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Saved 11/8/02 6.30 HC Rom 10:5-15, Matt 14:22-33
Rom 10:13 “Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.” That promise was declared by the prophet Joel in the 4thC BC, it was echoed by Paul to the church in Rome and today we hear it for ourselves.
It begins with the word – “Everyone”, it’s a universal promise, anyone can claim the promise to be saved. God’s people the Jews have seemed exclusive at times in their history and the same attitude has applied to the church. But here we are reminded that the promises and the power of God are available to all – even us here today. All that is required for us to experience them is “to call out to the Lord for help”. And that’s why we are here isn’t it?
In our gospel account we see this promise fulfilled in a wonderful way in the experience of the disciple Peter.
Let his experience be yours as you imagine yourself into this event.
It’s nightime, you are in a small fishing boat out in the middle of the sea of Galilee; the wind is blowing, the waves are up and the boat is tossing about. You are in the middle of a storm and that can be frightening. It’s now three o’clock in the morning – not my best time of day – then, some time later Jesus appears, walking on the water, you and the other disciples are terrified, is it a ghost?
What do you do?
You are all thinking…d. take a walk on the water, aren’t you? Leave the safety of the boat and walk off into the storm. Just like Peter.
A crisis, a problem, a disaster can defeat us and leave us helpless or such things can be an opportunity to meet the Lord Jesus to find his help and his possibilities. Haven’t you found that you have met with Jesus in a crisis? The Egyptian symbol for an impossible thing is – well what do you think……a picture of two feet walking on the waves of the sea. And that’s exactly what Jesus did, but then he was God so you might expect such a thing. After all the world had been made through him, he is the Lord of the universe, he commands wind and waves and they obey. It is good to be reminded of his power, as the disciples were that night, for we may carry around with us a weak picture of Jesus, and that will mean we have a weak faith.
The adverstisers on TV, drip feed reminders to us of how strong and powerful and longlasting their products are, so that we will get them and use them. The Bible and our worship remind us how strong and powerful and longlasting God is.
Let’s look closer at what happens next. Jesus is walking on water and Peter says: “Lord if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.” Disciples are called to follow Jesus – remember our bold mission statement – “to live as Jesus would today.” There are some hard places to follow in and walking on the water must come near the top. But if Jeus orders you, then even what seems impossible can be made possible.
Looking at Jesus and listening to Jesus, Peter steps out of the boat and starts walking..what happens next? He starts to sink down, why? v30 “When he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid.” With his attention diverted to the wind and the waves, down he goes. Yet even there the promise we began with was fulfilled as Peter cried out “save me Lord!” and he did, Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him. and Jesus says what seem to be hard words – “How little faith you have , why did you doubt.?” He like all of us are a mixture of faith and doubt, fear and courage.
Let us be inspired by this experience of Peter: - to look at impossible things in a different way - to dare to leave the security of what we trust in if the Lord commands – it may be that the Lord is calling you to step out of a boat and trust him. - to look at the promise rather than the problem, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
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