1. Expounding scriptures. Matthew 14:22-33
2. The setting is after the death of John the baptist,the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Saying, "repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." John sent a messenger before giving his head to king Herod’s choping block to enquire if Jesus was indeed the messiah, or if they should seek another. Jesus sent the messenger back to him saying the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk and those possessed by devils are being delivered.
The people of that day and ours were living in a time when they would question their leaders and even God. They lived in a time of great perplexity (tangled or puzzled state)
They were a people of promise having Abraham to their father. They were heirs to the promise through the covenant "circumcision of the flesh." Though they were children of promise yet they had not received and enjoyed the fullness of the immanent promise. They were a people having rulers and kings over them the Roman government was the official power and the the local ordinances were enforced by the romans. People were required by law as we are today to give unto Caesar what was Ceasar’s. The taxes was do, the days wage was exhausted on the necessities of life. Most people were common folks without much more then the bear essentials.
3. Matthew 14:13-33
The multitudes had followed Jesus out to a desert place. (barren, uninhabited, desolate)
They only brought with them their sickness and pain, disappointment and hope of one last chance to be saved from their impending fate. Their only hope was in Jesus and him only!
Jesus was moved with great compassion for them and he healed their sick.
They did not bring with them food that they could eat but esteemed the opportunity to sit in the counsel of Jesus Christ greater then the hunger they would face. The apostles bid him to send them away because the hour was late but Christ was moved by their faithfulness to him.
He told them to take from a boy there five barley loaves and two small fishes. With them he fed five thousand men not counting women and children.
The disciples went into the ship and sailed toward Capernaum. Then in the dark Jesus came walking on the sea and said "It is I, be not afraid" Peter said if it is you Lord bid me to come out to you on the water. Peter is told to come out on the sea where Jesus is. Peter Stepped out on the sea of impossibility and walking, he began to consider his surrounding circumstances
As the waves crashed around him he began to doubt that he could make it out to the place where Jesus awaited him. In his delema he began to sink beneath the great crashing waves. Peter cried unto Jesus "LORD SAVE ME."
4. Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him. They then returned together to the ship. When they came into the safety of the ship (type of the Church) the winds ceased. They that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God. Those that ate of the loaves and fishes knew the disciples departed by ship and Jesus did not go with them. They could not find him and went to Capernaum. They found him and ask when and how did he come there.
Jesus answered them, "Verily verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw miracles, but because you did eat of the fishes and loaves, and were filled. (They had a personal experience that satisfied and filled them, they had no need of persuasion through miracles.)
Labor not for meat which perisheth, but for meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: For him hath God sealed. St. John 6:22-27
4. We also must have a personal experience with Jesus Christ we cannot live on the history of what Jesus has done in the past . We cannot live on what we see in the past, or the testimonies of miracles that he has done for someone else. We must sit at Jesus table and be filled with the heavenly bread of life. We will not be satisfied by watching others eat and others changed.
We must wade into the waters of mercy and realize that the Grace of our Holy God is available to each one of us. God is not a respecter of persons. He does not care what you are or were, he does not hold our past titles or deeds against us, if we come and honestly repent of our deeds! His love for you and me was so powerful that it nailed him to the cross. It was not sin that held him there, but his overwelming love for you and me and our children and children's children. God does not want us to be lonely, sad, hopeless and miserable. He would that all should come to repentance and be saved. Even you! You don't have to be a sinner to go to hell!
There will also be transgressors in hell who despised the Mercy and the Grace of God. Having tasted the wonderful gift of God and known the doctrine that was first delivered to the saints. Yet they will be lured to the edge where many have fallen from the truth. Sin with an ever so gentle nudge will trip them and the fall will dash them to pieces. Their lives and their hope for themselves and their children reduced to little more then ruin and shame and hopelessness.
5. John 6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: And the bread that I give is my flesh, Which I will give for the life of the world.
John 6:53
verily, verily I say unto you, Except you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
We cannot eat at the table of the Lord which is pure and holy. And at the same time eat at the table of devils devouring the sin and abominations of this present evil world. When we come to eat at the table of the Lord Jesus Christ we must come having made ourselves ready for the great feast. We must take off our old garments that are stained with the sins of lust, uncleanness, fornication, adultery and Idolatry We must be washed in the blood of the lamb. (The Lord Jesus Christ)
God has spanned the space and impossibility for the redemption of man. Before calvary you and I had absolutely no chance to be saved. The sin of Adam and Eve was passed down to every generation of children that has been born through natural conception. We are all guilty and are born into sin. God has always provided his people with a way of escape from the devices of Satan. Satans’ goal for your life is not one of peace and serenity but he wants to seal your fate.
His purpose at any cost is to cause you to receive damnation to your soul and your children's.
How great is your love? Have you consider cost of refusing Gods love?
How great is your love for your family, Mother, Dad, Sister?
How about those having grandparents that are still alive? How great is your love for a soul?
Moms, Dads, how about those children that you spent so much time and effort trying to raise and love they could have a chance in life! You taught them to walk, and say their A,B,Cs’ you helped them to learn to read!
Children when you fell down and began to cry mom and dad dropped everything to run to your rescue to comfort you in your pain.
How much Greater is the Love of Christ toward us? And if we are the body of Christ how cold and insensitive to those that gave so much for us if we do not have enough love and patience to share Jesus Christ with them and pray for them.
Where will we stand in the presents of a love so great that there is no secrets, no walls of prejudice, no division no strife? Only love and Justice!.
The two greatest commandments:
Hear o’ Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord and you shall love the Lord thy God with ALL thy heart, mind, soul and strength! The second is like unto it! Love thy neighbor as thy self!
Jesus said if you love me keep my commandments! Do you really, really love Jesus? If you were brought to trial could you be convicted of a Christlike Love for the salvation of your friends and family?
(Ilustration)
When I was a very young boy about the age of five, my family and I went into a Marsh grocery store. I was with my family until we got to the toy section. That's when I got separated from my mother and dad. I was caught up by the merchandise and time got away from me. I don't know how long I was there by myself and at the time while I was picking up the toys and dreaming how I would play with them at home time didn’t seem to matter. When I began to look at reality I realized that I was all alone. I began to look for my family but I could not find them. I had thoughts race through my mind that just maybe they had left me. I was confused and I ran from isle to isle and I was almost at the point of panic and fear because I could not find my family. Then a nice lady at the service counter saw me franticly looking up and down the isles. It must have been very obvious to her just how lost I was!
She ask me, little boy are you looking for your parents? Are you Lost? She sat me on the counter and made an announcement over the P.A. system. When my parents came I was never so happy to see them. I knew I was probably in trouble for wandering off and becoming distracted by those toys. I didn’t care what the cost or punishment was I just wanted to be reunited with my family. To go back home with them. It was then that I realized how much I needed them and that I should not venture far from them. I want to see all my family in heaven don’t you?
So It is with God... we can get caught up in life and the merchandise of the world and lose sight and direction in life. I want to walk with him. When Jesus came walking on the water Peter saw him and desired to walk with him, but peter found when he stepped out on the sea of impossibility he could not walk alone.... he had to walk hand in hand with the sea walker.
His Name is Jesus! What shall we do? ACTS 2:37-41
