{"id":7525,"date":"2015-06-08T16:56:50","date_gmt":"2015-06-08T20:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=7525"},"modified":"2015-06-26T09:01:51","modified_gmt":"2015-06-26T13:01:51","slug":"spiritual-wisdom-from-shrek-6715","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=7525","title":{"rendered":"Spiritual Wisdom from Shrek (6\/7\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pastor Jim\u00a0 took us in an unusual direction to find insight into the story of Jesus walking on the water (Matthew 14); did you realize that a scene from the movie Shrek illustrates an important spiritual principle?
\n<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Click the following “Play” Button to start the recording, then scroll down to follow along…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The scripture was Matthew 14:22-33.\u00a0 Open the below\u00a0 drop down box to follow along…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

Matthew 14<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\"Fishermen<\/a>

Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee<\/p><\/div>\n

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.<\/p>\n

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.<\/p>\n

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.<\/p>\n

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.<\/p>\n

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.<\/p>\n

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,\u00a0 “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”<\/p>\n

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”<\/p>\n

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.<\/p>\n

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”<\/p>\n

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”<\/p>\n

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.<\/p>\n

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”\u00a0<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t

\"Shrek\"<\/a>In the movie Shrek, the Ogre named Shrek and the Donkey set out on a quest to rescue a fair maiden imprisoned in the tower of a castle that is guarded by a fire breathing dragon.\u00a0 Between them and the castle there is a great chasm with red hot lava at the bottom\u00a0 The only way to get there is across a very flimsy looking swing bridge.\u00a0 Donkey is definitely not going to walk across the bridge, but Shrek\u00a0 says that he can do it as long as he doesn’t look down.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shrek says, “I’m right here beside you… we’ll just tackle this thing together… just keep moving and\u00a0 don’t look down.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Donkey steps on to the bridge reminding himself to not look down, and feeling very bold and safe.\u00a0 About halfway,one of the planks on\u00a0 the bridge gives way.\u00a0 He\u00a0 stumbles… and looks down.\u00a0 Fear takes control.\u00a0 he doubts his ability and the safety of the the bridge.\u00a0 He refuses to go any further.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Contrary Storms will Always Arise…<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"Sunrise<\/a>

Sunrise on the Sea of Galilee<\/p><\/div>\n

The King James version translates verse 24 using the word “contrary.”\u00a0 The winds were “contrary.”\u00a0 Any time we try to move forward there will be opposition.\u00a0 People not totally committed.\u00a0 Lack of money.\u00a0 Rules that say you’re not allowed to do it that way.\u00a0 Limited thought that stuffs us into a comfort zone box.\u00a0 And if that’s not enough to knock us off course, there will be outright opposition from those who don’t agree with your goals.<\/p>\n

But we are called to be a lighthouse in the midst of people’s storms.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

See Our Lighthouse: Focus on Jesus…<\/span><\/h3>\n

Shrek keeps telling Donkey, “Don’t look down, keep going.”\u00a0 Jesus tells Peter, “Come. Walk towards Me.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But Peter “looked down.”\u00a0 He saw the winds and waves and began to sink.<\/p>\n

What storms do we see and hear?<\/p>\n

Don’t look down…<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t
Peter cries out “Lord Save Me!” Jesus responds, “O you of little faith…” <\/span><\/p>\n

But this isn’t to condemn Peter. Peter’s “mustard seed” of faith was enough to get him out of the boat.\u00a0 It’s the same faith that led him to call out to Jesus.<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

In the midst of the storm-\u00a0 in the midst of OUR storms-\u00a0 Jesus is present and tells the disciples (and us),<\/p>\n

\n

“Take heart; do not be afraid.\u00a0 It is I.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

This verse represents a promise consistent with God’s character; He is always present…<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t