If You Want To Be A Real Christian. . . Series

If You Want to Be a Real Christian. . .

The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 14:34 - Matthew 15:9

Sermon by Rick Crandall

(Prepared July 23, 2022)

BACKGROUND:

*Please open your Bibles to Matthew 14. The Holy Spirit led Matthew to begin this part of his Gospel by reporting on the government-approved murder of John the Baptist. Verses 13-14 tell us that when Jesus heard about John's death, "He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick."

*That same evening in vs. 15-21, Jesus fed all of those people, maybe more than 15,000, counting women and children. And He did that with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish! Then in vs. 22-33, God's Word tells us about the miracle Jesus worked when He walked on the stormy waves several miles out into the Sea of Galilee.

*At first the disciples screamed in terror because they thought Jesus was a ghost. But in vs. 27 Jesus tried to calm them and said, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.'' The Apostle Peter wanted more proof, so in vs. 28 he said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.'' Jesus told him to come, and Peter started walking on the water too. But Peter quickly began to sink like a rock, because he started to focus on the storm more than His Savior.

*Then in vs. 30-32, Peter cried out, "'Lord, save me!' And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?' And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased."

*Jesus is Lord of all! He can calm any storm, and the Lord wasn't through with miracles that night. John 6:21 tells us that after the disciples received Jesus into the boat, it was immediately at the land where they were going! John Phillips called this "moving at the speed of thought," and there are several more examples in God's Word. But what a miracle! Jesus is Lord over all of time and space! (1)

*Today's Scripture shows us what happened next, and these verses help us understand what it means to be a Christian. Let's get started by reading Matthew 14:34 - Matthew 15:9.

MESSAGE:

*Are you a real Christian? I remember my mentor pastor, Herman Savoie, saying he wished that when we were saved God put some kind of mark on our forehead, so we would know for sure that we were saved. Of course, God doesn't do that. But there are some sure signs of being a Christian, and we can see some of them here in God's Word.

1. FIRST: REAL CHRISTIANS TRUST JESUS TO HELP THEM IN AMAZING WAYS.

*The last verses of Matthew 14 show us even more of the infinite power of Jesus Christ. In vs. 34-36 God's Word says:

34. When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

35. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,

36. and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

*Has God lost His power? Of course not! He is still the Almighty God that He always has been. And as Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 19:26, "with God all things are possible.'' Church: I am quite sure that miracles are happening to God's people every day somewhere in the world. All things are possible with God, so real Christians trust God to do amazing things in their lives.

*Now when it comes to healing, many times God does bring healing to our bodies. Most of the time He uses our natural healing process and the dedicated medical professionals He has given to us. But many times, we have seen God answer prayer, and go far beyond what they can do.

*On December 10th, 2008, I was waiting at St. Francis Hospital while Mrs. Jesse Williams was having back surgery. Her husband Tom and daughter Sue began to talk about their years in Ruston, where they went to Southside Baptist Church.

*The conversation turned to a terrible wreck involving the pastor and his wife. A delivery truck had run a stop sign and smashed into the side of the pastor's car. It killed a friend riding with them, and seriously injured both the preacher and his wife. Her pelvic area was crushed, but the people of the church began to pray, and God worked a miracle. In one x-ray the ball of her hip-joint was shattered. But in the very next x-ray, it had all come together whole. Wow!