The Calm Before The Storm

read Matthew 14:15-21
Feeding of the five thousand Matthew 14:19-22
Sending the disciples away in a ship Matthew 14:22
Jesus praying on the mountain Matthew 14:23

The Storm

Pictures the storms of life that comes to us all.
The disciples struggled with high winds and waves Matthew 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Jesus came walking on the sea encouraging them Matthew 14:25

Peter´s Challenge: If It Be Thou, Bid Me To Come

read Matthew 14:28

We are going to look at these four things about faith.

The Invitation To Faith.
The Adventure Of Faith.
The Adversaries Of Faith.
The Resource Of Faith.

The Invitation To Faith

read Matthew 14:29

Come A word of invitation

There are more than 1900 Invitations in the Bible

Consider some of the invitations Jesus has given us

read  Matthew 11:28
read  Matthew 19:14
Jesus inviting the thirsty to come and drink John 7:37
All who come will He receive John 6:37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

Come To Jesus And Trust Him As Savior

The Adventure Of Faith

Peter coming down out of the ship

Peter´s knowledge of the sea as a fisherman

Experiences with drowning companions.
He knew how treacherous the sea could be.

There is something within us that loves adventure

Like going over a water fall in a barrel.
Mountain climbing, sky diving, car racing, space travel.

Peter walks on water and finds out that Jesus is Lord Of All!

The adventure of stepping out on God´s Promises

In trusting God instead of man.
In giving and not knowing how God will provide.
In going and trusting in God to lead the way.

The Adversaries Of Faith

read Matthew 14:30

The wind was boisterous; what are your present circumstances?

Have you had a troubled week?
Are you struggling with temptation?
fear?
grief?

Peter´s fears were adversaries of his faith.

Fear and faith are opposites.
General Lee said, never take counsel of your fears.
As faith increases, fear decreases.

The Resource Of Faith

Peter prayed when all looked hopeless

It was a short intense prayer.
A prayer that recognized the Power of Jesus to answer!

Immediately Jesus Stretched out His hand and saved Peter

With Jesus, it is safe to be weak and needy!

Respond to God´s invitation to the life of faith!

He will receive you and care for you through life´s storms.

Bible Studies Home

Matthew 14:22 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.
³⁴ And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
³⁵ And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased.
³⁶ And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
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Matthew 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
¹⁶ But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
¹⁷ And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
¹⁸ He said, Bring them hither to me.
¹⁹ And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
²⁰ And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
²¹ And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
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Matthew 14:19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
²⁰ And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
²¹ And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
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.
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Matthew 14:22 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.
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Matthew 14:23 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.
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Matthew 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
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Matthew 14:25 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
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Matthew 11:28 Come unto me all ye that labor and I will give you rest.
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Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
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John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
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John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
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Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
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Matthew 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
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Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
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Last updated on September 15, 2005