Being built for a long-term relationship (Eldie 5/27/18)

Introduction:  A long-term focus

John 6:15-Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

-Jesus continuously escaped people’s desire to abuse Him for their own purpose-Jesus highlights that the strongest conviction to have is to do God’s will=purpose

2 Corinthians 3:17-Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,there is freedom.(the Spirit is liberty or freedom to obey God!)

Ex: if we find ourselves feeling pulled to obey other people more than God-it is a sign that I am allowing that person/thing to pull me back into bondage, and not flow in the freedom God called me to…

Proverbs 29:25-The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

–this is important, thatif every time I am called by God to do something, am I snared by what you think or say-I fear you more than God, ensnaring me from doing what I am called…(and what you are called to do is important for the people calling you away from it, in the long term!) This was Jesus since a young boy!

Luke 2:49-50-And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must bein my Father’s house?”

Ex:Jesus was setting an early precedence that though He is their child-He is here for His Father and His purpose, not them..as parents they were to steward Jesus in the Father’s purpose

-Jesus completing His purpose to not be king was better for them, not immediately, but in the long run-Jesus being the author and finisher of our faith was seeking their long term blessing, (faith is really about living for the long term)

-it’s the same thing for us, that we must build a foundation that grounds us in purpose-that we declare it would be better for everyone in the long term, when people want us to settle for a desire that isn’t tied to purpose…

Challenge:  do you know where you are going?  Do you have a vision for fulfilling it?-how can someone lead or help you, if you don’t an idea for any of these

From this rejection of their request, Jesus as the forerunner of our faith,shows us that meeting people’s needs are best according to God’s purpose (long term) not always our immediate desire…he’ll prove this with the disciples

“Storms” develop perseverance (for the long-term)

John 6:16-18-When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.18. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.

When you read this in its context, it is showing how Jesus allowed the disciples to walk through a storm without Him  

(vs17)-The disciples like most of us expect Jesus to show up in time for the storm-to keep us from experiencing such terrifying circumstances-(but Jesus allows them to be thrust into and left in it without His presence at all)...where is God?

-But what is Jesus teaching His disciples in leaving them in a storm, an experience that terrifies them?-That if God leads us into it, then God will lead us out of it!...(even if we led ourselves into, God will lead His children out=Jonah!)

-The fear all Christians should be able to relate to, is when our faith “runs out” in a situation-it is here we are humbled, that we need Jesus to prove His faithfulness (we have been given the gift of faith, but we can be faithless)

2 Timothy 2:13–if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

Ex:if God lets the marriage start dying, or the children rebel, or the business/profession/ministry struggle-it is to prove His faithfulness, and humble us to desperation for Him…

2 Corinthians 4:7-8–But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. -so when God does show up and change everything, we won’t be so delusional to be proud

-God leaves us in situations that prove that it is never our faithfulness that keeps us-but it is His faithfulness that keeps us!…So when we quit He doesn’t, His faithfulness is then praised!

“That I only persevered by what He didn’t let happen”, not because I am so strong and capable-Jesus could’ve let them die

Real confidence comes from persevering with God…

-So what keeps us humble is not only what God could allow in our lives regarding storms-but how long He will leave us in it, until we get to the point we humble ourselves (Jonah was spit out after he humbled himself, confessed)

Ex:when we haven’t been in a storm severe enough to prove we are scared, and don’t know what to do-we live with an arrogance that we are strong, false confidence in ourselves…(when in reality God leaves us in the storm to prove the opposite)

2 Corinthians 12:10-For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses,insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (Paul’s whole mindset was about being weak and wanting God’s strength for Jesus to be exalted)

-Another reason for the storm, is to renew our mind to this reality of Paul-life is not about being strong, b/c we’re not…

-Real confidence is knowing I can make it because God has provednever to leave me-He has kept me through things that I look back on and wonder how did I make it through that=gratitude…(so I am not confident in me, I am confident in God!)

-This was part of the plan Jesus was instilling in His disciples, because if we are going to survive a real walk with Jesus-you have to be prepared for the long term...(that you will go through things that test whether you believe He is faithful)

1 Peter 1:6-8-6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

-Why is faith more precious than gold?-b/c riches do not keep you from quitting, a lack of perseverance and determination does...(when you see someone determined to make a relationship work, that’s love, quitting say’s you’re not worth suffering for)

Hebrews 12:3-4–Consider him who enduredfrom sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow wearyor fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

(vs17,18)-Notice how Jesus doesn’t rescue them right away-because He was building them up to endure, persevere and learn to trust Him for the long term…

-Jesus like any good parent/mentor/coach is not trying to eliminate immediate discomfort-if it gets in the way of producing long term character

Ex:-not like today where we keep our children from any and every hardship imaginable-and wonder why young people are struggling to endure any hardship as they get older

Romans 5:3-5More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character,and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Conclusion:  His “voice” keeps us grounded in faith

John 6:20-21–But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat,and immediately the boat was at theland to which they were going.

-they recognized His voice, Jesus didn’t say His name, He said it is I-which points to comfort, invitation and His faithfulness reassuring them that He is there…(What is really your relationship with the voice of God through His Word?)

–If the voice in our spirit is not the Holy Spirit-than surely we are living with the cares of yesterday, today, and tomorrow (and because we don’t hear His voice in the storm we panic, riddled with anxiety)

-so out of fear, frustration, anger, or loneliness, we think “short term” with our own solutions-so we live anxiously awaiting things to be taken care of immediately,without trusting the One who takes care of everything in His time=teaching patience/faith/perseverance…(we allow the voice of worry to talk us out of faith and into manipulative control and anxiety)

Matthew 6:34-“Therefore do notbe anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the dayis its own trouble.

–We become so worried about what affects the future, that we don’t deal with the specific issues of the day-We then conjure up all these fears of whatmight happen, without the voice of God/Word who knows (we become better at worrying about tomorrow, than trusting God for today)

(vs21)The presence of Jesus made them glad in the storm, His presence eclipsed the enormity of the storm-His presence literally brought them to peace on dry land  (So it isn’t about the situation, but more about having the presence of Jesus)

Psalms 46:1-Godis our refuge and strength, a very present helpin trouble.

-Through storms, God teaches how to develop a long-term relationship that trusts Him by faith-this is what made the disciples later endure many trials without quitting…and this is what makes you and I trust Christ the same way