Looking At The Waves

Introduction

Unto the O Lord Do I lift up my soul unto thee, O Lord Do I lift up my soul unto thee, O Lord Do I lift up my soul Oh my God I trust in thee let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me, let none that way only be ashamed that way only ashamed O my God I trust in thee let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me and the sins of my sins of my un. Oh my God. I trust in thee. Let me not be ashamed. Let not my end of me triumph over me. Please be seated.

Well, that was a successful foray into the supplement book there, Bobby. As I have announced to you previously, I did have a small little trip planned for this week. Brett and I, Lord willing, are going to be leaving Monday tomorrow morning to head to Tyler, Texas, and that area for the GPGA. Which means the Gospel Preacher Golf Association. Sounds a lot bigger than it is. I mentioned Ricky, Marva’s brother, this morning, and he’s one of the preachers that heads up that little event, or fiasco, whichever you want to call it. And it’s supposedly for a little RR for your preacher, but my golf game has been embarrassing of late. So I’m actually going for a little father son time and going to watch Brett play good golf and spend a lot of time with other Christians from other places and preachers that I don’t get to see very often and spend a lot of time with them and worshiping on Wednesday night in Lyndale, Texas.

I’ve held meetings there before, and they have invited me back, and I’m going to be going there two weeks from today to begin a gospel meeting. So I get to take a little visit with them before the meeting begins. You know, just sort of scope out the situation, see what kind of sermons I need to preach while I’m there. So, Lord willing, we’ll be back on Thursday evening, and we will see you again on next Lord’s day. And Sherry will be just fine while we’re gone. Tonight, I want us to look at Matthew, chapter, and boy, look at that. Not supposed to see all that yet. Matthew 14. See, I didn’t use him this morning, and so he’s really anxious to go to work tonight. In Matthew 14 and verse 22, beginning.

And immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone. But the boat was already many stadia away from the land, battered by the waves, for the wind was contrary, as it often is. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, It is a ghost. And they cried out for fear. You know, you don’t see that every day. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Take courage, it is I do not be afraid.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come out to you on the water. And he said, Come. And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and took hold of him and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt? And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, You are certainly God’s son. Tonight I want to talk to you about this text and others in a lesson entitled, Looking at the Waves, and Looking at the Wind, as Peter did.

1. Storms of Correction and Storms of Perfection

Because I think the meaning of this awesome miracle and the significance of this event far transcends just a literal or physical storm. It deals with the problems of doubt, looking in the wrong places for the answers to life’s troubles and concerns. This story parallels life’s storms. Sometimes God sends storms of correction, like he did with Jonah in the story of Jonah. Or we might call them storms of correction when he chastens his children, according to Hebrews chapter 12, verses five through eleven. And sometimes they’re not storms of correction, sometimes they’re storms of perfection. The trials of our faith that are found to result in praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And don’t think it’s strange when fiery trials come upon you, but rather count it all joy, James says in James chapter one and verse two.

2. Peter Took His Eyes Off of Jesus

Life storms can be advantageous to growth. They can help to develop character and greater faith, or they can be destructive, depending upon how we respond to them. The now familiar and almost trite saying sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, which precipitated the doubting. We are to look to Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 2. And so what started out so faithfully and courageously as he got out of the boat, let’s give him credit, folks. I don’t know that I would have been the first to say, let me walk out into the water to you. But it was Peter who said, Let me come to you.

And he courageously got that didn’t happen in just two seconds. He courageously gets over the side of the boat and begins to walk on the water. But it’s when he took his eyes off of Jesus that he begins to sink. And as one commentator said, he had not sufficiently taken to heart the comfort he should have derived from the presence, promises, power, and love of Christ. Sinking in the waves of trial and doubt. Who hasn’t been there at one time or another? Certainly, you have experienced moments of frustration and disappointment and difficulty and disillusionment, seemingly on the brink of disaster, wondering if you ought to just throw in the towel, throw your hands up and give up. Don’t be surprised when difficult days come. Oh, that’s easy just for me to say.

3. In the World You Will Have Tribulation

But in the world, you will have tribulation. Jesus promised his disciples that. In John 16 and verse 33, just about the time they go out a little bit later, and he is betrayed by Judas, and the rest of them forsake him and flee. Tribulation. Rather sudden, wasn’t it? In the world you will have tribulation. It is with difficulty that the righteous are saved. 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse 18. Or it is scarcely that the righteous are saved, the King James Version says. And all that simply means is that there’s going to be trouble and difficulty along the path. And not only did Peter experience some troubles, the apostle Paul experienced some troubles. And of course, we can go to 2 Corinthians chapter 11 and notice all of the things that Paul endured for his faith and as an apostle of Jesus.

But I want to go to the very first part of that chapter in 2 Corinthians chapter 1. Perhaps this is what he will elaborate on later in 2 Corinthians. I want you to just look carefully at verse 8 with me. 2 Corinthians 1 and verse 8. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren.