Failure is Not Fatal

Matthew 14:22–33 ESV

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Introduction: Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a well known preacher in the 19th century England who’s ministry has impacted many and even today, people look to his preaching and teaching for inspiration.

An incident happened when he was only 22 hears old that nearly ruined his ministry. When his notoriety began to grow, many people wanted to hear him preach. A secular music hall called Surrey Gardens was rented out and 10,000 people packed the place out.

The meeting was going well until someone in the audience yelled, “Fire, Fire, Fire!” In the panic to get out of the building, 7 people were trampled to death and 30 were sent to the hospital as a result of their injuries.

Spurgeon was emotionally devastated. The newspapers of the day crucified Spurgeon and hen fell into depression. He saw this as a failure in his ministry. He sought peace and comfort from God and dove into the scripture looking for answers but couldn’t find any.

Two weeks later, he was walking in a garden when God spoke to him through this scripture: Philippians 2:9

Philippians 2:9 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

These words revitalized his soul and he resumed preaching and his ministry continued.

This is not unusual in the life of a Christian. Trials come! Storms blow into our lives and threaten to blow our faith away. Our faith gets weak and we begin to sink like Peter on the storm tossed sea.

Warren Weirsbe wrote: “As we read our Bibles, we discover that there are two kinds of storms: storms of correction, when God disciplines us; and storms of perfection, when God helps us to grow. Jonah was in a storm because he disobeyed God and had to be corrected. The disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Christ and had to be perfected.

In our story today, we see 5 different faith reactions that we can experience at different times in our life but especially when storms come. But first, a bit of context.

The disciples had just witnessed one of the greatest miracles in the Bible, the feeding of 5,000 men - not to mention numerous women and children in the crowd that day.

It says immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side. Most likely, as John tells us, because the crowd was coming to make Jesus King. So he went to a mountain to pray and sent the disciples on ahead of Him.

Did Jesus know that this storm was coming? Absolutely. He also knew that these disciples needed to be challenged in their faith in order for them to grow spiritually. Even Mark tells us that the disciples were trying to row and make headway in the storm but were not very effective. That is when Jesus came to them walking on the water to their rescue.

Motivated Faith (vv. 27, 29)

Peter was an interesting pick for a disciple. He was a wrecking ball. He just swung into action on a moments notice without considering the consequences or the outcome.

But Peter was also the only one who had the courage to say to Jesus, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Perhaps Peter was looking for further assurance that it really was Jesus.

Jesus first spoke to all of the disciples saying, “Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Jesus then gave Peter a simple command, “Come.”

And Peter did. He stepped out of the boat.

It was the Word of Christ that Motivated Peter.

The Word of God should motivate your faith. Not the traditions of man, not your heart, not the winds of culture, BUT the Word of the Lord alone!

The cry of the reformation was “Sola Scriptura” - In the Scriptures alone.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Illus. “I want to know one thing, the way to heaven: how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end he came from heaven. He has written it down in a book! Oh, give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! I have it: here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be: “A man of one book.” – John Wesley

And let’s make sure we understand that Peter’s faith moved him to step out of the boat. Motivated faith is a moving faith!

You can say you have faith all day long. Until your faith moves you, it is nothing more than lip service.

Illus. In 1859, Charles Blondin did something that was simply mind-blowing. He walked across a tight rope suspended over Niagara Falls while pushing a wheelbarrow. he did it while blindfolded. The crowds were amazed at the fact that it could be done. It is said that he asked his audience, "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?" Of course the crowd shouted that yes, they believed! It was then that Blondin posed the question - "Who will get in the wheelbarrow?” Can you believe that no one was willing to demonstrate their faith and get into the wheelbarrow?

Misdirected Faith (v. 30)

So we see that Peter did step out of the boat. he was doing great walking on water - until. He took his eyes off of Jesus and started looking at the wind and the waves.

I wonder if the other disciples were back in the boat taking bets on whether he would sink or not?

His faith got misdirected.

How often do we start out well trusting in Jesus to guide, direct, and protect us? Then the storm hits, the wind blows, and seas start to rage. We panic and begin to sink.

That storm might be a cancer diagnosis or another major health issue. It might be a layoff at the job. It might be a rebellious child or teenager. Your storm might be more month than money. (I’ve been there BTW.) Your storm might be marital problems or divorce. Your storm might be the sudden loss of a loved one.

Don’t allow your faith to be misdirected by momentary afflictions. Taking your eyes off of Jesus will cause your faith to sink.

This is what Paul said about our troubles:

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 ESV

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

You faith is only as good as the object it is focused upon. If you focus on your own understanding, you will falter and fail in your walk with the Lord.

What is your faith focused upon this morning. Have you take your eyes off the Master?

If you are going through a storm right now, focus on Jesus. And for heaven’s sake, don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is!

The following quote has been attributed to Winston Churchill: “If you’re going through hell, keep going!” There is a lot of truth in that. But, it’s even better if you understand who it is that is going through the fire with you believer!

Isaiah 43:2 ESV

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

Mended Faith (vv. 31-32)

Once Peter began to realize that he was going down with out a ship, he cried out to the Lord.

First we see Peter’s prayer. “Lord, save me.”

His prayer was not eloquent, but it was expedient! He didn’t start out praying, “Heavenly Father, I thank you for this day. Would you in your sovereign mercy deliver me from this water that is overwhelming me right now…” I’m not saying that that kind of prayer is wrong. But, if we are praying just to hear own words, where is the power in that?

Illus. I remember the story of a seasoned pastor who invited a young seminary student to prayer during church services one time. The young student wanted to leave a favorable impression upon the elder pastor so he started praying on and on and on using all kinds of flowery words. About 10 minutes into the prayer, the senior pastor came up behind him, put his hand on the student’s shoulder and said, “Son, just call him father and ask him for something!”

Notice how the Lord responded to Peter: Immediately Jesus reached out his hand to save Peter from drowning.

Peter’s faith wasn’t sufficient to survive the crisis but the Lord knew just how far his faith could be stretched.

You may have heard that the Lord won’t give you more than you can handle. I tell you that is not true. The Lord won’t give you more than HE can handle! That is different for sure.

Then the Lord lovingly corrected Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Part of our faith journey involves correction. Correction is a prerequisite to mending our faith. Correction is always for our benefit. Correction from the Lord may sting for a while but it is a sign of God’s great love for us.

Hebrews 12:6–7 ESV

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Multiplied Faith (v. 33)

Peter’s failure of faith was not fatal. Neither will ours be if we have failed and we return to Christ. Failure is not fatal unless you choose to let it be fatal.

His failure actually turned out to be an example for the other disciples. It helped multiply the faith of the disciples as they properly responded in worship to the miracle that they saw.

Fact is, your trial may be the example that someone needs to see…not so much the trial itself but your response to the trial. They saw a man fail in his faith, but they also saw a God who forgives and restores.

Illus. Friday I had the opportunity to interview Jonathan Lotz, son of Anne Graham Lotz. He shared his testimony of trying and failing to live up to his father’s expectations, surviving cancer, divorce, and recently Covid. He said that he didn’t know why he had go through those things. In the case of cancer, he believes God has used that to help his mother go through her cancer. In the case of Covid, he was able to lead an ICU nurse to the Lord while he was in ICU for 8 days. Jonathan understood that his storms had a greater purpose - to serve as an example to someone else so that their faith might be multiplied.