"The Other Side" Series

“The Other Side Series---I”

Mark 4:35-41

MK 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

MAIN TEXT

MK 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

INTRODUCTION

• I believe Jesus is making the same statement to each and every one of us this morning…“Let us go to the other side.”

• What is the “other side?”

Your prayer life

Your openness to the moving of God

Your battle against sin

Your discipline in the Word of God

Your approach in worship

Your walk with the Lord as a whole

• For some of us, the other side may look much different than it does or someone else.

• This wasn’t a suggestion from Jesus…it was a command. May I suggest that Jesus is doing more than “suggesting” that you cross over to the other side? That is His plan for you!

• But, I believe there are some questions we need to ask ourselves this morning if we want to go to the “other side” spiritually…

I. What will I FORSAKE? {vs 36}

36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

• They had to be willing to leave the crowd behind in order to go to the other side

• Ask yourself a very honest question this morning…What do you need to leave behind if you are ever going to grow spiritually?

POSSIBILITIES:

1. SIN issue

 Is there a sin you are dealing with?

2. SCHEDULE

 Where does God fit within the priorities and the demands on your time?

3. A certain SOMEONE

 Is there someone close to you who is hindering your spiritual progress?

• Keep in mind what Jesus said to His disciples:

MT 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

• I will be VERY honest to you and tell you that spiritual greatness will cost you something…it always does!

Homeless Man

Let’s imagine a situation where a homeless man is begging on the streets of New York. A well dressed man in a long limousine pulls up next to him and offers him a job as vice-president of his company. You might say that is ridiculous; nothing like that would ever happen. But that is exactly what God has done for us. He rescued us from the gutter. We were homeless and he gave us a new home. We were the rejects of the world, but he gave us self respect. We had nothing, but he gave us everything. He asks us to be a part of his kingdom and work for it.

But, now, let’s say that the homeless man sneers at him and rejects the offer for several reasons. First, he will have to give up what is familiar to him. Obviously, it is a terrible life, but it is the only life he knows how to live. Secondly, he has a few possessions which he pushes around in a cart, and the few clothes he owns are on his back. And one of the conditions the man in the limousine makes is that the man must leave everything and get into the limousine. The third reason is that the man will actually have to work and accept responsibility. Life on the street was bad, but at least no one expected anything from him. No one expected him to be any different. So he turns from the man in the expensive suit and shuffles down the street hoping for a warm grate that he can sleep on for the night.

II. What will I TAKE? {vs 36}

36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.