SERMON SUBJECT: Fear, Faith, and the Father

SERMON TEXT: “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:26-27).

SERMON PROPOSITION: “Faith that begins with fear will end up nearer the Father” (Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, pg. 201).

SERMON OBJECTIVE: To show the congregation how to turn their fear into faith and find lasting peace with the Father.

INTRODUCTION: As we think about faith, fear, and the Father, let’s consider…

THE STORM – The word storm, by its very nature, carries with it a fearful connotation. Why? Because storms are destructive. Storms pose a threat to our lives and to our property. They can be devastating. Storms are a threat to all of us because they are unavoidable. This is true both of literal storms, and of storms in our lives.

The disciples were caught in a storm at sea. This storm at sea caused a storm in their lives. The storm would test their faith. The Bible says, that, they were “battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary” (Matt. 14:24).

What do we know about storms? Nature itself is indifferent to man. Storms show no mercy on anyone. Storms are never welcomed. Storms come when we least expect them. A storm broke into my life, and was a threat to everything that was dear to me, on that Monday morning in 1992, when Carolyn awoke me and said, “Benny, I have cancer!” Storms are always contrary. We like the disciples are “battered by the waves,” and the wind is always contrary, when they come into our lives.

What do we know about storms? They almost always produce fear. Remember – the disciples were among the spiritual elite, but they were afraid. The Bible says, they were “frightened” (v. 26). Luke writes, “…they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit” (Luke 24:37).

Storms will not allow us to be passive – By its very nature, a storm will not let us ignore it. All of us will react and respond. The disciples “cried out for fear” (v.26). They cried out in fear because they knew that they could not save themselves. They were at the mercy of a power beyond themselves. So it is with the sinner. The Bible tells us that man is a sinner and cannot save himself. Whether saint, or sinner; however, in the eye of the storm there is…

THE SAVIOR – The disciples “cried out for fear” (v. 26), and “immediately” there was the Savior. In the midst of the storm Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid” (v. 27). Jesus knows that they are afraid – He encourages them to have faith. “Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered – Have faith in God, He cares for His own – Never alone are the least of His children…” The disciples were not alone in their storm. We, too, have His promise. “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” Jesus said. The Psalmist said, “When I am afraid I will trust in the Lord.” There is certainly nothing wrong with this kind of response to our fears.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS KIND OF RESPONSE? “Faith that begins with fear will end up nearer the Father” (Lucado). The story is told of a west Texas family caught in a tornado… the father sensing the danger hurried his children into the house… covered them with a mattress…the father did not join them but stood by the window to watch the funnel… his little boy saw his father standing by the window….struggled from his mother’s arms and hurried to his father. Later the little boy said, “Something told me that the safest place to stand in a storm was next to my father.”
A personal experience… Carrie jumped into my arms when she saw the snake…

During that stormy night at sea, something must have said to Peter, “the safest place to be in a storm is next to the Father.” Hearing the voice of Jesus, and seeing Him through the darkness and as the lightning flashed, Peter made a request. He asked, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to you on the water” (v. 28) In the midst of his fear, it would take faith to get out of the boat and walk to Jesus. It always takes an exercise of faith to get from where you are to where Jesus is. Our faith is not tested when everything is calm. Our faith is tested in the storm.

WHAT ARE THE HINDERANCES TO A FAITH RESPONSE? You see, even though the storm is raging, sometimes it is easier to stay in the boat. There is some security in the boat – even though it is a false security. The moment Jesus says “Come” (v. 29) as He did to Peter, immediately the hinderances come also. Someone has said, “Some of us like Peter, never look back. Others of us, like Peter, feel the wind and are afraid.”

1. There is the wind of pride. The wind of pride says, “I’m not such a bad sinner after all. Look at what I can do.” “I will stay in the boat and take my chances.”

2. There is also the wind of legalism – Legalism says, “I know that Jesus is doing part of this, but I have to do the rest.” “Therefore, I will stay in the boat and keep rowing and bailing the water out.” “I know Jesus can save me, but He needs me to help Him.”

3. Then there is the wind of doubt – Doubt says, “I’m too bad for God to treat me this well. I don’t deserve such a rescue.” “I will just stay in the boat.” All of the above must face some tough decisions in light of their fears. The prideful person must ask: “Do I save face and drown in pride? Or do I scream for help and take God’s hand?” The legalists must ask: “Do I sink under the lead-weight of the law? Or do I abandon the codes and beg for grace?” The doubters must ask: “Do I nurture doubt by mumbling, “I’ve really let Him down this time?” or do I hope that the same Christ who called me out of the boat will call me out of the sea?”

Peter counted the cost and stepped out of the boat on faith. Not faith in faith, but faith in the Living Lord. Faith that began with fear for Him led him nearer to the Father.

If we have enough faith in Him to get out of the boat, even though we become frightened along the way, the end result will be the same. We will end up nearer the Father. The Bible says, “Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of Him” (v. 30). The Savior is waiting for you to get out of the boat and take His hand, “Put your hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee.”

We have experienced the storm, encountered the Savior, and now let us see…

THE STILLNESS – The Bible says, “And when they got into the boat, the wind stopped” (v. 32). A stillness followed the storm. During another storm at sea, Jesus simply spoke these words “Peace be still.” Peace means calmness/tranquility. The root meaning of peace means “completeness/wholeness.” The questions I would ask you are these: “Is there a storm raging in your life? Or could your life be characterized by calmness, tranquility, completeness and wholeness?” The Bible speaks of being at peace in at least three areas. They are:

Peace with God – This is spiritual peace. Are you at peace with God? Peace like Peter experienced after the storm? Peace with God comes through faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This is the only way we have peace with God. Why? “…He is our peace” according to Ephesians 2:14.

Peace with Ourselves – This is psychological peace. Are you at peace with yourself? The greatest interruption to our personal peace is guilt. Guilt which comes as a result of unconfessed sin. Guilt in turn produces fear. Fear of being caught. Our hospitals are filled with individuals who are not at peace with themselves. The Psalmist tells us to have peace with ourselves, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Psalms 34:14).

Peace with others – or what we might call relational peace. How is your relationship with others? Divorcee, what about the spouse with whom you once shared a relationship? Parent, what about your children? Church member, what about a former friend? To all of us, are we at peace with others? If not, Jesus can calm to storm. Peace comes with forgiveness.

The Bible admonishes us “to live peaceably with all men where it is possible.”

“For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity” (Ephesians 2:14-16).

CONCLUSION: If there is a storm in your life, cry out to the Savior, and discover the stillness which only He can bring.