Comfort in a Sea of Struggle

Text: Matthew 14:22-33

Intro: The saying Into every life a little rain must fall is so very true. Rain in nature helps things grow and become vibrant and strong. As rain in nature , when struggles come our way, they help us grow and become strong.

In this story, Peter gets to walk on water, Jesus gets side-tracked and Peter gets rescued by Jesus and Jesus calms the storm

Troubles will come

  1. a necessary part of life . Adams sin was to listen to Eve Gen. 3:17 17To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife’s voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life
  2. God did not curse man only the ground Man was to have hard times in labor.
  3. Why what did Adam do, he did nothing when the serpent (devil) tempted Eve Adam was quiet.

A means of transportation

  1. The boat was used to get from one place to another but yet was placed in a storm in which the disciples could not control Anything ever happen in your life you cant control?
  2. Our problems should take us from place to place also, from relying on our own energy to trusting in Jesus to show us what to do and make the journey thru much better

A means of testing

  1. they reveal Jesus as Saviour, the one that can help us work out our problems He speaks, we listen and then act, this is faith, faith is a fact, faith is an act. Abraham had to act first when God said sacrifice Issac, when he did and said God will provide, he then got credit for having faith
  2. Jesus got side tracked, He was on His way to the other side. He was going to pass by the boat. They didn’t recognize Him. How many times does He pass us by and we don’t see Him? Random acts of kindness?
  1. message of peace—Be of good cheer I AM Mat.14:27 He was showing who He truly was

  • here He comes in the middle of a raging storm, boat being tossed to and fro, disciples rowing hard to no avail

    1. Exodus 3:14 I AM THAT I AM explains Gods existence That he is self-existent: he has his being of himself. 2. That he is eternal and unchangeable, and always the same, yesterday, today, and forever. 3. That he is incomprehensible; we cannot by searching find him out: this name checks all bold and curious inquiries concerning God. 4. That he is faithful and true to all his promises, unchangeable in his word as well as in his nature
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    1. message of potential—He could hold them up. When Peter walked to Him it was not so he could boast, he had his eyes on the Lord and was heading straight for him over impossible odds and was held up as he went
    2. message of power—Jesus was able to save peter when he was sinking. Peter took his eyes of Jesus and that’s when the problem started. When we look off from Christ, and look at the greatness of opposing difficulties, we shall begin to fall; but when we call to him, he will stretch out his arm, and save us. Jesus got in the boat and calmed the storm
    1. Remind the saint—to have faith, to pray and then act. Peter could have had faith, believed he could get to Jesus over the water but would never know if he never tried.
    2. Refine the saint—make us more like the image of Jesus and therefore God Himself. "Let us make man in our image". Make us more trusting in Him than in what we can do alone

    A means of testimony

    1. tell us of His power—only God can override nature. He set it in motion and can therefore change it
    2. tell us of His person—had compassion for His disciples, cared what happened to them but also tried to teach them faith He was on His way to the other shore but stopped to help them out. Quieted the storm. Only the One that created nature could subdue it. Stayed with them. There is no good reason why Christ's disciples should be of a doubtful mind. Even in a stormy day he is there to be a very present help
    3. tell of His comfort—when things are bad, if we put our trust and life in Him, He will never leave us. Mat.5:4 Blessed are they that mourn, they will be comforted. Mourn or be saddened over our past sins. To feel sorrow for those that turned from God. It may not come as we would want or think, but Gods ways are far above ours. He promises the peace that passes all understanding. We can’t totally figure it out but have a strange sense of deep peace in us.

     

    Concl.: Where are you today? In a storm. Is something rocking your boat. Give your boat and your life to Jesus today and let him calm things and provide comfort for you too in a sea of struggle. He that comes to God, must believe there is a God and if so he will believe in God; and he that believes in God, will come to God

    Christ is the great Saviour; those who would be saved, must come to him, and cry to him, for salvation; we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking: the sense of need drives us to him. He rebuked Peter. Could we but believe more, we should suffer less. The weakness of faith and the prevailing of our doubts, displease our Lord Jesus. None but the world's Creator could multiply the loaves, none but its Governor could tread upon the waters of the sea: the disciples yield to the evidence, and confess their faith. They were suitably affected, and worshipped Christ.