1. Good morning. Let’s pray. O Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
2. Opening Comments:
· How certain are you that there is a God?
· Do you ever doubt that the Lord is watching your every step and it ready, willing and able at any time to immediately intervene in your life to protect, provide and guide you in all ways?
· How significant is the role of doubt in your life?
The title of my sermon this morning is “Prone to Doubt.” I think it’s fair to say that many of us are “prone to doubt.”
In our Gospel reading Peter displays great faith when he steps out of the boat and walks towards Jesus on water but then doubt rises in his soul and consequently he begins to sink no longer buoyed by his faith.
Please think about this – how much do you actually doubt that there is a God and that He can and wants to protect, provide and guide you daily?
Perhaps you believe in a God but a distant God who, while there, is a bit like an absent parent. He’ll care for you but at a distance and really isn’t too interested in your daily challenges. He’ll help when all else fails. He’s back up for you! Is that the sort of God you believe in?
For some of us the role of doubt is huge! It robs many of us of peace. All too many of us live lives tormented by anxiety:
· Oh God, I’m gaining weight – getting fat – unattractive – unhealthy!
· I’m going to die sooner than later and what has my life amounted to?
· Look at me – I’m ugly. I’ll never be married.
· The economy is failing – those power hungry politicians are ruining everything! There won’t be any social security when I need it. I’m going to die poor and alone!
· What am I to do? Where am I to go?
· It’s all random! Everything just happens without any plan. Nothing makes sense! There’s not ultimate Being making sense of all of this. There’s no real meaning in life.
· Belief in God is for children, naïve fools or idealistic polyanners!
· I want to believe that there’s a God but life keeps proving to me that there isn’t or if there is he/she doesn’t care too much about us. Heck, I care more for my dog than it appears God cares for me or anyone else!
· And so on. . .
Do any of these thoughts resonate with any of you?
Perhaps not now but has there every been a time when thoughts like these have occurred to you?
If so – welcome to the human race!
I think it’s true to say that many of us are “prone to doubt” and we’re going to turn primarily to Peter in our Gospel reading to learn how to handle this doubt so much better but before we do I want us to harvest a few of the lessons God is teaching us in the other readings for today.
In our OT reading we heard God reveal Himself not in a powerful wind, not in the earthquake nor in the blazing fire but rather in “a voice of thin silence” – let me say that again – in a voice of thin silence. That’s pretty unintimidating but do you remember Elijah’s response? He hid his face in his cloak in awe – smart man! He knew when He was near God! I had a similar experience a month ago but I didn’t want to hear what He said! Oh, I heard it though!
What’s God telling us in these words this morning?
I‘ve discovered that God is always revealing His will to me in many many ways but more often than not in less than dramatic ways!
Listen then not necessarily for the loud, strident, terrifyingly dramatic events of our lives but to his quiet, gentle and almost silent whispers.
In our Psalm reading we discovered that God’s salvivic presence is near – so near – to those who know that He is God!
And now please turn with me to our Gospel reading chapter 14 beginning at verse 22:
Matt. 14:22 ¶ As soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. You see He wanted to spend time with His Father in prayer.
Matt. 14:23 With the crowd dispersed, Jesus climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
Matt. 14:24 ¶ Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves.
Matt. 14:25 At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water.
Matt. 14:26 They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
Matt. 14:27 ¶ But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Matt. 14:28 ¶ Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, since it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
Matt. 14:29 ¶ Jesus said, “Come ahead.” ¶ Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.
Matt. 14:30 But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”
Matt. 14:31 ¶ Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”
Matt. 14:32 ¶ The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down.
Matt. 14:33 The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”
Do you know what I most love about this reading beyond what God wants to teach us primarily this morning? It’s the fact that God incarnate – Jesus Christ Himself – wanted to take time away from the crown and even His closest friends to spend time with God – His Father. Oh how important solitude is! Never never never underestimate how important solitude is for it in solitude that God is able to reveal Himself absent the cacophony of the world!
But now return with me to the focus of our reflections this morning and that is that we’re prone to doubt.
Jesus was waling on the water – what does this tell us about Jesus – solicit responses from the congregation!
Yes, Jesus is God incarnate and controls the tempests – is undaunted by the tempests of life – nothing that nature – the realm of the world – can dish up is beyond God’s authority – His ability to overcome it.
Now ask yourself this question – why did Peter rise to the challenge and not the other disciples? I’m not sure I know! Certainly Peter was brave and always seemed willing to reach for a “blessing” a “miracle” – for that which was beyond the natural – the usual.
How may of us are like Peter in this respect I wonder?
How may of us would “do a Peter?”
On the other hand – how many of us would be like the other disciples – frightened and dumb bounded – completely overwhelmed and unable to respond with “OK let’s go for it?”
But Peter responded with his characteristic “Petrine faith” –
Matt. 14:28 ¶ “Lord, since it you” Peter replied, “tell me – or more literally “command” me to come to you on the water.”
Matt. 14:29 ¶ “Come (down from the boat)” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
The Greek work translated “walked” – Peter walked on the water actually means - o go here and there in walking, go about, walk around.
The sense here is that Peter didn’t just “walk on the water” he actually “walked around” on the water.”
Now I can imagine Peter doing this – can’t you! Come on – this is who Peter is – he doesn’t just “walk on water” “he walks about on the water!”
That’s Peter isn’t it. But something happens – what? He forgets about Jesus and begins to Peterify!
Peter suddenly becomes all there is – it’s now about Peter and Him enjoying walking on water – what’s happened – Peter has forgotten about Jesus – the one who made this miracle possible.
A bad mistake! And what happens?
Matt. 14:30 But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
ku/rie, sw◊so/n me – Kuria – soson mae!
O Lord, save me!
And what does our precious Lord do?
Matt. 14:31 ¶ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him – “taking hold of him” - . “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt – why did you waiver?”
Matt. 14:32 ¶ And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
Matt. 14:33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Now let’s reflect upon this event!
Peter waivered! His faith waivered!
Now let me ask us all a question. . .
Do you think that Jesus would have let Peter sink?
Let’s imagine that one or more us might suspect that Jesus just might have let Peter sink. .
What would that have told us about whom God was?
I’m not sure but what I do know is that God didn’t let Peter sink but God, incarnate, reached out and saved Him!
This tells me that while my faith in God may waiver God’s love for me doesn’t.”
Love never fails!
When our faith fails God’s love for us doesn’t!
When we waiver – God comes to us and rescues us!
Application:
Has anyone in this Sanctuary ever experienced this?
I’m really asking y’all this question.
Let me phrase it differently.
Has you faith ever failed like Peter’s but Jesus came to your rescue?
I recently experienced this!
I’m wondering if anyone else did?
Is there a testimony out there?
. . .
Let’s pray . . .
