Part 4 – Patrick J van Rensburg
Matthew 14: ESV 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
- Storms are often encountered in obedience to God
Matthew 14: ESV 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat.
Jesus made his disciples get into the boat.
The Lord instructed Abram to leave his country, and at that time a severe famine struck the land. While is he was in the will of God he encountered a servere famine.
Genesis 12:1 (NLT) The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 10 At that time a severe famine struck the land of Canaan, forcing Abram to go down to Egypt, where he lived as a foreigner.
God tested Abraham by instructing him to offer his son.
Genesis 22 ESV) 1 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
If you are in a storm, it does not necessary mean that you have made a mistake. That you made a wrong decision. Sometimes God leads us into storms by divine appointment. Be encouraged that during a storm you are in the will of God and will encounter him.
2. Storms should remind us of God’s promises
Matthew 14: ESV 22 “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side”
Jesus said, get into the boat and go to the other side before Him. Jesus is saying go to the other side, and we will meet there. There was nothing to be afraid of in the storm because Jesus know what their destination was. Jesus said to them, I will meet you on the other side. They had a promise from Jesus.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah said, Isaiah 62:6 (AMPC). “Put the Lord in remembrance of His promises, keep not silence”
God invites you—yes, commands you—to remind him of his promises. Find a promise that fits your problem, and build your prayer around it! These prayers of faith touch the heart of God and miracles are set in motion!
Abraham, knew what it was to stand on the promises of God in a time of crisis.
Hebrews 11:17-19 (NIV) 17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
Stand on the promises of God, remind yourself of the promises of God, even when the wind is against you.
3. Even when we can’t see Jesus, He sees us.
Matthew 14:23 (ESV) And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
Jesus is on the mountain looking at his disciples. Here are the disciples in the middle of the night at four in the morning, Jesus can see them, but they can’t see Jesus. In the middle of a storm, know that God can see you.
Proverbs 15:3 ESV The eyes of the Lord are in every place
Psalm 33:18 ESV Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Isaiah 41:10 ESV Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
God can see you in your circumstance. He can see you. There is time that you cannot see God, but He can see you.
4. Jesus comes to us at the right time.
Matthew 14: 25ESV 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
God is the just in time God. In the fourth watch, in the middle of the storm , when it is the darkest, the disciples are at their weariest, the wind at its strongest, it is then, that Jesus appears. In the moment of our desperation, God appears.
It is when the situation is at its darkest, that Jesus will appear. He always comes at the right time.
Isaiah 60:22 (NLT) 22 The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.”
We are in the fourth watch of the night, everything around us is getting darker, but Jesus is coming at the right time.
5. In the midst of our fear, is Jesus
Matthew14:26 (ESV) But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NLT) “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Remember the man that they feared was Jesus. He appeared as a Ghost to them. The ghost coming to you, is Jesus that is coming to you. Joseph’s prison was his palace coming to him. Daniel’s lion’s den was his ticket to victory. Job’s loss was his steppingstone, his double portion.
Psalm 23 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
6. The water that threatened the disciples; was under His feet
Jesus is walking on that which you are fearing. The disciples were fearing that they might drown. Jesus was walking on that which they feared.
Isaiah 59:1-2 (NLT) 59 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
1 John 3:8b, ESV “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil”?
7. Our ability to walk depends on our faith.
Matthew14:26 (ESV) 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt” – Meaning of this, it is that you have run out of fuel. Why did you stop believing? You turned your focus on the wind, and not on Jesus.
Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:2 (AMP) [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].