Matthew 14: PM

Transcription

1 Matthew 14: PM

2 Luke 5:1-8 4 And when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch. 5 And Simon answered and said, Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.

3 Peter: Overly Confident? "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. Implication? We are professional fishermen. We know how to catch fish. If there were any fish to be caught in this pond today, we would have already caught them.

4 Luke 5:1-8 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets {began} to break; 7 and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them. And they came, and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.

5 Luke 5:1-8 8 But when Simon Peter saw {that,} he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying; Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! (From Great Fisherman to Sinful Man in mere seconds) Lasting Change?

6 Peter: Overly Emotional? they enclosed a great quantity of fish; and their nets {began} to break; and they signaled to their partners in the other boat, for them to come and help them Signaled here is more like he yelled for them to Help! Ever get in over-your-head?

7 Peter: Overly Emotional? More than once, Peter was given a command, he starts out thinking he can handle it by himself, then the reality sets in and before he knows it, he s (at least) waist deep in trouble. And no experience better illustrates this than Peter s brief but meaningful little walk on the water in John 6.

8 The Setting These events immediately follow the miraculous feeding of a great multitude of people (5000+). It happens long into Peter s apprenticeship as Jesus disciple The whole exercise seems to be a type of test.

9 A Faith Storm Jesus isn t with us, physically. We can t see Him either. JESUS And we are all trying to get through the storms of life, Spiritually speaking without much more information than they had And the Bible says they ran into a storm. I m convinced this wasn t just a rain storm. It was a faith storm.

10 Luke 17:3-5 3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him." 5 And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"

11 Mark 16:14 14 When He appeared to the (now) eleven as they were reclining {at the table;} He had to reproach them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

12 Alone at Night 3 to 4 miles out into the sea (John 6:19). Sometime between 3 and 6 A.M. The disciples see Jesus walking on the water, (the man who just fed 5,000+) they first cried out in fear, supposing a ghost was approaching them.

13 Over-Confident Peter? Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. Faith comes by hearing the words of Christ Rom. 10:17 We are called to walk by faith - 2 Cor. 5:7 Whatever we do, we are taught to do it with or by the authority of Jesus Col. 3:17

14 Over-Confident Peter? Of course, Jesus when DID give Peter the command that Peter requested Come, that s when the test truly begins for Peter. And maybe for us as well?

15 What s Your Response? Matt 11:28 - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavyladen, and I will give you rest. John 6:37 - "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. Rev 22: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

16 Why Did Peter Sink? Was it because physiologically he knew he couldn t walk on water? No, it s not physical. Was it because he lacked interest or effort? No, he asked for permission to come to Jesus. Peter started to sink - because doubted that he could accomplish what Christ had commanded.

17 Jesus & His Teachings Jn. 12: And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.

18 Jesus & His Teachings Jn. 12: For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. 50 And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.

19 Belief and Focus The Bible tells us that it was when Peter started focusing on the storm, on the wind and waves, and stopped focusing on Jesus and His Word, that he began to sink. I m convinced that Peter had stayed focused on Jesus, likely he would not have noticed the wind and the waves, and he would have walked the entire distance to Jesus.

20 Heb. 12:1-3 1 [We must] lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

21 Peter s Plight Peter s problem was not so much that he was aware of the wind and the waves but that he lacked focus on Jesus. He allowed his emotions to overwhelm his trust and his faith was soon swamped by fear. This is why Jesus scolded Peter, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

22 Lessons for US? Heb 3:12 Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God. Heb 2:1 - For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away {from it.} 1 Cor. 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. (or sink!)

23 Genuine Faith & Trust Sees Jesus - even when He is not physically present. (by faith). Hears Him - (through His Word) JESUS Obeys Him - even when it is not something that anyone else in the whole world believes. *Peter was not the only man in the boat.

24 When it comes to doubt there are a LOT of people in that boat.

25 Our God Commands us: To be Holy, like Him, 1 Peter 1:16. Do you believe that you can we be Holy? To Live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present age, Titus 2: Is that a command you truly believe that you can obey?

26 Our Reply:!

27 Jesus Reply Take courage. I m Here, (even though you can t see Me Especially then!). Stop focusing on the wind and the waves- Focus on ME and do not be afraid.

28 Our Lesson When we attempt to fight our own battles with our own strength and by our own wisdom we demonstrate our true condition and our lack of faith in the Gospel and its Author. What we need to say (at the very least is) If Peter Can Walk on the Water, I Can Wade Through Life.

29 Our Application Peter s walk on the water was not dependent on him ignoring the wind and the waves, but upon his knowing that the waves were still there, but obeying Jesus anyway. We need to learn to trust in Jesus and His way completely. We need to use the ability and strength that He provides Tis So Sweet

30 Conclusion Matt. 14:30-31 Peter says- "Lord, save me!" and immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him Mark 6:51 says And He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were greatly astonished are we?

31 Invitation You know, you are a sinful person too. Maybe you need to focus more deeply on Jesus and His teachings? Maybe you need to pray for an increased faith?

32 Invitation Maybe you need to get out of the boat, and walk down this aisle? Obey His Gospel, or repent and renew your vow tonight. He is ready to receive you... Don t be afraid. Come. He will save you