Walking with Jesus through the Storms of Life

Notes: Walking with Jesus through the Storms of Life
Matthew 14
Pastor Greg Laurie
SERIES: God Came Near
Sunday, February 22, 2015

I would rather try and fail than never try at all. Failure is usually the predecessor to success. The doorway to success is usually entered through the hallway of failure.

Einstein failed at math. Michael Jordan didn't make his high school basketball team.

Abraham Lincoln failed in business regularly, he lost several elections.

If you have failed, relax you are in good company.

Read:
Matthew 14:22-33 KJV
[22] And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. [23] And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. [24] But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. [25] And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. [26] And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. [27] But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. [28] And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. [29] And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. [30] But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. [31] And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [32] And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. [33] Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.


1. Storms will come in life.

Storm is a metaphor for hardships, difficulties or tragedies.

Storms don't last forever,

Jesus knew the storm was coming.

2. Jesus is watching us in our storms.

Mark 6:48 KJV
[48] And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

We may lose sight of God but God never loses sight of us.

Proverbs 15:3 KJV
[3] The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Romans 8:34 KJV
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Greg believes that we are a country headed into a great storm. Terrorist call us the Nation of the Cross. They decapitated 21 Christians in Egypt.

Greg thinks we should 1. Respond militarily 2. Stand by Israel 3. Pray for our leaders, 4. Fight fire with fire, using a better ideology, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. Jesus helps us in our storms.

He could come at the last possible time. Just before the last moment.

Matthew 14:25 NKJV
[25] Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

Why would Jesus come so late? So that they exhaust every resource, so they will know it is only Jesus that can save them.

Jesus went to them, walking in the sea. He could have come any way, but he chose to walk by, waiting for the disciples to ask for His help.

They thought he was a ghost, they didn't recognize Him because they weren't looking for Him.

You will never know Jesus like you do when you experience Him in the most troublesome trials in your life.

Greg experienced Jesus the most at the time of the loss of his son Christopher.

In the worst case scenario, you will see God like you have never seen Him before.

Job 42:5 NKJV
[5] "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.

Matthew 14:27-28 NKJV
[27] But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." [28] And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

Peter is willing to put it on the line. Jesus told him to walk on the water.

Matthew 14:29 NKJV
[29] So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Jesus would not have told Peter to do something he shouldn't have.

Peter was the most vocal and most corrected disciple.

Peter just wanted to be close to Jesus.

Peter sank because he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on other things.

We start to sink when we take our eyes off Jesus.

Peter sank because he was afraid.

There is no room for fear in faith, and where there is fear, faith is chased out.

Matthew 14:31 NKJV
[31] And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Maybe you are sinking right now. Then you need to cry out to Jesus.

It is better to be in the storm with Jesus than anywhere else without Him.

Why would you "pull yourself up by the boot straps" when you could have God lift you?

Like in the story of the Prodigal Son, God is like a Father that will run to you when you return to Him.

Romans 8:28-29 NKJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. [29] For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

It is saying God is in control and in the long run you will be better, because you will become more like Jesus.

His big purpose in your life is to make you more like Jesus.

Don't despair if you are in a bad place, that could be the signal that leads to your deliverance.

If you don't want Jesus you don't have to have Him. You can either live a bitter or a better life.

If you call out to Jesus then He will rescue you.

Is Jesus Christ living inside of you right now?