Mark 4

35   And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36   And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37   And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38   And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39   And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40   And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Rest:

–noun

3.            relief or freedom, esp. from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs.

5.            mental or spiritual calm; tranquillity.

–verb (used without object)

16.          to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor.

17.          to be at ease; have tranquillity or peace.

Middle:

intermediate or intervening: the middle distance.

Not the beginning and not the end.

They found themselves in the middle of the sea and a storm.

·        I know its New Years eve and we may call this a years end and the start of a new year, a new decade.  But for many of us here tonight we are caught in the middle without any rest.

·        We are not at the beginning of our journey and we are not at the end.  We are in the middle.

·        We don’t feel the relief or freedom, the calm tranquility that brings peace.

It’s not just the members of this congregation it the city, state, country and world we live in today.  We are raising families to live in the middle, and to live without rest.

·        The unemployment turn around is in the middle

·        Our finances are in the middle, many of us have some health issues that are in the middle.

·        Our ability to witness and be the ambassadors of Christ is in the middle

·        Our service, submission, and sacrifices are in the middle.

There are many examples of the stress and fear that we experience while in the middle!

Crossing the ocean on a boat.

o   Do I have the supplies

o   Do I have the right direction

o   Do I have the strength

·        The 50 yard line.

·        Half way into paying off those credit cards.

o   Should I keep paying or start spending?

·        Halfway through a meal.

o   Is there enough food?

o   How does it taste?

o   Will they like it?

·        Halfway through raising your children

·        And Living for God.

Halfway is always the hardest.

Most of us think we have it all figured out when we start on a journey.

The middle will cause you to question everything!

Was this the right decision?

Is this what I really want?

Doubt, fear, anxiety, suspense, suspicions, distress, lack of trust, withdrawn.

Our flesh and spirit is tempted to go back to the safe zone, go back to where you started.  And too many times, we do just that and YOU NEVER REACH THE POTENTIAL THAT GOD HAS FOR YOU.

You miss out, your family misses out, the church misses out and God must find another vessel willing to Go to the other side.

Matthew 25

19   After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

 20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

 21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 22  He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

 23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

 24  Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

 25  And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

 26  His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

·        The reward for the 1^st was the same reward for the 2^nd.

o   Church I need you to understand that we are not in a competition with each other to be the 1^st. 

·        We need to be part of the inspiration to be moving towards the end.

o   As long as we are applying our talents, our abilities.  As long as we leave the starting point and we tarry on.  There is a reward for being faithful in the middle!

Hebrews 10

23   Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 26  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  
 

In 2010 we need to provoke one another to greater Love, greater works.  We are in the middle and as a body we need to make it to the other side.

·        More Life:  Family / Marriage / Finance /Health

·        More Outreach:  Encourage / Server / Support

·        More Virtue:  Salvation / Service / Sacrifice / Submission

·        More Evangelism:  Preaching / Teaching / Ministering

Mark 4:35   And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

God’s promises and for you!  Gods word will never return void.

Mark 5:1     And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

The reason we cannot get any rest in the middle, is because we lose or forget the reason we cast off from the shore.

·        Why did you give your life to God?

·        Why did you marry your spouse?

·        Why did you stop drinking?

·        What caused you to change?

Will going back to the starting point really give you the rest you are looking for?  Will it give the freedom and peace that caused you to leave it behind?

The middle is not a bad place to be, you are on your way to become the potential that God has for you.

2010 is going to be a great year for you, your family, this church…Because you are in the middle and moving towards the other side!