How to get where you are going

How To:  Get where you are going

Intro

For years we have been laying the groundwork for something special in this region.  For years we have been reaching out, trying to help show a lost generation that there is hope.  We have seen some successes, but nothing like what I believed God really wants to do.  The time is near when we will see the unfolding of God’s plan in this place, but I want to again look at our lives tonight.  This place is filled with people and everyone has stuff in their life that they are working through…

The salvation experience will creep up on you and knock you from your horse, but after that you have to run after God and seek Him

Mark 6:45-52 (NKJV) "Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened."

Mark 6:45-52 (NKJV) "Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

God had spoken to them and given them a mission.  He compelled them to leave His Presence

When God is really moving and blessing in a service what normally happens?  People want to stay and just soak…and that’s ok for a little while.  But sometimes Christians get distracted from the Mission!  They start treating it like a spiritual hot springs resort for the affluent…for the people who are “in the know” and the whole while they are neglecting the Mission “Go and make disciples of all nations…GO!”  God will send you forth from His Presence to accomplish His will! 

Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them.

God may send you away.  You will at times think yourself abandoned by Him.  You will feel like you are alone and in the dark.  You will feel like giving up, and start questioning your call, but the reality is…He is watching you.  His eyes are upon you.  He sees every struggle, every ounce of unappreciated (by anyone else) effort you are giving simply because He told you to do this! 

They were 4 miles away in the near dark…impossible for a mere man to see a small group of men in a small boat and to be able to discern that they were “straining at rowing.”  Jesus had departed to pray and be alone, but guess where his heart was?  Guess where his eyes were fixed? 

Notice:  Jesus sent them to do something hard in conditions that were unfavorable to accomplish the mission given to them.

You gotta know that when Jesus sends you on a mission that it won’t be easy…in fact it will likely be impossible without Him…but He expects obedience

You gotta get your eyes off of the circumstances and onto the goal.  “I gotta keep rowing…don’t understand…he just did that whole bread thing, you think he coulda just sent a favorable wind, but I’ll keep rowing…I heard him say plain as day get in this boat and go to the other side…Peter starting to stink again and I see Judas’ arms moving but I know he’s not really rowing…but I’ll just keep rowing cuz my Jesus told me too!”

It doesn’t matter whether others are pulling their weight or not as long as you keep obeying!  Because He is watching!  Nothing escapes His sight!  Neither your obedience or their disobedience!

Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

He doesn’t need you to accomplish His agenda, He can do it without you so if you find yourself in the flow of God you had better work hard to say thanks for letting me tag along, and keep flowing in obedience.

Why did God tell them to go the other side in first place… cuz that’s where He was headed.  When He sends you away on mission it is to get to where He is going…but if you give up you will miss it and Him. 

If you want to make it to “the other side” you better be prepared to go the route that He has assigned for you and not question it or complain on it, because He has a purpose!  And you just might be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV) "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled.

When Jesus came walking by they did not recognize Him and were afraid, and cried out for fear.

I just want to focus on the fact that they cried out.  You see Jesus knew they were there, and He knew that they would make it to where they were going, and was content to walk on by…except that they cried out to Him, and Jesus stopped.

But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased.

Don’t you know that when you are overwhelmed with fear, life has got you in a choke hold that all you have to do is cry out to Him and He stops whatever He was doing and the same eyes that saw the universe form at His own command become riveted upon you!

You see there is a difference between complaining and crying out.  You can grumble and complain and still be obedient, but when you are overwhelmed and your heart is torn and you cry out to Him…He immediately is there. 

He’ll turn to the storms in your life and say “Shut up, my child needs me!”

But if you never cry out, if you are more focused on hiding your problems rather that crying out to Him…He’ll pass you by. 

Have to be desperate

Have to be at the end of yourself.  “I been rowing all night and now there is a spirit chasin’ me…”

Have to get rid of the coolness disease

I don’t have a problem

My needs are private

Hiding your needs becomes more important than getting your healing

Look what happens when Jesus gets in your boat…

John 6:21 (NKJV) "Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going."

Altar/Summary

Something you need to understand.  God will not abandon you.  When God calls you He expects obedience no matter the cost.  When you start freaking out about the circumstances, then you need to turn around and remember..

And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened."

Remember your milemarkers…remember what He has done and who He is.  Remember what He has spoken to you.

Hebrews 6:10 (NKJV) "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name…”