COMPLETE
RELIANCE ON HIM!
Futurologist Alvin Toffler has written an
insightful book titled The Third Wave. Toffler suggests
there are three eras, three periods of history, three waves in American
culture. Then he reflects on the implications of these three waves for the
individual, the family, the Church, and society at large. First came the
agricultural wave: Little House on the Prairie, Squatters' rights, the
simple pioneer lifestyle; men planting crops, building homes, and families
living together.
The second wave was the industrial wave,
when families moved from the country into the city. They moved from developing
farms and croplands by hand to becoming part of a larger corporation, working
with machinery and developing technology. The extended family was not always
nearby. The family became smaller; a husband and wife with two or three
children was a family in the second wave.
The third wave could be called the
information wave (and technology)–the wave of computers, fax machines, cell
phones, and mass media (we can add AI to the list). In this wave,
we see growing affluence on the one hand, growing poverty on the other, and a
shrinking middle class. The third wave makes a quantum leap from what we have
known of the familiar waters of yesterday to the uncharted course of
tomorrow."[1]
This third wave is like a Tsunami plunging the
world into confusion. We are facing complex challenges, including the recent
COVID pandemic and the current Wars in the Middle East. How do we, as followers
of Christ, navigate the ever-changing world? Matthew 14:22-33
I. What Strengthens Us Amid Challenging
Circumstances?
From
the beginning of his ministry, Jesus faced opposition from the Pharisees, the
Sadducees, and the teachers of the Law. Towards the end, those challenges were
only intensified. People were becoming more skeptical (Matt 13:58). His
authority was questioned in His own hometown. Though the disciples witnessed
great miracles performed by Jesus and by themselves, they struggled with
unbelief and fear, and their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:52). As if those weren't
enough, Jesus had a personal tragedy; his cousin John was beheaded.
If you were to face similar challenging
circumstances both in ministry (workplace) and in your personal life, how would
you respond? What would give you the strength and courage to endure
difficulties in life? How did Jesus handle ministry and personal challenges?
When Jesus faced challenges, he often
withdrew to lonely places and prayed. He fasted and prayed 40 Days and Nights
before launching His public ministry. He spent all night in prayer before
picking up the twelve apostles. He often prayed before performing critical
miracles and healings. Prayers were the fuel for his ministry, giving him
strength and sustaining power.
Let's see how Jesus was strengthened before
taking on the most difficult task of his ministry: the Crucifixion (Luke
22:39-43). "Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives,
and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray
that you will not fall into temptation." 41 He withdrew about a stone's
throw beyond them, knelt down, and prayed.
42 "Father, if you are willing, take
this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43 An angel from
heaven appeared to him and strengthened him." Praying to God was an
integral part of Jesus' life and ministry. If Jesus was that prayerful, and
trusted God completely in all his challenges. How much more are his followers
to be prayerful and reliant on God?
II. Walking In Uncharted Waters: (Matthew
14:22-29)
The
disciples were with Jesus when he performed many miracles of deliverance and healing
the sick. This time, they had witnessed a spectacular miracle: feeding over
5,000 people with five loaves and two fish, and they picked up twelve baskets
of leftover food.
Immediately after that, Jesus made the disciples
get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side of the lake. After
dispersing the crowds, He went up to a mountainside to pray. Later in the
night, he was there all alone, and the boat was at a considerable distance from
the land. An identical narrative we will find in Mark 6:45-52, with some more details.
Mark 6: 48, "He saw the disciples
straining at the oars, because the wind was against them." Where was Jesus
when the disciples were almost drowned? Jesus was on the mountainside praying. For
Peter and the other disciples, being in the boat alone without Jesus must have
been very frightening. The boat was already far from the land, in uncharted
waters.
The wind and the waves were beating on the
boat, threatening to drown them. At around 4:00 A.M., Jesus came to them
walking on the Water. They couldn't even recognize Jesus; they were terrified
and said it was a ghost. Have you ever had a midnight or early-morning scare?
I had recently! It was like walking in
uncharted waters! "Phrases such as uncharted
territory or uncharted waters figuratively describe a situation
that is unfamiliar or has never been encountered before."[2]
One Sunday morning, before preaching in the Church, I experienced acute
abdominal pain like never before. Eventually, in the middle of the night on
three occasions, I was driven in an ambulance and a car to the emergency room
for treatment.
During such unearthly hours, I was frightened
for my life! I cried out to God for mercy. He answered my prayers! I felt
Jesus' calming presence with me. Coming back to our story, the disciples found
themselves in uncharted waters. Everything looked frightening and unfamiliar.
Amid such threatening circumstances, how did they navigate through uncharted
waters? What gave them the courage to continue their journey across the lake
safely to the other side?
III. Complete Reliance On Him.
Matthew 14:27-33, 27 But Jesus immediately
said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." 28 "Lord,
if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on
the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid
and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately,
Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he
said, "why did you doubt?" 32 And when they climbed into the boat,
the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly
you are the Son of God." Here are a few takeaways from this very familiar
story.
First, when facing unfamiliar and frightening
circumstances, it is okay to cry out to God out of fear. When King David faced
uncharted waters, he cried out to God. Psalm 34: 6-7"This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear
him, and he
delivers them. Ps 34:17, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their
troubles." When the disciples cried out, Jesus assured them,
saying, "Take courage, do not be afraid."
Second, we may all be encouraged by
God's assuring words, but only a few would step out boldly into uncharted
waters. Verse 28, "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me
to come to you on the water." 29 "Come," he said. Then Peter got
down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus." What
kept Peter steady on course is what keeps us steady as well.
Peter did not look at the high waves or the
wind at first. He simply recognized his Lord, stepped out of the boat in faith,
and walked on water. As long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus, he could walk on
the water towards him.
But the moment he saw the wind, he was
afraid, began to sink, and cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus reached
out his hand and caught him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt? They
both climbed into the boat; the wind died, and those in the boat worshipped
Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." They got to the other
side safely.
The followers of Christ are walking in
uncharted waters. We are facing unfamiliar circumstances, such as wars in the
Middle East, economic instability, and a lack of security. We can only navigate
successfully through these uncharted waters by completely relying on Him. God
is in the midst of this troubled world and inviting us to come to Him. We step
out by faith into these uncharted waters. As long as we look to Jesus, we walk
steadily, but when we look at our circumstances and get overwhelmed, we will go
underwater. Even then, when we cry out to God, He saves us from fully drowning,
walks with us, and takes us safely to the other side.
[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/third-wave-family-structure/
[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/grammar/uncharted-vs-unchartered-waters-usage
