Matthew 14:25-32..Ready

Matthew 14:25-32..Ready

14:25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, (Was about to pass by them.-(Mark 6:48) Not that Jesus lost sight of them or about to walk by them on His way to somewhere else, leaving them to drown. But was coming along side them, giving them a better view of His divinity as God. Mark uses the same language and phraseology that was used back in  Exodus when God passes by Moses.-(Ex. 33:18-19) they were terrified. It’s a ghost, (5326-Grk. “Phantasma”  Meaning Phantom or spiritual Apparition) they said, and cried out in fear.  27 But Jesus immediately said to them Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. 28 “Lord, if  it’s you “Peter replied, “tell me to come to you  on the water. (It’s because of Peter’s impulsiveness that he finds himself in situations that the more timid disciples miss out on.-(New) 29  “Come,” (Displays how sometimes the hardest things God speaks to us is also the simplest-(New)  he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out,  “Lord, save me !” 31  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” (Not no faith, after all Peter did get out of the boat when Jesus said “come.” But that it wasn’t a sustained faith-(New) Some find this hard to take in. If anyone had little faith it was the rest of the disciples who stayed in the boat, at least Peter made the effort.-(New) he said, “why did you doubt?” (Since Matthew’ only records Jesus words and not His tone. One has to wonder if He was smiling when He said it.-(New) 32  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. (For Compete Expository See Book)

Expanded Sermons

“Teaches though God may not come in the way we expect, He will come in the form we need Him most.” ⇒ Will you rust the Lord to come to you in whatever means He provides. God’s provision may not always come in the way we might expect or prefer. We often think God this what I need right now. I need this husband I need this wife, I need this job, I need this house, I need this car, I need this healing, I need this financial blessing, etc. When God might have something far better for us down the road. Remember when God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac but intervened by providing a ram as a better offering and provision of Salvation.-(Gen. 22:1-14) Or remember the Manna God provided from heaven it didn’t look like the provision the Israelites wanted, even wishing they were back in Egypt.-(Gen. 16:1-20) Or remember how during a severe drought, God instructed the prophet Elijah to hide by a brook. He commanded ravens, considered unclean birds in Jewish law, to bring Elijah bread and meat twice a day to sustain him.-(1-Kings 17:2-6) Even .Even today many people expect Jesus to be Savior King who would provide health, wealth, and blessings. And if we are honest, God’s definition of provision doesn’t always look the way we want it to or hope it will be. God’s provisions may not always align with human expectations, but they are always sufficient and timely. God’s presence and provision are revealed in ways tailored to individual circumstances, especially during times of difficulty or trial. God’s actions and provisions, may not always align with our immediate desires, but ultimately serves a deeper, transformational purpose. God may already be meeting your needs right where you are spiritually. Will you thank God for the perfect provision He has provided for you in Jesus. Whether it comes in the form of blessings, sorrows, loss, pain, discipline, etc.?

“Teaches if were to do great things for God we need to risk stepping outside our comfort zones in all that is safe and familiar..”→ Remember before Peter could walk on the water he had to first get out of the boat. What things are you taking safety and security in that’s keeping you apart from God? Or to put it another way, what boat of comfort, convenience, and ease are you hanging onto that’s keeping you form serving and coming to God? All of us have a boat that makes us feel safe and comfortable. Maybe your boat is your career you invested so much time and money in. Maybe your boat is that high paying job that’s going to keep you financially secure and comfortable for the rest of your life. Maybe your boat is accomplishments and achievements you take pride a lot of pride in. Maybe your boat is your image and reputation you worked so hard for. Maybe your boat is that bottle, that relationship, that sin, your taking refuge in. As a believer what’s your boat? Maybe it’s time to step out of the boat and go public with your faith by getting baptized. Or maybe you need to step out of the boat of fearing what other people might say. Maybe you need to step out of the boat and commit to a church. Maybe you need to step out of the boat of bad experiences with other Christians in the past. Maybe you need to step out of the boat of excuses and blame games for not serving the Lord. Maybe you need to step out of the Boat of going through the motions to having a deeper relationship with Jesus. It’s been said there are three kinds of people. There are those who are on the Shore, who don’t even get in the Boat. (Maybe that’s you, your still on the shore, you haven’t decided to even get in the Boat by giving your life to Jesus)  There are those who are in the Boat and don’t get out. (They go to church and do all the Christian things but they don’t want Jesus to tell them how to live. They just want to do the bear minimum that’s required of them without having to give up too much.) Then there are those who get out of the Boat and follow and serve Jesus. (These are the ones who want more of Jesus. They want to learn  from Jesus. They want to be instructed and directed by Jesus. They want to grow in Jesus)

“Teaches how oftentimes God doesn’t set the details, just the first steps in the right direction.” ⇒ Jesus simply told Peter to “Come”. Jesus didn’t tell Peter O.K. put your right foot out first then your left foot and do the “Hokey Pokey and turn yourself around”. Are you just going to stay in the boat and wait for God to give you all the answers first. This is Step one, This is step two, This is step three before your willing obey and follow. When the Lord calls people to Salvation He simply says “Come”. He doesn’t say get your act together first. He doesn’t say clean up this area of your life first. How many times has God spoken to your heart and said “Just go and forgive them”. God didn’t say go into prayer first. God didn’t say go have a bible study first about forgiveness. Sometimes all God will say to us is “Peace” . Sometimes all God will say to us is “Love”, Sometimes all God will say to us is “Forgive”. Oftentimes the fault is our own when it comes to moving forward in faith because we complicate things. Will say things like “God if you want we to obey You give me sign. Give me a sign I’m supposed to do this.”

“Warns of what can happen when we start to take our eyes off of Jesus and look at our problems and circumstances instead.” ⇒ When we take our eyes off of Jesus and start focusing on all the “What if’s” we end up catastrophizing the situation and making things worse. When you keep focusing on things that are threatening you, it will loom larger than ever. We’ve all been there. Having a headache, becomes I have a brain tumor.  Not having a job becomes, I’ll be homeless. Not studying, becomes I’m going to  fail the test. Not pleasing people, becomes they’ll reject me. Having a bad day at work, becomes I’m going to be fired. The list goes on and on. As believers we need to live on a higher plane that is operating in the supernatural. We need to say I know Jesus if I lose my job, You’ll have a better job for me. I know Jesus if this relationship doesn’t work out, You’ll have a better one for me. I know Jesus if I can’t get my kids into collage, You’ll have something better for them. I know Jesus if I don’t get this teaching ministry, You’ll have a better ministry for me. I know Jesus if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here today!” If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have this job.

Additional Notes & Applications 

Teaches how often God delays rescue, that there’s greater things than relief and that’s revelation.

Teaches God who gives the command, also give us the faith and strength to step out and accomplish it.

Displays how God will cross any storm, any darkness, any shame, any doubt, any struggle to meet with us.

Teaches how God has a call on all of our lives. Don’t be like the other eleven disciples who stayed in the boat, watching others be used by God.

Warns of the paralyzing effects that fear can have in keeping us from moving forward in God’s work. Fear can keeps us from being bold.

Displays how Jesus will always be there to reassure us in our struggles, in our sufferings, and in our tribulations. Anytime you find yourself in rough spot Jesus will be there.

Teaches how peace is found not in the absence of storms, but in the presence of Jesus. (Better to be with Jesus in the storm then without Him in the boat.)

Teaches how there is nothing more honoring and glorifying of our heavenly Father than we step out in faith and take Him at His word.

Wans how oftentimes it’s not just the quality of our faith, but the duration of our faith in ending to quickly.

Teaches instead of asking God to move and act in our situation, we should asking for His commands and directions in what to do. Notice Peter didn’t ask for a change of conditions, Peter didn’t cry out “Lord make the wind die down,.” He asked for a commandment; “If its You show me what to do.”  Do you ask for all the details first before your willing to follow and obey?  Instead of being anxious or worrying about every detail. Just step out and trust God to move supernaturally in your situation. Peter could have asked “Lord will you stop this storm first”. We often pray “Lord will you just quiet this thing in my life.” Or “Lord will you please change my situation”. God I really need a job today.  I really need to be healed right now. I really need a wife right now. When what we should be praying for is not a resolution or improvement of our situation. But Lord show me what to do. I need to learn from this particular situation what to do, how to grow from it  and how to better trust you. Instead of asking God for guarantees we should be asking Him to teach us to be obedient, patient, trusting, and forgiving.  Rather than praying Lord I hate my job, I hate my boss, please take them out. We should be praying Lord teach me how to be more patient, forgiving, and respectful.  To teach me how to let it go and move on.

Rather than criticize Peter, at least he tried. (Better to fail trying, then be found failing to try.) Peter is often criticized for his little faith, but he is the only one of the disciples that got out of the boat and walked on water. Which is a lesson for us against being content to watch others step out in faith. Don’t be content to just sit around and watch others be used by God. Know that God has a purpose and calling on your life as well.  Peter’s faith may have been little, but he did act on what he had and was blessed for it. Better to have Christ find you struggling and failing at something, than not try at all. Better to be admonished after having tried, than to fail in having taken no action. Some people never move past their fear because their afraid their going to mess up. And as a result their always on the sideline and still in the boat with everyone else. You’ll never grow if you don’t take chances. You’ll never grow if you don’t take risks. Better to be corrected by Jesus, than not to have Him say anything  at all.

The bible doesn’t say how long or how far Peter walked on the water before he started sinking. We have to believe that he must have made it pretty far. For one thing they were far enough way that they couldn’t make out whether it was a ghost or really Jesus. They needed to hear Him to know for sure, no doubt having the wind against them help carry Jesus voice. Plus the fact that the bible says when Peter started to fall Jesus caught him. Which implies that it wasn’t immediate.

There are various interpretations on Jesus’ miracle of walking on water, with some viewing it literally as a miraculous event. While others embrace a more allegorical or symbolic interpretation. Some allergize every detail in the event. The “Boat” is a symbol and picture of the church. The “Winds” are a symbol of the unjust political, social, economic, financial, religious struggles of life.

Based on the Gospel of Marks account of this event there’s no mentioning of Peter walking on the water.  Most attribute the absent due to the fact that Mark being a disciple of Peters and not an eyewitness .He wrote his Gospel based on Peter’s recollections. Peter being humble man that he was, may have chosen to omit his own walk on the water to avoid drawing attention to himself or his momentary lapse of faith. Other scholars suggest that each author had different objectives and chose to highlight different aspects of the event. Mark’s Gospel was written for a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience, while Matthew’s Gospel was written for a Jewish audience. This could also explain some of the differences in emphasis and details included in each Gospel.

Some have tried to explain away Jesus miracle of walking on water to other causes,

• Jesus was walking on underwater rocks in the shallow waters. Or on a sandbar just below the waters surface.

• Jesus was standing in a low profile or partially flooded boat.

• Jesus was standing on sedimentation just below the surface. A phonomime that occurs after a earthquake where sediments rise to the surface and mix with water turning into a gel like substance. (Similar to what happens when corn flour is mixed with water.)