One Problem

Introduction

Dismiss Children

One of the pastors

Thank you to those who have been faithful to the Lord in the stewardship of their time, talents, and treasures this last year as it relates to local and worldwide evangelism. We focus on local evangelism here to ensure we can continue to exist to support the worldwide efforts of our missionaries.

I’m glad you are with us this month as we are in our missions emphasis month where we put a focus on local and worldwide evangelism each Sunday this month. Two weeks ago I preached on the one mission we have and while it can be understood as simply as to say “Disciple” we must understand that in order to live that, we must have our hearts impacted by the message of the gospel we are called to preach to every creature.

Last week Pastor Tim Owens delivered a powerful message where I know I was, as he said, wrecked. What a powerful statement from Him that I loved and will be using from time to time “If you aren’t saying yes to what Jesus tells you to do, stop saying you are a follower of Jesus.”

Today I want us to look at a situation Jesus put the disciples in and how we find ourselves in that same siuation today.

Turn in your bibles to Mattew 14:22.

While your getting there let me ask you something, Have you ever been scared?

I don’t mean by a haunted house or a scary movie…I mean have you ever felt the fright associated with not knnowing how thingns are going to work out becuase of the situation you are in?

I have.

Maybe you are scared because you don’t know how a loved ones health is going to improve. You are scared because you don’t know where the next paycheck is coming from or how a bill will be paid. You are scared because you don’t know how the relationship you are in is going to go. You are scared because for whatever reason the current circumstances of life that you face leave you questioning the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God, or the power of God and you don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

You ever been there? (raise hands) I have.

What do we do when we are there? What does that have to do with us being on mission and supporting worldwide evangelism?

It presents the one problem we all deal with when it comes to making a commitment to God. Fear.

Billy Graham said “Fear can paralyze us and keep us from believing God and stepping out in faith. The devil loves a fearful Christian!”

Billy Graham said “Fear can paralyze us and keep us from believing God and stepping out in faith. The devil loves a fearful Christian!”

Fear will cripple you from having faith in God. It is in the moments of greatest fear, the Lord shows up in the greatest ways.

Follow along with me in Matthew 14 and see what the disciplies experienced

Matthew 14:22–24 KJV 1900

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Matthew 14:22-24

Exegete:

This event is following a miracle feeding of the 5 thousand + people. The disciples have also witness other miracles and teachings from Jesus up to this point.

Following the feeding of the great crowd here, Jesus sent the disciples to the boat to go ahead of him.

Jesus Himself stepped away to be alone and it’s believe to pray and rest after engaging so many people.

The discicples obeyed Him an went to the boat and they began to row.

After rowing for a few hours…they encountered a storm. Strong winds were blowing and keeping them from really going anywhere. They had rowed for hours and had only went a short distance.

Put yourselves in their shoes for a moment.

They are obeying the Messiah, they are rowing in the pitch black night. With a storm there is most likely a lot of cloud coverage. No lighthouses, no lights on the boat, just pitch black darkness with the winds beating against you.

Ever felt like life is this way?

ONe thing after another? It’s like a bad country song “My dog died, my car broke down, my wife left me, my coffee pots broke, and my boss fired me.”

All in the same day.

Let’s pause and ask a question: Did Jesus know the storm was coming? yes

Did Jesus tell them to row into the storm? yes

But He told them to go anyway. He sent them out into the storm knowing the fear and the difficulty they would face.

Illustrate:

When Jesus said

“Take up your cross and follow me” He knew what your cross would be

When he said

Matthew 6:19–21 KJV 1900

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 6:19-21

He knew about inflation, He knew about bills, He knew bout taxes

When He said

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 1:8

He knew the languages that would have to be overcome, He knew the perecution the early church would face, he knew the problems that would be in the way of making it happen.

When he formed you in the womb of your mother he knew the difficultues your life woudl have in it. He knew trials you would face.

He knew about the health problems, He knew about the financial strains, he knew…and yet he said Go. He said lose your life for my sake and you shall gain it.

He aid forsake everything and follow me.

He didn’t say it would be easy, He said it needed to be done.

Apply:

What are a couple things we can learn from this?

I. God will send you into a storm

Don’t sit back and say “God will never give me more than I can handle.” Yes He will. In fact, over and over again we see people in the Bible put in situations too big for them. The disciples, 12 mortal men were sent into a storm at sea, David was put in front of a Giant, Noah was faced with a global flood, Jacob faced slavery, prison, and the responsibility of feeding a nation during a famine.

James wrote

James 1:2–3 KJV 1900

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:2-3

Count it all joy when the storm comes. Becuase we know who controls the storm.

The diciples were right whre you are, in the midst of a storm of life.

Then what happened at the darkest point.

The men had been rowing for hours and only went a few miles. They had been fighting with all they had. They were mentally and physically exhausted. Burnt out and emotionally drained. They didn’t know how they would make it. They didn’t know if they could give anymore to the work, to each other, or to the cause for which they had given their life.

It was in this moment, it was at their lowest...

Matthew 14:25–27 KJV 1900

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14:25-27

Exegete:

That fourth watch is from 3-6am.

It’s the darkest point of the day. It’s right before dawn. It’s the coldest part of the night because no heat from the Sun has touched that area of the world in hours.

He appeared to them and spoke to them but notice something…The storm didn’t stop.

Illustrate:

The storm you as an individual face is still raging…but Jesus is there, He’s speaking to you, but it’s not over yet.

The storms of life are always raging. God sends you and I directly into the heart of the storm and says “Follow me”

He shows up and says…hey..hey..I know your sad. I know life can be hard. Keep your eyes on me and I’ll bring you through this.

You will still feel the wind, you will still feel the waves crashing against you, but you walk right through them.

Apply:

I don’t know what storm you are facing. I don’t know why God has you in that storm. The longer you live the more storms you will face. None of us find comfort in that truth but it is in the truth of this passage and that we see throughout scripture that we can take peace with.

II.God comes to you in the storm

He doesn’t want you to go through this alone.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Hebrews 13:5 “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

He is there in the difficulties and trials, He is there in the storm. He has called out to you, He wants you to know you don’t have to be afraid.

You can call back to Him like Peter did and know that He will guide you.

Matthew 14:28–30 KJV 1900

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

Matthew 14:28-30

Exegete:

Peter called out to Him, “Lord, if that’s you…help me walk with you”

Is that where you are at today? Is that where someone you know is at?

Are you like me and someitmes this is the las thing you think to do?

Why? I’m a fixer. I solve problems. I do it on my own right?

The disciples had been trying to get their trial on their own the whole night…and now in the darkest hour of desperation Theey finally call out to Jesus…And Peter walks on the water with Him.

The torm didn’t stop, but it got a little easier.

Thne what happened?

Peter did what many of us can do…Hee took his focus off of Jesus.

He looked to teh wind and thoguth “How can I tand on this water if the wind is blowing?” He looked at the waves “What will happen if I go under”

He stopped looking at the one that was allowing Him to walk on water and traverse the storm unharmed and started looking at the storm.

illustrate:

You know, focus is something we can find very difficult in our lives. I know I’m one of the worst at losing my focus.

There are distractions all around us. Things that can easily take our attention off of the Lord.

What is distracting you this morning? What is keeping you from having that daily focus on Jesus?

Are you looking to the bills that have piled up or the one who owns a cattle on a thousand hills? That phrase means God has riches and wealth beyond our comprehension.

Are you looking at the health concerns that plague you or are you looking at the great physician?

This faith is easier said that lived I know. However there is never a bad time to flip the switch and reorient yourself to the Lord.

The trials are always there…and so is Jesus.

When we focus on Jesus, no matter how hard the waves crash or the wind blows, He can deliver us through the storm.

III. God can deliver you through the storm

Christians can find themselves faithful on the mountain top but an athiest in the valley.

We can go through the highs blessing God and praising His name but when the financial struggles hit, when the emotional battles strike, or the tragedies befall us we can find ourselves questioning the goodness of God .

The disciples had been celebrating the miracluous feeding, they had celebrated thee mriacles and now the storm has come and they find themselves with little faith.

Focus on Jesus, trust in Him and notice what happened to Peter when he took His eyes off of the Lord. He began to sink.

Are you sinking today? Do you feel like you are just treading water?

That’s not abad place to be in. It may feel terrible but it’s truly there we find peter when he sinks into the water.

Life about to end and no hope, he calls out “Lord, save me.”

And what does Jesus do? He reaches down and pulls him up.

Then...

THey walk back to the boat together.

Matthew 14:31–36 KJV 1900

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; 36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Matthew 14:31-36

Exegete:

Peter and the disciples have just been through one of the more traumatic events of their life. When Jesus got int eh ship, the wind stopped. John 6 says they were “at once” at the shore they were rowing after almost miracuously.

It’s amazing what God can do when we turn our eyes to Him and allow Him to guide us and lead us even in the darkest moments of our lives.

The storm is over and the disciples are thorugh it. They re problaly not over it. They have much to procvess.

Your storm may be over, it may be beginning, or you may just be waiting for the next one, but no matter where you find yourself know this: When we focus on God to get us throuhg the storms, God does only what He can and impacts us and those around us through His work.

Illustrate:

Have you ever heard of the name Charles Simeon?

When he was appointed as the pastor a church in Cambridge, England, in 1783 Charles Simeon was delighted. The people of the church did not share his joy. Many of the prominent members of the church opposed his convictions on reaching the lost with the gospel. To show their displeasure they locked their pew boxes during the service and left them empty so that those who came to hear Simeon preach had to stand or sit in the aisles. Eventually God began to work, and Simeon’s ministry had a powerful influence on the nation of England and the world through his efforts to encourage missionary work.

During the dark days of opposition Simeon wrote: “In this state of things I saw no remedy but faith and patience.... It was painful indeed to see the church, with the exception of the aisles, almost forsaken; but I thought that if God would only give a double blessing to the congregation that did attend, there would on the whole be as much good done as if the congregation were doubled and the blessing limited to only half the amount. This comforted me many, many times, when without such a reflection, I should have sunk under my burden.”

Opposition does not mean that we are doing things wrong—often it is evidence that we are doing things right. If we allow ourselves to be deterred from doing anything unless we have complete approval, it is certain that we will never accomplish anything of value. Rather than being discouraged by opposition, we should take comfort in God’s faithfulness and keep on doing what is right.

Now over 200 years later organiztions he founded still exist today: Church Missionary Society in 1799. He also helped found the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews (now known as the Church's Ministry Among Jewish People or CMJ) in 1809

Apply:

What God does during the storm is wonderful for us as we get to be close to Him as He leads us through. What God will do after the storm can be even greater.

Charles Simeon weathered a storm and God used Him greatly.

The disciples weathered a storm that resulted in the crowds on the other side meeting Jesus and being made whole, which I interpret as not only a physical healing but they gained faith in Jesus.

what Is it that brought Charles through the storm? What is it Jesus commented on about the disciples when He got in the boat? Their faith.

Great quote I read just this morning and wanted to share with you:

“The devil’s not scared of a faith that honors God only on the good days, but the devil’s terrified of a kind of faith that can stare at the storm and sit in the pit and say do your worst because my king is good. That faith is unshakable and unstoppable”-Levi Lusko

Why? Because that faith says “God I can’t do this. God only you can do this. God, this storm, this pit, these lions, this giant, they are your problems. God, I can’t wait to see how you solve your problems.”

IV. God does mighty work after the storm

It’s amazing to sit back and say “Wow, God I couldn’t have got through that without you.” It’s even more amazing when you take what you have been through and use it for His glory.

We have one mission as believers: To make His name known to the uttermost parts of the world.

at no point in the bible do we find that to be easy, or without difficulty. We are promised trials and tribulations. We re also promised His presence.

What does He ask for in return? faithfulness.

What is our one problem? fear.

How does this impact getting the gospel from our house to the world?

Because we can see our troubles and trials as debilitating to us ministering to others. When in reality we are meant to serve with jesus during and after our trials…not so that we can work but so he can work through us to bless others.

Financcially we are all feeling the strain of inflation and dont’ know when it will end. Hwoever if we allow the storm to keep us from focusing on Jesus and being faithful we will find ourselves sinking.

Emotionally, the response to COVID by businesses and government officials has left us dealing with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues that we are still learning about.

Spritually, you may find youself in a valley right now. One that feels dark and lonely. Maybe you are out in the middled of that storm sinking becuase you have forgot the goodness fo God.

Don’t forget his lvoes becuase He hasn’t forgot you. Take today as a day to turn towards Him by faith.

Time of Response

((What is the outccome of turning to Him? OF obeying Him?))