Sinking Series

Sunday Evening September 15, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: “Walking With Jesus” [#2]

SLIDE 1

SINKING

Matthew 14:22-36

Introduction:

1. As we continue in our study about Peter’s life it is important that we recall a few things from last week. Peter surrendered his possessions, his pride, and his life to Jesus and began to follow Him; but this did not make him perfect.

2. This morning we will find Peter trying to do the right thing but “slipping up”.

3. Let’s look together at what Jesus did for Peter and how He is still doing these things for you and me.

SLIDE 2

Matthew 14:22-24

SLIDE 3

Jesus Brought Me Here

1. The disciples find themselves in a storm. This storm came because they were in the will of God and not out of God’s will. Jesus directed them into the storm deliberately.

2. There are two types of storms in life that we can face. There are storms of correction like Jonah went through for discipline and then there are storms of perfection when God helps us grow.

3. The disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Christ and needed to be perfected. Jesus had tested them in a storm before when He was in the boat with them; but now He tested them by being out of the boat.

SLIDE 4

Application: Many Christians have the idea that obedience to God always produces “smooth sailing”, but this is not true. When we find ourselves in the storm because we have obeyed the Lord, we must remember that He brought us here and He can care for us.

SLIDE 5

Matthew 14:22-24

SLIDE 6

Jesus Intercedes For Me

1. This scene is a good illustration of the church and Jesus today. God’s people are on the sea, in the middle of a storm, but Jesus is in Heaven interceding for us.

2. See Jesus saw the disciples and knew everything that was going on, just as Jesus sees us and knows our needs. He feels our burdens and knows what we are going through.

3. Jesus prayed for His disciples that they would keep going.

SLIDE 7

Application: Just as Jesus was praying for His disciples, He intercedes for us. Jesus knows our needs, our fears, and is in control of the situation.

SLIDE 8

Matthew 14:25-27

SLIDE 9

Jesus Comes To Me

1. There are times when we feel like Jesus has deserted us because we are going through hard times, but Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life. He may not come when you think He should. We find here that He waited until the boat was far away from the land.

2. Why did Jesus walk on the water? To show the disciple that the very thing they feared was only a walking path for Him. Often we fear difficult experiences of life, only to discover that these experiences bring Jesus closer to us.

3. Why did they not recognize Jesus? Because they were not looking for Him. If they had been waiting by faith, they would have known Him immediately. Instead they “jumped to conclusion” and thought it was a ghost.

SLIDE 10

Application: Fear and faith cannot live in the same heart because fear always blinds the eyes to the presence of the Lord.

SLIDE 11-12

Matthew 14:28-31

SLIDE 13

Jesus Helps Me Grow

1. The whole purpose of the storm was to help the disciples grow in their faith and Jesus knew that there would be many more storms for them to face. I want us to focus on Peter now, but before we begin to criticize him for sinking let’s “brag on him” for demonstrating his faith. He was the only one that got out of the boat. Anybody can sit in the boat and watch but it takes a person of real faith to leave the boat and walk on the water.

2. What caused Peter to sink? His faith began to waiver when he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the circumstances around him. Notice that Jesus asked him, “Why did you doubt?” This word “doubt” carries the meaning of “standing uncertainly at two ways.” In other words, it is like being at a fork in the road and not knowing which path to take.

3. Now we must give Peter some credit because he knew he was sinking and he cried out to Jesus for help. He didn’t wait until he was drowning to ask for help. This experience was difficult for Peter but it helped him grow in Christ.

SLIDE 14

Application: The storms of life are not easy, but they are necessary. They teach us to trust Jesus alone and to obey His Word no matter what the circumstances may be.