If you and I are sinking in our situation, change what you're looking at. Don't give all your attention to the winds and the waves of your circumstances. Dr. Tony Evans says in the midst of life's storms, we need to keep our focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. He gets you started and he carries you to completion, even if there's storms in between.
This is the alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans.
Sometimes life gets so stormy that we wonder if we're going to make it through. But Dr. Evans says, even when things are at their worst, there's something bigger at play than the storm. Let's join him in Mark chapter 4 as he talks about Jesus. He comes to the end of the day.
He's been teaching all day to the large crowd, which included his disciples. At the end of the day, dusk is setting in. And he says in verse 35 to his disciples, let us go to the other side. He's talking about the other side of the Sea of Galilee. You read a lot in the Gospels about the Sea of Galilee.
The Sea of Galilee was a major fishing port. It was known for Fishing. In fact, Half of Jesus' disciples were fishermen. They were people who knew fishing. And they had a whole company on the Sea of Galilee.
where fish would be gathered. In large sums for eating and for sale. Major fishing. place.
So he gets in the boat with His flotilla joining him. It says other boats were with him. Everybody couldn't fit into his boat.
So there were other boats alongside as they went to cross the Sea of Galilee. On their way. Across. We're told. There was a fierce gale of wind, verse 37 says.
And the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. They didn't leave in a windstorm. They got hit by a windstorm very quickly since they were going a fairly short distance in the boat. But out of nowhere, They run into Hurricane season. They run into something That is overwhelming them.
And it is wicked, fierce. Hurricane. Not only that, but we're told that. The boat was filling up.
So the wind is blowing so hard The waves are crushing so thick That these fishermen, professional fishermen, Fine. the boat being filled up with water. They found themselves in a situation they were unable to rectify on their own, even though they were pros at what they did. They found themselves in a fierce gale of wind. But Jesus himself.
Was asleep. In the stern on my pillow. If you sleep. On a pillow. It means you meant to go to sleep.
Says Jesus. was asleep on a cushion. And the circumstances didn't wake him up. I mean this is bad circumstances. This is a fierce problem.
A devastating problem, and Jesus is asleep. On a cushion.
So we read in verse Yeah. And they woke him up. And said to him, Teacher. Do you not care that we are perishing? Have you ever been in a situation and Jesus is sleeping on you?
Have you ever been in a situation where? You're in a crisis mode. And God is snoring. Have you been in a situation that is beyond your pay grade? Beyond your ability to rectify.
And Jesus won't get up. Psalm chapter 10. Verse 1 says, Why do you stand afar off, oh Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? That's the same cry here.
They are going through three storms at the same time. They're going through a physical storm. Because we're about to perish. We're about to drown. And we're professional fishermen.
We know this sea. We've been doing our, carrying on our business here for years. We're part of the Zebedee Fishing Corporation. We've been doing this for years, and we have experienced nothing like this. This thing is going to kill us.
And sometimes when hurricane hits you bad enough, you question whether you'll survive. You don't know whether you'll make it. Because the boat of life is filling up and you. Could be drowning. in the circumstances.
So they've got a physical crisis. They also have an emotional crisis because we're going to see in a moment. Jesus says, why are you so afraid?
So they are stirred. They are Terrified. After all, we might perish. And when you're in a crisis that you can't fix, it threatens your very existence. You become afraid.
The palpitations increase. The worry expands. You just don't know whether you can survive it not only physically. But emotionally, you are so afraid.
So they have a physical crisis. They have an emotional crisis. They also have a spiritual crisis. Carest thou not that we perish. It's bad enough.
We're going through this. It's bad enough. We're living in terror. But now we got to deal with the fact that you don't care. That we're in this crisis.
And you are asleep. At a time like this.
So They wake him up. They say, get up, Jesus. We need you, Jesus. We're not going to make it, Jesus. We're desperate for you, Jesus.
And he got up. when they woke him up. When they got desperate enough to shake him till he got up. Which reminds me of Jacob wrestling with the angel. And the angel told Jacob, let me go.
And Jacob said, I'm not going to let you go until you bless me. If we got to go all night long. We're going to get it on all. Night. Long.
Because I'm not letting you go. Until you bless me. Jacob was in a Threatening situation. And he was fighting for his life. And said, until you move, I'm not going to let you go.
When God is giving us a major exam. The question on the floor? is how much do we want? him because he didn't get up because of the circumstances. Right.
He only got up when they woke him up.
So he gets up. And rebuke the wind. and said to the sea, Uh Hush, be still. Jesus is speaking to Mother Nature. And Jesus is telling Mother Nature to calm down.
He's telling Mother Nature Hush your fuss. He's telling Mother Nature. Settle down. And it says in verse 30. And it became.
perfectly calm. The Greek word for perfect is the word mega. The sea became like glass.
So he told her when to stop.
Well, if he only told her when to stop. The waves are still going to be going for a while. But he told the wind to stop and he told the waves. Stop. Stop moving.
He spoke. Things changed. They were in a problem that came out of nowhere. And they resolved the problem that came out of.
Nowhere. Enough words. Bam! Bam. In between this and that.
They were terrorized. We're going to perish. We're not going to make it. Yeah. To nature.
and says you've got to shift your operation now. Because I said so. Then Jesus says to his disciples, Why Are you afraid? How is it? That you have no Faith.
That seemed like an odd question. We got a hurricane. But this windstorm is sucking down. to the 700 foot below sea level. Sea of Galilee.
The boat's filling up with water It doesn't look like we're going to make it. And you want to know Why be spirit? You want to know, that's like asking Somebody who just got out of the swimming pool while you're wet. I mean, it's. Like an obvious answer.
Remember now. Jesus has been teaching about the kingdom of God. And about the seed. Which is the word of God. He said to them when they got in the boat In verse 35.
Let's Yeah. Go. to the other side. I can hear him now on the side, on the side, of the side. Other side, God's going to take us to the other side.
I know we can fix it. My eyes to the hills, from which cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord. You are the side. Peter, did you hear him?
He said, other side, other side, other side. Jesus didn't say, let me go to the other side. He said, let us, all of us. are going to make it to the other side. He didn't say that we're going to be no problems on our way to the other side.
But he did say we're going to make it from here to the other side.
So, from where you are to where I'm taking you, you got to trust me on the journey.
So, I'm going to allow there to be a hurricane to see whether you were paying attention to what you were amening when I gave you the message. I said, let us go to the other side.
So, if you were really paying attention when the storm hit and the boat got full of water and you saw me pick up my pillow, you would have picked up your pillow and we would have all been laying here because you will remember, I said, let us go to the other side. How easy it is for all of us. to forget God's word in a crisis. But there's a curious relationship between the crisis, God's Word, and our response. and doctor Evans will explore what that is when he continues in just a moment.
First, though, don't miss the chance to get your own copy of all six messages in Tony's current series, Having Faith During Fear. If you contact us right away, the full-length versions of these messages are yours on C D, USB flash drive or downloadable MP3. along with our thanks, when you make a contribution in support of the Ministry of the Alternative. And right now, we'll also include a special bonus, Dr. Evans' popular book, Kingdom Encounters.
In it he reveals how the very trials we try to avoid Can become powerful moments where we experience God more deeply and personally. You'll discover how God often meets us in life's hardest seasons to strengthen our faith, restore our hope, and draw us closer to Him. To request your copy of this bundle, visit us today at tonyevans.org. Or call us at 1800, 800, 32, 22. This is a limited time offer, so visit us as soon as you can.
Again, that's tonyevans.org. or by phone at 1-800-800-3222 any time of the day or night. We'll return with more of today's message right after this. Yeah. When everything feels louder, faster, and more divided by the day, where do you find real peace?
We live in a very frayed world. On the Unbound Podcast, Dr. Tony Evans explores timeless truth for today's toughest realities. Faith that doesn't escape the world, but speaks directly into it. Prayer changes the chemistry of the brain.
The Unbound Podcast with Dr. Tony Evans.
Biblical truths. in real life. Listen to the Unbound podcast any time of the day or night on your favorite podcast streaming platform. Right now, let's get back to Dr. Evans.
How easy it is for all of us. To forget God's word in a crisis. But the only way you know you're holding on that word kids in a crisis. is when you have to use it. Not just when you happen to hear it.
He says, Why are you so afraid? Yeah, we got a hurricane. We've got a problem, but you got a promise.
So don't let your problem override my promise. My promise did not say there would be no problem. And don't Allow circumstances to determine your theology. Don't decide what you're going to believe based on what you're going through. Carest thou not that we perish?
And so He challenges them. In the midst of their crisis. Then we come to this last verse, verse 41. They became very much afraid. Who then is this?
That even the wind And the sea obey him. What have we gotten ourselves into? We get scared of the wrong thing. We get scared of the problem. Yeah.
Now they were scared of something bigger than the problem. They were scared of the problem solver. What have we gotten ourselves into here? That even nature Yeah, yeah, yeah. Obeys him.
So let's answer this question. Who then is this? Because a lot of Christians don't know who he is. Who then is this that nature has to do what he says? Do we know who we are dealing with here?
In this one passage. We see the manifestation of the hypostatic union.
Now the hypostatic union is a theological phrase. That simply means Two natures. In one person. Unmixed. Forever.
One minute. Jesus asleep. Yeah. Sound asleep. Because he's fully man.
He has to be thirsty. And has to get a drink because he's Fully man. He has to go to sleep and then be in deep sleep after a tiring day because. It's fully man. He bleeds on a cross.
And dies. Because he has the nature of a man.
So throughout the Gospels he's called The Son of Man. Because he is fully human. But the hypostatic union says There's another nature. Rather than in the same person.
So he can be sleep one minute. And tell nature what to do the next minute. Because he's fully divine. He can have to drink water. But then he can walk on water.
Because he's also fully divine. He can be human and need to eat. But he can also Turn sardines and crackers into a Moby Dick sandwich. Because he's fully divine. He can die because he's son of man.
But he can rise from the dead because he's son of God. Who then is this? He is the one of a kind. He is the unique one. He is son of man, son of God.
That son of man, he fails you. As son of God. He helps you. As son of man, he knows your problem. and your pain.
As son of God. He can address both. When you deal with Jesus. You're dealing with God, become a man. Who can be full humanity without sin?
And at the same time, full deity. In him Heaven and earth come together. In him, God and man come together. When you step across the pearly gates in glory, he will be the only scarred person in heaven. He will be the only person with scars on him.
You have a glorified body. He has a glorified body. But when he rose from the dead, He showed Philip. Here's Scar in his hands. His scar in his feet.
and his scar on his side, and told him To touch it. Told him to touch it. Why? because I want to reveal to you I'm fully man. But I want to demonstrate to you.
to Thomas that I'm fully God. And what he wants you to understand is if you really want to deal. With Jesus. Don't let him sleep on you. Because he'll be quiet as long as you don't disturb him.
He'll let you. Sink in the water until you wake up to him. Just a little bit later. Peter asked Jesus, can I walk on water like you walking on water? Jesus said, Peter, come on and walk on water.
Peter started doing his boot walk on the water. He started walking on water, but then it said he took his eyes off of Jesus. And when he took his eyes off of Jesus, it says he began to sink. He could walk on water when he kept his eyes on Jesus. But he says he saw the wind and the waves.
And when he looked at the circumstances, he began to sink. If you and I are sinking in our situation, change what you're looking at. Don't give all your attention. to the winds and the waves of your circumstances. Looking unto Jesus, the Bible says.
the author and finisher of our faith. He gets you started and he carries you to completion, even if there are storms in between. In closing a few years ago. I was on a cruise coming from Alaska. It was a ministry cruise, coming back from Alaska.
We hit the worst. storm that Royal Caribbean ever faced. Waves hit this Cruise liner. with waves 50 feet high. And it was knocking this cruise ship with 5,000 people around like it was a tin can.
People were screaming and hollering. People were throwing up. in the halls, in the dining room. Pianos were rolling down. Plates were rolling off.
The stewards had to crouch down. They told everybody to get into their cabins. And we were being tossed around like a tin can, and the ship was terrified. There was a call to the captain. McCall to the captain and says, why did you do this?
You've got sophisticated. equipment on this boat that would have told you we were headed to a storm. And there was another path we could have taken. It's called the inside passage. See, you can go from Alaska to Vancouver or to Seattle either in open sea or by means of the Inside Passage.
If you use the Inside Passage, it limits the effect of the storm because it's inside. You're kind of surrounded before you hit open water. But they had to get back to let us off to take on another group.
So they came in open water, and this storm hit us. And was knocking us around, and they said, Why did you do this? A call came back from the captain. I know this is uncomfortable. I know this is difficult.
But what you need to know is that this ship was built with this storm in mind. When we were at dry dock building this boat. We knew a day like this was going to come. And we constructed this thing that while it's uncomfortable for you. You're going to be able to handle it because the boat you are in is able to handle the storm that is coming against you.
I don't know what storms you in. And I don't know what storms you're going to. But I do know this one thing. Your salvation by Jesus Christ was built. With that storm in mind.
And if you hang on to Jesus in the middle of your storm, you're going to make it to his destination for your life. Uh As we learn today, the anchor we hold on to when the waves of life get rough. is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. If you're not exactly sure what that means, visit tonyevans.org today and follow the link at the top of the home page that simply says Jesus. There, Tony will explain everything you need to know about what being a Christian is all about.
and how to start a brand new life. Again, that's tonyevans.org. And while you're there, don't forget to take advantage of our current resource offer. All six full-length messages in our current series, Having Faith During Fear, Along with the added bonus of doctor Evans's popular book, Kingdom Encounters: Experiencing More of God When Life Hurts. This powerful resource will help you see how God uses life's challenges to draw you into deeper, life-changing encounters with Him.
These resources are all yours along with our thanks for your donation to help keep this listener-supported program coming your way. Just visit TonyEvans.org before time runs out to make the arrangements, or call our Resource Center at 1-800-800-3222. any time of the day or night. Again, that's tonyevans.org. or by phone 24-7 at 1-800-800-3222.
Even when you feel at the top of your game, you can count on hitting a slump sooner or later. Tomorrow, Dr. Evans takes a look at turning life's valleys into life's victories. I hope you'll join us for that.
