Seeking once again the help of the Lord, guidance by his Spirit, I'd like you to turn with me to the chapter that we read together, the Gospel according to Matthew chapter 14, and the text you'll find in verse 27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid.

We read through last week the Gospel according to John and reading the same account as we looked at the Lord Jesus with the five loaves and the two fish as we saw him having the power and authority to be able to deal with the feeding of those 5,000 plus people. We saw that he had that power to be able to produce that miracle by dividing the bread and the loaves and the fish. We saw his power then over the the matter, the substance of the things of this world.

And we saw that his first miracle that he did as he changed the water into wine, again it shows his his ability or his power to do that which is miraculous and impossible with man. And again we come to another miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ, a miracle that demonstrates who he is. It points exactly to him as being God. that to be able to do something which is completely impossible for man to do and that is to walk upon water.

We know that in the times when it's very very cold and the lakes and rivers freeze over we can walk on the ice and it's possible for us to walk upon the water but Jesus is not walking upon ice he is walking upon the sea of Galilee he is walking upon that sea when it is raging, there's a storm round about him and he's walking above that storm, upon the water, unafraid, unhindered, unrestrained, unaffected by all that is taking place around him.

His disciples are extremely afraid having been in the boat and they are extremely afraid of the storm yet the Lord Jesus Christ comes to them demonstrating his power and authority over the power of nature itself. He comes to them walking on the water. This is the 20th miracle of the Lord Jesus Christ and he demonstrates that he is divine by walking upon the water, having the power over nature itself.

in the Old Testament gives that power over nature to God himself. There is no person that is able to restrain the power of the sea. There is no person who is able to restrain the power of the wind or to stop the earth from turning or to reverse the earth or to stop the sun from shining or to have any authority over the over nature itself, man is able to harness the power of nature. We see the solar panels, we see the wind turbines, we see in the olden days those ships that were able to harness the power of the wind to to move along the ocean, but no person is able to stop or to restrain or to have any control over those powers of nature in the beginning of the Bible.

We read that God was there at the beginning, that there was nothing else in existence, that there was nothing and he spoke the world into being. God created this world from nothing and so as we come and we read the accounts of the Lord Jesus Christ we shouldn't be surprised that he is able to divide five loaves and to feed 10,000 so people. We shouldn't be surprised that he's able to turn water into wine. We shouldn't be surprised that he's able to heal those that are ill. We shouldn't be surprised that he's able to rebuke the storm, that he's able to bring a calm, that he's able to walk upon the surface of the water we shouldn't be surprised if Jesus is God manifest in the flesh then there is nothing in this world that is able to hinder him in any way because he created the world from nothing. In the beginning God created the heavens, the heaven and the earth. The earth was without form and was void and the darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and so we have right at the very beginning the spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters and so in the beginning was God

We read in John, don't we, all things were made by the Lord Jesus Christ and without him it was not anything made that was made. And so as we see the Spirit of God moving upon the face of the waters right at the beginning and now we see the Lord Jesus Christ walking upon the surface of the waters. We see him declaring his authority and power over the elements of this world. Nothing can hinder the progress and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. right at the beginning we see.

Then as we turn throughout the scriptures we see of other instances where God is declared as having power over the sea. In Job chapter 9, Job begins to declare the greatness of God. In our lives it is good to meditate upon the greatness of God. If we meditate upon the greatness of God that will help us to deal with the problems that life, the problems that the Lord brings into our life. We meditate upon God, the greatness of God and we see that God is far greater than all of the problems that this life has to bring. We see him walking upon the storm and Job meditates upon the greatness of God.

Job chapter 9. Verse 3. is wise in heart and mighty in strength, who hath hardened himself against him and who has prospered him, which removeth the mountains and they know not, which overturneth them in his anger, which shaketh the earth out of her place and the pillars thereof tremble, which commandeth the sun and it riseth not and sealeth up the stars, which alone spreadeth out the heavens and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

See Job as he meditates upon the greatness of God, the strength and power and authority of God over all things he sees him treading upon the waves of the sea. If you've ever been down to New Haven and you've seen the harbour arm there in a storm and you see those waves crashing against that harbour arm and the waves flying over the lighthouse that is at the end, you hear the thud of those waves. If you look back over those, however many years ago it was, that tsunami on The tsunami that was in Thailand or wherever it was and the destruction that was caused by that wave. Nothing could stand in its way. Nothing was able to hinder its progress. The Bible declares that God is far greater than all of these things. He says, to the sea thus far and no further. He restrains its power. He walks upon the waves. They are nothing to him.

And as we look at the sea and we see its power, we see its destruction, we see the way by which man tries to restrain it and then how it just moves over those things that he places in its way, we see the Lord far greater than all of these things. He treads upon the waves of the sea.

In the chapter that we read in Isaiah, he says in verse 16, Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters. See this, Isaiah, I think he's looking back and he's looking at the time by which the children of Israel were brought out of Egypt and he made a way in the sea. as they come to the Red Sea and the Red Sea is divided and becomes a heap, a wall either side of them and they pass through on that dry ground. He's seeing the greatness of God. He's seeing that those things which are impossible with man are possible with God, that he's able to pass the waters, he's able to separate the waters. He walks upon the sea. He opens the sea. He makes pathways in the mighty waters.

Does the children of Israel come to cross over into the promised land and the river Jordan is stopped almost by an invisible hand. The water is dammed up and becomes a heap on their right hand side as they cross over into the promised land. The Lord severs the flow and blocks up the water and does that impossibility.

Think of Jonah. Jonah as he's in the ship and he's caused that great storm. The sailors are extremely fearful and they realise that somebody has caused God to be angry and they try and find a way to deal with the problem. And Jonah says, the only way to deal with the problem is to throw me overboard. And as they throw Jonah overboard into the sea there is a great calm. And so it demonstrates to us in the Old Testament that God is in control of the sea itself. The elements and the powers of this world are subject to the will of God and it is able to stop a storm in a moment. according to his own will.

There are times we read through the missionary biographies of times when the missionaries or the Lord's people are in great distress and in great need. Hudson Taylor for instance as he was sailing to China they entered into an extremely calm period carried by the currents and they were going to be shipwrecked. So he says to the captain, put up the sails and I'll go and pray. And the captain said to him, you go and pray. When the wind comes, I'll put up the sails. He says, no, no, our Lord doesn't work like that. You put up the sails in faith. I'll go and pray and the Lord will bring the wind. And though it was as the captain put up the sails, Hudson Taylor went to pray. The Lord brought the wind. to drive them away from the danger.

And so even today, the same God who walks upon the sea, who treads upon the waves, who divides the waters, who blocks up the Red Sea, is able to work in a mighty way to aid his people. He still has that same power and as we read about the Lord Jesus Christ and we read of all the miracles that he did, it declares to us that Christ is God. God manifest in the flesh. There was no limit to his power.

And so as he sends his disciples away from him, he constrains them to go into the ship Like as he said to Philip, what are we going to do? Knowing what he was going to do. He already had a plan and he already had a plan for his disciples. He constrained them to go into the ship. He was not going to go with them but he was going to spend the evening in prayer but he constrained them to go into the ship, to go over to the other side. The word constrained. It has a sense by which they had to be pushed. They were unwilling to be obedient. They were unwilling to listen to what the Lord Jesus had to say, maybe because it was evening. Maybe they thought, well, this is going to be quite a long journey. We're going to have to travel through the night. Maybe they looked at the sky, as fishermen do and sailors do, and they thought, well, there's a storm going to whip up here. We don't really want to be in the middle of the sea when this storm comes. And they began to resist what the Lord Jesus was saying. But he constrained them. He ushered them into the boat and told them cross over the other side while I send the multitudes away. It was evening when Jesus was constraining them to go. As they were obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ there came a mighty storm.

We've said many times the Christian path is not an easy path. So I said the other week I think it's a warfare. We're at war with ourselves. We're at war with the world. We're at war with Satan. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Everything is against the Christian. The Bible says, doesn't it, if God be for us, who can be against us? Well, in fact, everybody will be against us. But you cannot hinder that progress because God is for us.

And even if they're walking in obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't mean that they're going to have a smooth sailing because he was going to put them to the test and he was going to prove to them and he was going to reveal himself to them and demonstrate to them in a greater way who he is. He was going to stamp his authority over the whole of the Old Testament and prove that I am God. I am God and I walk upon the waves of the sea and the storm obeys me.

And he sent them away in the evening. He allowed them to go a little way. But he waited for them to get into the middle of the sea. He waited till they were far away enough from land that they had no other hope. One of the other Gospels says it's about 25 to 30 furlongs, which is about three miles. They were three miles out to sea. Here it tells us they were in the middle of the sea. They were completely alone and isolated, almost abandoned, and they had a feeling of desperation as this wind came upon them.

Now this wind was contrary. Jesus said to them, go over to the other side. But the wind that came against them battered them to go back the way, the opposite way to where Jesus had told them to go. Often that can be like us in our lives can't it? the Lord has told you, go forward, keep pressing on. We don't seem to make any progress. It's like we're constantly being battered and hindered by waves and doubts and unbelief and fears. We don't make any progress. We seem to take two steps forward and one step back and we just keep going nowhere. The wind is contrary. The providential situation is contrary to the progress which we would like to make in the Christian pathway or even in the providential pathway of life. We go nowhere.

But it was all in the plan of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was all in his purposes. He had commanded them to go over to the other side. He waited for them to get into the middle of the sea where they were alone and couldn't help themselves anymore. He brings a storm of wind which was contrary to the way that they were meant to be going. But just because they couldn't see where they were going just because it was dark and desperate did not mean that Jesus didn't know where they were going.

Jesus may be up on the mountain praying to his father but in Mark it tells us that he saw them. Mark chapter 6. Verse 48, 47. And when evening was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. They're three miles out. And he saw them toiling and rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them. About the fourth watch of the night, So Jesus is there on the shore. His disciples are three miles out to sea in the darkness and he sees them in their situation. He understands all that they are passing through. They're toiling and rowing against the wind that is contrary to them. They're making no progress. They're seeking to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ and he's able to see them. Of course he's able to see them. Because he is God. God manifests in the flesh. Of course he knows exactly what is taking place in the lives of his dear people and he knows exactly what is taking place in your life and my life. Now that should be a comfort to some and a dread to others.

You see if you are outside of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ still knows exactly where you are and who you are. If you're living in sin, living in rebellion then he still sees you exactly as you are outside of him and that should bring terror into our minds and into our souls because if Christ sees us in our sin then we're going to be judged according to our sin. How much shame do we feel when we are caught doing something wrong by our parents or by others, our work colleagues? Our sin is exposed. How much shame do we feel? Well how much more shame should we feel if the Lord Jesus Christ who cannot behold evil, hates sin, sees us in our sinful condition? It should make us fearfully afraid.

But what a comfort for those who are in Christ. What a blessing it is for those who are loved with an everlasting love and in a relationship with their God through his Son the Lord Jesus Christ. What a comfort that is.

In Psalm 33 it tells us there of the Lord beholding Psalm 33, verse 16, There is no king saved by the multitude of an host, and a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. The horse is a vain thing for safety, neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, and upon them that hope in his mercy, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine.

This is what was taking place. the apostles are there three miles out to sea in the darkness and a great storm in fear of their lives and the Lord Jesus Christ sees them. The eye of the Lord is upon them because they're afraid and they hope in his mercy. that he's going to deliver them from death. Nothing can bring that ship down. Nothing can cause that ship to sink and nothing can bring you down. Nothing can cause you to sink into utter despair because the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and upon those who hope in his mercy. He will deliver you and he will help you.

and he was going to help his apostles. But he waited. We saw that he sent them out in the evening. But he comes to them in the fourth watch of the night, which is from three to six o'clock. in the morning, sorry four to six o'clock in the morning. So he waited for them. Now often the Lord waits. The scripture says he waits that he might be gracious. He waits for his appointed time. He waits at the time that will give him the most glory. He waits to when his apostles are most desperate, most in need, most at their wits end, most have abandoned all hope of saving themselves. It was then he comes to them.

Often it's been a doubt in our lives where we come to that point and we say, oh I cannot cope with this anymore. And then the Lord appears. Your cup is empty, your strength is finished and you're done in. As the Bible says, wits end corner. Don't know what to do. But it's then that the Lord appears. It is then that the Lord Jesus comes to his apostles walking upon the top of the water. That thing that had been most troubling them, that thing that they had been most afraid of, the storm, the wind and the waves, Christ appears walking on top of it as though it's completely nothing to him. He's not affected by it one little bit. What a comfort that is isn't it? When the Lord speaks or makes himself known to you when you are in a storm. That he appears, he shows himself. Although the storm still rages yet his presence is made known and you are encouraged.

At first they didn't recognise the Lord Jesus Christ and often we can't recognise the Lord Jesus Christ in our storms. Our eyes are so troubled by the things that we're going through. They don't recognise the Lord Jesus but then he speaks to them and he tells them that they're not to be afraid, be of good cheer. it is I be not afraid he made himself known unto them which brought the a calming influence upon the situation.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come to thee upon the water. And he said, come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

So he leaves them to test them. He comes to them and reveals himself to them and Peter then comes to the Lord Jesus Christ walking upon the water. Jesus was not affected by the storm and as Peter looked to the Lord Jesus Christ he also is not affected by the storm As long as he's gazing upon Christ, the storm has no effect upon him. He's able to walk upon the water to the Lord Jesus.

And Jesus shows his power and authority over the wind and over the waves. But Peter shows us the remedy for every trial. If Peter is able to look to the Lord Jesus Christ and to lose sight of the waves and to lose sight of the wind and to be totally unhindered in his faith, gazing upon Christ, that means there's a possibility for you and I in whatever we are passing through. As long as we look to Christ. Then we're going to be OK. Whatever it is. going to be okay.

If we can look to Jesus, if we can meditate upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is, that He is God, that He is in control, that He does have all power and all authority, that He is able to walk above the storms of this life, that we're able to gaze and meditate upon him then we also will walk with him above the storms and concerns of this life. And so he gives us that remedy, the instruction manual to be able to persevere in trial, to be able to persevere in the storms that this life has to bring us.

But he also shows us what happens to us when we lose sight of the Lord Jesus. You see when we begin to focus upon the wind and the waves and we become afraid it is then that we begin to sink. He says if you look to Jesus you will survive the storm. But if you take your eyes off Christ and begin to look at the inability that you have and the greatness of the storms of life, then you're going to sink. You're going to be overwhelmed by those billows and those waves.

And so Jesus rebukes him, O thou of little faith, why did you doubt? You see, to doubt the ability of Christ is sin. By faith we believe and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls. And if we're able to entrust the salvation of our soul to the Lord Jesus Christ, which means we can come to death supposedly without fear, then surely we can trust him with the small things of this world. Surely we can trust him with the things that he has created.

Why did you doubt? Why did you doubt my ability? Why did you doubt my love? Why did you doubt my care, my concern? Doubt sinks faith. But even in his doubt he still had a hope that Christ was able to save him. Even while he is sinking he cries out to him, Lord save me. And Jesus stretched forth his hand and pulled him up and put him into the boat. And we read in one of the other Gospels, Gospel of John, when they were in the boat they immediately appeared at their destination. Another miracle that took place. The storm ceases and the boat was at the place where the Lord Jesus Christ told them that they were going.

So there are many storms that you and I pass through. The first storm that the Christian passes through is the storm of sin. We're going on our merry way in life having no concern for our soul then suddenly a great storm whips up and we come face to face with our sin. We come face to face with our limited life, that our life is fragile and we come face to face with the fact that we must face a holy God.

and this storm can be whipped up very quickly in our lives just like it was with the apostles. The storm whipped up out of nowhere and they came face to face with death and the Lord whips up a storm and reveals to us our sin We come face to face with the consequences of that sin. Those sins may rise up like great mountains threatening to crash down upon us. It may be like the troughs in those waves. We may plummet right down into the valleys. There are some who walk with the fear of death. They feel like the earth is going to open up and swallow them. We feel like the waves of sin are going to crash us against the rocks of judgment and that we'll be doomed forever in hell.

But the Lord Jesus Christ comes walking above our sin. You see the waves of the wrath of God fell upon his son the Lord Jesus Christ. And to those whose sin has been whipped up in a storm they cry out like Peter, they feel like they are sinking like Peter and they cry out, Lord save me. And he saves them. There is a great calm because their sin is done, it's gone away with, cast out into the depths of the sea and remembered no more. and he will bring them to their desired haven. He will bring them safely to the other side as Israel crossed over the river Jordan so the people of God will cross over into heaven itself. He'll bring them through to that final destination.

But even as believers we go through many storms of life. Things whip up very quickly. Situations change. Troubles come. We have family troubled. We have work troubles. We have persecution. We have all manner of troubles. Health problems suddenly whip up. My uncle recently just got another diagnosis that his cancer's come back. Another storm whipped up into his life. Suddenly changes all his outlook. And it happens to so many people. Their lives change in a minute. A text message, a letter, an email, news from the doctor. Everything changes in a moment and our lives go from calm to a great storm in a minute.

But what do we do? What do we do? We cry unto the Lord in our trouble. Lord, save me. and does Christ come upon that storm? Do we meditate upon him being far greater than the storms that we are in? If we're able to look to the Lord Jesus meditate upon his sovereign power and his authority that he knows exactly where we are he's able to see us in that storm he's in full control of all of the situations Then we can rest in his words. Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid.

And storms of life, they can feel like the storms of the sea, can't they? One minute, right up there. The next minute, right down there. The next minute, crashing upon a rock. You just feel tossed to and fro with the currents of the ocean. But Jesus Christ is in full control. It was him who set them on their journey. It was him who had authority to bring a storm and to stop a storm. It was him who was watching over them all the time. While they were in the middle of the ocean he was able to see them.

he saw them in their trouble and in their rowing and he sees you this morning in your trouble and your rowing he knows exactly where you are and he will come to you and he will speak be of good cheer it is I be not afraid well may the Lord give us that faith not to look at the problems but to look above the problems and to see Christ at the right hand of the Father interceding for us as his great high priest

and may this storm of sin stir up in your life to bring you to the Lord Jesus Christ so you say that on that last day you won't be dashed upon those rocks of judgment but you'll be brought safely into the harbour to be with Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.

Our final hymn is from Hymns for Worship, 138 to the tune 69.

Lord Jesus, think on me, and purge away my sin.
From earthborn passion set me free, and make me pure within.

138. Come, O Compassion, set me free, and make me
In thy loving servant be, and take thy place.
all my pain and grief.

God rest ye merry gentlemen.

And now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father, the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit to be with you each now and forevermore. Amen. Amen.