:03:22.50
And now we've got
3ABN and 3ABN Latino.
00:03:22.80\00:03:26.40
We've got Dare to Dream,
Proclaim!, Children's Network,
00:03:26.70\00:03:31.57
the Russian Network. All
that's on the app. If you don't
00:03:31.87\00:03:34.68
have the app, get the app.
00:03:34.88\00:03:36.85
You know, when I'm on the
plane I like to share the app
00:03:37.05\00:03:40.35
with whoever is
trapped next to me.
00:03:40.55\00:03:43.05
And... and I
also give them a card.
00:03:43.45\00:03:48.52
I give them one of my cards
which tells how to watch 3ABN
00:03:48.82\00:03:52.56
and so they know
who they're talking to.
00:03:52.86\00:03:55.83
And Camille told me...
she said: "One of these days
00:03:56.13\00:03:58.83
one of them's going to call
you and they're going to say
00:03:59.03\00:04:03.04
'I've been watching, I've
made my decision for Jesus,
00:04:03.24\00:04:06.51
and I've been baptized. ' "
00:04:06.74\00:04:08.21
And I'm waiting to hear
from that person... I really am.
00:04:08.41\00:04:11.41
It's going to happen. And
all we do is plant the seed.
00:04:11.51\00:04:13.45
That's it! The
Holy Spirit nurtures it.
00:04:13.65\00:04:15.52
1984 there was not one
Seventh-day Adventist television
00:04:15.82\00:04:19.35
station on planet earth.
Did ya'll know that? Right.
00:04:19.65\00:04:22.22
Not one. In November when
we started there was not one
00:04:22.52\00:04:25.69
television station giving
the three angels' messages
00:04:25.79\00:04:29.73
24/7 on planet earth.
00:04:29.93\00:04:32.43
Since then, look
what God has done.
00:04:32.63\00:04:33.97
Our church membership in 1984
was around 5-1/2 to 6 million.
00:04:34.07\00:04:38.57
Now we're up around 20 million.
00:04:38.97\00:04:40.48
Somebody said: "Are ya'll
taking credit for all that? "
00:04:40.68\00:04:42.61
No, we give God the
glory. But it's not just 3ABN.
00:04:42.81\00:04:45.98
Because of 3ABN, many
many other ministries said:
00:04:46.18\00:04:49.22
"Well if they can
do it we can do it! "
00:04:49.42\00:04:50.99
So other people started
going out. You have Hope Channel
00:04:51.29\00:04:53.79
and you have all kinds of
channels. It took them 15 years
00:04:53.99\00:04:56.79
before they caught on, but
that's all right, you know.
00:04:56.99\00:04:59.09
Well, they got there
eventually - that's all right.
00:04:59.23\00:05:00.96
They eventually did it.
But the spread of the gospel
00:05:01.06\00:05:03.70
has been amazing and the
church membership 20+ million
00:05:03.80\00:05:09.30
right - I'm told now, growing
every day around the world.
00:05:09.50\00:05:12.57
And 3ABN has the privilege
of reaching people literally
00:05:12.77\00:05:16.21
all over the world.
Anywhere on planet earth
00:05:16.51\00:05:19.81
just about on every continent
if you want to watch 3ABN
00:05:20.02\00:05:23.18
you can. And everywhere I go now
00:05:23.39\00:05:26.65
we just... we run into not one,
not two, but dozens of people
00:05:26.86\00:05:30.99
in the churches that tell us -
00:05:31.29\00:05:34.46
and these are recent converts
- that tell us: "We found Jesus
00:05:34.66\00:05:39.63
through 3ABN. " And
Camille and I were two weeks ago
00:05:39.83\00:05:43.64
in Takoma Park. A
very nice lady comes up
00:05:43.74\00:05:46.61
and one of the gentlemen there
said: "You want to talk to this
00:05:46.81\00:05:49.54
lady. She was recently baptized.
Did not know anything about
00:05:49.64\00:05:53.82
this message
until she saw 3ABN. "
00:05:54.02\00:05:57.69
And so we had a
nice interview with her.
00:05:57.99\00:06:00.62
And God is just blessing
everywhere with this message.
00:06:00.82\00:06:05.06
And we couldn't do it without
each and every one of you.
00:06:05.26\00:06:07.20
Thank you for your love and your
prayers and financial support
00:06:07.40\00:06:10.53
of 3ABN. And those of
you at home watching from all
00:06:10.63\00:06:14.34
around the world,
thank you for what you do
00:06:14.44\00:06:16.17
for the cause of God. Now
it gives me great privilege
00:06:16.37\00:06:18.71
to introduce - and we give God
the credit - but one of the...
00:06:18.91\00:06:23.28
the greatest singers I've
ever met: Miss Yvonne Lewis,
00:06:23.48\00:06:26.15
who is in charge, general
manager of Dare to Dream.
00:06:26.35\00:06:29.42
I thought it was interesting
that... I think we mentioned
00:06:29.82\00:06:34.42
it last night...
but with the iPhone 6
00:06:34.52\00:06:38.23
they have a new commercial
out with Verizon. It's going to
00:06:38.43\00:06:42.06
be on every - it is! - on every
radio station, every television
00:06:42.26\00:06:45.23
station in America, and
guess who's singing on that?
00:06:45.43\00:06:48.30
Well I have no
idea. Miss Yvonne Lewis!
00:06:48.40\00:06:50.87
So, ging, ging, ging...
I think she's hearing that
00:06:51.37\00:06:54.81
cash register... She's committed
it all to Dare to Dream.
00:06:54.91\00:06:58.15
I was going to say I am making
donations to Dare to Dream.
00:06:58.45\00:07:00.72
Praise the Lord! Amen!
Yvonne, thank you for what you
00:07:00.82\00:07:03.89
do for the cause of
God and for your ministry.
00:07:03.99\00:07:06.02
And the next voice
you'll hear after this
00:07:06.22\00:07:08.66
is Pastor Doug Batchelor. Amen!
00:07:08.76\00:07:11.16
On Christ the solid Rock
00:07:36.48\00:07:39.82
I stand,
00:07:40.02\00:07:43.02
All other
ground is sinking sand,
00:07:43.12\00:07:49.03
All other ground is
00:07:49.80\00:07:53.00
sinking sand.
00:07:53.20\00:07:58.37
My hope is built on nothing less
00:08:02.18\00:08:06.82
Than Jesus blood
and righteousness;
00:08:07.12\00:08:13.09
I dare not trust
the sweetest frame,
00:08:13.92\00:08:18.59
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
00:08:18.89\00:08:24.13
On Christ the
solid Rock I stand,
00:08:24.43\00:08:28.17
All other
ground is sinking sand,
00:08:28.47\00:08:33.64
All other
ground is sinking sand.
00:08:33.91\00:08:39.81
When darkness
veils His lovely face,
00:08:45.85\00:08:50.39
I rest on His unchanging grace;
00:08:50.59\00:08:56.50
In ev'ry high and stormy gale,
00:08:57.33\00:09:01.87
My anchor holds within the veil.
00:09:02.07\00:09:06.91
On Christ the
solid Rock I stand,
00:09:07.21\00:09:11.48
All other
ground is sinking sand,
00:09:11.78\00:09:17.02
All other
ground is sinking sand.
00:09:17.32\00:09:23.22
His love
00:09:28.86\00:09:31.83
is with me.
00:09:32.03\00:09:35.74
He then is all my hope and stay!
00:09:36.07\00:09:41.94
When He shall come
00:09:43.38\00:09:47.15
with trumpet sound,
00:09:47.35\00:09:49.58
O may I then in Him be found;
00:09:49.88\00:09:55.32
Dressed in His
righteousness alone,
00:09:55.62\00:10:01.56
faultless to stand
00:10:01.76\00:10:04.03
before His throne.
00:10:04.23\00:10:10.21
All other ground is
00:10:11.21\00:10:14.14
sinking sand,
00:10:14.34\00:10:16.95
All other
ground is sinking sand.
00:10:17.25\00:10:22.78
On Christ the
solid Rock I stand...
00:10:23.12\00:10:27.26
On Christ the
solid Rock I stand...
00:10:27.46\00:10:31.43
All other ground
00:10:31.73\00:10:33.90
is sinking sand...
00:10:34.20\00:10:37.33
On Christ the solid Rock
00:10:37.63\00:10:42.10
I stand!
00:10:42.40\00:10:48.38
Amen!
00:10:57.05\00:10:59.35
Thank you so much
Yvonne. That was just beautiful!
00:11:04.53\00:11:06.63
That's the message:
it's on Christ the Rock.
00:11:07.76\00:11:12.97
We've been talking
about in our series this week
00:11:14.37\00:11:17.77
surviving storms. You know,
before I get into tonight's
00:11:17.97\00:11:21.38
message I shared with
you yesterday that I had some
00:11:21.48\00:11:24.55
interesting news and
maybe a picture or two.
00:11:24.75\00:11:27.45
A little more than a
week ago I was in Australia
00:11:27.75\00:11:30.69
and while there traveled
from coast to coast around the
00:11:30.89\00:11:35.19
country from north to
south and met a lot of people.
00:11:35.29\00:11:37.66
Had some wonderful meetings.
00:11:37.86\00:11:39.29
But it was very interesting
because not only did I go to
00:11:39.59\00:11:43.06
some of the Aboriginal
communities up in the Northwest
00:11:43.26\00:11:45.90
Territory, a place called Derby,
00:11:46.10\00:11:48.64
and brought me out to a
community called Mowanjum.
00:11:48.94\00:11:51.97
It's what we would call
a reservation, but it's for
00:11:52.17\00:11:55.18
the indigenous people there.
00:11:55.28\00:11:56.85
And I saw these
satellite dishes on the homes.
00:11:57.05\00:12:00.18
And I said: "You get
Christian television there? "
00:12:00.68\00:12:03.32
They said:
"Yeah, we watch ABN. "
00:12:03.62\00:12:06.59
"We watch ABN. "
00:12:06.89\00:12:08.72
And I saw it all... I mean,
this is way out in the middle
00:12:09.12\00:12:11.69
of nowhere in the outback.
00:12:11.89\00:12:13.80
And that's part of the
reason that we went and did some
00:12:14.00\00:12:15.86
meetings there 'cause we were
getting responses that people
00:12:15.96\00:12:18.40
were watching the programs.
But the interesting thing is
00:12:18.50\00:12:20.67
then I went to Adelaide. And
a man came there and he said...
00:12:20.87\00:12:24.01
Said: "Doug, you could relate.
You'd really like our church
00:12:25.04\00:12:27.08
'cause our
church is in a cave. "
00:12:27.28\00:12:29.98
And... and I said:
"Well what do you mean? "
00:12:31.01\00:12:33.11
He said: "No, I'm serious. "
00:12:33.15\00:12:34.52
And I think they might have
a picture that they're going to
00:12:34.72\00:12:36.42
put up there for
you. It's a place...
00:12:36.52\00:12:38.15
See that satellite dish there?
00:12:38.55\00:12:40.32
See, there's a dish and then
there's a line that goes down
00:12:40.72\00:12:43.06
a pipe. Now I want you to
look at what's underneath that
00:12:43.16\00:12:46.59
satellite dish in
the next picture here.
00:12:46.80\00:12:48.73
Oh, there's the sign.
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.27
This is the Coober Pedy
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:12:50.63\00:12:54.20
There's a town underneath
those mounds out there.
00:12:54.50\00:12:57.11
There's the church, and these
are some of your brothers and
00:12:57.41\00:13:02.14
sisters out in the
middle of a very desolate area
00:13:02.24\00:13:04.88
of Australia. They
have these opal mines
00:13:05.08\00:13:07.48
and it is so much cooler.
See? That's the entrance to
00:13:07.78\00:13:10.45
one of the churches right there.
00:13:10.55\00:13:12.05
And they just go in, and it
keeps it uniform all year round.
00:13:12.45\00:13:16.32
And so here... out
in the middle of nowhere
00:13:16.52\00:13:19.39
in the northwest
of central Australia
00:13:19.49\00:13:22.46
the people have their satellite
dishes and they're tuning in
00:13:22.76\00:13:25.43
to the programs. I
couldn't believe it because
00:13:25.53\00:13:27.90
we went to Sydney. We had
thousands of people came to
00:13:28.10\00:13:32.47
the largest church there,
the Adventist church Wahroonga.
00:13:32.57\00:13:35.34
And then we went to Adelaide.
They said it was the largest
00:13:35.54\00:13:37.81
Adventist
gathering in their history.
00:13:38.01\00:13:40.05
And a lot of it is because
the people had been watching
00:13:40.25\00:13:42.58
the satellite on 3ABN.
00:13:42.78\00:13:44.29
So anyway, just want you to know
that the message is going out
00:13:44.59\00:13:47.46
and exciting
things are happening.
00:13:47.76\00:13:49.36
Oh, one more thing that I'd
like to share with you or maybe
00:13:49.76\00:13:52.39
two little things. But something
very big... very exciting
00:13:52.79\00:13:56.36
is about a year ago...
You know, the largest country
00:13:56.67\00:14:01.34
in the world is
China. Just go to Wal-Mart
00:14:01.44\00:14:04.34
and look where
everything's made.
00:14:04.64\00:14:06.44
And 1.3 billion people,
and there's a real challenge
00:14:08.18\00:14:12.28
in doing evangelism in
that country because it is still
00:14:12.48\00:14:14.82
technically a Communist country.
00:14:15.02\00:14:16.82
We received... Foreigners
have not been allowed to do
00:14:17.12\00:14:20.86
public evangelism
in China for 60 years
00:14:21.02\00:14:23.32
and about a year ago - a
little less than a year ago -
00:14:24.43\00:14:27.43
we received an invitation
to come and to do a public
00:14:27.83\00:14:31.17
evangelistic meeting in a
city with 6 million people
00:14:31.27\00:14:34.84
in China. We couldn't
say anything about it.
00:14:35.04\00:14:38.21
It took a lot of
permits and a lot of talking,
00:14:38.61\00:14:40.98
a lot of meeting
with government officials.
00:14:41.18\00:14:43.11
But the Lord blessed and we
went. We got all the permits.
00:14:43.41\00:14:46.11
We went last May to Wuxi, China.
00:14:46.21\00:14:49.72
It's outside of Shanghai
which is the largest city
00:14:50.02\00:14:52.92
in the world, and we were
able to do a public meeting.
00:14:53.02\00:14:56.22
I think we have a
few pictures actually.
00:14:56.42\00:14:58.06
This is... We were
doing a public meeting.
00:14:58.36\00:15:00.16
It was recorded by people
in China. Christians in China.
00:15:00.36\00:15:04.20
And they didn't know
if anyone would come.
00:15:04.50\00:15:06.87
They let us meet in
the main Sunday church
00:15:07.07\00:15:09.87
in that town, and
they brought everybody in.
00:15:10.07\00:15:13.01
And not only were they
meeting in the church -
00:15:13.21\00:15:14.54
the church was packed - but I
think maybe there's a picture.
00:15:14.71\00:15:16.64
This is outside the church.
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.31
The people were all sitting
around the front, around the
00:15:18.55\00:15:21.02
windows, in overflow rooms.
And we did a full series...
00:15:21.12\00:15:24.89
well, fifteen
meetings. It's the first time
00:15:25.09\00:15:27.66
foreign evangelists have been
allowed to do a public meeting
00:15:27.86\00:15:30.33
in China and we are so excited.
00:15:30.53\00:15:32.53
You haven't seen anything in
the Review or in the papers yet
00:15:32.73\00:15:35.26
about that because we're just
now sort of letting people know
00:15:35.36\00:15:38.67
what happened. But
we just praise the Lord
00:15:38.87\00:15:41.90
the work is going forward
there. And the neat thing
00:15:42.10\00:15:43.57
was they recorded it.
00:15:43.77\00:15:46.21
Because even though there
are several thousand people
00:15:46.41\00:15:49.14
at our meeting, what's
that among 1.3 billion?
00:15:49.24\00:15:52.88
But media - as you know -
makes a world of difference.
00:15:53.18\00:15:56.28
They will copy that and
sell it on the black market
00:15:56.58\00:15:59.49
and spread it
all over the place.
00:15:59.69\00:16:01.36
Someone will
make a lot of money.
00:16:02.62\00:16:04.33
But that's very very exciting.
00:16:04.83\00:16:06.70
And so pray for
the work in China.
00:16:06.90\00:16:08.53
There's just a lot of
wonderful Christians there
00:16:08.73\00:16:10.27
and it's still difficult some
places to practice your faith
00:16:10.47\00:16:13.57
in China.
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.10
And then the last
thing please let me repeat:
00:16:15.24\00:16:16.81
pray for our meetings that are
beginning in just about a month.
00:16:17.11\00:16:20.38
October 31 is when we
start there in Albuquerque, NM.
00:16:20.78\00:16:24.61
And it's a great
cosmopolitan town.
00:16:24.81\00:16:27.25
We have just people... such
a wonderful spectrum of people
00:16:27.35\00:16:31.35
in Albuquerque. We're
going to be up-linking
00:16:31.55\00:16:33.29
Landmarks of Prophecy.
Everybody can participate.
00:16:33.49\00:16:36.22
Danny was talking about when
we came here in 1997 and did
00:16:36.32\00:16:39.66
our satellite up-link then
and we found that's just such a
00:16:39.86\00:16:42.96
wonderful way to let everybody
get involved in evangelism.
00:16:43.16\00:16:46.07
So in your churches if they
have no plans for soul winning
00:16:46.50\00:16:49.07
this Fall, consider
participating in that meeting.
00:16:49.37\00:16:52.24
It'll be right here on 3ABN
00:16:52.44\00:16:54.04
and you can do it in
your home, in your church.
00:16:54.24\00:16:57.31
Well, we're going to get
into our study for tonight.
00:16:57.61\00:17:00.52
And just pause with me
as we pray again and ask for
00:17:00.82\00:17:04.95
God's presence. Lord,
as we direct our attention
00:17:05.05\00:17:09.02
to the sacred words of Jesus
00:17:09.16\00:17:11.56
and the stories that are
there to teach us about faith,
00:17:11.96\00:17:15.00
I pray that You will
speak to every heart.
00:17:15.20\00:17:17.40
We ask for Your presence here,
with those who may be watching
00:17:17.60\00:17:20.77
and just speak to
us individually, Lord.
00:17:21.07\00:17:24.07
Help us be more like Jesus.
00:17:24.27\00:17:25.67
Be with me as I share, and
I just ultimately pray that
00:17:25.87\00:17:29.41
we hear You speaking to us.
00:17:29.51\00:17:31.48
And it's in
Christ's name we ask. Amen.
00:17:31.68\00:17:34.58
Now this series
dealing with surviving storms
00:17:36.55\00:17:39.95
I think is very relevant
because, for one thing, I think
00:17:40.16\00:17:42.99
our world is
facing a major storm.
00:17:43.19\00:17:46.49
I mean, beyond the recent
war that we're reading about
00:17:46.90\00:17:50.97
in Syria, there'll be wars
and rumors of wars Jesus said
00:17:51.17\00:17:53.70
up until the end.
But we go through storms.
00:17:53.80\00:17:58.04
And it seems like if you're
going to make it to the kingdom
00:17:59.47\00:18:02.71
that your boat's going to
rock somewhere along the way.
00:18:03.11\00:18:06.38
Sometimes it catches
you by surprise. Sometimes
00:18:07.48\00:18:10.12
the storms come suddenly
00:18:10.32\00:18:11.99
and they take many forms.
00:18:12.19\00:18:14.29
Storms can be hurricanes.
They can be wind, they can be
00:18:15.76\00:18:19.06
rain, they can be lightning,
they can be a whirlpool.
00:18:19.26\00:18:21.16
Who knows what it is?
00:18:21.36\00:18:22.73
I heard about a man that
was placidly sailing out in the
00:18:23.93\00:18:27.50
Pacific Ocean, and out of
nowhere a gray whale breached.
00:18:27.70\00:18:32.74
Didn't know he was
there and struck his boat.
00:18:32.84\00:18:34.88
And he ended up in
a lifeboat for years.
00:18:35.91\00:18:38.51
It actually killed the whale.
00:18:38.61\00:18:39.98
He ended up in a
lifeboat for several weeks
00:18:40.18\00:18:43.32
and just went
through just terrible trials.
00:18:43.62\00:18:46.15
Just came out of nowhere...
beautiful day as 9/11 was.
00:18:46.45\00:18:52.39
Sometimes a storm will come
in the form of a phone call.
00:18:52.63\00:18:56.63
I remember when we were
in the Philippines and we got
00:18:59.27\00:19:01.30
a phone call
about our oldest son.
00:19:01.40\00:19:03.57
It might come from a
lab report from the doctor.
00:19:03.87\00:19:06.84
It might come from
a spouse shocking you
00:19:07.98\00:19:10.78
with some unexpected news.
00:19:11.18\00:19:13.58
We all encounter a
spectrum of different storms
00:19:14.18\00:19:19.45
that come into our lives.
00:19:19.75\00:19:21.09
And there's a couple
of stories in particular -
00:19:21.66\00:19:23.86
I'm hoping I get
to them both tonight -
00:19:23.96\00:19:25.53
dealing with Jesus
on the Sea of Galilee.
00:19:25.73\00:19:28.83
Two storms. And if
you'd turn in your Bibles
00:19:29.03\00:19:32.23
we're going to start out with
the storm in Matthew chapter 14
00:19:32.53\00:19:37.67
where... you know the story...
Jesus walks on the water.
00:19:37.87\00:19:40.41
Peter gives Him a
little bit of company.
00:19:40.81\00:19:42.78
And this picks up... It's
interesting... right after
00:19:44.15\00:19:46.72
Pastor Gilley's sermon
today about Jesus feeding
00:19:46.92\00:19:48.98
the multitude. That's
what's happening earlier
00:19:49.08\00:19:51.52
in chapter 14, but
you get to chapter 22.
00:19:51.65\00:19:54.12
After Jesus fed the
multitude they thought: "Wow!
00:19:54.16\00:19:58.13
this is the Messiah. He
can feed the whole army. "
00:19:58.43\00:20:01.03
And they were
ready to make Him a king.
00:20:01.43\00:20:04.00
You'll also find this
mentioned in Mark 6 verse 45;
00:20:04.20\00:20:07.30
John 6 verse 14. You
compare the different stories.
00:20:07.50\00:20:11.01
Trust me, I am
coalescing those three passages.
00:20:11.21\00:20:13.54
In the gospel of John it says
they were going to make Him king
00:20:13.84\00:20:16.14
and Jesus said: "No... stop. "
00:20:16.34\00:20:18.38
He broke up everything;
He sent the disciples away.
00:20:18.58\00:20:21.38
He dismissed the
people; that was not God's plan
00:20:21.78\00:20:24.45
for Jesus to come as a
lion. The first time He comes as
00:20:24.75\00:20:28.32
a lamb; a lion He
comes the second time.
00:20:28.42\00:20:31.26
First He comes as our
sacrifice then He will come
00:20:31.66\00:20:34.30
as conquering King.
00:20:34.60\00:20:35.93
The Jews wanted their Messiah
to be their king right then
00:20:35.96\00:20:38.27
and overthrow the Romans.
00:20:38.37\00:20:39.77
So He sent them away.
Told the disciples to go across
00:20:40.17\00:20:43.34
the sea to Bethsaida.
00:20:43.54\00:20:45.21
And verse 23: "And when He
had sent the multitudes away
00:20:46.68\00:20:50.91
He went up on a
mountain by Himself to pray.
00:20:51.31\00:20:54.05
And when evening had
come He was there alone.
00:20:54.45\00:20:58.25
But the boat by now was
in the middle of the sea. "
00:20:59.29\00:21:02.62
Says in the gospel of John
they had rowed about 7 miles.
00:21:03.02\00:21:07.23
It was hard for them to use
the sails because they were...
00:21:08.53\00:21:11.17
the wind was going
directly towards them.
00:21:11.37\00:21:13.67
Sailboats weren't quite as
sophisticated back then where
00:21:14.07\00:21:16.50
you could tack back and
forth easily with a jib.
00:21:16.60\00:21:19.07
It was a little more primitive
and so they just decided
00:21:19.37\00:21:21.98
to row, and they
weren't getting anywhere.
00:21:22.18\00:21:25.25
They're out in
the midst of the sea.
00:21:27.02\00:21:28.92
John says it was dark.
00:21:29.22\00:21:31.62
As a matter of fact, it was
the darkest part of the night
00:21:33.12\00:21:35.16
and they felt like
they were all alone.
00:21:35.56\00:21:37.96
"Tossed by the waves
for the wind was contrary. "
00:21:39.33\00:21:43.47
You know, if you're going to
be a Christian you've got to go
00:21:45.37\00:21:47.47
against the wind.
00:21:47.57\00:21:49.00
It is not natural
to be a Christian.
00:21:50.84\00:21:54.54
It's natural to just be selfish
because of our fallen natures.
00:21:55.14\00:22:00.75
If you're going to be a
Christian, you have to swim
00:22:01.35\00:22:03.25
against the current.
00:22:03.35\00:22:04.85
You have to learn
to love... and you can.
00:22:06.15\00:22:09.56
I remember once Karen
and I were at an ASI meeting.
00:22:10.89\00:22:13.29
How many of you have been
to these ASI meetings before?
00:22:13.50\00:22:15.16
You know? Big Christian
conference. They're wonderful
00:22:15.26\00:22:17.57
experiences. And they dismissed
after the church service
00:22:17.67\00:22:20.94
and everybody headed to
the cafeteria for lunch.
00:22:21.14\00:22:23.54
And it was in this convention
hall where everybody had to just
00:22:23.84\00:22:26.34
form this bottleneck
and go up the escalator
00:22:26.54\00:22:29.51
to get to the eating place.
00:22:29.71\00:22:32.75
And I gave Karen
an elbow and I said:
00:22:33.05\00:22:36.08
"The down escalator is
not being used by anybody
00:22:36.28\00:22:38.82
and the line is going to
form up there and I'm hungry. "
00:22:41.49\00:22:44.23
So I said: "I'll save
you a place in line. "
00:22:44.53\00:22:47.23
So I took off and I
started going up the down...
00:22:47.63\00:22:50.77
It was a long one, too. I start-
ed going up the down escalator.
00:22:50.87\00:22:53.67
Praise the Lord
I'm in decent shape.
00:22:53.97\00:22:55.94
But you know, if you
stand... Here's a test:
00:22:56.34\00:22:58.74
What happens if you
stand on the down escalator?
00:22:59.14\00:23:01.41
You go down. What happens if you
00:23:01.91\00:23:04.15
walk up the down escalator?
00:23:04.25\00:23:06.25
You don't really go anywhere.
00:23:06.65\00:23:07.98
How do you get up
the down escalator?
00:23:08.38\00:23:10.35
You've gotta move it!
00:23:10.55\00:23:12.12
And so I took off
and I was... like that.
00:23:13.25\00:23:17.09
And all these people...
they're going up next to me
00:23:17.33\00:23:19.19
and I'm passing them!
00:23:19.39\00:23:21.36
And they're going:
"Hey! You're cheating! "
00:23:21.76\00:23:23.10
And I said: "No...
I'm just motivated. "
00:23:23.13\00:23:24.67
And then I look back and Karen's
behind me in her high heels.
00:23:27.44\00:23:30.07
Here's a physical therapist
and so they saw the Batchelors
00:23:31.61\00:23:34.51
going up the down escalator.
00:23:34.71\00:23:36.18
And we made
it... but it was hard.
00:23:36.48\00:23:39.65
And that's the way
it is in Christian life.
00:23:40.85\00:23:42.62
In our natures something
is always pulling us down.
00:23:42.92\00:23:46.15
Billy Sunday was a famous
preacher, and he would preach
00:23:46.96\00:23:50.06
very strong sermons against
sin... and very animated.
00:23:50.26\00:23:54.36
And after a message one
man came out and he said:
00:23:54.60\00:23:57.17
"Pastor Sunday, " he said,
"you're just always being so
00:23:57.37\00:23:59.73
hard on everybody for every-
thing. You just have to always
00:23:59.83\00:24:02.20
keep rubbing the
cat's fur the wrong way. "
00:24:02.40\00:24:04.51
Pastor Sunday said: "No,
I'm not rubbing the cat's fur
00:24:05.01\00:24:07.38
the wrong way. " He said:
"The cat needs to turn around.
00:24:07.48\00:24:09.31
I'll be rubbing the
cat's fur the right way. "
00:24:09.51\00:24:11.21
And that's the way it
is with us is we sometimes
00:24:13.21\00:24:16.52
hear things that Jesus says
and it makes us uncomfortable.
00:24:16.72\00:24:19.42
It's because we're lost
00:24:19.62\00:24:21.96
and our natures are against God.
00:24:22.16\00:24:25.19
So the wind was against them.
00:24:25.59\00:24:27.60
Jesus told them
where He wanted to go;
00:24:27.76\00:24:29.93
He didn't say it
was going to be easy.
00:24:30.23\00:24:32.20
They were doing
what God told them to do.
00:24:34.07\00:24:36.94
Christ said:
"Go... cross over. "
00:24:37.44\00:24:39.27
So they were rowing, but
they weren't making very good
00:24:39.67\00:24:42.41
progress because the
wind was against them.
00:24:42.61\00:24:44.78
"Now in the fourth watch of
the night Jesus went to them
00:24:45.68\00:24:49.85
walking on the sea. "
00:24:50.05\00:24:52.12
Now this is exciting because
it means that the Lord saw them
00:24:53.02\00:24:56.69
where they were. And
you never have to worry
00:24:56.89\00:25:00.00
Jesus is going to
lose track of you.
00:25:00.20\00:25:02.00
He saw they were in trouble.
00:25:02.80\00:25:04.40
He saw they were doing their
best but they weren't getting
00:25:04.70\00:25:06.63
anywhere and He went
to them where they were.
00:25:06.74\00:25:10.14
Christ crossed the
ocean to reach them.
00:25:11.07\00:25:13.74
There's nothing that can be
an obstacle to God reaching you.
00:25:13.84\00:25:18.28
If He needed wings,
He would have flown.
00:25:18.58\00:25:20.15
But what God did is He
gave Him pontoons on His feet.
00:25:20.55\00:25:22.95
Or whatever it was He
did He just said: "Father,
00:25:23.15\00:25:25.92
they need Me" and He started
walking right across the water.
00:25:26.02\00:25:29.26
The Bible makes a point of
saying they were in the midst
00:25:29.56\00:25:31.66
of the sea. Because
people like to always say:
00:25:31.76\00:25:33.60
"Well they were too close to
shore. It was shallow in that
00:25:33.70\00:25:35.73
spot. " If you know anything
about the Sea of Galilee,
00:25:35.83\00:25:38.53
you'll know out in the
middle it is very deep.
00:25:38.73\00:25:40.30
And so Jesus was walking in
the darkest part of the night
00:25:41.37\00:25:44.97
in the deepest part of the sea
00:25:45.27\00:25:47.64
and the disciples
were doing all they could
00:25:47.94\00:25:50.58
to get where He
wanted them to go.
00:25:50.78\00:25:52.55
But they weren't
getting anywhere.
00:25:52.85\00:25:54.32
Notice: when Jesus came
to them what were they doing?
00:25:55.65\00:25:59.59
They were rowing
00:26:01.36\00:26:02.76
for all they could.
00:26:04.16\00:26:05.59
Did they row
themselves all the way across?
00:26:07.56\00:26:10.53
No. But when He came to
them I want you to make a note
00:26:11.03\00:26:14.50
they were rowing.
00:26:14.80\00:26:16.20
They were busy doing
all they could humanly do
00:26:16.50\00:26:19.31
to obey what God
had told them to do.
00:26:19.51\00:26:21.31
And He saw that
and He came to them.
00:26:22.64\00:26:25.75
"And when the disciples
saw Him walking on the sea
00:26:26.35\00:26:30.62
they were troubled and
they said: 'It's a ghost! ' "
00:26:30.92\00:26:33.76
Which makes you
wonder about their theology.
00:26:33.79\00:26:36.73
"And they cried out for fear. "
00:26:38.59\00:26:40.40
And I suppose we probably
would have been spooked too.
00:26:40.80\00:26:43.67
You know, it's dark night, and
it doesn't say... There might
00:26:43.77\00:26:46.67
have been some stars.
It says mainly this one was
00:26:46.77\00:26:48.90
a wind storm.
Doesn't say it was raining.
00:26:48.94\00:26:51.61
But the waves were big, and
they're rowing into the waves
00:26:51.81\00:26:54.51
and there all of a
sudden they see this apparition
00:26:54.71\00:26:57.61
just slightly illuminated
by maybe whatever stars were
00:26:57.91\00:27:01.12
out or by the bioluminescence
of the foaming water.
00:27:01.22\00:27:04.29
And they thought:
"What is it? It's a phantom;
00:27:04.49\00:27:07.02
it's a ghost. " And
all the disciples began to
00:27:07.12\00:27:09.82
shake and cling to
each other and shriek.
00:27:10.03\00:27:12.56
And Jesus saw how
frightened they were.
00:27:13.90\00:27:16.40
He says: "Don't be afraid.
00:27:16.80\00:27:19.33
Be of good cheer... it is I. "
00:27:19.73\00:27:21.94
"And Peter answered Him... "
00:27:23.54\00:27:24.91
Now I've got to pause
right here because Mark...
00:27:25.21\00:27:27.21
Mark makes an
interesting statement.
00:27:27.41\00:27:29.28
It says "He made as though
He was going to pass them by. "
00:27:29.68\00:27:33.75
In other words, as
they're crossing the sea
00:27:35.25\00:27:38.75
and they're rowing;
they see this apparition.
00:27:38.95\00:27:41.19
They cry out, but He's
not coming right toward them
00:27:41.39\00:27:43.63
He's going kind of parallel.
00:27:43.83\00:27:45.16
It's like He said:
"I told you to cross.
00:27:45.19\00:27:46.53
I'm going to cross. I'll
meet you on the other side. "
00:27:46.59\00:27:48.00
And when they saw Him
they cried out and He said:
00:27:48.96\00:27:50.77
"Don't be afraid. It's Me. "
00:27:50.87\00:27:52.73
And then Peter. He
makes this... he makes this
00:27:53.03\00:27:56.50
interesting statement.
He said: "Lord, if it's You
00:27:56.74\00:28:01.01
command me to come
on You in the water. "
00:28:01.31\00:28:03.48
And I always thought:
Well what if it wasn't Jesus?
00:28:03.98\00:28:06.48
Would he have still
gotten out of the boat?
00:28:06.68\00:28:08.38
He said: "Lord, if it's You...
" You just have to love Peter,
00:28:09.62\00:28:12.55
don't you? It's just... Peter
didn't want to miss anything.
00:28:12.75\00:28:16.96
He always wanted... He
had a comment on everything.
00:28:17.73\00:28:20.53
Peter had an opinion on
everything and everybody.
00:28:20.73\00:28:23.06
Right or wrong. He was always
telling Jesus how he thought
00:28:24.13\00:28:27.60
He ought to live His life,
00:28:27.80\00:28:29.20
telling everybody else
what to do. And you know,
00:28:29.60\00:28:31.91
being outgoing like that is
actually a gift that God can use
00:28:32.31\00:28:36.41
because at Pentecost it
came in handy, didn't it?
00:28:36.61\00:28:38.75
Peter was not afraid
to be a spokesman for God.
00:28:39.25\00:28:41.72
Peter... he was brave!
00:28:42.72\00:28:45.15
At that point he said:
"Lord, I'm scared of the storm
00:28:45.55\00:28:50.26
but I'm really
curious about walking on water
00:28:50.56\00:28:53.19
and if You can do
it, I'd like to do it.
00:28:54.50\00:28:58.47
We've never seen that
before and I'd like to try it. "
00:28:59.17\00:29:01.67
And what does Jesus say?
00:29:04.01\00:29:05.81
You know, Jesus almost
always says yes to any request.
00:29:06.51\00:29:10.85
And he said: "I'd
like to walk on water. "
00:29:12.38\00:29:15.42
Jesus said: "Well then, come. "
00:29:15.62\00:29:17.39
Does the Lord want to
answer our prayers? Amen!
00:29:18.95\00:29:21.86
And so Peter... he
came down out of the boat.
00:29:22.36\00:29:26.16
He had to step over the gun
walls and put his feet down.
00:29:26.46\00:29:30.10
When I get to heaven
I'm going to go to the angel
00:29:30.50\00:29:32.50
and say: "I want
you to find this DVD
00:29:32.70\00:29:35.20
in the library. I'd
like to see this segment. "
00:29:35.50\00:29:38.71
And you know, he puts his
foot down and he feels something
00:29:39.94\00:29:43.21
solid that's sustaining
him there. And then he ventures
00:29:43.31\00:29:45.55
to put his other foot down.
He's got his eyes fixed upon
00:29:45.65\00:29:48.05
Jesus, and he begins
to walk towards Christ.
00:29:48.15\00:29:51.29
And even though
the waves are mounting
00:29:51.59\00:29:54.42
and the wind is spraying
00:29:54.62\00:29:56.02
he keeps his eyes on
Jesus. He's going: "Wow!
00:29:56.36\00:29:58.69
What a miracle! Here I
am out here in the middle of
00:29:59.09\00:30:02.03
the ocean... middle of the ocean
00:30:02.13\00:30:04.20
walking on the water. "
And then he began to think
00:30:04.40\00:30:08.04
about what was happening.
00:30:08.14\00:30:09.47
Maybe Peter was thinking...
You know, Peter always wanted
00:30:09.84\00:30:12.24
to know what his
friends thought...
00:30:12.34\00:30:13.88
Said: "Though all men forsake
You I'll not forsake You. "
00:30:16.48\00:30:19.18
That's what he said
comparing himself with others.
00:30:19.88\00:30:22.02
And when his friends
were watching Peter pulled out
00:30:22.42\00:30:24.29
a sword to defend
Jesus when He was betrayed.
00:30:24.39\00:30:26.32
You remember? Peter always
kind of wondered if anyone's
00:30:26.42\00:30:28.96
watching. Paul had to
chastise Peter because of that.
00:30:29.06\00:30:32.73
Because when Peter - after
Jesus died and went to heaven,
00:30:32.93\00:30:35.96
when the church began to grow
- Peter was working with the
00:30:36.16\00:30:38.30
Gentiles up in Ephesus
00:30:38.40\00:30:42.47
and as long as
there were no Jews around
00:30:42.87\00:30:45.67
Peter was
hobnobbing with the Gentiles.
00:30:45.87\00:30:48.18
But when the Jews came, Peter
was worried about what they were
00:30:48.48\00:30:50.98
going to think. Paul chastises
him in Galatians for that.
00:30:51.08\00:30:54.22
He said: "You had no problem
hanging out with the Gentiles
00:30:54.45\00:30:56.99
but when the Jews came, you
act like the Gentiles suddenly
00:30:57.09\00:30:58.89
were unclean. " Says:
"That's being hypocritical. "
00:30:58.99\00:31:01.16
Peter was always worried
about what people thought.
00:31:01.46\00:31:03.39
And so while Peter is walking
on the water he's wondering
00:31:04.79\00:31:07.76
to himself: "Hey, I wonder
if Andrew and James are getting
00:31:08.00\00:31:12.53
video of this. " And
whatever he's thinking
00:31:12.73\00:31:16.00
he looks over his shoulder:
"Are you guys catching this? "
00:31:16.20\00:31:18.57
But that's where
he made his mistake.
00:31:19.87\00:31:21.54
He took his eyes off of Jesus.
00:31:22.24\00:31:25.08
And when you take
your eyes off of Christ
00:31:25.95\00:31:28.75
the miracle starts to evaporate.
00:31:29.95\00:31:32.52
And when he took
his eyes off of Jesus
00:31:33.02\00:31:34.82
in order to go from Jesus
back to the boat he had to
00:31:35.02\00:31:36.73
look at the storm
at least temporarily.
00:31:36.83\00:31:38.53
And while he was
looking at the waves and the sea
00:31:39.03\00:31:41.53
all of a sudden he thought:
"What in the world am I doing?
00:31:41.73\00:31:43.67
I could drown out here.
I am a long way from land.
00:31:43.77\00:31:46.20
The boat could get blown away
00:31:46.50\00:31:47.84
and what's going to happen
if Jesus doesn't sustain me? "
00:31:48.04\00:31:51.21
And his faith started to
sink and he began to sink right
00:31:51.31\00:31:54.61
along with it. And we
don't know how far down he got
00:31:54.71\00:31:57.55
but just before his head went
under he prayed the shortest
00:31:57.75\00:32:00.05
prayer in the Bible. And
he said: "Lord, save me. "
00:32:00.15\00:32:04.92
I guess technically that's
a complete sentence, right?
00:32:05.02\00:32:07.19
"Lord, save me. " If
you... Sometimes you have
00:32:08.86\00:32:12.63
a problem, you know, in
your car and you start sliding
00:32:12.83\00:32:15.30
on ice it's all you can do.
00:32:15.40\00:32:17.90
As a matter of fact,
you just might say "Lord! "
00:32:18.30\00:32:20.10
One of the
longest drives in my life
00:32:23.30\00:32:25.87
was going from
3ABN to St. Louis.
00:32:26.98\00:32:30.81
And I don't know if
anyone here remembers, but it...
00:32:33.95\00:32:36.42
it snowed. We did a
Thursday night Live!
00:32:36.62\00:32:39.45
And that night it was
snowing big snowflakes.
00:32:39.85\00:32:43.93
And I needed to be at the air-
port to take off Friday morning
00:32:44.49\00:32:48.53
to get back to
my church to preach.
00:32:48.63\00:32:49.96
I had scheduled to leave early
and I didn't know any other way.
00:32:50.40\00:32:53.44
I wanted to get
back before Sabbath.
00:32:53.54\00:32:54.87
And I took off with Jean
Ross in two different cars
00:32:55.90\00:32:58.81
because Jean had come from one
location, I came from another
00:32:59.01\00:33:01.61
and so we took off
following each other in these
00:33:01.71\00:33:03.14
two-wheel-drive rental cars.
00:33:03.24\00:33:04.91
And the snow kept coming until
pretty soon there were no trucks
00:33:05.31\00:33:07.78
on the road and all we've
got is these deep ruts left over
00:33:07.88\00:33:09.98
from the trucks. And
it was a white knuckle
00:33:10.09\00:33:14.92
controlled slide for 3 hours.
00:33:17.16\00:33:21.80
15 miles an hour, and I
prayed a lot during that drive.
00:33:22.70\00:33:26.57
It was just every time I'd turn
a little bit and the car would
00:33:26.87\00:33:29.10
start to fishtail
I'd say: "Lord... Lord? "
00:33:29.20\00:33:31.37
And there's
nowhere to even pull off.
00:33:33.88\00:33:35.71
At one point it
was snowing so hard
00:33:36.01\00:33:37.48
Jean was ahead of
me in his rental car
00:33:37.68\00:33:39.95
and I lost him. And
there was so much snow
00:33:40.25\00:33:43.52
I couldn't see the sign...
You know, where you get north
00:33:44.52\00:33:47.96
of Mt. Vernon and the road forks
and heads off toward St. Louis.
00:33:48.06\00:33:52.49
Some of you know what I'm
saying: the freeway splits.
00:33:52.79\00:33:54.76
I couldn't see the split.
00:33:54.96\00:33:56.46
All of a sudden I
realize I'm heading to Chicago!
00:33:56.77\00:33:58.73
I missed one turn I
had to go ten miles further
00:33:59.80\00:34:02.90
to turn around up
there and come back again.
00:34:03.10\00:34:05.21
Jean got lost too.
00:34:05.71\00:34:07.24
The snow was so deep... I
don't know, we're talking about
00:34:08.48\00:34:11.71
storms I guess I
could tell this story.
00:34:11.81\00:34:13.31
It wasn't in my
notes... I had no idea.
00:34:14.42\00:34:16.05
The snow was so bad - so deep -
00:34:16.25\00:34:17.92
I'm not exaggerating -
that when I got to the St. Louis
00:34:18.19\00:34:21.96
bridge, the bridge that
crosses over into St. Louis,
00:34:22.26\00:34:25.29
there was no traffic
on the highway anywhere.
00:34:25.49\00:34:29.43
I thought: "This
will never happen again.
00:34:29.93\00:34:31.73
Since I'm at the middle of the
bridge and I know it's kind of
00:34:32.13\00:34:34.40
downhill on the other
side, I stopped my car.
00:34:34.50\00:34:36.60
Left the engine
running. I got out
00:34:36.84\00:34:39.11
and I took a
picture. I thought: "Here I am
00:34:39.14\00:34:40.98
standing on top of
the Mississippi River
00:34:41.28\00:34:43.88
on the bridge
leading to St. Louis
00:34:44.08\00:34:45.91
and nobody can do
anything to stop me. "
00:34:47.68\00:34:49.88
Because the whole city
was paralyzed that day.
00:34:50.09\00:34:53.36
And we made it to the
hotel; it was a miracle.
00:34:55.29\00:34:56.99
We had some adventures
but did a lot of praying.
00:34:57.09\00:34:59.33
You know, you
pray more in storms.
00:35:00.23\00:35:01.86
I felt the Lord
very close that night
00:35:04.33\00:35:07.07
'cause I felt I was that far
from eternity the whole trip.
00:35:07.50\00:35:10.27
And you get very serious about
your relationship with the Lord.
00:35:12.14\00:35:14.98
He took his eyes off
Jesus... he started to sink
00:35:15.38\00:35:17.91
and he said: "Lord, save me. "
00:35:19.18\00:35:21.62
And did the Lord
answer his prayer?
00:35:21.92\00:35:25.85
Amen! Immediately.
00:35:26.15\00:35:27.96
Immediately... but
not before he prayed!
00:35:28.26\00:35:32.43
But when he prayed, immediately.
00:35:33.73\00:35:35.66
Some of us just assume
God wants to save us so much
00:35:35.96\00:35:38.37
He's going to do
it without us asking.
00:35:38.57\00:35:40.00
Did you hear that?
00:35:40.90\00:35:42.24
We know God loves us,
we know He wants to save us
00:35:42.40\00:35:44.51
but you still need to ask.
00:35:44.71\00:35:46.17
He will not force
His love upon you.
00:35:46.68\00:35:49.44
"Lord, save me. "
00:35:49.94\00:35:51.98
The thief on the cross...
his prayer wasn't much longer.
00:35:52.48\00:35:55.45
"Lord, remember me
00:35:55.95\00:35:57.95
when You come
into Your kingdom. "
00:35:58.25\00:35:59.62
And as soon as he said that
Jesus stretched out His hand
00:36:03.46\00:36:05.96
and caught him. Makes it sound
like he was going down fast.
00:36:06.16\00:36:09.16
He pulls him up.
00:36:09.36\00:36:11.50
He says: "Oh
you of little faith.
00:36:11.70\00:36:13.44
Why did you doubt? "
00:36:13.74\00:36:15.34
Now I want to pause here and
accentuate a couple of points.
00:36:15.74\00:36:20.88
All right, let me read
just... something else.
00:36:21.81\00:36:23.98
Verse 32: "And when
they got into the boat
00:36:24.38\00:36:28.58
the wind ceased.
00:36:28.62\00:36:30.59
And those who were in the
boat came and worshiped Him
00:36:31.95\00:36:35.52
saying: 'Truly You
are the Son of God. ' "
00:36:35.82\00:36:38.39
So in the storm
they came to know
00:36:38.69\00:36:42.56
who He really was.
00:36:42.86\00:36:44.83
It's going to happen
again in a moment, so note that.
00:36:45.13\00:36:47.00
Now in the gospel of John -
same story - these are parallel
00:36:47.67\00:36:50.21
stories... In the
gospel of John chapter 6
00:36:50.31\00:36:53.24
you'll find
that, verses 15 to 21.
00:36:53.44\00:36:55.58
It says in verse 21:
00:36:55.88\00:36:57.41
"They willingly
received Him into the boat
00:36:57.61\00:37:00.48
and immediately the
boat was at the land
00:37:00.78\00:37:04.65
where they were going. "
So not only did it become
00:37:04.85\00:37:06.65
perfectly calm, all of a sudden
00:37:06.86\00:37:08.92
even though they
were out in the middle
00:37:09.12\00:37:10.53
when they
received Jesus in the boat
00:37:10.73\00:37:12.63
they were at their destination.
00:37:12.83\00:37:14.56
The Lord can make
an instant difference
00:37:16.26\00:37:20.57
in our journey. He can
bring us to the end of the storm
00:37:20.77\00:37:24.11
instantly, and it happened when
they received Him into the boat.
00:37:24.31\00:37:28.34
Now, here's a couple of points
I'd like to just emphasize.
00:37:28.44\00:37:31.75
When Jesus came to them
00:37:33.11\00:37:35.68
they were doing what
He commanded them to do
00:37:35.98\00:37:39.15
using all of
their human strength.
00:37:39.35\00:37:42.06
Not making much progress,
but they were doing what they
00:37:42.76\00:37:45.96
told to do, and that's
what they were supposed to do:
00:37:46.06\00:37:48.50
they were rowing.
00:37:48.80\00:37:50.13
When they received
Christ into the boat
00:37:50.17\00:37:52.57
they got to their destination.
00:37:52.87\00:37:55.10
God wants us to use
every ounce of human effort
00:37:55.40\00:37:59.91
that we have to do
what He tells us to do
00:38:00.11\00:38:03.41
trusting in Him to make whatever
difference there needs to be.
00:38:03.81\00:38:07.78
Amen! When David
went against Goliath
00:38:07.98\00:38:10.89
He went against
Goliath trusting in the Lord.
00:38:11.19\00:38:13.52
But David did use
his sling... he did run.
00:38:13.82\00:38:16.26
He did fight; he
did grab a sword;
00:38:16.56\00:38:18.46
he did everything any
other soldier would do.
00:38:18.66\00:38:20.50
The reason I say that is
sometimes we overcompensate
00:38:20.90\00:38:24.83
on one of two sides.
00:38:25.03\00:38:26.74
You've got one group that
overcompensates on the grace
00:38:27.04\00:38:29.44
side... it's almost like
salvation by presumption...
00:38:29.64\00:38:32.31
and then you've got the other
group that compensates too much
00:38:32.61\00:38:35.21
on the work side. It's
like salvation by works.
00:38:35.41\00:38:37.55
But in the Bible... I'm
not saying we're saved by grace
00:38:37.75\00:38:40.02
and works. We're saved by grace.
00:38:40.12\00:38:41.68
But God wants us to do every-
thing that we are humanly able
00:38:42.18\00:38:45.65
to do. I've met people before:
"Pastor, I'm just praying
00:38:45.75\00:38:49.42
for a job and nothing's
happening. I'm just praying
00:38:49.62\00:38:51.29
for a job. " I said:
"You out looking for a job? "
00:38:51.49\00:38:54.00
"Well, I'm
waitin' on the Lord. "
00:38:54.20\00:38:55.60
"So what in the
world does that mean? "
00:38:56.00\00:38:57.90
Said: "I know God's got some-
thing. I don't know what it is.
00:38:58.20\00:39:00.37
I'm waitin' on the Lord.
" I said: "Are you getting
00:39:00.57\00:39:01.94
the paper and you making calls?
Are you knocking on doors?
00:39:02.04\00:39:04.64
Are you? " "Well,
no, no. I'm trusting
00:39:04.84\00:39:06.68
the Lord. He's
gonna... " I said: "Brother,
00:39:06.78\00:39:08.41
that's not
faith... that's lazy. "
00:39:08.44\00:39:11.48
You know what I'm talking about?
00:39:12.51\00:39:13.85
Have you met folks like that?
00:39:13.88\00:39:15.22
You notice that everybody
God calls in the Bible is busy?
00:39:16.05\00:39:19.49
God calls
Elisha... he's out plowing.
00:39:21.42\00:39:23.63
God calls Amos... he's
gathering sycamore fruit.
00:39:24.93\00:39:27.50
He calls David... he's
keeping his father's sheep.
00:39:27.90\00:39:30.33
He calls Gideon...
he's threshing wheat.
00:39:30.53\00:39:32.30
He calls Peter, James, and
John. They're out cleaning nets.
00:39:32.50\00:39:34.87
I heard one pastor
say: "Make yourself useful.
00:39:37.61\00:39:40.04
God's more likely
to keep you around. "
00:39:40.24\00:39:41.91
Isn't that right?
00:39:43.88\00:39:45.41
God called... He
created us to do things!
00:39:45.91\00:39:49.18
And God wants us to be
busy about His business.
00:39:50.12\00:39:53.79
As a matter of fact,
give the devil more credit
00:39:54.12\00:39:55.72
for being busy. We say:
"He's working like the devil! "
00:39:55.92\00:39:57.86
No one ever insults a Christian
by saying: "You're working like
00:40:02.03\00:40:04.40
a Christian. "
Maybe that is an insult.
00:40:04.50\00:40:06.94
We ought to be busy. I
believe we're saved by grace.
00:40:09.70\00:40:12.07
You understand
what I'm saying? Yes!
00:40:12.27\00:40:14.04
When Jesus came to
them they were rowing
00:40:14.18\00:40:15.91
as though their
lives depended on it.
00:40:16.31\00:40:18.15
And because they were
doing everything they could do
00:40:18.45\00:40:20.48
the Lord then
worked a miracle for them.
00:40:21.58\00:40:23.52
Some of you know the story
where 10 lepers came to Jesus
00:40:27.02\00:40:30.09
and they said: "Son of
David, have mercy on us. "
00:40:32.36\00:40:34.53
They prayed that several times.
They had to stand at a distance
00:40:34.83\00:40:37.50
because they had leprosy.
00:40:37.70\00:40:39.03
And Jesus called
to them and He said:
00:40:40.10\00:40:41.97
"Go to the priest
and make the sacrifice
00:40:42.17\00:40:44.47
for cleansing from leprosy. "
00:40:44.67\00:40:46.34
Which didn't really make sense
because you don't make that
00:40:46.64\00:40:49.44
thank sacrifice for
cleansing from leprosy
00:40:49.64\00:40:51.88
until you're cleansed.
They still had leprosy.
00:40:52.08\00:40:54.28
He said: "Go... do
what I'm telling you.
00:40:54.78\00:40:57.25
Go show yourself to the priest.
Be inspected for cleansing
00:40:57.45\00:40:59.92
from leprosy and
make the offering. "
00:41:00.12\00:41:01.59
"Why would we go make
that offering for cleansing
00:41:02.12\00:41:05.03
when we still have leprosy?
" But they didn't argue.
00:41:05.06\00:41:07.10
The Bible says they went.
00:41:07.50\00:41:09.10
And here's the wonderful verse:
00:41:09.40\00:41:11.00
"In going they were cleansed. "
00:41:11.30\00:41:14.70
As they began to step out and do
00:41:15.20\00:41:18.71
what God had told them to do
00:41:18.91\00:41:20.54
then He worked a miracle.
00:41:20.64\00:41:21.98
And so many people are
waiting for God to do something
00:41:22.61\00:41:24.78
and we're not
doing what we can do.
00:41:24.98\00:41:27.22
You know, in being a Christian
there's effort involved.
00:41:27.62\00:41:31.75
I mean, I don't know how you can
read the Bible and not get that.
00:41:32.25\00:41:34.99
New and Old Testament
talks about us warring
00:41:36.06\00:41:38.66
and striving and running
and fighting and wrestling.
00:41:38.86\00:41:41.06
There is effort
involved in being a Christian.
00:41:41.56\00:41:43.57
And sometimes we tend to
overcompensate on the grace part
00:41:44.07\00:41:47.44
and we end up doing nothing.
And we're to do everything!
00:41:47.64\00:41:50.94
We've got to plead and
we've got to pray with God.
00:41:51.24\00:41:53.94
And it takes heart and
it takes fiber and muscle
00:41:54.04\00:41:56.51
and nerve to be a Christian.
00:41:56.71\00:41:58.95
And God will... I
remember a salesman I know.
00:41:59.35\00:42:03.32
He's got a great sense of humor.
00:42:03.62\00:42:05.22
Bible salesman. He said:
"Pastor Doug, it's amazing.
00:42:05.42\00:42:08.06
The harder I work
the luckier I get. "
00:42:08.26\00:42:10.63
And it's true: the more you pray
00:42:14.40\00:42:16.53
and the more you put
every ounce of human ability
00:42:16.73\00:42:19.73
into doing what
God has told you to do
00:42:19.97\00:42:22.04
the more
miraculous things become.
00:42:22.24\00:42:24.34
God wants us to be
diligent Christians.
00:42:24.74\00:42:28.41
Now it's not that
we're saved by that.
00:42:29.11\00:42:30.75
We're saved entirely by grace.
00:42:30.85\00:42:32.68
But God also wants us
to use what He's given us
00:42:33.08\00:42:35.82
and there's
sometimes a struggle.
00:42:37.05\00:42:38.49
So He gets in the boat;
they receive Him into the boat
00:42:38.69\00:42:42.16
and a miracle happens.
00:42:42.46\00:42:44.83
He transports them to
the place where they're going
00:42:45.23\00:42:48.36
and the wind is gone.
00:42:48.56\00:42:50.83
There's a great peace.
00:42:51.13\00:42:53.44
Now I want to jump
to the other story,
00:42:53.94\00:42:55.70
and this you're going
to find in Mark chapter 5.
00:42:56.20\00:42:59.57
Mark chapter 5.
Actually you'll find it in
00:43:01.51\00:43:04.71
several passages. You've
got the story where Jesus is
00:43:04.91\00:43:08.85
on the sea and this time
He's sleeping in the boat.
00:43:09.25\00:43:11.69
Verse 35.
Sorry, Mark 4 verse 35.
00:43:13.05\00:43:16.26
Mark 4 verse 35:
00:43:18.09\00:43:19.96
"On the same day
when evening had come
00:43:21.06\00:43:23.37
He said to them: 'Let us cross
over to the other side. ' "
00:43:23.77\00:43:26.57
Now, one thing you
should never forget:
00:43:26.87\00:43:29.54
when Jesus tells
us where to cross over
00:43:29.94\00:43:33.11
that means you're going to
get to your destination if He's
00:43:33.71\00:43:36.18
with you. But
He doesn't say when
00:43:36.28\00:43:38.55
and He doesn't say
how hard it's going to be.
00:43:38.75\00:43:40.72
He told the children of
Israel to go from Egypt to the
00:43:41.22\00:43:44.25
Promised Land. Did they have
any idea about the adventures
00:43:44.35\00:43:47.09
that would go between? Or
how long that was going to take?
00:43:47.29\00:43:51.16
Did He get them there?
00:43:51.99\00:43:53.60
He did... except the ones
that lost faith along the way.
00:43:53.90\00:43:57.87
The Lord is going to help
us do what He asks us to do.
00:43:58.93\00:44:03.04
I've said this many times:
00:44:03.44\00:44:05.57
inherent in every command of God
00:44:05.97\00:44:09.01
is the power to do
what He's asking you to do.
00:44:09.04\00:44:13.05
God will not
command you to do something
00:44:13.25\00:44:14.75
without giving you in
His own Spirit and power
00:44:14.95\00:44:17.59
or in your body the ability to
do what He's asking you to do.
00:44:17.79\00:44:21.26
Otherwise, God would be unfair.
00:44:21.66\00:44:23.63
So He says: "Cross over. "
They should have confidence
00:44:23.93\00:44:25.89
they can get to the other side.
00:44:26.09\00:44:27.70
But their faith
might be tested en route.
00:44:28.00\00:44:29.83
"Now when they
left the multitude
00:44:31.53\00:44:33.77
they took Him along
in the boat as He was
00:44:33.97\00:44:35.50
and other little
boats were with Him. "
00:44:35.60\00:44:37.07
Some others were
trying to follow.
00:44:37.27\00:44:38.61
"And a great wind storm arose
00:44:40.28\00:44:42.88
and the waves beat into the boat
so that it was already filling.
00:44:43.28\00:44:48.48
But He was in the
stern asleep on a pillow. "
00:44:49.75\00:44:53.05
Talked about this when we
talked about the Jonah storm.
00:44:54.26\00:44:56.76
Now we don't know how
long it took, but evidently
00:44:57.86\00:45:00.80
there was a period of time
where the storm was mounting.
00:45:01.00\00:45:04.00
And the disciples - many of
them - were seasoned fishermen.
00:45:04.30\00:45:07.14
They were used to the
sea; they knew it like the back
00:45:07.24\00:45:08.87
of their hand. And by the
way, Jesus is directing them
00:45:08.97\00:45:11.77
in a strange spot.
He's taking them directly
00:45:11.97\00:45:14.18
across to an uninhabited
part called Decapolis.
00:45:14.28\00:45:18.71
An area called the
Gadarenes that He would end up
00:45:19.11\00:45:21.62
encountering a demoniac...
one demoniac over there
00:45:21.72\00:45:24.09
that Jesus would
save. Makes this whole trip
00:45:24.39\00:45:26.86
for one person and then leaves.
00:45:27.06\00:45:28.39
But He crosses the whole
ocean, so they're obeying.
00:45:28.89\00:45:32.29
They're going across. Goes
through a storm on the way.
00:45:32.49\00:45:35.16
So the wind starts to build;
the waves are against them.
00:45:36.00\00:45:39.33
Water is starting to come in.
00:45:39.77\00:45:41.40
The waves are swamping the boat.
00:45:41.60\00:45:42.94
It's pretty frightening
when you see that happen.
00:45:43.14\00:45:45.07
And they didn't have bilge
pumps. They were the bilge pump.
00:45:45.47\00:45:48.01
And they're taking whatever
leather buckets they've got
00:45:48.21\00:45:50.78
and they're scooping. They're
trying to splash the water out
00:45:50.98\00:45:53.88
and scare it out of the
boat as quickly as they can.
00:45:54.08\00:45:55.85
And then another wave
would hit and it'd come in.
00:45:56.05\00:45:57.65
And now they can feel the weight
of 13 of them in the boat.
00:45:58.05\00:46:01.42
Right? These fishing boats.
00:46:01.82\00:46:05.33
Extra water...
level's going down.
00:46:05.36\00:46:08.90
Tackle and gear
starting to float around inside.
00:46:09.20\00:46:11.83
They realize: "Hey,
we're out in the middle.
00:46:12.13\00:46:13.94
It's cold. There's a
storm. We'll never get... "
00:46:14.24\00:46:15.74
You think they had Coast
Guard that made them carry life
00:46:16.14\00:46:18.64
jackets back then?
You go down out there
00:46:18.84\00:46:22.24
and it doesn't look good.
00:46:22.44\00:46:24.28
And the waves are
beating against the boat.
00:46:24.68\00:46:27.05
And finally... I don't know
what happened, the lightning
00:46:27.65\00:46:31.29
flashed or something
and all of a sudden they see
00:46:31.39\00:46:34.42
looking around the back of
the boat there He's so exhausted
00:46:34.66\00:46:37.89
He's asleep on a stack of
sails. They call it a pillow.
00:46:38.19\00:46:41.93
It's just a big soft bundle,
probably a piece of sail.
00:46:42.13\00:46:45.27
So exhausted from His day of
ministry that He's just sleeping
00:46:46.43\00:46:49.04
right there through the storm.
00:46:49.14\00:46:50.47
And they're astonished that
He's able to sleep like that!
00:46:51.47\00:46:54.24
And they wake Him up;
they're afraid for their lives.
00:46:55.51\00:46:58.25
You know, how often do we
sometimes forget that Jesus
00:46:58.35\00:47:01.08
is with us?
00:47:01.22\00:47:02.55
You know, I was thinking
of praying before I came out.
00:47:02.95\00:47:06.09
I've got these two stories.
00:47:06.39\00:47:08.19
They're two completely
different unique stories
00:47:08.49\00:47:11.59
of storms on the Sea of
Galilee that involve Jesus.
00:47:12.09\00:47:14.86
In both cases
He calms the storm.
00:47:15.16\00:47:18.07
Getting ahead of myself.
00:47:18.27\00:47:19.60
I thought: why two? In
one He's not in the boat
00:47:20.50\00:47:23.84
but they receive
Him into the boat
00:47:24.04\00:47:25.84
and they reach
their destination.
00:47:26.04\00:47:27.74
In the other one, He's
with them from start to finish
00:47:28.04\00:47:30.78
but they forget about Him.
00:47:30.98\00:47:32.75
You know what I
feel this is telling us?
00:47:33.25\00:47:35.75
You've got two kinds of
storms that involve Jesus.
00:47:36.15\00:47:39.69
You've got one where you first
accept Jesus into your life.
00:47:39.89\00:47:41.89
But then ever after
people accept Jesus in the life
00:47:43.53\00:47:46.13
sometimes we go through storms
and we forget that He's there.
00:47:46.33\00:47:48.83
So you've got the person
who is going through a storm
00:47:50.23\00:47:53.00
and they finally realize
the only answer is Christ.
00:47:53.20\00:47:55.24
They invite Him in,
they reach their destination.
00:47:55.44\00:47:57.31
And then you've got people
who maybe they grow up in the
00:47:57.61\00:47:59.41
church and they've
been Christians for years.
00:47:59.51\00:48:01.18
And we're so used to
doing things on our own
00:48:01.38\00:48:03.41
that we're
trying to save ourselves
00:48:03.71\00:48:06.08
when Jesus is right there.
00:48:06.28\00:48:07.78
He only needs to be
awakened with prayer.
00:48:08.08\00:48:11.12
As they come to their
senses they're astonished.
00:48:12.62\00:48:15.99
"How can He sleep though this? "
00:48:16.19\00:48:17.83
One thing: Jesus isn't afraid.
00:48:18.23\00:48:20.13
He knows His
Father's watching over Him.
00:48:20.43\00:48:21.93
You ever pray that prayer:
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
00:48:24.67\00:48:27.30
I pray the Lord
my soul to keep. "
00:48:28.77\00:48:30.44
I knew that prayer ever
since I was a little kid.
00:48:30.74\00:48:32.87
My grandparents used to
teach me that and it scared me.
00:48:32.97\00:48:34.91
"And if I die before I wake... "
00:48:36.48\00:48:38.61
Now you know, kids normally
aren't going to think like that.
00:48:38.81\00:48:41.18
But just every night she'd
tell me to say that prayer.
00:48:41.38\00:48:43.65
I said: "Could
that really happen? "
00:48:43.85\00:48:46.12
"Is today the day? "
00:48:46.32\00:48:47.66
I mean, you know, normally
you go to sleep and just...
00:48:47.79\00:48:49.86
You're fine. But then
there's "Let's say our prayer.
00:48:50.06\00:48:52.23
If I die before I wake,
00:48:52.46\00:48:54.90
I pray the Lord
my soul to take. "
00:48:56.26\00:48:57.80
And I didn't know
what that meant either!
00:48:57.90\00:48:59.37
So that used to scare me.
00:49:00.97\00:49:02.67
I was coming back
from La Paz, Mexico.
00:49:04.44\00:49:08.78
Doing some mission work.
We were building a church
00:49:09.08\00:49:11.55
down there - a
Sabbath School room actually -
00:49:11.75\00:49:13.65
with our church
in La Paz, Mexico.
00:49:13.75\00:49:15.28
Took my son Daniel down there.
00:49:15.58\00:49:17.62
And I came back with the
contractors and all the gear
00:49:17.92\00:49:22.19
in a van. And I don't know
if you've ever looked at a map
00:49:22.29\00:49:25.53
of California, but
you realize La Paz -
00:49:25.63\00:49:27.53
the Baja California peninsula
- is as long as the state.
00:49:27.73\00:49:33.27
A thousand miles long.
00:49:33.47\00:49:36.00
And the road is a
two-lane road with no shoulder.
00:49:36.30\00:49:41.34
And it's amazing how many
Mexican drivers are in Mexico.
00:49:42.94\00:49:46.48
But the lines are only
sort of a suggestion there.
00:49:48.75\00:49:52.15
They're not a law.
00:49:52.35\00:49:53.76
Any of you know
what I'm talking about?
00:49:53.96\00:49:55.29
I know with the Fjarli's... Been
here; they've been to India.
00:49:57.03\00:49:59.13
They know. Same thing.
00:49:59.16\00:50:00.56
And I got tired, but I
was so afraid to go to sleep
00:50:01.73\00:50:05.37
because as we went down
the road, every time these big
00:50:06.57\00:50:09.77
trucks go by your
mirrors almost clip.
00:50:09.87\00:50:12.27
And it's almost like you're
having to share part of the
00:50:12.57\00:50:15.04
middle of the road until you
just about get upon each other
00:50:15.14\00:50:17.55
and then you both...
It's like playing chicken.
00:50:17.75\00:50:19.81
You know what I mean? And
then just at the last moment
00:50:20.12\00:50:21.98
you'll go like this
so that your other tire's
00:50:22.08\00:50:24.45
kind of on the dirt shoulder.
00:50:24.65\00:50:25.99
You go... And what
makes it really scary
00:50:26.02\00:50:28.36
is all along that road
- a thousand miles long...
00:50:28.56\00:50:31.49
You know what it means
wherever you see a white cross
00:50:31.89\00:50:33.83
on the side of the road?
There was a fatal accident here.
00:50:33.86\00:50:38.13
And I'll tell you: it
looked like a picket fence.
00:50:39.47\00:50:41.40
There were so many
white crosses up and down.
00:50:41.50\00:50:45.47
I'm not exaggerating.
00:50:45.67\00:50:47.41
It's like I'm just surrounded
with the spirits of the dead
00:50:47.61\00:50:50.38
that didn't make
it down this road.
00:50:51.38\00:50:53.48
And I'm supposed to sleep so
I can share with the driving.
00:50:54.72\00:50:57.79
And I laid there, and
just every time a truck went by
00:50:59.35\00:51:01.72
it just... You know, you
feel the wind from the truck.
00:51:01.82\00:51:04.36
And phlew... Is this the one?
00:51:04.56\00:51:06.73
And you just... And they'd
get so close you could even hear
00:51:07.83\00:51:11.27
the Spanish music
in the trucker's radio
00:51:11.47\00:51:14.24
as they went by...
the accordion music!
00:51:14.34\00:51:16.60
I guess they figure if we're
going to go we'll be happy.
00:51:19.51\00:51:21.88
And so it was really terrifying
and I thought: "What kind of
00:51:24.08\00:51:25.85
Christian am I? "
And then I remembered
00:51:25.95\00:51:29.75
a Psalm where David - he
was being hunted by David.
00:51:29.95\00:51:33.12
I mean David was
being hunted by King Saul.
00:51:33.32\00:51:35.02
All over Israel they
had his poster on the wall
00:51:35.32\00:51:37.96
and they wanted
to... wanted to kill him.
00:51:38.46\00:51:40.93
David said: "I'll lay
me down and sleep in peace
00:51:41.23\00:51:43.37
because You keep me. "
00:51:43.57\00:51:44.90
And I finally said:
"All right, Lord, there's no
00:51:45.07\00:51:48.20
sense in us both being awake.
If You're going to be awake,
00:51:48.30\00:51:52.17
I'm going to sleep. And
if I die before I wake... "
00:51:52.47\00:51:56.41
Obviously I made it!
00:52:04.75\00:52:06.09
Jesus is sleeping in the storm.
00:52:08.39\00:52:09.96
I think the devil wanted
to destroy Him that night.
00:52:10.16\00:52:12.13
Christ was vulnerable out
in the middle of the ocean.
00:52:12.33\00:52:15.06
The devil brought up this
storm. It was a diabolical stunt
00:52:15.36\00:52:17.67
to see if he could
drown the Son of God.
00:52:17.77\00:52:19.50
But that boat that
night was an unsinkable ship
00:52:19.70\00:52:21.97
if Jesus was in the boat. Amen!
00:52:22.17\00:52:24.17
And your boat is
an unsinkable ship
00:52:24.47\00:52:27.34
if Jesus is in your boat.
00:52:27.54\00:52:28.88
And Jesus... He awoke
and He rebuked the wind
00:52:29.54\00:52:32.81
and the sea and He
said: "Peace... be still. "
00:52:33.01\00:52:36.38
You know, actually in
Greek it's more words than it is
00:52:37.65\00:52:39.99
in Hebrew. Jesus
was speaking Hebrew.
00:52:40.09\00:52:41.92
Probably what He said
was simply one word: "Shalom"
00:52:42.22\00:52:45.59
which means peace, be still.
00:52:45.99\00:52:48.00
And unlike what you may see por-
trayed sometimes in the movies
00:52:48.30\00:52:51.07
where Jesus has to stand up
and He's hanging on to the mast
00:52:51.27\00:52:53.44
with one hand and
the lightning's flashing
00:52:53.54\00:52:55.07
and He screams at the elements.
Jesus doesn't have to scream.
00:52:55.27\00:52:59.01
God said: "Let there be light"
00:53:00.31\00:53:02.38
and light came. All
Jesus had to say is "Shalom. "
00:53:02.58\00:53:06.61
And when Jesus got
up and He said that
00:53:06.95\00:53:09.15
all of a sudden the
wind stopped blowing,
00:53:09.35\00:53:11.45
the waves flattened out.
00:53:11.85\00:53:14.79
The clouds
parted, the moon came out
00:53:15.09\00:53:17.79
and reflected on a glassy sea.
00:53:17.99\00:53:20.16
And you know what's
amazing about this story:
00:53:20.36\00:53:22.03
the disciples were
terrified during the storm.
00:53:22.43\00:53:25.87
They woke Him up saying:
"Lord, don't You care we're
00:53:26.07\00:53:27.90
perishing? " What
a thing to ask Jesus.
00:53:28.00\00:53:29.74
Does Jesus care
if we're perishing?
00:53:30.04\00:53:32.31
And then Jesus
calms the sea and He says:
00:53:34.74\00:53:37.35
"Why are you so
fearful? Have you no faith? "
00:53:37.55\00:53:39.41
You notice in both stories
00:53:39.71\00:53:41.95
Jesus said they
needed faith in the storm.
00:53:42.45\00:53:44.95
They didn't have enough faith.
00:53:45.45\00:53:47.02
Told Peter:
"Where's your faith? "
00:53:47.62\00:53:49.82
Tells the disciples:
"Where's your faith? "
00:53:49.92\00:53:52.53
Maybe God's telling us for
our storms and the ones ahead
00:53:53.86\00:53:57.87
"You're going to need faith. "
00:53:58.27\00:54:00.10
Where do you get faith?
00:54:00.60\00:54:02.00
"Faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the Word of God. "
00:54:02.30\00:54:04.74
Faith comes when you pray
and God answers your prayer.
00:54:05.07\00:54:07.61
Your faith gets stronger.
00:54:07.81\00:54:09.21
Faith is like a muscle
that gets stronger through use
00:54:09.61\00:54:12.21
and exercise. We need
to be using our faith now.
00:54:12.41\00:54:15.85
You know there's a lot of
stories in the Bible of people
00:54:17.12\00:54:18.95
who became Christians...
a lot of stories in history
00:54:19.15\00:54:21.42
I should say... through storms.
00:54:21.52\00:54:23.89
John Wesley. He actually
was doing evangelism in America.
00:54:25.29\00:54:30.07
Wanted to be an evangelist but
he kind of had pitiful results
00:54:30.27\00:54:34.04
his first endeavor at it.
On his way back across the
00:54:34.30\00:54:37.51
Atlantic Ocean they
got into a fierce storm
00:54:37.61\00:54:39.87
and he was scared for his life.
00:54:40.28\00:54:42.38
Waves were crashing
and the boat was creaking
00:54:42.68\00:54:44.48
and he saw this family of
primitive Moravian Christians
00:54:44.88\00:54:48.45
some of the first Protestant re-
formers from the Czech Republic
00:54:48.65\00:54:53.12
from John Hus. They
were standing on the deck -
00:54:53.32\00:54:58.73
men and their
families - singing.
00:54:58.93\00:55:02.16
And Wesley said:
"Aren't you afraid? "
00:55:03.33\00:55:05.73
"No, " they said,
"we're not afraid. "
00:55:06.03\00:55:07.67
Says: "Your wives, your
children? You're not afraid? "
00:55:07.87\00:55:09.70
"We're not afraid to
die; we're in God's hands. "
00:55:10.01\00:55:11.91
And he went back. He
realized: "I'm not converted. "
00:55:12.21\00:55:15.74
And it was after that experience
he really began to read the
00:55:16.14\00:55:18.48
Bible and pray and study, and
he had a conversion experience.
00:55:18.58\00:55:23.62
Same thing with John Newton.
00:55:24.05\00:55:25.95
You've sung that
song Amazing Grace?
00:55:26.15\00:55:27.76
You know what
brought about his conversion?
00:55:28.26\00:55:30.66
Storm at sea.
00:55:31.06\00:55:32.76
One storm in particular was
so bad. The water was coming in.
00:55:33.26\00:55:36.70
And John Newton, if
you read his autobiography,
00:55:37.00\00:55:39.73
he was an awful scoundrel.
We just read it again with our
00:55:39.93\00:55:42.10
kids last year. And
yeah, I can't even go into it,
00:55:42.20\00:55:46.98
but he's as bad as
an infidel can get.
00:55:47.18\00:55:49.21
Blasphemed God's
name... just mocked God.
00:55:49.51\00:55:52.15
But he had a
mother praying for him.
00:55:52.25\00:55:53.58
And he was out at sea
and water was coming in
00:55:54.65\00:55:58.52
and it looked like
the boat was going down.
00:55:58.62\00:56:00.16
And Newton called out
to the captain. He said:
00:56:00.36\00:56:02.29
"I'll go to the pumps
and if this doesn't work
00:56:03.83\00:56:05.86
God have mercy on us. "
And he thought to himself:
00:56:06.06\00:56:08.23
"Mercy? Who am I to
think I could have mercy? "
00:56:08.43\00:56:11.53
And he thought: "Well it
wouldn't be mercy if it wasn't
00:56:12.87\00:56:15.97
given to those who
don't deserve it. "
00:56:16.00\00:56:17.71
That's when he finally realized
00:56:18.21\00:56:21.04
that God could
have mercy on him.
00:56:21.34\00:56:23.14
And he began to read the
captain's Bible that was in
00:56:23.35\00:56:26.41
the... in the cabin.
And that was the beginning
00:56:26.55\00:56:31.25
of his conversion. But
it started with a storm.
00:56:31.35\00:56:33.62
Even Joseph Bates, one of
the founders of this movement,
00:56:33.92\00:56:36.69
converted in a storm.
00:56:37.96\00:56:39.66
Sometimes we're going through
storms. You wonder: "Lord,
00:56:40.70\00:56:42.76
what's going on? "
And it's in the storm
00:56:42.96\00:56:46.30
that we might discover Jesus.
00:56:46.50\00:56:48.30
We come out the
other side and we realize
00:56:48.60\00:56:50.51
"Thank you, Lord. I wouldn't
have known Your power. "
00:56:50.71\00:56:53.34
In the storm where Jesus got
into the boat and in the storm
00:56:53.54\00:56:56.61
where they woke Jesus
up they both worshipped Him
00:56:56.71\00:56:59.41
and they recognized who He
was 'cause He revealed Himself
00:56:59.71\00:57:02.88
through the storm. You
know, I think we're facing
00:57:03.12\00:57:06.92
some big storms that are coming
00:57:07.32\00:57:09.19
to the world... to our country.
00:57:09.39\00:57:11.53
It's going to affect
us if we're Christians.
00:57:12.03\00:57:14.26
We need to have that per-
sonal relationship with Jesus.
00:57:14.56\00:57:17.43
And you who are
watching: do you have that now?
00:57:17.63\00:57:19.53
You need to ask Him just like
those others we talked about.
00:57:20.04\00:57:23.10
Come to Jesus and
say: "Lord, save me. "
00:57:23.30\00:57:25.77
He wants to enter your
life and to give you peace.
00:57:26.17\00:57:29.14