Storm Lessons

Matthew 14:22-33

Matthew 14:22 (ESV)

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

Matthew 14:23 (ESV)

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

QUESTION: Where do you go to get alone so you can pray?

Matthew 6:6 ESV

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 14:24 ESV

but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

Look at Jesus

Jesus went up on the mountain top to pray.

Here Jesus went away by Himself.

Jesus was there in the evening, too.

Jesus was on the Mountain, by Himself, praying, alone.

Look at the disciples

They were in the boat.

They were together.

They were together in the evening, too.

They were in the boat, a long way from the land.

They were in the boat that was being beaten by the waves and the wind.

“According to the pain is the gain.”

The Ethics of the Fathers

“Thou art beaten that thou mayest be better.” John Bunyan

Isaiah 48:10–11 (ESV)

Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.

James 1:12 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Yes, John Bunyan had it right: “Thou art beaten that thou mayest be better.”

Matthew 14:25–26 ESV

And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.

Romans divided the 12-hour span between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. into four watches of three hours each. The fourth watch (mentioned here in the Greek text of Matthew) was 3–6 a.m.

KEY: Jews customarily divided the night into three watches, as did the Greeks. Since Matthew wrote during the period of Roman occupation in Jerusalem, he used the system of measurement most familiar to his audience. (John D. Barry)

The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear. It is the storm within which endangers him, not the storm without. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

Matthew 14:27 ESV

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Question: What does God use to calm you?

Take Heart – (NKJV “Be of good cheer!) –

It is I – The Greek phrase used here, could be literally rendered as “I am,” leaving off the additional pronoun often used in translation (“he”). The miraculous nature of this event and the confession in Matt 14:33 seem to favor the interpretation that Jesus is equating Himself with Yahweh. (John Berry)

Do not be afraid – 365 times in the Bible

We can’t be “without fear” unless we are keeping our eyes on Jesus.

The wise man in the storm prays to God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear. It is the storm within which endangers him, not the storm without. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Look at these words:

Terrified.

Fear.

Afraid.

NOTE: Fear is a powerful tool of Satan.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In Christ v. In the World

We can either be “In Christ” and put our trust and hope in Him — OR — we can be “In the World” putting our trust and hope in the things and philosophies of the World.

When we put our trust in Christ, we will have peace.

When we put our trust in the World, we WILL (guaranteed) have tribulation.

QUESTION: Where are you putting your faith? In CHRIST ALONE or in the things of this world?

Matthew 14:28–29 ESV

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Can you think of those who TRUSTED GOD in the face of challenges:

Noah building an ark in Genesis 6

Abraham sacrificing Isaac in Genesis 22

Midwives: Shiphrah and Puah in Exodus 1

David facing Goliath in 1 Samuel 17

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah – facing the fiery furnace in Daniel 3

Proverbs 3:5–6 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Matthew 14:30 ESV

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

KEY: We can have paths STRAIGHT to Jesus or STRAIGHT to the bottom of the sea.

Matthew 14:31 ESV

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

(Thomas?)

Here Peter had become an example of little faith and of doubt, an object-lesson for disciples who are tempted to take their eyes off Jesus and to take more notice of the threatening circumstances around them.(New Bible Commentary)

Matthew 14:32–33 ESV

And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

What would it take for you to worship Jesus?

What would it take for you to worship Jesus?

What would it take for you to acknowledge Him as “Truly, the Son of God”?

Luke 17:5–6 ESV

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

Application:

STORM LESSONS

PRAYER:

“Increase our faith!”

“Deliver us from fear.”