Emory Baptist Church

Back in the Game Revival Meeting #2 with Luke Panter

Back in the Game Revival Meeting #1 with Luke Panter

Lunchable Leftovers

The Beheading of John the Baptist...

A Picture of the People of God...

From June 24-28, EBC preteens participated in the third week of Preteen Camp at Mt. Lebanon in Cedar Hill with a total of 1,200 campers for the week.  Our group was made up of 37 campers and 8 adult chaperones. 

 

The camp preacher was an evangelist from Lawton, OK named Keith Coast, and the theme for the week was “Identity” based on 1 Peter 2:9-10.  That will also be our text for this morning.

 

Earlier this month, our country celebrated Independence Day or the Fourth of July.  If you are an American Citizen, that day means something very significant for us.  We celebrate our independence or a freedom as a nation, and it is very special to be an American Citizen as there is no other country like it in the world. 

 

Being a United States Citizen is part of our identity.  However, if you are follower of Christ, the Bible speaks of another citizenship.  For the believer, we have citizenship in heaven in addition to our earthly citizenship.

 

Ephesians 2:19, 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

 

Philippians 3:20, 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Again, our heavenly citizenship is due to our identity in Christ. 

 

This morning, I want us to see from 1 Peter 2 this picture of God’s People...our identity.  We will see who we are, what we do, and why we do it.

 

 

1. Who Are We? 1 Peter 2:9-10

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

 

In verses 9 and 10, Peter does something very interesting in that he used language that previously was used to describe Israel, God’s people in the Old Testament.  However, he wasn’t writing to Israel.  He was writing to the Church. 

 

That doesn’t mean the Church had replaced Israel, but it does mean that the Church has joined Israel as the people of God, God’s own special people.

 

We are chosen generation.  That highlights that God has chosen us as followers of Christ. 

 

We are royal priesthood.  Royal means that we belong to the king.  That is King Jesus. 

 

In the OT, there were few priests.  Every follower of Christ is a priest meaning we have full access to God, and our role is to be a bridge-builder between Christ and the world.

 

We are holy nation meaning that God has set us apart to be distinct from the world.  However, on many fronts, the church isn’t doing our best. 

 

Brothers and sisters, our marriages should be holy.  Our businesses should be holy.  Our language should be holy.  Our recreation should be holy.  Our spending should be holy.  That is who we were made to be in front of a watching world. 

 

We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. 

 

 

2. What Do We Do? 1 Peter 2:1-2, 4-5, 9

1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

 

As the people of God, this text says we are to demonstrate certain behaviors.  We are to long for God’s Word.  We are to live in God’s community, and we are to laud God’s mercy.

 

First, in verse 2, God’s people are to long for or desire the pure milk of the word, and we are to this so will grow.  Peter is invoking the image of a newborn baby crying and crying and crying because he or she is hungry for mother’s milk, and newborn babies need their milk so that they will grow. 

 

Some of you as the people of God are not growing, and the reason that you aren’t growing is because you aren’t longing for and getting God’s Word.  And the reason you aren’t getting God’s Word is because you aren’t laying aside malice and deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all evil speech. 

The people of God must lay aside or take off the ways of the world.  Malice is pure evil or the absence of good.  Deceit is intentional deception or dishonesty.  Hypocrisy is living your life as two different persons.  Envy is wanting what is not yours to have, and slander to criticize and malign. 

 

God’s plan and desire is for His people to grow, but our growth is stunted when we don’t long for His word, and if you aren’t longing for His word in your daily life, it may be because you haven’t laid aside the behavior of a lost world.

 

Second, we are to live in God’s community.  In verse 4, God’s people are to come to Him.  That isn’t a reference to salvation but to daily living, and we come to Him as living stones. 

 

This “stone” language that Peter used takes us back to his own confession in Matthew 16.  The Lord Jesus told Peter that He was going to build His Church or community on the rock. 

 

That Rock is Jesus, but also includes us a living stones. 

 

The people of God were never meant to live in isolation.  We are meant to live in community with one another so that we can be built up into a spiritual house. One rock doesn’t make a house.  Many rocks are needed to build a house.

 

And we are built up as a spiritual house when we offer spiritual sacrifices.   Again, we sacrifice or offer our marriage and our business and our language and our recreation and our finances.  We offer our entire being as we love the Lord our God with all that we have and all that we are in heart, soul, mind and strength. 

 

Third, we are to laud or praise God’s mercy.  That should be part of our identity.  Look at verse 9. 

 

Because of who we are, we are to proclaim or laud the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 

 

Let me let you in on something.  God doesn’t owe us ANYTHING.  We owe Him EVERYTHING.  Therefore, we should be about proclaim His mercy every day to anyone and everyone who will listen.

 

The people of God ought to be known for longing for God’s word and living in God’s community and lauding God’s mercy. 

 

3. Why Do We Do What We Do? 1 Peter 2:3, 6-8, 10

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious…6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,

And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed…10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

 

So why do we do what we do?  Why do we long for God’s word?  Why do we live in God’s community?  Why do we laud God’s mercy?

 

We long for God’s word because we have tasted and seen that Lord is gracious according to verse 3.  If you have been born-again after hearing and understanding God’s word, you know that the message of this book is grace.  Read it again and again and again because of what you know to be true.

 

We live in God’s community because we believe in Jesus as the only Savior of the world.  Verse 6 says He is the chief cornerstone. 

 

When we believe in Him, we are made part of God’s community of faith, the Church. 

 

We laud God’s mercy because Gentiles, like us, have accepted into God’s people as we have received His mercy according to verse 10. 

 

As a lost person, we are not God’s people.  His mercy allows us to be part of the people of God. 

 

 

Conclusion

So here is my invitation this morning.  If you are part of God’s people, remember who you and what behavior should characterize your life: long for His word, live in His community, and laud His mercy.

 

If you’re not part of God’s people, I invite you to answer that call today.  Look at verse 7.  If you haven’t answered God’s call to salvation, you are being disobedient.  You are rejecting Jesus as the your only hope for forgiveness of sin, eternal life in heaven, and peace with God. 

 

Consequently, you are appointed to God’s judgement if you continue to live in disobedience.  However, you can be saved today.  Will you?

The Calling of EVERY Follower of Christ...

It's Hard to Go Home!

All Interruptions Aren't Bad!

If you were here last Sunday morning, you’ll remember that we saw Jesus raise a twelve year-old little girl from the dead.  Jairus was her dad, and she was his only child and on death’s doorstep. 

 

In an act of desperation, Jairus, the Jewish religious leader, remembered possibly what he saw and definitely what he heard about and came and fell at the feet of Jesus begging Him to intervene in his crisis, and Jesus did.

 

In the face of laughter and doubt, Jesus raised the girl who had died.  She stopped breathing.  Her heart stopped beating.  Her spirit had departed.  Yet, Jesus performed a miracle and brought her back to life. 

 

Jesus has proven Himself as more powerful than disasters and more powerful than the demonic and more powerful than death.  Today, we will see that He is more powerful than disease.

 

However, from Jairus’ perspective, it almost didn’t happen.  It almost didn’t happen because of an interruption that takes place in Mark 5:25-34.

Generally speaking, I don’t like interruptions.  They catch me by surprise and throw of my schedule, and as you know, I’m a very scheduled person.  However, all interruptions aren’t bad.  This is one in which a life is changed forever.

 

If you look at today’s miracle along with last week’s miracle, there are three primary characters.  All of them deserve our attention today: this woman, Jesus, and Jairus.

 

 

1. A Desperate Situation, Mark 5:25-26

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

 

This woman was diseased.  She had been hemorrhaging internally for 12 years.  Let that sink in.  Most commentators believe this was some type of ongoing bleeding in her uterus.  She was suffering physically.

 

She was also suffering emotionally.  She sought treatment for 12 years, and after every treatment she thought this was it.  I have been made well, but instead, she hadn’t.  She suffered many things from many physicians, and she was only getting worse. 

 

She also suffered emotionally because she was defiled.  Because of her bleeding, she was unclean according to OT Law and separated from the nation of Israel.  No one could be around her or risk defilement as well.

 

Leviticus 15:25, 25 ‘If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean.

 

Finally, she was suffering financially.  Mark 5:26 says she spent all that she had on her medical condition and to no avail.  

 

This woman found herself in a desperate situation.

 

 

2. A Determined Aspiration, Mark 5:27-28

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” 

 

In our next two verses, we continue to see this woman determined or decide that she needs something different.  She aspired or hoped that her situation would change. 

 

Notice she heard about Jesus.  Then she acted on what she had heard, and she believed not in herself but in Him.

 

Today, I am telling you about Jesus.   Therefore, you are hearing.  You will then need to recognize the need for change in your life or the need to be saved from your sins, and my invitation to you this morning is going to be to put your faith in Jesus to save you rather than self to save you.

 

 

3. A Definite Modification, Mark 5:29-34

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”  31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”  32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

 

These last several verses speak mostly about Jesus.  Jesus is omnipotent or all-powerful.  Just by touching the fringe of His garment, she was healed immediately.  Jesus was fully man and fully God.  Even during His earthly ministry, He could do whatever He chose to do, and the same is true today.  He is still all powerful.

 

Jesus is omniscient or all-knowing.  Jesus knew someone had touched Him.  I would even say He knew who touched Him.  He simply wanted this woman to acknowledge her faith publicly.  Peter didn’t think it was possible to know who touched Him, but Jesus did because He is omniscient.

 

By the way, just as Jesus desired this woman to come forward to confess her faith in front of this crowd, Jesus wants you to confess your faith publically this morning as well.  Faith is certainly personal, but you never see faith in the NT as private. 

Thirdly, Jesus is omnibenevolent or all good.  Jesus didn’t try to embarrass this woman, but wanted her to confess Him publicly.  When she did, He told her that faith had made her well, and blessed her to go in peace. 

 

 

Jairus

Now, don’t forget about Jairus.  As far as we know from the pages of Scripture and maybe even differently than I speculated last week, he was composed.  As far as we know, he was waiting patiently on Jesus while all of this was happening.  He didn’t interrupt.  He didn’t pull Jesus through the crowd. Yet, his daughter is dying.  He was composed.

 

Jairus was also committed.  Even after he got word that his daughter had died, Jesus spoke to him and reassured him that everything would be fine.  Therefore, he remained committed to his belief that Jesus could help.

 

Jairus was cared for.  I believe that as a result of his composure and his commitment, Jesus cared for Jairus and his family by bringing his daughter back to life.  When you’re faced with an interruption, remember that all interruptions aren’t bad. Stay composed. Stay committed.  Trust that you will be cared for.

 

 

Application/Conclusion

We can all find application in this story today and allow me to close with several.

 

First, Jairus teaches us how to handle interruptions.  Stay composed.  Stay committed. Trust that you will be cared for.

 

Second, from the woman, she acted on what she heard and believed that Jesus was more powerful than disease.  See James 5:13-18.

 

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

 

Finally, in the last verse of today’s text, we find something very interesting.  In the entire Bible, Jesus used the title of “Daughter” one time. It is here.  He called her daughter because she now had a heavenly Father.  If you will let Him save you this morning, you too can have a heavenly Father who will call you by name.

 

You can be at peace with God, see Romans 5:1, and Jesus will also demonstrate His power of your disease of sin like Paul wrote about in Romans 6:1-14.

 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

At Death's Doorstep...

In January 1989, Don Piper was on his way back to Alvin, Texas from a church planting conference at Trinity Pines Conference Center around Lake Livingston.  Don was an associate pastor at South Park Baptist Church in Alvin and was considering starting his own church.  Instead of the normal way home from Trinity to Alvin, he decided to take Hwy. 19 out of Trinity through Huntsville, and on the old Trinity Bridge, his 1986 red Ford Escort was hit head on by an eighteen-wheeler operated by the Texas Department of Corrections.  This bridge was well known for being long and having no shoulders.  The truck sandwiched his small car between the bridge railing and the driver’s side of the truck.  All those wheels went right on top of his car and smashed it.

 

The accident report stated that the impact of collision was about 110 miles an hour.  The semi was traveling 60 miles an hour, and Don was traveling 50 miles an hour.  The truck driver didn’t have a scratch on him.  However, Don was killed instantly.  In one powerful, overwhelming second, he died.

 

Those were his words that he wrote on page 20 of his book “90 Minutes in Heaven.”  That’s right.  For 90 minutes, Don Piper was dead, but today, he is alive after two resuscitations, 34 surgical procedures, and $6 million dollars in medical bills.  He is living proof that Jesus is the master over death.

 

On the pages of the NT, we find another story reminding us that Jesus is master over death as well.  We have seen in recent weeks that Jesus is master over disasters like the storms of life.  He is master over the demonic like Bro. Ronnie preached last week.  Next Sunday, we will see that Jesus is master over disease, and today, we are reminded that Jesus is master over death.

 

Remember that in May, we saw what Jesus said.  In June, we are seeing what Jesus did.  In May, we saw His words.  In June, we are seeing His works, and He is master over all.

 

This morning, let’s make five observations in this story about Jairus’ daughter. 

 

 

1. A Petition that was Urgent, 5:21-24

21 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him

 

Jesus and His disciples had now crossed back over the Sea of Galilee after calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  Like before, the crowds found Him and wanted to be around Him. 

 

In verse 22, we are introduced to Jairus.  He was a ruler of the local Jewish synagogue, probably in Capernaum. 

 

This meant that he took physical care of the synagogue and planned the worship services.  This was more of an administrative role rather than a priestly role. 

 

He probably was present for Jesus did back in 3:1 and came to Jesus with an urgent petition or request.

 

Mark 3:1, 1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.

 

Verse 23 tells us that Jairus begged Jesus earnestly to save his little daughter.  He didn’t just ask once.  He asked again and again and again.  I can’t even imagine being in Jairus’ shoes in this situation. 

 

Luke 8:42 tells us that this was Jairus’ only daughter, and she was about 12 years old.  Mark also tells us that she was at the point of death, close to death, knocking on death’s door.

 

In verse 24, Jesus appears to oblige Jairus’ request.  Jesus headed with Jairus back to his house to physically heal his daughter.  As He went, Jesus was surrounded or thronged by the massive amounts of people.

 

Then, the unthinkable happened.  When time was of the essence, Jesus got delayed in the crowd.  People wouldn’t let Him through.  Can you imagine what Jairus was thinking? 

 

Come back next Sunday as we look at this divine interruption sandwiched between two scenes with Jairus and his daughter.  Not only is Jesus master of disasters and demons and death.  He is also master over disease.

 

 

2. A Perception that was Usual, 5:35-38

35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”  36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.

 

 

According the story, it seemed that the unthinkable had happened.  Jesus didn’t get to the girl in time.  She had died or at least that was the report that Jairus received in verse 35.  I can’t even imagine. 

 

Once Jairus’ daughter died, the rest of the family gave up, and you and I would have also.  That was usual or normal.  There was no reason to bother Jesus any longer.

 

In 5:38, the professional mourners had already arrived, and they were making plans for burial.  Verse 38 would be the equivalent of our visitation at the funeral home.  The girl had died and now the people and family were coming to pay their last respects.

 

When Jesus suggested that the girl was not really dead, those gathered at the house laughed at Him.  Verse 40 literally says they laughed in His face because of His stupidity.  Of course, the girl was dead and there was nothing that could be done now.

 

Everyone in attendance knew that this girl had died.  There was no breathing.  There was no pulse.  She was dead.

 

Those trying to discount the miraculous and the supernatural have said that she just slipped into a coma.  Notice 5:23 when Jairus said she was at the point of death or literally at death’s door.  Matthew 9:18 records Jairus as saying she has died.

 

Matthew 9:18, 18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”

 

In 5:35, the report from Jairus’ home was that she had died.   In 5:38, it is obvious that her family thought she had died. 

 

In Luke 8:55, when Jesus healed her, it says that her spirit returned.  Undoubtedly, she was dead.

 

Luke 8:55, 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

 

 

3. A Prescription that was Unheard Of, 5:36

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”

 

5:36 carries the idea that Jesus heard the report from Jairus’ house, and He ignored it.

 

He then did the unthinkable.  He said to Jairus something we heard Him say previously after calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee.  He said to Jairus, “Don’t be full of fear.  Be full of faith!”

 

Jairus had believed enough to come and find Jesus and beg him to come to his house in 5:23. Jesus encouraged Jairus to keeping believing, keep having that faith.  This story wasn’t over yet.

 

 

4. A Proclamation that was Unorthodox, 5:37, 39-42

37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”  40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

 

Jesus was about to do the supernatural.  He was about to perform a miracle.  He was about to show that He was the master over death.

 

In 5:37, for the first time, we see the inner circle of Peter, James, and John, and Jesus wanted them to be on hand for what was about to take place.  Maybe the others had to stay back for crowd control.

 

These three would have also satisfied Deuteronomy 19:15.

 

Deuteronomy 19:15, …by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.

In 5:39, Jesus entered the house and asked about all the commotion and the weeping and the wailing.  He then made the unorthodox proclamation that the girl was not dead but sleeping.

 

Remember we looked a moment ago at the reality of her death.  More than likely, Jesus was not speaking absolutely but from His own perspective.  To everyone else, she was dead.  To Him, who was able to make her alive again, she was not dead but only sleeping.

 

5:40 says they began laughing at Him.  They began laughing in His face.

 

But He made them leave the room and brought in the three disciples and her parents.  They were about to witness a life restored.

 

5:41 says Jesus took her by the hand said to her, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”  Immediately she did.  Luke tells us that they gave her something to eat.

 

Luke 8:55, 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

 

 

5. A Prohibition that was Understandable, 5:43

43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

 

In verse 43, we may not initially understand what Jesus did, but think about it.  Jesus wanted protection from His enemies.  Jesus wanted protection from the crazies.

 

Therefore, He tried to slow the hysteria. 

 

 

Conclusion

First, Jesus is the master over physical death.  It happened here in Mark 5.  It happened with Lazarus in John 11.  It happens in hospitals all over.  It happened with Don Piper.

 

Second, Jesus’ timing is perfect, and ours is not.  We may be frustrated with what we think is God’s inactivity or failure.  However, it may simply be that His time hasn’t come yet, and His is always better than ours.

 

Third, Jesus is the master over spiritual death.  Because He is the master over physical death and was resurrected, He provides mastery or victory over spiritual death.

 

You must realize that if you have never received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior that you are spiritually dead.

 

Ephesians 2:1-4, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

 

If you are spiritually dead, the only way to eternal life is through personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57, 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  55 “O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?”  56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

 

Fear or Faith?

In the recent weeks of our study in Mark’s gospel, we have seen much of Jesus’ words or what Jesus said.  Beginning today and for the month of June, we are going to see Jesus’ works or what Jesus did.

 

Today, we are going to see that Jesus is Lord over disasters, natural disasters.  When I say that He is Lord over, I mean that is stronger than or more powerful than.  In the coming weeks, we will also see that Jesus is Lord over demons and death and disease. 

 

As it relates to today’s text, Mark 4:335-41, the Bible uses stories of storms to encourage the body of Christ about difficulties of life.  Storms of life may include marital problems, problems at work, with your employer, with your employees, with coworkers; problems with family, children at home, children who are grown; loss of a loved one; loss of a spouse; physical ailment; major decisions to be made or financial struggles.

 

A fact of life is that every person in the room is currently in one of three situations.  You are in a storm.  You just came out of a storm or you’re about to go into a storm. 

 

I believe today’s text is from an eyewitness to the situation.  More than likely we are hearing from Peter as he saw all of today’s events unfold.  Only Mark, with Peter’s testimony, tells us about these other little boats in verse 36 and this pillow in verse 38 and includes this verbal rebuke of Jesus at the end of verse 38.

 

 

Exposition

We see from this text that Jesus is 100% human.  4:35 tells us that when evening came, He wanted to take a little trip.  He wanted to go to the other side of the lake.  This is the Lake of Galilee or the Sea of Galilee.

 

4:36 tells us that He and His disciples left the crowd behind.  Why did He want to leave the crowd?  I would say that He was just worn out!  His day had consisted of the following:  3:20-30 says that He was accused of being demon possessed; 3:31-35 was the attempted kidnapping by his mother and brothers; 4:1-34 was His all-day teaching and explanation of five parables: the parable of the soils, the lamp, the measure, the mysteriously growing seed, and the mustard seed.

 

4:36 also tells us that after He was finished with the parables, they didn’t go back to shore.  They went as He was to the other side. 

 

Once they got the boat to the other side, Jesus immediately went to sleep.  Jesus slept.  Jesus got tired, and He slept.  How tired and exhausted was He?  He was so tired and so exhausted that the storm that erupted in 4:37 didn’t even wake Him.

 

 

We see also from this text that Jesus is 100% God.  Let’s look again at this great windstorm in 4:37. The Lake of Galilee or Sea of Galilee is almost 700 ft. below sea level and surrounded on all sides by mountains and cliffs.  Therefore, large and violent storms were common.

 

The NASB says fierce gale of wind.  The KJV says great storm of wind.  The NIV says a furious squall.  Literally, this was a storm of hurricane or earthquake proportions.  The waves were breaking over the bow of the boat to such a degree that the boat was filling up with water.

 

All this time, Jesus was asleep because He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted, but He wasn’t asleep for long.

 

4:38 says that the disciples woke Him and rebuked Him.  Did He not care that their lives were in danger?  Did He not care that they were afraid of dying?  Why had He deserted them?

 

4:39 says Jesus got up and demonstrated that He was 100% God by rebuking the wind and saying to the sea, “Peace, be still.”  He literally said, “Be muzzled.”  This is actually the same word He used in Mark 1:25 when He spoke to a demon.  Therefore, this storm may have been a demonic attack.

 

Notice what happened.  Instantly, the wind stopped and the waters became perfectly calm.  Jesus performed two miracles not just one.

 

Then Jesus had some words for His disciples in 4:40. He asked them two questions.  Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you no faith? 

 

After all what had they already seen?  A demon was cast out in 1:25-26. Peter’s mother-in-law was healed in 1:31. There were other numerous healings in 1:34.  A leper was healed in 1:41.  A paralytic was healed in 2:11. A man with a withered hand was healed 3:5. 

 

They had seen no less than six miracles in two days, and yet these fishermen were scared for their lives out on the Sea of Galilee when this vicious storm came up.  By the way, when Jesus asked about their faith, His implication was not that more faith would have removed them from the storm.  His implication was that more faith would have reminded them who was in the boat with them.

 

 

Application & Conclusion

All across the room this morning, there are countless individuals and families experiencing their own storms of life. 

 

Let me share with you two invitations.  First, make sure that Jesus is in your boat.  If Jesus is in your boat, I can promise you that your boat won’t sink.

 

Second, stop being afraid and remember what Jesus promised.  That command not to fear or don’t fear is the most prolific command in the Bible with some 63 occurrences. 

 

Replace your fear with faith in Jesus’ promise not take you out of the storm but never to leave you or forsake you while you’re in the storm.