Sermon Central
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The Deliverance From Fear
Contributed by Jerry Cosper on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: This passage is just a short episode of Jesus walking on the water. But in this episode Jesus shows us opening that He is Someone that we can count on when fear grips our lives.
Fear can do that do us. The storms of life can cause a sense of horror, even of impending death, and can strike an awful fear in our hearts.
So there are the four causes of fear listed in these verses:
1. Being in the dark.
2. Being without Jesus.
3. Being caught in the strong, violent storms of life.
4. Being tired and gripped with a sense of no escaping death.
The disciples were experiencing all of these.
READ vv. 20-21. The answer to all fear is Jesus Himself. And Jesus will deliver you from any fear that you might have.
Just Jesus’ word will deliver you. He proclaimed to the disciples, “It is I; don’t be afraid.
“It is I” is one word in the Greek. (eimi). It simply means “I AM.” Jesus was saying “I AM” has come—fear not. He was reminding the disciples who He was, the Son of God Himself. He had the power so there was no reason to fear.
This was the same message God gave to Moses at the burning bush. “I AM WHO I AM.” It was the same message that Jesus used as a defense against the religionists. In Jn. 8:58 Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I am.” There are at least 15 times that Jesus calls Himself I am.
• I am the Messiah.
• I am (It is I), don’t be afraid.
• I am the Bread of Life.
• I am from above.
• I am the Light of the World.
• I am before Abraham was born, I am (eternal)
• I am the door
• I am the good shepherd
• I am the God’s Son
• I am the resurrection and life.
• I am the lord and teacher
• I am the way, the truth and the life.
• I am the true vine
• I am the alpha and the omega.
• I am the first and the last.
So when Jesus said, It is I, or I am, the disciples understood and their fear left.
Receiving the presence of Christ delivers from fear. There is a critical note that needs to be mentioned here. Having Christ present and hearing His Words “don’t be afraid” are not enough. A person has to be willing to take Christ into his life. Deliverance came to the disciples only after they had taken Jesus into the ship.
The results of receiving Jesus were twofold. There was deliverance from fear but there was also the calming of the storm.
Jesus gives the strength to row through all the storms of life. He has the power to erase fear and calm any storm.
So the next time you feel the grips of fear controlling your life, listen to Jesus telling you, It is I. Don’t be afraid. And if you reach out and take Jesus by the hand, you will feel all your fears vanish. Isn’t that a calming and comforting promise?
