Elevation with Steven Furtick - The Storm Has Its Purpose (Rich Wilkerson Jr.)

Episode Date: March 20, 2023

Every story has a storm, and every storm has a purpose. In “The Storm Has Its Purpose,” Pastor Rich Wilkerson reminds us to take courage — because God is in control. If you’ve just made a decision for Christ, please respond HERE: http://ele.vc/tIepfr To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people all around the world click here: http://www.elevationchurch.org/giving/ Scripture References: Mark 6, verses 45-56 Isaiah 43, verse 2 Matthew 14, verses 32-33 Chapters: 0:00 - Are You Excited For Elevation Nights? 2:54 - Introduction 6:34 - Mark 6 8:44 - The Storm Has Its Purpose 13:03 - You've Got To Go Through 15:38 - Are You Really In A Storm? 18:17 - Storms Make You Realize You're Not In Control 26:20 - Storms Give Way To New Revelations 31:54 - Our Faith Suffers When We Forget 34:22 - How Devastation Leads To Innovation 37:15 - Storms Create The Perfect Stage For An Audacious Response 43:31 - Why'd Peter Leave THAT Out? 46:06 - Keep Faithfully Following Jesus 48:27 - God, Give Me A Sign 52:19 - Don't Give Up The SHIP 55:54 - God Is Not Against You 58:27 - This Is The GospelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Everybody's standing. How many are excited about elevation nights? We are weeks away. Come on, Holly. Holly is going to tell you, well, speak of the angel.

I love a girl. Come here. Get a wide shot on her. I love a girl who can rock. Plaid and Petty. That's Tom Petty. Plad, Petty, and Praise. She does it all.

But right now, look in that camera, tell them where they need to go and where we're going to be. Okay, so I was thinking about how people watch online every week and they wish that they could be here. Telling you, Elevation Knights is like Elevation Church came to your city only. There's one thing that's better. Yes. We still have you in Elevation Nights. So that's amazing. Favorite Pastor.

We will sing all of your favorite songs. Every single one. If you come to Ballantime, we're only going to sing four songs. If you come to Elevation Nights, we're going to sing every single one of your favorite songs. So here's where we're going. We're going Austin, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, St. Louis, Fort Wayne, and Toronto, Ontario. We're coming your way in just a few weeks. Same again, Hall. Austin, Texas. Austin. I got to wait until they back up on the screen. Oh, on the screen.

Here we go, here you thought I memorized them? Austin, Oklahoma City, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Denver, St. Louis, Fort Wayne, Toronto, and can we tell them? Tell them that we added some dates for the fall. For the fall, you can get those too. Elevationnights.com. One eight nights tour at a time. Yes. I'll have a panic attack.

But we might be coming close to you. If those aren't yours, we might be, just check. Just check Elevationnights.com. Somebody say the angels are coming. The angels are coming. Somebody say Holly's coming. Pastor Steve is coming. Elevation worship's coming.

John Sal is coming. John Sal, are you an angel? Maybe some days. You sing like an angel. But Jenna said sometimes you act like the devil. She told me that. Let's see if you got the angels on the tour bus on day seven of Elevation Nights. Holly and I have so many wonderful friends in ministry.

Today, Pastor Rich Wilkerson is here with us to bring the Word of God. He pastors the great good church. based out of Miami, Florida, touching the world for Jesus Christ, I asked them to take this pulpit and preach God's word to you today. Bless so we're ready to receive it. Let's go, church. Welcome, Rich Wilkinson!

Come on, church, anybody happening to be in the house of the Lord today? Hey, come on. From around the world, right here in Charlotte, North Carolina, wherever you're at watching at home, whatever device you are watching from, can we just go ahead and give the Lord a big shout of praise? I'm telling you what, there's something in the atmosphere here. And I would just say to anyone who's watching is not here in the room today,

if you can be out one of these nights, you need to be here. Because the spirit of the God, the Spirit of God is moving in this place in a mighty way. And I was thinking just as we were worshiping, because, man, there's just such a tangible sense of God's presence. It is beautiful. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Religion makes you proud of you. Makes you proud of Jesus.

And I don't know about you, but I came into this house for one reason, which is to give the one true God. Come on, all the praise that he is worthy of all over this room. Come on, let's lift it up. Let's give him a shout all over the room today. We love you, Lord. We magnify you, God. We praise you, Lord. The angels are coming.

About to change my whole message. Turning into angels in the outfield. You got an angel with you now. That'll preach. That'll preach. do me a favor find a few people around you just say you look better than i remember you can grab a seat it is good to be in god's house today if you have a bible with you quickly reach for it if you don't have it we'll have it up on the screens for you turn with me to the book of mark mark chapter 6 is

where i want to share some thoughts today the lord has really put a message on my heart and i believe that we are all here today and i believe he's going to speak to us in a great and mighty way and I just got to be honest with you, it's always such a privilege and a real honor to get to come and preach behind this pulpit. This church is touching the world. And it's not just touching the world, it's touching me. And I'm so thankful for the ministry and the leadership of your pastors, Pastor Stephen and Holly. I just think that they're the world's finest. Not only are they just incredible preachers and leaders, yeah, we can put our hands together.

have been just very, very good friends to my wife and I, their children. We just admire this family. I think you need a vision and a reference for all areas of your life. Vision is that thing that gives pain purpose. And you need vision for marriage. You need vision for pastors. You need vision for your business. And you guys are just a huge reference point in our life. And we're just so thankful. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for encouraging us. I heard some dialogue in a movie the day and this question was asked. What's more important? The journey or the destination? And the man thought about it. And he responded, the company. That's how I kind of feel when I'm around them, that I don't really care what we're doing. I want to be a part of it. Whatever, wherever elevation's

at, whatever Pastor Stephen's doing, I just want to be around you guys. Thank you so much for your life. Thank you for who you are. Can we really put our hands again? Can we just thank God for them today? Amazing. Amazing. Come from Miami, Florida. that is where Jesus lives, if you've been wondering. A pastor at church called Vood Church, married to my wife, Donchri. She sends her greetings. And today I want to preach from Mark chapter 6, starting in verse 45.

Let me lay some groundwork, and then I'm going to preach this thing. This is what the scripture says, starting in verse 45. He says, immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Beth Sadia while he dismissed the crowd. And after leaving them, he went up on a mountainside. to pray. Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake and it was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn, he went out to them walking on the lake. He was about to pass them by, but when they saw

him walk on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out because they all saw him and were terrified immediately. Someone said immediately. immediately spoke to them and said, take courage, it is I, do not be afraid. Then Jesus climbed into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely, someone say completely. They were completely amazed. For they had not understood about the loaves. Their hearts were hardened. If you got a pen or something, maybe underlined that passage. Their hearts were hardened. When they had crossed over, they landed at Genneseret and Anchor. there and as soon as they got out of the boat people recognized Jesus they ran throughout the whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was and wherever he went into villages towns or countryside they placed the sick in the marketplaces they begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak and all who touched it were healed how many all know there's

more to the story anybody been enjoying the teaching and the preaching of your pastor these last few weeks. I just love it when he gets on. I love when he gets a word from God because all us preachers, we get a word from God. There certainly is more of the story. I think story and narrative is so important. The story you tell yourself will be the life that you live. What story are you telling yourself? But today I want to kind of draft off where you guys have been as a house. And this is what I know. I know that there's more of the story, but every story has a storm, but every storm has its purpose. And I want to preach for a few moments today from that subject.

The storm has its purpose. The storm has its purpose. Look at your neighbor. Say neighbor. The storm has its purpose. Look at your other neighbor than one you don't like so much. Hopefully you talk to your spouse first. Oh, dear God.

Say the storm has its purpose. I love the passage of scripture that we're reading today. This is Mark 6. This account of this storm takes place also in Matthew's Gospel. But here in Mark chapter 6, this is the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is interesting. I was just there recently, but it sits 700 feet below sea level. About 30 miles to the north is this big mountain range called Mount Hermann that sits high up in the air. And the cold air from that mountain will mix with that warm air from the sea. And if you go there, they'll tell you that there's quick, fast thunderstorms, massive waves that can kind of come out of nowhere. And I actually just got to go

finally for the first time to the Sea of Galilee back in November. I went Miami to the Sea of Galilee. Now, just saying that, right, it just sounds so easy. Miami to the Sea of Galilee. But how many of y'all know, it ain't that easy. we took a flight Miami to Tel Aviv, and I flew with my three children, ages five, three, and one and a half in economy to Tel Aviv. Now, it's funny because people start the year, it's like, yo, Lord, I really want you to stretch my faith. Very, very easy. Very, very easy. You want to build your faith in 2023. Get three toddlers. Take an international flight. The whole experience is just challenging.

You get on the airplane, and I can literally see people as I'm passing by the row. Sigh, go, thank God, they're not sitting next to me. Parents know what I'm talking about. I have one friend that when they travel with their kids, they bake cookies the night before because they pass it out to all of the passengers around them. People are like, thank you for the cookies. They're like, this is a peace offering. We took off, you know, it's a 14-hour-some flight.

and, you know, it's just these kids are going crazy, just trying to get to the Sea of Galilee. And on the way over there, we hit turbulence. You ever hit turbulence that's so heavy that you start confessing hidden sin? I'm talking about, we were hitting turbulence with these kids. Like, I'm just repenting going, God, if you're going to take me, take me now, you know? Some turbulence gets so bad, right? Like, you ever been in that kind of turbulence where, like, you could take a stone cold atheist, and they become a Holy Spirit, tongue-talking,

Pentecostal. There ain't no God, turbulence. He shun the obo shing that. I mean, like, bro, it was that kind of turbulence. I would sit on the front road. I was going to, man, it'd be cool if we could bring turbulence to church sometimes. Worship team would love that. Introducing a new song, not going so good.

Turbulance. Offering's kind of low. Try turbulence, you know. Altric call. Turbulent. Bro, I mean, it would work, right? The storm has its purpose. We landed, got the bags, got on the tour bus. I mean, it just took so much time, so many delays, finally to arrive at the Sea of Galilee. And I sort of just say that up front as an illustration that it sounds easy, Miami to the Sea of Galilee. But how do you all know, if you want to get to the Sea of Galilee, you're going to have to go through some stuff. It's just the reality. We live in a time right now where everybody wants to arrive, but not everybody wants to take the trip. I think we all want a life of purpose, but very few of us really want to walk through the process. If you want to get to, you've got to go through. This is a biblical principle that you must get deep down in your heart.

God is taking you to some stuff. No doubt about it. But more often than not, in order to get to, you're going to have to go through. I believe God is going to take you to mountain tops. You go from mountain top to mountain top, but you've got to go through the valley. He's going to take you from blessing to blessing, but you're going to have to walk through sacrifice. You're going to go from glory to glory, but you've got to walk through some suffering. And you're going to go from miracle to miracle.

But how do y'all know, you're going to actually. have to go through the storm. The storm has its purpose. I don't know who I'm preaching to today, but as you walked into this house, I just sensed it as we were singing. Many of you in this room, you are headed to a breakthrough. Some of you are headed to a promotion.

Some of you are headed to a miracle. Some of you are headed to a brand new season. But if you're going to get two, you've got to go through. Somebody said, amen in this room. We might have to bring some turbulence in this room today. because I believe that God wants to speak to you. I think through is one of God's favorite words. It's what Isaiah said.

He said, when you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. Anybody in this house today, can you testify that you're walking through something right now, but you believe in faith, God is going to get you. to the other side. If there's anybody like that in the room today, go ahead and give God some praise in this house. He's taking you through. Through we face some stuff. But we're going to have to get a new perspective on our storms, on our obstacles, on our opposition, on our challenges, because it's not a

question of if, it's a question of when. You will go through storms. You will go through difficult moments, but the story is bigger than you could ever imagine, so don't give up in the storm. Mark chapter 6 is the most beautiful illustration of this truth, because here's Jesus. He gets done doing this big miracle where he feeds 5,000 some people. He stole a kid's lunch, fed everybody, sends the disciples in a boat to the other side. They finally get to the other side. When they get to the other side, Jesus starts healing people over there. But in the middle of these two great miracles, they have to face a storm. It's interesting because I've read Mark 6 so many different times, but it's important that when you're reading the Bible, that here's the most

important rule about reading the Bible. Three rules, really. Context, context, context, and context. You have to put the text into context. And many times I used to always just kind of read devotional in Mark chapter 6, and I saw these guys in this storm, and it's, really, really interesting. It's no doubt about it, but you need the full context of what's taking place. Because I don't know if you see this, but when you go back in Mark chapter 6, we see that Jesus does a miracle to the masses, and then they go into a storm, and then Jesus gets over there to Ganeserat, and he does a miracle to individuals, but in between is a storm. And it got me kind of thinking, are you in a storm? Or are you just in between two

miracles. Are you in a storm or are you just in between the thing that God started and the thing that God's going to complete in you? If you will choose in your spirit today, I'm not going to back down. I'm going to keep moving forward. Do not place a period where God has placed a comma. He's taking you through. This thing will not take you out. You're going to get to the other side. The storm has its purpose. Are you in a storm? Are you just in between two miracles? I've just decided recently. When I'm in turbulence, oh, he's taking me through.

I've just decided I'm going to tell myself over and over again. I'm just in between two great things that God is doing. When I look at the text, there's just a few basic observations that can help you. We could make lots of observations, but let's just make a few today. Because if you're in a difficult moment, if you're in the middle of your story and you're thinking about quitting or you're wanting to give up, the word of the Lord for you today is simply this. The storm has its purpose. It's not that I think that God plans all of our storms, but I certainly think that God will use all of our storms. He will use what you are going through and he will bring meaning and purpose if you'll look a little

bit deeper. The first reason why I believe that God lets us go through storms and the purpose of the storms, that storms make you realize you're not in control. The scripture says that he sends the disciples in the boat to the other side. And that little passage right there, Mark 6, verse 50, or yeah, immediately, let me see it. I don't have it right there. Mark chapter 6, it says that they were straining at the oars. I don't know if you guys can bring that verse up. They were straining at the oars with all of their might. I love that picture, because here's this picture of these disciples trying to get to the other side. But as they put all of their effort, as they put all of their energy, they are unable in their own strength to get there.

How many of all know? It's one thing when you fail and you didn't really try. It's another thing when you put your heart, your soul, all of your focus into something and you came up short. These disciples are doing everything they possibly can in their effort to get to the other side. That's what Jesus had promised them. That's what Jesus had told them. That's what Jesus had told them. Jesus said, get in the boat and go to the other side. They're just obeying. Isn't that amazing? You can obey Jesus and it can lead you into a storm. I think sometimes we're like, oh my goodness, if I just follow God, everything's going to be perfect and easy. Read the words of Jesus. A wise man built his house on the rock and a foolish man built his house on the sand. And when the storm came,

the wise man's house stood strong and the foolish man's house collapsed. Did you catch it? Wisdom doesn't prevent storms. Educated. You can be at church every week. You can do all the right stuff and still have to face a storm. I don't get to control it. All I get to do is prepare my spirit it and my foundation for it so that when the wind does come and when the rains do come, this house it might bend, but it's not going to pray. And some of us in this room today, we need to be reminded we are not in control. And it's only in a storm that you realize, oh, wow, I'm telling you can have all the money in the bank account, you can be educated, you can have the dream job, dream girl,

but all it takes is one little storm. All it takes is a phone call from the doctor. You have cancer. I don't care how healthy you are. I don't care how many sit-ups you can do. You can't stop cancer. I don't care how much resource you have. There are certain things that push you back and go,

I'm not in control, but there is something about our God that he loves it. When we realize and we are reminded, we are not in control. The scripture says that there they are. They're straining at the oars. You gotta love Jesus. Jesus leaves his place of prayer

and he walks out onto the water to them. I just, and these guys go, oh, it's a ghost. Which is hilarious, because the only thing worse than being in a storm is having a ghost in your storm. This is a bad day. But it's not a ghost.

it's Jesus. It's not a ghost. It's, it's Jesus. But they're in the storm, right? They're dealing with the financial pressure. They're dealing with the breakup. They're dealing with the heartache. They're dealing with the addiction. They're dealing with the pain. We've got all these things that start clouding that we can't see Jesus. And the rain's coming and the wind is blowing and it's dark outside. And I can't see Jesus. I can't see Jesus. And Jesus is coming to help me. But I don't feel like helps on the way. I'm scared. I'm trying to be, I'm trying to row. I'm trying to get there, and all the while Jesus is looking right at him. Old preacher one time came through and told a story, said the house was on fire, and the father came home, and when he got home, he saw his little boy up in the window.

And the little boy was standing in the window, two stories up, and the smoke is rising, the place is on fire, and the dad shouts out to the little boy, son, jump. And the son's up there. He says, Dad, is that you? The dad says, yes, son, jump. And the son says, but dad, I can't see you through the fire. And the dad said, son, I know, but I can see you. And I felt like I wanted to preach to someone today that you might be in the middle of the storm.

And you might be saying, I can't see Jesus. I hear you. But the good news is he can see you. He's walking through it and he's on the way to you. He sees you. The storm has its purpose. You are not in control. Here comes Jesus walking on water.

And when he shows up, sometimes Jesus says stuff in the Bible that you actually have to just let it sink in because it's hilarious and also it's like, well, it's not cool at all. That's not cool. That's not what I need right now. What does he do?

Walks in the water, dun ta-da-da. Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid. It's funny and it's also kind of like mean. bro, our boat is sinking. The wind is blood. I know. Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid. This is fascinating because this is our story. Many times when Jesus shows up, we want him to

still the storm and then we'll take courage. It's not how faith works. where's all the control freaks? Look at these feeling. Me, you know? I don't know. You ever interview an Uber driver? Control freak, you know? What's your record, bro?

Let me see a license. We're control freaks. We want to be in control. But look at Mark chapter 6, verse 50. This is important. Jesus says, immediately he spoke to them and said, take courage. It is I.

Do not be afraid. Notice when Jesus shows up on the scene. He doesn't say, take control. It is I. Do not be afraid. That's what we all want to do. When we're in a storm, when we're like feeling out of control, when pain's it in our life, when something's coming our way, our knee-jerk reaction is, I need to take control. But that's not the faith journey. You don't get to take control. You get to take courage. And a storm remind you, you're not in control. So what do I do, Rich?

When you're in a storm, you don't take control. You take courage. Control is God's responsibility. Courage is mine. I'm going to face this thing head on, believing that the storm has its purpose. You take courage. Watch what God will do. I've just seen it. I can testify about it over and over again. God comes through. Take courage. What is courage? Does that mean I don't have any fear? Nah. Courage is simply the ability to face your fear. I'm done running from it. I'm done carrying it. Today's the day. I'm going to walk through it. He's taking you to the other side, but you're going to have to go through some stuff. The scripture says that Jesus says, take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid. And then the Bible says he gets into the boat and immediately the storm settles. See, I think the purpose of the storm is not just around us that we're not in control. The purpose of the storm, is always at a give way to new revelations. If you could get this today. The Bible says immediately the storm settled.

In fact, I think we've got it. Matthew chapter 14, because I just want to cross-reference. This is important. This is like the first time that the disciples even realize that Jesus is divine. Matthew 14, verse 32. And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. and those who were in the boat worshipped him saying truly you are the son of God. It took a storm.

It took a storm for the disciples to realize Jesus is divine. Immediately the wind and the waves died down. You ever notice that we're obsessed with suddenly and immediate type of things? That's what's going on. Bro, like right now, God, do it now. You know, I want it now. Suddenly. I grew up in Pentecost church, suddenly.

And I'm all four suddenly. I'm all four immediate. In fact, God could do something immediate in your life today. But what I have learned more often than not is that God who does suddenly immediate right now type of things is usually on the heels of people who are patiently, slowly, faithfully, consistently pursuing him. God moves suddenly for those who pursue him patiently.

Why? Because this is what nobody told me when I was 18, getting into the ministry, is that God is slow fast. This is so important. God is so slow. Like, slow, bro. Slow, bro. So slow. It's just like, it's so slow following God.

Like, here I am. I met church again, my call time an hour before. Here we go. We're going to sing some songs. We're going to give the offering. We're going to word. Okay. Invitation and go e-group and, you know, watch online and slow, slow, ho-hum, ho-hum, slow, slow, slow, and then boom, immediate. I remember the first time I met Don Sri. I'm just slowly following it. Slow. Front row, kind of a service like this, look up. Immediately. Boom. Who's that? I saw her, I choose you. In one moment I changed all of my doctrine.

I named it and claimed. I choose you. Because following God, you got to get this, is so slow. And then it's immediate. And then it's breakthrough. And then it's, wow, there's the idea. Oh, there's the song. Oh, that's the word I was looking for.

Oh, that's what I needed. Oh, there's my healing. Oh, there's my promotion. Oh, I got to the other side because God is slow. Come on, somebody. And then he's fast. You need God to do something immediate. Just slowly pursue him.

Faithfully follow him. Because the scripture says these guys are straining at the oars. We are not in control. In all of our might, with all of our flesh, I cannot get to the other side. But thank God for Jesus. Here he comes walking on the water. Don't take control, take courage, face the storm, gets in the boat, and immediately the storm settles, and then they start worshiping him. I think these guys kind of got some of it right, like it's good to worship Jesus, but I want to be a person and I want to build a church that doesn't worship Jesus on the other side of the storm.

Come on, I want to worship him like I'm in the middle of the turbulence, believing that he is the son of God, that at any moment, even though the ground beneath me is shaking, my faith is being fortified and solidified, and I'm going to worship you for who you really are. I got a revelation that you're in control of the storm. Somebody give God some praise. Let's bring some turbulence in the room today. The storm has its purpose.

And the Bible says, the Bible says, that when the storm settled, then they worshipped him as son of God. Wow! Now I know who you are. In fact, look at this. Mark chapter 6, verse 51. Then he climbed into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely, I love this, completely amazed. For they had not understood this is so good about the loaves. Their hearts were hardened. You got to see that. Because some of you today, you think if you could see some miraculous sign, you think if you could just, wow, then you'd

you would be worshipping. Remember the context. Just a few verses earlier, he feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. But the disciples had already forgotten the most epic miracles. Manly has ever seen.

How many all know? Our faith suffers when we forget. And I could come back into a five-week series here at Elevation Church. Because God has been faithful to this house, God has moved in ways that many of us have never ever seen. And some of us, we think we need a new word from God, but in reality, you just need to get back to that old revelation of awe and wonder.

I know what he's done in the past. My faith suffers when I forget. And there they are in the storm, and their hearts had become hardened, because they forgot about the lobes. And just so we get some clarity, because this is really important, because there's always more to the story. The scripture says that he feeds 5,000, more like probably 15,000 people.

And if you can remember, the scripture says that there was leftovers. Your mama did not invent that at Thanksgiving. Jesus is Lord of the leftovers. He's not the God of enough, whoever's watching online right now. He is the God of more than enough. Can somebody give him some praise

if you believe he's got everything you need? More than enough. Any Bible nerds in the house, remember exactly how much more enough there was? There was 12 baskets left. Any other Bible nerds? How many disciples did Jesus have?

Hey guys, I'm doing a miracle over here. It's for all the masses. I just want to let you know, you're about to enter into a storm. Don't worry, I've packed you lunch. You've each got a basket full of food so that when you get into that storm, I want to remind you, I've already got a solution to the problem. you didn't even know existed. I want you to worship God the day in faith. Maybe you're in the

middle of turbulence right now. Maybe you're in the middle of a storm right now, but there is more to the story. The storm has its purpose. Storm has its purpose. Many of us, we would never know he's a healer until we got sick. Many of us would never know he was a restore until our heart was broken. You wouldn't know he was a deliver unless you got addicted. We can go through it. The storm is revealing something about his character and nature that you need on your journey. It has a purpose. I was in Chicago this summer and we preachers, if you don't know, just everywhere we go, even on vacation, we're just collecting sermons. And I was taking this tour of Chicago, which is notably one of the best or most impressively designed cities in all of the world.

It wins architecture and all sorts of awards every year. They have a three-layer. highway. I mean, it's remarkable stuff. And I'm on this tour with my family, and this tour guide is just, she's blowing my mind. She's up there just, she's like an art history major, and she's just dropping truth. I'm like, dang, this is, she said, you know, Chicago has more skyscrapers than any other city. And what's amazing about skyscrapers, if you don't know, is that they're built in such a way that they're made to sway so they don't snap. I was like, you want to preach at my church this Sunday? You got that sway, annoying. Not going to snap, sway with it.

In the storm, you've got a sway. But she told me, look at some of y'all, love that. Calm down. She told the story of, if you don't know about it, 1871 was the great Chicago fire. It's like the largest urban fire recorded ever. And it burned up about three square miles, 300 buildings destroyed,

or 17,000 buildings destroyed 300, some people lost their life. It's a really, really wild story because the fire began, but then it jumped into the river and the river was so polluted that it kept burning through the river and it ended up hitting a paper mill. That's not a good place for a fire to hit. And with it, it just spread and it devastated and destroyed the city. I mean, complete annihilation, complete destruction. But what's fascinating, as you study the history of Chicago, is that devastation probably became the reason for all of its innovation.

Because would you believe that just 15 years later, the skyscraper was invented? Do you know where it was invented? Chicago. Why? Because so often, in devastation, when all of a sudden things come through, I get a new revelation. I get a new idea. I discover who my God is. And I just felt it in my spirit today that God has big things in store for you. There is more to the story. But you need to lean into this moment right now. You're not in a storm. You're in between two miracles. He's taking you from glory to glory. He's taking you from

miracle to miracle. But you've got to go through the storm. I don't know what awaits you on the other side, but God has something good. If you believe it, somebody puts your hands together all over this room. storm has its purpose. The storm has its purpose. As the worship team makes their way up here, it's just storms, they remind us we're not in control. Storms give away to new revelations, but storms also create the perfect stage for an audacious response. I just, I know this is a word for some people here today. Problems are platforms for God to show off. We all want miracles, but we don't want problems. Problems. We don't want problems. Problems. are a prerequisite to a miracle. Your storm is a stage for God. He's going to show off.

We wouldn't never have the story of Jesus walking on water if there wasn't a storm. But what's amazing about March chapter 6 is Matthew 14 tells the same story, but there's some other information given to us. In Matthew 14, we see it's not just Jesus who walks on the water. But so does Peter. Peter. Some of you like, Peter ain't smarter than you.

Peter's not more theologically sound than you. Peter sin just as bad as you sin. Isn't it amazing? Peter and Judas, same sin. What if Judas is just would have waited? One more day. Peter goes back to community.

He's back to fishing. It cures him. Judas goes into isolation and it just intensifies his pain. It takes matter and it takes control. Scripture says that they're out on that water and Jesus walks out on the water. Take courage. It is I.

Do not be afraid. Some of you say, you've got to take courage. That's the right word. That's aggressive language. You got to take it. You got to put it on. You got to choose it. I got to take it on Monday.

I got to take it on it. I got to take courage. The Bible says as Jesus is out there, Peter sees him. Peter's in the boat. And when Peter sees him, Peter gets the idea, Lord, is that really you? And Jesus says, it's me. And Peter goes, well, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water.

I love it because here's the gospel in one word. Those of you that are watching online, Jesus says, come, come. Everybody needs saving. Yet to all who received him and believed in his name, he gave them the right to be called children of God. Come to me. All you are weary and heavy burden. And I will give you rest. Come. Whatever you're carrying today. Whatever you're facing today. Whatever you're walking with today. Just come to Jesus. And Peter, he doesn't think about it. He just listens to Jesus. And he steps out and my man starts walking on water. Peter, the cussing sailor, is walking on the

water. The scripture says that when he started looking at the wind and the waves, he started to sink. Isn't that fascinating? You can't even see wind. That's how. this world works. The devil wants you to focus your attention on things that are not real, things that you can't even see, imaginations in your mind, thoughts that he put in your brain. Here's how the kingdom of God works. Close your eyes and open up your ears. Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of the Lord. 17 years of age, I got a word from God and I have been clinging to it now for 20 plus years. Get a word from God. Don't let anyone get in the way of that. I hear you, Jesus, I hear you Jesus, I hear you Jesus.

I can hear Jesus. Peter, one step at a time. And the scripture says, he starts looking at the wind and the waves. And he begins to sink. You see, adversity is always a great time for audacity. And Peter started right, I'm in a storm. But maybe this storm could be a stage for the glory of God. He starts walking. And as he starts sinking, he's freaking out.

You got to love Jesus because it's a picture of grace. He comes on over there, and he puts his hand to him. And he helps him back up. And he says, Peter, you have little faith. Why did you doubt? It's amazing because I've heard that preach so many times in church. You've got to have great faith. Peter had little faith. Am I my homie? You ever walk on water? And good news to everybody who's here today, who's not churchy, who doesn't know how to speak in Christianese. What could you do today with some average faith? It's never been the size of your faith. It's always been about the size of your God. the strength of your faith, friend. It's the object of your faith. My faith is attached to Jesus. Adversity is a great moment for audacity, and storms create a wonderful stage for an audacious

response. We're still telling the story of Peter. My kids were in Vuk Kids last week in Miami. Wyatt came on. I said, what did you learn in church? He said, I heard about the man and walked down the water. I want to say when I get to heaven, hey Peter, I know that storm was scary, but man, what a story it turned out to be. What's a story without a storm? What's a story without some struggle? Some of you curse in every struggle. God, just get me through this.

Why not pray? God, give me faith. Give me a capacity to face the storm, to keep moving. God, there's a purpose in the storm. There's a purpose in the storm. Here's what's amazing to me. I didn't see this until just recently. We're not reading Matthew 4th.

we're reading Mark chapter 6. Just important for all the Bible people out there. Mark was not a disciple of Jesus. Mark was a disciple of Peter. Almost all scholars and theologians believed that Peter dictated to Mark the gospel of Mark. So why is this important? I'm saying it's important because in Matthew's gospel,

Matthew remembers that night, not just Jesus walking on water, he also says, yo, I was there. And Peter walked on water too. I think what's wild to me is that if I'm Peter, I won't be you, I'll be me. And I'm telling this story to my disciple,

I'm like, yo, bro, night was crazy. Everyone was afraid. I was a little, but everyone was freaking out. I was little, but not as much as the rest of the guys. You'll see in a second. Why?

So we're out there, and everyone's rowing so hard, but I was praying. I was praying, I was worshiping. And all of a sudden, there came to celestial being. I knew. I knew it was Jesus. I just know God is good all the time and all the time he's good. All right. And I saw Jesus and I was like, yo, Jesus. What you say? I come there and hang out with you. And he said, come. And so it was just, you know, one small step for humanity, but one

giant step for the global church of Jesus Christ. If I was Peter, that's how I would have told the story. Jesus is awesome. Whoa! You should have seen me that night. We don't know for certain.

Somehow when we read the story, it seems as if when Peter starts telling his side of the story, it seems like he leaves out the most important part. but maybe, just maybe, to Peter, the most important part wasn't him walking on water. Maybe, just maybe Peter had a revelation that the most important part was solely and simply Jesus walking on water. Can I tell you something today?

Some of you are in a storm. You are in a crisis. You are in a challenge. You are facing real difficulty. But something tells me if you will faithfully, follow Jesus. You're going to get to the other side of this thing, and one day you will testify from your experience in the storm. And when you look back, you're not going to talk about your great faith. You're going to talk about the great grace of Jesus Christ, the God who came to you

and found you and met you right there in the middle of your mess. The storm has its purpose, and it's the glory of God. It's the grace of God. I love preaching about faith from this text, But can we just all be honest? It is impressive that Jesus walked on water. But if he is God, he can walk on it. This is not a story about walking on water? My depravity. And he said there's no mountain too high.

There's no valley too low. He'll walk over the failed marriage. He'll walk over the broken business. He'll walk right through the addiction. He'll walk right on top of your anxiety. Your depression does not scare him. He can walk on top of things. He's on the way to you.

He's coming to you because he wants to take you through. Storm has its purpose. The storm has its purpose. The storm has its purpose. The storm has its purpose. If I can just get you to think that way tomorrow at work, we have one today. If we get to Friday and you are still facing something, but you could just tell yourself, I got a little message.

I don't remember all the message. I don't remember all the Bible verses, but I know this. The storm has its purpose. There's more to the story. Every story has a storm. And every storm has a purpose. We've won. See, when you're in a storm and we're closing,

how many know? It's hard to see. And you start forgetting who you are. You know you're in a storm when you start praying prayers like, God, I need a sign. You ever negotiate with God? God, if you'll just do this, I promise you. That's when you know you're desperate. This past summer, I was on a break.

I don't pray this prayer as much, but I was on this vacation. There was some stuff going on with our staff and our, back home. And I just know they needed their pastor. I know they needed a word from God. And I'm just sitting there on break, watching Netflix shows going, God, give me a sign.

For three days, I prayed, God, give me a sign. God, give me a sign. And after like day three, I don't know, you know, we're just blind to stuff. This, I was rent in this house and this is the sign that was above the television. We pulled that up.

So I'm praying this, God, give me a sign. God give me a sign. And above the TV, it's like, took me three days. Like, you know, sometimes I'm like, God is like, how dull are you, you know? He calls us sheep, study sheep, not smart animals, you know. God give me a sign, God give me a sign, three days. God give me a sign, God give me a sign. Finally, day three, I'm like, there's a sign above the television. Wow. I didn't, I had no idea what it meant. To my knowledge, I'd never really seen it, but it was crazy because I was watching some TV show this summer about some Navy SEAL, despair the details. And in the background of the show,

day two, is that exact same sign. I'm like, woo. Got to ever do that? Woo. The next day I'm on the lake, I'm at some restaurant and hanging on the wall is the sign. I'm like, woo. Day three, sometimes I'm like, is Apple listening to me or is this the spirit of God? Is this technology or prophecy? because I got to tell you this, because I got an email that popped up from 2016 for my good friend Levi Lusco, is it there? It was an email that he sent me that I had screenshot it

because I liked it. He had done some thing with this. I was like, what is in the world? While I was finishing my vacation and I was actually scheduled to go preach in Montana, I walk into Levi Lusco's office and look what's hanging on the wall. Can we go to the next one?

Watch this. So this is what Pentecostal is doing this moment. I called our general manager because I was flying back for staff retreat. And I said, for staff retreat, buy 100 mugs that say don't give up the ship. My guy goes, Pastor, what does it mean? I said, I have no idea. After we had ordered the mugs, I decided, what does this mean?

And I found out the history of it that in the war of 1812, Captain James Lawrence, they had been attacked and their ship was going down and he was dying on the ship. And his last and final dying words were, don't give up the ship. that's cool that's a good battle cry you know i i guess today now it's become an anthem in the marine corps navy seals you'll see it all over the place and that's very very meaningful but i didn't understand god what do you mean don't give up don't give up the ship lord what don't give up the ship what am i what are we going to battle this year what's happening like i don't what are we talking about and i just kept praying kept thinking don't give up the ship don't give up the ship don't give up the ship don't

give up the ship. Don't give up, Rich. This year, don't give up. Every story has a storm. Every story has a struggle. Don't give up the ship. Don't give up the storm. Don't give up the storm. Don't give up the storm has its purpose. Don't give up the ship. Don't give up the storm has its purpose. We have a Voo church. We just started looking at each other and say, you're struggling? If you're struggling, if you're in a challenge, you can be struggling and becoming all in the same sentence. Are you in a storm? You are on your way to the other side.

Do not forget who you are. Don't give up the ship. Don't give up. The storm has its purpose. There's a purpose in your struggle. There's a purpose in your storm. And if I was at my church and I was preaching to my congregation, I would just get fancy with it. I'd just start saying all sorts of stuff.

I would say, don't give up the discipleship. Say, don't give up the stewardship. I would say don't give up the friendship. I would say don't give up the worship. Because you are a worshiper, no matter what you're facing. And as you start to worship God, you're going to be made aware of his presence. He is with you in every struggle. He is with you in every storm.

And if he told you, he's in the storm. What he told you on to the ship. Don't give up. Come on somebody. Give God some praise. He's not against you. He's not against you. you, he's for you, he's for you. He has a plan, he has a purpose. There's purpose to the pain.

This storm has a purpose. Don't give up the ship. Don't give up this week. Don't give up. This storm has its purpose. It has its purpose. You're not in control, but you could take courage. You're going to learn something about God. You're going to see something about him. You're going discover something about him. The intimacy of your relationship is going to grow because of this pain, because of this suffering, because of this heartache. Oh, this is a perfect moment right now. for an audacious response. You want that type of faith that walks on water, then you got to get out there in the middle of the storm.

But you watch as your God shows up, he will never leave you, he will never forsake you. God, I pray over every person in this room right now. God, who's struggling. God, any person who's in this room today that walked in today watching online about to give up on the brink of quitting,

God, may we hear it from heaven. We're dependent upon you. If that's your life, you're just desperate for God. Sometimes a war just has to unlock something inside of you. Just lift your hands right there. Just lift your hands right there. Receive, receive, receive. He doesn't encourage you in your strength.

He encourages you in his strength. He says, I'm with you. I'm for you. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Read the verse. It doesn't say the weapon won't be formed. It just declares mightily. It will not prosper.

I got a sense in my spirit that the enemy's coming to attack some people. But hear the prophecy of the Lord that when the enemy shows up at your house, there is a sign. And it says, beware of God. This house is protected. This house is covered. This house, he's fighting for you. God, we receive, we receive, we receive. God, we receive, we receive.

we receive God we cannot stop the storms but Lord may we prepare today may we build on a solid rock if you're here today and you've never met Jesus I'm telling you what this is the gospel for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life for God did not send his son the world to condemn the world but to save the world I don't know what somebody told you but God is not mad at you. He is madly in love with you. He's the God who got up out of heaven, came down to this earth, walked in the middle of our mess, in the middle of our sin, just to save us. He's for you. He's for you. He's for you. But he gives you the opportunity to receive. If that's you today, all over the world today,

you might be in a storm, but maybe this storm has a purpose that you would meet your Savior. if you're desperate today, if you're hurting today, he's here. On the count of three, if that you say, Rich, I need Jesus. I want to commit my life to Jesus. I recognize my sin and my mistakes. You don't need a preacher to tell you how bad you are. You need a preacher to remind you about how good your God is. He's bigger than your sin.

If that's you on the count of three, just be bold. On the count of three, you just lift your hand up high enough and long enough just so I can see it. I want to include you in this prayer of salvation. That's you. That's me, Rich. I want Jesus to be the Lord of my life online. Ready, one. The Bible says today's that day. Two, don't look at your neighbor. It's not about your neighbor. It's between you and Jesus. Ready. One, two, three. That's you lift up. That's me, Rich. That's me. That's me. That's me. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Come on, church. Can we all lift our hands towards heaven? Let's pray this prayer. Say, dear Jesus, today, I give you my life. Forgive me. I believe you are who

you said that you are. Today I choose to follow you. Thank you for loving me. I confess that my storm has a purpose. I'm not going to doubt. I'm not going to quit. I'm going to follow you. In Jesus' name, come on, everybody said. Come on, Elevation Church. Can we go ahead and give God a big shout of praise? Hey, thank you for watching the Elevation Church YouTube. I want you to subscribe. That way you can know when go live and post new content, make sure leave me a comment. Let me know what spoke to you today, where you're watching from, and what we can pray for you about. And if you'd like to support the ministry financially, you can click the give button now and help us continue reaching people around the world for Jesus Christ. Thanks again. I'll see you next time. This is an IHeart

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