Faith Over Fear: Navigating Life's Storms
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound question, "What if?" This question can be asked in various contexts—past, present, and future. We often find ourselves asking "What if?" from a place of fear rather than faith. Our focus today was on Matthew 14, where Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him. This was significant because it was a test of their faith. They had just witnessed the miracle of feeding 5,000 people, yet they were still fearful when faced with a storm at sea.
Jesus sent the disciples into the storm, not to harm them, but to teach them to rely on faith rather than fear. When we feed our faith, our "what ifs" are driven by faith. Conversely, when we feed our fears, our "what ifs" are driven by fear. The disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on water, mistaking Him for a ghost. This reaction showed that their "what ifs" were rooted in fear. Peter's initial response to Jesus was one of doubt, asking for confirmation even after Jesus had identified Himself.
We often seek confirmation from God before stepping out in faith, but the command itself is the confirmation. Jesus calls us to trust Him and move forward, even when we face storms. The disciples' journey to the other side of the lake was crucial because it led to a place where many people needed healing. Jesus knew the importance of getting to the other side, and He empowered the disciples to make that journey despite the storm.
In our lives, we must remember that Jesus is with us in our storms, guiding us to the other side where something significant awaits. We should not let fear dictate our actions but instead, trust in God's command and move forward in faith.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith vs. Fear in "What If" Scenarios: The question "What if?" can be driven by either faith or fear. When we feed our faith, our "what ifs" are hopeful and trustful in God's plan. Conversely, feeding our fears leads to doubt and anxiety. It's crucial to nurture our faith to see God's possibilities rather than our limitations. [39:12]
2. Jesus Sends Us into Storms for a Purpose: Jesus sent the disciples into the storm to teach them reliance on faith. Similarly, God allows us to face storms not to harm us but to strengthen our faith and prepare us for greater things on the other side. The storm is a part of the journey, not the destination. [44:21]
3. The Command is the Confirmation: Often, we seek additional signs or confirmations from God before acting. However, the command itself is the confirmation. When Jesus says "come," we should trust and obey without needing further proof. This obedience is a true act of faith. [50:23]
4. Jesus is Always Ahead, Leading Us: In our storms, Jesus is not behind us but ahead, guiding us through the resistance. We must listen for His voice and follow His lead, trusting that He is taking us to a place of significance and purpose. [55:07]
5. Worship in the Midst of the Storm: Even when we feel defeated, like Peter did after sinking, we should worship Jesus. Worship shifts our focus from our fears and failures to God's power and faithfulness. It is in worship that we find strength and reassurance. [57:16]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[35:19] - Introduction to "What If?"
[36:19] - Prayer and Scripture Reading
[37:15] - Jesus Sends Disciples into the Boat
[38:24] - Disciples' Fear and Doubt
[39:12] - Faith vs. Fear in "What If"
[41:04] - The Storm Begins
[42:22] - Fearful "What Ifs"
[43:19] - Jesus Walks on Water
[44:21] - Purpose of the Storm
[45:05] - Faith-Driven "What Ifs"
[46:06] - Disciples' Fear of the Ghost
[48:12] - Jesus' Reassurance
[49:25] - Peter's Doubt and Request for Confirmation
[50:23] - The Command is the Confirmation
[52:03] - Hearing God's Voice
[55:07] - Jesus Leading Us
[57:16] - Worship in the Storm
[01:00:57] - Healing on the Other Side
[01:02:37] - Call to Action and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV)
### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reaction of the disciples when they saw Jesus walking on water? ([46:06])
2. How did Peter respond when Jesus identified Himself? ([49:25])
3. What happened to Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm? ([56:05])
4. What did the disciples do after Jesus and Peter got back into the boat? ([57:16])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus made the disciples get into the boat without Him? ([37:15])
2. How does the disciples' fear during the storm reflect our own fears in difficult situations? ([41:34])
3. What does Peter's request for confirmation from Jesus reveal about his faith? ([49:25])
4. How does worshiping in the midst of a storm change our perspective on the situation? ([57:16])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a "storm" in your life. How did you respond? Did you act out of faith or fear? ([42:22])
2. Jesus sent the disciples into the storm for a purpose. Can you identify a situation in your life where a difficult experience led to personal growth or a deeper faith? ([44:21])
3. Peter asked for confirmation before stepping out in faith. Are there areas in your life where you are waiting for additional signs from God before acting? How can you move forward with the command as your confirmation? ([50:23])
4. The sermon mentioned that Jesus is always ahead, leading us through our storms. How can you practice listening for Jesus' voice and following His lead in your daily life? ([55:07])
5. Worshiping in the midst of a storm can shift our focus from our fears to God's faithfulness. What are some practical ways you can incorporate worship into your life, especially during challenging times? ([57:16])
6. The disciples' journey to the other side of the lake was crucial for the healing of many people. How can you trust that God has a significant purpose for you on the other side of your current challenges? ([01:00:57])
7. Think of a specific "what if" scenario in your life that is driven by fear. How can you reframe it to be driven by faith instead? ([39:12])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Over Fear in "What If" Scenarios
When we face uncertain situations, the question "What if?" can either be driven by faith or fear. Feeding our faith allows us to see God's possibilities and trust in His plan, while feeding our fears leads to doubt and anxiety. The disciples, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles, were still fearful when faced with a storm. This shows that even those who have seen God's power can struggle with fear. By nurturing our faith, we can transform our "what ifs" into hopeful and trustful scenarios, seeing beyond our limitations to God's greater plan. [39:12]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Think of a current situation where you are asking "What if?" out of fear. How can you shift your perspective to ask "What if?" from a place of faith instead?
Day 2: Jesus Sends Us into Storms for a Purpose
Jesus sent the disciples into the storm not to harm them but to teach them to rely on faith. Similarly, God allows us to face storms in our lives to strengthen our faith and prepare us for greater things. The storm is not the destination but a part of the journey. The disciples' journey across the lake was crucial because it led to a place where many people needed healing. In our lives, the storms we face are often preparing us for significant purposes on the other side. [44:21]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent storm in your life. How can you see it as a part of God's preparation for something greater?
Day 3: The Command is the Confirmation
Often, we seek additional signs or confirmations from God before acting. However, the command itself is the confirmation. When Jesus says "come," we should trust and obey without needing further proof. This obedience is a true act of faith. Peter's initial response to Jesus was one of doubt, asking for confirmation even after Jesus had identified Himself. We must learn to trust God's commands and move forward in faith, knowing that His word is enough. [50:23]
Hebrews 11:8 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."
Reflection: Is there a command from God that you are hesitating to obey because you are waiting for more confirmation? What steps can you take today to act in faith?
Day 4: Jesus is Always Ahead, Leading Us
In our storms, Jesus is not behind us but ahead, guiding us through the resistance. The disciples were terrified when they saw Jesus walking on water, mistaking Him for a ghost. This reaction showed that their "what ifs" were rooted in fear. We must listen for His voice and follow His lead, trusting that He is taking us to a place of significance and purpose. Jesus is always ahead, leading us through our challenges and towards His greater plan. [55:07]
Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you listen for Jesus' guidance and trust that He is leading you through it?
Day 5: Worship in the Midst of the Storm
Even when we feel defeated, like Peter did after sinking, we should worship Jesus. Worship shifts our focus from our fears and failures to God's power and faithfulness. It is in worship that we find strength and reassurance. The disciples' journey to the other side of the lake was crucial because it led to a place where many people needed healing. Worshiping in the midst of our storms helps us to see beyond our immediate struggles and trust in God's greater plan. [57:16]
Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV): "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"
Reflection: In the midst of your current struggles, how can you incorporate worship into your daily routine to shift your focus to God's power and faithfulness?
Quotes
1. "We will get out of what we feed. If we are feeding faith into our spiritualness that we need, our what ifs are going to be driven by faith. But if we feed fear in our lives, our what ifs are going to be driven by fear. Here's what I'm trying to say. If God has called you to do something and you say, and you're feeding fear into your life, the first thing, the first thought that's going to come, the first thought that's going to come up is fear." [39:12] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we have faith, we are called to go share the gospel. And our what if is what if I go out and share the gospel and somebody gets saved today because of the word of God. That's faith driven what if. So if we feed our faith or if we feed our what ifs with faith, we will get faith out of it. And we've got to remember that Jesus told the disciples here to go to the other side." [40:11] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Some of us today sitting where we're at right now is in the biggest storm of our life. And sometimes you don't even know. And right now you could be... You could be thinking, I don't even know if I want to make it to the other side if my storm is this big right now. Some of us are in little storms. Some of us aren't in a storm yet, but maybe we're going to... Well, I guarantee you one day we will be in a storm." [42:22] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Sometimes I think we get into that blame game to where we start blaming everybody around us to why we're in a storm. And we need to also remember that Jesus will send us right into these storms too. Not because he doesn't love us. But he wants us to go through some things so we can get to the other side and see the value of it. The fact of the matter is, the fact of the matter is that Jesus said, go to the other side." [43:19] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What if there is something on the other side that is worth going through the storm for? What if that something on the other side of the storm that you're going through is worth getting to? That what if right there. If you can say that. If you can say that to yourself. That what if is based off of faith and not fear. Some of us get to this point of our lives and we start to use the what ifs, the fear, and we jump out of the boat and go home." [45:05] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "How many times in our lives have we seen a miracle one day and three days later we're scared again. And we didn't carry on our faith through that miracle. You know, I think sometimes we will actually see God doing a miraculous thing. And we want to write it off so that can't be God because that's too much of a miracle. Kind of like the disciples are doing here." [47:02] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "How many times do we hear this and we still get fearful? We don't actually take heart. We don't actually take heart. We don't actually listen to that voice when Jesus says, don't be afraid. It's I. Here's the thing though. And I think that we all could do better for me to everybody in here is we must train ourselves to listen to Jesus just a little bit more. Jesus says, my sheep hear my voice." [48:12] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jesus doesn't have to talk Peter into anything else. He doesn't have to give a three-point sermon on why you need to come. He just says, come. One simple word. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. Now, we don't know how far Peter walked. I think Peter walked quite a distance, and I'm going to tell you why. I think that Jesus was far off because, one, they couldn't recognize him." [53:10] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "When we're in these storms, the only time we'll ever sink over our head is when we let ourselves sink over our head. That first sign that we start to sink should be the sign that we reach out and grab Jesus' hand. Jesus says, why did you doubt? Peter, why did you take your eyes off of me? Why did you put yourself onto the storm?" [56:05] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Sometimes we do have a lack of faith, and Jesus will come and show us his power. But we don't need to say, what a lack of faith I have. We need to say, what a God we have. So let's kind of come to the closing with this. I want to kind of bring this whole thing down. Jesus told Peter one word. Peter said, if it's you, Jesus, just give me this. Give me this confirmation that it's you. And we'd say the same thing." [58:05] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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