Focus: Our best friend or worst enemy?
Matthew 14:22-36
March 22, 1998
Morning Service
Introduction
1. Apollo 13 Mission: The mission was doomed, there numerous problems and failures, the only thing that saved the men on board was creativity and will to live, at one specific point in the mission the computers were frozen and the crew needed to make a pivotal course correction, they needed to burn the thrusters for thirty two seconds to make the proper adjustment, they needed a fixed point in space to direct them and keep them on course, after some discussion they place the earth in their target and used their destination asa focal point, they made the journey home successfully because they kept their focus on the goal
2. The need to keep focused: Focus can be our best friend or worst enemy, when we keep our focus on positive things it is a true friend, when we focus on the negative it becomes our worst enemy, our focus is a choice and where we place that focus is our responsibility,
3. Where do you keep your focus?
Body
1. Jesus is alone at last
A. Jesus sends the disciples: Jesus sends the disciples on to the other side of the lake, Jesus may have been protecting the disciples by sending them on, John tells us that the crowds were caught in a Messiah fever, he did not want the disciples caught in it as well, so he sent them on, he puts them out of harm’s way,
B. Jesus Dismisses the crowds: The work of the day was done, Jesus did healings, fed the multitude and most likely taught the people, now was time to dismiss the people, Jesus needed to send them away because of two reasons -
1: The people were losing control - the people had the wrong expectations of the messiah, there was an uprising brewing, they were ready to make Jesus their King and take on Rome, Jesus needed to sqealch this atmosphere and attitude, easiest way was to let the crowds go,
2: Jesus needed to be alone - it was the whole reason He came across the sea to begin with, The crowds focus was on a wrong picture of Jesus and they were sent away, where is your focus?
C. Jesus gets alone to pray:
1. Jesus is alone: Jesus finally gets some time, when the crowds are gone, the needs have been met, the day is done, Jesus was exhuasted - He needed a break, some time to recover, time for spiritual refreshment, Jesus takes time to pray,
2. Jesus has his priorities: He acknowledges that God is the source of his strength and power, Jesus creates a model for us to follow, a standard of spiritual life, God is the source of power & strength, even when things are going well we need to spend special time with God, Jesus puts his focus on God, where is your focus?
2. Jesus appears on the Water
A. Jesus walks on the water:
1. Jesus takes a stand: Jesus was never bound to tradition or status quo, constantly did the unexpected, he defied the nature of tradition and nature of existence, Jesus sees the disciples out in the storm, so he goes out to them,
2. Jesus does the impossible: defying natures existence & defining the extent of His power Jesus walks across the water toward the boat, Jesus defined His power and his compassion, he entered their difficult situation, Jesus is always there when we need Him
B. The disciples were afraid:
1. Fear attacks: Disciples were battling the storm, disciples had been in the boat between 6-8, they were in the middle of a strong storm and couldn’t make any progress, they struggled long and hard, their lives were in danger from the storm, disciples were discouraged, disgusted, dishearted and disappointed,
2. The figure appears: they then see a figure on the water, ancient legends had it that demons made their homes in the sea and came out at night, in the midst of the storm they believed this figure was a ghost or phantom, this ghost caused the storm and now would destroy them all, disciples focused on fear and it controled them, where is your focus?
C. Jesus calms their fears:
1. Jesus’ voice: Jesus speaks to them, His voice w3ould have been familiar, well known source of comfort, they knew his voice,
2. Jesus’ words: Jesus’ words were extremely important - It is I: Greek - Ego Emi: I am - Equal to God’s statement in Exodus of being I am, Jesus was telling them who He was in two ways a: Jesus allowed them know Him as their Master, b: He let them know him as their God
3. Jesus answers Peter’s prayer
A. Peter walks on the water:
1. Peter steps out: Peter makes the request of Jesus, he makes a bold statement of faith and trust, he seeks Jesus in a new way, Peter wants to be near Jesus even in this situation, Peter asks Jesus to do the impossible, Peter stepped out of his comfort zone,
2. Faith: Peter went out on the limb - that’s where the fruit is, he did the impossible, he had his focus on Jesus, Peter steps out of the boat,
B. Peter begins to sink:
1.Peter does the impossible: Peter is walking on water, he is actually doing the impossible, he is lost in the moment, this is a great victory of faith, Peter looses focus, he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he sees the wind and the waves instead of Jesus,
2. Peter starts to sink: Peter sinks quick, he is going down & will drown, he knows the waves will cover him, he will die - he calls out for help, many criticize Peter for his looking away and placing his focus on the wrong things,
3. The church: we do the same thing in the church - we focus on not having enough money, not having enough people, not doing things the way we have always done them - insanity is doing the same things over & over & over & expecting a different result!, Peter put his focus on the storm and the problems around him & he sank like a rock, Where is your focus?
C. Jesus saves Peter:
1. Peter calls out: Peter was smart enough to know, if Jesus could allow Him to walk on water, he could save him from drowning, Peter calls out for Jesus,
2. Jesus saves him: Jesus comes when called, Peter called out in faith, strong and vital faith, the shortest and most effective prayer in the Bible, People are like tea bags - you never know how strong they are until you put them in hot water, Peter returned his focus to Jesus & Jesus saved him, the result was worship, Peter reset his focus and found life, where is your focus?
4. Jesus allows people to touch Him
A. The boat lands: After one of the worst boat trips, the disciples land in Gennesaret, they made it through the long night, Peter came through with some new victories and some new scars, Jesus was recharged and ready for a new day, the disciples were probably ready to get out of that boat, as peter’s feet touched dry land - did he remeber what it was like to walk on water?, Peter remembered each day of his life - doing the impossible,
B. Crowds began to gather: The people saw and heard that Jesus was there, they began to come from all over the countryside, they came just to see Jesus, to be healed or to help others be healed, they came to be near Jesus,
C. People touched Jesus for healing: Jesus allowed the people to touch him, the people came by the hundreds to touch him, to be healed, is today any different?, do people clamer for a touch from Jesus?,
Conclusion
1. Where is your focus today? : Don’t answer too quickly, we need to be truthful, are you more concerned with problems than being with Jesus?, Are you more interested in looking pious than being faithful?, Are you more interested in keeping things the same than doing Jesus’ work? , maybe your focus has shifted, maybe you don’t have eyes on the goal, Hebrews 12:2 - Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Where is your focus?
2. The Model set before us: Jesus set the pace, his focus was on God, he kept it there by prayer, Peter had the focus and lost because problems took his attention, he sank like a rock, Peter regained his focus and he got to be with Jesus, Where is your focus? Do you want to be with Jesus? Do you want to be near Him? Where is your focus? Put it on Jesus
