Following The Word 13

Don’t Waste The Storm

Text: John 6:15-21

Supporting Gospels: Matthew 14:22-23 & Mark 6:45-52

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why burdens and battles are allowed to enter your life? Well, both of those experiences are sometimes God’s way of bringing balance into our life.

Recap:

The disciples had recently finished a successful evangelistic mission. They healed the sick and preached the Gospel.

These men had witnessed and experienced first hand the feeding of the over 5,000.

We could safely estimate that these men were experiencing a spiritual high. That of course can be a dangerous place. Warren Wiersbe said, “It is good to be on the mountaintop if you don’t get careless and step off a cliff.”

How many of you would agree when looking back at past moments when your faith was challenged, that the level of which your faith grew was exactly the kind of faith you needed for the very next trial or circumstance?

It wasn’t any different for the disciples. Remember, they had already experience one sea storm, but Jesus was on the boat with them. Even then their faith was week and they doubted. Now, we find the men on the boat and Jesus still on the desert mountain side. This was definitely a time when Jesus wanted them to grow in their faith.

At the end of our time together today, I want you to walk away fully persuaded that Jesus will always come to you and bring you to shore when you call out to Him.

1) Jesus Resisted Becoming A Celebrity

A. Jesus resisted being “shaped” into “their” king

They were following Him because of the miracles He was performing.

They wanted to make Him a celebrity king and for Him to overthrow the Roman government.

The feeding of the 5,000 men would have been the greatest opportunity to be set up as a king, develop a militia and take over the Roman government.

LISTEN…we do not shape Jesus into the king we want. He shapes us into the children He wants.

Illustration: I always think about these remodel shows. You at times don’t mind if Jesus comes in and puts a fresh coat of paint on the walls, or changes out some of the accent pillows. Jesus comes in with a demo crew!

With the rise of a spiritual disaster for everyone, especially his disciples…….

B. Jesus removed the possibility of disaster

First of all, he removed His disciples away for the crowd.

Matthew 14:22 “22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.”

Mark 6:45 “45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.”

Secondly, he dispersed and removed Himself from the crowd.

Matthew 14:23 “23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”

Mark 6:46 “46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”

APP — If you and I are not careful, we can make a similar mistake. Jesus has no interest in becoming a king per your specification. Jesus has come as a savior and is coming again as King.

APP — What a great lesson in resisting the temptation to become something that appeals more to the flesh than to your heavenly Father.

I don’t care what age you are, there is pressure to shape you to accept the culture around you and the world’s standards.

Teenagers are pressured to adopt a philosophy of life where there is no absolute truth and anything that makes them feel good should not only be lived out, but also accepted by everyone around them.

Parents today are being pressured to follow the insane schedule for their family to which they are never at home to invest in each other, rest, and build memories that actually will have a timeless impact on their life.

You need to be like Jesus and die to the outside pressure! You need to surrender yourself and your family to God’s pattern for life so you can enjoy daily peace.

Jesus Resisted Becoming A Celebrity…

2) Jesus Retracted To Become An Advocate

A. Jesus got alone with the Father

Mark 6:46 “46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”

This is an indicator of a few of things:

Jesus was very aware of the trial His disciples were going to face.

The Father knew exactly the way Jesus should help them.

The Father knew exactly the right time to go to them.

You will never find Jesus turning to anyone other than the Father for help, comfort, strength, endurance, and power.

Q — To whom or what do you find yourself turning to when life hits you hard?

Listen...if someone really matters to you, you will get alone with God and pray over them on a regular basis.

I have a new found appreciation and love for my Savior’s advocation for His children

Illustration: There are times when I am walking behind my boys as they ride their jeeps ahead of me on our little street or when they are walking in together at Smart Start, I am praying with an overflowing heart of love toward them to have health, safety, growth, kindness, and love.

Jesus never stopped praying for these men!

John 17:13–19 “13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.”

B. Jesus is your advocate to the Father

John 17:20–26 “20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

1 John 2:1 “1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”

Jesus Resisted Becoming A Celebrity…Retracted To Be Their Advocate…

3) Jesus Responded To Their Trouble

A. Jesus’ timing

Mark 6.48 “toiling” = to be troubled greatly ⇔ be tortured v. — to be or become extremely troubled, conceived of as being physically tortured. (impacting physically and emotionally)

The disciples had failed their test because they lacked spiritual insight and receptive hearts. The miracle of the loaves and fishes had made no lasting impression on them. After all, if Jesus could multiply food and feed thousands of people, then surely He could protect them in the storm. Even a disciple of Jesus Christ can develop a hard heart if he fails to respond to the spiritual lessons that must be learned in the course of life and ministry. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 133.

To not respond in obedience to Jesus’ teaching and leadership is equal to slowly developing a hard heart.

After rowing through the storm for three or four miles, Jesus comes to them.

Jesus waits until their situation had become so desperate that they could not do anything to help their situation.

The respective watches ended at roughly 9:00 PM, midnight, 3:00 AM, and 6:00 AM.

The Son rose to the occasion as the sun rose on the occasion.

Jesus did not go to them immediately. He went to them at the right time.

Nothing hinders Jesus from coming to the aid of His children when they are struggling in their faith.

Q — Is it easy for you to think, “Jesus isn’t near me” when you are caught up in a storm?

Jesus could have been half way around the world and still have been near and would have arrived right on time.

B. Jesus’ Approach

Jesus met them out on the water.

That is the kind of Savior we have. He is the one who walks out on the waves that strike fear into us and come to our aid.

To appreciate Jesus’ approach, take notice of the emotional state of the disciples:

(v19) “they were afraid” (Mark says they “cried out”)

Mark 6:49–50 “49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled…”

“troubled” = to be in distress, affliction, danger, or need.

They were confused as to who or what it was that was walking on the water.

Jesus approached them with words that changed everything!

(v20) “It is I, be not afraid”

Mark 6:50 “50 Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”

Jesus could have said that very same truth across the still water, but to hear this peaceful truth across the waves, made for a memory that would forever ring in their hearts.

Jesus’ voice could have reached their ears through the stillness of the morning sky, however, to hear Jesus’ comforting voice carried to them by the wind causing them fear, would cause them to live in peace when facing future obstacles.

Calm water under a calm sky was the last thing they needed in order to prepare them for the ministry that laid ahead of them.

APP — Sometimes, the only way for you to be ready to trust Jesus fully in future circumstances, you need to reach a moment when everything seems hopeless.

There is one emotion the presence of Jesus will never add to your life. Jesus will never bring “fear” into your life.

C. Jesus’ invitation

Matthew gives details that John and Mark don’t provide.

Peter (and none of the others) decided he wants to walk on the water also.

Peter’s request of great courage.

What prompted him to make such a request?

I probably would have just said, “How many baskets of food do we have on our boat?”

Maybe Peter had glanced over and saw those baskets sitting there and courage filled his heart.

Jesus’ response to Peter.

There is always an open invitation to fully trust the power of Jesus.

This invitation wasn’t without a powerful history.

This invitation was coming from the one who contained all the fullness of God within Him, who had conquered the devil in the wilderness, healed numerous diseases, created the best tasting wine, fish, and bread that anyone had ever had, etc.

Peter’s steps of faith.

Just imagine trying to overcome the mental barrier of not sinking when putting your foot down on the water.

Isn’t it amazing the kind of mental or spiritual barriers you can bust through when you eyes and heart are focused on Jesus?

Now, you might be quick to judge Peter because he doubted and began to sink.

I am far more impressed with someone who gets out of the boat, has a sinking moment, and cries out to Jesus for help than I am with those who stayed in the boat.

If Peter is described to have had “little faith,” what does that say about those who are white knuckled still on the boat?

Jesus reaches down

Peter gives us a beautiful picture of how compassionate, forgiving, and patient our Savior is with us.

There wasn’t a distance Peter could have been to where Jesus could not have reached him!

D. Jesus’ reception

Jesus is welcomed into there boat

The creator of the wind and waves is now the captain of the boat.

The boat was immediately at the shore once Jesus was welcomed on.

Captain Jesus is the only One who has authority over all.

Jesus Resisted Becoming A Celebrity…Retracted To Be Their Advocate…Responded To Their Trouble

Conclusion

The shore line will always be something within reach when Jesus is trusted at the helm of your life.

The shore line you need is exactly where Jesus will take you when you fully trust Him.

The most important shore line you need today is the shore line of eternal life with Jesus.