LITTLE FAITH IN THE TIME OF DOUBT

Matt 9:29; Matt 14:22-32,31

I have learned something about the storms of life. You are fixing to get in one, in the midst of one, or you just got out of one! Nobody is exempt from storms. I'm glad I'm saved, forgiven, my name's written in the Lamb's book, and I am heaven bound, but it doesn't exempt me from the storms of life! There are three kinds of storms,

There are Satan-made storms.

There are Self-made storms.

There are Savior-made storms. I call this storm a savior-made storm because...

I. The lord put them there (14:22) "constrained"

The Lord knew all about the storm. The storm came and they were not out of the will of God, but in the will of God. They were safer in the storm in God's will than on the land out of God's will. Thank God its a ship of grace that the Lord has put us in, and we will make it to the other side! Why does he put us in the storm?

A. He puts us there to deflate us

We get to thinking we're it and we can handle it.

God puts us in the storm to take the wind out of our sails, and to show us we can't make it without him!

B. He puts us there to display us

Its in the storm that the real you comes out.

its in the storm that show us just how spiritual you are.

Anybody can shout and serve the Lord when the sun is shining.

C. He puts us there to discipline us (two kinds...)

1. There is the storm of perfection that helps us grow.

The first time he tested them in the storm, he was in the boat with them (Mk 4:37-40). Now he tests them by being out of the boat.

They were in the storm because they obeyed the Lord and needed to grow up. They needed to learn to trust the Lord. To have faith!

B. There is the storm of correction that helps us get back on track.

Jonah was in the storm because he disobeyed God and had to be corrected.

II. While you are there, he's praying for you (14:24)

When you are in the storm do you know who's concerned about you? Do you know who cares about you?

While God's people are on the sea of life, and in the midst of a storm,

Jesus is in heaven making intercession (Rom 8:34).

He sees your need, he knows your fear, and he's in control working everything out for your good (Rom 8:28).

III. He will come to you (14:25)

It was the 4th watch. the darkest hour of the night. In the darkest hour the Lord comes to you. They couldn't go to him, so he came to them! The Lord didn't come rowing, Skiing, but he came walking! Why? To show us the thing we fear is only a sidewalk for our Savior!

A. There was doubt and fear (14:26-27)

There was fear and fear saw a ghost. They didn't recognized him. Why? Because they wasn't looking for him!

Had they had faith, they would have known it was the lord.

B. There was doubt and faith (14:28)

Peter said, "Lord, if it be thou..." The Lord had already told them "It is I."

The Lord said, "Come" (Vs 29-30).

Peter cried out when he was beginning to sink, not when he was drowning! He didn't cry "Lord, decision me, baptized me, but Lord save me!"

What was Peter's problem? How come he didn't make it all the way? It was because he had little faith!

IV. He will always see you through the storm (14:32-33)

They made it across to the other side just as he had said (14:22)

Notice what they did when they did (14:33)

At Calvary he endured the storm of judgment to save your soul (Psa 42:7)

He endured the storm for us that you and I might never face the judgment of God.

Its cause for saints to worship him (Rev 5:11-12).

Its cause for sinners to bow and confess him (Vs 33b).