Water Walkers

Matthew 14:22-33,

Matthew 14:22–33 KJV 1900

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. 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. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

~Jesus has just fed 5,000 + and it brings us to vs.22

God ordained storms...

Life has many twists & turns…from OK to not OK in just a moments time.

…everything’s going good…good job, family, ministry…just a good life…then all of a sudden...

1st is the Providential will of God...Jesus constrained (forced) them to go...

…Don’t miss the moment! Jesus has to give us a “Straightway” otherwise, we would miss the opportunity to see the glory of God revealed.

…Jesus has a Purpose for His Disciples...

2nd is to go for their Protection…the crowd wanted to make Jesus King (wasn’t God’s will) & he didn’t want His Disciples to get involved & pulled in.

~NO Crown before the Cross~

*it’s better to be in the will of God in a storm, than to be out of the will in a storm that’s influenced by a crowd.

Purpose is to Perfect & Mature you in the Faith.

Jesus is praying, while you feel you are perishing...

Mark writes that while Jesus is on the mountain praying, He could see the Disciples at Sea…they were out in the midst about 3 or 4 miles.

Mountains are places of solitude/prayer, they are places of strength/healing, they are places of glory/revelation and they are places of great commissioning.

4th Watch - significance (Pharaoh let the Israelites go from bondage & God delivered the Israelites by opening up the Red Sea)!

Jesus shows up during the most troubling time in the life of the Disciples…tired, fearful, worn out…felt like they were gonna die.

…this is what happens when we try to battle storms in our own strength...

Jesus gives them a word...Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Peace is not in the absence of the storm, but it’s in the Presence of Jesus.

It wasn’t a ghost they saw...This was a Theophany moment…God manifests Himself to reveal Himself.

…Some will never know Victory or Defeat, because of fear...

Peter showed Faith by stepping out of the Boat…gotta keep your eyes on Jesus & don’t get distracted by what’s going on around you that you lose hope.

…don’t get prideful either, because you’re doing something that others around you are not doing.

I can imagine that Peter was doing ok, but Jesus being who He is, shedded light on Peter’s dark storm…but instead of Peter looking to the light, he looked at what was going on around him

***The moral of this story is about Jesus revealing Himself. You can’t experience the revelation w/o the chaos.

Worship is recognizing & acknowledging the reality of what is real and true.