"And He Began to Sink"
Scripture Reference: Matthew 14:25-33
Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on October 3, 2021
Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson
Illustration—
I want to share with you that God surely does work in mysterious ways. He always keeps me amazed as the awesome things He does. As many of you know I’m back in college. I decided to get another Master’s and in addition to preaching and policing, I’ve been taking classes at Troy. Our first term will be over this week, and one of the final requirements for one of my classes was to write a book review. We had to choose a book on leadership, and I chose a Christian leadership book by John MacArthur. I wrote the report, even preached a little in the review, and turned it in.
This week, I got the feedback from the professor on my paper. He started off his feedback that he went to church as a child, but hasn’t been in years. He told me that he’s always believed in Jesus, but after reading my book review, he’s decided to get right with the LORD.
Like many of us, my professor had slipped out of the church, slipped out of fellowship with God, and had replaced the things of God with the things of this world.
Scripture Text—
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
Definition of Sinking
Gradually descending further and further away from life and eventually falling into death.
Three Ways to Keep From Sinking
1. You’ll Stop Sinking If You Hit Rock Bottom
2. You’ll Stop Sinking If You Exert Your Own Strength
Note: But you’ll never grow weary, you’ll only drift further, and eventually you’ll give out.
3. You’ll Stop Sinking If You Grab Something Stronger Than You
Peter’s Name
The name Peter means Rock. That’s what rocks do; they sink.
Lessons From the Sinking Rock
A. Focusing on the Storms Removes Godly Focus
Circumstances can be frightening. When your boss calls you in and tells you the company has to downsize and they are letting you go, when the doctor calls you with the test results that are not good, when you open that letter from an attorney that says you are being sued, it can scare you. It can devastate you. And it can cause you to take your eyes off Jesus. Where fear reigns, faith is driven away.
B. We’ll Fall if We Stop Walking Towards Jesus
In the Bible, when Jesus called Peter to walk on water, Peter started coming towards him, but then when he saw the wind, he stopped looking at Jesus, and that’s when he sank.
C. A Little Faith Is Better Than No Faith
“Faith is not just faith in Jesus, but faith in the Words of Jesus.” ~ John Daniel Johnson
D. Worship Is Always Better than Worry
