Faith's Focus: Trusting God Through Life's Storms
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone. Today, we are diving into the story of Peter walking on water and exploring the profound lessons it holds for our faith and daily lives. We began by discussing the nature of faith and how it pleases God. The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is defined as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is why we gather every week to hear the Word of God, as faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.
We then moved into the context of the story. Jesus had just fed 5,000 people and sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat, knowing a storm was coming. This teaches us that sometimes, being in the will of God doesn't mean we won't face storms. In fact, the storms can be an indicator that we are exactly where God wants us to be.
I shared a personal story about my first job in New York City, where I faced grueling hours and a harsh manager. Despite being told daily that I was not good enough, I was put forward for an early promotion. This experience made me question if God is hard to please. The story of Peter walking on water helps us understand that it's not about the magnitude of our faith but where we place it. Even Peter, who walked on water, was told by Jesus that he had little faith when he started to doubt.
We then delved into the significance of Jesus walking on water and calming the storm. The disciples were terrified, thinking they saw a ghost, but Jesus reassured them, saying, "Take courage, it is I. Don't be afraid." Peter's problem began when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. This is a powerful reminder that our faith should be fixed on Jesus, not on our circumstances.
I shared another personal story about my time in Bible college in Australia, where I faced financial struggles. Despite working hard and doing my part, I had to wait for God to provide. At the last possible moment, God opened a door for a job that paid twice what I was making. This taught me that God is our provider, even if He doesn't show up on our timeline.
We also discussed the importance of focusing on Jesus rather than our earthly fathers, especially if we have strained relationships with them. By fixing our eyes on our Heavenly Father, we can become more like Him and break the cycle of negative traits we might inherit from our earthly fathers.
Finally, we concluded with the lesson that faith is not about how much we have but where we focus what we have. Jesus calmed the storm and saved Peter, showing that He is both our provider and savior. Even in the midst of our storms, we can have confidence that God will provide and save us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith Pleases God: Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is not about the quantity but the quality and focus. It is about having complete trust in God and His promises, even when we cannot see the outcome. This kind of faith comes from hearing the Word of God and applying it in our lives. [05:30]
2. Storms Can Indicate God's Will: Sometimes, being in the will of God means facing storms. Jesus sent His disciples into a storm, knowing it was coming. This teaches us that difficulties are not always a sign that we are out of God's will. Instead, they can be opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. [07:59]
3. Focus on Jesus, Not the Storm: Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. This illustrates the importance of keeping our focus on Jesus, especially during difficult times. When our faith is fixed on Him, we can overcome any obstacle. [18:30]
4. God's Timing is Perfect: God's provision often comes at the last possible moment, teaching us to trust His timing. My experience in Bible college showed me that even when it seems like God is late, He is always on time. This builds our faith and trust in Him as our provider. [16:45]
5. Faith is About Focus, Not Quantity: Jesus taught that even a small amount of faith, if focused on Him, is enough to move mountains. It's not about how much faith we have but where we place it. When our faith is in Jesus, it is more than sufficient to meet any challenge. [24:45]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:04] - Introduction to Faith
3. [05:30] - Faith Pleases God
4. [07:59] - Storms and God's Will
5. [14:01] - God's Timing
6. [16:45] - Personal Story of Provision
7. [18:30] - Focus on Jesus
8. [24:45] - Faith and Focus
9. [32:04] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 14:22-33 - The story of Jesus walking on water and Peter's attempt to do the same.
2. Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
3. Romans 10:17 - "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."
### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus say to Peter when he began to sink after walking on water? ([04:07])
2. How did Jesus reassure the disciples when they thought they saw a ghost? ([18:30])
3. What was the reaction of the disciples after Jesus calmed the storm and got into the boat? ([26:41])
4. According to the sermon, what is the relationship between faith and hearing the Word of God? ([06:23])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Jesus send the disciples into a storm, and what does this teach us about being in God's will? ([07:59])
2. How does Peter's experience of walking on water illustrate the importance of focusing on Jesus rather than our circumstances? ([18:30])
3. What does the pastor's story about his financial struggles in Bible college teach us about God's timing and provision? ([16:45])
4. How can focusing on our Heavenly Father help us break negative cycles inherited from our earthly fathers? ([21:47])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a "storm" in your life. How did you see God's hand at work during that time? ([07:59])
2. Are there areas in your life where you have taken your eyes off Jesus and focused on the "storm" instead? How can you refocus on Him this week? ([18:30])
3. Think about a situation where you are waiting for God's provision. How can you trust His timing more fully? ([16:45])
4. If you have a strained relationship with your earthly father, how can you shift your focus to your Heavenly Father to break negative cycles? ([21:47])
5. Identify one area in your life where you need to exercise faith. What specific steps can you take to place your trust in Jesus in that area? ([24:45])
6. How can you use the Word of God to build your faith this week? What specific passages will you meditate on? ([06:23])
7. In what ways can you support a friend or family member who is currently going through a storm? How can you help them keep their focus on Jesus? ([12:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith That Pleases God
Faith is not about the quantity but the quality and focus. It is about having complete trust in God and His promises, even when we cannot see the outcome. This kind of faith comes from hearing the Word of God and applying it in our lives. The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Faith is defined as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is why we gather every week to hear the Word of God, as faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ.
Faith is not measured by how much we have but by where we place it. Even a small amount of faith, if focused on Jesus, is enough to move mountains. When our faith is in Jesus, it is more than sufficient to meet any challenge. This kind of faith pleases God because it shows our complete trust in Him and His promises, even when we cannot see the outcome. [05:30]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to trust God completely? How can you begin to place your faith in Him in that area today?
Day 2: Storms Can Indicate God's Will
Sometimes, being in the will of God means facing storms. Jesus sent His disciples into a storm, knowing it was coming. This teaches us that difficulties are not always a sign that we are out of God's will. Instead, they can be opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. The story of Peter walking on water illustrates this point. Jesus had just fed 5,000 people and sent His disciples ahead of Him in a boat, knowing a storm was coming. This teaches us that sometimes, being in the will of God doesn't mean we won't face storms. In fact, the storms can be an indicator that we are exactly where God wants us to be.
Storms in our lives can serve as opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God. They are not always a sign that we are out of God's will. Instead, they can be a sign that we are exactly where God wants us to be. When we face difficulties, we can trust that God is with us and that He will use these storms to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Him. [07:59]
James 1:2-3 (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."
Reflection: Think of a recent storm or difficulty you have faced. How can you see God's hand at work in that situation, and how can you trust Him more through it?
Day 3: Focus on Jesus, Not the Storm
Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. This illustrates the importance of keeping our focus on Jesus, especially during difficult times. When our faith is fixed on Him, we can overcome any obstacle. The significance of Jesus walking on water and calming the storm is profound. The disciples were terrified, thinking they saw a ghost, but Jesus reassured them, saying, "Take courage, it is I. Don't be afraid." Peter's problem began when he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm. This is a powerful reminder that our faith should be fixed on Jesus, not on our circumstances.
When we focus on Jesus, we can overcome any obstacle. Our faith should be fixed on Him, not on our circumstances. This is especially important during difficult times. When we keep our eyes on Jesus, we can have the courage and strength to face any storm. [18:30]
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV): "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Reflection: What are some distractions or "storms" in your life that take your focus off Jesus? How can you intentionally fix your eyes on Him today?
Day 4: God's Timing is Perfect
God's provision often comes at the last possible moment, teaching us to trust His timing. My experience in Bible college showed me that even when it seems like God is late, He is always on time. This builds our faith and trust in Him as our provider. Despite working hard and doing my part, I had to wait for God to provide. At the last possible moment, God opened a door for a job that paid twice what I was making. This taught me that God is our provider, even if He doesn't show up on our timeline.
God's timing is perfect, even when it seems like He is late. His provision often comes at the last possible moment, teaching us to trust His timing. This builds our faith and trust in Him as our provider. We can have confidence that God will provide for our needs, even if it doesn't happen on our timeline. [16:45]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt like God was late in providing for you. How did that situation turn out, and what did you learn about God's timing?
Day 5: Faith is About Focus, Not Quantity
Jesus taught that even a small amount of faith, if focused on Him, is enough to move mountains. It's not about how much faith we have but where we place it. When our faith is in Jesus, it is more than sufficient to meet any challenge. The story of Peter walking on water helps us understand that it's not about the magnitude of our faith but where we place it. Even Peter, who walked on water, was told by Jesus that he had little faith when he started to doubt.
Faith is not about how much we have but where we place it. Jesus taught that even a small amount of faith, if focused on Him, is enough to move mountains. When our faith is in Jesus, it is more than sufficient to meet any challenge. This teaches us that the quality and focus of our faith are what matter most. [24:45]
Matthew 17:20 (ESV): "He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.'"
Reflection: What is one small step of faith you can take today to trust Jesus more? How can you focus your faith on Him in a specific area of your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The truth is that the struggles that you go through, you don't have to tell everybody, but you do need to tell somebody. You do need to tell somebody what's going on in your life. And so make sure that you have people that as you navigate the storms of life, you can come together with and strengthen your relationships with them because you're working on it together." [12:00]
2. "Storms are a little bit like a roller coaster. The only guaranteed way to get hurt is to jump off in the middle. The disciples pushed through until they reached the other side. And I think so often in things like our marriage, we get into our marriage and we start facing some storms. We start facing some tension, some friction. Things get a little bit hard. The guaranteed way to get hurt is to jump off in the middle." [12:34]
3. "Faith is not about how much you have. It's about where you focus what you have. And so can I encourage you to stop trying to earn God's approval. God, if I just read my Bible enough, if I just serve in church enough, if I just say all the right things, if I just do all the right devotionals, God, will you be impressed with me? No. Peter walked on water and it wasn't enough. God is not impressed when we do things for him. God is impressed and pleased when we do things for him. Faith is in him. We are saved by grace through faith." [26:02]
4. "The reason I tell you that is that wherever you're looking at is where you're gonna end up. And whoever you're looking to is who you're gonna start to become like. So many people grow up without a dad. Or with a dad they don't have a great relationship with. And if that's you and you're here in the room today, you need to be very, very, very careful. Can I tell you why? So many people grow up and they think, I don't wanna be like my dad. My dad wasn't around or my dad was not a good guy. I don't wanna be like my dad. I don't wanna be like my dad. I don't wanna be like my dad. I'm never gonna be like my father." [20:47]
5. "If your faith is in Jesus, you can have confidence that even in the middle of the storm, no matter how big and no matter how small, God will provide for you and God will save you. Even if you can't see it yet. Because the Bible says we walk by faith, not by salvation. And so if you're in the storm and you can't see it yet, maybe it's not in your timing. Maybe you're waiting for God to move in a specific area. I encourage you not to look with your eyes, but to look with faith. Because Jesus is God. He will provide for you. He will save you. He will make a way and he will get you through to the other side." [31:15]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Sometimes the storms of life you enter are not an indicator that God's not there or that you're not in the will of God. Sometimes they can actually be an indicator that you are in the will of God." [07:59]
2. "When Peter was walking towards Jesus, looking at Jesus, he was totally fine. The second he took his eyes off Jesus and he started to look at the storm and the impact it had, he started to sink." [18:30]
3. "Faith is not about how much you have, it's about where you focus what you have. If you even have a little bit of faith, but it is fixed on an eternal God, you are gonna have more than enough faith. But it doesn't matter how much faith you have, if it's fixed on anything other than Jesus, it's gonna be little faith." [25:24]
4. "We want relief. God wants to give us revelation. The Bible tells us that when the disciples were with him walking on the lake, they were terrified. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It's a ghost, they said. And they cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them, take courage, it is I. Don't be afraid. Lord, if it's you, Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus." [17:57]
5. "Jesus has just fed 5,000 people. But it wasn't just 5,000 people. That's only the men that they counted. So it was probably more like 15,000 people. So Jesus miraculously feeds the multitudes and it tells us, Immediately afterwards he sends the disciples out and they went into a storm. I find it interesting that how did they end up in the storm? It doesn't say they were just out in the boat and happened to be in a storm. It says Jesus made the disciples get in a boat and go ahead of him. Jesus made the disciples go out into the lake knowing a storm was about to hit." [07:59]
6. "I think sometimes in a storm, what you and I want is relief. We want to be out of the storm. What God wants to give you is revelation. God wants you to get something in the midst of the storm. Since I've been following Jesus, I knew that God was my provider. Yeah, of course God's my provider. Of course, says in the Bible. Of course he is. But it was only on the other side of that storm. I didn't just know that God was my provider, but I knew that God was my provider because there was no way I could get out of the storm. I should have gotten that job. There was no way those doors should have opened. God himself opened it, but he didn't do it on my timeframe. But through that, I learned that God is my provider." [17:22]
7. "The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Jesus said, you of little faith. There's something about faith that pleases. God. The Bible defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. The dictionary defines faith as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. So faith is complete confidence or trust in God who we don't see. Or complete faith or trust in something that God has told you that you don't yet see. You're not seeing with your eyes. You're seeing it in faith." [05:30]
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