Introduction

Good morning, everyone! What a blessing it is to gather together in His name.

Let's start with a quote from A.W. Tozer. He once said, "God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply." Now, that's something to chew on, isn't it? We'll be talking about that a bit more as we go along.

Now, let's look at the scripture we'll be focusing on today, Mark 4. I'll read it out loud for us:

"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 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?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'"

Let's bow our heads and pray together:

Heavenly Father, we come to You today with open hearts and open minds, ready to receive Your Word. We ask that You guide our thoughts and our discussions, that we might better understand Your will for our lives. Help us to see the lessons in the storms we face, and to trust in Your peace in the midst of them. We ask all this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Understanding the Call to Cross Over

When we look at the beginning of this story, we see Jesus telling his disciples, "Let us go across to the other side." This wasn't just a casual suggestion. It was a directive, a call to action. It was an invitation to leave the familiar and venture into the unknown.

In our own lives, we often hear similar calls. Maybe it's a call to a new job, a new city, or a new stage of life. Maybe it's a call to a deeper level of faith or a more committed relationship with God. These calls can be exciting, but they can also be scary. They require us to step out of our comfort zones and trust that God is leading us in the right direction.

But here's the thing: when Jesus calls us to cross over, he doesn't promise that the journey will be easy. In fact, he often warns us that it will be hard. But he also promises that he will be with us every step of the way.

The disciples found this out firsthand. As soon as they set out to cross the sea, a great windstorm arose. The waves were breaking into the boat, and it was already filling with water. They were in real danger.

But where was Jesus during all this? He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. This detail is important. It shows us that, even in the midst of the storm, Jesus was at peace. He knew that the storm was not the end of the story.

The disciples, on the other hand, were terrified. They woke Jesus up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" In their fear, they questioned Jesus' care for them.

But Jesus responded by rebuking the wind and the sea. "Peace! Be still!" he said. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

This story teaches us that, when we answer the call to cross over, we may encounter storms. But it also teaches us that Jesus has the power to calm those storms. He doesn't promise that the journey will be easy, but he does promise that he will be with us, and that he will bring us to the other side.

So, what does this mean for us? How do we apply this to our own lives?

First, we need to be open to the call to cross over. We need to be willing to leave our comfort zones and venture into the unknown. This requires faith and trust in God.

Second, we need to expect storms. Life is full of challenges and difficulties. But these storms are not the end of the story. They are opportunities for growth and transformation.

Third, we need to remember that Jesus is with us in the storm. He may seem to be asleep, but he is always aware of our situation. He cares for us and has the power to bring peace to our chaos.

Finally, we need to hold onto the promise that Jesus will bring us to the other side. The journey may be hard, but the destination is worth it. We can trust that God is leading us in the right direction, even when the path is difficult.

The call to cross over is a call to faith, to trust, and to perseverance. It's a call to leave the familiar and venture into the unknown, to face the storms of life with courage and confidence, and to trust in the peace that only Jesus can bring. It's a call to follow Jesus, no matter where he leads.

Experiencing the Storms of Life

As we navigate through the narrative, we find ourselves in the heart of the storm ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO