LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SUNDAY 7 JANUARY 2024 pm
John 6 verses 15 – 21
The Saviour had just multiplied the fish and
loaves to feed 5000 people. There was
much excitement amongst the people.
There were plans for a take over.
It was a time of amazement and astonishment. The land was on the verge of a mighty
revolution. They would take the Redeemer
by force and make him a king therefore he departed into the mountain
alone. He constrained his disciples to
take a boat and go across the sea to Capernaum.
They suffered the distress of a storm on the sea. The were unable to get across. The Lord saw them from the mountain. The master intervened and calmed the sea
walking on the water to them.
Miraculous. So miraculous that
Peter was able to walk on the water to go to him. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all record this
story.
The sailing. When Mark was writing about this scene in
chapter 6 verse 44 we read “he constrained his disciples to get into the ship
and to go before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. And when he had sent them away, he departed
into a mountain to pray.” Something had
to be done. The crowds were becoming
restless. There was only one obvious
thing the Saviour could do. He departed
into the mountain alone. He sent the disciples
to the other side to Capernaum. The sailors
were unaware they were heading in to the storm.
It was relatively calm near the shore but the further they sailed across
the sea the waves became increasingly boisterous. The disciples set sail at the masters behest,
it was not their own idea, it was the Lord who compelled and constrained them
to go to the other side of the sea. Even
though they were sailing towards a storm they were following the will of God. Even though their boat was tossed by the
waves they were in the place God wanted them to be, fulfilling the Lord’s plan
for their lives. They were safer in the
storm in God’s will than on the land with the crowd out of God’s will. They were in the safest place they could
be. There are those today who think
following the will of God produces smooth sailing. It couldn’t be further from the truth. It does not disengage the child of God from the
storms of life. The Lord will sometimes
lead us into the storms and trials.
Being in the will of God is the best and most secure place to be in the
storm because they obeyed the Lord. Some
people will see that going through a storm is because we are disobeying the
Lord but that is not the case here.
Disobedience did not bring them into the storm rather obedience. Perhaps you are on the verge of a storm. You know
in your heart of hearts you are obeying the Lord, fulfilling the plan of God
for your life. Being in the centre of
God’s will is the greatest and most stable place to be. In following the path of obedience many can
truly witness that they are built up in their faith. Following the Lord’s will is a great
consolation.
The storm.
It was inevitable, the timing was most informative. It came at a time of great darkness. John 6 verse 17 “it was now dark”. The full burden of the storm was experienced
by the disciples when it was dark and it made it a lot worse. They felt the full extreme of the storm. Unable to see it all. The storm was violently pushing them
around. They were unable to distinguish their
actual location. It was fierce and never
ending and it was dark. One can imagine
how they felt as darkness hung over them and the storm raged about them. The storms of life are inevitable. Quite often we face them in the darkness. There are times it is hard to see the light
at the end of the tunnel. When the
storms of life are raging around us we see no future. When we face trials in times of great
darkness it is important to walk by faith not by sight. The storm came hard. A time of great darkness but also great distance. Verse 17 “and Jesus was not come unto them.” The Lord sent them across the sea while he
departed to the mountainside to pray privately. The Saviour was not with them. He was on the land. The were out at a great distance in the
middle of the sea but they had yet to learn that Jesus is with us even though
not with us physically. He was not with
them in person but his watchful, his eye was on them. Quite often we are tempted to think we are a
great distance away from our Saviour, to think God has deserted us. That only makes trials more painful. We need to reassure ourselves God has not forsaken
us. He sees our trials and knows our struggles.
The Son of God is with us. Isaiah
43 verse 2 “when thou passest through the waters I will be with thee.” The storm came at a time of darkness,
distance but also at a time of dedication. Mark 6 verse 48 he saw them toiling and
rowing. Even though the disciples were
plunged into contrary wind it did not deter them, they were dedicated to do the
will of God therefore they rowed earnestly to get to the place where Jesus had
sent them to. It was not their intention
to turn back. Peter didn’t say we better
turn back because it is getting tough.
They were committed to doing what Jesus asked them to do. To go to the other side of the sea. The storms of life will rage. We cannot afford to turn back. We cannot afford to resign, we must continue
to toil and row. Persevere through the
storm until we reach the other side until we reach the other shore.
The Saviour. The disciples were in great need. They desperately needed someone to come and
help them. That someone was Jesus. He came to their aid and saved them from
their troubles. He made himself known to
the disciples. He came walking on the
water. That was his moment of
victory. Verse 19 he didn’t arrive on
the scene before or after the time but just at the right time. He came to the rescue just at the moment of
desperate need. God knows all things, he
knows the right time to move into a persons circumstances. Matthew and Mark says he came in the fourth
watch of the night. The darkest hour
before sunrise. The Lord Jesus Christ
stepped into the scene at the most critical moment when things were bad. The ship was at the point of sinking. The disciples were on the verge of
turning. There are occasions when
trying occasions have to become increasingly worse before the Saviour takes
control. I am sure we can testify to
that fact. We can look back to some
trial in the past, when we came to the point that is overwhelming then Jesus stepped
in and saved. The Lord received greater
glory for solving problems when they are at their worst. The Saviour’s saving moment of victory is in
the manner of Jesus walking. The sign of
2 feet upon water is the symbol of sovereign power. Many talk about the Jesus of history but it is
limited. Authentic history - the master
of the elements. Is any situation too
hard for him? He calms winds and says to
the angry waves “peace be still” and they obey.
The victorious Christ is beyond anything that overwhelms us. His message of victory. The master said a few words which were very
powerful. The wind was howling past
them. The waves splashing over
them. The master spoke and said “it is I
be not afraid.” What a message. What a message of great calm he had for his
disciples as they faced the storm. This
is a message that not only dispels fear but strengthens faith. Jesus Christ comes to where we are and meets
us at the point of need. Reassuring
message for us in the midst of trials. “It
is I be not afraid.” Wonderful to think
the storms of life cannot keep the Saviour away or tune out his voice. He comes to us and he speaks to us. The sailing.
The storm. The Saviour.
Fourthly and lastly we see the stepping. Not long after the Saviour arrived a mighty
miracle occurred. Peter stepped out of
the boat, walked on water. Matthew 14
verse 28. “If it be thou bid me come
unto thee on water.” An acceptable
request for the Lord. This is the Lord. Jesus’ words are recorded at frist. It was real circumstances. He walked on the water to go to Jesus. Peter was getting on well but he didn’t get
far until he began to sink. What
happened - one minute he was walking and the next he was sinking. He did not step out of the boat without
sinking. He was sinking because he took his eyes off the Saviour. He was focused before on the storm that
surrounded him. Matthew 14 verse 30 “but
when he saw the wind was boisterous he was afraid and began to sink.” We will not receive encouragement by looking
at the problems around us. Keep our eyes
focused on our Saviour. As long as he
focused on his problem he would accomplish nothing. If we concentrate on our circumstances which
we do, our accomplishment from Jesus - no victory will come. When we focus on Jesus, on his word and power
then we will have victory. The moment we
look away, take our eyes off him like Peter we will not walk very well. The moment he realised he was sinking he
cried out “Lord save me.” Peter must be
commended for his prayer – it was quick and urgent. The Saviour’s reply was quick also “and
immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him.” The Son of God reached out and grabbed him
out of the water in one smooth move. The
Lord has power to lift you out of your troubles and trials. “Lord save me.” What a cry from Peter and what a picture of
salvation. Peter was sinking and
desperately needed saved. So is everyone
who is not saved from their sin. Friend
if you are not saved you are sinking in sin.
You are going to a lost eternity.
You are in desperate need of salvation.
There is the source of salvation.
Who did he call on to save him?
The Lord. The disciples couldn’t
save him. He couldn’t save himself
either. If you want to be saved from sin
you must call upon the Lord. “Neither is
there salvation in any other for there is no-other name given among men whereby
we must be saved.” Salvation is instant,
immediate. Jesus stretched forth his
hand and saved him. Salvation is not a long
drawn out process. It is instant. Finally it is powerful. The Saviour got Peter which means he grabbed
him and rescued him from drowning. The
Lord has the power to grab you, to save you from a lost eternity. Unsaved friend what you need to do is to cry
out to him tonight. “Lord save me”. I trust you will.
No comments:
Post a Comment