1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,100 You’re listening to a sermon by Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,100 –> 00:00:16,600 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN365 or visit our website openthebible.org. 3 00:00:16,600 –> 00:00:17,760 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,760 –> 00:00:18,860 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:18,860 –> 00:00:24,240 Please open your Bible at the passage that’s been read for us. 6 00:00:24,240 –> 00:00:29,379 Matthew 14 as we continue our series in the life of Peter. 7 00:00:30,360 –> 00:00:38,520 In the seven short days that have passed since we started this series the focus of the world’s 8 00:00:38,520 –> 00:00:48,919 attention has moved from the worldwide pandemic to a new threat to the world’s peace. 9 00:00:48,919 –> 00:00:59,000 And God’s Word always speaks to the realities of our day, and to me it therefore is very 10 00:00:59,000 –> 00:01:07,699 wonderful that today we come to a story that is about an unexpected storm. 11 00:01:07,699 –> 00:01:14,379 It’s a story about how the disciples of Jesus were suddenly, unexpectedly plunged into an 12 00:01:14,379 –> 00:01:22,000 entirely new situation in which their faith was tested in new ways. 13 00:01:22,000 –> 00:01:28,239 And these are days clearly in which all of us need to be strong in faith. 14 00:01:28,279 –> 00:01:31,800 But what does it look like to exercise faith in a storm? 15 00:01:31,800 –> 00:01:37,779 That’s the question that is before us with our Bibles open today. 16 00:01:37,779 –> 00:01:43,639 Now, there are two miracles in this story. 17 00:01:43,639 –> 00:01:50,239 In the first, Jesus walks on the water to reach the disciples. 18 00:01:50,239 –> 00:01:56,480 And in second, Peter walks on the water to reach Jesus. 19 00:01:56,660 –> 00:02:00,860 And these two miracles point us to two marvelous truths. 20 00:02:00,860 –> 00:02:05,320 First, that Jesus rules over the storm. 21 00:02:05,320 –> 00:02:11,779 And second, that one day we will share in his rule. 22 00:02:11,779 –> 00:02:13,080 The Bible makes it very clear 23 00:02:13,080 –> 00:02:16,600 that God has made us for this purpose. 24 00:02:16,600 –> 00:02:18,639 Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 6. 25 00:02:18,639 –> 00:02:19,839 What is man? 26 00:02:19,839 –> 00:02:23,699 So here is a statement about human beings, 27 00:02:23,699 –> 00:02:25,639 the purpose for which God made us. 28 00:02:25,639 –> 00:02:28,639 God is man that you are mindful of Him, 29 00:02:28,639 –> 00:02:31,580 or the Son of Man, that you care for Him. 30 00:02:31,580 –> 00:02:35,220 You made Him for a little while lower than the angels. 31 00:02:35,220 –> 00:02:39,100 You have crowned Him with glory and honor, 32 00:02:39,100 –> 00:02:43,259 putting everything in subjection under His feet. 33 00:02:43,259 –> 00:02:45,460 So you see what this is saying. 34 00:02:45,460 –> 00:02:49,860 We were made to rule over creation. 35 00:02:49,860 –> 00:02:53,240 The purpose of God was that all storms 36 00:02:54,100 –> 00:02:58,080 and all evil and all sickness, 37 00:02:58,080 –> 00:03:01,779 and even death itself would be under our feet, 38 00:03:03,020 –> 00:03:05,160 but we fell. 39 00:03:05,160 –> 00:03:07,300 And in reaching to become more, 40 00:03:07,300 –> 00:03:09,360 we actually became less, 41 00:03:09,360 –> 00:03:12,740 in attempting to take the place that belongs to God, 42 00:03:12,740 –> 00:03:17,399 we actually lost the place that God had given to us. 43 00:03:17,399 –> 00:03:19,240 And that’s why, in Hebrews, Chapter 2, 44 00:03:19,300 –> 00:03:20,119 and it continues, 45 00:03:20,119 –> 00:03:24,740 at present, we do not yet see everything 46 00:03:24,740 –> 00:03:27,679 in subjection to Him. 47 00:03:27,679 –> 00:03:31,020 In other words, we no longer rule over creation, 48 00:03:31,020 –> 00:03:34,699 instead we have become subject to its powers, 49 00:03:34,699 –> 00:03:38,240 the hurricane, the mudslide, 50 00:03:39,240 –> 00:03:42,679 the wildfire, the flood, 51 00:03:43,679 –> 00:03:48,380 the entire world struggling to gain control 52 00:03:48,380 –> 00:03:50,779 over a virus. 53 00:03:50,779 –> 00:03:57,160 And now the world fearing a new threat of war. 54 00:03:58,259 –> 00:04:02,139 So the destructive powers of pride and of greed 55 00:04:02,139 –> 00:04:04,619 and of hatred and of violence, 56 00:04:04,619 –> 00:04:07,740 they are not yet under our feet. 57 00:04:08,600 –> 00:04:10,740 We try to overcome them, 58 00:04:10,740 –> 00:04:14,539 and by God’s grace, we do have some success. 59 00:04:14,539 –> 00:04:16,899 But the dark powers are always present, 60 00:04:16,899 –> 00:04:19,940 they break out in unexpected ways. 61 00:04:19,940 –> 00:04:22,519 They are not yet subject to us, 62 00:04:22,519 –> 00:04:25,459 they are not yet under our feet. 63 00:04:26,380 –> 00:04:28,700 But I want you to notice the real hope 64 00:04:28,700 –> 00:04:30,619 that is in this verse. 65 00:04:30,619 –> 00:04:31,440 It says, 66 00:04:31,440 –> 00:04:38,559 at present, we do not yet see everything subject to him. 67 00:04:39,100 –> 00:04:43,859 And that not yet of course holds a marvelous promise. 68 00:04:43,859 –> 00:04:48,859 The world will not always be as it is today, 69 00:04:49,380 –> 00:04:53,640 God has promised that there will be a glorious new world 70 00:04:53,640 –> 00:04:55,980 in which his redeemed people 71 00:04:55,980 –> 00:04:59,799 will reign with him forever and ever. 72 00:05:00,859 –> 00:05:05,480 But that day has not yet come. 73 00:05:05,480 –> 00:05:07,679 So the question that we are faced with 74 00:05:07,679 –> 00:05:10,899 in the realities of this world in which we live 75 00:05:10,899 –> 00:05:12,459 is what does it look like 76 00:05:12,500 –> 00:05:15,260 to live with faith in Jesus 77 00:05:15,260 –> 00:05:18,820 when we are surrounded by a storm? 78 00:05:18,820 –> 00:05:22,299 And that is the question that is before us today, 79 00:05:22,299 –> 00:05:24,100 and I want to give four answers 80 00:05:24,100 –> 00:05:27,399 from the story to that question. 81 00:05:27,399 –> 00:05:29,260 And the first is simply this, 82 00:05:29,260 –> 00:05:34,260 that faith is tested when we feel the absence of Jesus. 83 00:05:36,019 –> 00:05:41,019 Faith is tested when we feel the absence of Jesus. 84 00:05:43,339 –> 00:05:45,640 Look at verse 23. 85 00:05:45,640 –> 00:05:50,380 When evening came, He, that is Jesus, was there alone. 86 00:05:51,980 –> 00:05:56,959 But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, 87 00:05:58,019 –> 00:06:03,019 beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 88 00:06:04,859 –> 00:06:05,980 Now, if you look in your Bible, 89 00:06:05,980 –> 00:06:08,540 you will see that the story that we’re looking at today 90 00:06:08,980 –> 00:06:13,579 immediately after, Jesus fed 5,000 people 91 00:06:13,579 –> 00:06:18,579 by multiplying five loaves and two fish in His hands. 92 00:06:18,679 –> 00:06:23,540 And when the crowd saw what Jesus could do, 93 00:06:23,540 –> 00:06:27,980 John tells us that they wanted to take Jesus by force 94 00:06:27,980 –> 00:06:29,760 and to make Him king. 95 00:06:30,739 –> 00:06:35,739 And no doubt the disciples would have liked that idea, 96 00:06:35,940 –> 00:06:39,920 and to keep them from this temptation, 97 00:06:39,920 –> 00:06:41,640 Jesus, verse 22, 98 00:06:41,640 –> 00:06:45,640 immediately made the disciples get into the boat 99 00:06:45,640 –> 00:06:47,739 to go before Him to the other side 100 00:06:47,739 –> 00:06:49,839 while he dismissed the crowds. 101 00:06:49,839 –> 00:06:52,880 Normally, Jesus would have left the disciples 102 00:06:52,880 –> 00:06:55,040 to dismiss the crowd, but on this occasion 103 00:06:55,040 –> 00:06:58,760 because of the particular temptation, no doubt, 104 00:06:58,760 –> 00:07:00,859 that the disciples would be caught up 105 00:07:00,859 –> 00:07:03,559 in this surge of the crowd 106 00:07:03,600 –> 00:07:06,980 who wanted to take Jesus by force and to make Him king. 107 00:07:06,980 –> 00:07:08,179 Jesus says to them, in effect, 108 00:07:08,179 –> 00:07:10,040 now, you get out of here fast. 109 00:07:10,040 –> 00:07:12,679 And He makes them get into the boat. 110 00:07:12,679 –> 00:07:15,119 And so off they go to cross the lake 111 00:07:15,119 –> 00:07:17,279 while Jesus, verse 23, 112 00:07:17,279 –> 00:07:21,500 goes up on the mountain alone to pray. 113 00:07:22,359 –> 00:07:25,559 So the disciples then clearly would not have expected 114 00:07:25,559 –> 00:07:27,940 to face a storm on this night. 115 00:07:27,940 –> 00:07:31,040 After all, Jesus had made them get into the boat. 116 00:07:31,040 –> 00:07:31,959 They didn’t want to go. 117 00:07:31,959 –> 00:07:32,799 They didn’t. 118 00:07:32,820 –> 00:07:34,519 It wasn’t their choice to go. 119 00:07:34,519 –> 00:07:39,399 They went simply out of obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ. 120 00:07:41,000 –> 00:07:46,000 Now, the gospels tell us about two different storms 121 00:07:46,959 –> 00:07:50,260 that most likely occurred in the same year. 122 00:07:51,359 –> 00:07:56,359 In the first, Jesus was in the boat with the disciples. 123 00:07:56,679 –> 00:07:58,059 You’ll remember this story. 124 00:07:58,100 –> 00:08:01,940 Jesus in the boat, and He falls asleep, 125 00:08:01,940 –> 00:08:06,160 and a storm blows up, and the Disciples waken Jesus, 126 00:08:06,160 –> 00:08:08,899 and they say, save us Lord, because we are perishing. 127 00:08:08,899 –> 00:08:11,359 And Jesus then stood up in the boat, 128 00:08:11,359 –> 00:08:14,959 and He rebuked the wind and the waves, 129 00:08:14,959 –> 00:08:17,660 the peace be still, He said, 130 00:08:17,660 –> 00:08:20,420 and when He spoke, the winds ceased, 131 00:08:20,420 –> 00:08:22,940 and there was a great calm. 132 00:08:22,940 –> 00:08:25,459 Now, this second story about a storm 133 00:08:25,459 –> 00:08:26,920 that we are looking at today, 134 00:08:26,920 –> 00:08:29,679 is quite different for the very obvious reason 135 00:08:29,679 –> 00:08:34,400 that Jesus was not in the boat with the Disciples. 136 00:08:36,500 –> 00:08:41,500 Now, Jesus has promised that He is with us always. 137 00:08:43,320 –> 00:08:46,400 He has said I will never leave you. 138 00:08:47,400 –> 00:08:49,960 And I will never forsake you. 139 00:08:51,400 –> 00:08:55,900 But is there anyone in this congregation today, 140 00:08:55,900 –> 00:08:58,599 who would dispute the reality 141 00:08:58,599 –> 00:09:03,000 that sometimes it is part of our Christian experience 142 00:09:03,000 –> 00:09:07,599 that Jesus Christ seems to be far away. 143 00:09:08,400 –> 00:09:13,400 And that was exactly the experience of the Disciples here. 144 00:09:13,799 –> 00:09:18,799 A storm blew up and Jesus was not in the boat. 145 00:09:20,140 –> 00:09:25,140 Matthew recorded, verse 24, that the wind was against them, 146 00:09:25,280 –> 00:09:30,239 that the waves were beating against the boat. 147 00:09:30,239 –> 00:09:32,099 Mark tells us in his account 148 00:09:32,099 –> 00:09:36,179 that the Disciples were straining at the oars. 149 00:09:37,059 –> 00:09:38,820 They were giving it everything they had got 150 00:09:38,820 –> 00:09:41,619 and they were making very, very little progress 151 00:09:41,619 –> 00:09:43,820 in the storm. 152 00:09:43,820 –> 00:09:48,820 John tells us that they had traveled three or four miles. 153 00:09:48,859 –> 00:09:51,179 Well, the lake is about seven miles across, 154 00:09:51,179 –> 00:09:52,859 so that means they were right in the middle. 155 00:09:52,859 –> 00:09:54,419 They were stuck in the middle. 156 00:09:55,280 –> 00:09:56,659 And they’re making no progress. 157 00:09:56,659 –> 00:09:59,020 They’re barely holding their own. 158 00:09:59,020 –> 00:10:00,500 The wind is against them. 159 00:10:01,599 –> 00:10:04,080 And this storm just kept raging. 160 00:10:05,000 –> 00:10:09,280 We know from verse 23 that they left before evening 161 00:10:10,539 –> 00:10:12,400 and that they were still on the water, 162 00:10:12,400 –> 00:10:15,400 verse 25, in the fourth watch of the night. 163 00:10:15,400 –> 00:10:17,419 Well, that’s between three o’clock in the morning 164 00:10:17,419 –> 00:10:18,979 and six o’clock in the morning. 165 00:10:18,979 –> 00:10:22,580 So, all night they’re straining at the oars in the darkness 166 00:10:22,580 –> 00:10:25,239 with the wind and the waves against them. 167 00:10:26,200 –> 00:10:28,940 Some storms pass quickly. 168 00:10:30,400 –> 00:10:32,799 But this one just kept going. 169 00:10:33,940 –> 00:10:36,419 Hour after hour after hour. 170 00:10:36,419 –> 00:10:38,320 And they’re straining at the oars. 171 00:10:38,320 –> 00:10:40,760 They’re becoming more and more tired. 172 00:10:40,760 –> 00:10:42,599 And they’re no further forward. 173 00:10:42,599 –> 00:10:44,200 And the question, obviously, 174 00:10:44,200 –> 00:10:48,020 is how much longer can we keep this up? 175 00:10:49,320 –> 00:10:52,239 And perhaps you know what this is like. 176 00:10:52,239 –> 00:10:54,640 You can immediately relate to this story 177 00:10:54,640 –> 00:10:56,599 in your own experience. 178 00:10:56,599 –> 00:11:01,599 A storm blows up in your life and the wind is against you. 179 00:11:03,760 –> 00:11:05,580 And you’re straining at the oars. 180 00:11:05,580 –> 00:11:08,799 And Jesus seems far away. 181 00:11:09,780 –> 00:11:12,440 And your faith is tested 182 00:11:14,280 –> 00:11:17,599 when you are not feeling the presence of Jesus. 183 00:11:18,419 –> 00:11:22,119 That’s where the disciples were. 184 00:11:23,380 –> 00:11:25,359 Now, then we read verse 25 185 00:11:25,359 –> 00:11:28,020 that in the fourth watch of the night, 186 00:11:28,020 –> 00:11:33,020 he, that is Jesus, came to them walking on the sea. 187 00:11:35,900 –> 00:11:38,340 Now, let’s pause and try and take this in. 188 00:11:39,559 –> 00:11:44,559 There was no obvious way for Jesus to get to the disciples. 189 00:11:45,239 –> 00:11:47,820 Think of it, Jesus is on the land, 190 00:11:48,760 –> 00:11:50,559 the disciples are on the water. 191 00:11:51,640 –> 00:11:53,239 John tells us specifically 192 00:11:53,239 –> 00:11:57,039 that there was no other boat in the harbor. 193 00:11:57,039 –> 00:11:59,979 So, how could Jesus reach them? 194 00:12:01,659 –> 00:12:05,039 And I can imagine the disciples in the boat saying, 195 00:12:05,880 –> 00:12:10,659 well, if Jesus was with us here, he could rebuke the storm, 196 00:12:10,659 –> 00:12:13,960 but boys, we’re on our own in this one 197 00:12:14,020 –> 00:12:16,140 because Jesus can’t reach us here. 198 00:12:18,299 –> 00:12:20,780 But do you see what the story is telling us? 199 00:12:21,739 –> 00:12:26,500 That the storm cannot keep Jesus from his disciples. 200 00:12:27,520 –> 00:12:29,320 In the fourth watch of the night, 201 00:12:29,320 –> 00:12:34,320 he came to them walking on the sea. 202 00:12:35,979 –> 00:12:39,580 Friends, the Lord Jesus Christ draws near to us 203 00:12:39,580 –> 00:12:42,239 when we need him most. 204 00:12:42,239 –> 00:12:44,479 And this story is telling us 205 00:12:44,479 –> 00:12:48,299 that there is no place, however dark, 206 00:12:48,299 –> 00:12:51,900 where Jesus Christ cannot reach you. 207 00:12:53,119 –> 00:12:54,960 Now, your faith will be tested. 208 00:12:55,900 –> 00:12:59,859 You will come to some dark and scary places in your life. 209 00:13:00,820 –> 00:13:03,700 There may be times when the Lord Jesus Christ 210 00:13:03,700 –> 00:13:06,940 seems to be far away, 211 00:13:06,940 –> 00:13:10,140 but no storm, however great, 212 00:13:10,179 –> 00:13:15,140 can ever keep the Lord Jesus Christ away from you. 213 00:13:16,239 –> 00:13:20,940 Nothing can ever separate us 214 00:13:20,940 –> 00:13:22,700 from the love of God 215 00:13:23,599 –> 00:13:27,380 that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 216 00:13:27,380 –> 00:13:28,659 Amen? 217 00:13:28,659 –> 00:13:29,500 Amen. 218 00:13:30,619 –> 00:13:31,780 Now, I want you to notice 219 00:13:31,780 –> 00:13:36,780 that the disciples did not recognize Jesus when he came. 220 00:13:36,880 –> 00:13:38,460 When he came. 221 00:13:38,460 –> 00:13:39,700 Verse 26. 222 00:13:40,700 –> 00:13:44,960 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, 223 00:13:44,960 –> 00:13:47,599 they were terrified, and said, 224 00:13:47,599 –> 00:13:49,119 it is a ghost! 225 00:13:50,099 –> 00:13:52,559 And they cried out in fear. 226 00:13:53,780 –> 00:13:55,599 Now, you see what is happening here, 227 00:13:55,599 –> 00:13:58,739 and you will know this experience. 228 00:13:59,679 –> 00:14:04,679 The disciples felt that they were in the presence of evil. 229 00:14:04,900 –> 00:14:08,679 They felt that evil was all around them. 230 00:14:08,679 –> 00:14:09,960 Pressing in. 231 00:14:11,179 –> 00:14:12,359 It was dark. 232 00:14:13,219 –> 00:14:14,799 The wind was howling. 233 00:14:15,880 –> 00:14:19,159 The waves were beating against the boat. 234 00:14:19,159 –> 00:14:23,380 And when the light of the presence of Jesus drew near, 235 00:14:23,380 –> 00:14:26,700 they thought they seeing a ghost. 236 00:14:28,280 –> 00:14:32,080 And maybe you have felt this kind of fear even this week. 237 00:14:32,960 –> 00:14:35,919 Evil powers have been unleashed. 238 00:14:37,380 –> 00:14:40,359 The world is a dark and hostile place. 239 00:14:40,359 –> 00:14:42,200 It’s frightening and you wonder, 240 00:14:42,200 –> 00:14:45,359 where is Jesus in all this? 241 00:14:47,119 –> 00:14:49,320 It’s very wonderful that the Bible speaks 242 00:14:49,320 –> 00:14:53,299 so clearly and repeatedly to the reality of fear 243 00:14:53,299 –> 00:14:55,280 in the life of a believer. 244 00:14:55,280 –> 00:14:59,880 Here we read that the disciples were terrified 245 00:15:00,080 –> 00:15:03,260 and that they cried out in fear, verse 26. 246 00:15:03,260 –> 00:15:06,760 Now remember, these men are believers. 247 00:15:06,760 –> 00:15:09,940 They are authentic disciples. 248 00:15:11,119 –> 00:15:15,099 So what that means is that the presence of fear 249 00:15:15,099 –> 00:15:19,159 is not an indicator of the absence of faith. 250 00:15:20,659 –> 00:15:23,539 I have many conversations in which someone has said, 251 00:15:23,539 –> 00:15:26,200 pastor I feel great fear sometimes. 252 00:15:26,200 –> 00:15:28,400 Does that mean that I do not have any faith, 253 00:15:28,400 –> 00:15:29,679 that my faith is not genuine, 254 00:15:30,479 –> 00:15:32,320 that I’m not really a Christian or not truly a believer? 255 00:15:32,320 –> 00:15:35,820 No, the presence of fear does not mean 256 00:15:36,760 –> 00:15:39,500 the absence of faith. 257 00:15:39,500 –> 00:15:42,140 The faith of these disciples was tested 258 00:15:42,140 –> 00:15:44,320 and it was tested when they felt 259 00:15:44,320 –> 00:15:46,799 that Jesus seemed far away. 260 00:15:46,799 –> 00:15:49,260 But what we’re learning from this story 261 00:15:49,260 –> 00:15:51,799 is that though they felt surrounded by evil 262 00:15:51,799 –> 00:15:53,020 and by great darkness, 263 00:15:53,020 –> 00:15:56,020 Jesus had not abandoned his disciples 264 00:15:56,020 –> 00:15:57,840 to dark and evil powers. 265 00:15:57,859 –> 00:16:01,380 Immediately Jesus spoke to them, verse 27, saying, 266 00:16:09,380 –> 00:16:10,219 See here are the disciples. 267 00:16:10,219 –> 00:16:11,979 They think that Jesus is far from them. 268 00:16:13,179 –> 00:16:16,619 Up on a mountain somewhere on his own praying. 269 00:16:17,599 –> 00:16:19,780 They thought that the only thing that was near, 270 00:16:19,780 –> 00:16:21,640 the only thing that was pressing around them 271 00:16:21,640 –> 00:16:24,539 was great, great evil and darkness, 272 00:16:24,539 –> 00:16:28,359 but Jesus is near even when we think he is not. 273 00:16:30,659 –> 00:16:35,659 They feared that the night was ruled 274 00:16:35,700 –> 00:16:38,940 by dark and sinister forces. 275 00:16:39,919 –> 00:16:44,520 What they discovered was that Jesus rules the night 276 00:16:44,520 –> 00:16:46,260 as well as the day. 277 00:16:47,320 –> 00:16:52,179 And Jesus rules the storm as well as the calm. 278 00:16:52,840 –> 00:16:55,260 And friends, these are days when our faith 279 00:16:55,260 –> 00:16:58,059 is and will be tested. 280 00:16:58,059 –> 00:17:00,840 Remember this, Jesus rules the night 281 00:17:00,840 –> 00:17:02,719 as well as the day. 282 00:17:02,719 –> 00:17:07,719 And Jesus rules in the storm as well as in the calm. 283 00:17:08,459 –> 00:17:12,939 There is no place, however dark 284 00:17:12,939 –> 00:17:17,180 where Jesus Christ cannot reach you. 285 00:17:18,099 –> 00:17:21,459 Take heart, it is I 286 00:17:22,859 –> 00:17:24,560 do not be afraid. 287 00:17:25,599 –> 00:17:30,599 You are never beyond the reach of Jesus. 288 00:17:32,060 –> 00:17:34,040 Now, that’s the first thing, that faith is tested. 289 00:17:34,040 –> 00:17:35,599 We all know that experience, 290 00:17:35,599 –> 00:17:36,880 and it’s right here in the Bible, 291 00:17:36,880 –> 00:17:41,880 faith is tested when we feel the absence of Jesus. 292 00:17:43,160 –> 00:17:45,479 Here’s the second thing that we learn 293 00:17:45,479 –> 00:17:47,000 from this remarkable story. 294 00:17:47,000 –> 00:17:51,239 We’re looking at what it is to live with faith 295 00:17:51,280 –> 00:17:53,640 in an unexpected storm, 296 00:17:53,640 –> 00:17:55,160 and I want you to see from this story 297 00:17:55,160 –> 00:17:59,280 that faith ventures at the command of Jesus. 298 00:17:59,280 –> 00:18:04,040 Faith ventures at the command of Jesus. 299 00:18:04,040 –> 00:18:06,459 And Peter answered him, verse 28, 300 00:18:06,459 –> 00:18:09,339 “‘Lord, if it is you, 301 00:18:10,260 –> 00:18:15,260 “‘command me to come to you on the water.’” 302 00:18:16,959 –> 00:18:20,359 Now, I have tried to ask myself 303 00:18:20,359 –> 00:18:23,180 this question honestly during the week. 304 00:18:23,180 –> 00:18:25,319 Would I have said that? 305 00:18:26,520 –> 00:18:29,479 And I have to admit, I’ve come to the conclusion 306 00:18:29,479 –> 00:18:31,900 that I don’t think I would. 307 00:18:31,900 –> 00:18:35,040 I think what I would have said is, 308 00:18:35,040 –> 00:18:38,479 Lord, if it is you, 309 00:18:39,400 –> 00:18:42,300 come into the boat, come the storm, 310 00:18:42,300 –> 00:18:45,380 and please get us as quickly as possible back to the shore. 311 00:18:46,540 –> 00:18:48,520 And maybe you think that’s what you would have said, too. 312 00:18:48,520 –> 00:18:51,060 I think that’s the most natural thing to say here. 313 00:18:52,099 –> 00:18:54,199 When we face a storm or a trial, 314 00:18:54,199 –> 00:18:57,959 the natural reaction is always when will this be over. 315 00:18:59,099 –> 00:19:00,280 When will it be done? 316 00:19:01,339 –> 00:19:02,660 When can I get back 317 00:19:02,660 –> 00:19:04,660 to living the life that I want to live? 318 00:19:04,660 –> 00:19:08,939 Lord, calm the storm and get me out of here. 319 00:19:08,939 –> 00:19:10,880 That’s our instinctive reaction. 320 00:19:11,920 –> 00:19:16,920 But I love Peter in what he says here, 321 00:19:17,219 –> 00:19:19,020 because he says something entirely different. 322 00:19:19,020 –> 00:19:21,160 He says, Lord, if it is you, 323 00:19:21,160 –> 00:19:24,520 command me to come to you on the water. 324 00:19:24,520 –> 00:19:27,300 You see, instead of simply wishing 325 00:19:27,300 –> 00:19:29,520 that the storm would cease, 326 00:19:29,520 –> 00:19:33,199 Peter reckons that this is the perfect opportunity 327 00:19:33,199 –> 00:19:37,020 for a new and bold venture of faith. 328 00:19:38,859 –> 00:19:43,760 Faith ventures at the command of Jesus. 329 00:19:44,520 –> 00:19:48,119 So here’s a good question to ask yourself 330 00:19:48,119 –> 00:19:50,619 every time you find yourself in a storm. 331 00:19:50,619 –> 00:19:53,839 What opportunity is there here for me 332 00:19:53,839 –> 00:19:56,280 to take a new venture of faith? 333 00:19:59,560 –> 00:20:04,319 Now what are we to make of Peter walking on the water? 334 00:20:05,400 –> 00:20:07,359 Well, I think the first thing to say 335 00:20:07,359 –> 00:20:09,400 is that this part of the story 336 00:20:09,400 –> 00:20:13,479 should have one of these do not try this yourself 337 00:20:14,160 –> 00:20:17,939 warnings attached to it. 338 00:20:17,939 –> 00:20:21,520 You know, if you try getting out of a boat 339 00:20:21,520 –> 00:20:24,000 in the middle of a lake by faith, 340 00:20:24,000 –> 00:20:27,520 then it will not lead to you walking on the water. 341 00:20:27,520 –> 00:20:29,560 And it is important to make this observation 342 00:20:29,560 –> 00:20:33,040 that faith is not foolhardiness. 343 00:20:34,459 –> 00:20:39,459 Remember that the devil tempted Jesus 344 00:20:39,819 –> 00:20:44,459 to fling himself down from the pinnacle of the temple 345 00:20:44,459 –> 00:20:48,219 on the basis, he said, that the angels will bear you up. 346 00:20:48,219 –> 00:20:49,199 You won’t be hurt at all. 347 00:20:49,199 –> 00:20:50,500 The angels will bear you up. 348 00:20:50,500 –> 00:20:51,540 And Jesus said, 349 00:20:51,540 –> 00:20:55,939 “‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 350 00:20:57,500 –> 00:21:00,660 So you see, faith is not believing 351 00:21:00,660 –> 00:21:03,579 that anything is possible if only you believe it. 352 00:21:04,579 –> 00:21:09,579 Faith is a believing response to the word of God. 353 00:21:12,900 –> 00:21:15,900 And Peter, of course, got it exactly right here. 354 00:21:15,900 –> 00:21:16,699 He says, 355 00:21:16,699 –> 00:21:19,520 “‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you 356 00:21:19,520 –> 00:21:24,339 on the water.’” 357 00:21:24,339 –> 00:21:28,079 Jesus, if this is something that you tell me to do, 358 00:21:28,079 –> 00:21:31,660 then this is something that I can do. 359 00:21:32,359 –> 00:21:36,420 Because when Jesus calls you to do a thing, 360 00:21:36,420 –> 00:21:39,739 with the call, with the command, 361 00:21:39,739 –> 00:21:43,160 he gives the power to do it. 362 00:21:43,160 –> 00:21:45,339 And Peter has got this exactly right. 363 00:21:45,339 –> 00:21:48,319 You don’t try and walk on water simply 364 00:21:48,319 –> 00:21:49,939 because you think that’s a great idea. 365 00:21:49,939 –> 00:21:54,520 It’s a response to the command of Jesus if he gives it. 366 00:21:54,520 –> 00:21:57,040 And sure enough, verse 29, 367 00:21:57,140 –> 00:22:00,880 Jesus said, come, come. 368 00:22:03,520 –> 00:22:05,579 And so, in a believing response 369 00:22:05,579 –> 00:22:07,500 to the word of the Lord Jesus Christ, 370 00:22:07,500 –> 00:22:11,579 Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water 371 00:22:11,579 –> 00:22:15,699 and came to Jesus. 372 00:22:15,699 –> 00:22:17,939 Now, do you see the principle that we learn here? 373 00:22:17,939 –> 00:22:20,319 It’s a very important one. 374 00:22:20,319 –> 00:22:23,300 Jesus will give you all that you need 375 00:22:24,239 –> 00:22:27,900 to do all that he is calling you to do. 376 00:22:28,859 –> 00:22:32,800 He can impart his own power 377 00:22:32,800 –> 00:22:35,339 so that you can do what would otherwise 378 00:22:35,339 –> 00:22:37,079 be quite impossible for you. 379 00:22:37,079 –> 00:22:39,319 That’s why Paul says, 380 00:22:39,319 –> 00:22:43,380 I can do all things through Christ 381 00:22:43,380 –> 00:22:46,420 who gives me strength. 382 00:22:48,119 –> 00:22:52,140 So, what has Jesus called you to do 383 00:22:52,140 –> 00:22:54,060 that you may fear is beyond you? 384 00:22:55,180 –> 00:22:56,540 And you find yourself saying, 385 00:22:56,540 –> 00:22:58,060 maybe you’ve even said this week, 386 00:22:58,060 –> 00:23:03,060 oh, I can’t do it, I can’t do it. 387 00:23:04,579 –> 00:23:07,400 And I’m saying to you on the basis of the Scriptures, 388 00:23:07,400 –> 00:23:09,280 oh yes you can, 389 00:23:10,459 –> 00:23:13,619 because Jesus will give you what you need 390 00:23:13,619 –> 00:23:17,119 to do all that he is calling you to do. 391 00:23:18,020 –> 00:23:19,699 And this of course is good news 392 00:23:19,699 –> 00:23:21,739 that goes to the very heart of the gospel, 393 00:23:21,760 –> 00:23:22,780 the Christian message, 394 00:23:22,780 –> 00:23:26,459 because Jesus calls us to a life 395 00:23:26,459 –> 00:23:29,420 that is impossible apart from his power. 396 00:23:29,420 –> 00:23:31,339 I mean, think of what Jesus calls us to, 397 00:23:31,339 –> 00:23:33,599 be holy as I am holy. 398 00:23:35,060 –> 00:23:39,420 Love your neighbor as yourself. 399 00:23:41,140 –> 00:23:42,979 Fear not. 400 00:23:44,579 –> 00:23:46,939 Well, you see, what Jesus commands 401 00:23:46,939 –> 00:23:49,900 may seem impossible to you, 402 00:23:49,900 –> 00:23:51,140 but here’s the principle. 403 00:23:51,540 –> 00:23:54,339 When he calls you to do something 404 00:23:54,339 –> 00:23:57,099 he will give you the power to do it. 405 00:23:59,439 –> 00:24:02,540 The Gospels record a wonderful story 406 00:24:02,540 –> 00:24:05,900 about an occasion where Jesus met a man 407 00:24:05,900 –> 00:24:07,859 with a withered hand. 408 00:24:07,859 –> 00:24:09,579 He wasn’t able to use his hand. 409 00:24:09,579 –> 00:24:14,199 It simply hung, as it were, limp and inactive, 410 00:24:15,660 –> 00:24:20,219 and Mark records the encounter with Jesus 411 00:24:20,260 –> 00:24:24,640 and tells us that Jesus simply said to this man, 412 00:24:24,640 –> 00:24:27,680 stretch forth your hand. 413 00:24:27,680 –> 00:24:29,560 Oh, an extraordinary thing to say to a man 414 00:24:29,560 –> 00:24:31,300 who doesn’t have any control over his hand. 415 00:24:31,300 –> 00:24:33,339 It’s the one thing he clearly cannot do. 416 00:24:35,520 –> 00:24:38,859 But Jesus said to him, stretch forth your hand. 417 00:24:38,859 –> 00:24:41,979 And then Mark records very simply and very beautifully, 418 00:24:41,979 –> 00:24:44,839 and he stretched it out and the hand was restored. 419 00:24:45,920 –> 00:24:47,520 You see what that is telling us? 420 00:24:48,420 –> 00:24:51,180 When the Lord Jesus Christ calls you to something, 421 00:24:51,180 –> 00:24:53,540 when he commands you in a direction, 422 00:24:54,819 –> 00:24:59,819 he gives with the command the power to fulfill it. 423 00:25:00,420 –> 00:25:04,140 And that is why Augustine very famously said, 424 00:25:04,140 –> 00:25:07,079 O God, command what you will. 425 00:25:08,060 –> 00:25:11,599 Only give what you command. 426 00:25:12,180 –> 00:25:17,180 Now Jesus gave Peter a command in a single word. 427 00:25:18,380 –> 00:25:21,900 Jesus said to him, come! 428 00:25:22,900 –> 00:25:25,739 And of course, the problem with the command 429 00:25:25,739 –> 00:25:27,300 was that all Peter needed to do 430 00:25:27,300 –> 00:25:29,300 was walk on water to fulfill it. 431 00:25:31,140 –> 00:25:32,540 And I want you to think about that 432 00:25:32,540 –> 00:25:37,540 because Jesus gives us the same one word command, come. 433 00:25:38,520 –> 00:25:39,339 Come. 434 00:25:41,520 –> 00:25:44,040 Come to me, all you who are weary 435 00:25:44,040 –> 00:25:47,479 and heavy laden, he says, and I will give you rest. 436 00:25:47,479 –> 00:25:52,479 If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 437 00:25:55,680 –> 00:25:57,959 Now you may be thinking, well, 438 00:25:57,959 –> 00:26:01,060 Jesus may invite me to come, 439 00:26:03,079 –> 00:26:05,079 but Pastor, you don’t realize 440 00:26:05,079 –> 00:26:09,839 what I would have to get over in order to come to Jesus. 441 00:26:11,040 –> 00:26:12,400 I’ve thought about faith. 442 00:26:13,439 –> 00:26:15,520 I’ve thought about following Jesus. 443 00:26:16,479 –> 00:26:20,180 But it seems to me that there’s an ocean in the way 444 00:26:20,180 –> 00:26:22,660 and I can’t get there. 445 00:26:24,920 –> 00:26:27,119 And I’m saying to you from the Bible today, 446 00:26:27,119 –> 00:26:29,140 oh, yes you can, 447 00:26:30,640 –> 00:26:34,219 because it is Jesus who bids you come. 448 00:26:35,979 –> 00:26:39,359 And whatever you need to overcome, 449 00:26:40,859 –> 00:26:44,699 to get to Jesus, He will enable you to do it. 450 00:26:45,780 –> 00:26:48,800 He will give you all that you need 451 00:26:48,800 –> 00:26:51,319 to accomplish all that He is calling you to do, 452 00:26:51,319 –> 00:26:56,319 so step out in faith, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 453 00:26:56,540 –> 00:26:57,719 You will not sink. 454 00:26:58,920 –> 00:27:02,339 He will hold you up. 455 00:27:03,339 –> 00:27:08,339 So faith is tested, we feel that Jesus is far away. 456 00:27:10,040 –> 00:27:15,040 Faith ventures in a storm at the command of Jesus. 457 00:27:16,439 –> 00:27:19,160 Here’s the third thing, what’s it look like 458 00:27:19,160 –> 00:27:21,319 to live with faith in a storm? 459 00:27:21,319 –> 00:27:26,319 Well faith depends on the faithfulness of Jesus, verse 30. 460 00:27:26,400 –> 00:27:31,400 When he that is Peter saw the wind, he was afraid, 461 00:27:32,020 –> 00:27:35,959 and beginning to sink, he cried out, 462 00:27:35,959 –> 00:27:39,040 Lord, save me. 463 00:27:39,040 –> 00:27:44,040 Now we don’t know how far Jesus was from the boat 464 00:27:44,920 –> 00:27:48,400 when Peter stepped into the water, 465 00:27:48,400 –> 00:27:52,040 what was the distance that he had to cross? 466 00:27:52,040 –> 00:27:53,420 stepped into the water? 467 00:27:53,420 –> 00:27:57,020 What was the distance that he had to cross? 468 00:27:57,020 –> 00:28:00,780 But let’s suppose for a moment that it was 50 feet, 469 00:28:01,920 –> 00:28:06,719 and Jesus says to Peter, come 470 00:28:06,719 –> 00:28:09,560 and Peter gets one leg over the side of the boat 471 00:28:09,560 –> 00:28:12,839 and gingerly puts a toe on the water 472 00:28:12,839 –> 00:28:13,979 and the toe holds up 473 00:28:13,979 –> 00:28:18,979 and now he swings his other leg over the side of the boat 474 00:28:19,359 –> 00:28:22,160 and puts his weight two feet on the water 475 00:28:22,160 –> 00:28:26,739 and he is held up. 476 00:28:26,739 –> 00:28:31,739 And looking at Jesus he takes his first step forward 477 00:28:32,900 –> 00:28:37,900 and then a second, and then a third, he’s doing it. 478 00:28:40,079 –> 00:28:44,140 He’s walking on water 479 00:28:44,619 –> 00:28:49,619 and he walks 10 feet, and then 20 feet, 480 00:28:53,619 –> 00:28:55,760 and now 30 feet, 481 00:28:57,140 –> 00:29:00,239 and he starts to think, this is amazing. 482 00:29:01,859 –> 00:29:05,660 What I’m doing is really remarkable. 483 00:29:08,459 –> 00:29:12,400 And then he looked at the wind and when he saw the wind 484 00:29:13,040 –> 00:29:17,140 he was afraid and he began to think. 485 00:29:18,800 –> 00:29:21,680 Now there is an important warning here, 486 00:29:21,680 –> 00:29:24,839 and it’s this, some in this congregation 487 00:29:24,839 –> 00:29:28,260 have been blessed by God with great success 488 00:29:28,260 –> 00:29:31,000 in one area or another of life. 489 00:29:32,319 –> 00:29:33,420 And here’s the warning, 490 00:29:34,800 –> 00:29:38,760 if God enables you to accomplish great things 491 00:29:39,760 –> 00:29:43,780 beware of being entranced by your own achievement. 492 00:29:44,780 –> 00:29:48,060 What I’m doing is really quite remarkable. 493 00:29:49,300 –> 00:29:51,839 As soon as Peter took his eyes off Jesus, 494 00:29:51,839 –> 00:29:53,719 fear just rushed in, 495 00:29:54,640 –> 00:29:58,000 and suddenly he’s perplexed with all these questions, 496 00:29:58,000 –> 00:29:59,880 how long can I withstand the wind? 497 00:29:59,880 –> 00:30:02,439 How long can I really keep this up? 498 00:30:02,439 –> 00:30:05,699 And then he began to sink. 499 00:30:05,699 –> 00:30:08,160 Beware of becoming entranced. 500 00:30:09,359 –> 00:30:11,180 With your own achievement. 501 00:30:12,380 –> 00:30:15,180 And then we read verse 30 that beginning to sink, 502 00:30:15,180 –> 00:30:18,880 Peter cried out, Lord, save me. 503 00:30:19,880 –> 00:30:24,599 Being saved is more than something that happens once 504 00:30:24,599 –> 00:30:27,099 when you first trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. 505 00:30:27,099 –> 00:30:32,099 Being saved, it means that you have a living savior 506 00:30:33,300 –> 00:30:36,540 who is always for you, who is always with you, 507 00:30:36,540 –> 00:30:38,079 who will never let you go, 508 00:30:38,099 –> 00:30:41,319 and you can always count and depend on him. 509 00:30:41,319 –> 00:30:43,920 Peter cries out, Lord, save me. 510 00:30:45,060 –> 00:30:47,599 And immediately, verse 31, 511 00:30:47,599 –> 00:30:51,000 Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of him, 512 00:30:51,000 –> 00:30:54,280 saying, O, you of little faith, why did you doubt? 513 00:30:55,839 –> 00:30:59,239 Jesus may let you go down deep enough to realize 514 00:30:59,239 –> 00:31:02,060 that you can’t save yourself, 515 00:31:02,060 –> 00:31:04,540 but he will never let you go. 516 00:31:04,540 –> 00:31:09,339 He will reach out his hand, and he will take hold of you. 517 00:31:09,339 –> 00:31:13,900 And of the many, many applications that there are 518 00:31:13,900 –> 00:31:18,000 of this beautiful reality in the story, 519 00:31:18,000 –> 00:31:21,780 there is surely a marvelous picture here 520 00:31:21,780 –> 00:31:26,579 of what will happen on the last day of your life. 521 00:31:27,859 –> 00:31:31,140 Because the day will come for each and every one of us 522 00:31:31,140 –> 00:31:34,180 when you breathe your last breath 523 00:31:35,300 –> 00:31:38,739 and when that day comes, you will be, as it were, 524 00:31:38,739 –> 00:31:41,839 getting out of your boat. 525 00:31:43,380 –> 00:31:47,300 And when you feel yourself sinking, 526 00:31:49,020 –> 00:31:50,939 do not be afraid. 527 00:31:52,439 –> 00:31:57,319 Jesus will reach out his hand and take hold of you. 528 00:31:58,020 –> 00:32:02,000 In Christ, you are not going under. 529 00:32:03,180 –> 00:32:05,339 He will lift you up. 530 00:32:07,699 –> 00:32:11,900 Faith depends on the faithfulness of Jesus 531 00:32:13,099 –> 00:32:18,099 in life, in death, and in every storm. 532 00:32:20,339 –> 00:32:22,979 So where do you need to trust 533 00:32:23,180 –> 00:32:25,560 the faithfulness of Jesus today? 534 00:32:28,939 –> 00:32:32,780 One more thing very briefly, and then we’re through. 535 00:32:32,780 –> 00:32:35,260 We’ve seen that faith is tested, 536 00:32:35,260 –> 00:32:37,000 that as believers there will be times 537 00:32:37,000 –> 00:32:39,599 when we feel the absence of Jesus 538 00:32:39,599 –> 00:32:44,380 and He always comes because no darkness 539 00:32:44,380 –> 00:32:48,099 can ever keep Jesus from reaching you. 540 00:32:48,099 –> 00:32:51,979 We’ve seen that faith ventures at the command of Jesus. 541 00:32:51,979 –> 00:32:53,680 The marvelous example of Peter, 542 00:32:53,680 –> 00:32:56,380 not simply to desire that the storm will be over 543 00:32:56,380 –> 00:32:58,939 but to se what new bold venture of faith 544 00:32:58,939 –> 00:33:00,900 may be undertaken in it. 545 00:33:01,920 –> 00:33:05,380 Faith depends on the faithfulness of Jesus. 546 00:33:05,380 –> 00:33:06,839 He will not let you go. 547 00:33:07,819 –> 00:33:08,859 And here’s the last thing, 548 00:33:08,859 –> 00:33:11,339 faith worships in the presence of Jesus. 549 00:33:11,339 –> 00:33:14,219 Verse 32, When they got into the boat, 550 00:33:14,219 –> 00:33:19,219 the wind ceased, and those in the boat worshiped him, 551 00:33:19,739 –> 00:33:24,739 saying, truly, you are the Son of God. 552 00:33:30,300 –> 00:33:33,199 Now I expect that if Peter was able to give us 553 00:33:33,199 –> 00:33:35,859 his testimony here today, 554 00:33:35,859 –> 00:33:38,839 he’d probably say something like this. 555 00:33:38,839 –> 00:33:41,819 You know I didn’t think it at the time, 556 00:33:41,819 –> 00:33:46,260 but looking back, I’m grateful for that storm. 557 00:33:47,260 –> 00:33:50,599 my faith was stretched to the limit in it 558 00:33:50,599 –> 00:33:55,599 but it was in that storm that I saw the glory of Jesus 559 00:33:56,140 –> 00:33:58,680 and it was in that storm that I discovered 560 00:33:58,680 –> 00:34:02,260 what faith in Jesus can really do. 561 00:34:04,719 –> 00:34:08,800 I’m sure that when Peter got back in the boat, 562 00:34:08,800 –> 00:34:11,719 the disciples would have had many many many 563 00:34:11,719 –> 00:34:13,719 unanswered questions. 564 00:34:14,639 –> 00:34:16,620 Why did Jesus allow the storm? 565 00:34:18,479 –> 00:34:20,340 Why did he tell them to get in the boat 566 00:34:20,340 –> 00:34:22,840 when he knew it was coming? 567 00:34:22,840 –> 00:34:25,459 Why did he leave them straining at the oars for so long? 568 00:34:25,459 –> 00:34:27,360 Why did he come at the fourth watch of the night? 569 00:34:27,360 –> 00:34:29,739 Why didn’t he come in the first, or the second, or the third? 570 00:34:29,739 –> 00:34:32,320 He could have made it so much easier. 571 00:34:32,320 –> 00:34:33,820 What if there’s another storm? 572 00:34:36,500 –> 00:34:38,500 But you see, the story ends this way 573 00:34:38,500 –> 00:34:41,459 and it’s reminding us that these men 574 00:34:41,699 –> 00:34:45,439 had something better to do than to agonize 575 00:34:45,439 –> 00:34:47,399 over unanswered questions. 576 00:34:47,399 –> 00:34:49,800 There will always be unanswered questions 577 00:34:49,800 –> 00:34:52,439 in relation to every storm in your life. 578 00:34:54,000 –> 00:34:56,239 And these men had something better to do 579 00:34:56,239 –> 00:35:01,239 than agonize on and on about unanswered questions. 580 00:35:01,280 –> 00:35:06,280 They had come to realize that the Son of God was with them. 581 00:35:06,860 –> 00:35:09,219 And realizing that they were 582 00:35:09,219 –> 00:35:14,219 in the presence of the Son of God, they worshipped. 583 00:35:15,639 –> 00:35:17,919 And when you realize that the Son of God 584 00:35:17,919 –> 00:35:21,600 is always for you, that he’s always with you, 585 00:35:22,939 –> 00:35:24,800 that no place, however dark, 586 00:35:24,800 –> 00:35:29,919 can prevent Jesus from reaching you and holding you up, 587 00:35:29,919 –> 00:35:33,020 that the Son of God will never, never, never let you go, 588 00:35:33,780 –> 00:35:36,100 and you come to see these things for yourself, 589 00:35:36,100 –> 00:35:39,340 then you too will worship. 590 00:35:40,919 –> 00:35:42,760 Let’s pray together. 591 00:35:45,439 –> 00:35:49,459 God says to his people, fear not, for I have redeemed you. 592 00:35:50,739 –> 00:35:55,080 I have called you by name, you are mine, 593 00:35:56,340 –> 00:36:00,120 and when you pass through the waters, I will be with you. 594 00:36:01,040 –> 00:36:01,899 I will be with you, 595 00:36:03,260 –> 00:36:07,139 and through the rivers they shall not overwhelm you, 596 00:36:08,399 –> 00:36:11,580 for I am the Lord, your God, 597 00:36:12,919 –> 00:36:14,520 the holy one of Israel, 598 00:36:16,159 –> 00:36:17,620 your Savior. 599 00:36:19,199 –> 00:36:21,479 Father, thank you 600 00:36:22,840 –> 00:36:25,360 that your son, the Lord Jesus Christ 601 00:36:25,360 –> 00:36:29,300 is always for us and always with us. 602 00:36:30,760 –> 00:36:32,399 Strengthen us in faith 603 00:36:33,800 –> 00:36:35,560 and deliver us from fear 604 00:36:37,360 –> 00:36:41,360 and hasten the day when all storms will cease, 605 00:36:42,520 –> 00:36:46,159 and we shall worship with great joy 606 00:36:47,199 –> 00:36:48,959 in your holy presence 607 00:36:50,139 –> 00:36:54,899 through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen. 608 00:36:56,540 –> 00:36:57,800 You’ve been listening to a sermon 609 00:36:57,800 –> 00:37:00,219 with Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 610 00:37:00,219 –> 00:37:05,219 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 611 00:37:05,500 –> 00:37:09,100 or visit our website openthebible.org. 612 00:37:09,100 –> 00:37:11,100 www.openthebible.org