Church on the Move Amid Contrary Winds - Matthew 14:22-33

Introduction

Upon examination of the stories of many who have been successful in this life - when you ask them, how did you make it to where you are in your life now? You like me will often hear stories of people who did not plan to be where they are. It would seem that they were in the right place, at the right time, with the right people and God somehow opened a world of possibilities they did not ever write down, dream, or plan. Only few ever get up on award shows and attribute their successes to God who allowed their momma to meet their daddy, placed all the gifts, talents, and abilities within them only to attribute success to luck, chance, and happenstance.

This presents the reality that it is possible to be successful without God. There is a familiar story of Steve Jobs who was a college dropout who created the billion dollar company known as Apple. Steve Jobs at a young age asked his pastor, “since God knows everything, does he know about the starving children I saw on the cover of Life Magazine?” His pastor was said to assure him, “yes, God knows everything.” Steve Jobs responded “Well, I don’t want anything to do with that God” and was said to never return to church. Because it is possible to be successful without God. But I am not just looking to be successful - I am looking to be fulfilled and fulfillment only comes in, by, and through God. When I am fulfilled my success is not tied to what I do but its solely tied to who I know.

As I began to pray some time ago for a specific word from God to propel us forward as a church in this 113th Church Anniversary, I thought of the the traditional church anniversary messages themed around “we’ve come this far by faith.” And while I believe in the phrase wholeheartedly; a survey of churches would discover that it was the faith of many who sat in the pews who are now resting in the bosom of the Savior that carry churches to a point. But in many of our churches today faith has taken a back seat - we have no longer come by faith… time seems to be moving but it seems at times that faith is dying right from the church pew.

The man living in his mother’s house, sleeping on his mother’s couch is with great abilities but no job or drive to do anything is not aging in faith he is just aging. And I submit unto us this morning we ought not be a church that is just aging - but we ought to age by faith! And that means while we’re celebrating 113 years, we’re still growing, still serving, still preaching, still praying, still praising, still evangelizing, still carrying out the will of God!

Truth is for many today church has come by people, power, and personality. When people leave churches today die. When the powerful and personalities leave it has been seen so does progress. Because faith in God has really become faith in people and when people leave there is just a church of people who maintain going to church out of normality, habit, and social activity… but not many in the church today are concerned with increasing faith.

Less we slip and fall into the trends of the day I believe God is calling our faith to action today to effect and affect the next 113 years for the glory of God! For without faith it is impossible to please God!

Body

The Bible lets us know after Jesus has just fed five thousand not to include women and children his is now ready to retreat. Certainly, after ministering to the needs of 5000 you need to retreat. Matthew calls the 5000 the multitude. But what verse 22 indicates to us also is that Jesus also takes a break from the disciples. Because every now and again you’ve got to get away from church and church folk and spend some time with the Lord for yourself. I’ve been in the fellowship with the saints, I’ve heard the word, we’ve sang; but I don’t just need faith on Sunday. I need consistent faith because I’ve got to stay connected to God who knows what I need and what others need through me!

Matthew indicates in verse 22 that Jesus made the disciples get in the boat. In verse 24 we start learning about the conditions the disciples must travel in. You thought when you joined the church it was going to be still waters all the time because of Psalm 23. But it said he maketh me to lie down… because the waters may not actually be still but God will give you such peace that raging waters will be made still so you can rest. But the Bible says that the ship was in the middle of the sea being tossed by contrary winds… After 113 years, this church has endured some contrary winds.

The disciples are rowing but they aren’t getting anywhere. Its dark out. I am certain they are wondering if they will die. They are stuck and can’t go anywhere.

But there’s good news verse 25, Jesus always shows up during contrary winds.

I know your perspective in the storm is I’m stuck, not getting anywhere, its dark, I might die. But when Jesus steps into your contrary wind - its time for a perspective change. Because when Jesus comes its time for you to understand now that since He’s here - what seemed impossible is possible. The sun that was hiding behind dark clouds must now show its face because the S O N has stepped in. When Jesus steps in the negative thoughts about the situation had to go. When Jesus steps in the negative thoughts about yourself had to go. When Jesus steps in your negative thoughts about the person next to you had to go!

And the problem I believe that exists in the church today is not that Jesus hasn’t stepped into contrary winds but we’ve been so busy outside of the realm and possibilities of faith focusing on all the wrong stuff, how we feel, how others feel, when Jesus says I’m standing right here to blow your mind that in an instant when I step in - the contrary winds don’t have any power over you! Have you been too busy going to church as usual that you can’t recognize when Jesus steps into a contrary wind?

We’re living in a day and time full of contrary winds but I believe God is looking for some folk who will see Jesus in contrary winds!

The Bible says when Jesus began walking on the water during a contrary wind - the disciples had a case of mistaken identity and did not know that was Him. They thought it was a spirit and they cried out out in fear. Uh huh, uh huh. Sometimes in your life you’ll have stuff come into your life trying to masks itself as God. Some of you could probably remember being children and being afraid that there was a monster in the closet or underneath the bed. Some of us when we set out to do something on behalf of the kingdom of God - the ghosts of fear starts talking. The ghosts of experience starts talking - I dun did stuff in this church before and they ostracized me, talked about me, didn’t make me feel welcome so I’m doing anything else. I’m quitting serving because they don’t like me, they get on my nerves.

But you’ve got to learn in your life not to give the mistaking identity any power. It was God who made you get on the boat in the first place… Don’t you get to the point of a storm and start questioning.

Jesus said in the midst of the darkness, in the midst of the contrary wind, rowing and not getting anywhere, likely fear of death; be of good cheer! This is where God shifts your perspective. One word from the Lord will shut down the power of the storm. All of a sudden when Jesus says be of good cheer the wind might still be contrary but the contrary wind no longer matters because Jesus has made is presence known.

Beloved that’s why I have learned to find God in every situation that I face. Because when He makes His presence known - I may have had doubts about my situation and doubts about tomorrow… But when He steps in and makes His presence known my song starts changing from doom, sorrow, and gloom to because He lives… I can face tomorrow! Because He lives, all fear is gone! Because I know who holds the future and life is worth the living because He lives!

Jesus said to the disciples be not afraid. There are some folk who can’t walk by faith because they are too afraid. But the disciples on this boat have got to be snatched out of fear because the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is dependent upon them surviving and overcoming fear. Oh God, the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is waiting on some of us to come out of fear, come out of doubt, come out of worry… Be of good cheer, do not be afraid! Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

Peter answered and said Lord, if it be you. Let me come to you. I’ve got a problem with Peter. This is the same Peter in Matthew 16 who makes the accurate definition of who Jesus is saying “if it be you.” But what Peter fails to realize that You has carried them through contrary winds all this time. And if I had not be for You, they would have succumb to the contrary winds. But aren’t you glad that even when you couldn’t see You. You was there! And sometimes you’ve got to learn to see You before you can see You.

Peter said if it’s You, let me come. Verse 29, Jesus said come. Hold up wait a minute. Why in the world would you start walking on some water? Going into unchartered territory, doing things that have never been done before, going places you’ve never went before. Because after 113 years, we’ve learned that when Jesus bids us to come; we can’t stop, collect $200, but we’ve got to follow the word and GO!

Oh I’ve got to stop right there and tell all the church folk boat riders that we need some Peters who will go where Jesus is. You’ve got to see the church as the boat. That Jesus told you to get on the boat and there’s nothing wrong with being on the boat. I am not going to beat the other disciples up for being on the boat because Jesus told them to get in the boat.

But every now and again you’ve got to get on out of the boat to go where Jesus is. When you get out of the boat going where Jesus is may take you walking the streets of the community to get folks saved and help with real needs. When you get out of the boat going where Jesus is it may take you to the streets passing out meals to the homeless. When you get out of the boat going where Jesus is it may take you to the prisons and juvenile detention centers. When you get out of the boat and go where Jesus is it will cause you to ask the question what can I do for my church and community instead of what can my church and community do for me!

Going where Jesus is will often lead you to the least, the left out, and the marginalized of society. Peter was willing to get out of the boat to go walk with Jesus. Peter likely did not want to get out of the boat but He wanted to get to Jesus and the only means was to get out of the boat. And I’ve got to ask a question; the deacons won’t make you get out of the boat, the pastor won’t make you get out of the boat, but will Jesus make you get out of the boat?

Some of us our boat might be our stinking thinking. Some of us our boat might be doubt and fear. Some of us our boat might be laziness. And sadly, some church folk who declare “we’ve come this far by faith” won’t even get out of the boat for Jesus because while their lips say “we’ve come this far by faith” actions really say we’ll go no where because of fear, we’ll go no where because I’m comfortable in the boat doing what I’ve always done and getting what I always got. But God is looking for somebody who will respond to the word and COME!

I may not know where I’m going but He said come. I may not know how it will turn out but He said come. I’m walking on water - doing something I never imagined I’d be able to do but I’m doing it because he said COME!

Oh but wait, verse 30… Peter sees the wind, is afraid after Jesus said don’t be afraid and he begins to sink.

I’ve got to tell you this morning.... You who come to church regularly who find yourself so close to Jesus through your prayer life, your praise and your worship… You are even more vulnerable than others to sink because being so close to Jesus means that when you’re so used to Him being around you are prone to sink quicker and faster. This is why you need a constantly developing relationship with God. Andre Crouch said take me back to the place where I first received you… Because when you can have a fresh relationship with Jesus you don’t have to rely on what He did but you can rely on what He’s doing right now.

Right now He’s doing great things for me…

But the closer you are to Jesus the more you must keep your eyes on him. How could it be that Jesus is right in front of you and you are sinking? In church every Sunday but sinking. Sing in the choir, sinking. Playing an instrument, sinking. A deacon and sinking. The pastor and sinking. On the usher board and sinking! On the hospitality ministry and sinking! A trustee and SINKING!

But there’s good news for you just like Peter, when you sink; He saves.

The Bible says, my Master, our Savior, immediately stretched forth his hand. Isn’t that wonderful? Even when I’m not walking by faith as I should be He’ll rescue me and put me on the road I need to be on.

But let me remind you.... up until this point the Bible tells us verse number 24 the wind was contrary. In verse number 30 the wind is boisterous - which means its a violent wind. And the boat is still in the water and hasn’t sank. Peter and Jesus are standing on the water with a contrary and boisterous wind.

Closing

But in verse number 32 Jesus and Peter come back into the ship and the wind that was contrary and boisterous has now ceased!

I know we’re facing some unprecedented times in our country, in the world, and in the church universal. But these Apostles’ were commissioned by Jesus Christ to carry the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world. And to perform their mission they had to survive contrary and boisterous winds.

And I know that the road is rough, and the going gets tough. And the hills are hard to climb. But my heart is fixed and my mind is made up; I’m going all the way with the Lord!

Because I found out that He’ll carry me through even when the storms of life are raging. And the church of the living God is going to be alright. Because upon this rock - I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!

113 years, Mt. Sinai is still here by the grace of God. The church is doing well in so many areas and avenues - but there’s more God has for us. We’ve got more souls to save and more saved souls to strengthen. We’ve got more land to acquire and territory to claim.

Don’t be afraid, don’t be dismayed! Be of good cheer! We’ve seen what God can do even in a pandemic. We’ve see what God can do during inflation. It is written… eye has not seen, ear has not heard! The great things God has in store for those who love Him.

I’ve got to tell you take the limits off of God by taking the limits off of you. Get out of the boat. Be of good cheer. Don’t be afraid! God is with us and so we cannot fail!

Hold to His hand Mt. Sinai. Pray always and don’t faint! Be faithful, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing your labor, your praying, your serving is not in vain!