John Chapter 6:14-21

Sometimes in life we encounter storms and and sometimes will be on sometimes her storms third of our own doing. We do things that places send storms we make bad decisions.

We make decisions without asking the Lord what to do and we find ourselves in the storm not always. Sometimes were in the midst of the store, not from a disability from our obedience. Sometimes were in the storm because of our obedience, God's goodness stop in the midst of a storm and say you know why my here.

What happened that I'm in the middle that storm is something that I did something I didn't do runoff without asking the Lord. That's a good question asked but don't always assume because you're in a storm is because of your disobedience could be. So the Lord can come to you and reveal himself to you on a deeper level welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina David McGee's associate pastors DA Brown is with this program today brother Bob. No matter where we find ourselves in the midst of trials we can know that God comes to us in those stories past lives and tells about that today as he continues in John chapter 6 and now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching in the storms were in John chapter 6 verse 14. Those men when they had seen the sign that Jesus did said this is truly the prophet who is to come into the world also noticed there's 12 baskets or 12 disciples, so they each had a basket left over I will go get confused about that later that they forgot the bread but that's another story. Truly the prophet when it speaks of the prophet.

This is referring back to Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 15 really a portion of the chapter, but will sure to versus the Lord your God will raise up for you prophet like me from your meds from your brother and him you shall hear and skip down to verse 18 it says I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command them so this is what this verse is referring to. It's not saying a prophet, saying, the prophet, and when the prophet is mentioned. It's talking about the Messiah becoming one of the coming Prince and that prophet was in this God verse 15. Therefore, when Jesus perceived they were about to come and take him by force to making King, he departed again to the mountain by himself alone. Jesus didn't want to be making it's not what he was here for he was here to give his life away and we see several instances in the Gospels were people wanted to making King, and he walked away from. There's only one instance in the Gospels were Jesus allowed himself to be referred to as King as the coming Prince and it's interesting the timing that was his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The reason he received that on that one day is it had been prophesied.

Hundreds of years before. In the book of Daniel, Jesus was not allowing himself to be made King how unhuman and how very godlike if he didn't go well, you know that I was skiing.

I could probably do a lot of good in the world and that God definitely be that you know heavy hitter. Tithing got and I think I'll do this King doing, but he realized that wasn't what he was supposed to be doing. There's no reason he departed. Perhaps a stronger reason there is a danger to the disciples and if he had have lingered. Perhaps the disciples would've really been into this King thing on Jesus, you know… This sounds like an awesome idea. We we think you really be a great political activists, and you'd be a great King and you could really change things unless we took a boat and and all 12 of us are for praise God could do. There is a danger that happening and I think that's part of the reason why Jesus removed himself from the situation because he probably would've had the problems with the disciples and Jesus again this is not what I'm here for you guys, this is not what I'm here for.

See there is a joy in doing what you're supposed to do doing what you've been called to do doing what you were sent here to do is a joy. That's in a piece is just amazing that comes with that.

That is something to that's kind interesting Jesus, I want to making King and walks off by himself know we seen this enough in the Gospels, to realize what he was doing whenever he walked off by himself. He went by himself, his walk announcement, the Lord, all guys were there something there.

Jesus, instead of wanting to hang out with the crown want to go spend time with his father. I love Sunday mornings it's it's I mean I really enjoy Sunday mornings if there's just excitement inherent as people are serving and you show up early. People are doing stuff to get ready and people are coming in and they're excited and they're expected and you know you can just tell they're there, desiring to meet with God, they're expecting to meet with God and the people come forward at the CERT at the end of the service and and is just awesome time.

But you know it's more awesome for me as you sit alone with the Lord. Just sit with my daddy and talked and I hope that you really enjoy Sunday morning. I hope that your really blessed that you and look forward to it. And you know and in and you really enjoy it. But make sure you spend time with the Lord just you and him make sure that your worshiping him just you and him because that's an awesome time when you just sent you go one night or one day or whatever. Toss in a worship CD and just worship God at your house just worship got it up turn it up, pull down the bonds.

Do whatever you need to do and just worship the Lord is are some of the most awesome times of worship you will ever experience.

You've never done that, you really ought to do.

Jesus again sets a model and if you don't take time to get along with God you can suffer for you not walk in the power and the blessing that you could and if you neglect that Tom long enough, there could be real danger, but get along with God and it will just I guarantee you will change your life be sent with the Bible open and say Lord you speak to me. Is there something you want to say to me that doesn't freak you out when I start about God talking. I hope you understand what I'm saying when I'm talking about Wheatley in Outlook guys this this Bible is filled with people who not only got speak, but they expect God to speak to so when I talk about the voice of the Lord here in the voice work.

I'm not necessarily talking about an audible voice of never heard an audible voice, but it's that still small voice that the Lord speaks to me through my heart my soul and I should be the rule not the exception. So as you know, say these things understand what I'm saying don't sit there and go. Oh my gosh he hears voices in his head. That's not good now as Christians we should be here in the voice of the Lord. We should be responded to the voice of the Lord. Verse 16. Now when evening was cut when evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat and went over the sea towards Capernaum was already dark and Jesus had not come to them. Capernaum, by the way is still there.

The city right on the Sea of Galilee. It's not the bustling metropolis that it once was. Verse 18 then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing, the storms were very common there because the Golan Heights are off to the east sea of Galilee is roughly sea level and so the Golan Heights rise of about 3000 feet and these wins come down and they blow across the ceiling storms, broke the question did Jesus know there was going to be a storm. It but that he sent the disciples out on the lake. It so I knew there was a storm and he didn't keep him from going out on the light. Yet, for some of you that may rock your boat theologically.

If so praise God because we have this mentality. Sometimes it Jesus came to keep us from any and all the storms is not true life lesson here is Jesus did not come to keep us from the storms but to go with us through the storms so that we could go through the storms. Sometimes in life we encounter storms and and sometimes will be on sometimes her storms there of our own doing.

We do things that places in storms we make bad decisions we make decisions without asking the Lord what to do and we find ourselves in the storm not always. Sometimes were in the midst of the storm not from our disobedience from our obedience. Sometimes were in the storm because of our obedience, God's good to stop in the midst of a storm and say you know why my here. What happened that I'm in the middle that storm is something that I did something I didn't do runoff without asking the Lord. That's a good question asked but don't always assume because you're in a storm is because of your disobedience could be.

So the Lord can come to you and reveal himself to you on a deeper level don't always assume that because you're in the middle of a storm. It's from your disobedience. It may be, it might not be the Gaza Christian walk is it's not always easy. There storms that happen, and it disturbs me when Christians go in.

It's really difficult having storms as a Christian, try having storms when you're not a Christian and tell me which is easier to go through.

It's much easier to go through a trial with Jesus than without Jesus and the people that don't have Jesus they have to go through the storms by themselves they don't have the comfort they don't have the leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ and sometimes serving God's justice easy as it can be. And sometimes it's not.

I think people to paint the gospel and say we come to Jesus and all your dreams will come true or doing a real disservice to the gospel because sometimes that's when the battle really begins. So we don't serve God because it's the easiest thing to do now understand in a lot of ways it's by far the easier thing to do, I'd rather follow God and try to get one that gets difficult. If you've ever tried that but the thing is you got serving God are not serving God. For me personally, not serving God that alternative is unacceptable. I don't ever again want to walk in that not serving God.

So don't serve God because it's easier because he'll bless me serve God because the other alternative simply is unacceptable. It's in a way to live but certainly no way to die were called to be disciples is a quote got a poster in my office describes what a disciple is it's his disciple. The choices been made. I have stepped over the line let out backup give up or shut up. My focus is clear bypass straight, my God, reliable. I am a disciple of Christ. That's a good one.

It my God is reliable. Sometimes we go students of sometimes we go through storms and guys. Keep in mind to have seen something I've observed something is pastor.

Sometimes people kind of wander in and wander out occasionally there here, but then they're not there gone for a month in her back for two weeks and notices that when those people go through things. There's there's not a deep well of fellowship to minister to the sometimes are going through these places in these trials in these tests than the storms without the support that God intended for them to have for them to have a deep well of encouragement and support, and that's really important. I have seen other people that are here in are plugged in and the servant and they know people and and you know the Bible says if you want to be a friend.

You gotta be friendly and and and these folks are plugged in and they get a trial and people gather around them because the know they love and serving with them and sparkle children's ministries rushers or media, and there's a death there's a well of encouragement to be drawn from the and understand that if you stand on the outskirts of the fellowship with her just one another and when the storms of life come you won't have that deep well drawn from and it's a comfort in the will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob were excited about God's word, going forth with Pastor David and want to pray for some people in the cities were rebroadcasting today in California. We have Yucca Valley in Colorado. We have Burlington Fort Morgan Grand Junction Lamar Lyman Montrose God, we thank you for the people listening today in these areas.

We pray that they will be encouraged in your word, they would realize that you want to bless them.

Lord, you have a good plan for them God. We pray for those who are sick in the area that you would please heal them and low. We pray for the pastors and churches that they would be ignited and all the good plans you have for them and sharing your word throughout their city. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, verse 19.

So when they wrote about three or 4 miles, I saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat. They were afraid notice of when did Jesus come to. He came to in the middle of the store. He didn't wait till Ed settled down.

He didn't wait till the sea was caller already cleared up came to them in the middle of the storm and you know what, that's the way Jesus comes to us often comes to us in the Miller store.

You know why because some for some reason we hear better in the middle of storms are hearing is a lot sharper in the middle of the storm. For some reason at sea that union you thought it was just you. It's not just you. It's all that's when things are going well.

It's hard for us to hear the voice of Lord go to church down here you got me turn the volume up on the television, but in the middle of a trial mill. The test, oh Lord what he will say to me listen you got my attention and praise. Got any response in during those times of pain during those times of the storms were also more willing to make lasting changes in our lives because we can't get to the end of our rope and we think you know I got I thought I had this thing figured out, but I had it all scoped out ahead.

You know that the 20 year plan of my life laid out and is not working. My plans are good ones, Lord. What's your plan for my life and I guarantee you his plan for you is better than your plan for you and during the storms. We can hear we can listen then we can ask God for direction and that's a life lesson God comes to us in the store if you're in the middle of a storm this morning here in the middle of a test. If you're in the middle of a trial.

It's also time to cry out to God is a God, what would you want me to do, what would you have me to do about that work situation or that family situation.

How do you want to lead me and what to do next and noticed something the Lord didn't wait for them to come to him. He went to them.

You understand this morning that Jesus is coming to you, extending his hand to you this morning asking if you'll take his hand, asking if you will trust them in the middle of the store the middle of a test in the middle of a trial the middle of your trials go to the Lord and ask him to give you the strength to go to the store. I think sometimes the Lord waits till the middle of the storms to speak to us so that will we will listen so that we will listen to verse 20 but he said to them, it is I do not be afraid is a little bizarre to me. I mean, the disciples, like and learn about and somebody comes out walking on the water. And Jesus needs to tell him that it's him I'm wondering who else would be out and start walking on the water but evidently they needed insurance and needed to be told that it was in fact Jesus so they didn't start rowing away or something on what awesome work that's really speaking, each and every one of us is born. It's me. Don't be afraid. Perhaps the Lord is leading you in the servant perhaps the Lord is leading you to get a fresh start. Within this morning to ask for the forgiveness of your sins, maybe for the first time maybe for the first time in a while is a great words of encouragement. Why, because being in a radical Christian can be a little scary sometimes I want to be a radical Christian all people around me debate be radical Christians and not not just people who are just good people are doing the right thing by going to church people are radically saved and they're not afraid to live out the radical Christianity in their life.

And sometimes that can get a little scary so it's good that we have these words of Jesus to encourage us so that you can live out that radical Christianity in your workplace or in your school be radical coming in. Don't be conformed to this world don't do it. If you think by acting a certain way or acting like the world are dressing like Britney or anything. If you think that's unique.

That's not unique. Everybody's doing that well mostly girls project but sorry, just my mind works in weird ways, but the school and step out for the Lord be bold, be different, be a radical Christian in your school and occasionally you may get freaked out. You may freak other people up that's okay. Jesus saves me.

Don't be afraid he's calling you to be some different he's calling me to be some different he's calling me beyond what I am able to do out of my comfort zone so that then I'm depended on him.

I'm relying on him because I can't do it I can't live that radical Christianity out in my own strength.

Verse 21 then they willingly received him into the boat and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. Interesting passage. Do you think the disciples were afraid obviously Jesus said don't be afraid to obviously they were afraid, but I wonder I wonder were they more afraid in the store or were they more afraid after when Jesus walked out on the water got about as they realize who it was a been following. I mean really realized who it was they were following about later when they crucified Jesus really afraid then yeah they were scattered, but they got back together.

They scattered in different directions and maybe some I went home. Some of them hung out Jerusalem. I don't know we don't know Scripture that tells but we know that at some point they were gathered again in that upper room that even though they had messed up even though they ran off, even though they were defeated and even Peter had denied the Lord they gather together and that upper room and God came to him in the midst of the greatest storm of their life.

I think it's safe to say they were fairly afraid before the they realize that the fear in that moment couldn't be there excuse could be the comfort couldn't be there God they needed something more. They needed Jesus and you know what you need. Jesus this morning.

Everyone of us. Please don't look at me go in our got Jesus I'm safe. Praise God, if you been born again sauce to good start but are you following Jesus. Are you radically following Jesus. Are you coming to Jesus every day the Lord desires to play that partner heart in our lives since hey this is me don't don't be afraid to step out. Don't be afraid to try things you you'll sometimes fail. Yes, sometimes things won't go like you expected him that's okay. So Lord saying to us this morning. Come to me, it is me.

Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid of a fresh start. Don't be afraid that you might mess up again but come to me and asked for forgiveness and get a new start. Come to me for forgiveness for meaning in life or peace for joy for all these things, but he saying come to me and you've got nothing to be afraid of friend. If you don't come to you got a lot that you should be afraid of God comes to us in the storms but the real question here this morning is when do we come to God may be you're not in the storm this morning. Come to the Lord this morning before the storm starts and when the storm hits you be like the man who built his house on the rock and not on the shifting sands and if you're not willing to do that. Don't be surprised when the storm hits and you see the sands of road.

Scripture tells us great was the fall that house we should come to them this morning. We should come to them every day and no doubt that some of you this morning are in the midst of storms. It maybe I don't understand. Maybe I wouldn't understand even if he explained it to me because I've never been in a storm like that, but you know what the Lord understands the Lord knows the storm in Turin this morning and he wants to come to you.

He's got his hand extended to you in the middle of the storm nearly question is, will you come to some of you may have never asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins. And this is an awesome opportunity to do that and it's not about being good enough for long enough guys about coming to the Lord and say Lord I can't do this.

I'm done wrong. Would you please forgive me of the wrong done and help me to live for you. It's that simple. That's where it starts. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life now done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible.

You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of David McGee. That sounds good Pastor day and again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our life. 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on a lot extremely there you will experience a live service from David's home church.

The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John