Looking Unto Jesus – Part 7 | Sunday Service | September 20, 2020

We welcome you all back to the house of our living God. The times have changed! The way we used to live has been changed and the way we used to see things has also beem changed. However, God was same yesterday, He is same today and He will be the same tomorrow and forever. Our God is an unchanging God, irrespective of the changes in the world happening.

Today again we will continue with our ongoing series, “Looking unto Jesus!” (Part 7)

Let us begin this beautiful day with an encouraging verse…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

In the midst of this pandemic, God is at work. No matter what we are going through in our lives, God is at work and He will do greater and mightier things through you. Everytime enemiy come, do not listen to this enemy, look unto God!

Looking Unto Jesus – There are various aspects when we say fixing our eyes upon Jesus. Not just fixing our eyes on Jesus, but also keeping God in a perspective. Last week, we learned about trusting and waiting upon God. Today we will learn about another aspect of looking unto God, i.e. “Becoming desperate for God!“

Let us take a look at the following verses from the Gospel of Matthew…

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”  And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

In the Bible, there are only two people recorded walking on water, Jesus and Peter. But when we look at this part of the Gospel, imagine the time and try to think what must be going in the minds of the disciples. When this was happening, in a sense, they (the disciples) were losing the battle.

Those are not Christ’s followers who cannot enjoy being alone with God and their own hearts. It is good, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. It is no new thing for Christ’s disciples to meet with storms in the way of duty, but he thereby shows himself with the more grace to them and for them. He can take what way he pleases to save his people. But even appearances of deliverance sometimes occasion trouble and perplexity to God’s people, from mistakes about Christ. Nothing ought to affright those that have Christ near them, and know he is theirs; not death itself. Peter walked upon the water, not for diversion or to boast of it, but to go to Jesus; and in that he was thus wonderfully borne up. Special supports are promised, and are to be expected, but only in spiritual pursuits; nor can we ever come to Jesus, unless we are upheld by his power. Christ bade Peter come, not only that he might walk upon the water, and so know his Lord’s power, but that he might know his own weakness. And the Lord often lets his servants have their choice, to humble and prove them, and to show the greatness of his power and grace. When we look off from Christ, and look at the greatness of opposing difficulties, we shall begin to fall; but when we call to him, he will stretch out his arm, and save us. Christ is the great Saviour; those who would be saved, must come to him, and cry to him, for salvation; we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking: the sense of need drives us to him. He rebuked Peter. Could we but believe more, we should suffer less. The weakness of faith, and the prevailing of our doubts, displease our Lord Jesus, for there is no good reason why Christ’s disciples should be of a doubtful mind. Even in a stormy day he is to them a very present help. None but the world’s Creator could multiply the loaves, none but its Governor could tread upon the waters of the sea: the disciples yield to the evidence, and confess their faith. They were suitably affected, and worshipped Christ. He that comes to God, must believe; and he that believes in God, will come.

Few important lessons, we can learn from this story:

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

If we notice, Peter was looking what Jesus was doing. Jesus was walking on the water, so Peter decided that if God is walking on water, he can do that as well, because he trusted in Christ. Having this faith and something Peter never thought, he would do, yet he walked on water. Peter’s eyes were fixed on God and he was able to walk on water in the midst of the storm.

Today, people are dying of never heard diseases, such as Coronavirus. People are dying by committing suicide during these testing times. People have lost hope and they have become depressed.

The word of God says, when Peter saw the winds, he got frightened and started drowning. Why? Because Peter’s eyes were no longer fixed on Jesus.

Thank God, Peter never cursed Jesus. Peter, while drowning, didn’t say anything about winds or storm, rather he looked unto Jesus and said, “Lord, save me!”

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

Peter’s cry was a desperate one. People of God, we need to realize that if Peter’s desperation saved him from sinking, why your desperate cry, looking unto Jesus, won’t help you. However have to desperately cry unto God and look unto Jesus. Believing with not just our eyes and mind, but also with our spirit, that Christ will save us and He will listen to our desperate cry.

Throughout the Bible, we have several examples of desperate cries. Here are few verse references…

Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God.

Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen!

Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me!

In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me!

Help me, O Lord my God! Save me according to your steadfast love!

I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.

Great is your mercy, O Lord ; give me life according to your rules.

Heal me, O Lord , and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

After Peter cried, God reached out to him and saved him. The Bible says, when we cry unto Lord, God listens and reaches out to us immediately.

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

People of God, do not focus on the problems or the difficulties that you are going through. Remember the sacrifices God has made for you. All you need to do is focus on Jesus and have faith that your desperate cries will be heard. No matter what difficulties you are going through, no matter what troubles you are facing, God is able and He will rescue you.

If God can rescue Peter from sinking, not just sinking, if God can make Peter walk on water, sure he can rescue you from any situation you are in. All you need to do is to fix your eyes on God and look unto Jesus, because He is able and He is our rescuer.