Sermon - Matthew 14 - Wind and Waves - Littleby Batist Church - July 7, 2019

Late last year as we headed into Christmas we started talking about the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus. This morning will be the 25^th message in the series. Might sound like a lot of messages, but when you flip through the Gospels it feels like we are barely scratching the surface. We could easily spend a couple of years going through each of the Gospels. As it looks today, we will spend the rest of the year looking at the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus and still only hit the highlights.

This morning we will be continuing our series in Matthew 14.

Matthew 14:22-23

“²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.”

Jesus had tried to withdraw to a remote place earlier in the chapter, but the crowds followed Him. He healed the sick and then took 5 loaves of bread and two fish and fed five thousand men, not counting the women and children. He had tried to take some time to recharge but had compassion on those who found Him.

This time after meeting the needs of the crowd, He sent His disciples away, sent the crowds away, and then retreated up the mountain to pray. Jesus understood that He needed to take some time and connect with His Father, He needed to take some time to rest. He needed to recharge His batteries.

Not the main point this morning, but something everyone of us needs to remember, especially the guy standing up front right now. Today more than ever we can always be connected to one thing or another, we can always find ways to be productive even when away from the office, we tend to always be on the go. Jesus showed us that there is a time to be productive and then we need to take time to connect with God, rest, and recharge.

There are many ways to recharge, but we need to start by connecting with our God. I have mentioned before that reading the Bible has a way of grounding me when things seem to go haywire. Talking to our God is another way that helps by bringing Peace, a sense of Love, Thankfulness, and many times direction.

Time alone, time to rest, time to simply be a couch potato are all ways that we can rest. Time on the lake fishing or in a tree stand hunting, time at the range, on the golf course, at the swimming pool, or cuddling up with a good book are other ways people enjoy to relax, but remember to spend some time with God so that you can truly recharge.

Jesus was up on the mountain from the late evening until early morning. He did not spend a few minutes connecting to His Father to recharge, He spent hours. Make connecting with God a priority and don’t rush it.  

Matthew 14:24-27

“²⁴ Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. ²⁵ Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. ²⁷ Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.””

While Jesus was reconnecting with His Father and recharging, the disciples were struggling out on the boats due to the wind and waves. Yet, as Jesus came to them He walked right through the wind and waves and it did not impact Him at all.

I wonder what it looked like. It is unlikely that Jesus was walking up and over each of the waves like little rolling hills and I have a hard time imagining Jesus hurdling the waves like they do at track meets. When I picture this, I see a smooth spot wherever Jesus is. As He approached each wave they parted like the Red Sea parted for Moses.

Any way you look at it the disciples were struggling with the wind and waves and were getting nowhere and Jesus was simply walking and the wind and waves were not causing Him any problem at all.

The wind and waves represent the struggles we are facing. The sicknesses we are battling, the loss of a loved one, the money struggles, the uncertain future ahead of us, job issues, that fight with our spouse, the wayward child, or just about anything else that causes us to have doubts, fear, or a sense of loss. Those things that are hitting us left and right, they are, our wind and waves. They can lead us to have doubts, to be afraid, or be insecure. When we face the wind and waves on our own, it can be overwhelming, they can drown us.

Now, when we look at our wind and waves with Jesus at the center of them, we can see the calmness and peace that He brings. With Jesus at the center of all we do, we have no reason to doubt, fear, or be lost.

Matthew 14:28-30

“²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹ He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!””

Peter gets picked on a lot about how he acted here, but we are just as human as he is. He saw Jesus, stepped out in faith, and then the wind and waves got the best of Him.

I am pretty sure I am not the only one here this morning that can honestly say that while I was following Jesus, I was afraid, insecure, filled with doubt, or felt lost. We are human, we can be looking at Jesus, focused on Him, and then the wind and waves come along and we slip up. We are going about what we believe we are supposed to be doing and then we are hit with something that causes us to question what we are doing, why we are doing it, if we should be doing it, or if we are even capable of doing it.

Like Peter it is easy for us to let the garbage around us interfere with us being where God wants us. Chances are that there is something from last month and maybe even the last few days that has hit you like this. Problems at work, a disagreement with a coworker or your boss, a fight with your spouse, kids not listening, or not liking something at church… all of these things and just about anything else out there can trigger us to take our eyes off of Jesus and cause us to doubt. As usual, Jesus does not leave it there.

Matthew 14:31-33

“³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³² When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.””

Jesus lifted Peter up, climbed into the boat, and the wind ceased.

When the focus shifted from the wind and waves or Peter sinking to Jesus things changed. In that instant the wind stopped which would have led to the waves settling down.

The focus was shifted from the wind and waves, from the things causing the problems and doubts, to the Chosen One, The King of Kings, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, the Son of God, our Lord Jesus.

When our focus is on Jesus it does not mean our problems disappear, it does not mean the wind stops blowing or that the waves stopped moving. When we are focusing on Jesus, the one who can walk on the smooth surface in a stormy sea, that wind and those waves, they pale in comparison. If we are focusing on Jesus, those problems we are facing cannot compare to Him.

Jesus is the Son of God, the Creator of all things, the Alpha, Omega, and Lord of All… when we look to Him that other stuff does not stack up. I say that knowing that each one of us will battle with things. These are things that are going to sap every ounce of strength, things that will take very bit of courage we have to face them, but just like Peter we are NOT doing it on our own. If we focus on Jesus, if we read His Word, if we spend time talking to Him, if we truly pour our hearts into Following Him, He will be there to life us up.

It does not mean the storm is gone, does not mean we are not still battling an illness, does not mean we don’t have to apologize to our spouse, it does not mean everything is going to be hunky dory… what it does mean is that when we are focused on Jesus, He will be there to lift us up.

This storms in our lives will pass away… There will be a day where none of it will matter at all. We will have a glorious resurrected body that knows no doubts, fears, or pain. Keep your focus on Jesus and He will help you stand again and carry you into eternity.

This morning we are going to partake in the Lord’s Supper, our way of remembering and celebrating His Sacrifice. Before we proceed, I want to encourage you to lay your wind and waves at the Lord’s feet. Confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness as we celebrate all the Lord has done.


God Bless,

Robert