FBCWest 361 | Jesus Walks on Water and Peter Tries
Recorded On: 11/10/2019
Bulletin
FBCWest
November 10, 2019
“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and truth.”
“Jesus Draw Me Close”
Praise and Worship
SCRIPTURE READING – Psalm 88:1 - 4
“Open up the Heavens”
“Waterfall”
“Lifesong”
“Resurrecting”
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC – By Pru Hungate
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“The Life and Ministry ff Jesus The Messiah”
“Jesus Walks on Water and Peter Tries”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“Fix My Eyes”
Acknowledgements and Announcements
Benediction “Only Jesus”
Scritpures
Jesus Walks on Water
Matthew 14:22 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
Matthew 14:23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
Matthew 14:24 But the boat was already 1a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.
Matthew 14:25 And in the 2fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
Matthew 14:26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Matthew 14:28 Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Matthew 14:29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Matthew 14:30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Matthew 14:32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
Matthew 14:33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"
Matthew 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Matthew 14:35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick;
Matthew 14:36 and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured. 1. Lit many stadia from; a stadion was about 600 feet or about 182 meters 2. I.e. 3-6 a.m. /r/n
Fix Our Eyes on Jesus
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also 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,
Hebrews 12:2 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.
Hebrews 12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. A Father's Discipline
Transcript of Service
Kohl's various people.
To do various things.
And often times he calls those people.
And those people lack knowledge and know that they are not.
Worthy.
To do what God is called them to do.
I have seen.
And heard.
People speak.
And I wish I could speak the way they do.
But in reality, they have nothing to say.
Then I've heard people speak.
You don't do such a great job in.
Have very
In depth and valuable things to say.
It is better to stutter and say the truth and to speak well.
And lead.
People down the wrong path.
But I wish God would give me both the ability to preach the word correctly and to do it with.
Style and panache, and in all of that, but
For some reason he is chosen not to.
It doesn't mean that I'm not required to.
Bring the message.
And there's no more time that I feel alive then.
Here.
And so I apologize it called God is not called a better speaker.
But I do hope that you get in today I actually do have 3 points.
To give you an I'm not going to let you kind of figure them out. I'm going to tell you what they are when I tell you what they are so it won't be a surprise on the test OK.
So where we are is Jesus's just fed over 5000 men, including women and children.
And on that in Matthew.
Chapter 14, starting with verse 20 through it says this immediately. He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him on the other side, while he sent the crowds away. Now, the other gospels. Tell us the reason that Jesus did. This was that the crowds because having been fed with the bread and the fish wanted to forcibly take him and make him King.
I think.
I think he sends the disciples away that they did not get caught up in that whole let's make you King now.
So he's protecting them to get them out an him 'cause you're thinking well. The Disciples 12. Plus, who's ever around with him would help with crowd control, but Jesus gets them out and he sends the crowds away.
And after he had sent the crowds away.
You went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
And when it was evening.
He was alone.
Now Jesus has had a very busy day along with a very busy.
Time.
He's been healing, he's been.
Casting out demons, he just fed.
The multitude.
You just sent them away.
And Jesus.
The son of God.
Goes alone to pray.
Now this is an appoint but this is an add on if Jesus, who is the son of God, who is doing. The will of God goes and fills that there is a time that he needs to go away and privately and pray.
Maybe you and me need the same thing.
But the boat was already a long distance from the land battered by the waves.
Or the wind was contrary.
Here's the first point.
They did exactly what Jesus told him to do they got in the boat and they were going to the other side, but the waves and the wind were contrary, which means they were against them.
Point number one even if you do the will of God doesn't mean there will be no opposition.
All too often people seem to think well if I do the right thing my life will be perfect.
An if I mess up then God will be mad at me and do something to hurt me or or take something away because he's mad at me.
They are doing exactly what Jesus told him to do.
And the winds and the ways we're still contrary.
So we need to understand.
Oftentimes, being in the will of God does not mean perfection.
Or lack of opposition.
All right.
That's important.
And it was the 4th watch of the night.
He came to them walking on to see. Now the 4th watch is about between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM so it has been a very long day.
Jesus has been praying they have been rowing and doing whatever else having a small sale trying to get to the other side an apparently there, maybe about halfway or so.
It's not been an easy night, they have been against the opposition of it's been hard, but they've also worked and then with Jesus that whole day.
He came to them walking on the sea.
Now I find this interesting as Jesus could have got on the other side of the.
See anyway wanted to, he could have materialized over there, he could have flown he could have, but he chose to walk.
I think he chose to walk.
So there's the disciples might see him walk as opposed to just materialized on the other side of that will matter how did you get here?
But it's been a long day for Jesus as well. And yet, he chooses to walk.
On water across the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the seat.
They were terrified and said it is a ghost in the crowd out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying take courage. it is I do not be afraid.
Now.
They're not expecting Jesus to walk by.
And let's face it.
None of us have seen anybody walk on water.
So you're going to assume that it's some kind of disembodied person because anything that has any weight would sink.
Except.
I guess Jesus could say have I been with you so long.
You don't know what I'm capable of.
I can turn water into wine.
I can raise the dead.
I can cast out demons.
I can feed over 5000.
I can heal from a distance ortha touch.
So maybe it's no big deal.
That I can walk on water heater, said him Lord if it is, you command me to come to you on the water.
And he said to him come.
I find this interesting.
Peter goes well, God if it's really you.
And let me walk also let me walk on the water.
Now the person walking on the water if it wasn't Jesus could lie.
Come on.
Are you ladies have been doing a Bible study because I think Peter after having spent more than a year? We're coming up on the second pass over.
Understands the voice of Jesus.
So when Jesus says come he has confidence in the voice of God.
He said com
And Peter got out of the boat.
And walked and came towards Jesus. I want you to see something.
Peter first got out of boat now we're going to criticize Peter and you've probably heard other sermons or they criticize peas or a whole lot.
Peter got out of the boat.
Peter walked on water.
Peter did what seems to be impossible because he believed God called him to come.
All too often, we are like the other 11 or so in the boat.
Will just say it's kind of dangerous. The wind is contrary. The waves are but it's better than being out of the boat.
Peter gets out of the boat.
And walks.
On water.
He didn't sink immediately.
He made several steps towards Jesus.
So maybe
But it seems like it's difficult and when Jesus says it seems difficult, but I say come maybe we should get out.
Of the boat.
And walk.
Now I find this also interesting.
Two of the four gospels. Besides this one, so there's 3 gospels. They talk about this incident.
Matthew is the only one who tells us Peter walked on water.
Not sure why nobody else leaves that out, but
Peter.
Walks.
On water.
But.
This is not a good but but seen the wind. He became frightened and beginning to seek he cried out Lord Save me.
And this is where we're going to get into criticism of Peter.
But Peter,
Is going to do exactly what we all do?
When we see problems we focus on the problems.
Peter started seeing the waves.
And started thinking I shouldn't be able to walk on water even if it's gone.
Seeing the ways he began to see because he's focusing on the problem.
And that seems to be human.
Frailty.
I want to use two examples.
Hopefully well one of them you.
Although they never were in the other one, I hope you don't experience.
Is I enjoy football?
I love to watch the game and as a father.
I use football as an opportunity to teach my son about life.
As I thought football was one of the best sports to teach about life and one of the examples that I would save into him was.
You better hope the head coaches son is a good quarterback.
Because the head coaches son is going to be the quarterback.
Now, my grandson says that's not true because his dad has been head coach. Twice he still not had a chance to be quarterback.
But it's been my observation, and when I see teams play on the local Little League level. It's usually the head coaches son, who's the quarterback.
And so the example. I want to share with you is the quarterback.
Quarterbacks.
Position is take the ball and get it to another player to advance the ball down the field to score a touchdown.
And frequently to do that, he will what we call drop back in pass.
Now.
The other team has something to say about that.
There playing defense, and they don't want him to pass the ball.
So they have what's called lineman or very large very strong.
Men.
Who rushed the quarterback to sack him now sacram isn't all we just drop in what they want to do is not only knock you down, but knock you down and fall on you so that my 300 pounds of weight falls on your little body.
And so when these guys are coming towards them. There is what's called pressure.
And usually then when the quarterback feels pressure. He starts leaving what's called the pocket. The the offensive lineman trying to keep other people from tackling him and so he feels the pressure and oftentimes will run out of the pocket.
Now, if you hear commentators, they will say that a good quarterback does this he keeps his eyes down the field.
He doesn't look at the pressure he's looking to throw the ball to receiver who's open so that he can do. His purpose to get the ball advanced down the field and maybe score a touchdown.
But if he did what we generally do see the pressure in concentrate on the lineman who are trying to stack him. He's never going to see down the field.
Example number 2.
And this one if you drive, you May.
Experience hope not, but I want you to remember what I'm about to tell you.
If you're driving and you spin out.
The tendency is if you see a tree and you don't want to hit the tree 'cause. We don't want it to treat.
What most people do is look at the tree?
They look at the problem.
And as I was.
Taught.
In a driving Class A race car driving class one of the.
Fun times in my life.
The.
Professor the teacher, the driving professional said.
Do not look.
At the tree look where you want to go.
If you look where you want to go you will drive towards where you want to go. But if you keep looking at the tree. It's 100 percent guaranteed you'll hit the tree.
Both of those are examples just like Peter You look at the problem and not where you want to be.
And if you look at the problem and concentrate on the problem. It usually hits you.
And that's what happens to Peter.
He starts to sink.
So he cries out Lord Save me.
Now.
Good thing God is God and not me.
As I said, Hey, you called you said if I if I may come out to me, let you walk on water I said, OK.
You're on your own now.
In back in the boat yourself.
I'm so glad Jesus is Jesus.
Immediately, he stretched out his hand.
And took hold of him.
And said
You.
Of little faith.
Why did you doubt?
I want you to notice something.
He had little faith.
Little faith allowed him to walk on water.
The problem was.
A little faith did not keep him up because he started concentrating not on Jesus but on.
Water.
And that's my point.
Stop looking at the problem and keep your eyes on Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews.
In Chapter 12.
Says this.
Sorry with verse one.
Therefore.
Since we have so great, a cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and this in which so easily. Entangles us and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith.
Or, who the joy set before him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God for consider him who has endured such hostility by sinners against himself so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Jesus has called you to be his disciple Jesus has called us to follow him. He is the author and perfecter of our faith, and we are told to fix our eyes on him.
A good quarterback keeps his eyes down the field.
A good driver avoids hitting things by looking where he or she wants to go.
And how obedient disciple.
Doesn't look at the problem it keeps looking at Jesus?
Those who are in the boat worship him, saying, You are certainly godson.
Here's the other thing that's interesting about.
Little.
It only goes a little way.
You see Jesus as I've been recounting and as we've talked about.
Turn water into wine.
Heal the sick.
From near and from far away.
Raise the dead cast out demons did all sorts of things fed multitudes.
Walked on water.
And yet the next time problems or difficult circumstances or that the wind and the waves blow. Contrary we wonder in Jesus do it.
They fall down and worship him and knowledge who he is.
Until the next difficult time.
And we need.
Have more faith.
So that it's not the circumstances were concerned about is not the circumstances that dictate are following him.
Keeping on keeping on watching him.
Several years ago.
My son was uh.
Add to swim a certain distance in a certain amount of time to qualify to do something.
And so we were over here at the Westminster pool and he was swimming. An he was a decent athlete, but you know.
We don't have a pool, so we didn't swim a lot and whatever.
But I was confident he could do it.
But it was a good distance.
And there came a time when he was swimming.
That you get tired.
And when you get tired.
Swimming and even when you're not tired you and especially that's why they put a little black line in the pool. So you can see the black line in the pool so if you don't have the black line. You don't have a guide.
So he swimming and he's getting tired and he starting to swim and erratic fashion.
Which obviously is going to?
Hurt his time because he's not.
As they say the quickest point between 2 points is a straight line.
So I start calling him.
Hearing my voice, he starts swimming towards me.
Even if it's dark.
You can't see Jesus?
You can still hear him.
He still calling out to you.
And he still wants you to win the race. He's not interested in you coming, second, third, or 4th. He still wants you to win the race. Let us run this race.
Let's set before us.
Fixing our eyes.
Paying attention with our ears.
This voice.
And when they crossed over.
It came to the land of Guinness Arete.
And when the men of that place recognize him, they sent were into all the surrounding districts and brought to him all who are sick.
And they implored him that he might just touch the fringe of his coat.
And as many as touched it.
Mature.
Now you would think.
Matthew would stop.
At this point, it maybe start telling us about the crucifixion or whatever.
Is I mean? This is I mean? His disciples to finally come to the profession that he's the son of God.
Jesus still has work to do.
Jesus still has.
Healing to do Jesus still has preaching to do Jesus still has teaching his disciples who he is so that.
When?
The crucifixion comes.
And when
The burial.
And when the resurrection comes they might be remember what he did, and what he taught.
So one of the comforts that I have as a pastor.
Is that maybe like Jesus you might?
Not.
To assist disciples.
Learn what he taught at the time.
But I am confident.
That there will come a time.
When the word of God.
I will come to your memory.
And you will say I remember.
Maybe I ought to get out of the boat.
I remember well, I'm out of the boat. Maybe I'll just keep my eyes focused on Jesus and not worry about the circumstances and maybe I shouldn't worry about when I'm doing the will of God that there's wind and waves blown against me and is really hard and I'm still out in the middle of the water when I should be on the other side. By now because I'm doing the will of God and it doesn't matter what the opposition is 'cause. I'm doing the will of God and doing the will of God with opposition is still better than being on the shore without it.
Because I'm here to tell you.
It's not about you and it's not about me.
It's about him.
So, in a moment.
We're gonna sing a song that.
Deals with
This.
Next.
Our eyes
On him.
The best way you can do that.
Is to do it?
In football, they practice.
The quarterback is used to being rushed. Now he knows in practice that £300 lineman are not going to fall on it, you get to wear a red shirt, so that nobody gets to touch him because he's special.
But he still has to run around and he still has to practice keeping his eyes downfield so that he can throw the ball through the receiver who's hopefully open.
And if you have the opportunity to take a driving class.
And they teach you.
How to get out of a spin?
That you remember.
Don't look at the tree look where I wanna be.
And the next time.
In life.
You see a small way.
You don't look at the way look at him.
The next time you see a medium wave. You don't look at the way if you look at him and next time you see a large wave that's a tsunami in size. You don't look at the way you look at him as a wave is not going to save you Jesus.
And all gods people said.