Jesus Answer to Despair: Jesse Bennett
Let me introduce you to an old friend you’ve know for a long time.
A friend is someone that makes you a better person.
Sometimes a friend loves you so much he will even hurt you to help you.
Proverbs says the wounds of a friend can be trusted, but the kissed of an enemy are deceitful. Like iron sharpens iron so one man sharpens another>
How would you like to have a friend that would help you live a clean life?
How would you like to have a friend that would bring you closer to JESUS?
How would you like to have a friend that would give you strength?
How would you like to have a friend that would help you lead your loved ones to Christ?
How would you like to have a friend that would make you a mature believer?
You already have that friend his name is trouble: now I know most of you don’t consider trouble a friend but it is (sometimes)
John 6:16-21
It was the evening time when this took place and Jesus had just fed the 5000, they wanted to make him king, but He didn’t want to be that kind of a king. He sent the disciples to go across the sea. They set sail because Jesus told them. These were seasoned sailors-but they are sailing into the teeth of a storm.
The Bible says a wind arose.
1. Have you ever been there just sailing along, full of joy and peace full of the Lord Jesus?
2. That’s the way his disciples felt so full of joy, following there master, after all He is a miracle worker. Beside that they had eaten and were full of bread and fish.
3. Then the wind came, greedy waves seeking to devour them at the darkest hour of the night
4. They are rowing, back hurting; they can’t go back, hands hurting.
I. They are about to find out Jesus is God answer to mans despair.
I’m going to give you six anchors of the soul.
1. I am governed by his providence! (Jesus is the one who created to storm and the sea)
A. They were in the storm because of the will of God.
B. Is that you today?
C. Are the icy waves of this life coming up to devour you?
D. Are you felling as though you are in your darkest hour?
E. Every wind contrary to you, your little boat sinking?
(Answer) There is nothing that comes to you unless God allows it or causes it!!!!
I. (anchor of the soul) I am governed by his providence.
He commands the seas!
Weather I can see it or not
Weather I can understand it or not
It is a fact; God has not relinquished His rule on His universe.
II. (Anchor of the soul) I am growing by his plan.
What is God’s plan for you?
He wants to enlarge you not indulge you.
God is not nearly as interested in making you happy and healthy as he is making you holy.
So God is in the habit of putting you into trouble to grow you.
The Lord Jesus engineered these problems for his disciples so he could develop them.
Palms 4:1 Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distressed.
Think about this; that’s when you grew the most as a Christian: that’s when you grew the most when God sent you trouble. When you overcame diversity by the power of God. That’s when you have been enlarged.
I can testify by my own experience when I experienced trouble I became a better person because of it.
Poem:
I walked a mile with pleasure she chatted all the way, but left me none the wiser for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with sorrow, but not a word said she, but oh the things I learned from sorrow when sorrow walked with me instead.
Isn’t that true.
The things I’ve learned in sorrow are the things I’ve learned the best!
Faith like film is developed best in the dark! I don’t know why that is, but it is true!
Remember when God sent Joshua and Caleb into the land (he sent 12 spies) only two came back with a good report….There is fruit trees and rivers and fertile planes and pomegranate trees and wonderful abundance…but there are giants in the land called Amalekites the descendants of Anak…the other 10 reported there are giants and we are like grasshoppers in there eyes….We can’t go to war with these people
What did Caleb say? Num 14:9 do not rebel against the Lord nor fear the people of the land for they are bread for us.
What happens when you eat bread you are strengthened? Caleb understood when they overcame this challenge they would be strengthened.
These difficulties are here to make us grow.
You will never grow unless you eat the bread that God sets before you and often it is the bread of difficulty.
Amalekites are the breakfast of champions..
To grow, you have to have difficulty
I. I am governed by his providence.
II. I am growing by his plan.
III. (Anchor for the soul) I am graced by his prayers
What was Jesus doing on that mountain top?
Jesus had a vantage point he saw them rowing he saw the storm.
They may not have known he saw them, but he did and he was praying.
Mark 6:47 47And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. 48And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. HE SAW THEM.
What was he doing on that mountain? He was praying, you can say his eye is on the sparrow and he is watching me as well, He is praying for you!!!
Hebrews 7:25 25Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
If you are on some body’s prayer list you are blessed>>>you are on Jesus prayer list.
He knows you, he loves each of us! He saw them
Graced by his prayers: And in the storm
IV. (Anchor for the soul) Gladdened by his presence.
Vs 20 Jesus said “It is I be not afraid”. The forth hour when he did this.
He said this between 3am and 6am the darkest hour of the night.
The disciples, looking into the mouth of a watery grave, asking where Jesus is. No they had forgotten Him.
(Question) Why did he not come sooner?
Mark 6:51-52 almost humorous: 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened
Remember the miracle of the loves…..? 12 disciples in a boat with 12 baskets at there feet in a boat. They forgot all about him…
What they needed was not a miracle they needed the miracle worker Jesus.
Jesus delayed to give them grace. Jesus waited to raise Lazarus from the grave.
Suppose he had come sooner, he would have just been one more person Jesus healed
>Jesus had a plan for the greater glory.
God waited 4000 year to bring Jesus into the world 40 centuries. He came in the fullness of time.
Habakkuk 2:3 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
He has come for you and his eyes are upon you he wants to save you and teach you and grow you in the fear and admonition of the Lord…
Gladdened by his presence
5th anchor when I am in trouble
V. (anchor of the soul) Guarded by his power.
Vs 20 it is I do not be afraid.
(Quote) The will of God will not take you were his grace can not keep you!!!
He told his disciples to go over to the other side not go under…
At first they said what is that walking on the water.
Soon the terror turns to joy!!!!
Don’t be afraid I AM (he said God is here with you)
Never was a time when He was not. He created the water and the storm and you and He is the great I AM in the midst of the storm.
Why did he walk on water---not for theatrics---
(He is saying) What looks like it’s going to be over your head is already under my feet?
Jesus has overcome the world.. We are over comers in Jesus the great I AM. Door-way-truth
VI (anchor of the soul) Guided by his purpose.
Jesus did not promise smooth sailing but a safe landing…
Vs 21 Three miracles-1. Suspends the law of gravity but 2. suspends the law of time and 3. suspends the law of space.
You can bank on it he will see you to the shore..
God is willing to assume full responsibility to the life fully devoted to him.
All thing work for good for those called according to his purpose.
He is praying for you, He is watching you and He will see you through…
And one day He is coming stepping on the clouds… You wander where the world is heading? It is coming to Jesus ---you need Jesus
Jesus is calling you for a purpose wont you come to Him right now and let him into your heart>He will cleans you save you and you will live for him and not do evil for the things of this world.
