In Times of Distress
John 6:10 - 15 (NKJV) 10Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
They would make Him be King
People who want to use God
ILL: The multitude saw Jesus feed them all with a boy’s lunch and after they were full they wanted to make Him Lord!
God wants you to prosper
3 John 1:2 - 4 (NKJV) 2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Deuteronomy 8:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. 2And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 4Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. 5You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you. 6“Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. 7For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; 9a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
God “allowed them to hunger
God produced “manna” from the heavens and rained food on them
God brought them into prosperity where – they could plant wheat and barley, vines and fig trees and they could did iron and copper.
God wants you to prosper but not to use Him!
ILL: I had a friend, he is in heaven now, but he taught me many lesions. Chub use to invite me to travel with him, sometimes far distances, to speaking engagements. He always paid the bills. But on one trip, when I was bringing my wife Mary and my son, Dennis, with me, suddenly he said, “this trip is on you – you will pay for all the expenses!” I nearly panicked. I had less then one hundred dollars on me and we were going from North Carolina to Dallas Texas. I used my credit card and paid for the trip smiling on the while. When we returned he asked me if everything was all right. I assured him that it was while I was wondering how I was ever going to pay the bill. Then he asked me to minister in his place and gave me a check for several thousand dollars as an honorarium. As he handed me the check he said laughing, “Paul this will help your credit card but I wanted you to understand that you should not presume on me.” Chub was right – neither should we presume on God. We do not make Jesus Lord and King for the bread, or the healing, or even for salvation – we surrender ourselves to His Lordship because we love Him!
Jesus sent His disciples out into the dark and in the path of the storm
John 6:16 - 21 (NKJV) 16Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Matthew 14:22 - 27 (NKJV) 22Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
The men were distressed
They had been rowing over four hours
They were still in the middle of the sea
Where was Jesus? On the top of a mountain, under the passel moon, watching the scene below!
What Jesus wanted them to learn!
Even a disciple will have tribulation
John 16:31 - 33 (NKJV) 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. 33These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 4:12 - 16 (NKJV) 12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
B. The Power of the Word
Psalms 112:1 - 10 (NKJV) 1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches will be in his house, And his righteousness endures forever. 4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 5 A good man deals graciously and lends; He will guide his affairs with discretion. 6 Surely he will never be shaken; The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. 8 His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies. 9 He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor. 10 The wicked will see it and be grieved; He will gnash his teeth and melt away; The desire of the wicked shall perish.
He will not be shaken
He will not be afraid of evil tidings
His heart is steadfast – trusting in the Lord
His heart is established
He will not be afraid
C.The Power of His Peace
ILL: “What did Jesus say to them in the midst of the storm? “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
John 14:25 - 28 (NKJV) 25“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Hold on to His peace in the middle of the storm
Psalms 34:13 - 14 (NKJV) 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
Satan will try to get your peace so he can destroy the power of Christ’s Word
Mark 4:14 - 15 (NKJV) 14The sower sows the word. 15And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
ILL: They sat with the multitude heard the Word of God and ate miracle food – Satan is using the fear within the storm to take away the word.
Satan will use your emotions to destroy the power of Christ’s Word that’s why Christ said “fear not!”
James 1:2 - 8 (NKJV) 2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
The Power of Patience
ILL: Jesus could have come several hours earlier – but He did not! He usually does not come till the last moment!
Mary and I had moved from our new home, a house we built, to start college and my study for the ministry. The house we lived in was small and the heating stove blackened the walls with suet. The rent was due and the landlord collected on the first day of the month in the morning. He walked down the row of houses he owned and if you didn’t have the money – out you went! I didn’t have the money! As the landlord came to the walkway leading to our place the mailman stopped and went around him. “Is your legal name, ‘Cleveland Paul Willis Jr?” he asked. “Yes” I replied. “Then sign here” he answered. As the mailman left the landlord looked at me for his money. “May I borrow a pen?” I asked him. I opened the check, signed it and handed it to the landlord. He looked at the check and then at me. “How did you do that?” he asked. The check was a return on a GI insurance payment made four years before. I smiled and answered, “Jesus!”
Past victories help you in present troubles.
Hebrews 10:32 - 36 (NKJV) 32But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
ILL: I went into Dr. Brown’s office. “Sir,” I told him “I just don’t know how I can finish my course. I’m taking sixteen college credit hours of courses, I’m pasturing Harmony Baptist Church and its all in disarray, we are in the middle of building a new sanctuary with no contractor and I am having to do the work, I’m having a hard time supporting my three children and my wife, Mary, is not supportive of the ministry in fact she is fighting it.” “Sounds like you have a lion by the tail,” the professor and mentor replied. “Good! God is getting you strong so you can fight the bear – and when you handle him you will find a serpent behind the door but you will be able by then to handle him!” What I did not know was that Dr. Brown was referring to the prophet Amos.
Amos 5:19 (NKJV) 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him!
Peter was going to meet a greater challenge than the storm!
John is telling the story because he wants us to have faith in the Sovereignty of God
He told us the story of Jesus turning water into wine when it was needed at the wedding
He told us the story of Jesus healing the rulers son without going to the ruler
He told us the story of the woman at the well and that how Jesus knew all things she did
He told us the story of the healing of one man and the well of Bethesda
He told us the story of Jesus feeding the multitude
Now he tells us the story of Jesus walking on the water in the middle of the night during a storm
Conclusion: Jesus is Emanuel – He is God – And He is in charge of history and of your life!
Matthew 10:27 - 33 (NKJV) 27“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
A sparrow cannot fall to the ground apart from God’s will
God knows and counts the hairs on my head
If I confess Jesus before men He will confess me before the Father – SO THERE!
John 6:20 - 29 (NKJV) 20But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. 22On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” 26Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” 28Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Jesus got in the boat and immediately the boat was at the land
When the multitude came they could not understand how He got there
This is the work I can do for God – Believe Jesus!
God is in Control – “But Pastor it doesn’t look like it – see the storm”
God is in Control – “But what about my situation?”
God is in Control – “But you don’t know what happened last week”
God is in Control – “But the doctor said”
God is in Control – “But they cut off my-“
God is in Control – “But I don’t have”
God is in Control – “But the devil”
God is in Control – “But they said”
GOD IS IN CONTROL!
