Shelter!
Matthew 14:27-33
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, “O 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.”
Matthew 14:27-33 NKJV
There is something that is hidden.
It might have been there before, but for some reason now it can’t be found.
Most have had it one time or another. Either in a worldly fashion or as a way to express your faith.
It is hard to find it anywhere nowadays.
Where has the boldness of your faith gone!
This is one of the greatest stories of boldness. But maybe not as we have always thought.
We have always heard of how Peter was the only one that stepped out of the boat.
He set the example for all the other Apostles.
Many say that Peter was the only other person to walk on water besides Jesus.
We see his faith.
We talk about Peter’s faith a lot.
But he was just an ordinary man following the Messiah. Trying his best to obey.
We have the privilege to know a little about Peter.
We know he was a rough, crude fisherman.
We knew he was not always gentle in his speech.
We know he denied Jesus.
We know that he cut the ear off of a man trying to arrest Jesus.
We know he ran and hid when His Rabbi was being Persecuted.
We also know that Peter was restored by the Grace of God.
We hear things in church like;
“Faith over fear.”
But it is hard to have faith today.
Fear is at every corner waiting to take hold of the hearts and minds of any that would fall victim.
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.
Matthew 14:25-26 NKJV
Fear takes out the boldness out of any heart. Fear can paralyze the trust and devotion we show to our Lord.
Fear is the enemy of Faith! Fear extracts boldness from our bones.
I believe that most of us are naturally fearful.
Why else would Scripture continuously tell us not to?
We have become a society that has been and is currently being controlled by it, knkwing or unknowing. For many the claws are deep.
But Jesus walks on the water.
What does this have to do with fear!
Imagine the reflection of the moon on the sea. Highlighting the choppiness of the waves. The wind flapping the sails.
The Disciples look off and see someone moving towards them. He walks on the water in a storm!
Jesus not only navigates the waves but He dominates them. He has control over them. They obey his every step, because even the wind and water have to obey its Creator!
Job 9:8
He alone spreads out the heavens, And treads on the waves of the sea; Job 9:8 NKJV
Peter sees Jesus and calls out to Him.
Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.
Not once does the Holy Word of God say that Jesus calmed the waters enough for Peter to walk on it.
Have you ever thought what is Jesus welcoming Peter to do? It wasn’t to just walk in the water.
Jesus calls Peter into the chaos.
We talk so much about the bravery of Peter. We exalt him for his faith. We relate to him in his fear.
But this has nothing to do with Peter.
This has everything to do with our Christ!
As a fisherman Peter would know the power and chaos of the sea. He knew how unpredictable it was.
But Jesus walks on it calmly in all power and authority.
It’s about Jesus being the Lord of the chaos of the sea!
Yes, Peter, at first, had faith.
Yes, Peter was the only one to get out of the boat.
This is about the invitation to do the impossible. It was going to be the boldness of Peter to not walk on water but to step into the storm!
Even in the unpredictability of the waters, Jesus had total control!
Sometimes Jesus reveals Himself in the chaos. They had seen Him heal. They had heard Him teach.
They had witnessed the power of God through Him.
Now they watch and see that even the disorder of the waves and wind have no choice but to obey and follow His step.
But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out
Our faith and boldness comes from knowing and understanding that it is not being brave in the storm.
Sometimes I am a coward.
It is not even getting out of the boat.
I don’t like change and I get comfortable where I am.
Our faith and boldness comes from knowing Who the storm obeys.
Who stills the chaos and disorder.
It’s crying out to Jesus;
Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.”
He does not disappoint. He answers your call. He stretches out His sturdy hand. Where He walks there is peace! Where He stands is firm! There is safety from the storm. His protection shields our minds from the darkness of the sea. He shelters our hearts from the boisterous winds so we aren’t being tossed to and fro!
He preserves our souls for the Glory of the Father even in and through the most terrifying storms in our life!
He is with you!
Peter was able to do the miraculous as long as he looked and held on tightly to Jesus!
In that moment of doubt something happens. When fear creeps in we loosen our grip from His hand.
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, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Think about this today.
Little faith is still faith!
Doubt is to be uncertain.
With no hesitation Jesus immediately rescued Peter.
Jesus only asked Peter once why he doubted.
Being in the presence of the Lord can calm the most chaotic wave crashed heart.
Sometimes the storm around may never stop. But it is the presence of the Lord that winds of disaster and disorder come to a halt!
Peter did step out of the boat in faith. It wasn’t to walk on the water to boast. It was Jesus He stepped out to meet!
Today take that step towards the Lord. Reach for His hand and don’t let loose!
If you eye gazes away and you start to sink, call to Him for your rescue! Lay and rest in His peace. The chaos may not stop but take comfort that He is the One that is in full control, and when He calls it to stop, it will have no choice but to obey. Until then cling and take the Lord’s protection and shelter from the storm!
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.”
Pastor Ed