“The Other Side”

An opportunity to encourage folks to really move on after God!  August 2012, evening.

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!”

I believe Jesus is making a statement to each and every one of us this evening - “Let us go to the other side.”

Isn’t it interesting that when we are being obedient to Christ is when we often face the strongest storms?  Notice a couple of things here before we look at one verse in particular:

• The command had a promise – the other side!  If our storm is a result of obedience Jesus will take us through it.

• Jesus is in the boat!  If the storm is a result of obedience Jesus is with us in the middle of it.

• Jesus is sleeping!  If the storm does not seem to worry Jesus why does is bother you?  Take your cue from Him!

• Don’t you care?  Desperate people will say desperate things in their storm. But note Jesus rebukes the storm, and then admonishes them for their lack of faith in action, but He does not get angry at them for the accusation against Him.  Curiously, Jesus is secure enough in who He is not to be offended by our insecurities.

What is the other side of the storm we may be facing?  What is the shore line, the safe ground, that we are commanded to head for.  For each of us this may be different.  It could be:

·         Our prayer life that needs energising

·         Our openness to the moving of God

·         Our repentance over a certain sin

·         Our discipline in the Word of God

·         Our approach in worship

·         Our walk with the Lord as a whole

For some of us, the other side may look much different than it does for someone else.

This wasn’t a suggestion from Jesus - it was a command.  May I suggest that Jesus is doing more than “suggesting” that you cross over to the other side?  That is His plan for you!

But, I believe there are some questions we need to ask ourselves this evening if we want to go to the other side spiritually and as a church.

1). What Will We Forsake?

36: Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.  There were also other boats with him.

They had to be willing to leave the crowd behind in order to go to the other side.

Whenever we are being obedient to Jesus we have to leave something behind.  It just seems to be part of the deal.  We cannot have all of Him unless He gets all of us. 

Ask yourself a very honest question: “What do I need to leave behind if you are ever going to grow spiritually?”

Possibilities:

·         Sin issue - Is there a sin you are not dealing with?

·         Schedule - Where does God fit within the priorities and the demands on your time?

·         A certain Someone - Is there someone close to you who is hindering your spiritual progress?

Keep in mind what Jesus said to His disciples:

Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

I will be honest to you and tell you that spiritual greatness will cost you something - it always does!

2). Who Will We Take?

36: Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

They took Jesus just as He was.  He was probably absolutely exhausted!

Sometimes, we take Jesus along and He is not exactly what we thought He would be.

When you decide to follow Christ, you make a commitment to take Jesus with you just the way He is and nothing else:

We tend to accept a false idea of Jesus who:

• Allows and excuses sin

• Loves only people who are like us

• Holds a grudge

Instead we discover that He:

• Hates sin

• Loves those who are hard to love

• He forgives unconditionally

• Aggressively looks to help those that are hurting

When you go where Jesus wants you to go, you take Him just the way He is!

So when Jesus is in the boat of our life we are not alone.

3). What Impact Will We Make?

36: Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

Did you see what happened?  Even though they left the crowd behind, they saw other boats follow along with them.

The amazing thing is this, when you make the choice to go to the other side with Jesus, you will see other people following you.

You see our life is meaningless unless we include others in it.  Are we willing to take others along with us in our new life in Christ?  If we are then our attitudes will change!

I recall a lady in one of the churches I pastored who had her favourite seat.  Three times over a relatively short period I saw her greet visitors with, “this is my seat, could you move?”

You see she did not want to take anyone with her in life.  She wanted a status quo, a comfy existence.  She forgot to rejoice when the lost came in!

Dr John Geddie, a Scottish born missionary, went to Aneityum (Vanuatu Islands in South Pacific) in 1848 and worked there for God for 24 years.  On the tablet erected to his memory these words are inscribed: “When he landed, in 1848, there were no Christians.  When he left, in 1872, there were no heathen.”

People are watching you at some strategic times in our lives:

• In our Pursuit - Whether or not you pursue a relationship with Jesus, others will be watching.

• In our Problems - The way you handle your problems are being watched closely.

• In Your Persecution

Acts 7:60-8:1: “Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.  And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.”

Keep in mind, Steven, when those rocks are hitting you - there is a Saul waiting to become a Paul who is watching the whole thing take place!

4). What Will We Undertake When We Land?

You see when Jesus tells us to go to the other side it is for a purpose.  It is not just for ourselves, and those who travel with us, but for the ones that have yet to meet Jesus!

Mark 5: 1-2: “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him…”

Who is there that we do not know yet, who have yet to meet Jesus, who belongs in the Kingdom?

If our motives are just for ourselves then we are in trouble! 

Meghan Vogel doesn't understand what all the fuss is about.  Vogel, a junior runner for West Liberty-Salem High School (West Liberty, Ohio), won the 1,600-meter title Saturday at the Division III girls state meet at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus. But it's what she did in her next race that was most remarkable.

With about 20 meters to go in the 3,200, Arden McMath, a sophomore from Arlington High School, collapsed in front of Vogel.  Rather than run by her, Vogel helped McMath to her feet and carried her across the finish line, making sure to keep McMath ahead of her.

"Any girl on the track would have done the same for me," Vogel said Monday.

When Jesus tells us to go to the other side it is always with a purpose.  It is with a designated design that, not only would we survive the storm, but that others would come to know Him too.

Wrapping It Up!

Will we make the decision to go to the “other side” spiritually?  Will we make the decision today not go back to the way things were, but to press into the new things God has for us?

If we say yes to these things then there are some serious questions to ask ourselves:

* What Will We Forsake?

* What Will We Take?

* What Impact Will We Make?

* What Will We Undertake When We Land?