Lessons on Water Walking
Key Passage: Matthew 14:22-32
Date: June 7, 2024
Turn to Matthew chapter number 14, if you would, please. By the way, I hope you experience that, that he walks with me and talks with me. I experience it somewhat, not as much and as often as I wish. It’s not his fault. It’s my fault, but that’s the way to live. And if you experience it, nothing else in all the world can match it. It’s just the joy we share as we tarry there, none other. I mean, nothing else like it in all the world. I hope you are after that. You have to hunger for that. And once you’re saved, it kind of natural at first, but you’ve got to work out of it to stay there. And well, that’s where you ought to live your life. It’s the best place in all the world to live that, walking and talking and him walking and talking with you and him both. That’s great.
I appreciate our young men helping us out with the plants and Miss Marie Kent. And I think all of us kind of we, and then when she gets down, we’ll whew. Praise Lord, our young men helped us with it today. I appreciate that. They’re a blessing for us. These guys are always just listening in and do a great job. They really do, and I appreciate it.
Matthew 14. And this is Jesus when he’s coming out to the ship where there was a storm and the apostles are out there on the ship. And Peter, he gets out of the ship and he walks on water. I know he sank, but he still holds the record for water walking. I mean, I can’t criticize. He’s got me beat by a mile. I mean, I promise you that.
And we want to just try to get some lessons from water walking. Lessons on water walking or water walking lessons. Amen. This is one in class 101 on water walking. All right. Matthew 14. And we’re going to start verse number 22. We’re just going to try to pull out some truths that God would have us do this morning. Would you please stand as to read God’s word together if you’re able to show his word some respect? Matthew 14, and verse number 22 of God’s word. If you’re there this morning, would you say amen? Good deal.
Matthew 14, verse number 22. And the Bible says, 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. He just fed the 5,000 plus women and children. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray. And when the even was come, he was there alone.
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went into them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit. And they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake into them saying, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. I wonder how far that was. He walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink, and he cried saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
And when they were coming to the ship, the wind ceased.
Would you pray with me that God would use this and just try to pull out some simple truths? God would use it to be what you need this for all of us. Would you do so? Father, Lord, I do ask that you would meet the needs of your people. Lord, I cannot, but you and your word and your spirit can. And, Lord, I feel ill-prepared today. I’m kind of not knowing exactly where I want to go. So would you guide me? I yield to you, Lord. And then, Lord, would you feed, Lord, these people, many of them? Maybe, Lord, their life’s a little out of whack. A holiday, Thanksgiving season. And we just need to get back in tune to you. Help us to do so, Lord. All of us, every person, help us to get tuned in and our eyes set on you. And, Lord, we’ll thank you and praise your bread on you for what you do. It’s in Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.
Just a couple notes as a way of introduction as we kind of get into it a little bit here. Notice this first of all, if you would please. I want you to notice that it was Jesus that wanted them to get into the ship. I believe it is that first verse we read there, verse number 22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship.
So it was Jesus that wanted them to. And here I point that out because sometimes when we have trouble and problems arise, we think, man, I shouldn’t have went there. I should not be teaching this class. I should not be trying to read through my Bible. I should not try to witness. And often it’s the very thing that Jesus told us to do.
But just because you’re doing God’s will does not mean you will not have problems. They were doing exactly what Jesus had told them to do. Jesus is the one that said, go get in the ship and go to the other side, but a storm came. And friend, just because you’re in church serving God does not exempt you from storms.
Can I say storms do not only come to God’s people doing God’s will? They come to everybody. So don’t get a complex. Well, I’ve got it worse than everybody in the world. My idol says those temptations are common to man. Okay, so don’t get in the corner and suck your thumb about your problems because you’re not the only one who’s been through that. I tried the thumb sucking and I lost my thumb over, friends. So don’t.
But you’ll have problems, even if you’re doing God’s will for your life. A couple of faults as we get going. Here’s a wonderful thing about it. When you’re following Jesus and you’re obeying him and the storms come, Jesus shows up. Now, I like that. I mean, Jesus comes to them when they’re in that ship and all kind of problems all around them, and Jesus is a wonderful thing when you’re doing God’s will and it gets you right smack dab in the middle of a storm, and yet right smack dab in the middle of it Jesus shows up. That’s a wonderful thing.
I think about those three Hebrew boys in that fiery furnace and old Nebuchadnezzar looking down there and he said, hey man, come over here. I thought we’d put three of them and they said we did. He said there’s four of them down there and the fourth is like to the Son of God. Amen. As Jesus Christ showed up there. And I made it through the furnace, not even a smell of smoke on them. Jesus will show up in your storm. You’ll make it. They show up when you’re doing his will and you’re seeking him and in the middle of a storm following his will. He shows up for him.
Now here’s something else about it. I just want you to know a couple things about this storm here. I want you to notice this, if you would, please. Would you look down in verse number 25? Verse number 25. And in the fourth watch of the night. Now, wait a second. The fourth, what is that? Well, let’s see. We’ve got 9 to 12, that’s the first watch. Excuse me. 6 to 9, that’s the first watch. 9 to 12, that’s the second. 12 to 3, that’s the third. So the fourth watch is somewhere after 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Now help me out, he had fed the 5,000 plus women and children, and then he set them out on the boat, and he went up in the mountains to pray, and then the evening time came. So they’ve been on that water and that boat for hours and hours. Who knows how long in the midst of the ship? I think for hours and hours, because I think they had made it to the other side, but the wind was contrary to them. So they were in that storm for hours and hours and hours. It was somewhere between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. when Jesus showed up.
Now, wouldn’t it have been sad if they, somewhere along the line, maybe 10, 11 o’clock, were not getting anything done? I’ve been witnessing my uncle for years, and he’s not getting saved, and I’ve been praying for years for so-and-so, and it’s not working. And it wouldn’t have been Saturday if they just gave up around midnight, and Jesus wouldn’t have showed up. Maybe it would have been one or two, and I’m sure those fellows had blisters on their hands by that time.
I’m sure old Thomas, we call him doubting Thomas, and maybe that’s not a right term for him, but that’s what we think of. And I’m sure old doubting Thomas said, we ought to just give it up, fellows. But somewhere, somewhere on the line, they just kept trying to get to the other side. I’m sure they said, my arms feel like you’ll be rolling all that long, they feel like they’re going to fall off. You ever have rubber for arms or legs, you know? But they kept going. And somewhere in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came.
I don’t know what storm you’re going through, but, friend, can I encourage you? Don’t stop at 12 o’clock. Don’t stop at 1 a.m. You say, I’m tired, I’m weary, I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired. Some of your physical problems and maybe relationship problems and holidays bring that out sometimes. You say, I’m just weary with these battles in my life. Can I encourage you, don’t give up. It was the fourth watch of the night that Jesus showed up.
You just keep doing right. Sometimes it’s all you can do to put one foot in front of the other. And you just, you feel like you’re dragging and you can’t make it another step. Can I encourage you? Just keep stepping. Don’t throw in the towel. Don’t give up. Don’t say, well, I’ll never get past this problem of my life. Don’t say this mountain will never move. Just keep reading your Bible. It might not be much, but read it some and pray some. And keep trying to stay in church. Praise the Lord, you’re in church this morning. And sometimes you feel like you’re stuck in mud. You know how it is when you’re walking in mud. And you just ever step, and you just wear out after a while. Can I encourage you to stay in there? Satan will just try to throw in the towel and give it up. Don’t do that. The fourth watch of the night, Jesus shows up.
I know the note about this. I’m not sure, but I think Jesus could have just, as he’s talking to them, could have probably just walked right up and walked in the boat. But he didn’t. If you will, he was outside to talk with them a little bit and he didn’t come in the ship. You had him. And praise the Lord, oh, Peter, Peter is the one that brought up walking on the water and getting out of the boat to come to Jesus.
By the way, sometimes Jesus hangs outside the boat, if you will, and he’s waiting for some dear little saints somewhere to pray about their neighbor getting saved. Or maybe waiting for someone to start a Bible study at work. Or maybe someone in the marriage to say, hey, we’re not going to just endure this marriage. We’re going to try to have a good marriage. And often Jesus in the midst of the storm waits outside the boat for some person to have enough dry spiritual drive and say, hey, I want to come out on the water and walk to you, Jesus. Praise the Lord for Peters. It’s wonderful.
Peter is the one that brought it up. He said, hey, kind of coming on the water. Jesus answers with one word. It is amazing how Jesus can change a life, boom, like that. Preaching, I’ll preach for 40 hours and nothing happens, but in just a split moment, God can change your life. You can read all the books and get all the counsel and do everything you want to do, and I’m not against all those things, but friend, all that will not get done what Jesus can do with just one word.
All he said was come. And Peter said, I’m going to do it. When Jesus, when Jesus moves in your heart and he bids you and he speaks to you and he pulls and he tugs, I hope you listen to his one word. Very often those words come in the midst of trials. And that’s when it came. It just says one word: Come. Come.
Can you imagine how you would feel if you’re stepping out of a boat? Can you imagine that you’re stepping out of the boat and you’re going to get into water? It reminds me of the three preachers. You’ve heard about the three preachers. They were friends in a little bit of town. And he said, let’s go fishing. They went a town or two away to go fishing together. And they’re out there fishing. You know how men connect out fishing. You don’t know what I mean. Friendships are born out there because you know later on you’re going to tell those fish stories. Later on, you’ve got to be bonded by the time they get there. You know.
Three preachers are out there, you know, the one guy, he said, well, he said, I’ll be honest with you, fellas. He said, you know, when things get a little rough for me, and I get a little agitated over the thing, he said, I have a little bottle, you know, I keep it hidden on the shelf and I’ll take a couple swigs just to calm me down, cut my nerves and everything. And the other fellow, he said, well, he said, I confess. He said, I got my weakness too. And he said, when it gets real bad for me, I have a couple of those pills, those things just calm you down and mood controllers and all that stuff. And he said, I’ll take a pill or two, you know. And the other preacher didn’t say a word.
Those other two preachers, men, they got worried. They said, hey, wait a second. Come on, we confess. We told you our problems. You’ve got to have a problem. What’s your weakness? And that other preacher said, man, I’m the worst gossip in the world. And I can’t wait to get home right now. Man, you just woke up. Amen. Praise the Lord for that.
Can you imagine Peter getting out of that boat? I wonder if he kind of put his toe in there first of what, you know? I mean, man, Peter gets out and he starts walking on water and it’s working. He’s doing it. I’m not sure how far Jesus, maybe from here to that wall right there. I’m not sure. But can you imagine Peter, and it’s a storm going on. Rain’s coming and waves, you know, and Peter gets out and he starts walking on.
Now here, here’s the thing about it. He walked on water to go to Jesus. That’s when you walk on water, when you’re trying to get to Jesus. Devil keep you from that, but you get out of there, get over there to Jesus. But I want you to notice this when the trouble came, you’ll know it. Look at verse number 30, if you would, verse number 30. Matthew 14, verse number 30. Now, I’ll wait for me this morning. You’re going to get 30 there? Good deal. Verse number 30. But when he, that’s Peter, saw the wind boisterous, now it’s a cycle, if you will, it continues on. He was afraid, next thing. But it began to sink. But it all started when he saw the wind boisterous.
Frank, can I say it was not, it was not the storm that was going to kill him, if you will. It was when he saw the wind. And I just feel like the Lord would like us to be a little bit focused on this saying, Satan is always busy at trying to get you to get your eyes on the storm. He’s always trying his best to get your mind and your eyes to go towards the storm before. Where was he? He was going to Jesus. But when that wind, he saw the wind, he got his eyes off of Jesus. That’s when the fear came. And that’s when it began to sink.
And friend, the key, really, the key to the Christian life is keeping your eyes on Jesus. That’s why Hebrews 12, verse number two, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
So many times over the years the Lord has told me this statement. Sometimes I get discouraged or maybe when the attendance is down or there’s problems everywhere. And the Lord has told me this so many times he’ll say, Paul, get your eyes off the people and get your eyes on me. And this whole world and problems and storms and trials and Satan is very busy at trying to get your eyes on them instead of Jesus.
You see, the Bible promises this over Isaiah 26:3. It says, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace. That’s an amazing statement. The only time I think the Bible, if I remember right, says perfect peace. That will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee.
Now, friend, just for a moment, I know everybody’s kind of our mind scattered and, you know, we’re trying to get us just focused a little bit. Can I try to give us a couple of helps about keeping our eyes, our mind stayed on Jesus? That’s really the key. Can I confess I have a tough time of that? Anybody else out there like me? Oh, yeah, my goodness. Problems come and bills come and it’s just life happens. And I get my eyes off of Jesus. And that’s when fear comes.
Friend, in our day and time, it is so easy. There’s so many storms going on. We all have personal storms we’re dealing with. It doesn’t matter if you’re a young person or if you’re a wiser person like Brother Frank back there. He’s 33, so he’s getting old, I tell you for sure, you know. Is that good preaching, Brother Frank? Amen. It doesn’t matter where you’re at the gamut of all that. Friend, you have personal storms. I guarantee every person it does. Doesn’t matter who you are. You got person.
And then in our day and time, you don’t have to listen to the news, but about 60 seconds to realize there’s a whole lot of storms in this world. Everywhere you look. And friend, then if you’re trying to do something for the Lord, there’s going to be battles there. It’s just part of it, serving God. I mean, there’s just problems in this world. And Satan is working at us getting our eyes on those problems.
Can I try something that’s helped me? And I’m not there. I’m not there. But something, maybe just throw out a couple of things before we get to the main point, but sometimes just me, I need to get away from everybody and everything for just a minute. I’ve heard some people say, let it be, let it be. Any time you change transition in your life. Maybe you’re transitioning from work and you’re driving home or maybe you’re at home and you’re about to go out to eat or maybe just some kind of transition in your life. Hey, you’ve got children at home. You’re putting them to sleep and you’re about to have a little long time when you’re with your spouse. Praise the Lord for that.
Oh, just when you have a transition, someone said during that transition, always make sure you go back to the Lord. Just take a minute or two to get your mind and your heart back on the Lord. That’s been helpful for me at times, so I don’t do it like an aw. Maybe it’s just you and you pass by a certain place that triggers you. I need to… Maybe you see, I don’t do it like I used to, but I used to when I would see a car and I noticed Brother Lloyd, this is a blessing here. Brother Lloyd’s got him a new truck. All you men say, amen right there. Come on now. Here’s another blessing. I got my truck back. Somebody say amen right there. Come on now. We got revival going on, friend. But if I would see someone driving a Nissan Frontier, I would pray for whatever member of our church had that kind of car. I’d pray for that member of the church.
Just things. I know some ladies, they feel like when they see a red bird, that is the Lord giving them a little sign saying that he loves you. Relative of my family, and they’ve got me going on this when it’s 11:11. That’s kind of reminded. That’s the Lord saying they love them. And I try to practice that one. And it’s a blessing for me. I shouldn’t say it because now you’re going to be watching a bit if it’s 11:11 when I get to preach. And I’ll see that clock. It’s such a blessing to be an awful. If I say 11:11 somewhere, I’ll say, Lord, I love you too. Thank you. But I’m just saying little things you might use.
Someone else, when it’s the cloudless sky, that’s the sign kind of between them and the Lord. And it’s the Lord saying, I love you. And it’s just things that help you keep your eyes and stay connected to Jesus. It’s so crucial that you work at that. Because the winds around you blowing, I mean, who can’t help but for a glance look at the wind? And that’s what Satan wants. So you must work at it. Just cultivate that. Try to always get back and keep in your eyes. It may be a song, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. By the way, I love listening to music, but it’s not necessarily talking about that. It’s singing and making melody in your heart, not necessarily even in your lips, but with your heart, singing to the Lord. If you’re like me, you don’t want to make sure the windows in the car are up or, you know, everybody sings good in the shower. Come on now, y’all. Lighten up on me now. We all sound good in the shower, but you’ll make sure everybody’s gone when you do it. But however, wherever it is, in your heart maybe just, but that you’re singing and that helps remind you and connect you with the Lord. All those are crucial things. But you’re working at it some way.
And then let me say this. This is the way the Lord has kind of been working in my heart. And I’m not perfect at it, but I’m trying to get better at it. But I’m learning if I get all my needs met by the Lord, then it helps me stay connected with him. My needs. I don’t know about you, when we talk about needs, often we think about finances. Anybody out there with me? I mean, you know, you got to have money. Living off of love only lasts for about five minutes. I get hungry after that, you know. I’m talking about for you. Well, they need some money, you know. And finances reminds you of that verse over in Philippians 4, that my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus. Now, I understand that’s after taking care of the missionary poll at Philippian Church. But finances—when I learn to let the Lord meet my needs, it helps me keep my eyes on him.
Help me out. You’ll probably know this verse, Matthew 6:33. Help me out if you know it. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. I love that verse. It’s on my dad’s tombstone. I can hear my dad saying that. And here’s a good thing. For the most part, of course, it wasn’t perfect lately, but I’ve watched my dad. I’ve watched my dad quit jobs because they didn’t want him witnessing at that job. And he said, no, much more important to that is me telling people about Jesus, getting people saved. And so he quit. Took much lesser paying jobs because of that. Why? Because he had the Lord was meeting his needs, not that company. Now, Lord was using that company as the middleman, but when you learn to let God meet your needs, it changes things. You’re more apt to have your eyes on the Lord and on your bank account, on the job situation.
This is an amazing story. If I hadn’t lived it, I don’t know that I’d believe it, but I was very young at a Bible college, and I was a youth director in LA. That’s Lower Alabama. I was youth director down there. And they paid me, if I remember right—my wife’s not here so I can exaggerate it real big. I mean, you know, she’s sick this morning. I can make it a good one now. They were paying me two cents a week. No, it was $125 a week. And they paid $60 a month to help with rent. And then they paid for our gas, my gas. But honestly, friend, that time, we really lacked nothing.
I’m amazed. I look back in the stores. I remember when a hot water heater went out, and we lived in a trailer. And they’re unique, different type, style hot water heaters. And boom, right off about a widow at the church. Somehow she found out about it, and she had just the exact one we needed. During that time, we got rid of our old clunker of a car. I mean, it had been through the Vietnam War, that car, you know. I’m talking about it. Sometimes it wouldn’t crank. You’d have to take your screwdriver out there and put it on those wires on the starters. How many of you know what I’m talking about there? Yeah, get some sparks flying there, you know. And it’s a sad thing to have to teach your newlywed wife how to do that, you know. That’s what we had.
But during that time, making that amount of money, we sold that. We were going to give it away, but we sold the guy for $100 just to have an amount. And we upgraded to a day. It was one of those—I hate to say this word in church—it was an F-O-R-D, all right? You don’t know what I’m talking about it, you know. But it was a good car. It really was. It was a Taurus. And I’m saying making that kind of money, we always have what we needed. We upgraded in cars. We got better cars. It’s just amazing.
And we felt like the Lord was leading us elsewhere. And we went to another place. And we were out of the ministry for—I didn’t really want to be—but that’s where God had us. And can I be honest with you? I’m confessing here a little bit. For that year, two years, I’ll say for two years, my mindset was a little bit, well, we’re not in the ministry, so I might as well make money. And, to be honest with it, it was disaster. Car wrecks, layoffs, sickness. I’m talking about, and my eyes had gotten off of Jesus and gotten on, well, I might as well make some money since I’m not in the ministry. And it was disaster.
And the Lord was teaching me, forget all that money and stuff. You serve me. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things, I’ll take care of all those things. God taught me the lesson the hard way. You won’t serve money. Don’t get your eyes on money. Money’s here today and gone tomorrow. I’ve seen people who’ve got money, they’re more worried than the person that don’t got money because they’re worried about the money that got them going tomorrow, and it happens. I don’t know how to talk about it.
Friend, I’m saying Satan will do everything he can to get your eyes on the wind, but it’s very important to keep your eyes on Jesus. And when you learn to trust Jesus and let him meet your every need, that’s why it says over there in Isaiah 26:3, that will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed because he trusteth in me. The next verse says, “Trust in the Lord Jehovah forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” And you keep your eyes on Jesus. You trust him. Let him meet your every need—financially, physical need, emotional need.
Let’s go back. Let’s go back to physical here for just a second. It’s not a sin to go to the doctor. I mean, some of us men, we act like it. A couple weeks ago in Sunday school where the ladies were complaining, “Well, my husband’s sick and he won’t go to the doctor.” You know how many ladies say amen to that, right? Raise your hand there. Come on now. Yeah, I understand all that.
Nothing wrong going to the doctor, but can I say this: before you go to the doctor, you ought to be seeking the Lord a long time ago before that. Oh, would you touch me? Would you heal me? Would you help me with this sickness? And you trust him for everything. Now, he’ll lead you to go to the doctors. Luke in the Bible was a doctor. God used him to pen books of the Bible. Nothing wrong with doctors, but you’re trusting the Lord for everything.
Can I say this? Would you learn to let the Lord meet your emotional needs? By then, everyone has emotional needs. You mean I can hear you, “Well, that’s my wife. I don’t have any emotional needs.” Just the very fact that you’re so loud and proud that you don’t have emotional needs proves you do. The fact that you’re acting like you don’t have them proves you have them. Everybody has them. We’re humans. Humans have emotional problems. Yes, some more than others, but we’re all there. And we’re all lacking in areas, maybe from our upbringing or maybe just the way we’re made. We all have those needs. Everyone.
Can I say, learn to let him meet your emotional needs? When maybe you’re, you just feel needy, and maybe, maybe sometimes you ever get there, you just, you just, you need people to focus on you. Or maybe you need to be in control. Or maybe you, you just need everybody to kind of turn and look at you. Maybe just, you’re too concerned about if anybody saw you do that or not and all those things. Would you let that be a sign to you? You need to go get to the Lord and let the Lord meet your needs.
Here’s a good thing. When you go to the Lord and say, “Hey, Lord, I don’t understand what’s going on, but I’m a little out of whack here. And would you meet my needs?” I have some needs. I don’t understand what my needs are. That’s a problem with emotions, you know. Well, there’s a problem there. Lord, you meet my need. It’s amazing how God can meet your needs, even your emotional needs. It’s amazing how he can do that.
Brother Anthony, would you turn us on some fans? Just get some air flow. We’re not turning the air conditioner on. Would you turn it to 32 degrees? No, I’m joking about that. Let’s just get the fans flowing, get some air flowing here a little bit, you know, that’s all we’re doing. But it’s important. I love this story, but as you let the Lord be your dad, you learn to let him meet your, even your emotion. And that’s what he wants. That’s what he says over in 2 Corinthians 6. He said, “Hey, let me be separate, saith the Lord, touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” That’s what he wants.
Psalm 103, he said, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” He wants that relationship.
There’s a little boy. He grew up in braces, and he could not walk and get around like he ought to, you know, and he was in braces. And he was always walking with his mom. And one day he said, “Mom, I’m growing up, I’m becoming a big boy, and I’m going to walk on my own.” And she said, “All right, all right.” And she let go of his arm. And he took off when he was trying to run down the sidewalk, they say. And he crossed over a little street, and on the other side of that little street, they say, sure enough, in those braces, he tripped and fell. Man, he was laying on the ground, he just crying. And Mom came up to him, and she said, “You’re okay.” And he looked up with tears in his eyes. He said, “Mom, you’re disappointed in me, aren’t you? You’re mad at me, aren’t you?” And she said, “No, you did good. I love you, I’m proud of you.”
And, friend, that’s what God is when you fall. “Well, I haven’t been reading my Bible. I haven’t been praying. I haven’t been doing all I ought to do. I didn’t handle everything right over the holidays.” And you think God’s just mad at you? And God’s your heavenly Father, your mom of you. And he’s coming and you’re saying, “You don’t like me anymore.” God says, “I love you so much.” And he can meet your, even your emotional, your spiritual needs. When you learn to let him meet your every need, it’ll be easier at keeping your eyes on him.
I love this story. I think I heard it from two different great preachers, one Bobby Roberts and one Jack Howe. But they years ago went to hear—they were going to go hear Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., an evangelist back in the day. He started a Bob Jones University. It’s a great university in South Carolina. We had some people here this morning that went to that college back in the day, Bob Jones University. And these—especially Brother Bob—he’s just a very country preacher. And he said, I thought, well, I’m going to go hear this preacher. But he has a university that he started. He’s going to be some intellect. And I don’t know if I want to hear that guy or not. He said, back in the country, it was always either you were a God-called preacher or you went to Bible college. Did you get that now? He said, that’s the way we thought. He said, this guy started a university of Bible college. I don’t know if I want to hear this guy or not, you know.
And he said, well, we thought, well, we’ll go check him out and see what he’s like. And I’ve heard both preachers talk about this. They said they were sitting out maybe the same time, I’m not sure. But I heard Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. pray before he began to preach. And they heard him pray. And when he was praying, you said, “Lord, I need you right now. I’m about to preach. And Lord, I need you. Lord, would you let me just for a minute, would you let me climb up into your lap like your little boy? And would you just hold me for a minute?” And both those preachers, Brother Bob, I’ve heard him talk about Brother Howes say, “I can listen to that guy right there. He knows the Lord. He lets the Lord meet his need.” And friend, he’ll help you keep your eyes on Jesus when you learn to let him meet your every need.
Moses, hey, won’t you deliver the children of Israel from Egypt? And Moses said, “Well, Lord, they’re not going to listen to me. Who sent you?” You remember what the Lord said? You tell them, “I AM, that I AM hath sent you.” That was God saying it doesn’t matter what your need is, I AM.
Preacher, I got all kind of problems and scars from a past. I don’t know if God can meet my need. He’s the I AM God. Preacher, I’m needing my finances helped out. I’m just hurting financially. He’s the I AM God. Preacher, I’ve got some physical problems and bad doctor’s report. He’s the I AM God. He’s the I AM God. He is that. He’s the I AM God. When you learn to let him meet your need, it’s so much easier to keep your eyes on him.
Satan will do anything in this world to get your eyes off of Jesus. He’ll create crises in your life: financial problems, relationship problems. Can I tell you a way that Satan, a tool—it’s not a bad one, it can be used for good—can I tell you one of the number one ways? Yeah, listen, we’re almost done. It’s one of the number one ways Satan gets our eyes off of Jesus today. It’s this little thing called a phone. You’ve seen it. You’ve seen it. Families at restaurants and places. Families. You know what? Dad and Mom and Jr. and Susie and our own. And we get addicted to screen time. And we never really get along with the Lord because we always got there. And Satan kind of keeps us connected.
I’m not saying this is wrong. I’m going to meddle a little bit. But nowadays they always want you to have the better and the best and the latest form. And they want you to keep you on that program where you’re always getting the latest and best. And they always got you hooked. And we’re becoming addicted people. And I’m not saying it’s a sin. I have one. I use it. And I have to work at it, though. I’m just going to turn that crazy thing off so I can focus on the Lord. And I’m just saying Satan will use anything. It can be a thousand different things.
Here’s a wonderful thing. We’ve got to hurry along where we’ve done. But Peter, he just said a few words. Just a few words. Would you look back there, Matthew 14? Would you look? I believe it’s verse number 30 or 31. Let’s see here real quickly. It’s verse number 30. Look at that. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink. And he cried, saying, just three words: Lord, save me. I mean, just three words. I’m amazed. Sometimes my littlest, puniest, smallest little prayers, God hears them.
Now, verse number 31, and immediately—he didn’t waste any time—and immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? But immediately. Oh, friend, how many times, how many times, that’s the story of my life. I doubt, I get my eyes off of Jesus, I start living in fear, and it began to sink, and that’s when I cry, “Lord, help me out.” And God in his mercy, he says, “All right.” That’s kind of the story of my life, unfortunately. God’s always there immediately to help you. I mean, when you’re out there and you’re in the middle of the storm because you’re trying to serve God, it’s amazing how he’s just—it’s almost like he’s waiting to help you. He is. Amen. He’s right there to help you.
Here’s a wonderful thing, verse number 32. Verse number 32, we’ll be done there. Would you notice verse number 32? Won’t you notice something there in that verse? And when they were coming to the ship, the wind ceased. Now, God’s got a time, and he might send you through that storm for some amount of time, but you stay faithful, you cry out to him, and in his time, he takes you in the boat, and the wind ceases.
But can I give you the ultimate of that? It’s this place called heaven. All the winds and storms are going to be gone. There’ll be no more winds and no more lightning, no more waves and no more sinking. Hey, we’ll be in the ship and the wind ceases.
Friend, here’s the thing. For a man to walk on water is impossible, and for you to get to heaven is impossible, and go on too, unless your call out on Jesus. You get your eyes off of you doing all these different things to keep you walking on the water, and you say, fully and all that, “Jesus, I’m going to look to you and live.” That’s the way to get to the ship and the wind ceases.
Would you bow your heads and close your eyes? Would you please, friend? We’re here this morning. You say, “Preacher, I need to get my eyes back on Jesus. Just life and problems and my flesh and the devil and all of that—it’s just so easy. All of us do. But I need to get my eyes back on Jesus.” God spoke to my heart about that right there. If that’s you this morning, preacher, I need to get my eyes back on Jesus. That’s you, slip your hand up. Preacher, that’s me. That’s me. I’m with you. I’m with you, friend. I’m with you. All of us, all of us are there from time to time. God bless you. God bless you, many, many hands, many hands.
Maybe you here this morning and say, “Preacher, I need to learn to get my needs met by Jesus. Satan’s so good at getting me looking at the middleman, but I need to get my eyes on Jesus that he’s meeting every one of my needs. And I want to work at that. I want to get all my needs met by Jesus. I’m going to work at that.” Preacher, God spoke to my heart about that right there. If that’s you this morning, you slip your hand up. Preacher, I’m going to work at that. God bless you. God bless you. Me too. Me too. God bless you. It’s an ongoing battle, ongoing battle.
Thank you so much. You can put your hands down. Maybe you here this morning and say, “Preacher, I need to look away from some things, the wind. And I need to put away some things. And I need to on purpose get my eyes off some things.” And God spoke to my heart about that. I’m realizing how Satan may be a certain way, a certain area, a certain tool. And I’m going to do my best to get my eyes off of those things. God spoke to my heart about that. That’s you this morning. You slip your hand up. Preacher, that’s me. That’s me. God bless you. God bless you. We’re all there from time to time. God bless you.
One more question. We’re done. “Preacher, I’m not saved. I’ve never been to Jesus for my salvation. I’ve been looking at the ways I can walk on the water, a way I can get me to heaven. I need to get my eyes off all those ways. I need to look to Jesus and only Jesus. He’s my only way to heaven. And I need to trust in Jesus and Jesus alone to save me.” Preacher, I’m not saved. I’m not saved. I’m not saved. I’m not saved. I’m not saved. I’m not saved. I’m not going to Jesus to be my savior. Anybody like that? I’m not saved. I’m not saved. I’m not going to. Never asked Jesus to be my savior. Anybody like that?
God bless you, friends. Would you please stand? We’re going to have a word of prayer. As soon as I say, amen, if you raise your hand, would you come just spend some time with the Lord? Let’s just get our eyes fully focused on him. Invitations are a great time to do that. Would you do that? Let’s pray and you come.
Lord, thank you. You’re always there in the storm. You’re always there. Help us. Help me to get my eyes on you, Lord. Help us to focus and stay focused on you. Bless our people, Lord. Help us just crawl nigh to you during this time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Would you come? Would you come? As we’re praying, would you come? Would you come? Look unto Jesus. Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let’s just spend some time focusing on Him.
I don’t know for your life. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll tell you, for preachers, for pastors, our temptation is to watch the people. When the crowds are up, we’re doing good. When the crowds are down, we’re doing bad. All the marriages in the church are doing good, we’re happy. When there’s problems, we’re sad. Friend, the only way to walk on the water is get your eyes on Jesus. Get your eyes off all those things. He’s the one that can handle those problems anyway. He builds the church. He puts his marriages back. It’s going to be different for you, but what is the thing for you? Let’s work at getting our eyes and keeping our eyes on Jesus. Would you do so?
Let’s sing another verse. Would you look to Jesus? Would you look to Him?
Hold to Jesus, I surrender humbly at His feet. I bow, worldly pleasures I forsaken. Take me, Jesus, take me, Jesus, Jesus, Savior.
Every person here this morning, you have a need somewhere, and Satan wants you to get your eyes on that need. But I know who could meet the need, and it’s going to be Jesus. And let’s just do our best to get our eyes and keep our eyes on Jesus. Would you do so?
Original File: Lessons on Water Walking - Pastor Paul Chisgar Sunday, 11282021 a.m.