Bible Study - Fear (5) - Courage in Place of Fear - Matthew 14:22-33 - January 1, 2023

 

Bible Study – Fear (5) – Courage in Place of Fear – January 1, 2023

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled, “Putting Fear in Its Place.”

Our focus scripture is Matthew 14:22-33.

Courageously follow JESUS, even in fearful circumstances.

It is said that Nelson Mandela stated, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

I have found that often GOD does not lead us as Spirit-born people, over, under or around issues in life but right through the middle. When we emerge on the other side of the issue, we may well know that we have been through an ordeal but we are stronger and know that GOD is our victor.

Many times, we think that since we are Spirit-born we should be free from trouble. But often, GOD uses issues in our lives as teaching moments and to draw us into a closer relationship with HIM.

When we fear something, often we need to face it or confront it. We should confess our fear (s) to our LORD and ask HIM to help us to face it or them. But I suggest that you do so silently in your mind, in prayer to JESUS and not out loud. Why? Satan cannot read your mind but when we speak, Satan can hear.

Let’s explore!

Background – Matthew 14:15-21: (Feeding of the 5,000)

¹⁵ When evening came, the disciples approached him (JESUS) and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late.^[e] Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

¹⁶ “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to him.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ Then he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces. ²¹ Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Notice, JESUS said, “Bring them here to me.” When we face issues in life that are too big for us, we should automatically take it or them to JESUS. Often, after a miracle we will often face a test.

JESUS’ disciples had just witnessed the miracle of JESUS multiplying a small amount of food to feed a crowd of people with twelve baskets of food leftover. A basket representing each tribe of Israel. The miracle of multiplication. Often, we may think that our small help with something is insignificant but in GOD’S hands it ministers to multitudes.

JESUS was always teaching HIS disciples. The disciples only found a meager amount of food. That was nothing compared to the crowd that needed to be fed. Did their lack of faith prompt JESUS to know that HIS disciples needed to increase their knowledge of WHO HE was and their faith in HIM before continuing as HIS disciples?

Immediately following the feeding of the 5,000 men plus the additional women and children ----

Notice that GOD prompted JESUS to insist that HIS disciples get into the boat and for them to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee without HIM as we read verse 22 ---

Let’s read Matthew 14:22-26:

Walking on the Water

²² Immediately he^[f] made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³ After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. ²⁴ Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance^[g] from land,^[h] battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. ²⁵ Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning.^[i] 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.

JESUS dismissed the crowd and went up on the mountain to pray. John 6:19 reveals that the Apostle John estimated as to how far they had traveled out in the sea, we read in John 6:19: ¹⁹ After they had rowed about three or four miles,^[c] they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. ²⁰ But he (JESUS) said to them, “It is I.^[d] Don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading. This is the Apostle John’s record of the event.

Let’s add another piece of information found in Mark 6:48:

⁴⁸ He (JESUS) saw them straining at the oars,^[h] because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning^[i] he came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. 

When I first read this, I broke out laughing. JESUS had a sense of humor. In another translation. It reads, “HE acted like HE was going to pass them by.” I can see JESUS walking on the water and HIS disciples are struggling to row to shore and JESUS waving to HIS disciples and saying something like, “Hey guys, I can get to the shore quicker than you just walking.”

Four of JESUS’ disciples were fishermen – Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John. It is interesting that Simon Peter wanted to join HIM by walking on water.

Let’s read Matthew 14:27-30:

²⁷ Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Key words are, “Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ He said, “Come.”

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strength of the wind,^[j] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Notice that Peter verified what he and the other disciples were witnessing. It was JESUS and not some figment of their imagination walking on the stormy sea. There is nothing wrong with confirming what we see. JESUS confirmed it was HIM and HE told Peter to come.

Peter had to leave the security of being in the boat and get into the stormy water. That took courage and faith. But does it last?

Peter, in fact, walked on the water until? “When he saw the strength of the wind,^[j] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out—“Lord, save me!”

When we take our eyes off JESUS and start looking around us, doubt sweeps in and that is when we begin to sink. What are some of the things do you think went through Peter’s mind as he walked on water? What are we to do when we realize that we are sinking? Peter cried out to whom? JESUS! What did JESUS do? JESUS reached out and lifted him up.

Most often, what do we do first? Fix the blame on someone else or sometimes ourselves?

Calling out to JESUS is exactly what we are to do when we realize we are in trouble. Peter was physically close enough to JESUS for HIM to reach HIS hand out and JESUS caught Peter.

As Spirit-born children, JESUS is always available to give us a hand.

When Peter cried out for help, what did JESUS do? Let’s read on ---

Let’s read Matthew 4:31-33:

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

JESUS immediately identified why Peter cried out. It was because Peter had little faith and doubt had raised its head.

³² When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

When they got into the boat the wind ceased. Calm and peace came. The test had achieved its purpose - “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Notice, only Peter experienced walking on water but all the disciples were influenced by what happened.

Peter had this great experience of walking upon the stormy waters, yet later in JESUS’ ministry GOD still had to work on Peter. What are some of the thing’s GOD did along Peter’s Spiritual journey?

We read in Matthew 16:19:

I (JESUS) will give you (Peter) the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

Peter was present to witness the Transfiguration of JESUS - 

Matthew 17:1 - After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. They experienced the transfiguration of JESUS and witnessed the presence of GOD, Moses and Elijah and the commissioning of JESUS to complete HIS mission upon earth.

Yet after all of this what else do we know about Peter?

John 13 ³⁷ “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I tell you, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.

How did Peter respond to his denial of JESUS?

Matthew 26: ⁷⁴ Then he (Peter) started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, ⁷⁵ and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter realized what he had done and repented. Spirit-born people can get notions about who JESUS is and when we think HE does not measure up to our expectations we get disappointed, until we realize that we had the wrong idea of who JESUS is and what HIS mission is.

What else do we know about Peter?

We read in Acts 5: ¹⁴ Believers were added to the Lord in increasing numbers—multitudes of both men and women. ¹⁵ As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ In addition, a multitude came together from the towns surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

God had to work in Peter’s heart to change some of his notions about ministering to the Gentiles as recorded in Acts 11: 9-15:

⁹ The next day, as they were traveling and nearing the city, Peter went up to pray on the roof about noon.^[b] 10 He became hungry and wanted to eat, but while they were preparing something, he fell into a trance. ¹¹ He saw heaven opened and an object that resembled a large sheet coming down, being lowered by its four corners to the earth. ¹² In it were all the four-footed animals and reptiles of the earth, and the birds of the sky. ¹³ A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.”

¹⁴ “No, Lord!” Peter said. “For I have never eaten anything impure and ritually unclean.”

¹⁵ Again, a second time, the voice said to him, “What God has made clean, do not call impure.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and suddenly the object was taken up into heaven.

GOD offered Peter non-kosher food which is food not approved for the Jews to eat according to the Old Testament. GOD was making it clear to Peter that he had to expand his ministry to include all people, and not just the Jews. Plus, GOD’S desire was for Peter to expand his ministry to the Gentiles.

JESUS gave HIS sinless life for all people. The shed blood of JESUS removes the sin barrier for all who will place their faith in HIM. JESUS is the true Son of GOD WHO takes away all of our sin the instant we place our faith in HIM.

We read in Revelation 3:20: See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

JESUS stands at the door of every unsaved person’s heart and knocks. The artist who painted a picture of this event does not show a door handle on the outside of the door. The door can only be opened from the inside. We must make the decision whether or not to open the door to our hearts.

Is JESUS knocking on your heart’s door; will you open the door to your heart and let HIM in? It is your decision to make and now is that time!

If you have not already done so, there is no better way to begin this New Year than to place your faith in JESUS. Ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and ask JESUS to come into your heart and save you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Blessings!!!