God is Glorious

 

God is Glorious

There are qualities about God that defy descriptions and languages. The fact that God is glorious is accurate, but our appreciation of this concept falls extremely short of the intentions of the Word. Really language bends and even trembles attempting to define the ‘glory of God.’ It is here that I attempt the nearly impossible.

Glorious can describe God rather generally and provide a more explicit declaration on other occasions. Often the context provides the correct clues. In Exodus 33, Moses makes a very specific request to view the ‘glory’ of God. After being with the Lord on the mountain for this time and now routinely receiving directions and commandments from Him, Moses finally gets up the nerve to ask for the fascinating—"shew me thy glory”. We all yearn with Moses to know God more deeply and intimately.

Exodus 33:18-23, And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. ¹⁹ And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. ²⁰ And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. ²¹ And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: ²² And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: ²³ And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

Moses asked to see God’s glory, and the Lord responded by revealing His “goodness,” character, and “name”, instead of a direct visual image, because seeing God’s “face” would be deadly. In loving mercy, God protected Moses in a cleft of the rock, allowing him to see only His trailing presence. Beloved, while God is holy and beyond our understanding in tremendous ways, He reveals Himself personally to us as we seek Him, offering glimpses of His nature/character in the Word and Christ while lovingly protecting us in our frailness. Moses…emerged from that experience with God ‘brilliantly shining with awesome glory!’

From this and other passages, we may describe the “glory of God” as supreme magnificence, brilliant manifestation, and the radiant splendor of His holiness and power. We might say it’s a visible, overwhelming greatness of divine character and presence. God is the ultimate embodiment of honor, power, divine beauty, and perfection. Accordingly, He is deserving and yes, worthy of our complete praise and worship (Exodus 33:18-23; Isaiah 6:3).

Several passages join this one to portray the Lord God in this light as glorious:

1. Psalm 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”  
• All the natural creation is a persistent, silent witness to God’s fascinating existence, incredible power, and insightful wisdom. Creation reflects the Creator’s majesty, providing universal evidence of His craftmanship.
• David announced…a summary statement: the majestic Creation is evidence of the even more majestic Creator-God.^[1] Thus, the entire natural revelation is a potent declaration of how glorious God really is.
2. Isaiah 6:3: “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
• God’s holy presence and creative majesty is a pivotal declaration in Isaiah’s vision, emphasizing God’s absolute purity, majesty, and triune nature. The threefold repetition highlights the superlative holiness of God and His supreme sovereignty over all creation. 
• We are reminded that God’s unapproachable holiness is strengthened by the guarantee that His glory is present everywhere. He is viewed as high and exalted; this is how we need to view Him because it will deliver us from such small living. We would no longer make lax references to God or the Lord Jesus as ‘the Man upstairs.’
• They talk about Him as if He were a buddy and as if they could speak to Him in any way they please. My friend, you cannot rush into the presence of God. He doesn’t permit it. You come to the Father through Christ. This is the only way He can be approached. You can never come into the presence of the Father because of who you are. You come into His presence because you are in Christ. The Lord Jesus made that very clear when He said, “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If you are His child, you can come with boldness to the throne of grace, but you cannot come to Him on any other basis.^[2]
3. Psalm 57:5: "Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth."  
• King David’s profound cry of praise and faith while hiding in a cave from enemies.
• He plead for God’s supreme power to be manifested, prioritizing God’s glory over personal safety or deliverance. David acknowledges God as higher than the heavens and superior to all earthly, threatening situations. Even in desperate danger ("among lions"), David stops to declare that God’s honor is more important than his own problems.
4. 1 Corinthians 10:31: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."  
• Every action in our life—from mundane tasks like eating and drinking to major decisions—should be done with the purpose of honoring and bringing glory to God.
• This is a kind of, “moral compass” for Christian living, emphasizing that worship is an all-inclusive lifestyle rather than just religious rituals.  We should be asking, “Will this bring glory to God?” before acting, ensuring our actions reflect God's character and lead others to Him.
5. Habakkuk 2:14: "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea."  
• The prophet promises that the knowledge of God’s glory will inevitably triumph with his righteousness, sovereignty, and truth over our wicked chaos. Our message of hope and comfort is that God will be universally recognized and glorified!
• We are encouraged to live with the expectation of this future reality, reflecting God’s glory in our lives today.
6. Romans 11:36: "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
1. God's absolute sovereignty is the Source (Creator), Sustainer (through whom all exists), and Ultimate Goal (for His glory) of all creation. Literally everything exists for His purpose. 
2. Therefore, our worship involves humbling ourselves to realize we exist for His glory, not our own.
7. Romans 3:23-26: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
1. God declares that everyone has sinned and fallen short of his glory, making everyone equally in need of salvation. Justification is a free gift of grace, achieved through the redemption in Christ Jesus, whom God offered as a propitiation (atonement) to satisfy justice.
2. Everyone without exception has broken God’s law and failed to measure up to His perfect standard of holiness. All people, regardless of background, are in a sinful state and cannot achieve righteousness on their own.
3. "Glory of God" points to God’s perfect, holy standard, which human actions, thoughts, and words fail to reflect. You see neither painstakingly following perfect rules nor belonging to an elite family makes you righteous in God’s eyes, but rather that everyone must be justified through faith in Jesus Christ. 

Beloved, God’s glory includes the immensity of creation (stars, planets, mountains, oceans), the person of Jesus Christ (incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension), supernatural appearances/manifestations like consuming fire or holy clouds, and the display of divine characteristics like sovereignty, love, mercy, and justice. All of these indicate God’s magnificence, holiness, brilliance, grandeur, and presence among us. 

The ultimate purpose of our existence along with all creation is to reflect His beauty, and we are instructed to do everything to His glory (1 Cor 10:31). Think about everything that was created: the universe, solar systems, suns, stars, the planets, moons, the ocean, the powerful lion, or the remarkable eagle in the sky, me and you–all creation demonstrates God’s glory. Nothing is exempt from his glory. 

Sometimes our choir sings a spectacular song detailing the fact that God is bigger, better, stronger, and greater! What a bold testimony of worship, exhortation, encouragement, and focus! Our Lord is indeed bigger, better, stronger, and greater! Another way to summarize all these qualities is to describe God as ‘glorious’!

Historically in my travels to various churches, I once…maybe even twice witnessed a believer so full of respect for God and at a place of an unusual high in the worship service exclaimed out of that unprecedented fullness, “Glory…Glory…GLORY…GLORY!” He was desperately trying (but miserably failing) to contain what he was experiencing at that moment. I was reduced to tears when I finally realized what was happening years later. Now I cannot help wondering if he got ‘JUST a glimpse’ of the glorious nature of God!

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^[1] Allen P. Ross, “Psalms,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 807.

^[2] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 3 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 209.

The Inspiration of Storm-Walkers

MATT. 14:27-29

Subject: Trials/Testing

Theme: Dynamic and triumphant living recognizes the presence and power of Christ, even in the storms.

Matt. 14:27-29,
 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

Introduction:  

Fears: intimidation fears, fear of pain or of being hurt, fear of the unknown, and general timidity can lead to serious frustration and a mediocre lifestyle of simply playing it safe. Life has become a quest to find the "comfort zone" or stay with the familiar even though they are bored to tears with life. The incredible thing is so many expect extraordinary things for their lives or their loved ones.... Yet, they refuse to really take on legitimate challenges or opportunities.

Fear is a thief and it has effectively stolen many believers desire to live the impossible life. Sometimes a series of hard experiences can leave us broken and afraid.... Believers are even afraid of the plan of God for them because it may require sacrifices or challenges, or difficulties. Hardness has resigned them to the dull ‘boat life’—just surviving. Though they are storm-tossed, thrashed, and often overwhelmed, they have come to believe the "safe life" is normal. They have lost their sense of adventure and their dreams of winning over life’s challenges have faded into oblivion. They do not realize that acknowledging Christ’s Presence in the Storm is the difference between discouragement and dynamic living. In fact, the presence and power of the Lord Jesus is the source of our inspiration. What do you fear? Is it yourself...failure…success…sacrifice…the unknown…making mistakes…what people may say or think?

Actually dynamic faith is what we all need. That is, we need confidence in God's love, wisdom, grace, and power to become people who dream of executing His will for us in a big way. This is Faith that overcomes fears, obeys Christ’s commands, attempts the impossible, and experiences Christ great enabling power to triumph is God’s desire for every believer. If you are saved then this includes you. In the incident of Peter, the disciple, it is the presence of Jesus that moved him from fear to faith.  Are you relying on the Presence of Jesus in your storms?  How can we be transformed by recognizing the presence of Christ during life’s challenges? How can we become “Storm-Walking Christians?”

Relevance: Recognizing the Lord’s Presence in the Storm will inspire faith, generate security, embolden the timid to attempt the impossible, and avail Christ’s power to triumph over the storms of life.

Thesis: To become “Storm-Walking Christians” we must Hear Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power.

Message:

                 Attempt the Impossible in the Storm (Matt. 14:29)

Now our center of interest shifts to Peter. Before we criticize Peter for sinking, let’s honor him for his magnificent demonstration of faith. He walked not only on water, but He walked on a raging storm at sea! Though he was a normal human being, he actually believed he could do the impossible. It was in fact his idea to walk on the storm to go to the Lord Jesus. Peter was inspired by the realization that Jesus was actually with them in the storm. On many occasions he had witnessed the power of the Lord Jesus in his own life and the lives of many others. Peter knew in his soul that Jesus could enable him to walk on the storm. He dared to be different and refused to be mediocre. Beloved, anybody can sit in the boat and watch. But it takes a person of real faith to leave the boat and walk on water...to walk on an incredible storm at sea. God really does expect us to live for Him even through the Storms! But, how can we attempt the impossible? What will motivate us to become storm-walking believers? 

Consider the following observations...

1. Respond to Christ’s Command During the Storm!

Matthew 14:29, And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

1.      Leave the Boat of the Status Quo.  You will never walk on the waters of your trials unless you get out the boats of status quo, and complacency.  This requires obedience, responsiveness, willingness to risk, and faith!  Only Christians who respond to Christ’s commands walk on the waters of their storms! This is clearly our part during the stormy times, we must do the following:

1. Turn to God, putting your eyes squarely on Him and not on the storm, nor yourself.
2. Ask God, “What do You want me to do?” Ask, “Am I to use my faith against this storm? Am I to grow in trust by riding out this storm?”
3. Do what God tells you to do. The acid test of faith is always obedience. It is not enough to hear God’s command in the storm. We must obey His command.

2.      Trust God to guide as you look to him in the midst of the storm. Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Purpose to act upon his directives in your life. 

2. Don’t Listen to People, Listen to God in the Storm!

            Often we receive conflicting messages in the storm adding more confusion and horror to our experience. Unfortunately many of these conflicting ‘words of wisdom’ come from God’s “Boat People.”  These have learned to ‘survive’ and ‘play it safe’ in the storms, but they know nothing about “water walking faith.” Consider briefly three things about these folk.

1.      The Condition of Boat People.

a.       First of all they are still is the storm tossed boat! Because their fears are greater, their faith is weaker. Because they fix their attention on the storms, they seem unable to remain focused on the Lord. They ignore Christ presence or devalue it.

b.      His commands seem ‘unreasonable’ and ‘too extreme’ to them. Their experience is a mundane and mediocre storm tossed life—they know nothing of spiritual empowerment and inspiration. Their Christian experience is totally boring.

2.      The “Commonsense” of the Boat People.

a.       They have their ‘logical reasons’ for remaining in the boat:

                                                                                       i.      Some are in the boat of bitterness from past hurts and storms of unfair mistreatment; they feel they have a right to be in the boat of bitterness.

                                                                                     ii.      Some are in the boat of disappointment; they have been frustrated so many times they refuse to hope again for fear of another letdown. Instead of trusting, they are suspicious of anyone who attempts to inspire hope.

                                                                                    iii.      Some are in the boat of quitters; they are weary from the storms and have been worn out by the never-ending challenges. The stress and anxiety of trying to walk on water has finally overwhelmed them and they have decided to retire in the boat.

                                                                                   iv.      Some are in the boat of mediocrity; they have been there most of their Christian lives. While they are glad heaven is their future, they hesitate at any ministry opportunities or responsibilities. They don’t like the word ‘commitment!’ They seem content with weak faith like everybody else and are unwilling to change.

b.      The common factor with all of them is a failure to recognize the presence of Christ and the power of his Word in their lives.  They are skilled in offering their common sense rationale as an excuse, but they will never know the joy of walking with Christ and leading the impossible life with Him.

3.      The Counsel of the Boat People

a.       Since they are held captive by their circumstances in spiritual defeat and monotony they resent those who perceive a different outcome for themselves. They will discourage others from getting out of the boat.

                                                                                       i.      They may say, “Oh, I know you are excited about spiritual things, but it will wear off soon.”   With a rather condescending tone.

                                                                                     ii.      They will ask, “What’s wrong with being a boat people? I mean look at me, I’ve been a boat member for 99 years.”  And they are proud of this????

                                                                                    iii.      They will tell you, “Sit down, you are rocking the boat!” or perhaps they’ll say, “I love God too, but don’t go overboard.”

                                                                                   iv.      They will say, “You can’t walk on the water yet because you have not taken “Water Walking 101.”

                                                                                     v.      They might reason, “Have you ever walked on the water before?” “Well, have you ever seen anyone else walk on the water before?” “Then what makes you think you’re so special that you can walk on water?”

b.      The mistake of many believers is that they listen to the boat people instead of listening to the Lord who said “come.”  Don’t listen to boat people, listen to God!

3. Discern His Voice in the Storm

1.      How Do We Recognize the Voice of the Lord Over all the Storm Related Noise?

a.       It will always be consistent with the Bible’s teachings.

b.      His Commands will contradict worldly wisdom and conventional rationale.

c.      Christ's voice will not accommodate the carnal fleshly desires.

d.      He Will Challenge You to Grow in Faith

                                                                                       i.      Jesus said to Peter after Peter walked on the water and then started to sink, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). Jesus clearly expected His followers to have faith, to use it, and to grow in their faith.

                                                                                     ii.      We grow in faith when we hear from God, obey what He says to do, and then recognize and acknowledge God's faithfulness to His word in our lives. If we are not hearing from God, it is virtually impossible for us to grow in faith.  

e.      Jesus will Call You to Have Courage

                                                                                       i.      If you are being asked to move against the tide of conventional human wisdom and act in contradiction to your fleshly nature, and if you are challenged in your faith, you are going to feel as though you are taking a risk in obeying God.

                                                                                     ii.      Any time you take a risk for God’s purposes, you are going to need courage. Such 'risks' have the quality of a real step of faith. 

2.      Remind yourself daily of what God said to you, stay close to Him, and refuse to allow yourself to give in to fear or discouragement (Ps. 27:14; 31:24; Phil. 1:27–28; 2 Tim. 1:7.).

Conclusion: Christ designs our storms to give us opportunity to face our fears with confidence in Him. He is able to handle and storm and He will never forsake us in the storms. His power and His presence inspires us to become storm-walking believers.

Yes, God will help us grow through such storms. We can grow in our experiences with the Lord Jesus, grow to overcome the challenges that have historically intimidated us, and grow in our understanding of God plan. This was the whole purpose of the storm, to help the disciples grow in their faith. God desires the same for us. He deserves faithful, fearless, bold servants who daily advertise His grace in their lives to a watching world. We must learn to trust Him implicitly.

Jesus came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need. Their need was real; their fears were real. But in the presence of Jesus, fear must give way to faith. 

When Jesus arrived, he made a huge difference! Because of Jesus—all he taught, all he did—your life is different now! You're not alone. You have a heavenly Father, a living Savior, and a Comforter. All the problems that beset you are now theirs as well. In the face of every problem, every heartbreak, every troubling diagnosis . . . Here Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power!

The first result of walking with God is great joy, abounding joy, and secondly, a great sense of security, of abiding peace.—R. A. Torrey 

Storm-Walking Power

MATT. 14:22-33

Subject: Life’s Trials

Theme: Dynamic and triumphant living recognizes the presence and power of Christ, even in the storms.

Matt 14:22-33

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.     33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. (KJV)

Introduction: Responding with rock-solid faith in Jesus Christ is the alternative to fearful responses to life’s storms. Recognizing His Presence and Power replaces the coward’s heart with a champion’s heart. Continuous or chronic defeat rooted in our fears, worries, anxieties, and perplexities can be a matter of our history beginning today. Remember our Lord Christ inspires the weary storm-tossed believer to envision a life of triumph in spite of the troubles. You see, the faith that overcomes fears, obeys Christ’s commands, attempts the impossible, and experiences Christ great enabling power is for every genuine child of God. Beloved, you and I need to cultivate great confidence in the Presences and Power of Jesus. In the incident of the disciples, it is Jesus who moved them from fear to faith. How can we be transformed by the power of Christ’s presence during life’s challenges? How can we become “Storm-Walking Christians?”

Thesis Statement: To become “Storm-Walking Christians” we must Hear Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power.

This is the last of a three part series on Storm-Walking with Jesus. After we hear Christ's command and attempt the impossible, we are in the correct position to....

Message:

Experience Jesus’ Power in the Storm (Matt. 14:29-32).

Peter’s impulsive request led him to experience a rather unusual demonstration of God’s power. Jesus’ presence in the storm inspired Peter to implement a fearless faith to attempt the impossible. Jesus gives him the power to obey. Jesus said to Peter, “Come!” And then He granted him the ability to walk on water to Him. Peter did not have this ability in himself, but he was enabled to walk on water in direct response to Jesus’ command. Peter asked to do what Jesus was doing; he wanted to share in Jesus’ power! By doing so he walked on a massive storm at sea! So what are the possibilities for us today? Well, we can....

Experience Christ’s Power to Enable (14:29).

We should never waste time, energy, or opportunity wondering if God can empower us to execute any of His commands or requirements.

Do Not Hesitate To Obey What God Tells You To Do In The Midst Of Your Storm. While we want to be sure we have God's guidance before we act, once He has spoken to our hearts it is time to take action. God's people should be people of decisive action. The more we know the Old Book the better we can determine what God expects of us in a given situation.

Bring All of Christ’s Enabling Resources to Bear as You Respond to His Will.

We may experience God’s Power through Prayer. Peter’s little walk on the water began with a simple prayer request— “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come”—but what a powerful development it was as he defied the laws of nature and entered the realm of the power of God (See Acts 4:29-33). Through prayer we can experience miraculous life-changing power to defy our fears and hesitations to become actively obedient and to be empowered to transcend the mundane.

We can also experience God’s Power through Yielding. In 2Corinthians 12:9, Paul the Apostle says, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” The Christian life is humanly impossible without yielding to Christ’s grace. Without such strengthening grace we are left with meaningless pain, debilitating suffering, and the harsh limitations imposed by our conditions. However, through the grace of Christ we can know power in spite of our incredible weaknesses. We can live beyond our infirmities in the power of Christ. Our obligation is to yield to His will, His authority, and His right to do His perfecting work in His people. Let Him have His way with you, and He will work powerfully through you.

Christians may experience God’s Power through the Holy Spirit’s Activity in Us. Doctor Luke tells us of Christ’s promise in Acts 1:8, saying, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you….” The Holy Spirit empowers and equips us to carry out God’s commands. This is fundamentally power for witnessing throughout the entire world during our generation. We can overcome our general reluctance to engage people about spiritual matters in obedience to Christ. The Spirit of God generates godly boldness, love, and passion in the yielded heart propelling us into evangelistic ministry and endeavors. The same could be said for spiritual growth and maturation. Beloved, the Christian life, like walking on water, is humanly impossible. It can only be lived by the power of the Holy Spirit.         

Then lastly, we can experience God’s Power through confidence in Christ. Like Peter we can become distracted by the magnificence of a storm, but we really must learn to remain captivated by the majesty, grace, force, power, and will of Christ our Lord. Beloved, Jesus is the most, the highest, the greatest, the excellent, and there is nothing above or beyond Him. He truly can handle anything and everything! Look at Him…He is walking on a monster storm at sea! He is above it! He is superior to it! It cannot frustrate or intimidate Him. He is gloriously Lord Almighty…even in the storms! As long as we look away from every other distraction to Jesus alone (Heb. 12:2), we can experience the supernatural life. He gives us the courage, the strength, and the ability we need to act in obedience. Train your eyes on Jesus in the Word, Jesus at the Father’s right hand in Heaven, and Jesus who is coming again in awesome power and you will make it through any storm-walking challenge.

“Expect great things from God; Attempt Great Things for God”—William Carey             

William Carey is known as the Father of Modern Missions because he literally lived out his belief that the gospel should be preached to people of other cultures and countries.   

Before there was an extensive world missions movement and before there were any independent missions societies, and before there were any recruits for missionary work on foreign soil, William Carey was passionately declaring that there was a biblical mandate for cross-culture evangelism. He was a true pioneer in that he undertook missions work without any established guidelines, or without any individual to serve as a pattern of success or failure that he could consult with or draw from. 

Yet, by the grace of God, he developed an all-encompassing program involving spiritual, educational, social, and evangelistic activities setting a pattern of a well-rounded missionary model of missionary work.  He served for forty years as a missionary in China planting indigenous churches and translating the Bible into several languages. He personified his sermon from Isaiah to, “Expect great things from God; Attempt Great Things for God.” He was indeed a ‘water walker!’        

           

Experience Christ’s Power to Rescue (14:30-31).

Doubt is giving credence to our fears and providing a workshop for the devil. Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty and a lack of convictions. It is the position of not knowing what to do; a condition of being unsure. When doubt is stronger than our faith we lose confidence in God. We question His promises and feed our fears forgetting what we should know about God and His Word. We in effect place a question mark where God placed a period. If this condition remains unchecked or uncorrected it can paralyze us and reduce us to slaves of our disbelief. When you think about it…doubt is a violent insult upon the integrity and faithfulness of God! It is unbelief that calls an honest God a liar! In this account Peter's doubt was feed by the conditions and circumstances around him. He took his eyes off the Lord Jesus and focused on the storm. This is why he sunk!

Deliverance can swiftly when Peter cried out to the Lord Jesus in humble trust. Peter’s faith was challenged, therefore as he sank, he frantically cried to the Lord for help. “Lord, save me!” When Peter’s faith faltered, he reached out to Christ, the only one who could help. He was afraid, but he still looked to Christ. When you are apprehensive about the troubles around you and doubt Christ’s presence or ability to help, remember that He is the only one who can really help.                                                    

Immediately the Lord caught him, saving him from drowning in the waves. Jesus’ immediate response showed Peter that divine assistance and power are present in times of testing. Jesus will not only come to you in the storm, but He will make a difference in the storm. Though we struggle with doubts and fears, He is still with you and He will never forsake you. This is especially true in the storms of life. You do not endure them alone.

You may feel like you are sinking under the waves of pressure, debt, temptations, parenting, failures, and rejection, but our Storm-Walking Lord Jesus is always there. Look to Him! We too must cry out to Christ for deliverance, restoration, and divine enabling. There is power for deliverance in the storms!

Discovery is a wonderful part of the Storm-Walking experience. This experience was difficult for Peter, but it helped him to grow in his knowledge of himself and of the Lord. Beloved, we really get to know the Lord as we walk with Him through the storms! It is equally true that we can discover a great deal about ourselves. Some of it will be honoring and other discoveries will be surprising. All of these realizations can prove to be healthy. The storms of life are not easy, but they are necessary. They teach us to trust Jesus Christ alone and to obey His Word no matter what the circumstances may be. It has well been said, “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, but obeying in spite of consequence.” Our Lord Jesus can rescue us from doubts, deliver us from our fears, and help us discover truths about Him and ourselves.

Beloved, recognizing the Lord’s Presence in the Storm will inspire faith, generate security, embolden the timid to attempt the impossible, and avail Christ’s power to triumph over the storms of life. Fear, intimidation, mediocrity, doubts, and frustration have stolen many believers desire to live the impossible life. They do not realize that acknowledging Christ’s Presence and Power in the Storm is the difference between discouragement and dynamic living.

What do you fear? Is it yourself...failure…success…sacrifice…the unknown…making mistakes…what people may say or think? I want to encourage you to never allow your fears to define you. Focus on Jesus and He will empower you to live the impossible life to His glory!

Conclusion: In the final analysis, Christ aims to grow and strengthen our faith and He will use the storms of life to achieve His grand design. Yes, there is power and help to actually grow through the storms. This was a major purpose for this storm—to help the disciples mature in their faith. Nothing makes our doubts surface like a serious test of our faith! Because of the storms we become aware of our true level of faith, and we have the opportunity to become more aware of our Lord’s faithfulness. We also come away knowing WHO we believe! Such awareness heightens and encourages our confidence in Him.

In the context of Matthew 14, Jesus would one day leave His disciples, and they would face many storms in their ministries. It was necessary for them to learn to trust Him even though He was not physically present with them, and even though it looked as though He did not care. On this occasion they grew in their faith…especially Peter who walked on a storm.

Jesus came early that morning with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need—they were in a life threatening storm at sea. Beloved, their need was real; their fears were real, and their energies were depleted. But in the presence of Jesus, fear must give way to faith.

When Jesus arrived, he made a huge difference! Because of Jesus—all he taught, all he did—your life is different now! You're not alone. You have a heavenly Father, a living Savior, and a powerful Comforter. All the problems that beset you are now theirs as well. In the face of every problem, each heartbreak, every troubling diagnosis . . . Hear Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power!

I believe it was R. A. Torrey who said, “The first result of walking with God is great joy, abounding joy, and secondly, a great sense of security, of abiding peace.” Beloved, peace can be yours also…even in the middle of the storm. Trust the Lord and walk with Him still…even through the storms at sea. Through faith in Christ Jesus we become storm-walking Christians whose lives are empowered by Him. 

Jesus Will Show Up In The Storm

MATT. 14:22-33

Theme: Dynamic and triumphant living recognizes the presence and power of Christ, even in the storms.

Introduction: The violence of storms on the Sea of Galilee were notorious in Jesus’ time as they are now. A deep depression surrounded by high hills, the Sea of Galilee is shaped like a bowl half-filled with water. Strong winds funnel into this bowl and clash with rising warm air, producing sudden furious squalls.

During such a storm, the sea itself would be whipped into a chaotic frenzy. Experienced fishermen, the disciples recognized the danger they were in as waves flooded the boat. Disaster seemed inevitable…all hope of survival dissipated as the disciples grappled with an ever increasing tempest.  They were in a panic when Jesus appeared walking on the water.

There is an alternative to fearful responses in the storms.  Instead of fear there is faith in Jesus. Christ inspires the weary storm tossed believer to cast away the chains of despair and defeat to envision a life of faith and triumph. Faith is a response that pleases the Lord always. Faith that overcomes fears, obeys Christ’s commands, attempts the impossible, and experiences Christ great enabling power to triumph is God’s desire for every believer. In the incident of the disciples, it is the presence of Jesus that moved them from fear to faith.  Have you relied on the Presence of Jesus in your storm?  How can we be transformed by recognizing the presence of Christ during life’s challenges? How can we become “Storm-Walking Christians?”

Relevance:  Recognizing the Lord’s Presence in the Storm will inspire faith, generate security, embolden the timid to attempt the impossible, and avail Christ’s power to triumph over the storms of life. Fear, intimidation, mediocrity, pain, and frustration have stolen many believers desire to live the impossible life. Hardness has resigned them to the dull ‘boat life’—just surviving. Though they are storm tossed, thrashed, and often overwhelmed, they have come to believe the defeated life is normal. They have lost their sense of spiritual adventure and their dreams of winning over life’s challenges have faded into nothingness. They do not realize that acknowledging Christ’s Presence in the Storm is the difference between discouragement and dynamic living. What do you fear? Is it yourself...failure…success…sacrifice…the unknown…making mistakes…what people may say or think?

Thesis Statement: To become “Storm-Walking Christians” we must Hear Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power.

Message:

Hear Jesus’ Command in the Storm (Matt. 14:29).

            Jesus always gives a directive in every storm situation we find him in the New Testament. His command is either to the storm or to us.

   A.  Sometimes He Will Speak a Command to the Storm to Afford Us His Peace.

On one occasion, Jesus spoke directly to a storm, saying, “Peace, be still!” (Mark 4:39).  Mark 4:38-41, And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? [39] And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. [40] And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? [41] And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

            During some storms the Lord sees fit to perform a miracle to deliver His people from the imminent danger. Christ demonstrated His deity by rebuking this storm and establishing an immediate calm.  But notice two basic reasons why the Lord would intervene miraculously.

1.      To Demonstrate His Amazing Absolute Power to His Followers– to Show Himself Strong! 

a.       The disciples’ response after the miracle reveal this purpose, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? ” this miracle stunned and impressed them with the power of Christ to command and control the natural elements.

b.      There is no need to fret or fear, there is no warrant for any measure of alarm, Jesus can command the storms and they MUST obey!  2 Chron. 16:9, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. The Lord wants us to live constantly under the impression of His sovereign ability!

2.      To Show that He, the Lord Jesus, is our True Safe Harbor in the Storm!

a.       Nothing in this world can provide us with a sense of complete security. To be alive is to be vulnerable.

In fact, our everyday lives are filled with sources of stress and anxiety. To overcome our insecurity, we may turn to forms of defense, or rely on the protection of others for safety. Often we seek to become as self-sufficient as possible. In this way, we hope to become immune to the dangers that surround us.

But no matter what precautions we take, we will never find the inner peace we long for by building up our own defenses. Eventually, the chaos of the world will break through the barriers we have erected, and we will have no place left to hide.

        All the defenses in the world can't provide real security. Only by turning to God and relying on His power can we find the surpassing peace that is a refuge in any storm.

b.      David gives expression to the inner peace that comes from trusting God in Psalm 56:3–4. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. ⁴ In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”

   B.  Sometimes He Will Speak a Command to the Believer to Transform our Lives. Matt. 14:28-29

          
When Jesus walked to His disciples on the stormy sea, He gave a command to Peter, “Come!”  But why did the Lord honor Peter’s rather impulsive request? What can we learn?

1.     His Command Helps Us Overcome Our Fears. (v. 26)

a.     Jesus’ presence in the storm inspired Peter to exercise fearless faith in spite of his weariness (14:28).

b.     Peter discovered power to overcome his fears and even attempted the humanly impossible (14:26-27).

c.     But notice that he did so only with Jesus’ command to “come.”  (14:29)

d.     Peter could walk on the water because he had faith in Christ’s word, “Come” (vs. 29).  Christ’s words and commands are His enablement!  We can do anything He commands us to do because with His command is His life changing empowerment.  Peter’s faith triumphed over his fears, because he listened to the voice of Christ!  “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17).

e.     But when Peter forgot this source of power and stopped looking unto Jesus (Heb 12:1-2), he began to sink. The secret of overcoming the fears associated with the storms and doing the impossible is simply to believe the Word of God and keep looking to the Son of God.

2.     His Command Brings Us Closer to Himself.   Vs. 28, “Bid me come unto thee on the water.”

a.     Peter did not say “bid me walk on the water;” because he was not interested in merely performing a miracle. His security is in Christ, therefore he desires to be with Jesus. His request is not born of a desire to make a spectacular show, but pure impulsive love.  He was responding in the storm the way we all should–that is to come closer to the Lord.

b.     In your storm tossed hours, be assured that Jesus will either rebuke the storm (including dealing with a troublemaker), or He will call you to act in the midst of the storm.  He desires to strengthen, purify, or otherwise change us. Listen for His command! 

c.     Remember, even when life hurts, the Lord desires to bring you closer to Him.

Conclusion: Jesus will show up in the storms we must face. Yes, it is our responsibility to recognize His presence and power in the Storms! This will position us to hear His empowering and life-changing command in the storm. Jesus will not have us petrified by our storms, but empowered to overcome them and act in concert with His will.
Christ will help us grow also through the storms. This was one of His primary purposes for the storm, to help the disciples grow in their faith. After all, Jesus would one day leave them, and they would face many storms in their ministries. They had to learn to trust Him even though He was not present with them, and even though it may have seemed as though He did not care. Even in the storms He cares deeply for His people.
Jesus came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need. Their need was real; their fears were real. But in the presence of Jesus, our fears must give way to real faith.