GOD’S WORD FOR  NOVEMBER 8

Our  book excerpt today, and ongoing,  is from “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand”  Lessons from the Life of Peter, by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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Even as He prayed, Jesus knew that His disciples had to learn to trust His presence though He was physically absent from them.  As a mother bird thrusts her young ones from the nest that they might find their own wings, so Christ wanted the disciples to be on their own in the coning storm.  Though they were beyond the range of His physical sight, those men were still the focus of His care and attention.

Usually the disciples could row across the sea in an hour or two, but this night they were battling the worst storm they could remember.  Powerful winds from mount Hermon lashed the water into a fury, and the disciples were terrified.  We read, ”But the boat was already many stadia away from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.  And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking upon the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, “It is a ghost!”  and they cried out for fear.”  (Matthew 14:24-26).  After seven or eight hours they had only gone three or four miles (John 6:19).  Then, in the middle of their distress, Christ came to them.

Notice these preliminary observations.  FIRST:

 ALTHOUGH THE DISCIPLES COULD NOT SEE JESUS WHEN HE WAS PRAYING ON THE HILLTOP, HE COULD SEE THEM.

He knew the longitude and latitude of their boat and was watching every minute.  Perhaps you’ve learned, as we all must, that the storms of life may hide the face of God; yet He is watching us, monitoring our movements.  When push comes to shove in life –- as it so often does –-

IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT GOD SEES US THAN THAT WE SEE HIM.

Rest assured, He is watching you as you battle your own personal storm.

SECOND:

Let us remember that –

THE DISCIPLES WERE IN THIS SQUALL THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST – HE TOLD THEM TO GO OUT.

Sometimes we have the mistaken notion that a storm is proof that we are “out of the will of God.”  Yet, it is in the center of God’s will – it is in obedience to Him – that we sometimes encounter the most  fierce opposition.  Let’s not fall into the error of thinking that we have made a wrong decision just because we are sailing into a storm.  Sometimes our greatest trials come because we are walking in obedience to Christ’s command.

THIRD:

Notice that: THE CAUSE OF THEIR FEAR EVENTUALLY BECAME A SOURCE OF THEIR COMFORT AND JOY.

They didn’t recognize Christ, but He was on His way to help them.  This terrifying ghost, this phantom, was a hidden blessing.  The bad news you or I received recently may well have been Christ simply trying to put His arms around us!

FOURTH:

CHRIST CAME AT THE RIGHT TIME.

The fourth watch of the night was approximately 4 in the morning.  They had been out on the sea since the prior evening but simply hadn’t made any progress.  They assumed that this time Christ had given them a command they could not keep.  Try as they might, they simply weren’t able to obey His instructions to “go to the other side.”  But at their moment of desperation, Christ appeared to help them.  Christ knew how much they could take, and met them at their darkest hour.

Christ can calm storms, but He can also guide His people through them.  As was so often the case, he taught Peter a lesson to the benefit of the rest of the disciples.     Step by step he is molded by the Divine Sculptor, for his benefit but also for ours.

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Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

Colossians 1:16

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Psalm 9:9

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 63:8

My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 3:3

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Psalm 46:7

The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Acts 17:28

for in Him we live and move and have our being, …..

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

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