Strengthening Faith

Introduction

Our faith starts by believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. When we first trust Christ our faith in Christ is full and exciting and inspiring. We desire to tell everyone we know about him and about his grace toward us and his sacrifice for us. As time goes on our faith is tested and tried through various circumstances all for the purpose of strengthening our faith in Him. Sometimes we pass these tests and sometimes we do not. Regardless of how we do on these various trials we always can emerge from them stronger in our faith by learning the lessons the circumstances were meant to teach us. Unfortunately, some people never learn how to channel their faith in a way that strengthens them and some people stay in the same place for many years, but it should be our desire, for it certainly is his desire, that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ grows as the years pass.

During the earthly ministry of Jesus he taught and trained his disciples to believe in him, to trust him, and to follow his example. In our text is one of the most well known stories in the Bible. It is often referred to as the story of Jesus walking on water. The thing that is often overlooked about this story is that while Jesus did walk on water so did Peter. It is often forgotten and overlooked because Peter sank into the water before the story was over. While Peter’s lack of Faith is what we usually remember about his part of the story I would like to highlight the fact that he was the only disciple that stepped out of the boat and walked on the water. Peter’s strength of faith and lack of faith in the same story teaches us powerful lessons about how we can strengthen our faith and be a powerful servant of Jesus Christ.

Peter Obeyed the Lord

Matthew 14:27 “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Notice that Jesus spake unto all the disciples. None of them were to be afraid. All of them were to be of good cheer. Peter immediately answered Jesus.

Matthew 14:28 “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”

Peter did not have fear to go out onto the water. Jesus told him not to fear and he obeyed him. He got out of the boat and began to walk to Jesus.

What allowed Peter to have such calm in that moment and get out of the boat? What prompted him to obey the Lord so immediately? When Peter obeyed Jesus in such immediate fashion we see that he is looking at him. Peter was looking to Jesus when he ditched his fear and got out of the boat. His faith was strengthened when he was looking to Jesus.

Peter Feared the Wind

Matthew 14:30 “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

Peter got out of the boat and walked on water. It was amazing because outside of Jesus Peter is the only man that has ever done that. While many people focus on his lack of faith I would have to give him the credit he is due. He walked on water. That is super cool. He fearlessly got out of the boat in the middle of the storm and walked on the water toward Jesus. That is truly AMAZING! He did this while looking at Jesus.

Then the Bible records these words, “when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.” When Peter was looking at Jesus he was able to ditch his fear and in faith, get out of the boat and walk on the water. When he began to look at the wind and the waves that were round about him he began to sink. He was no longer looking to Jesus, but he was looking at the wind and he feared it.

Our faith will be strengthened when we are looking to Jesus. If we are looking around at the boisterous wind of life we will be fearful, we will not obey, and we will not live by faith.

Peter Looked to Christ

Matthew 14:30 “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”

As he began to look at the wind and he became afraid the Bible says that he began to sink. At that moment Peter must have realized his mistake. He took his eyes off the Lord and now he was no longer walking on water, but instead, he was sinking in the waves. Realizing the mistake he made he turned back to Christ, he cried out, and he said, “Lord Save me.” While Peter did doubt and Jesus did chide him for doing so we must give Peter credit that when he realized his mistake he did turn back to Christ. When his faith was weak and he began to sink he knew exactly what he needed to do. He got his eyes, his heart, and his mind back on Jesus.

We can truly learn a lesson here. Sometimes we fail in our faith in Christ and when we do we need to look back to Christ. Only Christ can strengthen our faith when we are weak.

APPLICATION

So what we learn from Peter is that our faith is strong when we have our eyes upon Jesus Christ and our faith is weak when we are looking at the wind. How strong is your faith? Are you growing in your faith? Have you got your eyes on the wind?

Overcoming Sin

Pastor I just can’t overcome sin. I have tried and tried and tried and I just cannot get rid of my sin. Your eyes are on the wind. The only way to overcome sin is by faith in Christ. We have to learn to get our eyes back on Christ.

Being Faithful

Pastor I struggle to come to be faithful. One week I read my Bible well and another week I miss it. One circumstance I turn to Christ in prayer and the next time I worry myself to death. I attend church faithfully for a month or two and then I struggle to get up, to get dressed, and to get to church. The moments that you find yourself being faithful to God’s Word, to Prayer, and to Church are the moments you are looking to Christ and the times you are not being faithful is when you have your eyes on the wind.

Good Attitude

Pastor sometimes I have a good attitude and sometimes I do not. Sometimes I am nice to people and other times I am most certainly not. Sometimes I have joy and peace and contentment and sometimes I do not. The times you have good attitudes, are kind, at peace, and content with your circumstances are the moments you are focused on Christ and the times you have a bad attitude, are unkind to people, strife fills your life, and you are mad about your every circumstance are the times that your eyes are on the wind.

Tithing

Pastor I cannot tithe. Giving 10% of my income just because God said so is just impossible. You have not seen my budget. Let me tell you something friend your eyes are on the wind of your checkbook and they are not on Jesus, who is your provider. You can tithe if your eyes are on Jesus and you trust him by faith.

Whatever the issue, whatever the sin, and whatever the circumstance you can do what God has called you to do in his Word. The times that you do are the times that your eyes are on the Savior and the times you do not your eyes are on the boisterous wind of life.

Do you want to live walking on the water or fearing the wind?

The Strength of your faith is determined by what or who you are looking at. Look to Jesus and you can do the things God wants for you to do in your life. Look at the wind and you will sink every time.