Summer Vibes: Find the shade

-Summer encouragement: You can grow spiritually, you can deepen vital commiunity, you can experience the miraculous

Mark 4:30–34 ESV

30 And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34 He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

“Find some shade”.

Vs 32:

Mark 4:32

“yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.””

SET UP THE MESSAGE:

I have a confession to make today: i have to be completely forthright with you all and not sugarcoat this at all≥.. i am 100% a beach bum. I am addicted to and involved in on a deep level have attachment issues with the beach.

I love the saltwater, i feel most at home with a surfboard under my arm. And like many of you this time of year is about hitting the beach, being fond in the sun and working on that tan.

But as I’ve gotten older I’ve come to appreciate something I really didn’t care about in my teenage years and into my twenty’s and that is this: a little shade… goes along way. Amen?

One thing i need during the warm, hot summer months is some shade.Some time out of the sun.

Jill and i love to surf, but our usual MODUS OPERANDI is to get to the beach early, coffee in hand, and get some waves but try to get out of there by 11…. If the waves are good.. maybe 12…. But i really don’t like to be out in the middle of the day in the sun

The UV in Florida and the heat is a real thing. That’s why we tend to have an amazingly close relationship with our thermostats.

My wife loves the sun, i go for the shade.

(105 jax / 115 Sydney).

The Bible talks about the kingdom of God, or life with God as like being in the shade. And i want to in this next few collections of messages talk to you about some of these kingdom parallels through some of our own natural parallels here in our part of the world.

shade / refuge / shadow of protection.

In Mark 4 Jesus is talking about the kingdom . He is explaining what the kingdom of God is like

Psalm 91:2 “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.””

Psalm 16:1 “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.”

Why we need shade?

1.SHADE REPRESENTS HEALTHY PROTECTION AND CARE

Why wouldn’t you take advantage of what is always available.

Natural shade is a genuine shadow that provides a refuge from the harsh reality of life and the world.

Jesus talks about how small faith grow

Faith in God and living where you constantly go to him in your life is not weakness, it’s not a crutch, it’s wise. where do you run to when things get a little harsh, when conditions seem challenging?

When it seems like the world is a hard place?

God is our SHADE.

Hebrews 6:17–18 ESV

17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Psalm 46:1 ESV

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 61:3 When we go to God, we always are met with shade / refuge / rest….for our

Psalm 61:3 ESV

for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

In the Old Testament law, God set up cities of refuge for people that encounter trouble his own people so there would be a way for them to flea and find a safe haven until Justice was served and things were sorted out so there any of these people they need to seek a safe place there would be one.

Jesus is saying that the kingdom of God exist today on the as a safe and refuge for each people.

Life

Calling

Struggles

Hope

Strength. Endurance. Patiently awaiting

2.SHADE IS A MECHANISM FOR GOD TO HELP US AND GROW US

God’s shade is meant to be a mechanism and a way for us to grow up in his shadow to become like him conforming into his image as a representation of the kingdom of God here on earth God wants you to grow in the shade

But how do we do that? I want you to think about a few things for today

Shade is the kingdom for you and I are:

Church

Community

The word

The Holy Spirit.

Communion with the Holy Spirit is like activating God shade in your life everywhere you go

the Holy Spirit is what helps us not just experience the shade, but live in the shade.

3.SHADE IN OUR LIVES CAN BECOME LIFE AND BLESSING TO OTHERS.

Our lives can become shade extensions for others.

Isaiah 61:3 “to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”