Worship on the WatersMatthew 14:22-33

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Introduction

• “Ice bombs, ‘act of God’, says company.”

• “Jesus Walks on Water - Act of God!”

• Summer Series - The Miracles of Jesus

• Today’s focus - Prayer, Faith, and Worship

1. Prayer

• “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him.” (v. 22)

• Why so urgent? Why so quick to dismiss his disciples and the crowd?

• Trouble is stacking up:– Death of John the Baptist– Plan to find rest is interrupted– Crowd intends to make Jesus king by force

Sea of Galilee

1. Prayer

• Jesus rejects worldly power• He deliberately sends disciples away• His kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36)• Jesus is King, and Messiah, and God’s Son• Disciples haven’t fully realized this yet• God-shaped puzzle is a mystery• Jesus’ humanity and divinity co-exist

1. Prayer

• Where does Jesus draw his strength from? - Prayer, an important part of Jesus’ life

• A particular weight to this prayer?- Jesus’ ministry is turbulent

• He stays centered through it all• Power, a familiar temptation

1. Prayer“…the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’”Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.” (Matthew 4:8-11)

1. Prayer

• James summarizes the battle tactic: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist

the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

(James 4:7-8)• Jesus abided in his Father, we abide in Christ• daily challenge of coming to Christ in prayer• How to refresh our prayer life?

1. Prayer

• Praying God’s Word back to Him• God’s word:

“After he had dismissed them, he went up the mountainside by himself to pray.”

• Praying it back:“Lord, by your Spirit would you elevate our understanding of prayer and increase our desire for it!”

1. Prayer

• Madame Jeanne Guyon (1648-1717)“…in this new way of reading with prayer, you become as the bee who penetrates into the depths of the flower. You plunge deeply within to remove its deepest nectar.”

• many bee species are solitary, while others are only communal (honey bees)

• we also benefit from community life

1. Prayer

• communal prayer at University Chapel:- Morning prayer- Home Groups- Prayer Team

1. Prayer

• Is our hunger for the things of God greater than our desire for the things of this world?

• Do we thirst for righteousness or has sin been quick to quench our parched cravings?

• Can we trust in a Saviour who knows our need and comes to us on our waves of doubt?

2. Faith

• Camping on Lake Huron (Jason’s story)

2. Faith

• “Take courage! It is I.”• “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you”• Peter begins to gain a noticeable voice• Peter walks on the waves to his God! • Peter wants to be where Jesus is• Peter cries out in despair, “Lord, save me.”

2. Faith

• “Sometimes, in sorrow, dread, or helplessness, it will be a crisis cry of creaturehood – a beating on heaven’s door with bruised knuckles in the dark.” (George A. Buttrick)

• Peter is now in imminent danger• He’s too far from the boat to call on his friends• “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and

caught him.”

2. Faith

• Jesus saves Peter AND the rest of the Twelve• He demonstrates the saving power of Yahweh• Jesus doesn’t explicitly self-reveal as God• He abides by Yahweh’s will to save his people

“The Son can do...only what he sees the Father doing.” (John 5:19)

• Yahweh parted the sea for the 12 Tribes • Jesus calms the sea for the 12 disciples

2. Faith

• The Wildeman’s• Stepping out in faith• A Rocha – environmental conservation• Raising support and awaiting housing• Started work, sleeping in a tent• What faith!

2. Faith

• The nature of faith:“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

• The Wildeman’s are living out this faith!“Faith is looking at God and trusting him for everything.” (Tom Wright)

2. Faith

• We desire to please our Lord and Saviour• He grows our faith and our trust in Him• God takes little faith and makes it grow• We relate more to the eleven in the boat• We lack the courage and confidence of Peter• Doubt and fear, essential to growing in faith• Faith in Jesus, greater than any doubt or fear

2. Faith

• New parents – have faith!• Graduate students – have faith!• Teenagers – have faith!• through the storm to higher ground

• What is the proper response for people who experience the rescue of God?

3. Worship

• the disciples worship him“Truly you are the Son of God.” (v. 33)

• worship on the waters, a wonderful finale• the Old Rugged Boat to the Old Rugged Cross• Centurion: “Surely he was the Son of God!”

(Matthew 27:54)• they return to the Galilean mountains• the disciples now see Jesus for who he truly is

3. Worship

• Jesus is not just another prophet; he’s not another Moses; he is God incarnate.

• Old Rugged Church, a community of believers • the joy of worshipping Jesus

- Singing, teaching and communion• Worship is how we respond to God with joyful

and thankful hearts!

Conclusion

• Following Jesus’ example:- prayer is pivotal

• Following Peter’s example:- faith must be focused

• Following the disciples example:- worship is an appropriate response