Lessons From the Deep

This morning if you are a note taker, I have made available to you a document with fill in the blanks to go along with the message. It will capture the high points of the message, and give you some notes to study with at home this week.

Throughout the month of August we have been a series we have entitled Lessons from the Deep. This series is designed to help us reorient our perspective when we find ourselves in the deep places of life. Each week we are learning lessons from the deep by engaging the scripture through the stories of those who have faced hardship and difficult circumstances.

There will always be moments in our lives where we will feel like we are in way over our head. It might be conflict that arose unexpectedly. Maybe the sudden loss of a loved one or being let go from a job. The hurt of a friendship or relationship that has dissolved. A child that is making poor choices in their life, or unforeseen financial hardship or a marriage that is struggling.

When we experience difficult situations like these and others it can leave us feeling like we are surrounded. As if the waters of life are rushing over our head and we are uncertain if we will make it through. What I have learned is that It’s in the these moments that we will be presented with a choice. To seek God and His word or give in to the pressure of the deep and distressful places of life.

My prayer today is that faith would arise in your heart as you hear this message. Let’s Pray!

Our Anchor Verse for this series is found in Isaiah 43:2 lets read it together.

Listen to our Anchor Verse for this series found in Isaiah 43:2

The New King James Version Chapter 43

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

This passage is such an anchor for the soul. It reminds us that no matter where we find ourselves in life God will help us walk through it.

SUBMIT

Let’s look at todays story where we will find lesson from the deep. It is in the book of Mark 6:45-51 Turn there with me.

Mark 6:45–51 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.

Over the next few moments as we look at the context of this story I want to highlight a few truths that I believe will helps us.

1. It was Jesus who made the disciples get into the boat, and go to the other side.

This verse is more important than it looks. Jesus made the disciples get into the boat. Often our American view of Jesus is a Jesus whose primary concern is our comfort. A loving savior who will keep us from all harm safe and sound.

Often I would say its the opposite. Jesus is not as concerned with out comfort as He is with His purposes. The Gospel of the kingdom is about Him. His glory, His power, His plan. You and I have the opportunity to partner with Him in it. Partnering with God will require us to step out in faith in ways that at times will feel extremely uncomfortable.

The Apostle Paul says it well in Philippians 4:11-13

Philippians 4:11–13 NKJV

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

The truth of the matter is that like the Apostles we will experience times of plenty and times of need. We will experience times of peace and times of resistance. Ultimately it is Christ who will give us strength in every season.

If our understanding or perception of God and His word is skewed we will have great difficulty reconciling our faith. What do I mean by this? If our belief system about who God is and what He does is skewed we will end up with an internal crisis of faith. We can become confused and frustrated because our reality will be in direct opposition to our beliefs.

This can leave us with questions like why would God allows this to happen? I thought God was Good? I thought God was for us? I thought God was working all things together for my good?

So in the case of the Disciples does this truth mean that Jesus didn’t care about them? Of course He cared! Even though they would face resistance Jesus fully expected the outcome of their journey to be exactly what He had said it would be. Get in the boat and go over to the other side.

Numbers 23:19 NKJV

“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

We must settle it in our hearts that God means what He says, and facing hardships is sometimes part of the plan.

Our anchor verse reminds us that we will pass through the waters, and the rivers, we will walk through the fire. In this story the Disciples found themselves in a situation that was contrary to them.

The boat ride was strenuous and filled with difficulty, but the Word of the Lord to them was pass over to the other side.

Can I encourage some of you today: You're in the boat. Maybe your frustrated with the contrary circumstance. Maybe your feeling distressed. Can I encourage you get your eyes off the distress of your situation. Where has God commanded you to go? What promise has He given you in your life? What does His word say about your situation.

Row, Row, Row your boat and cross over to the other side! Fight through the hardship of the process and posses the promise and plan God has for your life!

Yes Things may be contrary to you in the boat. Yes the storm may be great enough that the water is coming over the edge of the boat and you feel like your going to sink. Yes fear is at the door! Keep Rowing! Overcome it! Fight through your situation and trust God to take you to the place that He promised. Trust God to do what He said He would do. He is not a man that He should lie!

2. Jesus saw them.

In vs. 47-48 it says, “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.”

I love vs. 47. It says Jesus saw them. Not just from a distance but Jesus saw them. He saw them straining. He saw them fighting the wind to get across the sea. He saw that the conditions of their circumstance were contrary to them.

I think its important to understand that Jesus sees us. There is nothing that is hidden from Him. He sees your life. Your struggle. The situations that are contrary and difficult…He sees them. Know today that God is not unaware. I think that this personally is so comforting! It helps me remember that you and I are not alone. God knows our situation. Proverbs 15:3 says,

Proverbs 15:3 NKJV

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

There is a fancy theological word that describes God’s ability to see and know everything. It is Omniscience.

God is omniscient. He has total knowledge of all things. He is sovereign over His creation in all things, whether visible or invisible. He knows the number of hairs on your head. Matthew 10:29-30

Matthew 10:29–30 NKJV

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

God sees your life. Everything is exposed and uncovered before Him.

This Truth points out something that is completely sobering. The end of vs. 48 says that Jesus saw them straining, but as He came to them He would have passed them by. This is an important revelation. We must understand that the omniscient wisdom of God in our situation may look different than what we expect.

Jesus saw them straining but would have passed by them to meet them on the other side. He didn’t walk out onto the water to help them. He simply planned to meet them on the other side.

Sometimes God in His sovereignty allows us to experience difficulties in life because those difficulties will help to shape us. The winds of life that are contrary to us build stamina, and strength. They build confidence in His word when we realize that what He says we can do, we can actually do.

These experiences serve to build our faith. Where we move from comfort to confidence. Weakness to strength in Him.

The disciples had previously been tested in a similar scenario.

Previous to this experience was Matthew 8:23-27

Matthew 8:23–27 NKJV

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

The disciples previously faced hardship when Jesus was in the boat. They thought they were going to die when a great storm arose and waves began to crash over the sides of the boat. Jesus in all this was at peace fast asleep. After they woke Him He confronted their fear and doubt. This was undoubtedly a huge lesson for them. He taught them storms don’t kill the purposes of God. He then demonstrated how to take authority over the storm.

Its the same for us. The third truth I see in this story is.....

3. Sometimes its hard to see Jesus.

Times of difficulty and uncertainty often rob us our ability to see clearly. The wind and waves of life in seasons are so overwhelming that it pushes us into a natural response that we call fight or flight.

This response is an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The disciples in this story experienced this.

In Mark 6:49-50

Mark 6:49–50 (NKJV)

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.”

Their response was completely human. They think they see a ghost and Fear immediately shows up and they begin to cry out. Their human response of Fight or flight was in full swing because of fear.

But I want you to see that fear robs us of our ability to see spiritual things. Jesus response to their fear was releasing faith through His Word.

New and difficult situations will challenge us throughout our life. If we do not teach ourselves to draw near to the word of God we will constantly be derailed. Like the disciples we must come to the place that we know He will fulfil His word in our life.

Psalm 46:10 NKJV

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

In new and overwhelming situations we must learn to be still in our hearts and look to His word. Yet know that in His mercy Even if we cannot see Jesus, we can cry out and He will respond.

Even when they could not see Jesus, He responded when they cried out.

I think its important to know that lack of clear vision in a moment doesn’t disqualify you from an encounter with Jesus.

Closing: Get out of the Boat

What is not mentioned in Marks gospel account was that Peter got out of the boat. Lets look quickly at Matthew 14:28-33 as I close.

Matthew 14:28–33 NKJV

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Hardship and difficulties that God allows us to go through typically come with an invitation for increased revelation.

In this encounter Peter saw something different when Jesus came walking on the water. His initial response like the others was fear thinking He saw a ghost. But when Jesus revealed that it was Him saying do not fear something shifted in Peter. Peter saw an opportunity, and proclaims Lord if its you bid me to come. Jesus says come. Peter gets out of the boat and walks on water.

I love Peter’s willingness to jump at opportunities! It’s truly breathtaking!

However as he walks on water he once again is confronted by fear. He loses his ability to see Jesus and begins to sink. For a second time in the story he cries out for Jesus and Jesus saves him. Jesus asking him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

This statement from Jesus is a reminder to us that there is always more. There are greater revelations for us to receive. There are greater encounters that He wants us to experience. Unless we are in uncomfortable circumstances we may never see the opportunity like Peter. We must learn to trust God’s Word. For what He has spoken and promised He will surely do.

Let’s Pray!

Altar:

As we get ready to pray. What is the Holy Spirit speaking to you right now?

Invite Prayer Partners to Come

Invite People who need prayer to come to the front.

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