1 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:10,560 Well, good morning, friends. Happy Mother's Day. 2 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,280 We have the most incredible moms here at Springhouse, do we not? 3 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,640 Who believes that? Yes. Amen. 4 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,600 Amen. Most incredible moms in the house. We are so 5 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:25,120 grateful for our mothers. 6 00:00:26,810 --> 00:00:30,170 A couple of things before we get continue to 7 00:00:30,250 --> 00:00:34,050 roll here. First, you may notice there were some 8 00:00:34,050 --> 00:00:37,770 baked goods outside. The youth are going to be doing 9 00:00:37,770 --> 00:00:40,810 a camp. And here's the deal. 10 00:00:42,010 --> 00:00:45,810 They're selling those baked goods. But I'm believing a bit 11 00:00:45,810 --> 00:00:49,610 more in faith for this trip. 12 00:00:49,930 --> 00:00:53,210 Guys, we need 40 people to sponsor 40 teams. 13 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:57,380 That's really what we need. We need 40 people to sponsor. So if you're looking 14 00:00:57,380 --> 00:01:00,260 for a way, and some of you, as of this week came to me and 15 00:01:00,260 --> 00:01:03,420 said, is there a way that we could sow somewhere? 16 00:01:03,980 --> 00:01:06,940 I'm letting you know we got 40 teens who would like to go to camp. 17 00:01:08,060 --> 00:01:11,260 And if you'd like to sponsor a teen, you can see Pastor Doug 18 00:01:12,060 --> 00:01:15,700 back there in the back. Pastor Doug or Jody, and they will get you 19 00:01:15,700 --> 00:01:19,300 connected and get you all that information. And that's what that's for out 20 00:01:19,300 --> 00:01:23,100 there. And you can spot your team and walk away with some cookies today. Okay, 21 00:01:23,180 --> 00:01:26,890 so there's some. There's benefit there. And 22 00:01:26,890 --> 00:01:30,690 then also VBX registration is now open. 23 00:01:30,770 --> 00:01:34,490 And so if you have a child that would want to participate 24 00:01:34,490 --> 00:01:38,170 in that, you can scan that code or go on our church app and 25 00:01:38,170 --> 00:01:41,730 register for that. Okay. All right, so we're gonna continue along 26 00:01:41,730 --> 00:01:45,530 in our Arise series. And man, I 27 00:01:45,530 --> 00:01:49,290 am just growing just each day. I'm growing each 28 00:01:49,290 --> 00:01:53,130 week. As we are continuing to go forward in this. Would you guys 29 00:01:53,130 --> 00:01:56,830 stand with me? We're gonna read what I hope to be a familia story 30 00:01:57,150 --> 00:02:00,990 in scripture from the book of Mark. And 31 00:02:01,070 --> 00:02:03,910 we're also going to read a verse from Psalm. Now you're going to see in 32 00:02:03,910 --> 00:02:07,230 Mark 4 that there is this term furious squall. 33 00:02:07,710 --> 00:02:11,510 And I think that's fitting for Mother's Day. I 34 00:02:11,510 --> 00:02:15,110 would like you to read as if you're crying out for your mama. Okay, here 35 00:02:15,110 --> 00:02:18,790 we go. That day, when evening 36 00:02:18,790 --> 00:02:22,520 came, he said to his disciples, let 37 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:26,040 us go onto the other side. Leaving the 38 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,680 crowd behind, they took him along. Just 39 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:33,480 as he was in the boat, there were also 40 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:37,480 other boats with him. A furious squall 41 00:02:37,799 --> 00:02:41,320 came up and the waves broke over the boat 42 00:02:41,640 --> 00:02:45,400 so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was 43 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,880 in the stern sleeping on a cushion. The 44 00:02:48,880 --> 00:02:52,540 disciples woke him and said to him, tell teacher, 45 00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:56,300 don't you care if we drown? He got up, 46 00:02:56,540 --> 00:03:00,140 rebuked the wind, and said to the Waves. Quiet, 47 00:03:00,460 --> 00:03:04,220 be still. Then the wind died down and it 48 00:03:04,220 --> 00:03:07,980 was completely calm. He said to his disciples, 49 00:03:08,540 --> 00:03:12,220 why are you so afraid? Did you still have 50 00:03:12,220 --> 00:03:16,020 no faith? They were terrified and asked each 51 00:03:16,020 --> 00:03:19,650 other, who is this? Even the winds and 52 00:03:19,650 --> 00:03:23,450 waves obey him. God is our refuge 53 00:03:23,450 --> 00:03:26,930 and strength and ever present help in trouble. 54 00:03:26,930 --> 00:03:30,770 Father, I thank you that you are an ever present help in times 55 00:03:30,770 --> 00:03:34,450 of trouble. And I just pray, Lord, today, that your Holy Spirit would 56 00:03:34,450 --> 00:03:38,010 speak to our hearts, that you would transform us from the 57 00:03:38,010 --> 00:03:41,650 inside out. And Lord, that we would surrender what we brought into this place 58 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:45,400 to you in Jesus name. And everybody said amen. 59 00:03:46,040 --> 00:03:49,000 Well, yes, it is 60 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,240 Mother's Day. And you know, there's something 61 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,000 uniquely powerful about a 62 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,440 mother's presence. A mother carries 63 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,200 storms. A mother carries storms different than 64 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:08,280 the rest of us do. And I feel like I've got some authority to 65 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,640 speak about mothers because I've had one for over four 66 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,080 decades and I've also lived with one for 16. 67 00:04:16,250 --> 00:04:20,050 So I am not a mother, in case that was a question. I'm not a 68 00:04:20,050 --> 00:04:23,650 mother, but I feel like I've got just a little bit of authority on 69 00:04:23,650 --> 00:04:27,210 watching mothers do that mothering thing. 70 00:04:27,210 --> 00:04:30,890 And mothers carry storms differently than the rest of us do. 71 00:04:31,690 --> 00:04:35,370 Mothers often carry pressure nobody sees. They 72 00:04:35,370 --> 00:04:39,050 hold families together while quietly carrying 73 00:04:39,050 --> 00:04:42,740 burdens themselves. They pray while exhausted, 74 00:04:43,220 --> 00:04:47,020 nurture while hurting, continue showing up even when 75 00:04:47,020 --> 00:04:50,580 their tank is empty. A mom never 76 00:04:50,740 --> 00:04:54,500 stops being a mom. A 77 00:04:54,500 --> 00:04:58,340 mom never. I see a lot of nodded heads. A mom never stops being 78 00:04:58,500 --> 00:05:02,260 a mother. Can be carrying internal storms very 79 00:05:03,140 --> 00:05:06,590 simultaneously becoming peace for 80 00:05:06,590 --> 00:05:10,270 everybody else in the house. And most of the time, 81 00:05:10,990 --> 00:05:14,790 and most of the time, what they've got going on as 82 00:05:14,790 --> 00:05:18,190 they juggle their own life is they've got the lives of 83 00:05:18,910 --> 00:05:22,670 bunches of other people in their life. And 84 00:05:23,230 --> 00:05:27,070 for most people, it's not just the children, it's that person 85 00:05:27,070 --> 00:05:28,830 she's sleeping next to as well. 86 00:05:31,390 --> 00:05:35,150 A mother can be carrying internal storms by simultaneously being peace for everyone 87 00:05:35,150 --> 00:05:38,890 in the house. And for most of us, mom taught us something very 88 00:05:39,210 --> 00:05:42,970 foundational, and it's this, that safety 89 00:05:43,050 --> 00:05:46,810 comes from presence. Safety 90 00:05:47,370 --> 00:05:51,210 comes from presence. Children may not understand 91 00:05:51,290 --> 00:05:54,930 how to fix it, where to go, what to do, 92 00:05:54,930 --> 00:05:58,530 but they understand presence. Many of you know that 93 00:05:58,530 --> 00:06:02,170 Shari and I operate a school down the road. And you know, 94 00:06:02,730 --> 00:06:06,010 when our kids started going through and they were school age, I carried 95 00:06:06,250 --> 00:06:10,100 initially this mentality that our kids are gonna obey all 96 00:06:10,100 --> 00:06:12,980 the rules. Like, we're not gonna be like this exceptional 97 00:06:13,700 --> 00:06:16,740 thing to the rule. You know, they're gonna. The kids are supposed to be in 98 00:06:16,740 --> 00:06:19,820 line they're gonna be in line, et cetera, et cetera, and on the cuff. That 99 00:06:19,820 --> 00:06:23,380 probably seems like a right vein, but the Lord really convicted my heart 100 00:06:23,620 --> 00:06:27,420 about two or three years in because my kids would wanna break line and 101 00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:31,100 give me a hug, and I wouldn't let them. And the Lord 102 00:06:31,100 --> 00:06:34,740 said, the beauty about where I've placed you is that your kids get to be 103 00:06:34,740 --> 00:06:38,570 in your presence. And so I remember going to the faculty and 104 00:06:38,570 --> 00:06:42,250 saying, here's the deal. I know that you all don't see the late 105 00:06:42,250 --> 00:06:45,970 nights, the sacrifices, all of the things that happen to make this thing go. 106 00:06:45,970 --> 00:06:49,050 But I get to be around my kids and so do some of you. If 107 00:06:49,050 --> 00:06:52,130 my kid wants to break the line, give me a hug. I'm giving my kid 108 00:06:52,130 --> 00:06:55,810 a hug. Okay? And I still 109 00:06:55,810 --> 00:06:59,650 expect my kids to obey the rules, right? But I'm not gonna 110 00:06:59,810 --> 00:07:03,560 negate the fact that I'm. They're in my presence. That they're 111 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:07,280 in my presence. Presence is powerful. Presence 112 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:11,040 is powerful. God's greatest promise 113 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:14,440 to us was never the absence of 114 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:18,360 storms. His greatest promise was that he would 115 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,080 be present in the midst of our storms. And so where I 116 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:25,880 want to start today is peace is found in the presence 117 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:29,370 of the Lord. Peace is found 118 00:07:29,850 --> 00:07:33,450 in the presence of the Lord. And some of you this 119 00:07:33,450 --> 00:07:37,290 morning are looking for peace. That's where you find 120 00:07:37,290 --> 00:07:40,330 it. That's where you find it. 121 00:07:41,290 --> 00:07:45,050 And now, presence isn't just about peace. Peace is what is found 122 00:07:45,050 --> 00:07:48,730 in presence. But presence also will 123 00:07:48,810 --> 00:07:52,530 mature us, especially God's presence. It will mature us. And I think 124 00:07:52,530 --> 00:07:56,370 about my mom and her presence in my life. She didn't just bring me 125 00:07:56,370 --> 00:08:00,150 peace. My mom also matured me. So I told the story a while ago, 126 00:08:00,150 --> 00:08:03,670 but I'll tell it again. You know, when I was in third grade, I was 127 00:08:03,670 --> 00:08:07,350 learning how to jump into the pool. All my friends were jumping into the 128 00:08:07,350 --> 00:08:11,030 pool. And I just couldn't. I couldn't muster up the strength or courage to do 129 00:08:11,030 --> 00:08:12,750 it. But I would get to the edge of that pool and I was like, 130 00:08:12,750 --> 00:08:15,841 mama, watch me. I'm gonna jump in the pool. And I would go, 1, 131 00:08:16,057 --> 00:08:19,190 2, 3, 4. 132 00:08:19,670 --> 00:08:23,230 And I wouldn't do it. And I'd get back at the edge and I would 133 00:08:23,230 --> 00:08:25,910 go, one, two. I'm gonna do it this time. 134 00:08:27,940 --> 00:08:31,100 No, I wasn't going to do it. And I went back up there again, and 135 00:08:31,100 --> 00:08:34,820 I was trying it maybe third or fourth time, and just like a great, 136 00:08:35,140 --> 00:08:38,980 comforting, wonderful, sensitive mother, she runs 137 00:08:38,980 --> 00:08:40,500 up behind me and pushes me in. 138 00:08:43,860 --> 00:08:47,380 Now, here's the thing. I got up out of that pool. 139 00:08:47,700 --> 00:08:50,740 And guess what I could do immediately jump in. 140 00:08:51,870 --> 00:08:55,470 I could jump in sometimes, Mamas. 141 00:08:55,790 --> 00:08:56,670 I mean push 142 00:08:59,470 --> 00:09:01,790 in times when pushing is needed. 143 00:09:03,390 --> 00:09:06,950 Many of us are familiar with this story. Mark, chapter four. The 144 00:09:06,950 --> 00:09:10,510 disciples are in the boat. A big storm 145 00:09:10,910 --> 00:09:14,270 comes. Jesus is sleeping. They wake up. Jesus, 146 00:09:14,350 --> 00:09:18,120 Jesus, don't you care about us? And he says, 147 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,560 peace, be still. And we know that story and we've related it to storms. 148 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:25,240 But, you know, as much as we think we know about this on the service. 149 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,640 I want to go to four places here today, quickly, this morning 150 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:34,640 that I believe would be things that maybe we miss when we skim 151 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,200 over this story. So the first thing I want us to notice is 152 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,800 this. Jesus said, let's go over 153 00:09:42,930 --> 00:09:46,610 to the other side. Let's go over to 154 00:09:46,610 --> 00:09:50,450 the other side. I think one of the first things we have to notice 155 00:09:50,450 --> 00:09:54,290 in this story is that the storm came 156 00:09:54,610 --> 00:09:56,850 after an act of obedience. 157 00:09:58,290 --> 00:10:02,050 The storm came after an act 158 00:10:02,050 --> 00:10:05,730 of obedience. Jesus said, let's go to 159 00:10:05,730 --> 00:10:09,450 the other side. The disciples said, yes, sir, they 160 00:10:09,450 --> 00:10:13,050 got in the boat, they were doing everything that the Lord had 161 00:10:13,050 --> 00:10:16,730 told them to do. And then the 162 00:10:16,730 --> 00:10:20,530 storm comes. In other words, we have got to get 163 00:10:20,530 --> 00:10:24,250 out of our mentality that every time a storm comes, 164 00:10:24,250 --> 00:10:27,530 it must mean that God is not in what we're doing. 165 00:10:28,570 --> 00:10:32,250 The first thing that we've gotta eliminate is understanding that 166 00:10:32,330 --> 00:10:35,730 storms at times are indicators or 167 00:10:35,730 --> 00:10:39,530 revealers in our life of not only God's mercy and grace, 168 00:10:39,530 --> 00:10:43,270 but of things that he's trying to illuminate in us. Especially 169 00:10:43,430 --> 00:10:45,990 when it comes to issues of trust. 170 00:10:47,190 --> 00:10:51,030 Many of us wrongly assume that storms mean that we missed God. 171 00:10:51,670 --> 00:10:55,310 And sometimes storms are not evidence that you're outside of the will of God. 172 00:10:55,310 --> 00:10:58,910 Sometimes those storms are evidence that you're smack dab right in the middle of where 173 00:10:58,910 --> 00:11:02,550 God wants you to be. So some of you 174 00:11:02,550 --> 00:11:06,390 today are walking through a season of disappointment and discouragement. 175 00:11:06,390 --> 00:11:09,670 How do I know that? Because some of you emailed me this week. You talked 176 00:11:09,670 --> 00:11:13,210 to me in the foyer. I know that there are people here that are struggling 177 00:11:13,210 --> 00:11:17,010 this morning. Some of you walked in struggling with a smile on your face, 178 00:11:17,170 --> 00:11:21,010 and you didn't share the struggle that you had. But you're struggling this morning. 179 00:11:21,090 --> 00:11:24,930 Here's the reason why I share that. Everyone in this room 180 00:11:25,250 --> 00:11:28,970 is either going through a storm or you will go through a storm 181 00:11:28,970 --> 00:11:32,770 at some point. So this message is really for everyone. Look at 182 00:11:32,770 --> 00:11:33,970 your neighbor say, this is for you. 183 00:11:40,700 --> 00:11:44,060 When you face hardship, uncertainty, loss, exhaustion, 184 00:11:44,460 --> 00:11:48,260 and maybe even warfare, the temptation in those 185 00:11:48,260 --> 00:11:52,020 storms is to assume that God abandoned us. 186 00:11:52,020 --> 00:11:55,420 Because difficulty arrived. But 187 00:11:55,660 --> 00:11:59,100 the presence of storms does not mean the 188 00:11:59,180 --> 00:12:02,620 absence of God. The presence of 189 00:12:02,620 --> 00:12:05,740 storms does not mean the absence of God. The disciples were 190 00:12:05,820 --> 00:12:09,430 exactly where Jesus told them to be. And 191 00:12:09,430 --> 00:12:13,110 here's the remarkable thing. He got in the boat with 192 00:12:13,110 --> 00:12:16,310 them. He did not send them out 193 00:12:16,550 --> 00:12:20,230 alone. And if you decide to click, clock out 194 00:12:20,230 --> 00:12:23,550 or think about lunch and you don't want to listen to anything else in the 195 00:12:23,550 --> 00:12:25,430 message, I'm going to tell you, this is what I want you to walk away 196 00:12:25,430 --> 00:12:28,990 with right here. It's much better to be in the 197 00:12:28,990 --> 00:12:31,910 storm with Jesus than to be in the calm without Him. 198 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,600 It is so much better for you to contend with 199 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,080 the waves and the wind of life with 200 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:46,080 Jesus on your side, beside you, walking with you, 201 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,760 than you to think that everything's okay because it's calm and 202 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:51,520 want nothing to do with Him. 203 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,400 I have been paying attention to over the last several months 204 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,640 the thread of the Lord. Do you know that the Lord is 205 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,930 always actively moving in your life? 206 00:13:06,490 --> 00:13:10,170 If you did not know, let your revelation be today that the 207 00:13:10,170 --> 00:13:13,890 God of the universe is moving in your life. 208 00:13:13,890 --> 00:13:17,690 And he has opened my eyes to see a thread 209 00:13:18,170 --> 00:13:21,930 of his steady, faithful hand in my life through people, 210 00:13:22,490 --> 00:13:26,250 through messages, through interactions, circumstances. I have 211 00:13:26,250 --> 00:13:29,930 seen how this connects to this, this connects to that. And he will 212 00:13:29,930 --> 00:13:33,640 do that by his grace, if you'll let him. So this past Thursday 213 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:37,240 night, Pastor Jonathan started a new series here and I 214 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:40,960 so encourage you to go back and listen to his 215 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:44,760 message on Thursday night. It's one of four parts. And I encourage you to come 216 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:48,360 this Thursday at 6 if you have the capacity. Such a powerful 217 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,720 message. And I knew that this Sunday we would be talking I knew this Sunday 218 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:55,280 we'd be talking about storms months ago. And here he comes and 219 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:59,100 gives a message talking about the presence of. And 220 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:02,700 I'm going, Lord, as many people as I talked to 221 00:14:02,700 --> 00:14:06,180 somebody real late last this past week going through a storm, I 222 00:14:06,180 --> 00:14:09,700 visited somebody in a cares facility going through a storm. 223 00:14:09,860 --> 00:14:13,420 So many people going through storms. The Lord knew for this 224 00:14:13,420 --> 00:14:16,860 time, at such a time as this, that he would bring a message about where 225 00:14:16,860 --> 00:14:20,460 do we run in the midst of suffering and storm. And it is always going 226 00:14:20,460 --> 00:14:24,180 to be to his presence. It's always going to be that his presence 227 00:14:24,670 --> 00:14:28,470 is where we need to be. And so Pastor Jonathan shares in 228 00:14:28,470 --> 00:14:32,110 this past message and I'm not going to share his message with you. I want 229 00:14:32,110 --> 00:14:34,470 you to go back and look at it. But he shares about his time of 230 00:14:34,470 --> 00:14:38,150 sabbatical and he shares about this thread that God is weaving that he 231 00:14:38,150 --> 00:14:41,870 didn't notice until he got into God's presence. And God 232 00:14:41,950 --> 00:14:45,430 revealed the reason why these things were happening to him. It was a 233 00:14:45,430 --> 00:14:48,950 phenomenal story. You should go back and listen to it. I also went on a 234 00:14:48,950 --> 00:14:52,770 sabbatical last year. And in my sabbatical and in the 235 00:14:52,770 --> 00:14:56,050 presence of the Lord, when I sought the presence of the Lord, what the Lord 236 00:14:56,050 --> 00:14:59,890 did to me is he revealed sin in my life. Do you know 237 00:14:59,890 --> 00:15:03,650 that the presence of God will illuminate places in your life that you need 238 00:15:03,650 --> 00:15:07,290 to change? And so he illuminated sin in my 239 00:15:07,290 --> 00:15:10,850 life on my sabbatical. And here was the sin, the specific 240 00:15:10,850 --> 00:15:13,530 sin that I was grappling with 241 00:15:14,410 --> 00:15:18,210 was that I was making people and other things my source 242 00:15:18,210 --> 00:15:21,400 and not Him. Now, guys, that was not a mistake. 243 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,400 That wasn't a misstep. It was sin. Sin 244 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:29,440 separates us from God. And anything that is your source outside of 245 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:32,920 God is sin because it's an idol. And I 246 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:37,080 had taken up and placed some people and some things 247 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,600 in a position where I was drawing from them rather than 248 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,280 drawing from the source of the God breather. And that is sin. 249 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:48,200 And what sin does, in addition to separating us from the 250 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,820 Father, it also has ripples of consequence. And those 251 00:15:51,820 --> 00:15:55,420 ripples of consequence can cost you resources, they can cost you time, 252 00:15:55,420 --> 00:15:59,260 and it can cost you relationships. But here's 253 00:15:59,260 --> 00:16:02,900 the neat thing about God. When I went into God's presence and he 254 00:16:02,900 --> 00:16:06,700 revealed that to me, it wasn't God saying, because you left me, I left 255 00:16:06,700 --> 00:16:10,420 you. He was saying, I've been here the entire time. You're the one who walked 256 00:16:10,420 --> 00:16:13,980 away. He said, 257 00:16:13,980 --> 00:16:17,700 kevin, I want to be your best friend. I want to be the 258 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:21,140 source of your life. And I just walked in a month of repentance. 259 00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:24,960 And I said, God, I am so sor. Because he had always been a 260 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,680 sufficient source. But I walked away from the source. And I 261 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,320 wonder today if any of you are drawing from other wells and other 262 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,760 sources than that of the Lord. He is a 263 00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:38,720 constant, steady source for you. 264 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,320 So this brings me to the second place that I want us to go 265 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:47,920 in this passage that you may not get on the cuff. And is this. 266 00:16:48,890 --> 00:16:52,490 There were also other boats with him. I 267 00:16:52,490 --> 00:16:56,250 didn't notice this. I don't think I've ever really paid attention to this until 268 00:16:56,250 --> 00:16:57,930 I was preparing for this message. 269 00:17:00,010 --> 00:17:03,810 It's significant because storms are rarely 270 00:17:03,810 --> 00:17:07,090 isolated. The storm was not 271 00:17:07,090 --> 00:17:10,570 isolated to just one boat. Sometimes we think we're the only 272 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:14,970 ones struggling. My marriage is 273 00:17:14,970 --> 00:17:18,640 the only one carrying tension. My 274 00:17:18,640 --> 00:17:21,440 family's the only one that's fighting fear. 275 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,280 I'm the only parent on the planet that's overwhelmed. Good 276 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,120 grief. I'm the 277 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:32,560 only person battling anxiety. 278 00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:37,800 I'm the only believer trying to hold on to faith. But I 279 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:40,800 want you to know this morning that there are other boats, too. 280 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,640 Other people are fighting unseen battles. Other 281 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:49,110 mothers are carrying invisible burdens. Other families are trying to 282 00:17:49,420 --> 00:17:53,060 stay afloat spiritually. Other believers are learning to 283 00:17:53,060 --> 00:17:56,740 trust God in rough waters. Sometimes we feel isolated in our 284 00:17:56,740 --> 00:18:00,540 struggles. But there are other boats fighting the same 285 00:18:00,860 --> 00:18:04,220 waves, too. But here's what I want you to understand. 286 00:18:05,019 --> 00:18:08,300 The presence of Jesus in one boat 287 00:18:08,300 --> 00:18:11,900 affected all the boats. The presence of 288 00:18:11,900 --> 00:18:15,700 Jesus and his power in one boat affected all the 289 00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:18,940 other boats that are out there contending the waves. And let me tell you something, 290 00:18:19,020 --> 00:18:22,800 those of you who will remain faithful in the midst of the storm, that 291 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,440 your faith will ripple into other people's lives. In other words, 292 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,200 your faithfulness in storms will impact those around 293 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,800 you. Your faith, your 294 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,640 decision to lean in to the peace and 295 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:41,360 the presence of the Lord will impact those around you. I remember 296 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:44,920 when Covid came around, everyone was looking 297 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,760 for leadership. Now, many times we look for the leadership that's gonna 298 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,590 say the things we want them to say. But nonetheless, we're all 299 00:18:52,590 --> 00:18:56,030 looking for some type of leadership. When things get rocky, when things get 300 00:18:56,350 --> 00:19:00,110 scary, we're looking for leadership. And I certainly didn't nail 301 00:19:00,110 --> 00:19:03,430 it bat a thousand in that timeframe. But there were some 302 00:19:03,430 --> 00:19:06,910 places where I really felt like I heard from the Holy Spirit. And I remember 303 00:19:07,790 --> 00:19:11,390 people coming up to me way after Covid was over 304 00:19:12,270 --> 00:19:16,070 and saying the way that you handled yourself in the midst 305 00:19:16,070 --> 00:19:19,410 of that whole thing really ministered to me. 306 00:19:20,530 --> 00:19:23,770 And I'll tell you right now, I didn't make those decisions because I thought they 307 00:19:23,770 --> 00:19:26,050 were watching, but they were. 308 00:19:27,570 --> 00:19:30,850 When you have a storm in your life, people are 309 00:19:30,850 --> 00:19:34,650 evaluating how you're going to respond. Now, 310 00:19:34,650 --> 00:19:38,370 we don't respond based on fear of what other people think, but we need to 311 00:19:38,370 --> 00:19:42,170 be aware that there are other believers watching how we 312 00:19:42,170 --> 00:19:45,730 walk these things out. In other words, when I say I believe something, 313 00:19:46,550 --> 00:19:50,310 do my actions and my words actually match it when the rubber hits the road? 314 00:19:51,590 --> 00:19:54,630 And we're going to visit that point again in just a moment. 315 00:19:55,270 --> 00:19:58,710 Your stability affects others. Your obedience affects others. 316 00:19:59,190 --> 00:20:03,030 Your peace affects. Your worship affects others. Guys, 317 00:20:03,030 --> 00:20:06,510 I'm down here in this seat many times on Sunday morning. You may have not 318 00:20:06,510 --> 00:20:08,830 noticed, but you're going to notice it now that I'm going to tell you about 319 00:20:08,830 --> 00:20:11,960 it. But you'll see me turn around and I'll look and I'LL you see? Scan 320 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,360 the room multiple times during worship. I do that for two reasons. One, I want 321 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:16,880 to know if you're here and in the room. 322 00:20:19,040 --> 00:20:22,720 I'm taking attendance. No, I want to know if you're here and in the 323 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,000 room. And when I say here in the room, I don't mean here in the 324 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,720 cafe. I mean here and in the room. Second. 325 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,960 Second, I'm looking across the room because some of you have shared 326 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:36,560 personal, intimate details with me or a member of the staff. 327 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,800 And then we will sing a song that ministers right to your heart. 328 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,880 And I will look and I will see you worship. 329 00:20:44,780 --> 00:20:48,540 And let me tell you something, boy, that grabs my heart when the 330 00:20:48,540 --> 00:20:52,220 Holy Spirit of God has orchestrated something so wonderful 331 00:20:52,220 --> 00:20:56,060 on your behalf. When you come and receive a drink from his source 332 00:20:56,060 --> 00:20:59,780 and his well, man, that's supernatural things that I love 333 00:20:59,780 --> 00:21:03,300 to see that in people's lives. Your 334 00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:06,660 worship affects others. A faithful 335 00:21:06,660 --> 00:21:10,140 believer who weathers storms becomes proof to others 336 00:21:10,380 --> 00:21:12,620 that God is still faithful. 337 00:21:14,750 --> 00:21:18,510 The third thing I want us to see is this. The storm 338 00:21:18,510 --> 00:21:21,990 comes and the disciples are scared. Jesus is 339 00:21:21,990 --> 00:21:25,590 asleep. And I want us to understand that these 340 00:21:25,590 --> 00:21:29,070 disciples, they were fishermen. These 341 00:21:29,070 --> 00:21:32,750 fishermen were not brand new. They didn't arrive on the scene, like three days before 342 00:21:32,750 --> 00:21:36,350 they encountered Jesus. I mean, this was by trade. They were familiar 343 00:21:36,670 --> 00:21:40,170 with what it would have been to handle a storm. 344 00:21:40,490 --> 00:21:43,610 This was not their first storm. Which means that the storm 345 00:21:43,610 --> 00:21:47,290 illuminated something much more than bad weather. 346 00:21:48,250 --> 00:21:51,210 The disciples wake Jesus up to ask a very 347 00:21:51,450 --> 00:21:55,210 specific and revealing question. Now, it 348 00:21:55,210 --> 00:21:58,810 stands to reason that when they wake Jesus up, they would 349 00:21:58,810 --> 00:22:01,930 say, jesus, would you stop this storm? 350 00:22:03,450 --> 00:22:07,200 But that's not what they asked. That's not what they 351 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:10,840 asked. We infer that from the story, and we see that Jesus 352 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:14,640 did that in his grace. But that was not the question they asked. Here's 353 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,440 what they asked. They said, teacher, don't you care if 354 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:19,520 we drowned? 355 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,920 When life becomes difficult, the first thing many people question 356 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,160 is not God's power, it's God's heart. 357 00:22:30,890 --> 00:22:34,730 Do you care, God? Are you there, 358 00:22:35,530 --> 00:22:39,130 God? Do you see me, 359 00:22:39,370 --> 00:22:42,970 God? Have you forgotten me, 360 00:22:43,210 --> 00:22:46,970 God? Anybody ever asked one of those questions before? 361 00:22:48,090 --> 00:22:51,930 I know I sure have. And 362 00:22:51,930 --> 00:22:55,770 I think one of the greatest lies believers battle in storms is the 363 00:22:55,770 --> 00:22:58,810 fear that God has abandoned them. 364 00:22:59,300 --> 00:23:02,660 Here's the thing. Storms expose trust issues. 365 00:23:04,340 --> 00:23:07,940 A good storm will expose trust issues 366 00:23:08,180 --> 00:23:11,980 in your life because they 367 00:23:11,980 --> 00:23:15,820 reveal who and what we trust most. Now, here's the 368 00:23:15,820 --> 00:23:19,660 deal. Most people are not living In a Category 5 hurricane all 369 00:23:19,660 --> 00:23:23,220 the time. We are contending with those smaller 370 00:23:23,220 --> 00:23:26,660 daily storms. Most Storms are financial pressures, 371 00:23:26,740 --> 00:23:30,090 miscommunication, fatigue, fear, 372 00:23:30,330 --> 00:23:33,610 comparison, disappointment, uncertainty, 373 00:23:33,770 --> 00:23:37,050 relationship tension, raising children, raising 374 00:23:37,290 --> 00:23:39,850 children, raising children, 375 00:23:40,970 --> 00:23:44,170 mental exhaustion, feeling spiritually dry, 376 00:23:44,330 --> 00:23:48,010 carrying invisible burdens. But not every 377 00:23:48,090 --> 00:23:51,370 storm is massive. But some storms just 378 00:23:51,370 --> 00:23:55,210 slowly wear you down. Can I get an amen 379 00:23:55,210 --> 00:23:55,970 from the moms? 380 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,240 Motherhood is often not one giant dramatic 381 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,560 storm. It is thousands of 382 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,960 unseen moments, Late nights, constant 383 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,400 responsibility, emotional labor, 384 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,000 worry, prayer, sacrifice, 385 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:22,680 everyone else being carried while quietly carrying yourself. 386 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:28,320 And I didn't realize that moms really were weathering all of 387 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:31,560 this with my mom because I was a benefactor of her 388 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,480 shielding me from what she was doing. I was a benefactor of the peace 389 00:24:35,480 --> 00:24:39,120 that she rendered. But I sure did see it by marrying my wife and having 390 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:39,560 kids. 391 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,120 And the number one thing I think moms contend with is I'm a 392 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:50,930 failure. And I want to tell you 393 00:24:50,930 --> 00:24:54,610 today, moms, you're doing a great job. 394 00:24:55,970 --> 00:24:58,450 Moms, you're doing a great 395 00:24:59,810 --> 00:25:00,210 job. 396 00:25:06,290 --> 00:25:09,930 For every unseen moment, for 397 00:25:09,930 --> 00:25:13,690 every ungrateful heart posture, I want 398 00:25:13,690 --> 00:25:17,410 you to know that the Lord carries you because the 399 00:25:17,410 --> 00:25:20,930 word tells us that when we are weak, he is strong. 400 00:25:21,970 --> 00:25:25,650 And I understand for the others of us, 401 00:25:26,130 --> 00:25:29,410 when we get to compartmentalize our life, you are mom 402 00:25:29,570 --> 00:25:33,090 24 7. You don't hang that title up, 403 00:25:33,650 --> 00:25:37,090 and you're doing a great job. I want to encourage you to 404 00:25:37,090 --> 00:25:40,730 persevere, to keep on going, to keep running the 405 00:25:40,730 --> 00:25:43,570 race. I talked to a mom. I had an interaction with mom when I first 406 00:25:43,570 --> 00:25:46,370 walked in, and she said, well, my kids are much better than the mom that 407 00:25:46,370 --> 00:25:50,070 they had. And I said, well, isn't that the hope of all parents, that 408 00:25:50,070 --> 00:25:53,070 their kids would outrun them and do better than them? And that is a mark 409 00:25:53,070 --> 00:25:54,670 of an exceptional mother. 410 00:25:58,590 --> 00:26:02,310 Mom never clocks out. A mother carries the weight of 411 00:26:02,310 --> 00:26:05,230 storms, even when making the room feel safe. This is my mom. 412 00:26:12,270 --> 00:26:14,430 Moms have this way of 413 00:26:16,550 --> 00:26:19,510 letting you know, I'm not going anywhere. 414 00:26:20,390 --> 00:26:24,030 I remember a time in my life where I got incredibly 415 00:26:24,030 --> 00:26:27,030 sick. It was the sickest, I think, I've ever been in my life. 416 00:26:27,830 --> 00:26:29,510 And I didn't know what to do. I mean, 417 00:26:31,510 --> 00:26:34,070 I'm pretty strong. The O days are pretty strong when it comes to sickness. I 418 00:26:34,070 --> 00:26:36,910 mean, we're going to work. We're in it. I mean, all this stuff, but this 419 00:26:36,910 --> 00:26:40,510 took me out. I could barely lift my leg, and 420 00:26:40,510 --> 00:26:44,190 all I could do, I just started crying in the car. I literally couldn't 421 00:26:44,190 --> 00:26:47,970 even barely drive my car. And I just knew if I to my mama, 422 00:26:48,530 --> 00:26:52,130 if I could just get to mom. And I got home, and I 423 00:26:52,130 --> 00:26:55,770 drugged myself on that sidewalk. Up the stairs and I just collapsed in the 424 00:26:55,770 --> 00:26:59,330 stairs. Do you know that in my mind I didn't think about what my 425 00:26:59,330 --> 00:27:02,610 mama had going on. I didn't think about her calendar, I didn't think about the 426 00:27:02,610 --> 00:27:06,090 storms that she had. I didn't think about her schedule. I just knew that if 427 00:27:06,090 --> 00:27:09,850 I got to my mama, she would take care of things. And boy 428 00:27:09,850 --> 00:27:13,010 did she ever. She picked me up off that floor, got me in a bed, 429 00:27:13,010 --> 00:27:16,690 got me the medicines and the food that I want because she's mom. 430 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:21,680 I could count on my mom. Guys, can I tell you something? 431 00:27:22,400 --> 00:27:26,200 If you can count on your flawed mother, you 432 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,800 can count so much more on Jesus Christ. You can 433 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:32,560 count on the Lord, this star 434 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,800 breathing God. So when you get right down 435 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,400 to it, the question we're really grappling with here in this Arise 436 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:44,240 section of this series is this. Do you believe 437 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:48,040 what you say you believe? Do you 438 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,840 really believe what you say you believe? Because it's easy to talk about faith 439 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:55,280 when things are peaceful. It's easy to talk about 440 00:27:55,360 --> 00:27:58,640 trust when there's not really an issue to deal with. 441 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:02,240 Trust. It's easy to quote scripture when life feels manageable. But 442 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,480 storms expose the authenticity of our 443 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:09,200 dependence. And so this is why we can't 444 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,720 jump from abide to advance. We've got to remain in this arise 445 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,460 because we say we confess with our mouth and our heart. 446 00:28:16,460 --> 00:28:20,100 I want to depend on you. I'm going to abide in you. The Arise 447 00:28:20,100 --> 00:28:23,860 section is testing all of that. It's saying, are you really depending on 448 00:28:23,860 --> 00:28:27,580 him? And here are the ways. Kevin, Barbie, 449 00:28:27,660 --> 00:28:31,460 Keith, Justin, Eric, these are the ways you're not depending 450 00:28:31,460 --> 00:28:35,260 on me. And if we can get these non dependent or let's 451 00:28:35,260 --> 00:28:38,820 say independent areas cleaned up with dependence, then you'll be ready to 452 00:28:38,820 --> 00:28:42,390 fly when it comes to advance. You'll be ready to fly when it's 453 00:28:42,390 --> 00:28:46,230 time, when it's time to run. Jesus was 454 00:28:46,230 --> 00:28:48,390 not nervous about what scared the disciples. 455 00:28:50,310 --> 00:28:53,670 We often pursue explanations over 456 00:28:53,910 --> 00:28:57,270 presence. We want God to explain the storm 457 00:28:57,510 --> 00:29:00,870 and God wants to reveal his bigness 458 00:29:01,270 --> 00:29:04,870 within our storm. Josh, would you just come down front here and just share? 459 00:29:05,830 --> 00:29:09,450 Josh shared a dream with me maybe a year ago. I'm not sure, but I 460 00:29:09,450 --> 00:29:11,330 just wanted you to share because I thought it really related. 461 00:29:13,090 --> 00:29:16,850 You have this microphone. I wore this 462 00:29:16,850 --> 00:29:20,690 shirt today and I really don't like this shirt and it just doesn't 463 00:29:20,690 --> 00:29:24,050 fit exactly right. And so then Kevin is like, hey Josh, I want you to 464 00:29:24,050 --> 00:29:26,970 share something today. I'm like, oh, you should have asked mom, I got the wrong 465 00:29:26,970 --> 00:29:28,210 shirt. I should have asked Mom. 466 00:29:30,690 --> 00:29:33,690 It was probably 10 years ago when 467 00:29:34,570 --> 00:29:38,250 I had a deep concern for a friend of mine who had an 468 00:29:38,250 --> 00:29:42,090 addiction. And the addiction was long 469 00:29:42,090 --> 00:29:45,450 standing. It didn't seem 470 00:29:45,610 --> 00:29:48,090 very hopeful at all for my friend. 471 00:29:49,370 --> 00:29:52,810 And I was praying for them fervently. And I think I was 472 00:29:52,810 --> 00:29:56,250 fasting, I was praying. And one night 473 00:29:56,570 --> 00:30:00,300 in the middle of the night, I had a dream. And I 474 00:30:00,300 --> 00:30:03,900 was standing, like in a room, and it was like a really big 475 00:30:03,900 --> 00:30:06,740 room. And in this room there was a demon 476 00:30:07,460 --> 00:30:11,260 that was the most terrifying thing that I had ever seen. And 477 00:30:11,260 --> 00:30:14,340 it had wings and it was evil, and it was 478 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:16,980 humongous. It filled the entire room. 479 00:30:18,100 --> 00:30:21,860 And I was just terrified. I was like, God, what? 480 00:30:22,180 --> 00:30:25,940 Like, this is the thing that I'm praying against. I am not big 481 00:30:25,940 --> 00:30:29,220 enough for this fight. This is an unfair fight. I am terrified. 482 00:30:29,860 --> 00:30:32,260 And for whatever reason, in my dream, I turned around, 483 00:30:33,460 --> 00:30:36,900 and when I turned around, I saw like a boot. 484 00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:41,820 And I looked at the boot, and the boot was connected, like to a 485 00:30:41,820 --> 00:30:45,540 leg. And then the leg looked up, and I looked up and there was like 486 00:30:45,540 --> 00:30:48,260 a skyscraper sized angel. 487 00:30:49,700 --> 00:30:52,820 And in front of me was this demon that was the size of a room. 488 00:30:54,070 --> 00:30:57,270 And on this side there was a skyscraper side 489 00:30:57,910 --> 00:31:01,350 angel, and it was bright white and it had a huge 490 00:31:01,350 --> 00:31:04,910 sword. And then it panned out and I 491 00:31:04,910 --> 00:31:08,550 saw thousands and thousands of 492 00:31:08,550 --> 00:31:12,390 angels. And I looked at this 493 00:31:12,390 --> 00:31:15,510 thing compared to what was behind me, 494 00:31:16,230 --> 00:31:19,910 and a voice said, greater is he who is in you 495 00:31:20,500 --> 00:31:21,940 than he who is in the world. 496 00:31:24,100 --> 00:31:27,780 And I woke up, and I was 497 00:31:27,780 --> 00:31:31,540 actually, I woke up laughing. I was 498 00:31:31,540 --> 00:31:35,220 laughing like I woke up. My wife must have been like, what the heck? 499 00:31:37,540 --> 00:31:41,340 I woke up laughing. And I said, God, why did 500 00:31:41,340 --> 00:31:44,860 you show me this dream? And God said, why do you think I gave you 501 00:31:44,860 --> 00:31:48,590 prayer? We are. 502 00:31:48,670 --> 00:31:52,510 We have an unfair fight against 503 00:31:52,990 --> 00:31:56,830 the evilest, worstest, terriblest, biggest storm, 504 00:31:57,550 --> 00:31:59,950 most devastating. Addiction, 505 00:32:01,230 --> 00:32:04,470 brokenness, sinfulness. We are in an 506 00:32:04,470 --> 00:32:08,070 unfair fight. But it's not that that's unfair. It's 507 00:32:08,070 --> 00:32:11,870 he who is in us that is the unfair battle. And all 508 00:32:11,870 --> 00:32:15,540 we have to do is pick up prayer and 509 00:32:15,540 --> 00:32:19,300 believe in the one who is greater than whatever obstacle is there. 510 00:32:19,940 --> 00:32:20,500 Amen. 511 00:32:26,740 --> 00:32:30,500 This is what Psalms tells us. God 512 00:32:30,500 --> 00:32:33,940 is our refuge and strength and ever present 513 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:37,700 help in trouble. Not distant, not disconnected. 514 00:32:37,780 --> 00:32:41,300 He's an ever present help. In the book of Isaiah, it says this. 515 00:32:41,460 --> 00:32:44,490 When you pass through the waters, I will be. 516 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:48,560 What's the first word? What's the first word 517 00:32:49,120 --> 00:32:52,560 when? Not if. When you pass through the waters, 518 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:56,480 guys, you're guaranteed to have storms. Jesus, even said this, in 519 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:00,240 this world, you will have trouble. But aren't 520 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,680 you glad that's not the end of the verse. But take heart, 521 00:33:03,920 --> 00:33:07,720 because I, Jesus, have overcome the world. And let 522 00:33:07,720 --> 00:33:11,430 me tell you guys, if we will cling to the world overcomer, 523 00:33:11,820 --> 00:33:15,260 the star breather, the one who has army angels 524 00:33:15,420 --> 00:33:18,700 out the wazoo on our behalf, then we will 525 00:33:18,700 --> 00:33:21,740 overcome the greatest storms in our life every 526 00:33:22,140 --> 00:33:25,860 single time. Amen. He is such a faithful 527 00:33:25,860 --> 00:33:28,140 God. He's such a faithful God. 528 00:33:30,620 --> 00:33:34,220 The promise isn't that you're not gonna have storms. The promise is his presence. 529 00:33:34,540 --> 00:33:37,340 And so this arise section is us 530 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:41,560 preparing for storms. Guys, I don't like 531 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:44,920 preparation. I don't like. Have you ever been on a cruise? 532 00:33:45,720 --> 00:33:49,400 Who's been on a cruise? I've been on a cruise. 533 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:53,080 And you know, the worst moment on a cruise for me is when 534 00:33:53,080 --> 00:33:56,840 I have traveled all day and we are getting on the cruise. 535 00:33:56,840 --> 00:34:00,520 This is such a first world problem right here. This is just. Lord, 536 00:34:00,680 --> 00:34:04,510 just forgive my stupidity. I 537 00:34:04,510 --> 00:34:07,910 get on the boat and I'm so worn out from traveling. And they've got the 538 00:34:07,910 --> 00:34:11,550 most magnificent buffet ready for you. Sushi, 539 00:34:11,550 --> 00:34:14,750 everything you could want. And you go up there and you make this play. All 540 00:34:14,750 --> 00:34:18,270 you want to do is sit down and just glut. Just sin. Just such a 541 00:34:18,270 --> 00:34:21,870 sin, you know? And they sound this alarm and they say, 542 00:34:21,870 --> 00:34:25,390 you've got to stop what you're doing and you've got to go dawn. Those 543 00:34:25,710 --> 00:34:29,310 dumb little. What are they called? Life 544 00:34:29,470 --> 00:34:32,810 things. And you go and you stand there for 20 545 00:34:32,810 --> 00:34:36,610 minutes in the hot sun and you're like, here I am. So they can count. 546 00:34:36,610 --> 00:34:40,450 Okay, again, I'm so sorry. It's first world problem. I'm just so. I can tell. 547 00:34:40,530 --> 00:34:44,050 Okay? I can't stand it. But here's the thing. Preparation feels 548 00:34:44,050 --> 00:34:46,370 unnecessary until survival depends on it. 549 00:34:47,970 --> 00:34:51,810 Until survival depends on it. Let me tell you, if I step on the Titanic, 550 00:34:51,810 --> 00:34:55,570 I need to know where those life vests are and where the safety 551 00:34:55,570 --> 00:34:59,020 boats are. Okay? I need to know the information. Okay, 552 00:34:59,260 --> 00:35:02,980 here's the deal. We don't wait until the storm comes to 553 00:35:02,980 --> 00:35:06,780 prepare for the storm. Prayer matters. 554 00:35:06,780 --> 00:35:10,580 Worship matters. Repentance matters. Reading the word matters. Learning the 555 00:35:10,580 --> 00:35:14,420 voice of God. It all matters. Jeremy and Arwin 556 00:35:14,420 --> 00:35:17,900 Jones have this saying in their home. It goes like this. It says this. 557 00:35:18,140 --> 00:35:21,980 They say if the world around us is going great, 558 00:35:22,230 --> 00:35:25,990 great. But the two of us are not okay. It doesn't 559 00:35:25,990 --> 00:35:29,830 matter what's going great in the world, but if we're good 560 00:35:29,910 --> 00:35:33,590 and everything around us is spinning out of control, we're going to be just 561 00:35:33,590 --> 00:35:37,190 fine, guys. That's the same thing with our 562 00:35:37,190 --> 00:35:40,870 God. Everything in your world could be going 563 00:35:40,870 --> 00:35:44,590 absolutely in your mind, wonderfully. But if your connection with 564 00:35:44,590 --> 00:35:46,870 God is off kilter, that doesn't matter. 565 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:51,840 On the same token, if everything in your world's spinning out of control 566 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,600 and your relationship with the Lord is intact, 567 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:00,120 you can weather every single storm that comes your 568 00:36:00,120 --> 00:36:03,879 way. Preparation produces peace because you know the one 569 00:36:03,879 --> 00:36:07,120 who holds it all together. The last thing that I want us to see 570 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:11,440 is Jesus stands and he rebukes the winds and waves and he says, 571 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:13,920 peace, be still. Let me ask you a question. 572 00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:19,100 At what point in this story were the disciples most 573 00:36:19,420 --> 00:36:20,060 terrified? 574 00:36:29,260 --> 00:36:33,100 They were scared when the storm was there. But the Word says they were 575 00:36:33,100 --> 00:36:36,860 terrified when Jesus calmed the storm. 576 00:36:39,100 --> 00:36:42,430 Our fear has got to 577 00:36:42,430 --> 00:36:46,030 supersede our fear of the storms in our life. 578 00:36:47,310 --> 00:36:50,830 They were terrified and asked each other, who is this? Even 579 00:36:50,910 --> 00:36:54,510 the wind and the waves obey him. There is this 580 00:36:54,750 --> 00:36:58,590 awe, reverence 581 00:36:58,590 --> 00:37:02,270 that we should have for the sovereign star breather. 582 00:37:03,070 --> 00:37:06,910 This awe reverence that. This little thing. Listen, 583 00:37:06,910 --> 00:37:10,600 that little demon that Josh talking about that's messing with me, you 584 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:12,760 ain't got nothing on this God. 585 00:37:14,280 --> 00:37:18,000 In fact, not only that, he's not just gonna be there to protect me. 586 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:21,800 Let me tell you something, demon. You're gonna. You also are gonna bow at 587 00:37:21,800 --> 00:37:25,600 the feet of Jesus. This God is magnificent. He is 588 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:27,960 huge. He is mighty. 589 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:33,240 They assumed the disciples, that calm water equals safety. 590 00:37:33,240 --> 00:37:37,090 You guys can come back if you're back there. Jesus was 591 00:37:37,090 --> 00:37:40,730 teaching his presence. His presence was 592 00:37:40,730 --> 00:37:43,890 safety. So we think financial security, 593 00:37:45,010 --> 00:37:47,970 predictability, comfort, clarity, control, 594 00:37:48,690 --> 00:37:52,330 health, ease, stability, absence of conflict. 595 00:37:52,330 --> 00:37:56,050 We think all of those things are where we put our 596 00:37:56,050 --> 00:37:59,770 trust. But Scripture consistently teaches us 597 00:37:59,770 --> 00:38:03,610 that true peace is not the absence of storms. It's the presence of 598 00:38:03,610 --> 00:38:07,340 God. Psalm 46, 10, if you're 599 00:38:07,340 --> 00:38:10,980 reading in our reading plan, you will read today, says, 600 00:38:10,980 --> 00:38:13,740 be still and know that I am God. 601 00:38:14,620 --> 00:38:18,300 Now we like to apply that to our lives. And you 602 00:38:18,300 --> 00:38:22,100 can. That's appropriate. Be still and know I'm God. But when 603 00:38:22,100 --> 00:38:25,620 you actually take that verse in context, what's 604 00:38:25,620 --> 00:38:28,620 happening in that passage is the nations are at war 605 00:38:29,990 --> 00:38:33,590 and God is saying, be still. I'm 606 00:38:33,590 --> 00:38:36,790 God. He is so much larger. 607 00:38:37,430 --> 00:38:40,310 See, when I'm in the middle of a storm, it's like that's all I can 608 00:38:40,310 --> 00:38:44,150 see. I mean, if I look left, right, up, down, all I see is this 609 00:38:44,150 --> 00:38:47,550 storm in front of me. Do you know how small that storm is to the 610 00:38:47,550 --> 00:38:51,270 star breather? He is a God who can 611 00:38:51,270 --> 00:38:54,830 hold you and hold it all together. And when you 612 00:38:54,830 --> 00:38:58,350 truly understand who Jesus is, every other fear begins. 613 00:38:59,140 --> 00:39:01,700 Shrink if he commands the wind, 614 00:39:02,820 --> 00:39:06,180 if he commands the waves, if creation 615 00:39:06,260 --> 00:39:10,100 obeys the Lord, then we must ask ourselves this question. Why 616 00:39:10,500 --> 00:39:14,100 would I allow lesser things to own my heart? 617 00:39:15,940 --> 00:39:19,780 Grab this. Today, your storms do not 618 00:39:19,780 --> 00:39:21,060 have the final say. 619 00:39:24,430 --> 00:39:28,150 Whatever it is you're dealing with today, it does not have the final say. It 620 00:39:28,150 --> 00:39:31,990 has no authority. It has no authority. The 621 00:39:31,990 --> 00:39:35,350 disciples thought they needed calmer waters. But what they needed was a 622 00:39:35,350 --> 00:39:39,110 revelation. And if you're here in the middle of a storm, I invite you to 623 00:39:39,110 --> 00:39:41,950 ask yourself this question. Is Jesus in the boat with you? 624 00:39:43,230 --> 00:39:46,950 Are you out there trying to fend for yourself in the midst 625 00:39:46,950 --> 00:39:49,710 of the storm? Would you stand with me this morning? 626 00:40:02,770 --> 00:40:06,290 I don't know where he has the trajectory of your life. 627 00:40:06,610 --> 00:40:10,370 But for the disciples, he said, we're going to the other side. And 628 00:40:10,370 --> 00:40:12,850 going to the other side is what they did. 629 00:40:18,620 --> 00:40:21,900 The answer to your storm is 630 00:40:22,140 --> 00:40:25,020 his presence. That's it. 631 00:40:26,140 --> 00:40:29,380 And so this morning, we're going to do something a little different. I would like 632 00:40:29,380 --> 00:40:31,580 to ask if you are here this morning 633 00:40:33,420 --> 00:40:34,940 and you're going through a storm. 634 00:40:37,500 --> 00:40:41,340 If you're here this morning and you're looking for the 635 00:40:41,340 --> 00:40:43,920 Lord in the middle of your storm, you're saying, lord, where are you? 636 00:40:46,230 --> 00:40:49,830 If you're here this morning and you realize today 637 00:40:49,990 --> 00:40:53,790 I've been weathering a storm without the Lord and 638 00:40:53,790 --> 00:40:57,430 I need to invite him to be in it, those are 639 00:40:57,430 --> 00:41:01,230 you. Those three things. I want you to come down front. And in 640 00:41:01,230 --> 00:41:04,790 addition, one last thing. If you are a mother and 641 00:41:04,790 --> 00:41:07,910 you are weary right now, you are tired, 642 00:41:08,470 --> 00:41:12,270 you are worn out, you are depleted, and you just need the strength, strength 643 00:41:12,270 --> 00:41:15,550 of an almighty God. I want you, any of those four things, I want you 644 00:41:15,550 --> 00:41:18,510 to come right now. Come on down to the altar space. 645 00:41:20,030 --> 00:41:23,630 I want to read this scripture to you as you 646 00:41:23,630 --> 00:41:23,950 come. 647 00:41:28,670 --> 00:41:30,910 In Exodus, chapter 33, 648 00:41:33,470 --> 00:41:36,430 Moses is having an interaction with the Lord. 649 00:41:37,960 --> 00:41:41,640 Moses said to the Lord, see, you say to me, bring up this people. 650 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:45,800 But you have not let me know whom you will send with me. 651 00:41:46,120 --> 00:41:49,960 Yet you have said, I know you by name, and you have found 652 00:41:49,960 --> 00:41:53,560 favor in my sight. Now, therefore, I 653 00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:56,960 pray to you, Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, 654 00:41:56,960 --> 00:42:00,760 Moses is speaking, let me know your ways that I 655 00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:04,560 may know you. The amplified version says 656 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:08,140 this. It continues. He says, I want to become 657 00:42:08,700 --> 00:42:12,300 more deeply and intimately acquainted with you, 658 00:42:12,300 --> 00:42:16,140 recognizing and understanding your ways more 659 00:42:16,460 --> 00:42:19,900 clearly, that I may find 660 00:42:19,900 --> 00:42:23,260 grace and favor in your sight. And consider 661 00:42:23,500 --> 00:42:27,260 also that this nation is your people. And here's what the Lord 662 00:42:27,260 --> 00:42:31,020 said to Moses. Prayer. My presence 663 00:42:31,570 --> 00:42:35,370 shall go with you, and I will 664 00:42:35,370 --> 00:42:38,130 give you rest. Everybody say rest. 665 00:42:39,250 --> 00:42:42,770 You can rest in the arms of the 666 00:42:42,770 --> 00:42:46,050 almighty God, in the shadow of his wings. 667 00:42:46,290 --> 00:42:50,050 You can rest right there. Now, here's 668 00:42:50,050 --> 00:42:53,890 the deal. Before I say that there are about. 669 00:42:54,610 --> 00:42:57,370 Come on up here, guys, because there's people in the aisle, and I don't want 670 00:42:57,370 --> 00:43:00,650 you to only halfway get God. Let's go. Come on up here. 671 00:43:00,970 --> 00:43:04,530 Here's the deal. All of you out there. 672 00:43:04,530 --> 00:43:07,970 Doesn't mean you're not going through a storm. Some of you are too afraid to 673 00:43:07,970 --> 00:43:10,690 come up here or whatever it is. Some of you are in a good place 674 00:43:10,690 --> 00:43:14,090 right now because Jesus is in your boat navigating things. 675 00:43:15,530 --> 00:43:19,130 You've been in this position. One of the greatest things for 676 00:43:19,130 --> 00:43:22,050 people that are in this spot to know is that they're not alone. So I 677 00:43:22,050 --> 00:43:25,610 would like. I really would like every one of these people to have a 678 00:43:25,610 --> 00:43:28,470 connection with. With somebody else. So if you're back there, would you come and find 679 00:43:28,470 --> 00:43:32,310 somebody? Maybe you came with them, Maybe they're a friend or 680 00:43:32,310 --> 00:43:35,950 somebody. But I don't want anybody left out. So come on down. 681 00:43:35,950 --> 00:43:39,110 Come on down, guys. Make space. We're just gonna make a mess of things up 682 00:43:39,110 --> 00:43:40,190 here. I'm good at that. 683 00:43:42,990 --> 00:43:46,590 So everybody gets someone because we care about you. 684 00:43:47,150 --> 00:43:50,950 But more importantly, the God of the universe cares about you. He sees you in 685 00:43:50,950 --> 00:43:54,760 your struggle and your storm. Everybody has some. If you don't have somebody, 686 00:43:54,760 --> 00:43:57,560 raise your hand. I want to make sure everybody's got a connection. There's some people 687 00:43:57,560 --> 00:44:01,240 down here. Come on. Come on. Who doesn't have somebody to connect with 688 00:44:01,240 --> 00:44:05,080 down here? Front. They're still coming. They're just blocking the way. Move forward a little 689 00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:05,360 bit. 690 00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:14,840 It's Mother's Day. Everybody wore deodorant. So get closer. Come 691 00:44:14,840 --> 00:44:17,680 on. Okay, 692 00:44:20,250 --> 00:44:23,370 okay, now look up here. If you're one of the ones that came up because 693 00:44:23,370 --> 00:44:26,250 you're weary or one of those things, give me your eyeballs for a second, I'll 694 00:44:26,250 --> 00:44:30,050 give them back. Look up here. My daughter Eliana 695 00:44:30,050 --> 00:44:33,730 is five months old, okay? And I've had four 696 00:44:33,730 --> 00:44:37,530 other children go through a stage where they're going to sleep in a crib, 697 00:44:37,850 --> 00:44:41,690 okay? They're going to sleep in a crib. And my kids, when they're in 698 00:44:41,690 --> 00:44:44,220 that crib, they speak the most. 699 00:44:45,340 --> 00:44:48,300 It's gibberish. I don't understand what they're saying, 700 00:44:49,900 --> 00:44:53,700 okay? I don't know. And, guys, sometimes what you're saying out loud 701 00:44:53,700 --> 00:44:56,700 over your storm, it's gibberish. It's gibberish. 702 00:44:58,140 --> 00:45:00,780 But, you know, for my daughters who are in the crib, 703 00:45:01,580 --> 00:45:04,380 there's one thing that happens that is 704 00:45:04,540 --> 00:45:08,020 undeniable. Unmistakable. I know 705 00:45:08,020 --> 00:45:11,540 exactly what they mean. And it's when they look up at me and they do 706 00:45:11,540 --> 00:45:14,850 this, because this communicates. 707 00:45:14,930 --> 00:45:18,370 Daddy, get me out of here. Now. 708 00:45:21,410 --> 00:45:25,250 You have a heavenly father who's willing to pick you up 709 00:45:25,410 --> 00:45:29,250 right where you are. Would you, as a step of faith in your 710 00:45:29,250 --> 00:45:33,010 situation, just lift your arms to a dad 711 00:45:33,090 --> 00:45:36,850 beyond dads, a heavenly father who sees you, 712 00:45:36,850 --> 00:45:40,130 and guess what? You might be here and not believe it. Do you know there 713 00:45:40,130 --> 00:45:43,090 are moments in my life where I don't believe that this God really cares about 714 00:45:43,090 --> 00:45:46,930 me because I'm human. That's my mind goes in places and the enemy lies to 715 00:45:46,930 --> 00:45:49,730 me and tricks me. But by faith, you can lift your arms and he can 716 00:45:49,730 --> 00:45:52,210 handle it. He can handle the gibberish. 717 00:45:53,970 --> 00:45:57,810 But, God, get me out of this. Get me out of this emotional situation. 718 00:45:58,130 --> 00:46:01,810 Get me out of this circumstance. Get me out of this weak 719 00:46:01,810 --> 00:46:05,470 moment in my life. I need your strength. The 720 00:46:05,470 --> 00:46:09,190 answer is his presence, and he will hold you. So with hands raised, 721 00:46:09,190 --> 00:46:12,870 we're gonna do this song. And the people that came and joined with you, 722 00:46:12,870 --> 00:46:16,670 it's not that they got something special. They just know who to point you 723 00:46:16,670 --> 00:46:19,670 to. And they're gonna pray over you as we worship 724 00:46:20,470 --> 00:46:22,950 right now. So let's go ahead and do this song. Brittany, 725 00:46:25,910 --> 00:46:29,550 allow me to render one more 726 00:46:29,550 --> 00:46:32,860 grace scripture to you. As some of you are 727 00:46:33,180 --> 00:46:36,820 in tears. Maybe you've released something. Maybe you've 728 00:46:36,820 --> 00:46:40,660 invited him. Maybe you don't feel any different. But you took a 729 00:46:40,660 --> 00:46:44,380 step of faith. Sometimes, you know, you don't feel it. You just have to say, 730 00:46:44,380 --> 00:46:48,140 I believe it. Right? Okay, here's the thing. There's another scripture, 731 00:46:48,780 --> 00:46:52,460 and it says this. In his presence 732 00:46:53,100 --> 00:46:56,140 is the fullness of joy. 733 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:00,640 In his presence is the fullness of joy. That 734 00:47:00,640 --> 00:47:04,280 means if you're in the middle of the storm and he's 735 00:47:04,280 --> 00:47:08,080 there on the boat with you, you get to experience 736 00:47:08,400 --> 00:47:12,080 and tap into joy. You can tap into joy. You 737 00:47:12,080 --> 00:47:15,520 can choose to have joy in the middle of every 738 00:47:15,520 --> 00:47:18,720 circumstance and situation because of his 739 00:47:19,040 --> 00:47:22,810 great presence in your lives. And 740 00:47:22,810 --> 00:47:25,610 so raise your hand, Let me give you a blessing. Today. 741 00:47:26,650 --> 00:47:30,330 You choose how you walk out of here, with or without his 742 00:47:30,330 --> 00:47:34,090 presence. But, man, it's so much better when he's walking 743 00:47:34,090 --> 00:47:37,610 with you. May the God and father of our Lord Jesus 744 00:47:37,689 --> 00:47:41,450 Christ be present in our choices and our actions, in our 745 00:47:41,450 --> 00:47:45,090 words, in our coming and going, and in the middle of every single 746 00:47:45,090 --> 00:47:48,550 storm so that we can become more like our. Our Savior. 747 00:47:48,950 --> 00:47:52,390 And we can experience incredible, everlasting, 748 00:47:52,390 --> 00:47:56,230 eternal joy in the midst of it. In Jesus name. And the church 749 00:47:56,230 --> 00:47:59,750 said. Amen. Happy Mother's Day. We love you, Springhouse. 750 00:47:59,910 --> 00:48:01,110 Have a great afternoon.