5th Sign: Who Else Can Walk On Water?, Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhart challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ insight into the nature of Jesus comes in and says I am. That's what he said I know you're in the storm of seniors screaming at I write here such a thing for you and I do remember this activity should you don't really know what going out today on this additional fellowship in the world.

Pastor Bill Gebhart Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhart now again he shows us how God's word meets our work stranded this on this great miracle there several miracles are John gives us the Reader's Digest version is pretty short. First time I read it like to be more than but Matthew and Mark. Also Mark six and Matthew 14 they speak of the same thing that John does not remember the context of this.

The context is he just fed 15 to 20,000 people miraculously the people are so overwhelmed by they want to make him king. Now we know the pretense of the disciples of the same way.

I think they would've got into the chant make him king make him just as they would, but notice what it says here it says in 16 now when the evening came, the disciples went down to the sea after getting into the boat. Now that's nice. John wrote that that wasn't exactly that way Mark six tells little bit more. It says after this, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat get into the boat guys like Nona white women make it king here remind people is that you get into the boat, so they get into the boat. That's what ends up happening the way he tells him what he wants him to do now when you get into the boat can tell by the other account. They first went north east corner of the seed gallantly took a short row to buy SATA and then a long row over to Capernaum on the northern shore.

Please understand one thing of all the disciples severed on them are fishermen so they have a lot they only finished seed gallantly they know it storms happen all the time on the Sea of Galilee at 700 feet below sea level and on three sides ribeye mountains, cold air rising and falling down the mountains, creates all kinds of turbulent on the sea is known for its terrible storms to put everything else in perspective it shallow and you know from my poncho training you have is water that shallow and high winds.

You get great waves so there there used to that now what John writes here, which is kind of interesting is that he says then, and after getting to the boat. They started across the sea to Capernaum. It'd already become dark, Jesus is not yet come to them in the sea began to be stirred up because of the strong wind that was blowing is about sunset so you get in this boat. Jesus doesn't, tells them to get the boat and go and now the wind picks up in the storm is coming now. What's interesting about that is that it says in 19 right in the beginning.

Then, when they had rowed about 3 to 4 miles. Now we know from Matthew and Mark. It's the last watch of the night.

Okay it's 3 o'clock in the morning to 6 o'clock in the morning so they started in the water at sunset. So now it's 10 hours later so and are getting nowhere.

They can't get anywhere sick is an amazing thing when you think about these are fishermen and they can't make any headway at all big on three or 4 miles. I have an awful long distance. The going and not making any headway. And now they find themselves in the storm now it came up as suddenly as possible. And that's the truth. The most storm so many come suddenly, think, think of the storms in your life. Sometimes they come slowly but how often do they come suddenly we would do about it when you're in storm.

I mean we've all been in hurricane Dragon. So what we knew it, if a big hurricanes in the Gulf.

We should get a committee together and figure out how we'll handle it right. That's the way you handle storm. Mrs. get together we can stop it. Kenley Mellott was our plan run just get out of the way run is nothing we can do with the storm. That's what this disciples in that sense are kinda facing in and of themselves. That's what they're facing. This idea there's not much you can do hey you. If you want to save your marriage.

That's a stormy wind you realize something right away, it takes two votes takes two people to want to save the marriage to save it, how we want to be healthy while I I'm really into that I'm in the fitness receipt. I whatever you are vegan and whatever matters you you eat the right food. You do all the right activity get the right amount arresting you going to see your doctor and he said you have stage IV cancer.

That's a storm now what are you going to Dubai because your healthy much. She storms like that. They just come into our life in a safe world.

When we do it that this particular stage.

So then John says this when they had rowed three or 4 miles, they saw Jesus walking on this heat and dry near the boat. They were frightened. No kidding. Now if you read Mark and Matthew you find something else. That's a miracle. Mark says that Jesus saw them straining at the wars there's no electricity.

It's a storm in the middle of the night and there probably 68 miles up, Jesus saw them straining at the oars. What is a tell you about him going to pitch black night see someone 8 miles out in rolling over the boat in a storm and see if you could see my poncho training, straining.

That's a miracle and of itself, is that I see them in a storm that's extremely important for him as we'll see in just a moment and then it says he came walking on the sea. Nobody walks on water.

People don't want you walk on dirt, rocks, sand you walk on water peak. He's come walking. You never wonder what was like when I came walking if it's a tremendous wink was he leaning into the wind. You sir try to get you think was the couple inches under the surface member. The wave actions like this. Is he going up and down.

We don't know but it doesn't seem like it's too excited about this is pretty calm about this.

He just comes walking on the water because he saw them straining at the oars. The point of that is he sees you in the storm always comes to us in the store. Always watch. He said it is I do not be afraid. Doesn't exactly say that it is is a go. I me in the Greek Eagle. I me you can translate it is is I I don't think he said it in Greek is arrested. John, I think he said in Hebrew. He said you're very Yahweh. Member the burning bush of Moses. Moses said who, going to say is sending me back to Egypt. He said you tell them Yahweh. I am that I am you tell them I am sent you. If God had a business card it would say I am one. That's his name Seattle God says my name. I am an John uses this term often in the same chapter. Near the end you say I am the good shepherd came and yes, it was still could mean it just is and it is I but he also says this in John before Abraham was, I am not before Abraham was, I was before Abraham was, I am.

That's extremely important from the each analogy of the son of God.

He says I am interesting when you think about it.

That's what God says to you and me in the storms of life. He sees the storm it comes to you and says I am sent me it means he is the all-powerful covenant keeping God. That's what it means now, if he is the all-powerful covenant keeping God who is Isaiah says loves you and he comes to you and your storm. Tell me what you would be afraid. See, why would you put afraid of. That's a very important point to make you what what is it that you're afraid of. In this case turned me back to Isaiah 43 for a moment.

Isaiah 43 see a little bit more. Under this principle, right here. More about the nature of God.

Isaiah 43 beginning in verse one it says. But now, thus says the Lord Yahweh your creator of Jacob, and he who formed you over Israel.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. When you pass through the waters, I'll be with you and through the rivers that will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not get scorched nor the frame burn you, for I am the Lord your God. Verse four. Since you are precious in my sight. Since you are honored and I love you that's an insight into the nature of God. When Jesus comes in and says I am. I'm here.

That's what he said I know you're in the storm of senior straining at it. I write here such an important thing for you and I do remember this I give you peace to you should and it should. If you really know him. If you don't really know is that of the waves you see Eunice look at the ways you might have a little faith.

Robert Matthews the only one it says about Peter member Peter got out of the boat. He got out now what what the matter, say before him.

You said the disciples thought he might be a ghost, which in of itself is kind of funny to me.

I mean, did you know ghost walk on water. I mean somehow they made that leap. Could've been a ghost really whoever saw ghost walk on water, but think of Peter.

Peter said to pitch Lord tell me to come right and he said, what if it's not the Lord. He told the cop I may says if it's you, Lord, tell me to come. Okay, okay, I'm coming over the side. One of the morning told the companies at the bottom you see it. It's an interesting thought.

When you met point of view, but the whole point is Peter's faith wavered. The other guys than have it, but what God is saying here is the fact that I've seen straining at in the storm and affect them here should be enough. If you know me, if you know me you have everything you need as if I knew my trust all your Christians you trust Jesus Christ to do what you know you can do for yourself.

You put your trust in Jesus did on the cross.

What I can never do for myself. I put my trust now you get in the storm sick on and off.

I want to put my trust, I don't know if I can really trust them with this see how that is what we do do we see him coming and listen to him saying I am or do you see the storm and then you start wondering things people say to me in this way all the time. I know I'm not God. But if I were, this should be handled differently when you see when you make that statement. What are you saying I don't trust him I can trust him. I see the circumstances, I can trust the that's how dangerous this part really is that I know most all of us would rather be spared the storm and sometimes a storm is over quickly, but sometimes is not remember what Mary said with the wedding in Cana. Whatever he says just do it. That's what happens in the store to see whatever he says in the storm is to that's where the peace comes from the Bible allows you and I do pray our humanity Jesus and the Garnet assembly said, let this cup pass from me but then he said, nevertheless, what not my will be done by yours so were allowed to pray our humanity and we can but it should always have attached to it. Nevertheless, Lord, I will be done by yours and I have peace and that you see I have peace and that why because I can trust him. Why, because I know him, I know who he is and what is like that's what is said in the storm at some it's an amazing thing. So some final thoughts here. One is he always has a purpose in our trials every single storm. It happens in my life for yours. He has a purpose and it he sees the end from the beginning. He tells us, I work all things together for good. He said if you know me better.

And trust me more. He said this to be a blessing in your life. Secondly, he is always sovereign in our trials.

Think of these guys 15 to 20,000 people supernaturally fed the crowd wants to make Messiah there all pumped up dinner on the storm at 97 were all going to die. By the way you said what how many storms we go through will think of this one have the disciples ever been to Mountlake before. Yes, Jesus was sleeping in the hall.

Remember they woke him up on what they say to him, we trust the Lord. Don't you care were dying don't you care will get a parachute were all gonna drown stills. The storm is as you meant a little faith. See if you really knew Jesus, and Jesus said were going to the other side. Were you going if Jesus is God.

He says are going to the other side you're going to the other side, but they didn't think about that. They just thought about the storm. So again the same kind of lesson again. Also, he always has the power to deal with our trials is important, as he sees fit.

That's the important part, as he sees fit. That's the part we don't like. I want him to handle my trial my storm the way I see it, who is the most righteous man in the Old Testament Joe, how do you know God said so God said Job was a rose most righteous man on the go through storm yeah long. Yes, big 10 and I mean unbelievable when he went through, he just questioned God said I need to talk to you. God never told him the reason for the storm. By the way ever comes out of the whirlwind and basically says that Job could you think you are. Why would you question me. Don't you know who I am wherever you when I created the earth tell me how can you question me when you and I was AWOL. Think about a lost 10 kids. He lost all his sermons he lost all his wealth he and his wife on the rocks.

He lost his health is on a city dump and he has some puncture scraping the scores of his body. That's why it's a what would you? Joe got it, repented in sackcloth and ashes. Then what happened. God bless them Vinnie got everything back storm over got Irving back got as well] got 10 more kids got always woke back at all with the respect from the night everything came back okay now who is the most righteous man in the New Testament, apart from Jesus. John the Baptist how do you know Jesus. It is, and there's no man born of a woman greater than John anyone through a storm that worked out is beheaded. All he must've love Joe more than John cc fit. You see, that's where the comfort comes him as he sees fit. Peter one in the prison they prayed, what happened doors opened. Audi goes James. Another possible goes into prison how to work out it and get out and was executed as he sees fit. God is sovereign over this. You see, it's okay as he sees fit should give you comfort because of who he is and lastly he's always present in our trials. Always write in Hebrew says he tells us will never leave us nor forsake us.

No matter what. That's important for us.

Remember the great commission. It said go and make disciples.

You know the thing at the end of the great commission.

It says in low I am with you always, even to the end of the age doesn't mean too much to us, but there was a missionary in central Africa's name was David Livingston member Dr. Livingston. I suppose when they were trying to find Dr. Livingston. He spent mostly in his adult life in Africa. When you read his biography what he went through was horrific just horrific.

I think most of us would have left Africa 20 times because of what he went through. He stayed and he said the reason that he stayed was the end of the great commission.

He said the reason I stated see.

He told me I am with you always, even to the end of the age. I'm right here with you.

You see, it gave Livingston tremendous comfort.

Why, because he knew God. He knows Jesus Christ and so that gave them comfort to the tremendously difficult storm, so he always has a purpose in your trousers always sovereign over your trousers. He always has the power to deal with your trousers cc fit in these always present in your trials. That's what this miracle teaches us. He uses the trials and storms of our lives so that we can know him better so that we will trust him more.

The spring father. This is one of those lessons, at least for me it is easy to understand and very hard to apply on a certain level, it makes sense to me.

Father, but on another level when I find myself in the storm I become preoccupied with all of the elements of the storm and I find myself fearful, frightened, discouraged father. I must admit to you and confess to you it must be because I just don't know the Lord well enough to trust him completely in my life. He sees us screaming at the oars. He tells us he's right here with us, and that alone. Father should give us the comfort and the peace that we can endure the storms when he tells us this will be good for you in the long run, we must father this is such an important lesson I pray that your spirit will convict for your board for our pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever missed one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the method one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online event website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of her previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word we are thinking for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible.

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