Don’t Lose Your Focus
Matthew 14:22-32
22 ΒΆ And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
This is a story that many of us have heard over and over again.
Previous to this story, Jesus had been ministering to several thousand people who had gathered to hear his words and to receive healing for their various diseases.
Apparently Jesus had been ministering to them most of the day, for when evening began to close upon them the disciples suggested that the multitude be dismissed so that they could go into the nearby villages a purchase something to eat.
But Jesus had a better suggestion. Have them sit down on the grass and feed them ourselves.
Of course the disciples thought this was impossible since they only had five loaves of bread and two fish.
After all, there was about 5000 men there besides the women and children! Quite possibly, there may have been fifteen or twenty thousand people in attendance.
But Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish, blessed it and the people began to eat.
After they were finished, there were twelve baskets of fragments left over!
So then, after the multitude was filled with food, and then sent back to their homes, Jesus had the disciples to get into a ship and go to the other side of the lake, while He spent some time alone in prayer.
But there was a terrible storm that arose and began to toss their ship in the midst of the sea.
It must have been a scary storm, one of great magnitude, because verse 24 says, the ship was tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
When they first left the shore it was fair sailing in the cool of the evening; but a storm gathered quickly as night covered the sky.
On the lake of Galilee the wind rushes down from the gullies between the mountains, and causes grievous peril to small boats;
sometimes fairly lifting them out of the water, and then
submerging them beneath the waves.
They were far from land, for they were "in the midst of the sea", equally distant from either shore.
There are times in our lives when we face storms and we feel the winds of doubt and fear, but it is when we are in the “midst” of our stormy sea that we fear the most.
Because when we are in the “midst” of the sea, we have no place to go, safety is so far away. Security seems so far from us.
That is when our faith is tested, in the “midst of the sea” of life.
Oh, things can be going so good sometimes. We are sailing on smooth waters, with a gentle breeze blowing in our faces, and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere comes a storm of great magnitude, that threatens our little ship.
Sometimes those storms come right after we witness God’s greatness in our lives.
The disciples were on a spiritual high when they left shore that evening, after witnessing the miracles of the loaves and fish.
But little did they know that a storm was brewing over the horizon!
Often times we too witness the power of God in our lives, His glory, His greatness, only to face a tremendous storm the very next day.
Now, the sea was furious, and their ship was "tossed with waves."
This was no minor incident with scattered thunderstorms, and a 20% chance of rain with partly cloudy skies.
This was a tremendous storm, with their ship tossed with waves.
The word “tossed” here comes from the same Greek word, meaning to torture, and to vex.
These disciples were tortured by this storm, causing them much fear, anxiety and pain, trying to keep the sails intact, trying to steer the boat, trying to keep things in control to keep from sinking. But to no avail!
And then, verse 25 says, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.”
The fourth watch was somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning hours.
Notice here, they had left Jesus at the shore sometime in the late evening, and sometime after that this storm came up.
We don’t know what time the storm began raging, but we do know that sometime between 3:00 and 6:00 AM they were struggling against this tremendous storm.
So they we quite possibly awake all night long. They were tired, worn out, about ready to give up, their strength was about gone, their hopes were about gone, and hopes of being rescued was quite dim.
But notice verse 25 again, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.”
At the point when they had all but given up, Jesus showed up, walking on the surface of the water!
Now, when the disciples looked out across those raging waves, with the wind blowing in their faces, they thought they had seen a ghost!
They were troubled, and cried out in fear!
“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
Straightway= Immediately
Then Peter responded by saying, “Lord, if this is really you, bid me, or order me, to come to you on the water.”
Or, if this is really you, let me walk on the water to you, like you are doing.
Jesus said, “Come on.”
Then Peter climbed out of the ship and began to walk on the surface of the water toward Jesus.
But now watch this, in verse 30, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.”
Verse 31, “ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Now what was it that caused Peter to begin sinking?
After all, he had some faith, little, but some! He did climb out of the boat, and for a short time, did walk on the water.
Here is the key: “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid;” The key word is “afraid.”
He was afraid! He was distracted by the wind!
Even though he had permission to walk on the water to Jesus, he was distracted by fear.
The word, “boisterous” simply means, powerful and strong.
What really happened, is that Peter lost his focus!
At first his focus was upon Jesus!
Note this series of events:
1. He was assured that it was indeed Jesus.
2. He asked for permission to come to Jesus.
3. Jesus granted him permission to come to Him.
4. Peter stepped out of the boat.
5. He actually walked on the water.
All of these events happened while Peter’s eyes were affixed upon Jesus.
But then the waves and wind distracted him. The howling of the winds caused him to loose his focus.
Then he began to focus upon the wind, the waves, the water below him, and he began to be afraid, and began to sink.
What am I trying to say this morning?
Don’t lose your focus!
Hebrews 12:2, “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Peter’s problem was, he lost his focus!
He became distracted by the waves and took his eyes off of Jesus.
His focus was on the waves, and not on Jesus.
And when his focus shifted away from Jesus to the waves he began to go under.
How many times have you lost your focus? How many times have you looked at the circumstances and lost view of Jesus?
Life can be overwhelming sometimes! Life can hurl some mighty big storms in the quest of our journey.
We sometimes feel that the storms of life is just about to sink our little ship and we’re going under!
Then we hear the voice of Jesus who says in Mt 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
So we muster up enough faith to put some confidence in God.
We’re getting out of the boat!
We walk on water for awhile. We’re trusting God! Or, we think we are!
But then, just like Peter, we get distracted with the waves, the wind, the rain, and the circumstances.
And we become afraid, we panic, we get a sudden overwhelming fear, and we begin to sink like a rock!
But Jesus said, “It is I, be not afraid.”
Oh its east to lose control.
Its easy to fear.
Its easy to be filled with anxiety. (I’ve been there, done that)
Its easy to doubt God.
When the devil is telling you that you’re not going to make it.
When the devil is telling you that you’re all washed up.
When the devil is telling you that you’re going to sink.
When the devil is telling you that you’re not worth saving.
When the waves are washing over in your ship!
Its easy to look at the circumstances around you!
But God is the God of your circumstances!
He is the God of your impossibilities!
Look up! Look up! Look up!
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith!
Where is your focus this morning?
Have you lost your focus?
Peter cried out to Jesus! “Lord save me!”
Lord save me! Lord save me!
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him!
Notice the word, “caught”!
He caught him! He was going under! He wasn’t about to sink, he WAS sinking!
But he cried, “Lord save me!”
And as his head was about to go under, Jesus caught him!
You may be sinking this morning! You may have already sank and the only thing above water is your hand!
But He will catch you!
I like that, “and caught him.”
I was about to go under, but He caught me!!
I was sinking, but He caught me!
I was going under for the last time, but He caught me!
I thought I was a goner, but He caught me!
Your focus this morning should rest upon Jesus!
You may be overwhelmed.
You may be distressed.
Those waves of life may be overflowing your boat right now, but just remember that God isn’t very far away.
Just keep your eyes on Jesus! He will calm the troubled waters of your soul.
Sing in closing: C
KEEP YOUR EYES ON, JESUS,
WHEN THE TIDAL WAVE OF TROUBLE AROUND YOU ROLLS.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON, JESUS,
HE WILL CALM THE STORMS OF LIFE THAT TOSS YOUR SOUL.
