Lord…Save ME!
St. Matthew 14:22-30
By Pastor Russell M. Rillie
Wednesday, August 14, 2014
The Midday Session of the 36th Annual International Holy Convocation of Deliverance Temple Restoration Ministries – Bishop R.D. Graves ~ Chief Prelate
The Gathering Place, Raleigh, NC
Have you ever been in trouble? No, I mean, have you ever REALLY been in trouble? Think about it! I am not talking about the kind of trouble when you went and got someone OTHER than your wife pregnant. I am not talking about the kind of trouble when your wife went to the GYN and she now has parts of her body giving her an unwanted permanent round of applause. I’m not talking about the kind of trouble when you told hubby you were going to Jamaica with your girlfriend for the weekend….but your girlfriend forgot she was covering for you and guess what she did…..she called the house…AND HE PICKED UP. I am not talking about the kind of trouble when you were trying to make some spare change on the side to pay the bills and you began dancing at the Chocolate Factory on Wednesday Nights. However, last night when they played your intro music, you got to the stage & looked out at the thirsty men that were there & you and he both realize at the same time….that is your daddy and you are his baby girl. Tell your neighbor, that is not trouble….that’s just MESS! Sadly, for many of us, pastors & bishops, if the truth was to really be told and if the Holy Spirit was to really uncover some things in here today, we are tied up, tangled up and embroiled in some mess! Wow @ the whole sanctuary nervous right now! Do not go change or feed the baby NOW! Do not go empty your bladder NOW! You are all under arrest….of the Holy Ghost. You thought this was just a filler service to carry over until Pastor Diana Lyles tonight….SORRY BOO-BOO! You have got me twisted. Be easy….I did not come to deal with your mess….I came to deal with your troubles. I came to deal with someone who is at the point of death. Spiritually. Physically. Financially. Emotionally. Nobody can save you…EXCEPT Jesus Christ himself! Someone shout, “Lord Save Me!”
The hated & ill-reputed publican tax collector, Levi, the Jew from Galilee who gives us the perspective of Jesus as the Son of David & the Son of Abraham, wrote St. Matthew’s Gospel. With that perspective in mind, this connects Jesus to two of the oldest covenants in the Old Testament, the Davidic Covenant of Kingship & the Abrahamic Covenant of Promise, obedient, even unto death, according to the Isaac type foreshadows.
Our text this afternoon deals with the third & final event of chapter 14th. Verses 1-14 deal with death of John the Baptist. Verses 15-21 deals with the miracle of the feeding of 5000 men, beside women & children. The third event tells of the great Sunday school lesson of Jesus walking on water and Peter’s little faith.
Because Jesus had just performed a miracle, verse 22 says straightway, Jesus constrained, which means to force) his disciples to get into a ship. When there is such a mighty move of God and or God works through you as the chosen vessel to tend to the needs of his people…DON’T LINGER AROUND! BOUNCE! Folk will either want to make you & your followers their object of worship and or it might not be yet your time to be propelled into your future and appointed date with destiny. Lord save me from impatience! Lord save me from ego-tripping! Lord save me from trying to kill off the set man or set woman of God. You may NOT have laid a physical hand on them, but in the spirit, you are a terrorist, a mercenary…a hired assassin. You just do not know that Satan has assigned you to do his bidding.
Jesus forces them to get into a ship and go BEFORE him unto the other side, while he stays to disperse the crowd! Let me ask you a question. What is the most important office or ministry gift of Christ in the church? Ephesians 4:11 and he gave some Apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists and some pastors & teachers. I see the apostles, but where are the evangelists? I see the prophets, but where are the evangelists? I see the pastors & teachers but where are my Evangelists? The evangelist is called or sent to hard fields to preach the gospel of repentance to the unsaved. Maybe just maybe our ministries are not growing because we do not have a real TRUE evangelist. Stop calling women who preach “evangelist” because you too stuck in the 70’s and 80’s & you have not asked for nor received the revelation of scripture concerning the roles of women! Therefore, Jesus sends the disciples OVER to the other side BEFORE him. Stop staying stuck on THIS side. You have to go over to the OTHER side. Jesus is going there too he is just sending you in FIRST! Moreover, look, he did not just “send” the disciples away…he stayed behind & sent away the multitudes. How can they go unless they are sent? Some of you were not sent….you went. Only JESUS can SEND you. Man can only CONFIRM in the natural what God has already affirmed in the spiritual! You do not need a title to be sent. Whether you are one of His disciples or simply part of the multitude that was left behind… FORGET THE TITLE…JUST GO! Lord save me from being a “Title” whore. Lord save me from procrastination! Lord save me from sitting on my call & assignment!
After sending everyone OUT…everybody wants to receive their call and stay where they received their instruction! Jesus now goes UP into a mountain apart to pray. We say we are Christians, Disciples of Christ, but where is our prayer life. When do we pray? We are called but how can we flow in our calling and assignment if we never speak to or connect with the one who sent us! Lord save me from praying amiss! Lord from not making time for you!
It was evening when Jesus was praying in the mountain…but while he was praying the ship that HE sent them on was now in the midst of the Sea of Galilee. The waves were tossing the ship around, for the wind was contrary. Somebody here today is in a ship that Jesus put him or her on, a job, a ministry a relationship. You clearly heard God say to go in the ship and go to the other side….but now the water, the waves are tossing you around. Somebody in here is being tossed around from one man to another. Somebody in here is being tossed around from one ministry to another. Someone’s heart and emotions have gotten the best of them and you’re tired of being tossed around….but you cannot get any further then you are because the wind…the power you need to get you to the other side…is blowing you in the opposite direction. Lord save me from “stucknicity”! Lord Save me from being tossed! Lord save me from settling or allowing. What you permit…you promote!
Moreover, the bible says….in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. This really messed me up. Verse 15 says when it was evening his disciples told Jesus it was late & it was time to send the people away to eat, but they had nothing save two fish & five loaves to feed the people. Verse 23 states, when the evening was COME, he was there alone in the mountain. Verse 15 speaks of it being late in the afternoon. Verse 23 speaks to it actually being evening which starts at 6 pm with the first watch lasting 3 hours ending at 9 pm. Verse 24 says IN the fourth watch of the night….6 to 9, 9 pm to midnight, 3 am to 6 am. You mean to tell me that at 3 am…no AFTER 3 am…Jesus FINALLY to decide after 9 hours to finally show up! The wind & waves had me tossed around since 6 am? Somebody in here being waiting on God to step in. We have not prayed to him for help. We are just going to ride it out. He sees me. He knows all! He saw them, but since they took the boat…he had NO choice but to walk on water! For the word of God in Job 9:8 declares that he alone has the ability to tread upon the waves of the sea. It was the fourth watch! Many things happen during the fourth watch! It is the breaking of day! Jacob wrestles with an angel during the fourth watch! Israel was delivered out of Egypt…on the fourth watch! The fourth watch is a time of great angelic activity and there is a mighty shift in the earth realm. How many times have you woken up between 3 am & 6 am? Perhaps you did not understand why, it is because God wants you to pray during this time.
• Deliverance happens in the fourth watch.
• Miracles happen in the 4th watch
• Power to set the scene for your day is given during the fourth watch, power to overcome every arrow the enemy throws at you.
• Satan is at his busiest during the fourth watch. During this time, he contradicts the spoken word of God, he sends the spirit of doubt our way, but we are more than conquerors.
• God releases the plan/script for the body of Christ, for your circumstances, for your family in the fourth watch.
This is a time where the people of God from all around the world are going to meet in the spiritual realm and are going to experience a move of God in our lives like never before... If we want to do damage to the Kingdom of darkness, take back territories and really make an impact in this world for God we need to do this...
However, nobody is not coming out to the house of the lord or getting on a conference call at 3 am! Lord save me from unbelief! Lord save me from sleeping our deliverance away! Lord save me from holding back the very miracles of God because of our ignorance, laziness, & slothfulness.
Jesus is coming in during the fourth watch…but do not look for him to come in the way that he sent you! He comes walking in to every situation! ABOVE your situation.
Nevertheless, look, when they, the followers of Jesus saw him walking on the sea…they were troubled!
You ever came to see about someone….you saw their need & dire situation…but they thought you were somebody or worse something other than someone sent BY God! You came as the prophet…but they thought you were a warlock! You came as an intercessor and they saw you as a witch! You came as answered prayer and they saw you as a hindrance & a troublemaker! Lord save me from pre-judgment. Lord save me from misjudgments! Lord save me from lack of discernment! Folk SHOULD know us….but they do not! Somebody in here is serving in a ministry or a job or in a household….and they do not even KNOW who you REALLY are! They sleep on your anointing, gifting, talents, etc.! LORD SAVE ME!
They said…it is a spirit and they cried out for fear! Funny how they did not fear or cry out when the wind was blowing and the waves were battering their ship. However, they scared of a little spirit…a phantom….a ghost! You see they were anglers by trade. They were not scared of rains. This was not the first time they were in a storm. Matter of fact this is the second tale of the disciples in a ship…however THIS time Jesus is not IN the ship…he is in the storm! Glory to God! That is a word for somebody! JESUS is in YOUR storm! If you knew who he was…you would not be afraid. If you knew who he was….you would not think the Son of God to be associated with the devil and his imps and his ghosts and goblins! Whenever something supernatural comes into our line of vision….our first reaction should not to be afraid & think it is of the devil. God is super on our natural and gives us the supernatural! We have got this thing twisted! Maybe THAT IS the reason why no one is being delivered & set free! When the supernatural manifestation of Jesus through His Holy spirit shows up….we think it’s demonic and we start pleading the blood because we are looking at it through our NATURAL eyes….not in our supernatural discernment! Do not cry out in fear. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love & of a sound mind (2 timothy 1:7). Lord save me from doubt! Lord save me from fear!
Immediately, Jesus speaks….something always happens when Jesus speaks! BE OF GOOD CHEER! IT IS I! BE NOT AFRAID! Everybody has a Word for us…but I thank God that you may give me 1000 words…I only need ONE word from Jesus…to make it all right! Without hearing a word from them, he KNOWS their three concerns. First, they were sad because of their situation of the ship & the waves! Secondly, they were afraid that a phantom was going to terrorize them in the midst of their storm. Sometimes it is not the storm that gets us, but the terrorizing little things that get us crazy! Thirdly, he knew they were scared & chooses to reassure them!
Now look at Peter! There is always one! Lord if it be you… (IF?) Bid me to come! In other words….I heard your voice. I heard what you said…but I am still not sure! I mean I really want you to be who you say you are! Women…don’t you want the men to be who they say they are? Men don’t you want the women to be who they say they are? Children don’t you want your parents to be who they say they are? Church don’t you want your pastors and bishops to be who they say they are….not just between 11 am & 2 pm on Sunday….but EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES! Lord save me from “split-tonguedness”! Lord save me from faking it until we make it! Lord save me down low lifestyles!
Lord if it be you…bid me come unto thee on the water!
I am tired of being where Jesus is not….I need to be where Jesus is!
If I stay here, I am going to die!
If I get out of here, I will be with Jesus & be part of a miracle!
Nevertheless, Jesus, I am going to need you to make me see that it is you!
PROVE ME!
Make me a believer! Lord save me from doubt & unbelief!
Moreover, he said….COME!
One word…4 letters!
Come!
Ven Spanish
Vanir French
Venire Italian
Erchontai - Greek
Kuru Japanese
Lai (lay) Chinese
Be careful what you ask Jesus to do!
His eyes were now focused on Jesus.
He wanted so much for Jesus to be the son of God…but he needed proof
In the midst of contrary winds & the storms of life, Peter was looking to Jesus…and not his situation!
If you look to him…you will be able to hear him. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God
When you cannot see him…listen for his voice! My sheep know my voice
Peter is focused on his voice but more importantly, he is focused on looking to Jesus, the author and the finisher of his faith.
Peter climbs out of the boat.
Lord that is a word for somebody! Get out of the boat! Leave them! Not everybody that came with you can go with you! Leave them! They talking about you leaving…but only had the boldness to do what they want to do but too scared! Save me from pleasing people! Save me from complacency. Save me from the “it will never change mentality”! Save me from the “I was meant to stay here & suffer”! Save me from the “this is my assignment mentality”. That was your assignment….until Jesus showed up! He is here just as he was for Peter! Now what? I am where you put me. I am where you sent me lord. Now what? Can I come to where you are? On the other hand, do I have to stay with the people who claim they know me but they are too scared to get out of the boat? GET OUT OF THE BOAT! It is going NOWHERE! I need to go SOMEWHERE! I have a date with Jesus!
Moreover, Peter...looking unto Jesus…came down out of the ship and he walked on the water….what was his purpose? To be part of a miracle? To post a pic on Instagram? To tell a story in his old age? No! When you are desperate… When you are tired of the same old same old….none of that stuff matters! All that matters is that I have to get to Jesus. I have to get to where Jesus is!
Sometimes this world gets to heavy…I want to leave this world and get to heaven!
Nevertheless, look at Peter….yawl missed it! You are shouting and you are praising…because you got the revelation to NOT take your eyes off Jesus to get you out of your ship and to help you in your storm.
I say, “Look at Peter”…and you all take your eyes off Jesus and put it back on Peter!
Peter is doing it yawl! He is walking on water!
He does not even realize he is walking on water….YET…because he is focused on Jesus!
However, just then….he SAW the wind!
What in the Sam Hill?
Last time I checked…the wind bloweth as it listeth.
I cannot see the wind…but I can see the effects there of!
However, Peter…was a skilled sailor and a skilled angler.
He knew how to see the wind before the wind came!
On the boat, he would have had the masthead or a wind vane…
Nevertheless, Peter is out of the boat.
Whatever tools you used in your boat no longer apply when you come out of your boat!
Peter is on the water and all he sees is Jesus…but just then…he sees the wind. On the other hand, more directly he sees the effects of the wind on the water he is now walking…he saves the waves.
Skilled sailors are told and taught that when all of your tools & apparatuses fail you…rely on your instincts and the effects of what you see around you! WE HAVE NO INSTINCTS! We rely on pastor and bishop to feed & do everything for us! We are too insecure to train people because of fair we will be replaced! Lord save me from insecurity!
Peter saw the effects of the wind on the water. Sometimes our peripheral vision can take our focus and eyes off Jesus! Have not we all seen one thing running across the room or on the side of the car/truck.
Those of us who are spiritual….have seen some things fly by that nobody else sees!
You are not crazy…but know the purpose of it…it has to take your eyes off Jesus! He’s about to test your faith and show you who he is! However, you are too busy chasing imps and demons that have no power over you but are subject TO you because of your anointing and whom you serve!
Just like that…Peter seeing the boisterous wind. He instantly became afraid. He began to sink, he cried, saying Lord save me!
Somebody in here is afraid of the next shift! The next wind! Nevertheless, I hear Jesus saying look unto me! The exact translation says looking away…to Jesus! Stop looking at what you are looking at and look to Jesus!
You are sinking in sin, debt, misery, bitterness, contempt! LORD…SAVE ME!
Save me from….me
Look to Jesus, the author & the finisher of our faith
We are not Roman Catholic! WE do not look to Peter! We look to Jesus!
We are not Muslim. We don’t look to Elijah Muhammad or Allah…we look to Jesus
We’re not Buddhist…we don’t look to know elephant…we look to Jesus
We are not Jewish…we do not look to a messiah…he already came!
Mary’s baby
Hung him high and stretched him wide
We are looking for him to come back one day.
However, until then…DTRM NEEDS HIM TO COME RIGHT NOW! The pew is your ship! Your ministry is your ship! Your church is your ship! Your family is your ship! Your Marriage might be your ship! Come out of the boat…receive your deliverance! Receive your healing! Receive your breakthrough!
Do not wait for tomorrow!
Tomorrow may be too late!
Do it…
Do it…
Do it….
Now!
