But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.
4 sermons cite this verse
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for having a seat. So Joshua Slocum was 51 years old when he left Boston Harbor in 1895. At 51 years old, he got on a 27, 37 foot oyster boat. And he began to sail around the world completely by himself. took him three years three years and two months 1895 left boston and traveled over the pacific ocean the the the indian ocean the the atlantic ocean and he did all of this first the first person ever to do this alone to sail around the world solo joshua slocum came back to boston in massachusetts in 1898 and he had so many incredible teachings things to say insights of of what it takes to sail around the world by yourself. He has a lot of insights when it comes to fear. We can imagine. You can imagine that on like a really nice day out on the ocean, just amazing, blue skies, just enough wind to keep you going, but not too much wind to make it scary. …
… So I'm excited about Jesus. I want to preach about Jesus today from Matthew chapter 14, verses 22 through 35. First Bible story that I ever preached for our last sermon in the series, That's What I Thought. Tell your neighbor, that's what I thought. I say this is the last one. I think it's the last one. If the Lord wants me to keep going, I will. but my plan is today to take some of the things we've been preaching about and minister them to your heart. Welcome to all of our locations. Put it in the comment on YouTube. That's what I thought. This is our final installment. Yeah, this is the first Bible story I ever preached, so I always try to preach it at least once a year just to check in and see how dumb I was the last time I preached it or what new thing God will show me. Glad you're here today. Welcome. Welcome to the presence of God. Welcome to a new beginning. Welcome to a space where grace reigns supreme and where Jesus is Lord and King. Welcome to a place where you can hear his word. …
"Lord, save me." Matthew 14:30. I am going to talk about the characteristics of this prayer in the hope that there may be many who have never yet prayed aright, who may make this their own prayer, tonight, so that from many a person here present this cry may silently go up, "Lord, save me." Where did Peter pray this prayer? It was not in a place set apart for public worship, or in his usual place for private prayer. He prayed this prayer just as he was sinking in the water! He was in great peril, so he cried out, "Lord, save me." It is well to assemble with God's people for prayer if you can, but if you cannot go up to His house, it matters little, for prayer can ascend to Him from anywhere in the world! It is well to have a special spot where you pray at home— probably most of us have a certain chair by which we kneel to pray and we feel that we can talk to God most freely there. At the same time, we must never allow ourselves to become the slaves even of such a good habit as that—we must always remember that if we really want to find the Lord by prayer— "Wherever we seek Him, He is found, And everyplace is hallowed ground." We may pray to God when engaged in any occupation if it is a lawful one. And if it is not, we have no business to be in it! If there is anything we do over which we cannot pray, we ought never dare to do it again. And if there is any occupation concerning which we have to say, "We could not pray while engaged in it," it is clear that the occupation is a wrong one. …
"And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, bid me come unto You on the water. And He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord, save me!" Matthew 14:28-31. A FEW reflections will be sure to cross the mind of any thoughtful reader of this narrative. I. THE MIXED CHARACTER OF THE BELIEVER'S EXPERIENCE is here very palpably suggested to us. Peter was undoubtedly a bold believer in Jesus Christ. He addresses his Master devoutly, calling Him, "Lord"—a name of reverence, the use of which evidences the change that had been worked in his character, and the obedient spirit it had produced. But the misgivings implied in that, "if—"if it is You"—savors rather of unbelief! And yet we find this hesitancy immediately followed by an expression of such strong confidence that we marvel at the request he uttered, "Bidme come to You on the water."Then cheered by the Lord's prompt answer, "Come," we find him showing his courage by descending from the vessel, setting foot on the sea and actually walking on the water! Thus did he participate in the wonder which Christ worked and share in the miracle of subduing the elements. His valor, however, soon evaporates. For, "when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid." The faith that buoyed him up gave place to a fear that bowed him down. He who was walking on the liquid wave, one instant, is sinking beneath the surge the next! The gallant cry, "Bid me come to You on the water," is quickly exchanged for the grievous wail, "Lord, save me!" So great his pluck, so dire his panic! And is this a common experience? Are all God's people thus subject to changes—alternating between calm trust and cowardly fear? Can they be neither one thing or the other—neither altogether believing or totally unbelieving? We think it is even so. We will not say how much frailty of the creature is mixed up with fealty to Christ in the best of men, nor how far the Grace of God may protect us from the guilt of double-dealing in the conduct of our lives. But we do mournfully confess that in our own experience, the good and the evil contend for the mastery and, sometimes, it seems but the turning of a hair which shall vanquish! Fully assured, though, we are that the new life which has been implanted in us will ultimately gain the victory, but not less fully conscious are we that disasters and defeats are constantly occurring on our path to triumph. …