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Sunnyside Baptist Church Josiah DeForest
22 through 33. And before we begin, let's have a word of prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this night. We thank you for protecting us, for keeping us safe, Lord. Thank you for the safety and security we have in Christ.
We pray that you would protect us, Lord, on our way out tonight, that you would bless the remainder of our fellowship and our time for prayer tonight. Father, we thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, and as we look to your word tonight, may we think on him, and may your Spirit teach us about your Son.
Father, please help us to understand your Son, to know what he's done. Please help us, Lord, to live out how he would lead us and how he would teach us, Lord, from your word, revealed by your Spirit. And it's in Christ's name that we pray, amen.
I give this message to those who are in a storm right now, to those who are in a storm. I have very much enjoyed living in the city of Moore, but one thing that's been on my mind is there's gonna be a storm at some point that I'm gonna have to walk through and go through at some point.
And that's the same for the Christian. At some point, we go through storms and we have to look to Jesus Christ to help us through each storm we go through, each valley, each difficulty and trial. I know the Apostle Paul once said in 2 Corinthians 7, verse 5, that when they came to Macedonia, they had no rest in their bodies.
Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. So a lot of times, Christian, we go through trials and difficulties, whether public or private, oftentimes resulting in fear and worry, but we don't have to be because Jesus Christ is with us, the great I Am who is ever-existent, ever-eternal, and with us every step of the way.
And he is exalted above our trouble and our trial. And tonight, we'll learn about that from Matthew. So with that being said, let's look at the text, Christian. Matthew 14, starting at verse 22. Immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away.
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Now when evening came, he was alone there, but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Now in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a ghost, and they cried out for fear. But immediately, Jesus spoke to them, saying, be of good cheer, it is I, do not be afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. So he said, come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid.
And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him, oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, truly, you are the Son of God. This passage shows us that indeed, as Christians follow the instruction of our Lord and live out faithfully and obediently to him, we encounter storms and trials.
But we also have the presence of Christ with us to help us through, to sustain us, to uphold us with his righteous right hand, to keep us safe by his grace, by his mercy, and to bring us through. There is peace at the end of the storm, and there is increased worship, increased faith at the end of the storm.
Verse 22. Immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. We know that this story comes directly after Jesus has fed the 5 ,000 with the bread and the fish.
His disciples had helped him pass out this food, not just to 5 ,000, but more than that, including the women and the children as well. Jesus has showed himself to be Lord over creation by being able to multiply enough food to feed so many.
He has shown himself to be Lord and sovereign over the created order, and now he will do so again. We know from the gospel according to John that the crowds thought this is the prophet that is to come into the world, and they wanna make him king by force.
And so Jesus, knowing this, is faithful to stay true to God's plan, to God's redemptive purpose, and not according to man's will, but faithfully follows through with God's plan. So he disperses the crowd and he instructs his disciples, go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
And he himself, verse 23, when Jesus had sent the multitudes away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Jesus instructed when he taught on prayer that when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut the door, speak to your father who is in the secret place.
Speak to your father in private. That's what Jesus taught, and that's what Jesus lived out himself. We know from the gospel according to Luke that he often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed with his father.
So Christian, for you, when you go through the storm, I encourage you to follow the example of Jesus Christ now, to take time to privately pray, to get alone with your father and to speak with him. To, for a moment, forget about your trouble and just come before the Lord through Jesus Christ, our perfect mediator.
Remember to pray in private. It's important. Remember to speak to your Lord and to your heavenly father. Verse 24, but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary, and the first part of verse 25.
Now in the fourth watch of the night, so we know that the disciples had helped Jesus pass out food to thousands of people. They had worked all throughout the day, and around evening time, they decided to cross, following after the commands of Christ, his instruction, they began to cross the sea.
And now we find them in the middle of the sea, in the boat, tossed by the waves, with a strong wind upon them, and it's the fourth watch of the night. This was to be about around 3 a .m. to 6 a .m. So they'd been on the sea for all night.
The day before, they had helped Jesus in his ministry to feed many different people. So they must be weary, they must be tired, they must be very weak at this moment, but they're continuing on, faithfully following through with the instruction that Jesus has given.
And this is another lesson we learn from this passage. This isn't a situation like Jonah, where God said to Jonah, do this, and Jonah goes the other way. God says to his disciples, do this, and they follow through.
And what do they encounter but a storm? So Christian, when you enter into a storm, you must know that, don't buy into the lie that following after Christ, it'll mean that you won't have trouble and trial.
That is the case, and that's a reality we must know for our life, for following after Christ, for being obedient to him and following his instruction. We can be faithful and obey and still experience storms.
Turn with me to 1 Peter 4. 1 Peter 4. The apostle Peter, who was in the boat at that time, later on, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, writes these words. 1 Peter 4, verse 12. "'Beloved, do not think it strange "'concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, "'as though some strange thing happened to you, "'but rejoice to the extent that you partake "'of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, "'you may also be glad with exceeding joy.'".
Peter says, don't consider it a strange thing when we run into trials and difficulties. And that's something we have to keep as a realistic expectation as we follow after Christ, and that we'll run into trial and difficulty.
But we also know that Jesus says, "'In this world you'll have trouble, but be of good cheer. "'I have overcome the world.'". And that is something that we as believers have, is the presence of Christ through every trial and every difficulty we go through.
And we see that Christ comes to his people in this story. Back in Matthew 14, verse 25, Jesus went to them walking on the sea. Here comes Christ, exalted above the trouble, exalted above the storm. Here comes Christ coming to comfort and help his people in their time of need.
Turn with me to Job chapter nine. Job nine, verses one through eight. Then Job answered and said, "'Truly, I know it is so, "'but how can a man be righteous before God? "'If one wished to contend with him, "'he could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
"'God is wise in heart and mighty in strength, "'who has hardened himself against him and prospered. "'He removes the mountains and they do not know "'when he overturns them in his anger. "'He shakes the earth out of its place "'and its pillars tremble.
"'He commands the sun and it does not rise. "'He seals off the stars. "'He alone spreads out the heavens "'and treads on the waves of the sea.'". Here is God coming to his people on the waves of the sea.
Verse 26. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "'It is a ghost,' and they cried out for fear. "'Their fear is intensified, their worry is intensified, "'but Jesus has a word for them.'".
In verse 27. "'But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "'Be of good cheer, it is I, do not be afraid.'. "'Immediately Jesus speaks to them, "'he does not wait for a moment, "'he brings to them a word of encouragement, "'he brings to them help and strength, "'he brings to them his word.
"'He says first, be of good cheer, "'your translation might render it take heart, "'be encouraged, be courageous. "'As one theologian said, pick up your spirit, "'raise up your heart, be courageous, "'and why, for Jesus Christ is with us.'".
When you look at the next phrase, it is I, there's two Greek words that Jesus uses here in this particular situation. And those same two Greek words are used elsewhere in the gospel according to John during the I am statements.
So when Jesus says he is the good shepherd, when he is the bread of life, he says, I am. And those are the two same Greek words that are used here. So Jesus in his own action and his appearance demonstrates to them that he is God and he comes to them and says, "'Be of good comfort, be of good cheer, "'be encouraged, be courageous, I am.'".
Here is Christ claiming deity, do not be afraid. For the people of God, we don't have to be afraid when we encounter various trials and difficulties. We don't have to be afraid when we encounter the storm.
And why is that? Because Jesus Christ is with us, the God man, the great I am is with us. I think about Psalm 46, verse 10, when God says, "'Be still and know that I am God. "'I will be exalted above the nations, "'I will be exalted in the earth.'".
And here is Jesus Christ coming to his people and saying, be encouraged, don't be afraid, be still and know that I am God. And he is exalted in the earth, he shows himself to be supreme and sovereign over nature.
Verse 28, and Peter answered him and said, "'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you "'on the water, here is the faith of Peter.'". He hears the words of Christ and he waits for Christ's command.
He wants to go and be close to Christ in the storm. He says, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. He wants to come to Christ. He doesn't wanna just walk on the water to look really cool or to follow through and like practice what Jesus has done, but he wants to be close to Christ.
He wants to come to Christ. He wants to be near him in the storm. And Jesus says to him in verse 29, "'Come, may we have this type of faith in the storm, "'may we have this faith that desires to be close to Christ, "'to know him deeper, to be closer and more intimate "'with him in the storm.
"'And what is the response of Christ to those "'who with a faithful and humble heart seek him? "'He will seek me and he will find me "'when you search for me with all your heart.'". And here's Christ who does, he does not resist the humble, he resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble, to those who have a heart of faith, who desire Christ, who seek after him, Christ says, come.
To those who are weary, who have gone through a long storm and a long trial, Christ says, "'Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, "'and I will give you rest. "'Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.
"'My yoke is easy and my burden is light.'". Christ does not keep us from coming to him, rather he invites us. He says, come unto me, you faithful in the storm. Verse 29, and when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Here's a fisherman who spent many years on the sea, and now he walks on the sea because of Christ, because Jesus upholds him with his right hand and sustains him on the waves during the storm. And now verse 30, but when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out saying, Lord, save me.
Oftentimes Christian, believers encounter unbelief and doubt, and that's what Jesus says is Peter's problem here in this story. Peter takes his eyes off of Christ and rather focuses on the trouble, on the storm, on the trial around him.
He stops walking by faith and he starts to rather walk by sight. And what is the result except to sink down in the waves and in the sea? But here, even when he is faced with unbelief and when there is doubt in his very soul, he still reaches out for Christ.
He still says, Lord, save me. May that be our response when we go through trials and when we have difficulties and when we fail, when we try to rely upon our own strength, when we look to ourselves and within ourselves and find nothing but sin, when we start to fail, when we start to have a lack of faith, may we with that small amount of faith that's left, with that faith the size of mustard seed, call out to Christ and say, Lord, save me.
Psalm 69, verses one through three. Psalm 69, verses one through three. Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I have come into deep waters where the floods overflow me.
I am weary with my crying, my throat is dry, my eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalmist here is crying out to God. And in Matthew, Peter cries out, Lord, save me. What does Jesus do in verse 31? And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Jesus brings a gentle rebuke of Peter, a gentle chastisement. Why did you doubt me? Why did you stop your faith? Why did you stop walking by faith and rather walk by sight? But notice also, Jesus did not let him sink.
Jesus was there to always catch him, to pick him back up, to sustain him. He was there all the way. Even when his disciple, when his people weren't strong, Christ was there to pick them back up and to keep them from going under.
So is Christ always with us during the storm when we find ourselves with a lack of faith, when we're weak, Christ is always there to catch us and pick us back up and sustain us with more grace. I think about Paul when he wrote to the Philippians, actually the Galatians, when he asked them, do you think that beginning with grace, you now walk by the flesh, you walk by your own strength?
That's not the case. It's grace in the beginning for the Christian and it's grace all the way through. It's Christ sustaining us and helping us. Whether we have faith like Peter initially does and wants to come to Christ or whether we have a lack of faith, it's not by our strength that we stand, but it's by the grace of God who will reveal to us how weak our faith is, but will strengthen us and keep us forever.
Verse 32, when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. In this verse, I think about Psalm 23, when it says, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, a Psalmist there does not say, Christ brought me to the shadow and left me there, but he brought me through it.
And here Christ brings his people through the storm. He brings them through. And that Christian is a blessed hope we have that in every trial and trouble we go through, there is an end to it. There is peace that Christ brings.
He brings an end to the storm. He brings light. And though we might walk in darkness for a time, we still are led by the light of the world. We still are led by the good shepherd who keeps us. Verse 33, then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him saying, truly, you are the son of God.
After the storm, Peter's faith was revealed to be weak and not as strong as he initially thought. But their faith was increased, wasn't it, through the storm? There was worship after the storm. Their faith was increased.
The trial actually worked in them good. The trial actually served a purpose. And at the very end, when Christ saves his people once more through a smaller trial in life, through another trial, through another storm, what is the people's response of God?
Truly, you really are the son of God. You really are the savior who always saves us time and time again. You really do keep your promises. You really never fail us. You're always faithful. And the faith is strengthened in the people of God when we go through trials and Christ sustains us all the way through by his grace, by his strength, by his might, not because of us, not because of our own strength.
For we're weak, we don't have the faith to continue, but God gives us the faith. They say, truly, you are the son of God. Last Easter, our pastor preached on Romans 4 and the beginning parts of Romans 5.
And later on in Romans 5, what does it say? We not only glory in that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character and character hope and hope does not disappoint.
So whether we're in a trial right now, whether we're in a storm right now, we can know that Christ is holding us on, holding onto us and sustaining us and will bring us through. There'll be greater faith.
There'll be greater worship at the end. And whether we're about to go into one, we don't need to be afraid, but we can be of good cheer. We can be of good courage, trusting in Christ all the way and knowing that though we go through the storm, we'll come out on the other side because Jesus Christ will bring us through.
Jesus Christ is there with his people in the storm. He sustains us. He doesn't let us go. He doesn't let us fall. He keeps us and he brings us through. And if there's one thing that you can take away from this lesson tonight, dear Christian, I pray that it's the words of Christ in verse 27.
Be of good cheer. It is I. Do not be afraid. And now we'll take some time to pray.