R365 Facing Tomorrow with Confidence

Dad has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible based Dr. Don Wilton on this edition of the March arrowhead today for this topping meeting tomorrow with confidence as we do so, really connecting with you on our website right now online.org. Now today's message ride with what you doing tonight. Probably some of the most unsatisfied and dissatisfied people, people who are always living for tomorrow. They never enjoy the moment.

Other others of said just stop and smell the roses for little while. I have many wise people to come to me and say to me, and do you pasta while you're still young and you got your children at home. Enjoy the because before you know it by going to be grown by going to be gone and you got a look back with regret, and you not going to have spent enough time now. This is the time to take care of these things. You see, the future is unknown is I I I began to ask myself the question, what would we knew if Jesus Christ in person could present himself in this congregation. If Jesus in the flesh could stand here right now.

What would he say to us what you suppose the Lord Jesus would say to you as a husband and as a father, grandparent, I do think maybe Jesus knows that you going to die in my going to go home to be with them if you knew you were going to die in March or Monday. What would you do that would be different between now and then facing the unknown with certainty. There is a remarkable encounter in box gospel chapter full.

I want to read it to you because Jesus presents himself in the flesh with his disciples. He was with them and something extraordinary happened and what I want us to do this morning as we consider the subject how to face the unknown with confidence as we also the question what what would the Lord Jesus Christ say to us. Let's talk about some real things to the what would what would Jesus have to say to us. I want us to look at five principles this morning that Jesus would've said to us.

I believe from this encounter and then we going to consider six lessons of application. One of these five biblical principles tell us. So let's read this encounter together and I'm going to be reading Mark's gospel chapter 4 verse 35 that day. When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, let us go over to the other side. If I could just pause there for a moment. Remember, now they were standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Galilee is surrounded by magnificent mountain.

It's a very beautiful spot. That's a garden spot if if you could just watch my hand for a moment it. It's almost as though someone came with a big all shovel Laura a backhoe or something and just dug a ditch and just scraped it out of the middle of the mountains leading down to the Dead Sea just took a big chunk of earth out in the middle of these beautiful mountains and then you will find the Sea of Galilee. The place that Jesus spent so much of his ministry. The lake is a beautiful light when I was privileged to be there 10 years ago exactly. We went on a boat as many of you have run into the middle of the Sea of Galilee and they turned the engines off. In fact, that day I did a devotion for the group that was there and we read some of the encounters that Jesus had on the Sea of Galilee. We are told that if the Sea of Galilee because of the structure of the mountains that that wings can get up off me suddenly, and the winds can be very ferocious. They just look through these gorgeous and when they do so.

The waves become to motorists that can be turned into a raging sea it can go from a beautiful, tranquil, beautiful picture postcard type of scene to an awesome disturbance just in a moment like that.

It can be turned upside down. So here it is. Verse 35 that day. Jesus said, let us go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee leaving the crowd behind they they took him along, just as he was in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

These were fishermen.

A furious goal came up and the waves broke over the boat. Just picture the scene so that it was nearly swamped. In other words, they were about to sink the mulch around them was was very serious and very great. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

Can you imagine that. Can you imagine that in the middle of the storm that the Lord Jesus Christ was was sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him up and they said to him, teacher, don't you care if we drown. So Jesus brought up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves quiet. Be still, and the wind died down and it was completely call. He said to his disciples, gentlemen. Why are you so afraid. What is happening to your faith. Do you still have faith and look at verse 41, they were terrified and lost each other who is this that even the wind and the waves obey him. How can we possibly face an unknown future with confidence. There's a lot that is unknown about the future. We don't like to talk about it too much because we already present. People we like to deal with what we can see we like to handle what is available to us right now. We rewrite now generation, but our future is unknown. Marley in America, folks. Let's not pull the wool over our eyes. Marley America does not have a bright future. More and more, the Supreme Court is agreeing with immoral stances that define the word of God. Everywhere we turn the name of the game is tolerance.

That's the new gospel in America.

It's the gospel of tolerance people have taken the gospel and they've taken it out of its context. I said we must just be kind. Everybody you must tolerate everybody, whether they have an alternative lifestyle whether they do this while they do it that way it doesn't matter what God has to say about Marley.

We facing an unknown future. We facing an unknown future. Physically, all of us. You know that we discovers postures that more and more people are being diagnosed with cancer almost every week we find someone who is being hurt physically more and more people are dying tragically, you know that they might be someone here that I'm looking at right now that within the next couple weeks or months, you could be diagnosed with the dreaded disease I could beat all of us. We don't know what goes on in here you could go for a checkup and the next minute you're on death's doorstep bombing just like that it can happen so quick. You never expected you might've just spent the lost Christmas that you will ever have with your family on this that we don't like. It's unknown we don't we don't like to talk about. We facing an unknown future. Ethically, the ethics of America. Ron no longer what they all people's words no longer count gaze on Mark J you Maison Mark nine ethically, the system is breaking down family values no longer have the same words to them. We living in a generation today where preachers are becoming increasingly afraid to preach about the horrors of abortion where the French people are trying to force upon America proves that are going to become such comfort and convenience zones that people no longer even have to worry about contraceptives. They just pop pills that takes care of the unborn marriage is no longer what it supposed to be people just shack up with each other. The voices no longer even an issue if you want to get divorced is going get divorced.

Doesn't matter about children anymore, morally and ethically, spiritually, we living on the cutting head. The Bible says they will come a time when people will no longer endure sound doctrine. Churches today are revolting more and more against the preaching and the teaching of the word of God. People don't want they going to run to the churches where they can sit in conflict zones. The Bible says they will keep to themselves men who have itching ears. The word of God says in second Timothy there will come a time when people will deny the power of God.

They will have a full of godliness, but they will deny the power thereof they'll come to church on Sunday mornings and then get upset if anything begins to strengthen their comfort zone. We living in an unknown day and night. The Bible says increasingly, there is going to be a separation between the sheep and the goats people are no longer going to tolerate the principles of righteousness, the standards of justice and justice and reasonableness and decency in order. Anarchy is going to be coming across the world where people believe that the American Constitution can be summarized in one phrase my right to do anything I want to do. It's even coming to the church.

Young people are being told to disregard authority. Our school system educationally is breaking down. I'm so grateful for Spartanburg County. I'm so grateful for the superintendents that we had for the principles of the teachers who inculcate standards upon our people.

I'm grateful for the politicians that we have in South Carolina who had been bold enough to take a stand on principle irregardless of the ballot box in the popularity contest.

I'm grateful folks our education system is breaking down our grandchildren are looking at a future where increasingly we going to be running to the privacy of our homes and private schools which operating sanctuaries from the lunacy which is surrounding us that the morals the denigration of education standard we facing an unknown future. So we come down to the Lord Jesus Christ. When I began to think of facing an unknown future. In my own life as I'm sure you have gone is impressed upon me that the future of this church in this country is not going to be found in the ballot box or in the budget box.

It's going to be solved in the prayer closet God to send me pasta you need to get on your knees, you need to spend hours on your knees, you need to seek my face, you need to study the word of God. That's why we have a stock that's why we have a team in this church and we have people doing such a tremendous job doing what they been quoted. I love going to the north… My favorite place here in Spartanburg. I've made a resolution to go there, three, four times a week and do the things that I need to do because I'm getting older and I'm slowing down and I don't want to be an old crop. I don't want to be. So I'm going to do something about folks we can talk about a lot of things but what did Jesus say to his disciples. Principle number one storms are inevitable. Storms are inevitable. Isn't it amazing they got into this boat on a beautiful day.

They didn't get in that boat when it was all messed up. They got in going to the other side and a storm came up. My guarantee all of us something here today.

Storms are inevitable.

Folks, it's going to happen financially, economic, and physical and spiritual without families and our loved ones in our education and we could storms are inevitable that going to happen you going to have problems in your marriage. You gonna have death and sickness in your homes you gonna struggle it is inevitable. Storms are inevitable. Nowhere in the Bible does it say because you love the Lord your not going to have to face the storms of life principle number two Satan uses devices Bible tells us that Satan uses divide devices. Peter said to be sober and be vigilant because the devil is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. That's what he did to Joe to Joe. He took everything away from him.

Satan uses devices. Jesus said to his disciples disciples you won't understand it while it's happening, but they will come a time that you will. Satan is out to get us. He's out to get the church he's out to get America.

He wants this country on her knees. He wants Spartanburg on her knees. He wants First Baptist Church on her knees. He wants your family to be torn apart. He wants to destroy you. He doesn't like all the stuff he doesn't want to see people being so in the church he's going to raffle the bones. He's gonna make people uncomfortable.

He's going to get out and destroy every can Satan uses devices.

Principle number three God gives permission we don't often understand that God allows some things to happen. God allows it to happen.

Listen folks do you think that Jesus could have stopped the storm before it started. Of course he could.

So who do you think allowed it to happen.

God did.

He controls all of that healing Jesus could have said no way winds and waves you know going to do this to my disciples. He could to stop it right then but even he allowed it to happen.

Why God allows things to happen for the purpose Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. We know that all things work together for the good of those that love God and to those who are the called according to his purpose. God gives permission number four principle number four Jesus understands. I love this. Did you notice something here in Mark chapter 4 principle number four Jesus understand Jesus.

The Bible says was in the Stern sleeping on a cushion. There are many passages in Scripture that point to the humanity of the Lord Jesus. This is one of the why was Jesus asleep.

Well, it can be argued, and I would agree with this because Jesus wanted to teach his disciples a list. Absolute God allows these things to happen but Jesus was also asleep because he was tired. He was suffering from fatigue.

If you go back and read his teachings about the parable of the mustard seed and about the lamp on a stand in the parable of the growing seed and all the ministry he was suffering from fatigue and friendly just come to Christmas and if there's anything we blurt this Christmas is that as much as Jesus Christ is and was God.

Jesus became fully man.

He understands us. So when you face an unknown future. Do you think Jesus understands that he does knows all about those physical and moral, and ethical and political and all ups and downs that we go through. He knows about that he understands he understands us perfectly.

He was tempted in all points. Just as we are yet without sin. There is a first principle faith is central faith is central. Did you notice that AltaVista taken place. Jesus turned his disciples and he said gentlemen, what is wrong with your faith you found yourself in the midst of a crisis and something happened to you will fight he said I don't want you to let go of your faith. It doesn't matter what happens, stand by your faith. Faith is the essence of everything that we all, Jesus was saying to these disciples listen. Faith means that you cannot explain all the calamities of life. You cannot understand why God allows these things to happen but you're willing to accept that God is still God.

He's only strode that's right. To give you corruption. Indeed, that is faith you will be back with the rest of today's message in just a moment. But as we look ahead to the future and look back to know that every single day. Last year somebody give their life to Jesus Christ, to the ministry of Encouraging Word. How does that happen. It happened because we partner with friends like you that are prayerful and financial supporters of The Encouraging Word as a matter fact we call you encourage others God has great love for our folly as Christians are directed to pour out God's love to those without Christ can be found. Join us in pouring out the message of Christ's love becoming encourager today, 86689986689967 to request information on how you can help support the work of The Encouraging Word The Encouraging Word is a viewer and listener supported ministry for listening today and we love to tell you more about who we are our number 866-899-WORD 9673 is first and foremost, to encourage you to pray with you anytime day or night.

That's 866-899-WORD 9673 now back today's great teaching with Dr. Don Wilton that means is we going to the future. My friends, we can know that without God is going to in able us to face the future with. It means everything can collapse around us, but because of our faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ. We stand upon the solid rock in a great you want to see people's faith. Go talk to a born-again believer who is dying of cancer over suffering physically and watch the exercise in the expression of faith in the most beautiful way possible. Why because people who are in a boat and the waves are crashing around them.

Let me tell you something folks they know something that many of us in our comfort zones have yet to experience Bible tells us that the purest gold comes out of the hottest fire when you go through file. It's awfully hard burns. It's difficult it's depressing.

It hurts our morale. It causes us to be depressed. It makes us all ask a lot of questions, but just hang on a moment because the purest gold is going to come out the other side five Prince storms are inevitable.

Satan uses devices God gives his permission. Jesus understands and faith is central five principles you and I can take. Let me talk about six lessons that we can learn from this number one God knows I love it. God knows matter what we plan.

God knows you know something he's already been using charge. He knows all about number two Jesus is in the boat with us is think about that is in the boat with us that a great truth he's in the boat with us. He's not standing on the shore not standing out there looking from outside in. He's looking from inside out knows all about us. The Bible says even the very hairs upon our heads on numbered in his presence. God knows and Jesus Christ is in the boat with us.

He never leaves us never forsakes us doesn't abandon us. He's not there. He's in the boat whether the waters, whether there's a great storm Jesus Christ is in the boat. Lesson number three God's action will always produce a reaction. Lesson number three God's action will always produce a re-action. Did you notice something with me. Verse 40. The waves are being quieted its back to complete, according to verse 39 and you would think that the disciples would've said wow it's being done look.

Everything's, again let's have a cup of coffee together. Let's celebrate the Bible.

Do you think the disciples were giving each other high fives and saying man work we fortunate that Jesus was in the boat.

What does the Bible say happened often. Jesus acted. What is the Bible say happened often God had moved there. It is in verse 41, they were terrified friend listen to me watch me when God acts people are going to react.

Don't awesome God to act and did not expect an earthquake to follow because when God acts he begins to demonstrate his holiness and his righteousness, and the ungodliness of the world cannot tolerate it by going to revolt. They going to run they going to pack their bags they going to criticize.

They going to become angry, they will not blanket lesson number three precious framing your family, your married life. Listen God's action will produce a reaction.

Lesson number four hold God in the highest esteem hold God in the highest esteem. Jesus was basically saying listen you're exactly right. In verse 41, even the wind and the waves do obey me. I am God. That's why I will not be marked. I'm in control. I created the heavens and the earth. I created everything that moves and has its being hold God in the highest esteem don't sacrifice that lesson number five trials will turn you to God is through the trials of life that we turn to God. He uses these things to teach us to refine us to humble us for us to himself and listen number six salvation must be accompanied by submission. Jesus was saying to these disciples listen if I'm in the boat with you and I'm going to help you to face an unknown future with confidence.

You must submit to me.

You know the world is today the world says, Lord, whatever you want me to do good on my terms. The way I wanted to how I want to do God's word says no I am the Lord Jehovah to be. We've all said, I want to do things my own way but now we know God's provide a better way. As we close our program today. Here's Dr. Don Wilton final closing thought.

Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now. Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today, I repent of my sin and by faith I receive you into my in Jesus night, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting new God is your life and you know you need to make a change course correction, and adjustment all how we would love to be part of the next. Perhaps you gave your life to Jesus. Moments ago praying with Dr. Wilton or we dedicate your life to Christ, we have specific resources absolutely free. We want you to have if you call us at 866-899-WORD can also connect with us on our website at tewonline.org G both of those options. The phone number 866899673 and the website TW online.org can be the next step of watching God work in your life in a powerful way until tomorrow. I pray you have a blessed day and you'll join us again for the great Bible-based teaching from Dr. Don Wilton Encouraging Word