Who has control of your problems?
Some time back, my wife Toni and I we were coming home from Dickson, Toni
was driving. In the passenger seat I was my old tense self. With no warning, a
truck swerved into our lane, I had no control, I was not driving, I had no brakes
no steering wheel.
I had no control, but I had much fear.
Toni saved the day, she expertly maneuvered away from that truck and we were
safe due to Toni being in control of the situation.
My fear showed me I did not have complete faith in Toni's reactions and abilities.
Toni is a good driver, but for a moment I wanted to be in control, perhaps I
believed I could do a better job of swerving away from that truck.
For that moment, I believed that truck coming into our lane was more than Toni
could handle.
I trusted more in the potential destruction of a crash than the ability and skill of
my wife.
Matt.14:22 - 32
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 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.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
In v26 the disciples from a lack of knowledge and forethought reacted from fear of the unknown. "it is a spirit"
I think Peter wanted to prove to both Jesus and himself when he said: "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."
That was a true moment of boldness and trust exhibited by Peter. No sign of fear, just a trust in His teacher and friend.
In my life I find myself like Peter, full of trust in the power of God, until the flesh responds.
Peter put his trust in the storm and its power rather in his ability to walk on water in obedience to the command of Jesus when Jesus said "come".
Matthew 14:30 But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Matthew 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught
him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
1. What is the source of our fears
A. When I lose control of a problem or a danger I develop a concern.
1) When the problem or concern is stronger than my known resources
there is fear
2) When I give into the problem there is fear
B. Satan knows our weaknesses, he knows our fears
1) We have probably told him
2) Satan will attack what we fear
3) Like Peter we take our eyes off Jesus, we look away from Jesus
because of
fear - pride - lack of trust or lack of trust in His love and grace
Job 3:25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that
which I was afraid of is come unto me.
C. Often the source of our fear is that we limit God
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
D. Sometimes we do not realize the power of God in our lives.
Peter*s fear was greater than his faith.
Peter could not control the waves.
For me, I get fearful when I have no control or solution of the problem.
Jesus has given me the answer:
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
2. The results of our fears
A. The destructive power of fear will overwhelm us
1) the waves brought fear to Peter and to him the sea was overwhelming
2) Satan uses our fear to rob steal and kill us. (John 10:10a)
B. Our fears can blind us to God's grace
1) Peter saw waves and not Jesus
2) We often will fight our fears instead of seeking God's help.
3) When we are walking in fear, who is in control?
a) the world?
b) the flesh?
c) the devil?
Peter trusted in the destructive power of the waves more than he trusted in the Grace of God to protect him.
Where did Peter place his trust, at first, he followed the command of Jesus when
Jesus said "come", but as he saw the storm we know he took his eyes off
Jesus, did he believe the wind was greater than the command of Jesus?
For me:
fear = when the problem is greater than my control or solution,
anxiety = when I trust the problem to have the victory over me.
frustration = is when I do not know of a solution
3. The solution of our fears
Peter had no control over the wind, but he should have known that Jesus was the solution.
Peter's doubts and his trust in the power of the storm caused him to start sinking.
Peter's frustration led him to his only solution "he cried, saying, Lord, save me.".
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
God is love.
1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God
dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to
us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God
in him.
Peter should have had no doubts in Jesus' ability to protect Peter from the
waves. Jesus comment to Peter was, "O thou of little faith, wherefore
didst thou doubt?"
conclusion:
Do we have problems today?
Are you walking on top of your problems or are you sinking beneath
your problems?
We may not be able to control the problems that arise in our lives, but
Jesus has the solution.
Let Jesus control the storms in your problems, trust Him in the storms, He
cares for you.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down
his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Always remember all things work for our good, if we love Him.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Perhaps man's greatest fear is the future.
Will those waves of life overcome us?
What if my life comes to an end, "It will"
My youngest son told me one day "We all have a terminal disease, its call life, one day it will end"
Then what, is that a universal fear?
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
God has provided a cure for that fear, that fear of eternity.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.