Orchard Community Church
We are called to cling to Jesus and trust Him when we are shaken with fear because He is the Lord of all and will take care of us.
Shaken
People derive security from a lot of different things in this life. Yet, from time to time things happen that shake us and reminds us of how unstable most of those things are. We know what it’s like to be shaken by a health scare, a financial struggle, a pandemic, or some other challenge. Sometimes our world is literally shaken by earthquakes and at times God even shakes us with what He’s doing or in order to get our attention. The truth is that can be shaken will be shaken at some point, and for that reason, scripture calls us to cling to what cannot be shaken, to Jesus our rock and foundation, and to God and things of God. So what can we do in this season of Lent to cling more tightly to Jesus and to build our foundation on Him?
Some people are afraid of spiders or snakes, others are afraid of public speaking or the dentist or shots. But we also have much deeper fears, don’t we?
And there are moments when our fear can really grip us and shake us, sometimes to our very core.
Lent is a time of preparation for Easter, but Lent is also about renewal.
How should we respond when we are shaken by fear?
Matthew 14:22-33 NIV
Some context:
First, it helps to know that the Jews weren’t very good sailors[1], second, the Jews were kind of afraid of the sea,[2] and third, they were exhausted from sailing in the storm.[3]
[1] Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 5, 1058; Revell Bible Dictionary, 903-904, 917.
[2] The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Vol. 3, 1406; https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/when-storms-come-article https://www.ligonier.org/blog/there-will-be-no-sea-new-heaven-and-new-earth/ https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v20/n16/jenny-diski/did-jesus-walk-on-water-because-he-couldn-t-swim
[3] Mark 8:48
V. 25 says Jesus decided to go to them walking on the water. This was a miraculous and unexpected thing. And when you add that to the fear the disciples had of the sea, the storm, and their exhaustion, it becomes much clearer why they react as they do.
The word “terrified” is a translation of the Greek word “tarasso.” It also means “to agitate, to stir up, to trouble a thing, by the movement of its parts to and fro, to cause one inward commotion.”[1] It has a sense of shaking to it. The disciples were shaken by their fear!
[1] https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/tarasso.html
Life can be so scary sometimes; bad news from the doctor, the loss of a job, financial trouble, something that happens to someone we love. And in the face of the things that scare us we often don’t know what to do.
Jesus is saying don’t be afraid because I am here, and I am the Lord God almighty. It’s a call to put fear aside in that moment and chose faith.
One of the most common messages in the Bible is, “do not be afraid.”[1] And when the scripters say that, it’s not saying that we’re never supposed to feel fear, it’s calling us not to let fear win.
The scripture calls us not to let fear win, to have faith, to focus on God, and to give him control.
[1] A few Examples: Genesis 15:1, 21:17, 26:24; Number 21:34; Joshua 11:6; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 10:31; Luke 5:10
And if we can put fear aside and trust God, he can do amazing things in our lives too!
But then Peter did what we often do in scary situations, his faith wavered and fear took control again.
Most of the time when we’re afraid what we want is for God to rescue us from our circumstances. Instead, most often Jesus comes to us in the midst of our fears, just like he came to them in the storm. He doesn’t take away our storms, he enters into them with us. We want him to take away our fear, he wants to grow us through it, teach us to trust him, help us to be less afraid.
Every time we cry out in fear Jesus comes to us saying, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.” That’s the invitation, to trust God in the midst of our fears.
What can we do to deal with the fears of this life that can grip and shake us?
First, take our fears to God. The more we go to God and seek to give our fear over to him, the more fully we will be able to do so in time. The more natural it becomes for us to do, to naturally turn to Jesus when we’re afraid and to cling to him.
Second, we need to seek to grow our relationship with God, this God who loves us deeply. And as we are filled more and more with God’s love, more and more it drives out fear.
Third, we need to remember who Jesus is. Jesus is our unaskable Rock and foundation in this shaky world, even in the midst of our fears. If we can put fear aside and trust God like Peter, God can do amazing things in our lives too!
Today's Music
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190
Worship Options
We are excited to be able to worship under the Tent together. If you are not wanting to be under the Tent, feel free to sit in the front row of parking spots of the Orchard Parking Lot your car and tune your radio to 100.1 FM to listen to the service.
1. Masks must be worn while on the Orchard Campus (both inside and out)
2. Please maintain the Social Distance
3. Sunday Morning Children's program. Children are always welcome in the service and we do not mind the noises that come with children. Children are a healthy sign of a healthy congregation.
Orchard Kids Sunday School (For preschool through 5th grade)
We encourage families to bring your own blanket and beach chairs and distance on the lawn as much as you like. Children will worship with their families and be dismissed following the kids’ message, escorted by our Orchard Kids’ Leaders to our beautiful outdoor classroom space in the children’s play yard. We will have our Bible story, activities, crafts, and games in a specially designed format following current health and safety guidelines. Parents, please come to the children’s area immediately following the worship service and find all of your children in one place. Each family will receive a “My Church Bag” to be brought each week with basic supplies already included plus items from home: water bottle and mask for each child and a blanket for all siblings. Our team is so excited to see your family! See you Sunday!
Nursery care for children birth to 3 years old is available by RSVP only to Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.
Interested in being a Volunteer? Middle school through adult, please contact Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.
While we understand that some may not feel comfortable coming back in person or having to wear masks while on the Orchard campus, we encourage you to stay home and join us online with our Live Stream.
Office Hours
Monday – Thursdays from 10 am to noon.
Masks and social distancing are required.
If you are unable to make it in during our office hours, please send an email to info@orchardventura.org and or leave a message at (805) 647-3757.