Deity Demonstrated

Q: What does the Bible say about the deity of Christ?

The Bible affirms the deity of Christ, declaring that He is God manifest in the flesh, fully divine and fully human. The deity of Christ is central to Christian faith, as evidenced in numerous scriptural references. For example, in Romans 9:5, Paul refers to Christ as 'God over all, blessed forever.' Furthermore, the worship of Jesus by the disciples and angels underscores His divine status. Christ Himself claimed equality with God, as seen in John 10:30, and never denied this truth when accused. Denying the deity of Christ undermines the foundation of our salvation, as it is His divine nature that allows Him to atone for our sins and intercede for us. If Christ were not God, His death on the cross would fail to secure redemption for anyone.

Q: How do we know Jesus is God?

We know Jesus is God through Scripture, His divine attributes, and the worship He received from men and angels. Christ's deity is demonstrated through various means. Firstly, Scripture explicitly states His divine nature, as seen in Colossians 2:9, which asserts that 'in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.' Moreover, the testimony of those who lived during His time is significant; the disciples worshipped Him, acknowledging His divine authority. The very fact that Jesus accepted this worship further affirms His identity as God. Additionally, His miracles—including walking on water and calming storms—demonstrate His authority over nature. The culmination of these evidences leads to the unwavering conclusion that Jesus is indeed God, and rejection of this truth equates to rejecting the essence of the Christian faith.

Q: Why is the doctrine of the Trinity important for Christians?

The doctrine of the Trinity is crucial because it defines the nature of God as one Being in three persons, which is foundational to understanding salvation. The Trinity is essential in Reformed theology as it reflects the nature and character of God. In Deuteronomy 6:4, we affirm that 'the Lord our God is one Lord,' which establishes monotheism. However, the Trinity reveals God's relational dynamics within the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as three distinct persons existing in eternal relationship. This doctrine informs our understanding of redemption, as it was through the will of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, and the application of the Spirit that salvation is achieved. Moreover, comprehending the Trinity helps Christians grasp the richness of their relationship with God, facilitating a deeper communion with Him. Denial of the Trinity leads to a distorted view of salvation and undermines the full glory of the gospel.

Q: How does Jesus demonstrate His divine authority?

Jesus demonstrates His divine authority through His commands, miracles, and the way He leads His disciples. The authority of Christ is depicted through various actions throughout the Gospels. In Matthew 14, for instance, He constrained His disciples to get into a boat, asserting His sovereign command over them. This illustrates His divine authority, as He directed their actions ultimately for their good. Additionally, His miracles—such as walking on water and calming the storm—showcase His lordship over creation. These acts not only serve as physical demonstrations of His power but also provide spiritual assurance to believers of His ability to save and protect them. Believers are called to submit to His authority, trusting that He governs their lives and circumstances for His glory and their ultimate good.

Q: Why is faith essential in understanding the deity of Christ?

Faith is essential because, without it, one cannot perceive or comprehend the divine nature of Christ. Faith serves as the foundation for knowing Christ's deity. Hebrews 11:6 emphasizes that 'without faith, it is impossible to please God.' This principle holds true concerning the acceptance of Christ's divine nature. The scriptures reveal that knowing Jesus as God requires a heart that believes; without faith, even the most compelling evidence of His deity will fall flat. The reality is that these truths are spiritually discerned, and without the enabling grace of faith, one cannot appreciate the richness of Christ’s identity as the Son of God. Furthermore, faith grants believers assurance and confidence amidst life's storms, aligning their understanding with the truth of His sovereign grace.

Let's turn together to Matthew chapter 14. Matthew chapter 14. We will begin our reading tonight with verse 22. Matthew 14, 22.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before him unto while he sent the multitude away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray, and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It's a spirit. And they cried out for fear.

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come unto thee on 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 but when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried saying Lord save me and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou die?

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. And they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of the truth thou art the Son of God.

And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Jenezeret, and when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all the country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased, and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment. And as many as touch were made perfectly whole."

God add his blessings to that portion of his Word.

Now the title of my message tonight is Deity Demonstrated. Many who claim to be Christians, who claim to worship God, deny the deity of Christ. They open the Bible and read it and they talk about the Bible and talk about being Christians and worshipping God But they said, no, we don't believe that Jesus Christ is God, just he was a good man, a good prophet, a good teacher, and so we follow his example as a teacher. There are many others who do claim that Jesus Christ is God, and yet ascribe to him attributes of weakness, helplessness, frustration, and failure, which, of course, is a denial of his true deity, as much as the doctrine of the liberals who deny that Jesus Christ is God.

So, either way, they deny his deity. Now, such denials make the religion of most people, the religion of that person who denies the absolute deity of Jesus Christ, is nothing but a religion of moralisms, a religious philosophy that is of no more benefit to men's souls than the philosophies of Plato or the religions of the ancient pagan idolatries named among the dark, dark tribes of the Gentile world in days gone by.

Such religion, again I emphasize, is useless. Any religion that denies the deity of Christ is useless, useless religion, worse than useless. It's damning to the souls of men, for it gives hope to those who have no hope.

Now in this place, we are Trinitarians. I stress that. I realize that in our day, in our time, folks don't like to hear much of what's called doctrinal terms and doctrinal instruction. But if there's no doctrine, there's no body and there's no life. You've got to have some doctrine. And the basic, basic doctrine that is fundamental to Christianity is the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. That is to say, we worship one God holy, sovereign, and eternal, in the Trinity of his sacred persons, one God in three separate but equal persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We do so because the Lord God has revealed himself from the beginning of time as one God, subsisting in three distinct persons.

Let me show you that. Turn back to Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 4. We had this just last week in our daily Bible reading. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse 4. Here is the servant of God speaking and giving a direct statement concerning the Lord our God. In Deuteronomy 6 and verse 4, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. One God. One God. Not three gods. One God. But one God subsisting in three distinct persons.

And that too has been revealed from the beginning. Turn back to Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26. Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26. The Lord God takes counsel with himself. And God said, let us make man in our image and after our likeness." Do you see that? One God, three distinct persons.

And in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 7, the Apostle John gives us the constant statement of the doctrine of the Trinity. He says, there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. So we're Trinitarians.

Not only are we Trinitarians, but being Trinitarians, we fully believe that Jesus of Nazareth, the man who walked on this earth as a real man, that man who was crucified outside Jerusalem after 33 years on this earth, about 2,000 years ago, we declare that that man is himself overall God blessed forever. He's God Almighty. In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. That man is God manifest in the flesh. He is Emmanuel.

Now we believe that he is God for these reasons. First, because the Word of God declares he's God. The scripture says he's God over all, blessed forever. We believe him to be God because the angels worshipped him as God, and because men worshipped him as God, and he claimed to be God while he was here upon this earth.

In fact, if the Lord Jesus had simply said, if he had simply said to the Jews when they took up stones to stone him, and this is the reason they did it, read it for yourself in John 10, They said, we're not stoning you because of a good work, but because you, being a man, make yourself equal with God. Now all he had to do to stop their anger was say, now wait a minute boys, you misunderstood me. You didn't hear me right. I wasn't saying I am God. But he did not make such a statement.

But rather he endured the wrath of the Jews at the hands of Roman soldiers because he is God and men worship him as God and never once did he rebuke one for doing so, but rather he accepted their worship and attributed it to that which is the faith of God's elect.

We believe that Jesus Christ is God because our entire salvation stands or falls with his absolute You demonstrate that Jesus Christ is not God, and you have demonstrated that we have no hope. That we are of all men most miserable, for we have professed hope in Christ, and we have none. We are false witnesses of God, and I am a false teacher who has come to speak to you in the name of God, but I have directed you to worship one who is not God.

If Jesus Christ is not God, then His righteousness of obedience under God, that righteous life of obedience, could profit us nothing. If he is not God, his death at Calvary could not atone for anyone's sins. If he is not God, his resurrection from the dead would declare no one's justification. If he is not God, his intercession is of no benefit to us whatsoever. So, to deny Christ's deity is to deny salvation. It's to deny the Word of God, it's to deny the truthfulness of God, and it's to deny his truthfulness.

Those who claim to worship God, and who claim to be the servants of Christ, and who claim to be Christians, who deny Christ's deity, in fact deny his honesty and his integrity as a man. He claimed to be God. And if he is not God, he's the greatest liar and the greatest deceiver the world has ever known.

Now having said all of that, I am fully aware that it is not possible to prove Christ's eternal power and Godhead to an unbeliever. I'm fully aware of that. I can no more prove the deity of Christ than I can prove the existence of God. You open this book, I was talking to the men back there before the service, you read this book and you will search in vain to find one illustration where God attempted to prove his existence. It's not there. It's not there. And those men who attempt, by apologetics, by logic and reason and evidence, to prove to unbelieving men the existence of God start out on a bad foot.

The only way you can prove God is by faith. If you believe God, you know Him. There's no question to you who believe, but that God is. If you don't believe God, you can't know Him. No matter what evidence or what proof is demonstrated, you simply can't know God apart from faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer.

The same is true with regard to Christ our Redeemer, the second person of the Godhead. If you believe Christ, you know him. If you don't believe him, you can't know him. And we can't even think about proving that. However, the Lord God has given us numerous demonstrations of his being. He has given us such demonstrations of his being that no sane man can deny that God is, and such demonstrations of his being that every believer simply laughs at those who would attempt to deny God's being.

I hear men talk, and I hear them rant and talk about all their notions concerning this world and the non-existence of God, and most people don't just come right out and say, I don't believe that God is, but But that's the gist of all that they teach concerning faith. I just laugh at them. I'm not concerned about what they find. I'm not concerned about what they discover. I'm not concerned about what they might find that's under and out of space. I don't care how long they keep floating around out there. I'm not the least bit concerned about it.

I just laugh at folks who say God is not. I really I've experienced his power, I've worked with him. He's my father. I know him well, I know him better than I know you. Far better than I know you. I know him according to the revelation that he's given of himself in his word and in his son and by his spirit.

The same thing is true with regard to the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now in our text, we are given demonstrations of deity, demonstrations of the deity of our Savior. The climax of all these things that happen, that we've read here in this passage, is found in verse 33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying of a truth, Thou art the Son of God. Now that's the climax. That's everything, everything in the passage is moving in this direction. It's coming up to this time when these men look at another man standing right in front of them, a man whom they could see and touch and feel, a man who would soon suffer and die for them, and they said, Thou art the Son of God, no question about it.

Now these demonstrations are given not to prove that he is God, but they are given to believing hearts to give us assurance comfort and confidence with regard to our Savior and his glorious divinity. And that's the way I want us to approach this passage this evening.

Now, our Lord's deity had been declared before this. You'll remember that our Lord God spoke from heaven, the heavenly Father, looked upon his Son at his baptism and said, this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. had confessed in chapter 8 and verse 29 over in Gadara that Jesus Christ is himself the Son of God and the Christ of God.

But our text tonight is the first time that any man looked Jesus Christ face to face and said, Thou art the Son of God. It's the first time it happened. I think that's significant.

Now let me show you five or six things in this passage. We'll look at six things if we have time in this passage that are demonstrations of Christ's deity. Things that demonstrate the man Christ Jesus to be himself the eternal God.

First in verses 22 and 23 we're given a demonstration of Christ's divine authority. Look what the scripture says. And straightway, that is immediately after he had fed the 5,000 with the loaves and fishes, straightway Jesus constrained. That's a strong, strong word. It means he made them. The word has the idea of force. He forced them to do what they didn't wish to do. He constrained them, his disciples, to get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side.

Now, if you can kind of get a picture in your mind of the Sea of Galilee, they're over here on this side, and right up at the very top, they get into a ship and sail over to Genesee, right over on this side, just a little ways across there. And the Lord is saying, now you fellows, I'll meet you over there. Y'all go on the ship, and I'll walk over there, and I'll meet you there at the bottom. And it's getting late in the evening, and the Lord And they said, no, we don't want to go. We don't want to get in that ship and go over there.

Perhaps there were a number of reasons for that. The Lord Jesus had just performed this notable, notable miracle. And they probably wouldn't stay around and talk about it a while. I wouldn't. They wouldn't stay around and talk about it a while. If you compare John chapter 6 You'll read that after this great miracle had taken place, the Jews came and wanted to take him by force and make him a king.

But the Lord escaped out of their midst. He would not at that time be made a king in Palestine because it was not his intent ever to spread upon a literal throne over in the land of the Jews. He came to be the king of glory, to sit on the throne of David, which is the throne of God Almighty, over his kingdom, his spiritual Israel, throughout all the world.

And so our Lord Jesus would have his disciples to go over on the other side, he'd meet them over there, and he'd send the multitudes away. He said to them, I'm going to send these folks away, you get in the ship and go over there. Probably, probably, the disciples anticipated being fishermen, being men who spent most of their life on the sea, they anticipated the storm that was coming. Now, I realize that sometimes great, boisterous storms just come out of nowhere. I realize that happens. But usually, you kind of look for them. Usually you do. The weather today has been overcast all day long. The wind's been blowing. Shelby looked outside a little bit. She said, well, the sun's shining now. I said, it's going to rain all day. I said, hang on, it's coming. It's coming. You can just not count on it, not just because the weather fellows predicted it, but you look outside and you see what's going wrong. And you can see, man, there's a storm coming.

But when there is a great storm coming, and the crowds are gathering overhead, and the wind's blowing, smart folks don't get on the sea. They just don't get on a little boat. You see the event that happened out in off the coast of California that's heading the America's Cup race. ship that broke in two because of the boisterous, boisterous winds and the tremendous pressure put on that little boat. Well, these fishermen would not get in the boat. Perhaps it was that they simply wanted to stay with the Savior. They just, Lord, we don't want to be out of your company. We don't want to be away from your presence. They wanted to stay with him. Whatever the reason, the Lord Jesus constrained them. He said, now fellas, I told you to get in the ship. I told them to get in the ship. And they got in the ship. They obeyed his will rather than their own will. They submitted their thoughts and their reason and their opinions to his will and his purpose and didn't ask any more questions. And thus he demonstrated his authority as God over all things.

Our Lord Jesus has absolute authority over the lives and destinies of all men including their final judgment. He has authority over all the supernatural elements of the world, including Satan and fallen angels. The scriptures are very plain. The Lord Jesus has sovereign authority over all the holy angels whom he could summon at any time to come and aid him, or to deliver him from the hands of men, as he told Pilate. Our Lord Jesus, we're told, taught as one having authority. He didn't talk like a man. He talked like a man who is God with authority. He sent out his disciples with authority over unclean spirits to cast out demons and to heal the sick. He gave them his authority. He said, now fellows, I'm sending you out with my word and my name and you can speak the word and heal the sick. You can speak the word and cast out demons. I've given you that authority.

sends out his church today and he inspires us to preach the gospel in our generation to every preacher saying all power, all authority is given to me in heaven and in earth. So as God, the Lord Jesus has control and authority over everything. Everything in heaven, everything in the earth, and everything in hell. Everything. The devils When he was about to cast them out of the swine, they prayed to him, said, let us, he was going to cast them out of his men, they said, let us go to that herd of swine. And he said, all right, we'll go to that herd of swine. He has authority even over devils, even over the demons of hell, so that none can do anything without his permission and without him directing even the evil that they do to accomplish his will. That's good doctrine. That's good doctrine. That means that he who is our God commands and controls everything, even the thoughts that are in a man's heart and the elements of nature. He says, I make peace and I create evil. I make darkness and I make light. It's his good. It's his good. He has absolute authority.

He speaks a word to his disciples. He said, and the fellows get in the boat, and they got in the boat. And he sent the multitudes away. He said, now y'all go on your way. They want to take him and make him a king. He said, no, that's not what I've come for. Y'all go on back home now, and I'll talk to you another day, but I'm going over here.

And yet, our Savior is so much a man. This man who is God with absolute authority, is so really and truly a man like us that he found himself a place and a time of prayer because he was a man of perfect faith. A man of perfect faith. He lived by faith and showed us how to do it. Can you get hold of that now? He lived by faith and showed us how to do it.

Whenever he found himself troubled, he turned to God his Father and prayed. Whenever he found his disciples troubled, his friends troubled, he turned to God his Father and prayed. When he was tempted, he prayed. When his disciples were tempted, he prayed. Whenever our Lord Jesus was about to engage in some work that he had come to perform in the name of God, he called on God and prayed. Even as he was about to break the loaves and fishes performing this miracle that he performed as God, he stood before men as a man and asked God's blessings for what he was doing. He showed us what it is to walk before God as a man in faith. It is to walk before God seeking his will, seeking his glory, seeking his blessings, seeking his grace all the time. To walk before God.

Oh, let us follow the example of our Savior and come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need.

Now look at verses 24 and 25. Verses 22 and 23 give us a demonstration of our Savior's divine authority. Here's a demonstration of his divine omniscience.

But the shift was now in the midst of the Savior. Still got that picture in your mind of the Sea of Galilee? They were just going right across the top part here. Normally that ship wouldn't get, it wouldn't even get a mile out from shore, just taking that little distance across that. But now the ship had been blown in this tempest out into the midst of the sea, several miles from shore. You're reading John and Mark, and you'll find the ship was, it was out way out in the very middle of the Sea of Galilee. the ship was blown that far off course by this terrible, terrible, tempestuous, boisterous wind and storm that came up.

The ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, that is, just before daylight, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Now, try to imagine what was going through the minds of these men. I read this chapter earlier this morning and I thought to myself, I wonder what I'd have been thinking if I'd been in that boat. These fellows were in the boat and in the mess they were in because the master put them there. Do you see that in the text? The Lord Jesus constrained them to get in the boat. He constrained them. He made them get in the boat. They had no intention of ever going to walk with him over there. But he constrained them to get in the boat. They were in the mess they were in because he commanded them to do it. And they were obedient to his command.

Folks say now the path of happiness and peace is to trust and obey. Not always. Now ultimately, ultimately obedience will bring peace and satisfaction, but obedience often brings trouble. It often brings trouble. It often brings heartache. It often brings difficulty.

These fellows had obeyed the master's strict command, get in the boat and go across the sea. And now they were out in the middle of the sea in this horrible storm in terrible danger. I'm sure they must have thought And why? Why did you send us out here to kill us? Why did you send us out here? What's the purpose in this? We understand. We understand that this is God's work. We understand that you commanded us to do it. And we understand that you're God over all, but why did you send us out here? What's the purpose?

All that these fellows could see was the danger they were in. All they could hear was the roaring of the waves in their ears. All that they could feel was fear. All they could think of was the storm. They had to be admired for their obedience. And yet, Here they are in the midst of this storm, filled with terror and confusion. They must have felt that the master was not with them. We've been in this situation before, but that time he was in the ship with us and all we had to do was go wake him up. But now, boy, we're miles away from him. He's not with us now.

Terror sees them. They didn't understand he was with them. Just because his body wasn't there didn't mean he wasn't there. He's God over all. Blessed forever. God everywhere. And he was with them there as much as anywhere else. Though his bodily presence wasn't.

In the time of their great, great need, the scripture says Jesus went to them walking on the sea. Now if you'll compare your time references given in the chapter. They had been up there all night long. All night long. And it wasn't a matter of the Lord not knowing where they were. He knew exactly where they were. He sent them. He knew where the storm had taken their ship. He was driving the storm. He knew exactly where they were. But he waited a long, long time trying their faith and demonstrating to them things they had to learn that they could not learn anywhere except out there in that horrible, contemptuous, stormy sea. And so the Lord waited.

You remember when Martha and Mary sent word that Lazarus was sick, the Lord said, let's wait till he dies. And then he waited again. And after three days he came to where Lazarus was. Why? Was he being mean? No. Was he being cruel? Not at all. He loved Martha and Mary and their brother Lazarus. He was waiting because he knew what was best for him. He waited with these disciples because he knew what was best for him. He could have delivered them anytime, just like that. Just like that. But he waited. He waited. To teach him to trust Him. To teach him to look to Him. To teach him to believe Him. To teach him to confide in Him. To teach him to rest in Him. To teach him that he never forgets his own. No matter how deep the storm. No matter how dark the way. He waited.

And then when they were in utter need, when the time and the hour became desperate, and their hearts fainted within them, for they had rode against the contrary wind all night long, just at the breaking of day, the Lord Jesus came to these disciples walking on the sea. Now why did he do that? Why did he do that? Look at verses 26 and 27. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled. It's just added to the trouble. Saying it's a spirit. Now the word is, it's a ghost. But that's not a really good translation either. It's not as though the disciples believed in ghosts and goblins. They didn't. They were talking, the word that is used there for spirit or ghost had the idea of a creature that's imagined. an imaginary monster. And that was the common term that was used. And so the disciples looked out and they'd heard all kinds of things about the sea and things in the deep. They had no knowledge of it. And they looked out and they saw something walking on the water. They were terrified. I would have been too, wouldn't you? I would have been horrified.

And the Lord Jesus, he knew what was in there. He's out on the sea, a good ways off. And he knew then what Oh, now hope begins to rise. Here is a demonstration of Christ's blessed divine protection. Being God full of compassion, he understood their frailty and he came to them walking on the sea.

Now, some fools read the text and think, well, he came here walking on the sea because he wanted to teach them to walk on water. Peter was the only one who tried, and he failed. So he didn't come to teach them walk on water. He came to teach them and us the sense he's God over all. We can and should trust him absolutely. He has absolute power and control over everything. So that the waves of the sea, which cannot bear the weight of a pebble, became as firm under his feet as the concrete poured on the roads out of Madagascar. Because his will took him there.

Folks say it's impossible for a man to walk on water. That's the reason he did. That's the reason he did. Why that's a scientific impossibility. That's the reason he did. That's exactly the reason he did it. To teach us that he has control over everything. And to teach us that he can and will do whatever is needed to care for his own.

Here's his disciples out on the sea. Here he comes walking on the water to meet his disciples where they live. That means Bobbie Estes, he can and will do anything that's needed to get to me. You can trust him. He'll teach us that, we can go home. We can go home.

He came walking on the sea so that we might never find for ourselves a place in which we might think his eye doesn't see us and his arm can't reach us. So that we might never find ourselves in a storm in which we might say, now we're here and he can't save us now. It's too far ago we're too late.

He came walking on the sea to teach us that the place of obedience to Christ is always the place to set. I spend a little while talking on that, because I need to hear it. We read the Word, we know the direction of God's Spirit, the teaching of His Word, He gives us clear, implicit commands, clear, implicit direction, clear, implicit leadership. And we said, no, wait a minute. That's not reasonable. That's not a smart thing to do. That's going to lead to trouble. That's going to get you in difficulty. That's going to cause some disturbances. No, that must not be right. I'll do this.

If there's anything on this earth I'd love to be able to take and teach young children, set them on my knee, and whisper in their ears, till they get to be grown men, and pray that God will be pleased to seal it to their hearts. The place of safety before God is always the place of obedience, wherever it takes you. wherever it takes you. There they are out on the sea, in the midst of a horrible storm. And they're just as safe, just as safe as a baby wrapped up in his mama's arms. Just as safe, just as safe as if they were with him in glory, seated at the throne of God. Because they're out where he set them, in obedience to his word.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways, acknowledge Him. Lean not unto your own understanding. He shall direct your path. I've proved it. I know it so. I wish I could live longer. I know it so. the place of obedience is the place of safety.

Look at verses 28 and 31. Here Matthew gives us a beautiful picture of our Redeemer's divine faithfulness. Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou did me come to thee on the water. Now that word, if, is right down in the margin of your Bible somewhere. Brother Peter sometimes gets blamed for so much that he didn't do. And when folks blame him for asking this question, it's not blameworthy. The word if ought to be translated sense. Sensitive, all. Sensitive. Didn't it come through you on the water?

I really don't know why, except that Peter was always in the forefront. got him in trouble a lot of times, but he was always in the forefront. He was right in the thick of things. He never laid behind waiting to see what somebody else was going to do. He never did. He was always in the forefront. The reason he was in the judgment hall that night when he denied the master, he followed him where nobody else did. He followed him where nobody else would follow him. All the rest of the disciples had forsaken him, but Peter was there. Somebody said, I read today, said Peter followed the Lord more closely than the others. He followed him so closely that when the Lord stopped, he bluffed into it. And I suspect that's just about right. Peter loved his master. And he said, Lord, since it's you, it's better to be with you in the midst of the stormy sea than to be without you in this boat. Give me comfort. Give me comfort.

And the master said, come. You see that? All right, Peter, come on. And at the command of Christ, when he says come, Peter, a mere man, is able to walk right across the water. Right across the water. Shoot, Don, you don't believe that, do you? Just as much as I believe the Master came walking on the water. He commands you to do something. And I'm telling you, if he says you do something, Bob Conklin does. If he calls Julius to do something, he does. If he calls Ian Bartlett to do something, he does. I don't care what it is. I don't care what obstacle is in the way. I don't care who says it can't be done. When the master says come on, the water becomes a concrete path to support you walking in obedience to him.

And then Peter began to look around. He would look into the master walking along, and he started looking at the waves, and the wind. Oh, bless your heart, Brother Peter, I've been there so many times. So strong this morning, and so weak this afternoon, and so strong this afternoon, and so weak tonight. He began to look at the waves, and the things around him, and his heart began to sink within him, as though to say, what am I doing out here? I sleep over the water. He began to sink. And he cried, Lord save me. That's a, that's a prayer of faith. Now that's not much faith is good enough. It wasn't good enough.

For the master in his tender mercy and goodness reached down, took Peter by the hand, lifted him up into the boat, brought him on back to the boat with him, gave him immediate mercy and a gentle word of reproof. O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? wasn't any reason. Nothing began by it. I showed you you could do it. I showed you what I'd do for you. And then they came back to the boat. When they would come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth and thou art the Son of God."

Now those two verses, along with the entire passage we read this evening, demonstrate our Savior's omnipotence. When he stepped into the ship, his head caught. And it was so evident that his will was what controlled the wind, that the disciples' and worshiped him. They were moved beyond astonishment now. They were moved beyond wonder and amazement now. They just came and worshipped him. They fell down and adored him and said, sure of the truth, without question, thou art the son of God.

Then one last thing, verses 34, 35, and 36, show us Christ's divine goodness and grace. they came into the land of Gennesaret, when the men of that place had knowledge of him, somehow the word got around. And when they heard about this one, Jesus Christ, who calmed the waves of the sea with his presence, who came to his disciples walking on the sea, who bid his disciple come to him walking on the sea, When they heard about him, they sent him to all the country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased.

Everybody there sick, they brought them to him. This man, this man who is gone, if he will, oh if he will, he'll heal everybody here that's got leprosy, everybody here that's blind, everybody here that's Death, everybody here that's dead, everybody here that's got palsy, he can heal them all! There's not any reason for anybody here to perish if he wishes to stretch out his hand. And they came and made a prayer. They besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment.

Lord, if you just let us May we approach the deep and touch the gutter called the dispassionate gutter. And the scripture says, and as many as touch it. Right where you sit, in your desperate need, touch it. Not with a physical hand, that wouldn't do you any good. Touch it with a hand of faith. who is the Son of God, believe him, and he will heal you of your soul's diseases." Like that. You'll do it. Understand what the Scriptures teach us here. The Lord Jesus Christ is God. Our Savior, who is God, controls everything. You can safely trust him. You can safely trust him. God help us to do so.

Deity Demonstrated

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the deity of Christ?

How do we know Jesus is God?

Why is the doctrine of the Trinity important for Christians?

How does Jesus demonstrate His divine authority?

Why is faith essential in understanding the deity of Christ?

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Deity Demonstrated

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the deity of Christ?

How do we know Jesus is God?

Why is the doctrine of the Trinity important for Christians?

How does Jesus demonstrate His divine authority?

Why is faith essential in understanding the deity of Christ?

Sermon Transcript

About Don Fortner

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