Reflections from my message today at NRN - A Terrifying Love

Today at NRN was an awesome day of worship and celebration of the Lord's Day.  The day following our annual 24 Hour Prayer Vigil is usually a day where hearts are full of thanks for answered prayers and testimonies are on the lips of the faithful!

This year I presented something a little different from the traditional Palm Sunday sermon.  Here are few of my thoughts:

 

Series: ENCOUNTERS BY THE SEA

Part 5:  A TERRIFYING LOVE 

Mark 6:45-52

 

By following in direct obedience of the Lord’s command they found themselves in this struggle. In the darkest hour, in their greatest need, and in a totally unexpected way Jesus came to their rescue and He will do the same for us. This passage is all about contrary winds or the storms that come into our lives. Let us look at four realities about this incident:

1. Jesus COMPELLED  them into the contrary winds.

Right away Jesus made his disciples get into the boat. He had them go on ahead of him to Bethsaida. Then he sent the crowd away. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.                                                        Mark 6: 45-46



2. Jesus COMPREHENDED their troubles.

When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was alone on land.  He saw the disciples pulling hard on the oars. The wind was blowing against them.                                                                                Mark 6:45-48a

 

 

3. Jesus CAME  to them in their trouble.

Early in the morning, he went out to them. He walked on the lake. When he was about to pass by them, they saw him walking on the lake. They thought he was a ghost. They cried out. They all saw him and were terrified.  Right away he said to them, “Be brave!              It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”                                                   Mark 6: 48b – 50

 

 

4. Jesus CONFIRMED their faith in Him.

Then he climbed into the boat with them. The wind died down. And they were completely amazed. They had not understood about the loaves. They were stubborn.                                                                                                          Mark 6:51– 52

Application:

What are some of the storms that cause me to struggle in life?

 How does Jesus want me to respond to these contrary winds?

Do I tend to waste opportunities like this to grow in my Christian life?

 Here is one of my favorite reminders that God is with us when we go through the storm....

 

 

Sandi Patty: LIVE in Lexington at Immanuel Baptist Church, November 07, 2013