CROSSING OVER 4
Scripture: Mark 4:35-41 - “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, 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 still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"
Introduction: All of us have had times in our lives when we look around and realize that there are things in our lives that we would rather leave behind. Now I
am not talking about people specifically, even though there may be people that we need to leave behind on our walk with God.
Thesis: All Christian need to “cross over” the past, trials, and pain.
Transition Statement: For the last two weeks we have talked about crossing over. This morning we will be the talking about it again. Tonight we will finish this series with a message where we try to make some closing sense out of it all. This morning we will be talking about crossing over fear.
I. CROSSING OVER
A. Jesus says to them, “Let’s go over..”
1. “Let’s” - It is the imperative form of the word.
a. Never a suggestion – always a command.
b. Any place in scripture (NT) you see Jesus use “Let’s” – it is a command.
c. Jesus isn’t asking our opinion – he telling us His will.
2. It is God’s will that we cross over.
a. Many people are always looking for the will of God.
b. Well, here is at least one major part – Cross over the obstacles in front of you!
B. Generally, most commentators make a big to do out of the disciples’ fear.
1. They talk about how dumb it was – after all Jesus was right there in the boat!
a. We talk so rational about what they should have felt – faith.
b. We talk about fear being the opposite of faith.
c. Those of us who have arrived – we don’t feel any fear.
1) Recently – I was talking with an individual who is in some trouble.
2) He has made some decisions that are causing him some trouble.
3) He stated he wasn’t afraid at all - but his eyes said different!
2. I don’t want to put down the disciples, or anybody over fear.
a. Fear is a normal natural response to certain situation or factors.
b. Fear is a physiological response – some call it a natural response to danger.
3. A little fear can be healthy.
a. Go stand out on I-85 and tell me you don’t feel any fear.
b. Fear keeps you from going places, and doing things, that aren’t wise.
C. Maybe faith can be seen as walking faithfully when you feel fear.
1. See if fear is a natural response – then we are going to feel it.
a. The best part of courage is not an absence of fear – its moving forward in spite of fear.
2. Remember that faith is not a feeling – it is a spiritual response to life and all it’s difficulties and problems – see reality in Jesus Christ.
a. Faith cannot be a feeling – because feeling change.
b. Faith is what you do – see Hebrews 11:1 - “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
c. So it is not what we feel – but how we respond.
d. Notice the eventual response of the disciples – they keep bailing the boat and called on Jesus!
II. CROSSING OVER FEAR
A. Fear can become paralyzing to many people.
1. Until you feel a sense of paralyzing fear you really don’t know what I am talking about.
a. It can loom so large in people’s minds so as to stop their life in its track!
2. Fear or faith – they are response to life!
a. It is OK to feel fear – just don’t let it be all you feel.
B. Fearful responses to life.
1. Avoidance – this is where you make a practice of avoiding people or things that create fear.
2. Fight – this is where we attack the person or thing that is creating fear.
3. Control – most controllers take up controlling to make reality fear free.
4. Faith – this is choosing to respond in a spiritual way.
C. Responding faithfully:
1. Remember that Jesus brought you out on the lake.
a. If you brought yourself then you really are in trouble!
b. Jesus won’t drop you….”I will never leave thee nor forsake thee..”
c. So if Jesus is watching out for you – you can begin to respond differently.
2. Prayer – our greatest weapon.
a. Your first spiritual response is prayer.
b. Prayer changes things.
c. Prayer keeps you in touch with God (helps the feeling of fear to diminish)
d. Realize that you are out on the lake for Jesus’ purposes.
1) There are purposes to the event of our life we know nothing about!
3. Bail the boat
a. Notice that the disciples keep baling the boat.
b. Without bailing they might have sunk.
c. Don’t stop doing the right things.
1) Understand that a Godly life is the process of learning to do the right things
4. Call upon His name.
a. Have you ever walked into a dark room and felt fear?
1) When you flipped on the light the darkness left and so did the fear….
b. Calling on His name invokes His presence – a higher-level presence.
1) Jesus was present in the boat – by calling His name he got up.
2) Jesus isn’t unaware of what is happening – but you need to invoke a higher presence.
c. Call upon His name and see if reassurance doesn’t begin to come…
5. Walk forward anyway.
a. Remember it is about choosing a response – not how you feel.
b. Crossing over is about walking through the fear to the other side.
c. You will feel fear – but walk forward anyway.
6. Remember that getting to the other side is the goal.
a. Jesus brought you out on the lake to put you in the storm.
b. But He means for you to cross to the other side – that is His bigger purpose!
Conclusion: To cross over is to live a faithful life. Prayer, Bail, call out His name, and walk forward; He will get you to the other side. Jesus wants to take you past fear and help you to live in a faithful response to this world and the trials and difficulties.
