Jesus Cares

Scripture (Mark 4:35-38)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

Introduction Many of us, have experienced or is experiencing situations in our life today that makes us wonder, Father, do you care? Through the current pandemic, loss of love ones, friends, Jobs, relationships and churches, people have asked the question” Father, do you care? When things are falling a part, every step we seem to take is met with opposition, every move you make is block by the opponent, there is trouble at every corner in your life. You can not seem to you’re your head above the water. You are physically and mentally strained from all that’s going on in your life. The feeling of despair is showing through your physical appearance. Why is this happening to me. What have I done wrong? Father, Do you Care? We see the violence in our communities and throughout this world. Senseless killing in our streets, disenfranchisement of people of color, ruling of just on unjust events, someone is asking the question, Does Jesus care? I simplize with you. You are doing your part. You are treating people, like you want to be treated. Why is it that I feel like I’m at the hands of the enemy? What can I change to make this life better. Interject: Question: Is there anybody this morning faced with this question? These disciples – were in a similar situation. They were invited to cross over the Galilee to get away from the crowds, but they ran into a storm that was about to cross them out. This morning somebody feels that they are in a cross-out situation. They here today in person and/or they are tuning in via virtual. They are looking for answers, to reestablish and rejuvenate themselves. Listen to me this morning - Jesus Cares Jesus selects these twelve men who will later find themselves in the boat with him. (Mark 3:13) the Twelve was charged to do two things: to preach the message of the kingdom and to defeat any demonic attempts to hinder its acceptance. (Mark 3:13-19) (3:20-30) Jesus find himself dealing with the foolishness of the religious rulers. The religious leaders try to explain Jesus’ ability to drive out demons as being due to satanic power. Jesus shows the foolishness of such an explanation and claims instead that he’s able to do his miracles because he’s stronger than Satan—he has tied up Satan, who is now powerless to prevent Jesus from robbing him of the men and women who are his possessions. Tired of explaining yourself. People can see you doing the work, They can see who you are, They can see the words but still will argue the point. We all get tired defending our selves at time. There is always something going on, with these folks. In attributing the Spirit’s work to Satan, they have passed a point of no return. Their foolishness reveals their deep hostility toward Jesus and their determination to reject him as Israel’s Messiah. They have so hardened their hearts against him that there is nothing more God can offer them. We all reach a point were, its nothing more we can do. After dealing with this:

Jesus was Fatigue and Exhaustion. Jesus and his disciples were on a course for rest and relaxation. They had been serving the multitude all day. They were on the sea, headed to the other side and they encounter a storm. These disciples were master fishermen, highly experienced, fish the Galilee many times before but this storm caught them by surprised. They had experienced storms on the sea before but something about this particular storm had them fearing for their life. Somebody here today is going through a storm in their life and it’s something about this particular storm that is different.

You have lost loved ones but It’s just something about this love one that have you feeling like it’s over.

ii. You have overcame sickness before but its something about this illness that have you feeling like its over.

iii. Your storm may be[TB1] health, children, work, relationship, financial or death. Whatever, it is this storm has you fearing the worst.

Unexpected storms will “Surprise You”. Unforeseen, unanticipated, unpredicted, not bargained for, unlooked for, unhoped for, out of the blue, without warning, without notice, sudden, abrupt, surprising, startling, astonishing, uncommon, abnormal, extraordinary; ---- Will surprise you Its one thing when you can expect and its another to not expect. When I’m expected something, I can prepare for it. I can brace myself but when it Unexpected, I’m left vulnerable.

Unexpected storms will “Expose Your Position” It’s just one of those days. Ever been caught on one of those days. You know it’s a bad day, you trying to stay to yourself. Then someone or something happens that activates what you been trying not to show. Momma says, they got a full lashing.

The text says, “They were headed to the other side” They’re headed for the other side, but the storm interrupted their progress. They’re supposed to be relaxing headed to the other side but the storm exposed them. It doesn’t matter how Christian you are, unexpected storm will exposed the real you. The storm will expose who you really are and everything you have going on in your life.

If you have hatred in your heart, an unexpected storm will exposed it.

If you in a bad relationship, an unexpected storm will expose it.

Unexpected storms will disturb the environment. (Pressure will burst a Pipe) – You can be headed one way, but the story can change your trajectory.

Unexpected storms will ruffle your household

Unexpected storms will shake up your ministry

The storm will expose it and make you focus on it. Leaves you in shame.

Every felt in shame because somebody found out who you really was.

Text says “37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.”

Unexpected storm will “Expose your Position” and “Kill where you headed”. Ever went through something and lost motivation, interest, or desire. Unexpected storms will “Kill where you headed”

1. The disciples were consumed by the storm. They were so consumed that they did not realize the boat was filling with water.

a. You so consume with your Job, that your family is in chaos.

b. You so consume with yourself that relationship is on rocks.

c. You so consume with the church, that your personal relationship with God weak.

d. Are you consumed by the storm?

The boat was filling. They were so skilled, experienced on the sea that they were trying to figure out how to navigate through the storm that now the boat was filling with water.

2. When is it enough? When will I learn to say, I can’t do it by myself. It was these disciples’ human inability that cause them to confess that they needed some help and to seek it. If we be honest today, we all need some help. I need help for myself, family, Job, Church.

3. The storm exposed their fears on the Galilee and took them off of course for the other side. They were headed there for relaxation. But they are now facing fear.

v. Unexpected storms will expose your position, kill where you headed and challenge your faith Somebody is going through a storm right now; they came today to give it to God. They are at a breaking point.

1. Nowhere to turn, it has affected them spiritually, mentally and physically.

2. They are at a crossroad in their life.

3. They can’t pray it out, they can’t preach it out, they can’t give it out, the storm has consumed them so much that they are focus on effects of the storm versus the promise of reaching the other side. Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “ Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with you; he will not fail thee, nor forsake you” (King James Version) These disciples being masters in their profession, experienced in the storm had lost hope. Do you still have courage in the mist of going through?

4. What is it about this storm?

5. I’m determined to get to the other side.

vi. When we lose focus, we get consume with the ways of the world.

2. Sleeping Savior

a. The text says: 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.

i. In mist of this storm, and Jesus is sleep. What a dangerous situation to be in a storm and Jesus is sleep? St. Augustine said, “If Jesus were not asleep within thee, thou wouldst be calm and at rest. But why is He asleep? Because thy faith is asleep,” In other words – the only reason you think Jesus is not there is because you don’t trust that he is.

ii. Sleep is natural. We all need sleep. Jesus asleep was natural and right; and it answers not to our spiritual torpor, but to His apparent indifference and non-intervention in our time of distress.

iii. When your faith is sleep, you will overlook the resources you have.

1. Jesus is speaking to you this morning – “Stop looking I’m right there.” You have been consumed by your storms, your anxieties are running high, you have grasp unmerited stress, sleepless nights, worrying about the consumption of this storm.

iv. Jesus wants me to tell someone right now, you are worrying about the wrong thing. Because, “he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep”. See the text says, “that Jesus was asleep in the stern (which is the bottom of the boat).”

v. Jesus is in the bottom of the boat and they’re at the top, and the waves from the storm are filling the boat with water. So what happens when you pour water in a glass, does the water fill the top or the bottom first.

vi. When your faith is a sleep, you will tend to overlook the resources you already have. A lot of times in our storms we are so daring, that we expose our self to more danger. The disciples were so fearful that they went to wake Jesus.

vii. Jesus is not “Sleeping on You, You Sleeping on Jesus”. Hebrews 13:5 says, " I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

viii. The water from the storm will fill the stern before it can get to you. Here is the shouting part. The storm will have to drown Jesus before it will drown you Isaiah 59:19 says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (KJV) Before the storm kills you – The bible says “Jesus will lift up” And you know what happens if Jesus is “Lifted Up” Jesus says in John 12:32, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me. (King James Version)

3. Supernatural Stranger Mark 4:41: And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (King James Version)

4. These disciples didn’t know Jesus. They were with him but didn’t know him. This shows us that a lot times in our life we maybe engaging with people who don’t know us. When obervisous to Jesus speaking to the storm. Jesus had just got through preaching about his power over Satan in chapter 3, but now in chapter 4 they are shocked. In the storm, you must watch who you have around you. Everybody that says they for you isn’t for you. Everybody doesn’t want to see you successful. Everybody don’t really know who you are. Some people will never see your potential. They will always remember what you done and been through but never see your potential of making it through. They caught up on what you been and not what you can be. They don’t want to see you healed nor doing well. They give you purposeful bad advice. Watch who you have around you! Some of us have bunch of strangers, they with us while its good but they useless when bad. They witness you in your good days but in your bad days they will not encourage you. The song writer said, I've had some good days, I've had some hills to climb I've had some weary days And some sleepless nights But when I look around And I think things over All of my good days Out-weigh my bad days I won't complain The disciples had witness Jesus heal the sick, make the blind see but they had never seen him control nature. The disciple where strangers to Jesus supernatural capabilities. Some of us today are strangers to Jesus supernatural abilities. We don’t believe in his miraculously healing power and miracle. If you don’t believe in his power of healing, you will never be healed. Do you believe today? I believe in miracles.

5. This is Man vs Nature. Humanity vs Supernatural

a. Jesus is transitioning you to where you need to be.

b. From Uncertainty to Certainty. Yes, Jesus Cares but do you Care? Do you care about What God has promise you? Do you care about calling on his name in the midst of the storm.

c. A song writer said, Jesus will work it out. Will you trust that he will work it out for you.

d. It’s hard to move when you don’t believe. He is shifting you out don’t stay park.

6. Conclusion Storms of life come into our lives frequently. They come in many different fashions. It can be a natural storm with torrential rain, lightning, devastating winds, a heart wrenching message from your doctor, a spouse who surprisingly says that he/she wants a divorce, a child that has become addicted to drugs, a terrible accident and many other scenarios that people are faced with every day. None of us would be able to sleep comfortably when these things come upon us, but there is a place of refuge for Christians who have accepted the wonderful, free gift of God and established a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ, who can do all things, has promised in Hebrews 13:5 to never leave nor forsake His children. Does this mean that all of our prayers will be answered just the way we want them to be? No, but we must remember that God's wisdom is infinite and He knows what is best for His children, as the bible points out in Romans 8:28. We are also told in Philippians 4:7 that God's children have a "peace that passes all understanding.

7. The final thing I want you to know

a. Everything that God allows to happen to you, is because, he is trying to get you to a certain place.

i. He allows the heart ache to come, because he is trying to get you to a certain place

ii. He allows frustration to come because he is trying to get you to a certain place

iii. He allows pandemic to happen because he is trying to get you to a certain place

iv. He allows the loss of Jobs and relationships, because he is trying to get you to a certain place

b. Where was Jesus trying to get the disciples to go.

i. He trying to get the disciples to shift from where they were, to where they need to be.

ii. They needed to know his power.

iii. They needed to know if he is with them, they are protected.

iv. When you with Jesus, the battle is not yours but it’s the Lords

v. When you in Christ, you can do all things him because he strengths you.

vi. Christ says do not let your heart be trouble and afraid for – I am with you.

vii. Be not dismay, whatever betide you, God Will…

c. Their faith had to be challenge.

i. Are you willing to shift today?

ii. Are you willing to welcome him in?

iii. Are you ready to go higher in the Lord?

d. Why do he want you to go higher?

i. Because he cares

e. How do you know he cares?

i. When I look back over my life, and think where he brought me from I know he cares

ii. The bible says “for god so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son” God Cares

iii. He cares so much that he sent his son for me and you

iv. Jesus Died one Friday, stayed in grave all day Saturday and got up early Sunday

f. Yes He cares, to send his son for you and I

g. Hold on to the promise, The other side is near.

8. Be not dismay, whatever betide you, God Will…

9. Weeping may endure for a night but joy Coming in the morning.

10. Your Blessing is coming, Just hold on… Isaiah 40: 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

11. Right were you are. Turn around 3 times for me.

12. God Specializes-

a. Have you any rivers, that are uncrossable,

b. Have you any mountains that you can’t climb, God Specializes in things impossible, and he will do, what know other power will do.

c. Have you ever been on the bed of afflictions, and the doctors told you, there was nothing they can do. My God Specializes in healing all manners of disease and he will do what know other power can do.

13. Every time I turn around, God keeps blessing me

[TB1]