Follow Jesus Series 16

Our Ever Present Savior

Text: Matthew 14:22-33

Introduction

It seems to be combination of two things that brought about this memorable event in scripture: First, we are told that they had yet to see Christ for who His was; Second, they were operating in obedience to His command to sail across the Sea of Galilee.

Why did Jesus so hurriedly command his disciples to board the ship and set sail? The miracle of feeding the 5,000 men only appealed to the multitude’s materialist concept of Jesus. Due to the fact Jesus taught clearly that the miracle was to point them to Himself (the living Bread from Heaven) tells us Jesus rejected the motive of making Him king based on materialism.

1) Jesus Took Time To Pray

A. Notice the steps Jesus took in order to have time with the Father.

a. Jesus removed Himself from all distractions.

Jesus hurried his inner circle of disciples into the boat and sent them across the sea.

Jesus sent the multitudes away.

Jesus went to a solitary location.

B. Why such measures just to pray?

a. Jesus wanted to be alone due to the very nature of prayer; opening one’s heart up to the Father.

b. The cross had come nearer than ever before.

c. Things had gotten a little darker with the murder of John the Baptist.

d. Jesus desired closeness to His Father

He needed to commune with the One who will He had come to accomplish.

e. I believe He was also praying for the faith of His rag-tag inner circle of disciples.

He knew where their faith was.

He knew a storm of faith was about to reach them.

He wanted them to continue in obedience and truly believing in who He was.

C. Are you a person of prayer?

a. It is the mark of true conversion.

The only evidence that God gave Ananias about what he would find Saul doing upon finding him.

Quote: “But this I do say, that not praying is a clear proof that a man is not yet a true Christian. He cannot really feel his sins. He cannot love God. He cannot feel himself a debtor to Christ. He cannot long after holiness. He cannot desire heaven. He has yet to be born again. He has yet to be made a new creature.” — J.C. Ryle

Q — How much time do you allow pass at the start of a new day given to you by God before you pray?

This is something that I have really been trying to improve in my own life.

For prayer to be second, third or fourth is to act as if you are ignorant of how dependent you are on God.

b. It is the mark of true sanctification

Do we really not have anything to say to the One who holds every breath we need in His hand?

Are you really praying against sin day and night when you continually dive into the same sins over and over?

Are you really praying against the world when you are currently being absorbed by it?

Are you really praying for grace to serve when you show not the slightest desire to serve Him?

c. The Holy Spirit and Jesus is there to help you pray.

Ask Him to help you!

Jesus is there to be your advocate!

Romans 8:34 “34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

2) Jesus Noticed Their Faith & Problem

A. Notice the fact they maintained their Master’s course

“the wind was contrary” = the wind was smacking them in the face.

Q — what would be easier; sail with their face against the wind or their backs against the wind?

They were about halfway across the lake.

Sensibly, they should have turned around and let the wind take them back to shore.

However, their Master told them to go to the other side. There was not turning back for these men!

They were not going to give up just because the wind became contrary.

In the storm was the safest place for them. They were in God’s hands.

Circumstances don’t have the final say regarding your security.

Jesus said, “I will NEVER LEAVE THEE.”

This was a storm to help perfect these men, not correct them.

Jesus tested them once before while in the boat. Now it is time to be tested with Jesus out of the boat.

B. Jesus came to their aid

Jesus’ prayer was disrupted by the storm and sees their need.

Who is thankful that Jesus always sees your need?

It is possible to feel like Jesus has deserted you when life gets hard and remains that way for an extended time.

2 Cor. 1:8 “8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:”

Quote: “He sees your need, He knows your fears, and He is in control of the situation.” Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 51.

Jesus went to them at the right time.

Jesus waited until the ship was as far away from the shore as it could be; seemed like all hope was gone.

He went to them between 3am and 6am.

Jesus went to them in a powerful way

Why walk on the water?

Jesus wanted them to witness His sovereignty over creation.

He used the very thing that brought them fear to bring Him to them.

APP — look back at life and realize your most despairing moments brought Jesus closer to you?

Jesus wanted to bring them to the reality of His presence

Jesus walked some 3.5 miles across the water to reach them.

Jesus comes to you in the difficulties of life and the middle of all the stress.

His presence is not a guess but a guarantee!

The fact they misread that it was Jesus tells you that hadn’t quite grasped the reality of His presence.

They mistook Him for a ghost!

This figure now became the focus of their distress and fear.

3) Jesus Empowered Them With His Words

A. Jesus words were the provision they needed

In the middle of their fear, Jesus spoke these powerful words, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

The greatest need was not for Jesus to be in the boat, but their faith to be in the one walking on the water.

Mark’s account mentions that Jesus would have walked on passed them as if all they needed was to keep their eyes on Him and He would lead them to the others side.

When Jesus sensed their fear, He spoke those words and entered the ship.

What amazing love and patience Jesus has with us in our doubts and fears.

B. Jesus’ words were all that Peter needed

Keep in mind the world around Peter at this moment.

It was like everything was being torn apart.

Wind was screaming and smacking him in the face.

The boat was being tossed.

However, the waves Peter would walk on were already under Jesus’ feet!

Jesus’ words carried with them power to whomever would believe.

Jesus simply told Peter, “come.”

If Peter would believe, Jesus would place the waves below his feet also.

Romans 10:17 “17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Peter heard all he needed to hear.

Each step would be a step of faith.

Before Peter could start walking, he had to LET GO!

Once Peter looked at Jesus, everything clear and calm.

Peter was no longer being ruled by the circumstances around him. He had victory over them!

As one person said, “Don’t be a thermometer. Be a thermostat.”

A thermometer is controlled by the temperature.

A thermostat controls the temperature.

When you focus on Jesus as Peter did, your whole world is filled with the vision of Jesus.

C. Jesus was not all Peter focused on

Peter took his eyes off of the power source.

Peter went from focusing on ONE PATH to TWO PATHS.

When FEAR rises, FAITH dies.

D. Peter refocused and salvation came

Jesus was not going to let Peter perish just because he failed.

Peter cried out when beginning to sink.

Jesus had no delay to rescue Peter at the moment of faith.

Peter definitely remembered this moment when he penned 1 Peter 3:12 “12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

When our faith takes hold of Jesus, Jesus takes hold of us!