The Greater Reality

Note: It was the beginning of the 2007 football season and first game of the season had been played as the teams awaited their next opponent. One game of note was the Week 1 game: Buffalo vs. Denver --- Buffalo would lose three players to season-ending injuries (and by the end of the season they would have seventeen players on injured reserve). However, in that opening game loss there was one player's injury that stood out above the others and that was Kevin Everett's. He suffered a cervical spine injury and would end up being carted off the field, and rushed to Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital for an emergency surgery.

The original prognosis was not good and paralysis was the best case scenario (happily, he is now alive and in full use of his limbs). It was against this backdrop that I received a phone call from the chaplain of the Buffalo Bills, Fred Raines. He asked me if I would be interested in conducting the Protestant chapel service for the Bills while they were in town to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers and I told him yes.

Now being a lover of the game, former college football player and high-school football coach, I was well aware of what was going on in Buffalo. As I faced this task of delivering a message to a group of men who were staring down the twin barrels of devastation and uncertainty, the Lord laid this message on my heart. I have included some additional insights since that time and I hope they prove to be the blessing to you that they were to me.

Message Text:

Matthew 14:26-32 (New King James Version)

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Background:

This is occurring right after the miracle of the five loaves and the two fish (in the same 14 th chapter of Matthew). In other words they had just seen their Lord bend the laws of nature to His will and now he was doing it again.

Study of the Text

Matthew 14:26:

This was not a "ho-hum" experience: this, to say the least was out of the ordinary. However, as was stated in the background, Christ was in the practice of doing the extraordinary

The disciples were gripped with fear: the unknown can have this effect. You would think the disciples should've responded differently --- until we remember our own reactions to certain circumstances and situations ... eh?

Matthew 14:27 :

Christ knows all about our fears, doubts & anxieties. He WANTS to relieve and deliver us from them: He is our Good Shepherd and cares for us, his sheep. He IMMEDIATELY spoke to their fears.

There are 365 variations of fear not in the Bible: "fear not;" "do not be afraid;" etc. One for every day of the year. Have you claimed your fear not for the day?

The term "be not afraid," appears 26 times (in the King James version)

Matthew 14:28:

It must be upon the bidding or authority of the Lord that we step out in faith --- His power:

Ephesians 6:10: Be strong in the LORD; power of HIS might

Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me

Matthew 14:29 :

Christ has NEVER let down anyone who has placed their trust in Him --- It is, however, our sometimes flawed and erroneous expectations that disappoint us:

• The plans we've settled on; irrespective of God's plan
• The decisions we've made; without seeking His will
• The conclusions we've drawn in the absence of his wisdom

Matthew 14:30:

When Peter paid more attention to the wind and waves of the sea than to Christ THEN he began to sink ---The wind and waves of our lives ARE real, but Christ is the GREATER reality (faith is not the ignoring of reality, but the acceptance of God's greater one)

We sink when:

1. We allow our circumstances to define us --- circumstances can change for better or worse, our foundation must be Him in whom "there is no variableness or shadow of turning." This stability allows us to face life's uncertainties with a certain hope.

2. Our feelings have preeminence over the word of God --- If by God's word the world was created, then His word should be enough to hold our world together.

3. We become impatient with God's plan of escape or deliverance --- Some battles are lost just short of victory because we fail to let God work thoroughly and entirely when we are in the fiery furnace of adversity.

Remember: Isaiah 54:17 No weapon formed against me shall prosper: this also means that weapons WILL BE FORMED.

2 Corinthians 12:19 My strength is made perfect in weakness: this also means there must be WEAKNESS in order for God's strength to be perfected.

Nevertheless, Peter knew WHO to call when he began to sink Don't let failure, shame or disappointment mute your cries for God's help or silence your prayers.

Matthew 14:31:

When we begin to sink and cry out, "Jesus save me," His presence is immediate. We also see in this verse a questioning of Peter by Christ. He was saying: "what have I done for you to doubt me?" --- In other words, what occurrence or instance in Peter's relationship with Christ had He ever let him down or disappoint him? The same question can be asked of us when we fail to trust God as we should.

Last Points to Consider

1. Christ knows ALL, we know very little: Don't Monday Morning Quarterback God.
2. It is a backwards step when we use the rubric of our past failed & flawed relationships to interpret our relationship with Christ: The father who wasn't there; the mother who abused me; the spouse or girlfriend who left me etc. Pain and disillusionment are unreliable lenses through which to see the sovereignty and sufficiency of God.
3. If I begin a test or trial with faith and obedience, I must maintain that faith and obedience throughout:

• Peter stepped out of the boat by: listening & looking to Jesus
• Peter walked on the water by: listening & looking to Jesus
• Peter begin to sink when he stopped: listening & looking to Jesus

Let us end in hope: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?; As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.; Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us; For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come; nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39 KJV)