What Have you Fixed Eyes Upon
Matthew 14: 28-33
In the Verses three words stick out
COME- in the present tense, come NOW
SAVE- (lord save me) delivers or protect
DOUBT- to weaver- to stand in two ways
The more we believe = less doubt
We must go forth to meet him in a way of duty
PRAYER
INTRO
Info about the Sea of Galilee
Pear shaped
14 Miles Long, 8 Miles Wide
About 2/3rd of Jesus’ Ministry was done near the sea
HISTORY
This Storm was dreadful
The disciples thought he was a Ghost
4th Watch is about 3 am
I. A BOLD REQUEST
i. Faith doesn’t say, "if"; faith says because.
ii. Illustration: Two thieves on the Cross-. One said, "If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us, too." The other said, "Lord, remember me."
iii. This is not the first time Peter got Special Treatment he got special treatment 3 times
iv. The Pharisees asked for a signed but they were trying to temp Jesus but Peter was asking because he trusted Christ
II. A GRACIOUS INVITATION
i. Peter “Let me come to the no matter what” he desired to be with Christ
ii. Jesus could have told Peter that he was crazy for wanting to come to him
iii. Peter did not go to Jesus till Jesus told him to “COME”
iv. Peter was the ONLY one to get out the rest stayed in
v. Peter only went after Jesus told him it was ok
We should not do anything till Christ tells us to do it
III. A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE
i. We must be willing to venture with him & for him we must be willing to go to him
IV. A MOMENTARY FAILURE
i. Peter had enough faith to get out of the boat but didn’t have enough faith to make to Jesus because he got distracted or sidetracked by the things going on
ii. The Lord is not pleased with WEAK FAITH
iii. We must stop using our earthly props example:
iv. Faith of a Muster Seed (__________)
:
V. A EARNEST PRAYER
i. Our Faith will be tried
ii. You got to get out of the boat if your going to walk in the water
iii. Christ had Mercy on Peter Christ will also have mercy on us
iv. Effect of Fear you begin to sink
v. Peter a Fisherman he could swim very well and he was still afraid
vi. A person is NEVER sunk, NEVER undone till they are in hell
vii. When faith is WEAK prayer should be STRONG “LORD SAVE ME”
viii. Then Immediately Christ Stretched his hand out to save him
VI. A GENTLE REBUKE
i. Peter was still in the storm when Jesus asked him about his doubt
ii. Every time we (CHRISTIANS) go through a storm and fail we should hear “ye of little faith why do you doubt”.
iii. Jesus’ tenderness is very manifested “He will not break to brushed reed”
iv. If Peter’s faith is “LITTLE” What is our faith like??? Verse 31
VII. A BLESSED RESULT
i. Peter walked back to the boat with Jesus: Calm, Relaxed, NO FEAR while the storm was still blowing/
ii. The apostles worshipped him this is the first time the DISIPLES called by his full title The Son of God
iii. Christ’s hand is STILL stretched out to ALL believers to keep them form sinking
Closing:
As Children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God,
Because He was my friend.
But then, instead of leaving Him
In peace, to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help
In ways that were my own.
Finally I took them back and said,
“Dear God, Why are you so slow?”
“My child,” He said, “what could I do?
You never did let go.”
Storms will come because you’re in that ship. When you jump ship the odds are against you but if you have Jesus the odds are on Jesus side. He never fails he’s always there
Even though Peter took his eyes off Jesus, Jesus never took his eyes off Peter. And, when Peter began to sink and drown, Jesus immediately grabbed Peter’s hand and pulled him to safety next t him. Some time or another, you and I are going to take our eyes off of Jesus—we are going to go through a crisis that causes us to take our eyes off Jesus, but Jesus will not take his eyes off us! Jesus will not let the wind or the waves of crisis get the better of us! Jesus is quick to save us even if we have a lapse in our faith in him!
But that is just the way Jesus is! Jesus is
Quick to save and
Quick to forgive Just knowing that Jesus is there to stretch out his hand to save me should I begin to sink is enough to make me want to climb over the side of the ship and walk out to where he is so that I can join him! Jesus will never take his eyes off you even if you take your eyes off him. So, when are you going to climb over the side of the ship? It only takes the faith of a muster seed. What have you fixed your eyes upon?
Prayer
