So, if you would stand and join us. We’re going to read from Psalm 77. >> Oh God, your ways are holy. >> When I was in deep distress and I reached out to you. Then I remembered the songs I used to sing in the night.

>> I could never forget all your miracles, God. I ponder all you’ve done, musing on all your miracles. It is here in your presence that I am reminded of your faithfulness to me. Walking around these walls. I thought by now they fall, but you have never failed me yet.

Waiting for change to come. Knowing the battles won. For you have never failed me. Your promise still stands. Great is your faithfulness.

Faithfulness. I’m still in your hands. This is my confidence. You’ve never failed me. Yeah.

I know the night won’t last. Your word will come to pass. >> My heart will sing your praises again. Jesus, you’re still keep me within your love. >> My heart will sing your praises again.

Promise still stands. Great is your faithfulness. Faithfulness still in your hands. This is my confidence. You never still stand rad faithfulness.

Still in your hands. This is my confidence. You never fail me. Heat. Heat.

You move the mountains and I believe I’ll see you do it again. You made a way when there was no way. I’ll see you do it again. I’ve seen you move in the mountains and I believe I see you do it again way there was no way I believe I’ll see you do it again I’ll see you do it promise still stands. Great is your faithfulness.

Faithfulness. I’m still in your hands. This is my confidence. You’ve never f faithfulness still in your hands. This is my confidence.

You’ve never failed me yet. I never will forget. You’ve never filed me yet. I never will forget All these pieces broken and scattered in mercy gather. Mended and home, emptyanded but not forsen.

I’ve been set free. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound has saved a wretch like me. Oh, I once was lost, but now I am found. Was blind, but now I see. Oh, I can see you now.

Oh, I can see the love in your eyes. Bring yourself down. Raising up the broken to our failure. You take our weakness. You set your treure in charge of me.

So take this heart, Lord. I’ll be your all the world to see. Your life in me. Amazing grace. I see the sound like me.

Oh, I once was lost. But now I am found. But now I see. Oh, I can see you now. Oh, I can see the love in your eyes.

Leave yourself down. Raising up the broken to Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Heat. Raising up you. I can see you now. Oh, I can see the love in your eyes.

Laying yourself down, >> raising up the broken to life. Continuing in Psalm 77 verse 19 says, “God, your ways are holy and your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters, a pathway that no one knew was there. You call me out the great unknown where feet may fail. And there I find you in the mystery. In oceans deep, my faith will stand.

And I will call upon your name >> and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace. For I am yours and you are mine. Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide.

>> Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me. You never fail. And you won’t stop now. And I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace.

For I am yours and you are mine. Oh, Spirit, lead me where My trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder. And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my savior.

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder. And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior. Spirit lead me where my trust is without the waters.

Let me walk upon the waterers wherever you will call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wonder. Heat. Heat. Heat.

I will call upon your name. >> Keep my eyes above the waves. My soul will rest in your embrace. For I am yours and you are mine. >> What a beautiful truth that we just sang.

A truth that is not just part of a past story that you continue to draw our attention to, but something now and in the future. Something that I need this very day. And we need our feet to be firm. And thankfully you’ve told us how that can happen in a relationship with you, Jesus. When you sent your Holy Spirit, it was a day promised and a day delivered.

And he’s been with us and within us ever since. Some hear those words here in the house or somewhere else watching this morning and they wonder what’s that mean? What do who’s the spirit? What’s what’s what’s in that for me? And Lord, the truth is you just say just just invite me.

Invite me to have as big a role in your life as you’re willing to have right now and see if it isn’t the best decision you’ve ever made. Because from that point on, from this day forward, we will have moments to trust you, to walk with you, to step out when you tell us to, and to say yes when you ask if we’re available. So we bless you today. We think of communion in front of us and it’s real to us because it represents you and what you did for us. We love you, Jesus.

Speak to our hearts today. In your wonderful name we pray. All God’s people said, >> “Amen.” Go ahead and have a seat everyone. And before kids go anywhere, kids look at me.

Everybody, kids, anybody under 50, look at me right now. So, here’s the deal. We all know a lot of songs, right? We we have favorite songs and such. And there’s a song that most of us learned when we were very young because it was a song sung at a special day in our lives.

Our birthday. And it’s a birthday song that fits at least two people in this room this morning. And I promised I would not call attention to Vicki and and to David, but I’m going to have the birthday girl, birthday boy stand up. They’re not related, but they they are sort of. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I should have said stand up if you can, but anyway, here’s the deal. Most of us are familiar most people 80 and up are used to having this song sung just in a bold brazen way and and that’s why we have them standing right now.

There’s they’re slightly less than 80, but anyway, the point is we get to sing and we did it back there, but it was the choir singing. So, I’m going to be the choir conductor and let’s just have a little fun here. Ready? Happy birthday to you, Vicky and Dave. Happy birthday, dear Vicky and Dave.

Watch me now. Pick a part. Happy birthday to you. THERE WE GO. SO SORRY.

Not really. Okay. So anyway, kids, go have a blast. There’s fun stuff for you. This is one of our big deals around here is find a way to make it fun.

And and we just did. So I’m I’m Let me just say it. Good morning, church. >> Gosh, that feels good to say that. I that was kind of a signature for me for many years.

And I’m Steve McCracken if you’re new here. And I see a few unfamiliar faces, which is really really cool. Not at all surprising. We have a we have a reason for that. I want you to know that reason right out of the gate.

I didn’t know they would be here. They were they’ve been apart for a week. They’ve been one in Mexico and the other stayed home. And and they’re back together again. And I’m referring to the two that are just pawing each other in the front row right now.

It’s really kind of cool. It’s wonderful. So, I’m I want you to know and I want you to know it from me straight up that I love Pastor Jason and his wife Whitney. I do. Here’s the deal.

Pastor Jason, you need to know this and probably sense this anyway. He’s a personal friend of mine. And we get together, we hang out, we have coffee, we talk, we we, you know, share the wisdom the Holy Spirit brings to us. And it’s a beautiful thing. And his wife equally beautiful.

She’s she’s amazing. In fact, here’s the deal. He is not only a great godly man and I got to tell you when we’re not out of town we are we make a beline for being here because he’s a phenomenal phenomenal pastor and preacher. That’s who you are Jason. And I’m just I know I know it’s I mean you know he gives it all to Jesus and he should but the truth is Jesus has given it all to us these days through Pastor Jason.

He’s also a great husband. He she’s the priority. She’s the queen and that’s good. She’s the first lady here. And he’s an amazing father.

What? When do you not see him with one of his like seven kids, eight kids? How many you got? Four kids. When do you not see that?

And it’s so cool. Right now, of course, but it’s a it’s a real deal. And it’s not a show. So, if you have little kids, they’re loved here. And they’re that’s modeled here.

You want to get deeper with your spouse if you’re married, just take notes on their live. Warm yourself by their fire. It’s cool. It’s really good. And I don’t know if you knew this about Pastor Jason, but he is a risk taker.

Did you know that? Okay, there’s there’s really good reason to believe that. Fact is, he reached out and asked me if I would preach for him today. There’s a bit of risk in that. Knowing that I’ve been away from this pulpit where well for two years now actually last Sunday was the Sunday that I completed my work two years ago here at Graceoint after 31 years and so he invited me to preach today and that means he’s I guess there’s likely a chance that you Two years.

That’s a long time. Which means I could actually have so much of a message in me today. It’ll rival a second eruption of Mount St. Helens. I mean, when it comes out.

But you know what? I’ve heard since I’ve been gone that Keep going, man. You got till 2 o’clock. So, I thought, what a gift. That’s really nice.

Some of you are really worried right now, but relax. We have a little fun. So, where have Debbie and I been? And I only bring this up not to entertain, but to just tell you the most favorite question we get asked. Where have you been?

What have you been up to? And there’s been a lot going on in our lives. Quite a bit happening. Two of our three children are now married. Whoa.

I know we married in middle school, so we’re quite young to have married children, but actually and one of them and their spouse has a baby that’s due in less than two weeks. Yeah, Grandpa Steve right here. You’re talking about it, baby. Debbie knows what she’s doing. I have no clue what I’m doing.

I’m I’m gonna work at it real hard. By the way, if you want a name, Barrett McCracken. How’s that for a football player in the NFL? But anyway, what else have we been doing? A lot of camping.

We’ve we spent a long season in the early days camping. And then we took trips, road trips, and sometimes flying to places like Virginia. We spent a lot of time in Bend. And very recently, Debbie went with our two adult daughters to Copenhagen, Denmark, and to Bergen, Norway, and just returned a couple of days ago. So, give her some grace if she dozes in today’s message.

Okay, people, that’s she’s 10 time zones away, but getting getting closer all the time. And it was a wonderful celebration of this fact. Next Tuesday or Wednesday, I think it is. Today’s the 7th. Maybe it’s Wednesday is the five-year anniversary of my Debbie being diagnosed with acute myoid leukemia.

And I only bring that up because first of all, she’s with us today. And she for four and a half of those years has remained in remission as she is today. Praise God. Yeah. All right.

For you who are new, here’s something you need to know. This room’s filled with people that God used to carry us through. They were with us in the fire and in the flood, and they are still with us. And this is a beautiful church to be part of in a time of crisis, which brings up your story. If you’re in a struggle, brand new or not, you’re in the right place.

This is a good church. They will love you. They don’t kick hurting people to the curb. They just don’t. And you’ll experience that.

So tell your friends, let’s jam this place. Let’s make it three or four services and then build a bigger building. Okay? So that’s that’s that’s something that happens when people are having their needs met and they have them met by the pastor and the team of leaders, pastors, and others here at at Graceoint. So, I wanted to let you know one other thing that happened about the fifth month of our time since wrapping up our time here.

We we were called I started to pray a single sentence prayer. It’s actually less than a sentence. God, make me necessary today because camping’s fun and and cool things like that, but I wanted purpose. I wanted something a little more. And my simple prayer is, “God, make me necessary.”

And here’s the deal. Necessary isn’t big, fancy, necessarily. It It can be simple and little, and you’ll come home and be satisfied. You lay your head in the pillow and go, “Wow, I I’m Thank you, God. Thanks for leading me into whatever that is.”

And that happens. We got a phone call in the midfall of this last year from a church that was distressed. They had encountered a very difficult development and they asked if we would come as the guest pastor and wife for maybe as much as four months. Well, it turned out to be actually four months. And and it was a beautiful beautiful experience because God when I prayed make me necessary.

I’m just going to say it. He asked are you available? Are you available? There’s a great song out there. Spotify it.

Not now but later. It’s called Available. It’s cool. It’s really amaz. It became my favorite song in the church in Bend where we were.

It was a featured song there and I just was got hooked on it. I just went, “Whoa, I am available, God. And I’m not doing you a favor at all. You did all the favor. This is the least I can do is say, “Use me your way today.”

So, if you want a takeaway right now, just take that home with you and try it. Buckle up because you might hear from God that says, “I got a plan for you. I’ve got a plan and I want to use you in that plan. So today’s message is very relevant. I think it’s probably relevant anytime because it’s it’s sourced in God.

My words won’t change you. They won’t even make a difference today in your life or my life. They’re just words. But God’s word by definition and design are meant to mess with you and meddle with you. That means they can go in places others can’t go.

And that’s going to happen this morning. There’s a single verse that drives this in almost well, it should be in every sermon you ever hear. It will be here, but anytime anywhere you happen to be out of town temporarily or whatever, you’ll you’ll wonder this. And the Bible makes this point Romans 15 verse4. Whatever was written in earlier times, think Old Testament and New was written for our instruction that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

Is that cool? They’re meant for us. And the outcome of them working in us is that we might have hope. Show me your hand if you need hope today in any area of your life. Look at that.

Okay, that’s not a surprise. You’re not a group of freaks. You’re us. We’re us. It’s who we are.

We need help. Some of our needs are known. Some are very, very behind layers of curtains and covers. So, today’s message, surviving storms. Quickly, let me interact with you a little bit on this question.

Would you describe yourself as a quick learner? Raise your hand if you’re a quick learner. If you you heard that from a teacher or some, okay, half at least of the room, how many can’t seem to learn at all? Don’t don’t do it. All right.

Here’s a just this will help you get a better grip on your answer because it’s an important question to lead into today’s text. The question is how many of you for example common tasks know how to change your oil in your car and how was it kind of quick to learn that? Fairly simple, right? Okay. So that’s a that’s a good start.

Let’s go to something that’s a little more involving everybody. How about painting a room? And and did you how quickly did you become the painter? Or were you like me? You you covered the wall and then you went, “Oh, no.

There’s streaks and there’s and it wasn’t covered well.” And I said it was good enough. And somebody that I love said, “No, it’s not.” Okay. So, I it took me several goes at that and now I have several painters I call when I need to take Here’s one for you.

Baking a cake. Okay, I want to say every female hand went up, but there’s a lot of guys here that have learned that, too. Okay, here’s the deal. I’ve baked one cake and I had huge help from some of you. I called you.

I came down. I said, “I don’t want you to cook cook it bake it. I don’t I I’ll bake it, but I need help. Where is she? And I got some help.

And man, I became the hero in my wife’s life. It was for her birthday. And anyway, but it took me a while and I’ve never tried it again. But anyway, balancing your checkbook. Some of you are like, why?

Right. Okay. And then how about brain surgery? Just messing with you. Okay, that’s not So now think of spiritual lessons learned.

Would you have learned that God can meet big needs in your life with meager means? Okay. There’s a story in the Bible about five loaves and two fish feeding crowd about this size, right? Times like 50. There were 500 men there in that gathering.

Check it out. We’re going to Matthew 14 now. But check it out. It’s a It’s a real story. Would you have gone away and gone, “Man, I’ll I’ll never look at a need again the same way.

I I’m different.” But would it take another miracle like that? Maybe more. Here’s another one. Would you have learned that God could calm a raging sea in your life and keep you from drowning?

If he did it once, I would think so for most of us, but I I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a few that say, “I’m slow. On stuff like that. I can even have that in my past and come to the next storm and not know what I’m doing and and not sure how it’s going to turn out. Okay, if your honest answer is I I really don’t know, pastor. I I’m I show us.

So, my Bible’s open to Matthew 14. If you want to open yours, that’d be a good place to just stay put for the rest of our morning. I want you to scoot up this morning and and take in a stunning story and it’s by the way recorded in three of the four gospels, the four reliable sources of Jesus life. And they are Matthew here, Matthew 14, Mark, and then John. So, all of them seem kind of fascinated by what’s going on.

The context is simple. Jesus had just fed. You can see it in verse 13. He had just fed 5,000 people. I sort of alluded to that story.

And then they are on the shore of Galilee. Think of a big lake in the northern part of Israel in just south of Lebanon. Today’s Lebanon. So, it’s way up north in Israel. It’s called Lake Galilee by locals, but it is the Sea of Galilee, and that’s how it’s referred to in the Bible.

And they had just finished this miracle in a place called Besada, which is norththeast excuse me, yeah, northeast at the northern shore of Galilee. And Jesus says when this is all done, they are to go in a boat across the lake to the northwest shore and Ganesserit is the place where they were told to go. So we pick up in verse 14 and or 22 in chapter 14. So immediately Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead of him to the other side. Jesus is not in the boat.

While he dismissed the crowd, after he had dismissed them, he went up to a mountainside by himself, we’re told, for a purpose, to pray. Later that night, he was there alone. So then the clock’s ticking away as it is this morning. He’s there alone and the boat was already a considerable distance from land. We’re told that for what’s about to shock us.

It was being buffeted by waves because the wind was against it. Now, I’m not a sailor, but I’ve been on boats where it got, we call it choppy, serious chop, and it’s no fun. So it’s getting choppy. That’s happening right now. Shortly before dawn, do you feel how the clock just ticked down?

They got in there at night and they’ve been rowing from Bedada on their way to Guanesseret making almost no progress because they’ve been at it for hours. They’re still a long ways off. And shortly before dawn, verse 25 says Jesus went out to them walking, key preposition here, on the lake. It’s not a mistake. It’s true.

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It’s a ghost. They cried. It’s a It’s a ghost. And they cried out in fear.

They don’t say it’s a ghost. Wow, that’s a lot. They they we say freaked out. These are hardened fishermen. They know what they’re doing.

They’ve been on this lake in bad times. They cry out to him in fear. Verse 27 says, “Jesus immediately said to them, take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.

Lord, if it’s you, came Peter’s reply. And he’s he’s stirred up in a big way. You have to just imagine that with the wording on this page. Tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said.

And then Peter got down and out of the boat and walked, I love it, on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind and the wave action around him, he was like like, “This is my day. I’m going down.” He he panicked when he saw the wind and rain and the effects of the waves. He began to sink and cried out beautiful words, “Lord, save me.”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt? And Peter climbs back into this boat and the wind died down. And then those who were in the boat did something that I think we would have all done. They worshiped Jesus saying to themselves, “Whoa, this really is someone special.

This is the son of God.” I see several principles. You have your note page presented in this story this storm story that changed everything in the lives of the disciples that day. And I think if God has his way in the next little bit, our lives as well. So, you ready?

Principle number one, this is a tough one. It’s a big one. God brings storms into our lives. He brings storms into our lives. This storm is a metaphor of many things.

But before we go there, you need to understand I truly believe this storm happened. It was a real storm. It was a literal one. And all that you would imagine if we took had the time to sort of process it would have been true. The panic, the the shock that there’s a guy walking on the water and and on and on it goes.

So, it’s a literal storm, but there’s so many takeaways that are more metaphorical and really influence our lives today. I mean, it represents an unexpected development, does it not? He tells them to get in the boat and they know what they’re doing. They know how almost how many rows it’ll take to get over to Guanesser. But this unexpected development came and there was absolutely no one on the boat that expected this.

It it represents things like an unwelcomed interruption. When you and I go through life, we kind of go through it expecting things to go the way we had planned for that trip to Costco or whatever. Or big trips or big events, having a baby, getting married or whatever. This is an unwelcomed interruption. Who would welcome a storm like this in whatever form it comes?

We just That’s not us. And it’s, by the way, a placeholder of an unwanted event. Yet, and catch this, it was part of Jesus plan for his men, for his followers at that time. Did verse 22 stand out to you when we read through it? Jesus made them get in the boat.

Did you see that word? It’s worth circling. Jesus made them in the boat. The word used here and again in Mark’s telling of this story. Made is a much stronger word than suggested or or like requested.

Hey fellas, listen. I’m gonna hang out here a little bit, but hop in the boat and let’s make our way out. You know, it says because it’s the right word the the translators used of this scene. They were it’s more the word compelled or insisted that they get in the boat. It’s not an in other words, that’s a way of saying the storm that came was not an accident.

The very God in flesh, Jesus Christ, said get in the boat. I have a pastor friend of mine who observed this is the only time in the Bible that says Jesus forced anyone to do anything. So why did they have to be made to get in the boat and get rowing? Well, the answer is we don’t know. We’re not we’re not told in the text.

But I I have a hunch that miracle we talked about earlier, the 5000, I think the disciples were part of it. They were right in the middle of it. And I think they came away from that going, “He’s he’s all we’ve been looking for. He’s legit. Let’s make him the king today.

Let’s roll on as his men and we will be bad dudes.” Now, they were ready for that. And Jesus knew they’re not ready for that. I have other things to do. So he he made them shove off from the shore, which is what they did.

And into the evening they rode. And they they rode directly into the path of a very threatening sky and seas ahead. You’ve been on a cruise ship, anybody? What does the captain do when he gets intel that says there is a small hurricane or something ahead? He doesn’t just go, “Hey, we got power.

Yes, we do. We can.” He’s like, “This is this is we got to go around.” Same with an airplane. They avoid serious stuff like this.

God says, “Get in and I’ll meet you there.” Just to be clear here, there’s a lot of storms in the Bible. This is not the same storm as Jonah experienced. That was a corrective storm. When that storm came into his life, it’s because God said, “I want you to go to Nineveh.”

And Jonah went down and bought a ticket for another destination, Tarses, which by the way, they’ve never found out where Tarsish is. But it’s kind of a weird play on words. It’s it’s Jonah saying, “No, I’m not going to do that. I don’t like Nineveh. I don’t like anybody that lives there.

Let the city burn. That was his feeling. Don’t name any cities right now, okay? Some of us feel the same about stuff like that. But, but God said, “No, no, no, no.

I care about those people. Actually, there’s a whole bunch of souls there that are going to be lost forever if they don’t hear this good news, the gospel hear that I will forgive them regardless of what they’re known for. I will forgive them if they’ll turn to me and bow their knee.” He says that still by the way. So, so it’s not that kind of storm.

That was a corrective storm in his life. And of course, the well came and swallowed him and hacked him up on a shore and it was not good. But anyway, and then he, by the way, he went back and he and he he preached and the whole city came to Jesus. It’s cool. He went to Nineveh.

And it’s this disciple storm is different. It was meant as a growth event, not a corrective storm of a growth event in their lives. I want my men to grow deeper. If we had time, we could go over to chapter eight because I would ask you the question, is this the first time they’ve been in a storm? And the answer would be no.

Just six chapters earlier, they were in another storm. Only Jesus was in the boat with them on that storm. And guess what he was doing? Sleeping. Not knitting or, you know, or gutting fish.

He was sleeping. And and they wake him up and they scream out, “Lord Jesus.” This is Matthew 8 27. The men were like like terrified again. We’re going to drown.

Wake him up. How can you sleep in that? But anyway, he wakes up, calms the storm, and they’re just staring in disbelief, and then he goes back to sleep. It’s really a cool story. Check out chapter 8.

But anyway, it raises a good question. How long did the lesson from the first storm, chapter eight, how long did the effects of that, because they were there and saw with their own eyes, how long did it last? Well, six chapters, you could say. I don’t know how long that is. It’s not forever.

It’s like their conviction got a little soft. They they weren’t quite sure. Is is he going to do that again this time? So their storm and storms we face are brought about by God. Let me use two words that I’ve used since I was in seminary because I heard them there.

Everything that happens in the lives of believers is father filtered. It’s a great way to think of it. Father filtered. That’s before it gets to you. Before you’re in that boat in the fight for your life, God has filtered it and knows that it’s the right storm.

Now for a second principle from this encounter. Jesus prays for us in our storms. Wonder what Jesus was praying about. I have little doubt when he told him to get in the boat. He knew exactly what the weather forecast was.

Think about that. He knew he knew what’s coming and he knew that they were heading into a humongous storm. Something that shocked the seammen. They they were ready for anything. They spent their lives on the water.

Only this one took them down. It was that big. And he knew where they were heading and he knew that it would bring him them to the brink. It it would. And it did.

So, what did he do when he was up there praying and they’re out there rowing? What did he Well, he’s I’m guessing he prayed for them. It’s It’s a bit like remember when Simon Jesus came to him in Luke 22. It’s it’s near his crucifixion and he says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you and sift you like wheat.” It was an image they understood.

But I’ve prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, you would build up and strengthen your brothers. So, there’s going to be a war a war and a storm in your future immediately, Simon. And it’s not, it didn’t escape my notice. It’s actually filtered by me.

It’s purposed by me. I have a question so far. How could this change our approach to storms? If you were to go through a terrible trial, let’s call it a storm, and it and and you knew, you remembered that Jesus is with you. Let’s say the storm happened at home.

You hear it, it’s an intruder or something like that, but you know Jesus is with you. Not not this distant person that we read about. He’s there in your house. He’s down the hall in the second bedroom. Okay.

Or let’s go to your car. You’re driving down the road and there’s something terrible happening and you’re scared out of your wits and but you knew Jesus is in this car with you or whatever you happen to be on a flight or something like that. Would what how would that change your would that change your response to the storm? Let me help you with your answer. Of course it would.

It’s not chapter 8 and chapter 14. It’s Jesus. Help. He’s with you in the storm. And I have witnessed again and again, not long ago, far away, I’ve witnessed Jesus being with us with my Debbie, who next week is at the five-year mark from a terrible storm.

Being with people who have lost loved ones or some terrible development, a storm in their lives, it makes a difference. This is very practical stuff. And he’s he’s really with you today. And he’s really praying for you when you’re in the fire and in the f in the flood. And it will show in your life.

And may I suggest something? You tell about it when it does. How are you able to hold on? People are going to ask. They take notes for people watch us.

How how are you able to do this? And you say, “Well, you I’m not here alone. Now you got something to talk about.” part of the reason it shows is this third principle. Jesus comes to us in our storms.

Verse 25, just to look at it again. Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them walking on the lake. Some of the hardest words to read in the Old Testament is King David’s words in Psalm 22. And you know these words, but you usually don’t attach them to King David. By the way, he was a friend of God’s.

Like he was pretty tight, right? They were they were he was a man after God’s own heart. That’s the king I’m talking about. So, King David said these words in Psalm 22 right at the beginning. My God, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU forsaken me?

That was King David. And he goes on to say, why are you so far away from me when I need your help? Now I’m quoting Psalm 22:es 1 and two. Every day I call to you my God, but you do not answer. That’s David.

Every night I lift my voice and I find no relief. I can’t sleep. Talk about a storm. A little bit later, just 10 verses later, David expresses this. Don’t stay so far from me.

You can hear his humanity here, can’t you? And I dare say most of us have prayed like this before, if we’re honest. It’s okay. God, don’t stay away from me. Trouble is near and no one else can help.

There’s no one to call on. And then finally, same psalm at the end, he concludes with this. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord all who fear him, for he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them, but he listens to them and he hears their cries.

That’s what God does, which is what people do in a storm. They cry, “God, help me.” Of course, Jesus was the other one, and he’s who you were thinking about when I quoted Psalm 22. This is hard to tell you about, but we’re getting ready for communion. When Jesus hung on the cross, giving his life to pay the penalty of a of a judgment that we deserved, he stepped in the way and said, “I’ll do it for them.

I’ll do it for her. I’ll do it for him. And when he did it, he hung from the cross, had not yet surrendered his spirit, and uttered the words, “It is finished.” He cried out Psalm 22. “My God, my God, why?”

This is hard to tell you, but it’s true. Was the only time God didn’t respond to a cry for help. When Jesus hung on the cross completely covered in Steve McCracken’s sin, don’t think lightly about what Jesus suffered. It’s not it’s you get lost real quick. So I have a question.

It took that God wasn’t He’s not sadistic. It It took the torturous death of his son to fix the problem there is no fix to without him, sin. And and I got to ask you, have you repented of your sin? If you say, “Well, you know, I’m not sure I’m what do you mean by sin?” Just trust me, you’re in a good company here.

The room’s filled with sinners like me. People that we didn’t just meet Jesus and got fixed and our sins stopped. We needed somebody that could take the hit for us and Jesus did. So, have you repented of your sin? And really the question is, are you saved?

Because that’s what that his purpose in coming was to save us. Do you recall these words? Some of you who read the Old Testament, it’s a great thing. S Isaiah knew a lot about this stuff. But he says, “God, you you come to us, you know, I will come to you.”

In fact, God said these words through Isaiah to it’s interesting to he who he told him to. I will be with you in the storm. I will be with you in the fire. I will be with you in the flood. In other words, hard times.

You know who he told those those words to? Not the perfect people that have it all together. It was a bunch of sinners. It’s a bunch of people that had lost their way. Don’t you feel included now?

I mean, really, it’s it’s it’s it’s an irresistible attraction. God says, “I I can do it. I can help. Will you let me?” he doesn’t necessarily come to us when we think he should, but he knows when we need him the most.

And then he comes back to a couple of little thoughts and we’re done here. Did you notice back in verse 24, Jesus was a considerable or the guys were considerable distance from the shore? Long ways off. And he walked out to them. That distance from those two locations was six miles to give it a reference.

So, but Jesus sees them and the storm was at its worst and he came to his disciples when they were desparing of their situation and were and were too far from any other remedy if you want to think about it that way. How many of you can swim that far? I can’t. Used to be able to. No, people don’t do that.

There’s no other fix. You can’t call the Coast Guard. You You need help that only he can bring. Drowning was certain when he came. That’s the key here.

And he still does that. Fourth principle, God causes us to grow through our storms. This is this situation proved to be a microcosm of the road ahead for these disciples and for us today, his disciples in 2026. And following Jesus is a good thing. We know that, right?

But going where he wants you to go and doing what he wants you to do are good choices. Wouldn’t you agree? There’s there’s a part for you to play. You get to make choices. But something that you rarely have a part in or a role in, when storms come, they come.

These insightful words about the situation clarified a lot to me. Just because you’re going where Jesus wants you to go. And doing what Jesus wants you to do doesn’t mean that everything’s going to be, pardon the pun, but smooth sailing, right? It’s important that we get that. And the sooner the better because Jesus sent them right into the middle of that storm.

Jesus asked Peter a single question. Why did you doubt? And the word means standing uncertain about the situation. That’s just doubt. Why did you doubt?

James would go on to say, you know, doubting is not good. But it’s like being driven and tossed. That’s no way to live. You have a good day and a bad day and you’re up and you’re down and there’s no stability in your life. And Jesus wants to bring that.

If doubt was descriptive of Peter that night, how does it describe some of us today? It’s a question. In the storms that we’re in. Are you doubtful? You facing a storm today?

You know your answer, whether there is one or you love someone that’s going through a storm. That probably covers almost all of us. Here’s the deal. You and I don’t get to pass on the doubt thing. Some people say, “Well, you know, doubting Thomas, that’s just that’s who he was.

I don’t I don’t get a pass on that and neither do you. Doubt will sink us as fast really as it did, Peter. So, we mustn’t use that as a copout. It’s it’s hard truth time. We will be in storms and we will be tempted to doubt and and Jesus says, “Trust me, I’m with you.

I’m with you in this. We have time for the last of the five. Jesus carries us through the storms. Yeah. When doubt threatened to take Peter down as the storm kept raging, Peter cried out complicated theological treaties on God’s protection.

No. Three words. God help me. God help me. Lord, save me.

Can I Can I tell you something? It doesn’t take a lot. Remember the two guys that came into the temple? Seven words saved one of them. Jesus said the story is told later in Luke 18 came into the temple, beat his chest to say, “I suck.

My life is awful. I don’t belong in a room full of good people.” said this man, I got nothing. I can’t even look up to heaven. He said seven words, Lord have mercy on me, the sinner.

And Jesus said, you know something? He went home changed. He went home whole. He went home forgiven. Can you see good news?

Can you hear it in my voice? That’s that’s stuff that changes people. Remember the thief on the cross? He didn’t say anything that was worthy of salvation. He simply said, “Remember me, Jesus.”

As he looked at the cross next to him, the man in the middle cross. Didn’t even know his name. Hey, listen. I sense something big out of you. Would you would you would you remember me when we’re when we’re dead?

Somehow. He says, “I sure will.” Huge, huge things. Have you prayed, “Save me.” That’s it.

Have you? Because here’s the deal. If you haven’t, do so now. It’s just Lord, save me. And all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Amen. I’d like you to bow your heads with me this morning. Small miracle has just taken place in our gathering. I could have preached another two hours, but we’ve heard his voice. Did you notice the amazing finish of this powerful moment had to do with a rescue?

Jesus reached out his hand and pulled Peter in. There was a relief that came over Peter and all those in the boat because calm had been restored and peace and they did what I think I would have done. They rejoiced. They worshiped on the water. A God that took care of them.

The storm had ended. They were safe. Jesus was worshiped. The remaining question for them had they learned to trust in Jesus regardless of the size of the storm. And it’s the same question that he asks of us.

Do you see him as everything you need? The bread and the cup frame this moment beautifully. They’re sobering because they describe a reality that in order for Jesus to be able to save us, he had to surrender himself for us. This morning, we’re going to share in communion as a song. Jesus, you’re my all and all.

It’s a great song. I’m going to ask the servers to join me right now. And I want I want to I want to have you think of something before we share the bread and the cup together. Do I really know this Jesus? I will hold in my hand something I’m kind of familiar with or mostly familiar with.

I will hold in my hand bread. Kind of like that time Jesus was with his men. That’s where the idea came from. The last supper. Part of that gathering is Jesus Jesus picked up a piece of bread.

He’d given thanks. He said, “This is my body which is for you. Take this and remember me.” And still at the same table, a little bit later, he reached over for a chalice of wine and he held it up and said, “It’s my it’s a picture of my blood that will be poured out for you this very night because it had to be for you to be healed and forgiven and have hope for eternity. If you don’t know Jesus yet, would you would you just simply when the cup passes by you take the bread and cup and say, “Jesus, save me.”

The drinking of it, the eating of it, that’s not going to save you, but they represent the one that will. Would you in that moment breathe your first breath as a follower of Jesus, born again? John 3 says, would you? The rest of us that know Jesus, it’s it’s all of that and a fresh reason to worship. So, let’s do so now.

You are my strength when I am weak. You are the treasure that I seek. You are my all. Seeking you as a precious jewel. Lord, to give up, I’d be a fool.

You are my all in. Jesus, lamb of God, worthy is your name. Jesus, lamb of God, worthy is your name. >> Taking my sin, my cross, my shame. Rising again, I bless your name.

You are my all. When I fall down, you pick me up. When I am dry, you fill my cup. You are my all in all. Jesus, lamb of God, worthy is your name.

Jesus, lamb of God, worthy is your name. Jesus, lamb of God, worthy is your name. Jesus, lamb of God, worthy is your name. The bread is small. The impact is immense.

Let’s take this bread as they did that night and imagine Jesus, not me, up here saying, “It’s me. Remember me.” And then remember him reaching for the glass, holding up and saying it’s you. This blood of mine is shed for you. Let’s share it together.

We love you, Jesus. We love that you are all those things in something that’s very real in our lives. The storms that come that are with us even right now. But I pray that we would leave here freshly filled with the truth that you leave with us and you are with us in whatever comes our way for your glory. We love you Jesus.

Amen. Amen. Let’s stand together and raise a hallelujah. I raise a hallelu in the presence of my enemies. I raise a hallelujah >> louder than the unbelief.

>> You believe this? Let’s do it. >> I raise a hallelujah. I raise a hallelujah. Is coming.

Heaven comes to fight for me. How to see in the middle of the storer and louder up from the aes. Home will arise. Death is defeated. The king is alive.

I raise a hallelu with everything I need. I raise a hallelujah. I will watch the darkness fle. I raise a hallelu in the midst of the mystery. Ille see you’re going to hear my praises.

The king is alive. Let’s sing it louder. Sing a little louder. In the presence of my enemies. Sing a little louder.

Louder than the unbelief. My weapon is the melody. Heaven comes to fight for me. In the presence of my enemies, call louder than the unbelief. My ability comes to fight for me louder.

I’m going to sing in the middle of the storm. Louder and louder you’re going to hear our praises ro from the aes. The king is alive. I’m going to sing in the middle of the stor. Heat.

Hallelujah. Halleluah. Amen. Right there in the middle of that storm. You raised that.

Hallelujah. Well, thank you for being with us this morning and we look forward to getting together next door at Cafe. So, we’ll see you next there. Heat. Heat.

Heat. Thank you.

Transcript machine-generated from the sermon audio, so it may contain errors. 8,682 words.