LIFE OF CHRIST
Matthew 14:22-33
SINKING PETER
LIFE OF CHRIST #29
One of the greatest English speaking preachers who ever lived
was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. He was known as the "Prince of
Preachers", and from a young age pastored in
The ministry of Spurgeon was almost stopped before it began when
Spurgeon was 22 years old. In order to accommodate the crowds that wanted to
hear him, Spurgeon had rented a secular music hall called "
Some pranksters yelled "Fire! Fire!" and panic
resulted. In the confusion, 7 people were killed and thirty taken to the
hospital.
Spurgeon was devastated by this tragedy. The press of that day
tortured him in the newspapers. It looked like his ministry was ruined. He was
taken to the home of a trusted friend to recuperate.
According to the Book, THE HIDDEN PRICE OF GREATNESS by Ray
Beeson and Ranelda Mack Hunsicker, (C. 1991 by the authors, printed by Tyndale
House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, pages 51-52) "Plunged into a pit of
anguish, he sought comfort from God. None came. Tears and doubts filled his
waking thoughts and nightmares filled his sleep. He opened his Bible in search
of strength; it only deepened his grief. His prayers seemed to bounce off a sky
of brass."
"In the second week after the incident, while Spurgeon
walked in a small garden, a verse from the Bible came forcefully into His mind.
'Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and gave Him a nmae which is above
every name' (Philippians 2:9). The words bathed his soul and restored his
faith.
"The name of Jesus became a strong tower of safety. Song
burst from him, and the chains about his mind broke in pieces. He was
free..."
Just two weeks after this tragedy, Spurgeon was once again
preaching in his pulpit. His first text back was the same one that set him
free.
This is not an unusual story. Every Christian faces times of
trial. Faith gets weak. We begin to sink.
Such was the case of Peter in our text. At one of the greatest
spiritual moments of his life, a faith walk, he began to sink.
This passage is a great text for teaching us to walk by
faith. Four times the Scriptures tell us
"The just shall live by faith," and that includes not just faith for
salvation, but faith for daily living.
Peter has much to teach us about faith, especially faith during
trials.
BACKGROUND: Vss. 22-24
Jesus ordered his disciples into a boat and sent them to the
opposite shore.
Jesus sent the crowd that had witnessed the "Feeding of the
Five Thousand" home and went to a mountain to pray.
A terrible storm came up. Out on the sea, the disciples battled
for their lives.
MOTIVATED FAITH - Vss. 25-28
During the night Jesus came to His disciples, walking on the
water. Note his encouraging words in verse 27.
In verse 28, Peter asks if he can join Jesus on the water.
Notice there is no rebuke, but rather encouragement for Peter to take this step
of faith. Notice also that Peter's faith
was motivated by the Word of Christ. Our faith needs to be motivated by the
Word of God.
MOVING FAITH - Vs. 29
Peter got out of the boat and actually walked on the water. He
did it! Jesus was the one who gave him the strength to do this. He trusted the
Lord Jesus for the strength.
Moving faith is better than stationary faith.
Moving faith says, "I will actively trust God and do
whatever He wants me to do."
Stationary faith says, "Oh yes, God can do anything He
wants, but I'll play it safe, and not take any chances." I don't believe
that stationary faith is really faith at all!
MISDIRECTED FAITH - Vs. 30
As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus he was fine. But the
moment he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on the problem, he began to
sink. Whenever we take our eyes off of Jesus and put them on the problem we
have, we will sink too.
MENDED FAITH - Vss. 30-33
Jesus mended the faith of Peter in four steps.
REQUEST - Vs. 30 - Peter needed to focus again on Jesus and ask
for help.
RESCUE - Vss. 31, 32 - Jesus got him out of danger.
REBUKE - Vs. 31 - Peter was reprimanded for his doubt.
REVERENCE - Vs. 33 - The end result was that Jesus was
worshiped. That should be the end result of our mended faith as well.
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