One of the
most thrilling stories of the New Testament is that of Peter walking on the
waters. -- It is recorded in
This was
one of the most outstanding events in the life of Simon Peter.
A lot of
sermons have been preached on this passage.
A lot of
stories & jokes have been told.
I like the
one about the three ministers who went fishing together.
While they
were out on the water in their boat -- one of the ministers said: -- "Oh,
I forgot my coffee. -- I think I'll go get it."
With that
he climbed over the edge of the boat -- walked on top the water to the shore --
got his coffee -- & returned to the boat walking on the water.
After
while the second minister said: -- "I'm getting hungry. -- I think I'll go
to the car & get our lunches."
With that
he climbed over the edge of the boat -- & did the same thing that the first
minister had done.
The third
minister -- who had never gone fishing with these other guys before -- sat
there, hardly believing his eyes.
He thought
on it for a long time -- & convinced himself that he had as much faith as
these other ministers -- & if they could walk on top of the water -- then
surely he ought to be able to do so also.
After all
-- theses other two preachers were no more religious than he was. -- So getting
his courage up -- he finally said: -- "You know I’m getting low on bait. --
I think I'll go get some more."
With that
he climbed over the side of the boat -- & he immediately sank onto the
water.
The other
two men pulled him back into the boat.
He sat
there drying out -- & thought about it some more.
He finally
decided to attempt it one more time. -- Same results!
As the
other two men were pulling him back into the boat -- the one said to the other:
-- "Do you suppose we ought to tell him where the rocks are located before
he drowns himself?"
When Peter
realized it was in fact Jesus -- & not some ghostly spirit -- he said: "Lord, if that's really you, call me to
come to you on the water."
Jesus did
not reply: -- "No - it is not scientific! -- No - you are just seeing
visions; -- you need to go see your psychiatrist."
Jesus
simply said, "Come." -- One word from the Master.
Peter
planted his feet by faith on that word "Come" -- & stepped out of
the boat! -- And as a result -- Peter
walked on the waters!
But I want
us to focus today on vs.
When Peter
looked around at the high waves -- he was terrified & he began to sink.
When he
cried for help, saying: -- "Save me, Lord" -- instantly Jesus reached
out His hand & rescued Peter.
Then Jesus
asked: -- "Oh you of little faith; -- why did you doubt me? -- What got into you? -- Why do you
falter?"
Peter had
enough faith to keep him from drowning -- but not from doubting!
He had
enough faith to keep him from sinning -- but not from sinking!
My
question to you this morning is this: -- At what are you looking?
During my
last two years of college -- I was privileged to pastor a small church about 25
miles from the college campus.
Jeannette
& I had just gotten married -- & so we moved to the town of
I felt
that as a church we ought to reach out to the surrounding community -- & I
hit upon what I thought was a brilliant idea.
I invited
one of my professors -- Dr. Forest Benner -- to come & conduct meetings for
us over two week-ends.
The first
week-end he would just address the church -- encouraging us to knock on doors
-- becoming acquainted with people -- & inviting them to the special
services which would be held over the second week-end.
During
that week in between we would go door-to-door inviting new people to the special
services at our church.
The first
weekend would be motivational -- for the church people.
The second
weekend would be evangelistic -- reaching the new people.
Even my
professor thought it was a neat idea -- & looked forward to it.
I talked
it up in church -- & felt like the people were supportive.
The first
week-end came; -- Friday night; -- The Professor was there -- Jeannette & I
were there; -- no one else showed up at all!!
I waited
outside for some one to come; -- no one did.
I was so
embarrassed & so discouraged -- that I could not even go inside & face
my professor.
I sat on
the steps outside the church -- dejected.
Finally my
wife & the professor came out & invited me to come inside.
Dr. Benner
was so understanding; -- he had the two of us sit on the front pew -- of that
otherwise empty church -- while he talked warmly to us -- telling us that he
had had a similar experience when he was a young pastor years before.
He shared
with us this passage about Peter walking on the water; -- he told us that while
Peter got his eyes on the high waves -- we may be guilty of getting our eyes
upon the empty pews -- & anything at all that distracts our attention away
from the Lord -- can lead to spiritual defeat.
He
encouraged me that evening -- & taught me a spiritual lesson.
By the way
-- I began to phone some of my people a little later that evening -- telling
them that we missed them. -- Then they became embarrassed over the fact that
they had not shown.
So they did
turn out on Saturday night -- & again on Sunday.
Dr. Benner
spoke to their hearts on the need to invite others to church.
We did
that all week long; -- Dr. Benner came back the next weekend -- & we had a
good meeting, reaching some new people for the Lord.
I ask you
again this morning: -- At what are you looking today?
Empty pews
-- or empty lives -- empty dreams -- empty promises -- empty hopes? -- What
gets your attention -- gets you!
We are
told in the Bible the story about Lot -- nephew to Abraham -- who choice the
fertile plains of the
Read the
story that eventually led to the destruction of
My friend
-- what gets your attention -- gets you!
It was
only as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus that he was able to walk above the
troubled waters!
Peter was
safer getting out of the boat looking at the Lord than he was staying in the
boat looking at the storm.
I ask you
again: -- At what are you looking today?
What has
your attention? -- What gets your attention -- gets you!
Let's
examine some of the things that may take your attention away from the Lord --
& lead you down the path to spiritual defeat.
Three
questions I want to put before you this morning: --
1. Are you Looking at the Circumstances of Life?
The
circumstances of life can be so very trying & threatening.
Has bad
news come into your life today?
Have
sorrows gripped your heart?
Have
things been a bit rocky on the pathway of life for you?
Are you
being tried in the furnace of your affliction?
Every one
of us has to go through hard & difficult times!
Such
things are never easy! -- A serious
personal illness; -- a loved one who is ill; -- problems at home or at work; --
financial problems; -- hardships & trials of one kind or another; --
sometimes the heartaches - the sorrows of others even tend to pull us down!
What are
the troubling circumstances in your life right now?
A serious
problem comes when we fix our eyes (our attention) on the circumstances of life
to the point that we no longer see the Lord!
We begin
to sink into the threatening waters of our circumstances until we think we will
surely drown!
The real
danger in life is not the storms -- but that of losing sight of the Lord &
Savior!
Circumstances are like feather beds -- very comfortable to be on top of
-- but smothering if they get on top of you!
As
Christians we should not permit circumstances to affect our relationship to God
-- but rather we should allow our relationship with God to affect our
circumstance
Remember
that Christ is always near when we are in trouble!
His power
to deliver always surpasses any other power that comes to harm or to destroy
us!
Don't be
like Peter -- looking at the boisterous waves -- the turbulent circumstances;
-- Instead keep your eyes upon the Savior!
My friends
-- without a test -- there is no testimony!
Job is an
excellent example; -- he had all kinds of bad news & troubling
circumstances.
One day an
attack from a raiding party resulted in the loss of 500 team of oxen, along
with 500 donkeys -- in addition to all his farm hands being killed.
On top of
that he learned that -- fire had fallen from above & burned all 7000 of his
sheep & killed all the shepherds.
Then word
came that another raiding group had stolen all 3000 of his camels -- &
killed his servants.
As if that
was not enough -- then Job was told that while his seven sons & three
daughters were at a party -- a mighty wind engulfed the house blowing the roof
off -- & all his children were dead.
Then Job
was struck with a terrible case of boils from head to foot.
As he
scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery -- his wife said to him: --
"Are you still trying to hold on to your integrity? -- Curse God &
die."
Still --
in spite of all that had happened -- Job was able to say: -- "The Lord
gives & the Lord takes away. -- Blessed be the name of the Lord!"
In all
these circumstances of life -- Job did not do or say anything wrong! -- He kept
his eyes upon the Lord & not on his circumstances!
2. Are you
Looking at the Faults of Others?
Now -- I
suppose if you look close enough -- you can find some faults with me; --
Although I can not imagine what it would be!
If I look
close enough at you -- I may be able to find some fault in you!
If you
think you have no faults -- then that makes one more!
For the
greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none!
But God
loves each one of us -- & uses us in spite of our individual faults &
failures! -- Oh, aren’t you glad?!
Far too
many times we have our eyes fixed on the faults & failures of others --
rather than upon Jesus!
We see the
faults of others -- we see the wrong in others -- we see the worst in others!
A lot of
Christians are tripped up because they stumble over somebody else's feet!
If you
look at yourself -- you will be discouraged.
If you
look at others -- you will be defeated.
If you
look to Jesus -- & you will be victorious!
Remember
the "Black Spiritual" -- “Look neither to the right, nor to the left,
but keep your eyes on Jesus!"
That's not
bad theology -- nor is it a bad idea!
We may not
always be able to overlook the wrongs of others -- but we need to look over
& above them -- & keep our eyes on Jesus Christ -- our Lord &
Savior!
I'd hate
to tell you how many, many times I've
had to try to get some-body back into church who dropped out because they got
their eyes on other people!
The faults
of others can become our downfall -- if we fix our eyes upon them -- instead of
on Jesus!
Someone
who stands between you & the Lord is closer to the Lord than you are!
I had a
dear lady in my church in
One day
she said to me -- "Pastor, have you noticed I always sit up near the front
of the church?"
I
responded that I had noticed & complimented her on that fact.
Then she
volunteered the information -- "Do you know why? -- If I set toward the
back of the church -- I have to look at everyone in front of me, & be
distracted by what they do or do not do. -- But if I sit up front, they are all
behind me -- & I can concentrate on the Lord."
Are you
being distracted by the lives of others around you?
My friends
-- keep your eyes on Jesus & only on Jesus.
He --
& He alone -- is the author & finisher of your faith!
3. Are you
Looking at the Hurts & Disappointments of your Past?
We have
all -- every one of us -- been hurt -- or disappointed -- deeply so at times --
at one time or another in our lives!
Often the
deepest hurts that come into our lives come from fellow Christians! -- Of all
people!
But
remember -- it was the religious leaders of His day -- who hurt Jesus the most
by their rejection of his love & mercy!
If we
could just realize that the sins -- & the regrets -- & the sufferings
-- which have caused us so much distress & heartache -- are now history.
Don't look
to the past! -- There's no future in it!
It's time
to forget those things which are behind!
Too many
people become overly concerned (focused) about their own little hurts &
disappointments: --
They nurse
their personal injures for years & years;
Their
attention is constantly fixed upon themselves;
Their
spiritual lives slowly disintegrate;
They can
only see the tangled & twisted side of life.
Life to
them becomes just one long process of pain & misery & sorrow!
But God
has a plan -- a marvelous plan! -- Stop looking at the waves of your sorrow
& hurts; -- Fix your eyes upon Jesus.
He will
save you from the waters of your own tears!
I pastored
in
But in the
providence of God the time came for me to move -- to a smaller church in
another state.
While I
was packing everything up for the move -- I was over at the church one day,
gathering up some last minute things.
I happened
to over hear a conversation that I found rather painful.
The couple
who was taking did not know I was in the building -- & they said some
pretty hurtful things about me.
Why? -- I
don't know & it doesn't matter. -- Maybe it was in an effort to gain
control. -- I did not confront them; -- what's the use?
I shared
my hurt only with the Lord -- & with my dear wife.
Some
months after we had made the move -- we received a letter from this couple
saying they would like to come & visit us at our new church.
They did
not know I had ever overheard them talking -- & saying nasty things about
me.
Jeannette
asked me how I felt about their coming.
My honest
response was: "No problem, I have
already forgiven them.
-- It will be good to see them." -- I had long
before given it all to the Lord.
They came
& we had a marvelous time visiting. -- They never knew!
It does
not pay to focus upon the hurts & the disappointments from our past! --
Give them to Jesus -- Focus on Jesus & Jesus only!
Conclusion:
--
All of
these things I have cited & named -- like the waves & the winds -- will
defeat us if we give our attention to them instead of the Lord!
At what
are you looking today? --
The
circumstances of your life -- or Jesus?
The faults
& failures of others -- or Jesus?
The hurts
& disappointments of the past -- or Jesus?
The writer
of the Book of
As
Christians -- we are to run with endurance the race that God has set before us.
"We
do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on Whom our faith depends from start to
finish” (Heb 12:2
So my dear
friends -- Keep your eyes on Jesus!
He is the
only one who can give us grace & victory!
Our
problem so often is in our sight!
But all we
have to do is keep our sight fixed on the Savior!
Charles
Alexander -- the famous gospel singer -- sang at a school for the blind. -- At the end of his performance -- he
offered to sing anyone's favorite hymn.
A blind
boy lifted his hand & said: -- "Please, Sir, sing 'Never Lose Sight of
Jesus.'" -- That blind child had excellent vision! -- & so can you!
When we
keep our eyes set on Jesus --
The cares
of this life will grow increasingly dim.
We will
stop finding faults with those around us.
We will
allow Him to heal our hurts & disappointments.
When we
keep our eyes set on Jesus --
We will
quit looking at the high winds & the troubling waves;
We will
see Jesus' outstretched hand reaching toward us.
He will
lift us up & give us victory!
Jesus is
our ever-present & available resource for help & strength!
So when
the Lord calls to us over the troubling waters of life & says:
"Come" -- then step forward gladly!
Look --
not even for a moment -- away from the Savior!