TITLE: “BEYOND THE BOAT: WALKING ON WATER”

PREACHER: BRO. AEDRIAN MACAWILI

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 14:22-33 (KJV)

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.
22
Agad pinasakay ni Jesus sa bangka ang mga alagad at pinauna sa kabilang ibayo. Samantala, pinauwi naman niya
ang mga tao.
23
Matapos niyang paalisin ang mga ito, mag-isa siyang umakyat sa bundok upang manalangin. Nag-iisa siyang
inabutan doon ng gabi.
24
Samantala, ang bangka ay nasa laot na ngunit sinasalpok ito ng mga alon dahil pasalungat ito sa hangin.
25
Nang madaling-araw na'y sumunod sa kanila si Jesus na naglalakad sa ibabaw ng tubig.
26
Kinilabutan sa takot ang mga alagad nang makita nilang may lumalakad sa ibabaw ng tubig. “Multo!” sigaw nila.
27
Ngunit nagsalita agad si Jesus at sinabi sa kanila, “Huwag kayong matakot, ako ito!”
28
Sinabi ni Pedro, “Panginoon, kung talagang ikaw nga iyan, papuntahin mo ako diyan sa kinaroroonan mo sa
ibabaw ng tubig.”
29
Sumagot siya, “Halika.” Mula sa bangka ay lumakad si Pedro sa ibabaw ng tubig papunta kay Jesus.
30
Ngunit nang mapansin niya na malakas ang hangin,[a] siya'y natakot at nagsimulang lumubog. “Panginoon,
sagipin ninyo ako!” sigaw niya.
31
Agad siyang hinawakan ni Jesus. “Bakit ka nag-alinlangan? Napakaliit ng iyong pananampalataya!” sabi niya kay
Pedro.
32
Pagkasakay nila sa bangka, tumigil ang hangin
33
at sinamba siya ng mga nasa bangka. “Tunay nga pong kayo ang Anak ng Diyos!” sabi nila.

INTRODUCTION:

In the quiet hours of the night, amidst the tempestuous waves, a remarkable event unfolded—an encounter
between Peter and Jesus on the stormy sea. This passage from Matthew 14 provides profound insights into faith, trust, and
our unwavering focus on Christ.

THE BOLD REQUEST:

Picture the scene, a boat tossed by the wind, waves crashing against its sides. The disciples, weary and fearful, glimpse a
figure walking toward them on the water. Fear grips their hearts—until Jesus speaks: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be
afraid.”
And then Peter, with a mixture of awe and audacity, responds: “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water.” Peter’s request is bold, almost audacious. He wants to defy the laws of nature and walk where no mortal has
walked before.

So we've read this passage many times and we think and we believe, I believe, that it was Jesus who asked Peter to come
on the water. But then I realized when I read it, it was Peter's idea —Peter walking on the water was Peter's idea. It wasn't
Jesus. Matt 14: 28 – 28 Sinabi ni Pedro, “Panginoon, kung talagang ikaw nga iyan, papuntahin mo ako diyan sa
kinaroroonan mo sa ibabaw ng tubig.”
Jesus simply said in Matthew 14: 29 – 29 Sumagot siya, “Halika.” Mula sa bangka ay lumakad si Pedro sa ibabaw ng
tubig papunta kay Jesus. So in a sense, I want you to focus on this, it was Peter's prayer request to walk on the water and
all Jesus did was to say I'll make it happen.

So Jesus simply says, “Come.” And Peter steps out of the boat, onto the raging sea. For a moment, he defies gravity,
walking toward Jesus. His eyes fixed on the Savior, he experiences the miraculous.
Peter’s faith is on full display. He doesn’t question the feasibility; he trusts the One who called him. His gaze remains
unwaveringly on Jesus.

Peter had his eyes completely on Jesus when he was making the request. Relating it to what believers often do, we begin
our prayers with a deep sense of dependence on God. Just as Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus during the request, we often ask
our pastor to pray for us when we are applying for a job, when we are going to take board examination, and a lot more of
prayer requests. We seem to be focused on God, giving Him our undivided attention and trust, recognizing His ability to
provide, and expressing faith that He hears and responds to the cries of His children. We're really good at looking to
Jesus while we're asking for the provision. We're really good at looking to Jesus when we're asking for the
relationship, we're really good at looking to Jesus when we're praying for the ministry to take off.

But what happens when it does? What do you do when your prayers come to pass? Let’s continue reading our text,
Matthew 14:30 – 30 Ngunit nang mapansin niya na malakas ang hangin,[a] siya'y natakot at nagsimulang lumubog.
“Panginoon, sagipin ninyo ako!” sigaw niya. See? He Peter’s request was granted,he was walking on the water, but then,
something shifts. After Jesus granted the request, Peter took his eyes off Him. This shift in attention could symbolize a
common pitfall for believers – losing that intense focus on Jesus once the immediate need is met. I t's very common for
individuals even us who claim to be Christians to become more absorbed in the fulfillment of our requests than in the One
who granted them. After receiving answers to prayer, there is a risk of shifting attention towards the blessings rather than
maintaining a continuous, intimate relationship with Christ.

Peter glances away from Jesus. He notices the wind—the tumultuous circumstances around him. Fear creeps in, and doubt
takes root. In that instant, he begins to sink. His faith wavers. The water engulfs him, threatening to swallow him whole.

Peter’s experience mirrors our own spiritual journey. We start with fervent faith, stepping out boldly. But as life’s storms
rage, we shift our focus. When prayers are answered, relationships flourish, or ministries thrive, we can lose sight of the
One who started it all. We take our eyes off Jesus and fixate on the boisterous winds—we tend to interpret this as
problems, but it can also mean winds of success, popularity, or comfort having our prayers granted.

What happens once the miracle occurs? What do we do when the provision arrives, the relationship blossoms, or the
ministry bears fruit?
We must remain anchored in Christ. Our faith journey doesn’t end with the answered prayer; it continues as we
walk with Him daily. Keep your eyes on Jesus, whether in the storm or the calm. Remember who called you, who
sustains you, and who empowers you.

CONCLUSION:

Peter's experience walking on the water teaches us a big lesson about faith. It's not just about taking a step; it's also about
keeping our eyes on Jesus. When things get tough, like strong winds blowing, we should always look at Jesus. He can
handle problems and make us feel less scared. Imagine walking on water not because we're super strong, but because God
helps us with His love.

But it's not just tough times. Sometimes when our prayers are answered, and things get really good, it can feel like
boisterous winds too. The key is still to keep looking at Jesus, even when life is comfortable. He's the one who guides us
through both tough and good times, giving us strength and peace. So, whether things are hard or happy, remember to
focus on Jesus, who is always there for us.