1. Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV) 22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the

2. Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV) 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

3. Matthew 14:22-33 (NKJV) 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. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

4. Five Anchors Of The Soul Matthew 14:22-33

5. Our Text Sea of Galilee is 10 miles wide Sea of Galilee is 10 miles wide Halfway across when the Lord appears to them Halfway across when the Lord appears to them When Peter jumps out of the boat – they are 5 miles from land! When Peter jumps out of the boat – they are 5 miles from land! Parallel passage in Mark 6:45-52 Parallel passage in Mark 6:45-52

6. Our Text Story that contains so many lessons Story that contains so many lessons There are 5 in particular that we will discuss today There are 5 in particular that we will discuss today Consider with me 5 anchors of the soul within this text… Consider with me 5 anchors of the soul within this text…

7. His Providence Placed Me Here Passage tells us that Jesus sent them into the storm Passage tells us that Jesus sent them into the storm v. 22 – “ Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side ” v. 22 – “ Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side ” That word means strongly urged That word means strongly urged

8. His Providence Placed Me Here II Tim. 3:12 – “ …all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution ” II Tim. 3:12 – “ …all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution ” Jn. 16:33 – “ …in the world you will have tribulation… ” Jn. 16:33 – “ …in the world you will have tribulation… ” Js. 1:2 – “ count it all joy when you fall into various trials… ” Js. 1:2 – “ count it all joy when you fall into various trials… ”

9. His Providence Placed Me Here Lord allows us to be subjected to storms of life, not to cripple us but to empower us! Lord allows us to be subjected to storms of life, not to cripple us but to empower us! In the gym – “ No pain, no gain ” In the gym – “ No pain, no gain ” “ That which does not kill us makes us stronger ” “ That which does not kill us makes us stronger ”

10. Two kinds of storms Correcting storm Correcting storm –Jonah was part of a correcting storm –Sometimes we need a wake-up call –Ps. 119:67 – “ Before I was afflicted I went astray…but now I keep your Word ” –v. 71 – “ It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn your statutes ”

11. Two kinds of storms Perfecting storm Perfecting storm –Already doing God ’ s will, but we need the spiritual conditioning to keep us on track –Ps. 148:8 – “ Fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word… ” –Sometimes they can assist & equip us

12. His Prayers Protect Me Here Where ’ s the Lord while they are in the storm? Where ’ s the Lord while they are in the storm? On the mountain praying On the mountain praying Mk. 6:48 – “ Then He saw them straining at the rowing, for the wind was against them ” Mk. 6:48 – “ Then He saw them straining at the rowing, for the wind was against them ”

13. His Prayers Protect Me Here When was the last time you had to strain at the oars of life? When was the last time you had to strain at the oars of life? Have you ever… Have you ever… Preacher in a difficult place once said, “ I know God placed me here, I just wonder if He remembers where He put me! ” Preacher in a difficult place once said, “ I know God placed me here, I just wonder if He remembers where He put me! ”

14. His Prayers Protect Me Here Heb. 13:5 – “ I will never leave you nor forsake you. ” Heb. 13:5 – “ I will never leave you nor forsake you. ” Heb. 7:25 – “ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. ” (Heb. 4:15) Heb. 7:25 – “ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. ” (Heb. 4:15)

15. His Prayers Protect Me Here Sometimes for our prayers to be effective, they must be selective Sometimes for our prayers to be effective, they must be selective Effect of prayer can be diluted if we pray in vague generalities Effect of prayer can be diluted if we pray in vague generalities We need to get specific and selective in our praying We need to get specific and selective in our praying I can picture the Lord calling them by name I can picture the Lord calling them by name

16. His Presence Comes To Me Here Many times our troubles bring the Lord to us Many times our troubles bring the Lord to us If my parents were in trouble and needed me… If my parents were in trouble and needed me… If my children were in trouble and needed me… If my children were in trouble and needed me…

17. His Presence Comes To Me Here God will be with us in the midst of our turmoil God will be with us in the midst of our turmoil Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego in Dan. 3:25 Shadrach, Meshach, & Abed-Nego in Dan. 3:25 Ps. 23:1-3 – In the green pastures David is talking about God Ps. 23:1-3 – In the green pastures David is talking about God Ps. 23:4 – In the valley he starts talking to God Ps. 23:4 – In the valley he starts talking to God

18. His Presence Comes To Me Here Is. 43:1-3 Is. 43:1-3 Why did Jesus wait until the 4 th hour to come to the disciples? Why did Jesus wait until the 4 th hour to come to the disciples? Is. 30:18 Is. 30:18 He had a purpose, but it took some time straining at the oars to realize what it was! He had a purpose, but it took some time straining at the oars to realize what it was!

19. His Presence Comes To Me Here When God waits…we wait When God waits…we wait Ex. 14:13 – Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord… ” Ex. 14:13 – Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord… ” Jesus was walking on the water, not running. Jesus was walking on the water, not running. The Lord is never in a hurry, but He ’ s never late! The Lord is never in a hurry, but He ’ s never late!

20. His Power Sustains Me Here Why walk on the water and then bid Peter to get out and come to Him? Why walk on the water and then bid Peter to get out and come to Him? He was showing them He had power adequate for their problems He was showing them He had power adequate for their problems He ’d just fed as many as 20,000 people with 5 loaves & 2 fish He ’d just fed as many as 20,000 people with 5 loaves & 2 fish Nothing was a problem for Him Nothing was a problem for Him

21. His Power Sustains Me Here What was threatening to be over their heads, was already under His feet What was threatening to be over their heads, was already under His feet Jn. 16:33 – “ I have overcome the world ” Jn. 16:33 – “ I have overcome the world ” Peace is not the subtraction of problems, but the addition of power Peace is not the subtraction of problems, but the addition of power

22. His Promises Assure Me Here He was the one that told them to go to the other side He was the one that told them to go to the other side Every command of His is a promise Every command of His is a promise He gives us the strength to keep every command He gives us the strength to keep every command Look at Jn. 6:21… Look at Jn. 6:21…

23. His Promises Assure Me Here Some have actually said that there were 4 miracles that took place here: Some have actually said that there were 4 miracles that took place here: –Jesus walked on water –Peter walked on water –The storm stopped instantly –They were immediately on land

24. His Promises Assure Me Here That ’ s how quickly the storms of life can be over That ’ s how quickly the storms of life can be over Peter called for Jesus – not an oar, lifeboat, or life preserver Peter called for Jesus – not an oar, lifeboat, or life preserver We’re much safer in the water with Jesus, than in the boat without Him! We’re much safer in the water with Jesus, than in the boat without Him!