Jesus Teaches FAITH!!!
Notes
Transcript
Jesus demonstrates real faith to his disciples.
Jesus demonstrates real faith to his disciples.
What are some things that we have faith in
Sun will come up in the morning.
Your Social Security check will come every month.
Some examples from the bible
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails;
24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
Hebrews 11.
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
1 sam 12.24
9 He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails;
1Sam
1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
Heb
Jesus had been SHOWING his disciples about his great power.
He had been demonstrating his great power.
He had been healing people from all kinds of illness,
he had raised people from the dead, he had controlled the the wind,
He calmed the sea, He was present when thousands were fed with very little food.
Now it was time to teach his disciples about having faith and acting in that faith!
We, collectively have little faith. Faith alone… that’s a tough one for American’s.
If we don’t have it we buy it
If we want it we get it
“Who needs faith when you have a checkbook” - that one can get you into trouble!
But I hear some of your stories… that are very encouraging.
I’m not sure how this business deal, or court case or government decision that will effect me and my family is going to turn out… but it will be OK.
I’m not sure how crops are going to be this year, how much water that we are going to have this year… but it will be OK.
We been in this position before… And things have always worked themselves out.
Each one of those situations I’ve mentioned have everything to do with faith! Just admit it…
Faith powers the life of the believer! It must. Faith was demonstrated to the disciples. As FAITH BUILDER!!!
Many of us now the story of Jazzy… a girl from here in the valley. This young lady was diagnosed with cancer that literally affected every part and every organ from here to here!
Looking at it from the outside… Well, I’ll be honest. I didn’t think she would see her next birthday. It was aggressive and it was massive.
She did rounds and rounds of chemo as they chased down as much of the cancer they could. There were many close calls, many setbacks, many obstacles that seemed a mountain to high to climb… This was capped in December with 19 1/2 hour surgery to eliminate as much of the cancer as possible.
By all indications… so far. Jazzy is cancer free!
This family had faith that God would heal their daughter and sister. So far he has.... By whatever means and ways. God has done a miracle.
As we get to our passage today, I’d like you to stand, if you can as I read the passage.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone,
24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Mt
So after the feeding the 5000 and doing ministry for an extended time. Jesus needed some space...
Why would Jesus need space… to pray, to connect with His Father, to rest and to recuperate. To be ready for the next thing. We haven’t heard a lot about it yet but the Pharisee’s are moving in crowds and are taking notes and are observing this man who people call the Son of God. They are beginning to plot.
Jesus sent the disciples ahead… I can imagine them saying. Lord, how are you going to get across the lake. You know its 8 miles wide right? Jesus, as it says, “made the disciples get into the boat.”
V.24
24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
Mt 14.
Some authors try to spiritualize this wind as satan holding back the disciples from their work. I can’t go there. It was windy… Could Jesus control the wind? Yes, he had before. Did he here… I don’t know.
It was windy and the waves were crashing.
In scripture it mentioned almost offhand...
V.25
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
Some say, well this was a shallow lake, he really didn’t walk on water. Some others say that the disciples were in such trouble they imagined Jesus was coming to help them.
I’ll say it… Jesus produced a miracle and walk on the water out to boat that was being thrashed by the winds.
V.26
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
Who are these guys… they by this time had been with Jesus for several months, they had seen him do many, many things. But yet they doubt!!!
I have doubts and you have doubts about God, about what he is up to in your life and in this world.
The test is to see if we cut and run from this God who has seen us this far.
And if the God who has seen us in our best and in our worst has seen us this far why would he stop caring for us now? HE WON’T and HAS’NT!!
Back to the disciples...
“They were terrified” (the Greek says… Acute distress!)
We are going to die here and this image of ghost (phantasma) appears. The screamed in fear!
Jesus was not going to let them hang out there in boat, in the wind, thinking they were going to die...
The Lord God creator of the universe, with control over the winds, rain, the storm is absolutely available to you…whenever and wherever you need him. Sometimes he throws a life jacket other times he lets us such around and build our faith in the mess of our situation.
v.27
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Okaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy… this looks like Jesus, it sounds like Jesus. We are in a spot here, It’s Jesus. It’s easy for him to say “Don’t be afraid.” But I’ll go with it… “I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid.
V.28
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
Peter, Peter, Peter… Already even at this point Peter doubts who Jesus is and is he who he says he is.
I think that Peter is from Missouri… the show me state!!
V.29
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Yet, when Jesus called him. He went.
Is that what we are missing today? Are we insisting on hearing an audible voice from God before we make a move? That’s an interesting question...
If we heard that audible voice from God…would we do it or would we even question that...
Peter here seems to be the main character here...
He was a common fisherman when Jesus was walking by and said follow me...
Mt 4.18
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
He didn’t doubt his calling...
But he doubted here and he probably continued to doubt up to and including Jesus telling him that he would deny him 3 times around his crucifixion.
All is not lost on Peter. Jesus says…
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Peter with his doubts, questions, betrayals is the rock, the foundation that Christ will build His church on. Peter’s spiritual journey was acknowledged by Christ. As the “norm” yes there are many people that have had and currently have more faith than Peter did. There are many of you who have more faith than I do.
But there is a place for all of us…learning, discipling, being discipled but those who may have the same doubts and questions we do. Your not not going to be perfect until the minute he calls you to heaven.
V.29
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Mat 14.30
Jesus agrees with Peter’s request and enables Peter to walk on the water exactly like Jesus had done!
Why would Jesus do this… Jesus knew the condition of Peter’s mind… he was a “doubter” Jesus gave Peter another Faith building opportunity,
Like he does me, you and everyone else who calls Jesus Lord.
Jesus DOES NOT EXPECT US TO FOLLOW BLINDLY! What he does expect is that we see him, that we see Jesus in the activities and conditions of our lives. IF we forget… He can always throw us into a boat in the middle of the Columbia with the winds blowing at 40 knots.
V.30
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Peter was terrified… Even though he acknowledge Jesus, obeyed Jesus when he took the first step… POOF his faith was GONE! GONE! GONE!
Did that test of faith, doom him forever to a watery grave… Does our step of faith followed by panic and retreat doom us to death with God. NO!!!!
V.31
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Jesus is a rescuer… he wants to be called on, otherwise he would have let Peter drown, and me drown and you drown and all of us drown. Because we all have a time when Jesus reaches out to us even when we doubt and don’t believe. Remember…
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus has our backs...
M 14.32-33
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Jesus desire, Jesus plea, Jesus demand that we acknowledge him as God incarnate, that we grow, that we bring others along with us on our journey. How so we do this… We must preach the Gospel to ourselves everyday! and find someone else who needs to here
Jesus is the King! We must acknowledge him as Lord and Savior of our lives
This salvation that we enjoy was very costly… it cost Jesus he life. His perfect life was taken in an ugly, painful way in a garbage dump on a cross. Jesus bore all of our sin, paid in full all of our debts
Jesus life was taken… he died! He was buried!! But that’s not the end. HE ROSE AGAIN!! HE ROSE AGAIN!!!
Jesus came to this earth born in manger in a feed trough. He lived the perfect life but knew his life would be cut short. He found disciples to carry on his mission. They weren’t perfect…he didn’t demand perfection he demanded faithfulness. They messed it up and needed rescuing.
Joe come and lead us.
jp