STAYING CONNECTED DURING THE STORMS OF LIFE / AN EYE OPENING BOAT RIDE In Christ – Part 3 6/14/25 22 Immediately [After feeding the 5000] he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:22-25 ESV Isn’t life like that sometimes? You get a great opportunity to serve God. To connect with his people and really make a difference. And then you end up physically and emotionally and spiritually isolated. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. Matthew 14:26 ESV The Lesson: It is good to live in a close relationship with him. To devote ourselves daily to him and seek him. Even exult in the times we are fortunate enough to be used by God. But… the storms of life are coming. “What should we do when the storms of life come upon us? 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 ESV “Take heart” is translated from the Greek word tharseo. This tharseo is an action requiring perseverance and passion. Jesus immediately follows it with a statement of fact and another command. “It is I.” “Do not be afraid.” Other translations have it as “Courage, It’s me. Fear Not” TWO LESSONS: - Sometimes we must stay in the storm longer that wanted because we haven’t learned what we need to. - No matter how long we are in the storm we need to Take Heart. Trust Him. Fear Not 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:26-31 ESV Peter got out of the boat. He made a choice to Trust / Take Heart in the I AM and fear not in the raging storm. The lesson is that Jesus connects with us and rescues us in spite of our doubts 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:32-33 ESV Finally, the storm is over. The disciples rightly worshiped him. Their eyes had been opened. Here Matthew records something that was relevant then and now. Truly Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is King. There can be no doubt. There are four lessons we should apply in our own lives: 1. Even if we are in close relationship with Jesus, storms are coming. They may be here. 2. The storms can last longer than we want 3. Take Heart. Trust in Him. Fear Not 4. Jesus is there when we doubt Just as Perter made a choice to respond. We as believers have a choice to respond. If you are not a believer – there is a definite choice.