More than Just a Water Walker
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· 9 viewsThere is a lot of talk right now about faith versus fear or choosing faith over fear. What does any of that mean? Is it just wishful thinking, positive thinking, hoping things will turn out well? For a lot of people that is what it is all about but for Jesus followers it is very different. In this fifth sign we learn an important lesson: Faith is not the opposition of fear. Faith is a version of fear.
Notes
Transcript
I. I have put my faith in what I fear and that drives my choices.
A. Two phrases shaped the early part of my life and more.
1. You have nothing to be scared.
2. Are you a scared·y-cat?!
B. Two Illustrations
1. My parents, “You have nothing to be scared of.”
2. My sister and friends, “Are you a scared’y-cat?!”
C. My faith was in what I feared and what I feared drove my feelings, thoughts, and choices. Fear is a version of faith.
II. We all know what it is like to put our faith in our greatest fear and let that thing drive your feelings, thoughts, and choices.
A. All of us know right now that things are going to get worse before they get better. While states and leaders want to re-open for business, the numbers, at least here in Houston don’t lie: we are still increasing in cases.
1. There is fear of catastrophic economic loss.
2. There is fear that it may not take months but decades to recover.
3. There is fear, for many, that joblessness will lead to homelessness.
B. Fear right now is dictating new and daily executive orders from local, state, and federal governments.
1. Examples are everywhere.
2. Comic Relief: In the return of Jean Luc Pickard in the Star Trek CBS series he constantly says, “Fear is a horrible teacher.” Too which I think, “He must never had dealt with Pandemic on the Enterprise.
3. Here is the thing I don’t in theory agree with old Jean Luc that fear is a horrible teacher. I think irrational fear is a horrible teacher. I believe that rational fear is a brilliant teacher.
a. It is why most of us will keep weapons under lock and key.
b. It is why most of us will use Tide pods for clothes and not eating.
c. It is why I pulled my family out of sports, gyms and social activities weeks before our government finally acknowledged the severity of this pandemic.
C. Irrational fear produces irrational actions. There is a kind of fear that produces rational and healthy choices.
1. For believers, fear is not the opposite of faith it is a version of faith or part of what makes faith, faith.
2. The late Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”
3. The Scriptures teach something a little different:
Fearless faith leads to ruin and misplaced fear is the root of much evil but the fear of the Lord is the beginning of a life worth living.
“Faith is not the absence of fear, nor misplaced fear but rather the assessment that ONE above all else is to be feared.”
Transition: Today in our passage, in this fifth sign we are going to see that we don’t have to be driven by the fear of Covid-19 but by the Fear of the Lord…Jesus
Hafoke bah
III. Review
A. If you are tuning in for the first time or returning and missed a couple of the messages let me give you a quick review.
B. For John, faith was not wishful thinking nor was it blind, but it was based on what He saw.
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — 1 John 1:1-2
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us —
2. John had faith in what he saw.
3. What he saw was not cool tricks, not just good teaching, He observed a person was life Himself and could give eternal life to all who believed upon Him.
4. Seeing was Believing.
C. For us, John knows He is asking a next generation and countless generations to trust His eyewitness testimony because for us we would have to trust His seeing for our believing.
1. John 20:30-31 - Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.
a. Cana turned water into wine and showed us the Messianic Kingdom was coming.
b. Back in Cana: he heals a man son’s with just the Word. That He is the Lord who speaks and it comes to pass.
c. In Jerusalem: he heals a man 38 years a quadriplegic demonstrating He is Lord of the Shabbat.
d. Western Shore of the Lake of Galilee just before Passover: he multiplies bread for a group the size of 15,000 – 20,000. But his point is that he does not just give bread, He is the bread of life.
2. The 5th sign is actually a sign within a sign but it is more than that it is a private sign much like the water turning to wine. This sign is not done in public for all to see but only for his disciples.
John 6:15-16
Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He withdrew again to the mountain by Himself. When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea…
a. Explain: Jesus often withdrew from crowds for mountain prayer and then to the sea to escape the crowds. This is one of the more human sides of Jesus.
b. Explain: These were mostly trained fishermen who were experienced traveling at night on the but I want you to see they were apprehensive about making this journey.
c. Explain: We need to look at Matthew’s account of this same story to see this apprehension.
Matthew 14:22
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
a. Explain: He compelled/made them (ἀναγκάζω). This word means to apply at a minimum some gentle nudging and at a maximum threats and force. The picture is that the disciples were scared of what I might happen at Sea.
b. Explain: Rembrandt gets the Thunderstorm wrong but the waves and wind right.
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
c. Explain: This was early spring, before Passover, it was not the season for Tiberian Thunderstorms but there was an even greater threat, the gusting winds that could shoot down from the mountains with hurricane force on the Galilee. Even the most experienced sailor could get taken off guard by these winds in the day; but, at night. The risks were high and the fear was real.
d. Here is the point: There is something to be scared of.
e. Explain: This story sounds familiar. Is this the one where Matthew 8:24-26
Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea…but He was sleeping. So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm. - Matthew 8:24-26
b. That was earlier. He was with them on the boat. That is a big detail.
Matthew 14:22
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds
a. Explain: In this story, Jesus is sending them, alone into the storm in spite of their rational fears.
John 6:17-18
got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.
… started across the sea to Capernaum. Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn.
a. This is not a rain storm, this is wind storm. And it happens quick and turbulent. A recent storm was recorded in the JPost in March of 1992 as hitting 10 feet high waves crashing into downtown Tiberias and caused significant damage to the city.” Archeologist have found fishing vessels like the one they are on from the first century broken up by what they believe to be fierce winds on the sea of Galilee.
b. The only way to describe this storm to us today is to imagine the feeling of Turbulance when it hits an airplane.
John 6:19/ Matthew 14:24
After they had rowed about three or four miles… But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them, it was around three in the morning. - John 6:19/ Matthew 14:24
a. Explain: they had to take down the sail and pull out the oars.
b. Explain: they left at evening and it says at three in the morning they had only gone maybe 3 to 4 miles towards their destination but had been pushed a mile out into the sea. This is fisherman code for : we were getting nowhere, help is not coming, our fears are realized, the storm is controlling them completely.
John 6:19
After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid.
After they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid.
a. Explain: They see something that in Israel’s history had never been seen but had been sung about. In Israel, they all knew the story of God splitting the Sea and Israel walking through on dry ground but walking on water, this was new.
b. Explain: It was so new, Matthew and Mark tell us they thought that Jesus was a ghost (cf. Matt 14:26).
When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
c. Explain: they are now faced with a fear of something greater, a person of some kind walking up and down the waves.
John 6:20
But He said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid!”
But He said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid!”
a. Explain: The sentence is strange but powerful. Here is what they heard in Hebrew “I AM that I IAM. Don’t be scared.”
b. Explain: Jesus does not mean, “Don’t be scared of me.” We are told:
a. Also submit yourselves to one another out of fear of the Messiah…- Eph 5:21
b. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah…Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we are trying to persuade people, but what we are is known to God—and I hope it is known to your consciences as well. – 2 Cor 5:10-11
c. The 5th Sign: When you fear the Lord Jesus, you don’t have to be afraid even when there is something to be afraid of.
c. Hear was the reality, what the sign was teaching them:
Their fear in the storm showed their faith.
The fear of the Lord Jesus will now demonstrate their faith.
Their hearts were controlled by the storm.
The fear of the Lord Jesus would control their hearts in the storm.
Their Fear in the storm made them feel abandoned.
The fear of the Lord Jesus would assure them they are never abandoned.
The 5th Sign: When you fear the Lord Jesus, you don’t have to be afraid even when there is something to be afraid of.
John 6:21
Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.
Then they wanted to take Him into the boat, and right away the boat reached the shore where they were headed.
a. Explain: John gives a real brief ending because he wants to move on to the Bread of Life teaching in the Synagogue.
b. Explain: Matthew gives us a few more details
Matthew 14:32-33
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
· Explain: He is not just another man, he is a superman.
· Explain: He even though he is not in the boat with them, he is watching them and they don’t have to fear the storm.
John 6:66
From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him.
· Explain: After saying that he did not just make bread he was bread, they bailed on him. After he said, his movement would not be defined by violence but by peace they gave up.
John 6:67-68
Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life.
Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve, “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life.”
· The twelve, even Judas, seemed to have been moved by the Wave-walker.
· It does not last. All twelve will eventually get so scared they quit, run, flee, freeze and then run.
· This idea…Jesus is Lord so even if something scary we don’t have to be scared because we fear Lord Jesus. It did not happen quick.
· And, from that point forward, now that they knew it would be right to say that any fear that controlled their heart, mind, and decisions was misplaced fear.
· Not that it was not scary, not that it was not rational fear, not that it was not real. It was just that in comparison to Jesus it could never be ultimately scary.
When you fear the Lord Jesus, you don’t have to be afraid even when there is something to be afraid of.
Faith and fear are often described as opposites. But in reality, that’s not how it works. The kind of fear the Bible most often addresses, whether positively (Deuteronomy 6:13) or negatively (Luke 12:4), is actually born out of faith. It results from seeing who the Lord is.
So it is not so much faithless fear that inhibits a more radical life, but rather misplaced fear — fear of the wrong thing. In other words, faith in the wrong thing produces misplaced fear and a fearless person is dangerous. And fear of the wrong thing is at the root of so many of our problems, the worst of our miseries, and the heart of our sin: “For whatever does not proceed from faith [in God] is sin” (Romans 14:23).
That’s why There is no such thing as a fearless follower of Jesus. God designed us to experience fear, in some measure, because he designed us to live by faith (Romans 1:17). And the object of our faith is revealed in what fears most motivate us.
Also submit yourselves to one another out of fear of the Messiah…- Eph 5:21
I saw one more powerful than the storm and believe He is God in the Flesh and my heart fears none more than Him.
Acts 4:13
When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 5:41-42
Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
Then they went out from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be dishonored on behalf of the Name. Every day in the temple complex, and in various homes, they continued teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
· Even though there was something to be afraid of, they were not afraid because of the fear of the Lord Jesus.
· There is someone to fear even more the storm.
John 20:30-31 - …these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.
· This sign tells you that the fear of the Lord Jesus and not the fear of the Storm should guide your heart, mind, and choices.
I know that for weeks we have seen the results of people being controlled by the fear of this storm called Covid-19. Initially people targeted Asian people and restaurants in our Area, People stockpiled toilet paper and food, there was a run on wall-street, a run on banks for cash, commercial burglaries are on the rise, domestic abuse is at an all-time high, and unemployment is at unprecedented heights.
The fear of the Storm, unfortunately, has been controlling many of our critical decisions in life. I also fear that fear of the Storm – the economic storm – is leading many state leaders to rush to open things back up.
Fearing the Lord does not mean we should lack wisdom. To the contrary, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. You don’t have to be afraid but you don’t have to be unwise either. Don’t let the storm drive your next decision let the fear of the Lord Jesus drive your next decision.
Like the apostles you may wonder where He is. You may wonder if he even knows you are in a storm. Does he care? He cares, He knows, He sees, and He will come and calm the seas. Let your faith in the Lord of the Storm drive you not your fear of the storm itself.