John #19 It Is I
That you May Believe and Have Life #19
John 6:16-22
We’ve been preaching through the book of John at New Life.
As we move our place in John 6, remember that the last time I shared with you, Jesus fed 20,000 people with a little boys lunch.
After this sign, Jesus knew that they wanted to “make him King by force”, verse 15 says, so he went off by himself.
We can never force Jesus to do what we want, outside of his will.
And while he gets away from the crowd he sends his disciples on ahead.
Let’s Read 16-21
Now it would seem here that the disciples went on of their own volition, but Mark lets us know that he sent the disciples away, and he dispersed the crowd before going off by himself.
It would be interesting to know if the disciples wondered “how’s Jesus getting across the lake?”
I have in mind one thing today and that is to encourage you; to lift you up, especially if you are going through a storm in your life right now.
Perhaps you have been blind sided by an unexpected storm.
Perhaps sickness has hit your family unexpected
Perhaps a financial crisis or one at work
Maybe there’s a storm building in your house … on the Job … school
Well be encouraged today.
Because of the geography of the Sea of Galilee it was not unusual for storms to come out of nowhere.
Cool air from Mt. Herman would collide with the hot dry air from the South and East and Storms would rise up …
In the midst of your unexpected storm I want you to see three things today
A Proclamation
A Word of Consolation
A Moment of Reconciliation…
I want you to hear Christ today say …
1. It is I - Proclamation
You need to be reminded of something today and that is the Omniscience and Omnipresence of the Lord
If you are in a storm today, our Lord is not unaware and he is NOT unavailable, nor unreachable …
Psalm 139:1-12 (NIV)
1 For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
He goes on to say that the reason for this is because God made us … AND he has an appointment book written down with every event of our life written on it.
Jesus Christ knows the celebrations and the sufferings, the tragedies and triumphs, the majestic and mundane, the storms and sunshine.
You will NEVER catch him off-guard
Storms are a PART of this earthly existence.
Storms are NOT always the result of sin but they are always with the permission, if not the instigation of God.
Jonah experienced a storm, as did his boat mates, because of his disobedience. God sent the storm because Jonah was outside of God’s will
But in this case Jesus sent the disciples out INTO the storm.
Did Jesus know the storm would come that night? You bet he did, and he sent the disciples out anyway
I’ve told you before that being in harm’s way but in the center of God’s will is safer than being on the shore outside of God’s will …
You need to hear Jesus today say “It is I”
The disciples were afraid.
The interesting thing is that this was NOT the first storm the disciples had seen with Jesus … Matthew’s account of this story is in Matthew 14, but in Matthew 8, they were in a storm with Jesus IN the boat, asleep and they were afraid and woke Jesus up and he stilled the storm AND scolded them for failing to have faith.
So here they are in another storm, this time with Jesus OUT of the boat … They saw Jesus walking and they were terrified. It wasn’t the storm that terrified them, they were sailors, they had been in storms. It was that guy out there on the water that frightened them. It was the fear that there was something greater in the storm
Jesus Christ is always the Lord of the Storm. Whether he caused it or allowed it, he is STILL the Lord of the Storm
His presence is still in the storm.
A. Sometimes the Presence of Jesus Stirs the Water
Jesus was walking on that water … and I believe he was working up a wave … he was going faster than his disciples
Jesus ever stirred the water in your life?
Jesus ever called you to something that stirred up the “calm” you were enjoying in church, in life
Jesus, things were going fine until …
B. Sometimes the Presence of Jesus Stills the Water
But don’t lose sight of his PRESENCE.
We like it when the waters are still … we aren’t crazy about it when they are stirred and sometimes we pull away from Jesus when he doesn’t do what we want
But we still need to draw near to him
But the evil is near too … sure, the storm is all around you have two choices …
1) you can surrender to the nearness of the storm or
2) you can surrender to the nearness of Christ
Ps. 119:150-151 – those who devise wicked schemes are near, but they are far from your law. Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.
Ps. 145:15 the Lord is near to all who call on him to all who call on him in truth.
In your storm today can you hear Jesus say “It is I”
Where can I go from his presence?
Not in a storm
Not in the dark
Not in the wind
Not in the sunshine
Not in the rain
Not in the joy,
not in the pain
You can’t get away from his presence
You HAVEN’T gotten away from his presence
“It is I”
And then his next phrase is so important today …
2. Don’t Be Afraid - Consolation
We’ve been studying Joshua we’ve been learning about Strength, Courage, Fear and Discouragement
Jesus says “Do Not Be Afraid”
We have learned the fearful effect of fear
Fearful of Footprints
The destructive effect of fear and worry on our Christian faith is vividly illustrated by Daniel DeFoe’s character Robinson Crusoe. Rejecting his father’s pleas, Crusoe had left home in search of wealth and adventure. His life was one of recklessness and godlessness until, following a terrible storm and shipwreck, he found himself stranded on a deserted island in the Caribbean. There his soul began to respond to the Lord, and finding a Bible among the effects salvaged from the ship, he was converted and grew into a thankful, devout, hard-working Christian. His life, though missing human companionship, was peaceful and prayerful. His faith grew strong.
But one day Crusoe found a footprint in the sand, and he suddenly realized that he was not alone on the island. Knowing the fierce, cannibalistic practices of the native tribes, he grew into a fearful man. He looked over his shoulder with every step. He no longer slept peacefully. He altered his habits and patterns. He visualized himself being captured, boiled, and devoured.
Thus my fear banished all my religious hope. All that former confidence in God, which was founded upon such wonderful experience as I had had of His goodness, now vanished, as if, He that had fed me by miracle hitherto could not preserve, by His power, the provision which He had made for me by His goodness.…
That is what fear does to us—it is diametrically opposed to our faith.[1]
A. There is a Choice in fear
Jesus says do not BE …
It is one thing to be frightened briefly … fright is a reaction of something that happens suddenly, catches us off guard.
It is another thing all together to remain afraid or in a state of fear.
To be afraid, in the English means to be “filled with fear or apprehension, filled with concern or regret over an unwanted situation”
The Greek word is phobeo /fob-eh-o/ to put to flight, flee, fear, struck with fear,
This is the same word from which we get the word “Phobia” which in English means an exaggerated, inexplicable and illogical fear or a particular object or situation
Jesus says to the disciples, “do not be put to flight by illogical fear”
Why is it illogical? Because Jesus is here, “It is I”
Fear will control you if you allow it
Fear is an aggressive foe
Understand here we are talking about “unholy fear” … what do I mean by that? The word “holy” means set apart for a sacred or godly purpose …
Emotions can be holy or they can be unholy. When Fear that does not point us to God, is unholy. The only holy fear is the Fear of the Lord
But we are talking about UNHOLY Fear … and that kind of Fear … does some things to us
1. Fear Invades – it comes in with a rush if it is given an opening or a good place to stand
2. Fear Influences – you will make decisions based on fear. If allowed fear will keep you from doing what you want or need and it will cause you to do what you do NOT want to do or what you need to do.
3. Fear deceives
Fear will lie to you. How many times has fear convinced you that there is someone in your basement, or something present that is not? Fear will tell you that you aren’t able to complete the task. Fear has caused superior foes to lose because they became afraid of losing or afraid not being strong enough.
4. Fear destroys –
Fear can ultimately destroy you. If you let it in, and you let it make your decisions, you let lie to you, with the turf that invasion gives it, and the foothold that influence and deception brings, it will win battles and destroy …
So with that said it should NOT surprise you to understand that …
B. Fear is never from God
1. Remember again, I am not talking about “fright” which can be an alert to danger
2. Fright can be a natural reaction to something unexpected.
3. I have had situations where I sensed danger and the Lord saying, “you do not need to be here.”
4. Jesus had situations where he knew they were going to try and kill him and he left, he slipped away, he avoided a situation. That is NOT fear, that is intelligence or awareness
5. But Jesus also never backed down from the attack of the Pharisees. He never changed his words because he was afraid what someone would say, think, or do. The disciples, when obedient to the Lord, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, never backed down from the call, purpose, and will of God.
6. They were not afraid to face the potential of death, nor the eventual portion of death. The disciples all faced imprisonment, persecution and death, but they did not fear it.
7. How do I know that fear is NEVER from God … because his word says so …
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
The Greek word there “timidity” in the NIV, FEAR in the KJV is deilia /di-lee-ah/ timidity, fearfulness, cowardice
8. God has not given us a Spirit that is cowardly, fearful, or timid. So, if God didn’t give it to you, and you have that kind of spirit, fearful, timid, cowardly, it is a messenger of Satan. Whether you gave it to yourself or it came straight from the evil one, it is NOT from God and it will be a tool of satan.
9. What of God’s people, controlled by His Spirit?
Hebrews 10:39 (NIV)
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
10. I believe the Lord has shown me something about why fear gets in and gets a foothold … It happens in the mind when we THINK some things … we are alone, we think we are unloved, we think we are uninformed, we think we are unable
11. Notice I said we THINK or we have allowed ourselves to believe … but it is NOT true. Those four things are LIES for those who are in Christ Jesus. Recognize the Truth in this story that debunks these four false beliefs …
a. We know from Mark and Matthew that Jesus told them to GO … he MADE them Go … and we know that Jesus wouldn’t have sent them where he had not equipped them. Jesus would not have lead them without guiding and providing … so they were NOT unable, because Jesus said “GO”
b. Jesus didn’t just say GO, he sent them to the other side,(mt 14) in particular he sent them to Bethsaida (Mk 6) – They didn’t need to fear because Jesus had told them they were going to the other side they were NOT uninformed, need not be afraid
c. Were they unloved? Well they knew Jer 31:3 had said “I have loved you with an everlasting love” … but Jesus had also told them, mt 10:29-31 “not one sparrow falls to the ground without the Father’s knowledge and will, and the hairs on your head are number, do don’t be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows.” That’s the love of God … he says … look to this world, I am creator AND sustainer, you were created just a little lower than angels, and if I know when a little bird falls, I LOVE you, I know … you are NEVER unloved
d. and you are never alone … because in the midst of the storm … he says “It is I”.
Oh we have a good God
He is Almighty
Be Not Afraid
He is Commander of the Armies of Heaven
Don’t live in Fear
He is Everlasting Father
Fear him alone
He is Glorious God
Have No Fear
Immanuel
Jesus Christ
King of kings
Lord of lords
Mighty God
No need to fear
Put away your doubts
Quit questioning
He is Rock of Ages
Storm Calmer
Trust Him
Unafraid in obedience
He is Victorious Valiant
Warrior
No need for “fear of the strange”, that’s Xenophobia
Yahweh, the Ever Existing One is our God
So there is ZERO reason to Fear
Glory to God …!!!
Jesus says
“It is I, Do not be Afraid”
Well, I could stop there … but let me finish …
SO … how does this scene end?
With Jesus recognized, his proclamation heard
With the Consolation understood that we need not fear …
Then …
3. Be Willing to Take him Into the Boat - Reconciliation
Why did I use the word Reconciliation?
Because it is about putting things BACK they way they should be
We need to put HIM back where in belongs in our lives, leading, controlling, directing, and guiding.
Having Jesus in the Boat is MORE IMPORTANT than the Storm being still
A. If we are willing Jesus will always still his child
1. He may or may NOT still the storm, but he can ease our minds and put us in the arms of peace
2. Let Jesus put you at ease.
3. Hopefully the words today, the teaching you have heard, help you understand where fear comes from and reject the place that fear has in your life. Which will bring peace
How do we allow him to still the fear? We submit ourselves to him
James 4:7 – Submit yourself therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee
If you fight fear on your own, you will often fail. But if you submit to Christ, that is PUT HIM IN THE BOAT, stop rowing your own power, your own plan, your own purpose, but surrender to his power, plan, and purpose.
Surrender your mind to the truth “It is I”
Say “yes Lord, I will trust and not fear”
Psalm 56:3,4
When I am afraid, I will trust in you
Now that’s a great place to start. Even though you know you shouldn’t be afraid, right now you still MIGHT, so WHEN you ARE afraid, trust in God …
But 56:4 says
In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will NOT be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Did you see it, If you Trust in God, you will NOT be afraid, and how do you trust in God? HIS WORD, praised, believed, known … Knowing and Believing his Word is what enables you to trust God
And then you will resist the devil and fear will flee
And you will be STILLED, no matter what happens to the storm
B. Sometimes the Purpose of the Storm is to get Jesus INTO the Boat
Jonah was safer in the Ocean surrendering to God, than in someone else’s boat running from God.
Difficulty
Darkness
Tragedy
Troubles
Storms
Suffering
What should ALL of those have in common …?
They should ALL cause us to TRUST, TURN TO, Stand on, Strive with Jesus Christ.
If Jesus is your co-pilot you are in the wrong seat,
Matthew 14 tells us more about this story … because in Matthew’s account he lets us know that after Jesus said “do not be afraid” … Peter said, “tell me to come to you on the water”
Folks if we are in the storm and Jesus is in the water, we better get in the water or Let Jesus into the Boat.
Now I know Jesus was limited physically and he had SENT them out alone, but we don’t have to do that. We better not go out on our own.
Moses had it right when he said “Lord if you don’t go with us, don’t send us away.”
It very well may be that storm in your life has been stirred up by God or allowed by God to get you to let him in the boat, or get you out of YOUR boat into the water with him.
If your storm is the result of running from God, turn the boat around or abandon ship
If your storm is the natural result of life, let Jesus have the wheel, stop fighting the winds and the waves alone
The ONLY fear we can have is to Fear God … that is to honor and reverence him … for He alone is worthy to lead your life, to lead my life
I’m less interested in whether or not God calms my storm than whether or not I calmly turn to him.
When your eyes are on him, who cares about the storm
>Is it easier to trust him while he feeds 20,000 or while the Storm Rages?
I think it depends on how much really know him
How much you realize his love for you
His power for your circumstance
Don’t you know that the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead is FOR us who believe
Eph 1:19-23 his imcomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and ever title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 and God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way
Why are YOU afraid … if we are in Christ? All things are under HIS Feet and WE are his body, so they are UNDER our feet, we are the fullness of him and he fills us in every way!!!
Do Not be afraid!
Let him lead
He is God …
You are Not alone
You are Not uninformed
You are Not unable
You are Not unloved
Be still my child, it is I,
Be not afraid of the wind and the sky
Above the clouds by faith you can rise
Or the in the midst of the storm, here my cry
Be still my child
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[1]Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (296). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.