Lord, Save Me
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· 736 viewsWhose strength are we depending on?
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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.
Be Strong in the Lord is the theme for 2018…
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Last year as I was praying for direction for the theme, The Lord very clearly confirmed in my heart that this was to be our focus in 2018...
There were no concerns, questions or reserves with this theme… There were no looming battles that preempted such a theme - and I was looking at this theme totally and completely from a positive perspective… not knowing what we would face in 2018, but knowing that the Lord knows what we need.
just this week, I have had 4 people say something about this years theme...
1 individual said, “it’s prophetic or something” - how the themes for the year’s have been appropriate to the needs of the families of BBC
I am no prophet, but clearly the Lord knew what we needed.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Be strong in the Lord...
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.
Lord, save me...
Lord, save me...
Pray:
It’s sink or swim
It’s success or sorrow
Peter has already gotten out of the boat, and now, there is no going back...
I want to encourage us tonight in our walk with the Lord.
We need to be strong in the Lord, but what I’m afraid of, is that to many, it has become an idiom and a theme, but not a way of life...
1. Steps of faith will distance you from your sense of safety and security
1. Steps of faith will distance you from your sense of safety and security
No wond
steps of faith are steps of obedience
The Disciples wer sent from shore to shore...
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.
This is no big deal
For these fisherman had navigated these waters many times before - nothing unusual about this trip was on their radar...
2. Steps of faith will test your faith
2. Steps of faith will test your faith
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
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The leading of the lord in your life will not always be in the times of the calm
The leading of the Lord will not result in cloudless sky’s
The Lord - knowing sent these disciples into a storm...
3. Steps of Faith will be challenged by situations of Fear
3. Steps of Faith will be challenged by situations of Fear
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.
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These disciples found themselves in a situation that was:
disconcerting
challenging
unnerving
they were fearful
Fearful of what they could see coming their direction
Fearful of what they could not see - the outcome
if they could see the calm during the storm - their would have been no fear
If they could see the savior instead of the figure… instead of a supposed spirit - they would have been fine...
Fear is the enemy of faith
Fear robs us of our faith
Fear is the enemy of faith
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
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4. Belief in God’s word brings cheer not fear
4. Belief in God’s word brings cheer not fear
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
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Peter went from fear to faith - at the word of the Lord
God’s word was the antidote for the fear that had crippled these Christians
5. Steps of faith will bring you closer to the Savior
5. Steps of faith will bring you closer to the Savior
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.
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Peter walked on water -
Peter experienced a supernatural miracle
Peter’s step of faith set him up for being rewarded -
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
6. Steps of faith will falter when you get your eyes on the circumstances.
6. Steps of faith will falter when you get your eyes on the circumstances.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 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.
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Peter looked at the storm instead of the Savior
We look at the:
storms of life
circumstances that we face
If we are not keeping our focus on the Savior - we will sink...
Praise the Lord for a prayer of salvation
a prayer of urgent need -
the Savior was there
the Savior grabbed him by the hand and miraculously saved him...
The question of sinking was a question of faith...
If we are not strong in the Lord - the storms will overtake us...
casualties result from lack of faith
Miracles cause people to worship
The Lord’s working in the lives of his people cause people to see what the Savior can do...
Sink or swim -
It’s a matter of being strong in the Lord -
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
the power is not in self but the Savior -
We cannot fight and win a spiritual battle in the flesh and win...
The storms have not strengthened your faith
The trials have brought fear not faith...
Decisions made in faith have wavered....
decisions to read the bible and pray
decisions to put on the whole armour and not just partial has faded
Decisions to come to sw has been replaced by:
fear of knocking a door
reordering of priorities - because of the storms...
Decisions in your finances:
tithing
faith promise missions
building
Decisions to give your child a christian education has become a battle
decisions to be a discipler, or to get discipled...
A reset button needs to get hit tonight -
The spiritual warfare is real -
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
people are sinking...
their faith is faltering....
call out to the lord -
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30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Lord Save ME...
We can only make it in His power and strength - not our own...
