Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

I am honored to stand before this congregation, this group of esteemed, and faithfully called men who sit on this ordination council (which let me just say is quite intimidating.

considering there are more degrees on this council, than myself, much less any thermometer’s that I own).

Pastor Mike, and to each of you faithful men here today, who wield the sword of God’s Word, day in and day out, I am humbled by your obedience to your calling and to shepherd those to whom you’ve have been called to shepherd.

It truly is an honor.

And to my good friend Gardner.

I am honored to stand here among this group and to be a part of this day where: pastors, family, friends, and the very congregation who has raised you up -- also send you out.

There is no doubt God has placed a mighty calling on your life with a passion for the gospel.

With that said to Brother Mike and Suluria Baptist Church, I say well done, and to God be the glory.

My heart if full, my heart is grateful; and I am astounded to find myself in this position to speak this charge over you, Sarah, and this church.

As astounded as I am, I am deeply honored.

But today, My brother, I want you to hear this:

Ministry is difficult but “take heart;” Jesus had got you.

Why on earth would on earth would I want you to cling to these words?

Because one thing the Bible shows us consistently, from Genesis to Revelation, is that we…are a forgetful people.

I say this often, the more I read the Scriptures the more I am convinced that the word “Remember” is one of the most important words in the Bible.

Because we (as fallen creatures made in the image of God) bear the curse of sin and the effects of it’s short memory.

Why on earth would on earth would I want you to cling to these words?

Because one thing the Bible shows us consistently, from Genesis to Revelation, is that we…are a forgetful people.

I say this often, the more I read the Scriptures the more I am convinced that the word “Remember” is one of the most important words in the Bible.

Because we (as fallen creatures made in the image of God) bear the curse of sin and the effects of it’s short memory.

If you would please turn with me in your Bibles to the Gospel of Mark found in the New Testament.

We will be reading from , starting in verse 45...

Mark 6:

This is the Word of the Lord.

Let’s Pray:

Father God, be with us now as you allow us to see Your living Word, hear Your living and even experience Your breath through the presence of the Holy Spirit’s as we encounter all that You are through the finished work of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Gardener, I want to understand as we unpack this text that: Ministry is difficult but “take heart;” Jesus had got you.

Let’s walk through a few things that will show you this truth is this passage and even a few others.

REMEMBER GOD HAS CALLED YOU

In v. 45, the text tells us that, “Immediately he [Jesus] made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

Just for context sake, what had just happened?

Jesus was teaching a large group because they were following him around and, well the crowd decided to hang out.

The disciples were freaking out, well because they didn’t have food and there was like 5000 plus there.

These are the same disciple mind you who saw Jesus heal...

- a man with an unclean Spirit; then they went to Peter’s house his mother-in-law is sick, he heals here and then the whole town (1:32-33); Then he cleanses a leper

- He heals a paralytic

- And man with a withered hand

They are seeing all of this healing, now we come upon

Mark 3:13-15

Jesus called these guys to himself (those whom he desired and they came to him…ooooh…I don’t have time—but there is a lot there- just saying).

Miracle after miracle these guys see Jesus do incredible things...

If you look at the Bible tells us not only have they witnessed some amazing stuff and heard teaching after teaching, now it’s time for this group to get after it...

Mark 6:7-13

Gardner, Jesus is trying to teach these brother what the Apostle Paul said to the Church at Thessalonica, “If He calls you to it…HE will do it!”

But you must remember that!

Ministry is difficult but “take heart;” Jesus is with you.

Now here we circle back around the Gospel of Mark to Chapter 6, v.36 for the feeding of the 5000.

This same group of men whom “Christ desired and they came to him...” This same bunch who have witnessed miracle after miracle, and even gone out in the authority of Jesus and healed and cast out demons are looking at all these ppl and say, “ Hey Jesus, it’s getting late tell all these hangry people to go get something to eat, we are in the middle of nowhere.”

Jesus said, “No you feed them.”

“But Jesus we don’t have those kinds of snacks.

So Jesus takes a kids 2 piece fish dinner and some hushpuppies and feeds them all.

Look at v. 42...

The disciple struggled with remembering...

Now here we circle back around the Gospel of Mark to Chapter 6, v.36 for the feeding of the 5000.

This same group of men whom “Christ desired and they came to him...” This same bunch who have witnessed miracle after miracle, and even gone out in the authority of Jesus and healed and cast out demons are looking at all these ppl and say, “ Hey Jesus, it’s getting late tell all these hangry people to go get something to eat, we are in the middle of nowhere.”

Jesus said, “No you feed them.”

“But Jesus we don’t have those kinds of snacks.

So Jesus takes a kids 2 piece fish dinner and some hushpuppies and feeds them all.

Look at v. 42...

Mark 6:

That’s how you know they weren’t baptist, first of all it wasn’t fried chicken and all were satisfied.

Come on.

So back to our text...

“Immediately [Jesus] made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,..., while he dismissed the crowd.”

Jesus’ use of ἐγώ εἰμί (egō eimi) in the absolute sense (“I am”) draws on Exod 3:14 and other Old Testament passages where the phrase clearly refers to God.

In using the expression, Jesus seems to be explicitly identifying Himself with Yahweh, asserting His eternality, self-existence, and changelessness, and claiming to bear Yahweh’s presence on Earth.

Jesus employs this absolute sense of ἐγώ εἰμί (egō eimi) in the Gospels, particularly in the Gospel of John (Matt 14:27; Mark 6:50; 14:62; Luke 22:70; John 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19; 18:6).

The consistent use of the present-tense “I am”—rather than the past-tense “I was”—suggests that the phrase has changelessness in view.

Many translations supply the word “he” (“I am he”) to avoid an awkward ending to the phrase; however, this term is not present in the Greek text.

REMEMBER TO RECHARGE WITH PRAYER

Mark

We read in the Bible where the disciples were always falling asleep when they were supposed to be praying… not Jesus.

You know Jesus was tired…but he made time for His Father.

In order to Shepherd the flock of God you too must spend time alone with your Heavenly Father in prayer.

REMEMBER JESUS HAS GOT YOU

v.48 Jesus saw that they were making headway painfully!!!

Why because the wind was against them.

Gardner, my brother…that is ministry; that’s is life in this fallen world.

This broken world doesn’t care that you are degreed up,

this place doesn’t care that you are on your way to your MDiv;

that you are hitting the next season of life,

about to get married,

moving to New Orleans…

Brother hear me…this broken place doesn’t care.

But Jesus…, Jesus does!

There is a wind ready to blow and fight you back and make your next step difficult, make your next paper a beast, your next church full of a bunch of sinners who don’t know how to act right.

There is a wind ready to blow you down.

It’s coming at you and it’s painful.

Ministry is difficult but “take heart;” Jesus has got you.

4th watch of night is about 3am to 6am

V. 48- 4th watch of night is about 3am to 6am

These guys were fisherman…they knew there way around a boat they thought they had this.

I love at the end of v.48 it said Jesus was about to pass them by.

Mark

Now when I was a youth pastor and much younger (like 4 years ago) I remembering reading this and running to my Senior Pastor’s office like I had discovered the holy grail!

When Jesus said, “take heart; it is I...” to a bunch of terrified fisherman who had forgotten the power of the living Messiah in his healing and feeding and ministering…but to a good Jewish fisherman who had grown up memorizing the Torah, knowing the story of Moses…one of their heroes…as they sat there on that water watching Jesus watch across a lake where the wind was given them fits.

The supernatural experience isn’t that Jesus was walking on the water…It’s in the proclamation of “Take heart; IT .”

The very words that God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush.