Matthew
14:22-33
Introduction:
In this
passage of Scripture, we find the disciples of our Lord trapped in the grip of
a fierce storm. They find themselves in that storm, because they have been
commanded by the Lord to cross the Sea of Galilee. These men are in the will of
the Lord and yet, we see them struggling against the storm. Try as they might,
however, it appears that they are unable to make any headway. The wind is in
their faces. These 12 men are stuck in a storm and are unable to get out.
Have you
ever found yourself in that place? Have you ever found yourself stuck in one of
life's storms, and no matter how hard you try, no matter what you do, it seems
that you cannot make any headway? Well, we all have times like that! It may
seem to you like the storm will never end and that there is no possible good
that can come from what you are facing. Thankfully, however, there is some good
news from the word of God. While the storms of life are never pleasant, they do
produce certain benefits in our lives that we would do well to make note of. "Now no chastening
for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it
yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby........: Heb 12:11.
I would like
for us to join the disciples in their storm. As we do, I want to show you that
the storms of life contain some hidden blessings for the children of God. I do
not know what kind of storm you are facing, but I do know that the Lord has a
purpose in allowing that storm to rage in your life. Perhaps that purpose will
become clear as you red through this piece.
NOTE: STORMS ARE GOD'S
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
A. He Comes In The Face Of Darkness:
The Bible
says that Jesus came to them in "the
fourth watch". Sometime between 3:00AM and 6:00AM, during the darkest
hours of the night, Jesus came walking on the water!
You may be
walking in darkness and wondering where Jesus is. You may be facing some of the
darkest days of your life right now. Let me remind you that our God is ever
with you, Heb. 13:5! Let me
remind you that even in the darkest hours of life God is still God and He is
still in control of your life. 1 Kings
8:12, "Then spake
Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.";
Psalm 139:11-12, "If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;
even the night shall be light about me.Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;
but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to
thee." Even the darkest hours of life cannot hide you from
the face of God. He is there even when you cannot see Him.
B. He Comes In The Face Of Disaster:
The
disciples were in a fight for their lives. Mark
6:48 says that they were "toiling
in rowing". That is, they were struggling against the
storm. I get the impression that these men were afraid for their lives. When
they thought all hope was gone and that they were doomed, Jesus came walking on
the waves!
There are
times when we all feel like we have lost the battle with our storm, but may I
remind you that just as surely as the Lord is in control of your blessings, He
is also in charge of your storms? When things look the bleakest, just look
around, Jesus is about to show up! Remember, He may not keep you from going
into the storm, but He will keep you in the midst of the storm! Think of the 3
Hebrews Boys in the book of Denial, think of Mr. Daniel himself, and Bro. Noah.
God did not prevent any of these from going into the storm, but He saved them
all in the midst of their storm. What He did for them, He will do for you!
C. He Comes On The Face Of The Deep:
The very
thing the disciples feared, the raging sea, was the very thing
God used as His vehicle to come to them. What a testimony this was! He was not
telling them that the storm was not fierce, He was telling them that He was
greater than the storm!
That is
still His word to you today! Regardless of what you are facing in life,
remember that Jesus is greater than that storm you may be facing. If you will
be patient and wait for Him, He will show up right on time. You will see that
the storm was used by the Lord to make Himself clear to you. The very thing you
fear will be the vehicle He uses to show up in your life!
The Apostle
Paul - 2 Cor. 12:1-10.
God used Paul's storm, a thorn in the flesh, to show up in and on Paul's life. What
I am trying to tell you is this: "Do not fear the storms of Life!
They have been designed by the Lord as a means of bringing Him closer to you.
He planned them and they are for your good -
Rom. 8:28"
II. V. 25-31
STORMS ARE GOD'S MEANS OF TESTING
A. V. 25-27 They Reveal The Savior -
When Jesus did come walking on the water, the disciples did not recognize Him.
They thought He was a ghost. They cried out in fear. But, thank God, Jesus came
with a message of peace and of power. He came to them with a word of peace, "be of good cheer." He
came to them with a word of power,
"It is I". He
came to them with a word of potential,
"be not afraid."
(Ill. The
storms of life have the potential to reveal the Savior to us in a way we may
have never considered before. When He comes to us, walking on our storm, He
gives us the same message of hope that He gave to the disciples that stormy
night.
1. A Message Of Peace - Note:
They were still in the storm when He told them to cheer up. By His power, the
Son of God can give us peace in the midst of our storms. That is the peace He
refers to in Phil. 4:6-7.
2. A Message Of Power - When
Jesus showed up, He came declaring His identity. "It is I", is an
emphatic personal pronoun. It is the same statement Jesus used when He said,
"I am the door"; "I am the way, the truth and the life.";
"I am the bread of life"; "I am the good shepherd". Do you
get the picture? Jesus is telling His Disciples to "cheer up, God is
here!" If we can ever grasp the truth that Jesus is the great I AM. That
He has all power in Heaven and in earth, Matt. 28:18, then we can enjoy peace
in the midst of trials.
3. A Message Of Potential -
Jesus also issue a command to His disciples: "be not afraid." This
statement literally reads, "You stop
fearing and don't you ever fear again." You see, if we can
ever get hold of the fact that Jesus is in control of every area of our lives,
that He is God, and that He possesses all power, then we can come to that place
where we can trust Him fully through all the storms of life.
(Ill. The
storms of life are a blessing because they reveal the Savior in a brand new
way.)
B. V. 28-29 They Refine The Saint -
When Peter heard that it was the Lord, Peter wanted to join Jesus in walking on
the water. Jesus simply told Peter to come. Peter obeyed and he too walked on
the water. Jesus used the storm as a means of helping Peter grow in the faith.
(Ill. When
the storms of life are howling all about us, if we can get hold of the truth
that Jesus is the Master of the Storm, then we too can rise above our
circumstances and walk on the waves with the Lord. I realize that Peter's walk
didn't last long. In just a moment he took his eyes off the Lord and he began
to sink. However, Peter had a story that none of the other disciples had! Peter
was the only one who could say, "I walked on
my storm!" The storms of life will focus our faith if we
will allow them to. God van use the difficult days to teach us more about
Himself and to help us grow in the Lord. He will use the storms to make you
more like Him. Remember, there were 12 men in that boat, but only one could say
he walked on the storm like Jesus.)
C. V. 30-31 They Remind The Saint -
Peter wanted to walk on water like Jesus. He put the Lord to the test and
stepped onto the waves. However, he soon took his eyes off the Lord and when he
did, he found himself in trouble. He remembered Who was in control and he
called on the Lord and found the help he needed.
(Ill. The
storms of life also serve to remind us of Who is in control. Like Peter, there
are times when we get our eyes off the Lord during our storms. When we do, we
are doomed to fail. We need to remember Who is in charge of this whole thing.
You see, if we successfully navigate the stormy waters of life, we deserve no
credit for our abilities or our success. If we are successful, it is because
there is One Who is greater than we are holding our hand! Our success in the
storms of life hinges upon our being willing to acknowledge Jesus as the Master
of the storm.)
III. V.
32-33 STORMS ARE GOD'S MEANS OF
TESTIMONY
A. They Testify Of His Power
- Jesus calmed the storm! He didn't say a thing, He just got into the boat with
the disciples and the sea was calmed.
(Ill. One
day, he'll do the same in your life! The storm will rage until it has
accomplished His purpose and then He will cause the winds to cease for you. All
He is trying to get us to see this evening is that He is in control of the
storms of life. It isn't me and it isn't you. Jesus is the Master of the Sea
and He is the Master of the Storm as well.)
B. They Testify Of His Person
- When Jesus stilled the storm, the disciples knew that they were in the
presence of God. They confessed Him and they bowed before Him in worship. His
power in the storms and over the storms of life testify of His person. They
tell us that He is God and that He is in control of all the affairs of life.
When the storms come, they are designed to bring us to the place the disciples
found themselves in at the end: on our knees in worship before Him.
(Ill. Here
is a secret to make the storm much more bearable for you: Don't wait until the
storm is over to bow before Him. Bow now, while the waves are still threatening
your boat. Bow now, while the winds are still contrary to you. Don't wait until
blue skies are seen to humble yourself before the Lord. Nothing reveals your
faith in the Lord more than you being willing to accept His will and love Him,
even when things look the worse for you. Bow before Him, it honor the Lord!)
Conc: Sometimes, it is hard to see the blessings
for the storm, isn't it? Sometimes it is hard to imagine the Lord bringing any
good out of what you are going through. I don't know the nature of the storm
you are facing this evening, but I know the One Who still walks on the waves. I
know that is you will bring your need to Him, He will hear you and He will help
you tonight. Who knows, He might just show up this evening striding on your
storm. If you need help from the wave walker, then this alter is open. Bring
your need to Jesus and let Him have His way in your life. Will you do that
right now?