When You Find Yourself in a Storm

If you will find your place in Matthew 14, verses 22-33 we will read a few of these verses to give the context in a moment, but to familiarize everyone with what is happening, Jesus has just fed over 5000 people and is about to send them away, but before He sends the crowd away, He sends His disciples away first. Read verse 22 - 24 with me...

Can you even imagine what it must have been like on that sea that evening? Imagine being the disciples of Jesus, He is on the mountain, they are on the sea. He is on the shore, they are on this boat. There is at least, 3.5 miles separating them from the shore, and Jesus is no where to be seen! Now, read verse 25...

Would you not have loved to see the disciples faces?!?! Verse 26…they were terrified when they saw movement on the water! But today, when I read this passage, I don’t get scared, I GET EXCITED!

JESUS WALKED ON THE !! I can’t do that, but Jesus can! HE walked on the water. That is impossible, but He did!

IF Jesus can walk on water, through a storm, there is nothing He can’t do.

When you find yourself in a storm, remember, Jesus walks on water! I want to share with you some simple reminders from this passage today...

The Storm was Raging, But Jesus Walked on Water VV. 24-25

Verse 24 tells us that the same time Jesus was on the mountain praying, the disciples were in the midst of the sea in the worst storm of their lives!

In Matthew 8, we read of another time they were in a boat, on this same sea, in another storm like this one, but with one Key difference: Jesus was with them!

Not this time though! NO sir! Jesus was nowhere in sight! He was on the mountain top praying to the Father - there is a message all by itself! Meanwhile the disciples are fighting against the wind! This was serious stuff! Notice...

The Danger - The disciples were in the ship, and the ship was being “tossed with the waves”

The word tossed is an interesting word

It literally means they were being tormented or tortured

This was no small storm, this was life-changing!

In a moment, in a single instant your life can change, can it not?

There are dangers and uncertainties everywhere!

There is not a one of us here today that has not faced uncertainty, faced challenges, faced trials, faced pain, faced danger

I’m glad today that I can say that in my life, every time a storm comes my way, Jesus comes to me!

His disciples were in danger!

They were going to die! That is a fact!

Get this: JESUS SAW IT! And Jesus came to them! Remember that Jesus will come to you! No matter the danger and no matter...

The Direction

The wind was “contrary”

That means it was blowing against them

It was trying to push them in the opposite direction

The easy thing to do would have been to turn the boat and sail with the wind back to the shore

But that would have been an act of disobedience to Jesus v. 22!

Christian listen to me:

When you choose to live a life of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, Satan will be contrary to you!

He will oppose you

He will attack you

But remember…Jesus walked on the water!

Jesus is on the mountain, the disciples are on the sea! The storm is raging all around them, all hope is lost, they must either turn back and disobey God or press on in faith

When your only choices are disobedience or faith: choose Faith!

“That’s easier said than done preacher”

You're right, but look at the reward

Here comes Jesus, verses 25…walking on the water! Take comfort in this today my friends, no matter the danger, no matter the direction you’re being pushed, no matter the storm you are facing, it is no problem for the ONE who walks on water!

Maybe today you’re in a storm, maybe today Satan is busy opposing you, trying to turn you around…don’t you dare give in, stay right where you are stay in the boat, because Jesus is coming! The storm was raging, but Jesus walked on the water, next we see...

The Situation was Frightening, But Jesus Walked on Water vv. 26-27

There were the disciples on the sea in a boat, the wind was blowing, the waves were beating them, then around 3 AM, when they thought it couldn’t get any worse…it did! Read with me...

Matthew 14:26–27 KJV 1900

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.

One of the greatest storms Christians can go through in our day is a storm of fear! Maybe today you find yourself in a storm of fear. I want to give you some help, there are

Reasons why we fear…(the list is not exhaustive by any means)

Loneliness/Isolation

Let me remind you the disciples were alone on the boat

Jesus was not with them, that is why they were afraid

They were isolated from Him, there was no way He could get to them on the boat

Is that not our natural reaction to bad news and difficult circumstances?

There is no way anyone, not even God, can help me!

Have you ever faced a similar situation where you felt alone and stranded?

My friends, Read verse 25 again...

Not even the storm could keep Jesus from His disciples, and no storm you can face will keep Him from you!

Here’s another reason we fear....

Confusion/Uncertainty

We fear the unknown

We fear what is beyond our control!

How many sleepless nights have you suffered because of fear?

How many days have been ruined by your constant worry and anxiety?

How many of those situations were made better because of your worry and anxiety?

Church, listen to me, I am not saying that you do not have a reason to worry...

The disciples, they were in an out of control situation, that is cause for concern!

You may be facing a situation that is out of your control...

You may be in a health or a financial crisis - if so, I agree, there is cause for concern!

You may have lost a loved one - that is real, that hurts, that is not something you will soon “Get over”

You may be burdened for a lost loved one or family member - you need to be concerned about that!

But worrying will not change the situation.

Prayer will

If you want to get victory over worry, then learn to trust God!

Now i want to give you some...

Reasons we should not fear...

Read verse 25 again!

They thought they were out of His reach, but HE CAME TO THEM!!!!

Christian, you are NEVER out of the reach of the Lord!

There is no location, He cannot come to you

There is no storm that does not fear Him

There is no sea He cannot cross

There is not sea He will not cross, to get to you!

Read that last portion of verse 27 with me… “…Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Please understand, Jesus did not tell them to be happy because of the situation. The word “cheer” means to take courage. I don’t know what storm you might be facing, but I do know this, Jesus walks on water. He put the raging seas under His feet, and you can take courage in knowing that whatever it is you are facing, it is under His feet!

The storm was raging, the situation was frightening, but Jesus walked on the water! I want to share just one more reminder with you...

Peter was Sinking, But Jesus Walked on Water vv. 28-33

Peter didn’t believe it was really Jesus, in fact, none of them did. When Jesus spoke to the men in the boat, Peter said, if we put it in our language today: “Prove it. If it is really you, then let me come out there and walk on the water too. That is the only way I will ever believe.”

I could preach an entire sermon on this one event here, but for the sake of time I’ll summarize: Jesus called, “Come”, and Peter answered by getting out of the boat. Read verse 29 with me for context… Jesus walked on water and so did Peter…for a little while at least. Verse 30 tells us, however, that Peter began to sink. What caused him to sink?

It wasn’t doubt

At first you may argue, Peter didn’t believe the Lord

“Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”

The word “if” definitely sounds like he wasn’t too sure, but

You cannot argue, Peter got out of the boat!

Listen, you cannot walk on water if you’re not willing to get out of the boat!

There is something to be said about that!

Listen, your doubts can hinder you, they can limit, but they alone cannot sink you

If it wasn’t doubt, what was it?

It wasn’t his fear v. 30

Storms are frightening…but they can be overcome

Peter stepped out of the boat in the midst of a storm, it didn’t take him by surprise

He wasn’t confused by the storm, he knew it was there

As a fishermen he knew the only thing you could do in a storm was ride it out

Storms can scare you, storms can toss you, but a storm alone can never sink you

It wasn’t the storm.

Verse 24 tells us about the stormy seas

The whole time Jesus is walking to them the storm is raging

Verse 29 tells us that Peter “walked on the water to go to Jesus”

Even in the midst of the storm, Jesus called Peter to do something great!

Even in the midst of your trial, your storm, Jesus can use you to do something great!

I will never forget the night my mother died.

She was as godly a lady I ever knew

After the doctors had delivered the news that she would not survive the night, she would not stop until she had said all she needed to say to her family and friends,

From her death bed she boldly told the gospel!

That storm you’re going through, let God use it for His glory

The storm can try you, the storm can tire you, but the storm alone cannot sink you!

If it wasn’t his doubts or fear, or the storm, then was was it?

He began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus v. 30

“When he saw the wind...”

The word “saw” means to look away from (not what he looked to, what he looked from)

Peter began to sink when he looked away from Jesus

When he took his eyes from the Lord and began to focus on the storm instead of the Savior, that is when he began to sink

No one likes being in a storm, but for the child of God we can take comfort in knowing our Savior is right there with us

You and I both know that when storms come, when we are tested and tired, we struggle because our first instinct is to look at the circumstances

We need to train ourselves to look for Jesus in our storms!

I can’t help but wonder today if there is someone here who, like Peter finds yourself in a storm, and like Peter, you are “beginning to sink”. I want to tell you today that there is hope.

In the midst of his storm Peter called out to Jesus “Lord, save me.” He didn’t call on his friends in the boat, he didn’t try to swim to them, he didn’t try to tread water until the storm passed. He called out to the One who could help. Now read verse 31 with me… That word, “Caught” means to take hold of, to receive.

My friend, maybe that is you today. Maybe you are here and you are drowning in a storm. Maybe today you need to call out to the One, the only One, who can save you.

Conclusion:

We have looked at three scenarios today. Three problems, but one answer: Jesus.

What is it you are facing that Jesus cannot handle? Church, if Jesus can walk on a stormy sea, He can handle any problem you are facing.

Let us pray...

With every head bowed and every eye closed today, I wonder, would you be honest with yourself and honest with God. Would you admit today that you are in a storm. Maybe life has been turned upside down for you lately, maybe you are afraid, whatever it is it has you feeling overwhelmed. My friend would you raise your hand, I just want to pray for you, that’s it.

In just a moment I’m going to invite you to come to this altar and give that burden, that storm to the one who walks on water. But before I do that, i wonder...

Maybe today you identify with Peter. You are sinking. You feel as if you have no hope. I wonder today if you are here and you’re not sure if you are saved. That may be the reason you feel such. If that is you today I beg you, call on the One who walks on water, let Him reach out to you and save you! Would you be honest right now and say “Preacher, I don’t know if I’m saved or not. Will you pray for me?” Is that you? Will you lift your hand?

As we sing, if the Spirit of God has spoken to you will you come forward to this altar and put your burden down? Will you come today to put your trust in the One who walks on water?