The Storm
(Matthew 14: 22-33)
By Jesse Crooks Southern Baptist Revivalist(Evangelist)
Introduction:
Everyone who listens to the news or reads the newspaper knows that our country and the world is in a storm. To put it bluntly we are in a heck of a mess. That’s the strongest words that a preacher can use. Along with that, most of us are in a personal storm. This text concerning this physical storm on the Sea of Galilee gives us some helpful truths about the storms we face as a nation and in our lives.
1. Storms are a natural part of life.
Storms are sometimes a result of our rebellion or sin. For example: Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach. Jonah said, not me I’m not going down there and preach to that bunch of Yahoo’s. They might get saved. So, he rebelled, found a ship and ran the other way. (Jonah 1:1-3, 4:1-2). However, when God got finished with him, old Jonah was glad to go to Nineveh. When that fish vomited him up, he hit the ground running toward the city where God had told him to go. (Jonah 3:3a) Say what you will, I believe our nation is suffering because of our sins and rebellion. We have taken God out of this country.
I saw a picture once, I think it was of Jonah sitting in the belly of the fish at this neat little antique looking table with a candle on it praying. You understand, don’t you? That’s not the way it was. It was as dark as a thousand mid-nights and Jonah was being eaten alive by the fish’s digestive juices. The chastisement of God is often very severe. Folks God can bring this country and His Church back to our knees any time He chooses,
Theses disciples were not being disobedient. They were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do. (Matt 14:22) Folks, living for Jesus does not mean that we will always escape the storms of life. Beware of these preachers, especially on T. V. that tells you that all you must do is trust Jesus and send your money to me and everything will be great. It’s just not in the Book. Some of God’s greatest Saints, that I know, have suffered very severe storms in their lives.
Remember, if it had not been for the storm, Peter would have never discovered he could walk on water. In the storm is where we really learn about the power of God. Someone has said, “You never know God is all you need until God is all you have.”
2. Jesus knows and cares when we are in a storm,
Where was Jesus when this storm began? The text says He was up in the mountains praying. (Matt. 14:23) I can’t prove this, but I think I know what he was praying about that night. Don’t you? He was praying about His disciples down there in the storm. The Bible teaches that even now He’s at the right hand of the Father, making intercessions. For who class? For us. (Heb.7; 25b, 9: 24b) It’s possible that some of you can be in a personal storm that no one knows about. Your best friend or your mate may not know. I want to assure you that Jesus knows. He cares. He’s praying for you.
3.Jesus always draws near when we are in a storm.
You understand that He is never more than a prayer away. The scripture says, that in the fourth watch of' the night, Jesus came to them walking on the water. (Matt14:25) If I understand correct1y the fourth watch of the night begins about 3 o’clock in the morning, the darkest part of the night. Since I’ve gotten older and wiser, I forgotten that there is but one four o’clock in a day. The one I remember is not in the morning.
I do remember from my younger days getting up at three or four in morning to chase after those poor little deer. Let me tell you something its dark at three or four o’clock. You’re trying to get your boots on, and find your gun, and Linda has told you, if you wake the babies up you not going anywhere.
Problems always seem to get worse in the wee dark hours of the morning. Sick folks get sicker. You get the phone call about bad news in middle hours of the night. If you call me at 3 o’clock in morning it had better bad news. Just joking, I would just punch Linda and say get the phone. I believe that this was the time when the storm was at its worst, when they were about to lose the ship, and maybe their lives, that Jesus came the closest.
Mark says something in his account of this event that puzzled me for a long time. Mark says that “He came to them walking on the sea and would have passed them by.” (Mark 6:48c) That doesn’t sound like my Jesus. Here were His disciples in a struggle for their life and Jesus acts as if He was going to walk on by. I think I’ve found the answer. Jesus never goes anywhere uninvited. He’ll draw near, but He’ll not push His way into our affairs. Maybe the reason the storm of life is still raging in some of our lives, is that we have not ask Jesus in. “Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in pray.” (Joseph Scriven)
4.When Jesus is invited in, He either stills the storm, or He enables us to walk on water.
In our text, He does both. He enabled Peter to walk on the water, and later He calmed the storm. You understand, when we ask Him He does not always change our situation? Sometimes He just changes us. He just enables us to walk on the water. I guess you Baptist want some examples. I’ll give you two.
Example 1. The apostle Pau1 asked three times for his thorn in the flesh to be removed. After the third-time God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient.” (2Cor.12: 7-11) In other words, Paul, shut up I’m not going to remove the thorn I am going to enable you to walk on the water. (Jesse’s translation)
Example 2. Jesse (note: I was born with a physical handicap and a speech impediment) When the Lord called me to preach, I said “sure, Lord, just give me a voice like Adrian Rogers and body like Tom Seleck and I will be glad to preach.” The Lord said, “No, Jesse, I am just going to enable you to walk on water”. I have been walking on water now for over sixty years. I’ve been in pulpits all over three state. Folks, an old country boy has got to go to the places and done the things I would have never done had not I not been handicapped.
Get the picture? Peter was using the very waves that were trying to destroy him, as stepping stones to walk in victory with Jesus. If I could go walk across a river tomorrow, this place would be packed out tomorrow night. Everybody want to see the preacher who could walk on the water. Listen, when the world sees us being defeated by the storms of life just like they are, they will say, what do I need with Christianity? However, when they see us living above the storms of life, they will think, maybe I need some of what they have. What an opportune time for the Church to be walking on water.
Conclusion:
Someone has said, only Jesus could walk on water, but according to this text, Peter walked on water and you can also. Please, don’t any of you go try walking on a lake etc. I’m talking about spiritual water walking. Are you in a storm? Is it a spiritual, physical, financial or personal storm? Are you walking on water spiritually? Where do you get the ability to walk on water? Right here at altar. Just come here and tell Jesus about your storm and ask Him to either calm the storm or help you walk on the water.
If you are here and are not Christian, Jesus may not do anything about your storms until you invite Him to be Lord of your life. It’ a great time to be saved.
