Yesterday in church our music pastor moved from behind his guitar to a teaching position.
He did an awesome job.
I am always excited when God’s gifts are used in different ways.
Our church is not locked into a box of ‘this is your job and this is mine’.
Gifts are used in many ways and this guy behind a guitar became an awesome pastor teacher on Sunday morning.
He began by telling us how Jesus wants to be with us in the seasons of life when we feel overwhelmed and fearful while facing the storms ahead.
We all have them.
Financial storms, health storms, marriage storms, teenage storms, lost jobs or lost homes.
The list goes on and on and in the midst of these life changing storms Jesus wants to walk alongside us and hold us up through the process.
He began to read Mark 4:35-39
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples,”Why are you so afraid? Do you have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Then the music pastor teacher began to break it down verse by verse.
First of all don’t miss the fact that Jesus said,
“LET US GO over to the other side.”
He meant let us go together~you are not alone.
Second point a squall is no small wave… it is large~ it is scary~
it is overwhelming~ it is has the power to knock us over.
Third point swamped is really washing the entire boat full of water
leaving the men holding on tightly for their safety.
Fourth point they became irritated that Jesus was sleeping
while they were potentially going to loose their lives.
When they woke him I wonder if they said to each other,
“who is going to wake him up?”~ did they draw straws? did they choose by number guess ~ how did they decide or did they all run to him and tell him to wake up in the midst of their panic?
The music pastor teacher said, “They woke him up with the question we all ask…throughout different times of our lives. Do you care? Do you care Jesus that we could die? Do you care Jesus that our life is at risk? Do you care Jesus that I lost my job or my marriage or my friendship? Do you care…..???
They didn’t ask him if he could stop the raging winds and water…
they asked him if he cared.
They didn’t ask him to help them.
They asked him if he cared~it’s a very important question to sit with.
Then the music pastor teacher continued and said, “Jesus didn’t answer their question.”
He just stood up and rebuked the wind and water and told them to stop.
Rebuke means: to express sharp stern disapproval of; reprimand. admonish.
Jesus with a sharp stern reprimanding voice said ‘Quiet’ and the winds and the waves obeyed him.
No wonder the disciples were terrified.
Would you feel totally calm if someone you were with was able to speak a word and the wind and the rains obeyed them? Wouldn’t you feel like you didn’t really know the person? would you question who they are to have so much power? Would you still ask them if they cared?
The music pastor teacher continued to say, “when you face the storms of your life you have to remember he won’t let you drown. Remember he said let us go to the other side.” That means he never had any intention of leaving you alone. The journey is yours and his together.
Our AWE should be in the power and glory and beauty of a Holy God who chooses to walk alongside unholy broken people.
Then the music pastor teacher said, “Who ever holds your AWE holds your faith.”
So can I ask you who holds your faith today? do you run to Jesus and ask him if he cares?
I pray your awe will be found in the knowing that your storm is not faced alone.
That you have a savior who has the power to walk with you through it till you get to the other side.
May we face our storms hand in hand with the Lord who heals us through the process.
We must remember ‘we are not alone.’
