Sermon: Believe Big and Expect the Great!
Scripture Lesson: Matthew 14:22-33 “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.”
Introduction: The life of faith is a daring adventure with unlimited possibilities. Walking with Jesus is awesome. He knows how to give you a water walking experience that will change your life and ministry forever! Matthew 14 occurs immediately after Jesus and His disciples had received word concerning the death of John the Baptist. King Herod had given orders to behead John and displayed the severed head on a platter. The disciples of John claimed his body and buried him. This great servant of God of whom Jesus referred to as none greater born of a woman was imprisoned, and beheaded without a trial. No elaborate funeral was held, no awards were given, no honor was bestowed, without wife or children, his life came to an end. How heart rending this news must have been to Jesus and the Disciples. As night falls Jesus sends His disciples in a boat to the other side of the sea of Galilee while He remains behind to pray.
The crowd that followed along the shoreline needed help. Their needs moved Jesus with compassion. He healed and blessed and Jesus would not send them away hungry. Jesus and the disciples spent hours sitting the massive crowd and feeding them. When the work was done, He sent the disciples across the sea and sent the multitude away. Then Jesus finds a place to be alone with God. Some needs can only be met when you are alone with God.
While the disciples were obeying Jesus’ command, a fierce storm arises and strands their boat out on the sea for hours. As the disciples struggle to navigate their boat to shore Jesus appears walking on the water. Jesus reveals himself — not simply as Jesus, their teacher, but as “I AM.” A more literal translation of this sentence would be, “Take heart, I am, do not be afraid.” This self-revelation is a disclosure of Jesus' source of power. Jesus can use whatever means and make whatever way he pleases to save his people. God shows up in unexpected ways, with an unfamiliar appearance, to deliver his people. His acts of deliverance sometimes trouble and perplex His people. The disciple’s thought Jesus was a ghost. As soon as they recognized Jesus, their fears were gone. What a comfort it is to have Jesus Christ near, and know he is with us and for us. We need not fear even death itself. There are several important lessons I see in this text. Faith is a daring adventure for the believer because it is the evidence of things not seen. Obeying the commands of Jesus does not guarantee a carefree life.
1. Believers Should Expect Difficulties During Their Adventures of Faith. Matt 14:22-24 “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.”
After a full day of ministry with a massive crowd, the disciples set sail for the home base on the other side of the lake, A storm seemed to come out of nowhere with powerful winds and boat tossing waves. Even though we are obedient to God, expect some waves to toss you and some winds to be contrary to you. It has nothing to do with God’s love for you or God’s care for you, no life is filled with swift transitions. We should expect opposition in this present world. Pandemics will come sometimes, trouble will arise sometimes, but know we are under the watchful eye of God. Everyday will have its share of troubles. A Man born of a woman has but a few days and they are full of trouble. Expect some trouble in life!
2. Believers Can Expect to See God Amid The Storm of Life. Matt. 14:25-27 “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
In the midst of a storm, tossed by the waves, the disciples saw Jesus. They did not understand how it could be because they had left Jesus on the shore. Yet without GPS or a distress signal, Jesus knew where they were and what they were going through. The Jews divided the night into four watches: (1) from 6-9 PM (2) from 9-12PM (3) from 12-3AM and (4) 3-6AM. As the night was loosen its grip, the disciples were probably praying for daylight in this relentless storm, Jesus shows up. Jesus will show up for his children if they don’t give up! You find the weary disciples still at their post. They are still rowing, still dipping and throwing the water out and still believing to be saved. They did not know how or where their help would appear, but they expected to be saved. Believers can expect God to show up in their storms of life. When God shows up, He will be more than enough and more than we expect. God has the power to quiet the storms and still the wind. God has power to calm the raging waves and quiet our troubled hearts. Believer must do all they can and the best they can, believing that help is on the way. When the Lord comes I want to be at my post doing what I have been assigned. The journey may take longer than expected; be farther than expected and the progress may be less than expected, but stay at your post. Help is on the way.
3. Believers are Only Limited by the Desires of their Hearts. Matt. 14:28-29 “Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.”
What a daring, bold, out of this world experience! “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Peter in this moment, seemed to understand the unlimited power of Faith and the full benefits of being in right relationship with God. Being in right relationship with Jesus makes the impossible possible! Peter had a desire to do something daring and bold. And Jesus said, Okay! Come! Trapped in a boat going nowhere for nine hours, Peter said, “I want to walk on the water.” To walk on the water, Peter must get out of the boat. This text give believers a glimpse into the daring possibilities as we follow Jesus. Storms and trials can sometimes discourage us from taking bold steps. Our desires are crushed and we lose sight on our dreams. Peter must have known there is another level; another dimension of faith and another experience I need in my life.
Believers are only limited by the desires of their heart. All things are possible to them that believe. Peter believed that Jesus was who he said he was and could do what he said he could do. Peter believed there was power in every word Jesus spoke. The word come would be enough for Him to walk on. Peter believed that moment would be life changing. I know Peter could have stayed in the boat, but a walk on the water would change everything! I will do what I have never done and become what I have never been. You can choose to stay in the boat, but in the boat, you will only meet disciples. Out on the water, Peter met Jesus. I don’t know where the desire came from? What causes a person to desire more? Peter was willing to take a step of faith and his faith was rewarded.
What caused Sarah to desire a baby, when she was passed her childbearing years? What caused Isaac to plant in a famine? What causes a David to volunteer to fight Goliath? What caused the woman with the blood issue to press through the crowd and touch Jesus? It was a desire! I don’t know where the desire came from, but I know believers are only limited by the desires of their heart. All things are possible to them that believe.
Isa 58:14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Mark 9:35 And He sat down and called the Twelve and said to them, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.
Psalms 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
I don’t know where desire comes from or what creates a desire in a man’s heart. I don’t know why one person desires to do great things for God or why one desires to be first. I know when Jesus heard to disciples talking about who was the greatest, He did not criticize the desire. He simply shows the way to be great was service. The one who serves the most will be the greatest. What do you desire? We are only limited by the desire of our heart. Our desire is the goal or the reason. If the desire is strong enough every difficulty can be overcome. Some read this passage and only see Peter’s fear and His sinking! His desire was so strong even after sinking, he took Jesus’ hand and walked back to the boat. "He said, Come." Peter's Lord is about to teach him a practical lesson. He asked to be bidden to come. He may come. He does come. He leaves the boat, he treads the wave. He is on the way towards his Lord. We can do anything if we have divine authorization, and courage enough to take the Lord at his word. Now there were two on the sea, Two wonders! It is when our thoughts are turned away from Christ to the dangers around us, that’s when we lose our courage. It was not the violence of the winds, nor the raging of the waves, which endangered Peter’s life, but his littleness of faith. Think about the possibilities presented by the text. All things are possible to him that believe, and bold faith is always rewarded. Peter was never the same! Peter had learned that even if I fall, I can get back up again. Peter was able to strengthen his brothers. His shadow would be a source of healing for others. Peter’s faith journey was a daring adventure. It all began with a water walking experience.
Some read the text and only see Peter sinking and calling for help. Most of these critics never have the desire or the courage to step out of the boat. They never step out on their faith. They put limits on God and on themselves! Just suppose God is unlimited in power! Just suppose all things are possible to them that believe! Just suppose life is designed to be a daring adventure. From the time we take our first baby step until we run a marathon, life is an adventure. Peter was bold and courage, even a little far out! Yet, he watered on the water. Jesus took Peter’s hand and walked him through the storm back to the boat. Then from the safety of the boat, Jesus said, “Be Still!” Remember, 1. Believers Should Expect Difficulties During Their Adventures of Faith. 2. Believers Can Expect to See God Amid The Storm of Life. 3. Believers are Only Limited by the Desires of their Hearts. Believe Big and Expect the great!
