part I - The Identity of the Believer (September 1st, 2002)

Strength of

Believer

Series

Generally, each sermon is a part of a series, that deals with applying the Bible to real-life issues.  Don't worry if you've missed part of a series.  Each Sunday will work together with the other sermons, or can stand alone to help you deal with the things life brings each day.

part II - The Unmatching God (September 8th, 2002)

part III - The Identity of God (September 15th, 2002)

part IV - Focus Determines Strength (September 22nd, 2002)

where nobody stands alone

Strength of the Believer Sermon Series Title:  The Identity of the Believer ** Pray 1 Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the Excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. I. You are a Chosen Race a. NIV says a chosen people b. God’s Elect Scriptures c. 2 Thessalonians 2: 13 i. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. d. Ephesians 1: 4 i. Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.  In love. e. John 15: 16 i. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. II. You are a Royal Priesthood Strong's Number:   934 Original Word Word Origin basileioß from (935) Transliterated Word TDNT Entry Basileios 1:591,97 Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech bas-il'-i-os     Adjective Definition 1. royal, kingly, regal Strong's Number:   2406 Original Word Word Origin ierateuma from (2407) Transliterated Word TDNT Entry Hierateuma 3:249,349 Phonetic Spelling Parts of Speech hee-er-at'-yoo-mah     Noun Neuter Definition 1. the office of a priest 2. the order or body of priests a royal priesthood; referring to (Exodus 19:6) , where the Israelites are called a "kingdom of priests"; which the Chaldee paraphrase renders, kings, priests; see (Revelation 1:6) a character which one of the Jewish commentators says F25 shall return to the Jews (abl dytel) , "in time to come"; and well agrees with all the people of Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles, who are all of them kings, through their relation to Christ; and at the present time have a kingdom which cannot be moved, or taken away from them; being not only brought into the Gospel dispensation, the kingdom of the Messiah, and having a right to all the privileges and immunities of it, but have also the kingdom of grace set up within them, or grace, as a reigning principle, implanted in them; which lies not in anything external, but in righteousness and true holiness, in inward peace, and spiritual joy; and they have the power of kings over sin, Satan, and the world; and the riches of kings, being possessed of the riches of grace now, and entitled to the riches of glory in another world; they live like kings, they wear royal apparel, the robe of Christ's righteousness; they sit at the king's table, and feed on royal dainties; and are attended on as kings, angels being their life guards, and ministering spirits to them; and hereafter they shall reign with Christ on earth, and that for the space of a thousand years, and, after that, for ever: being raised up from a low estate, to inherit the crown of glory, to wear the crown of life and righteousness, and possess the kingdom prepared for them from the foundation of the world, of which they are now heirs: and they are "priests", as well as kings; being made so by Christ, and through his priestly office; are anointed with the Holy Ghost, and sanctified by his grace, and allowed to draw near to God, and offer up by Christ their spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise; and are enabled and assisted to offer up the sacrifice of a broken heart, and their bodies also, and even their lives when called to it; the allusion is to the kingdom and priesthood being formerly together, and which met in Christ, (Zechariah 6:13) and in his people. The Jews were wont to call the priestly dignity and office (hnhk rtk) , "the crown of the priesthood" F26: a. Adjective Modifies the Noun i. You can’t be royalty without being a priest. III. You are a Holy Nation a. You are not by yourself, you are part of a holy nation b. You are part of something holy, treat it as such c. Millard J. Erickson says in his book Christian Theology 2nd ed., i. Various NT images make it clear that the church, as the successor to Israel, is to follow her lead in manifesting unity.  Like Israel, believers in Christ constitute one race, one nation. d. The rest of the NT goes further than the joining of races to one another, but becoming family with everyone. For the church is a family. i. Ephesians 2: 19 1. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household. IV. You are a A People for God’s Own Possession a. NIV says a people belonging to God b. We belong to the Creator c. We belong to a Warrior d. We belong to the Providential One (planner) e. We belong to the Sovereign One f. We belong to the Healer g. According to Millard J. Erickson in his book Christian Theology 2nd ed., belonging to the Lord is an aspect of Sanctification. i. Sanctification in this sense is something that occurs at the very beginning of the Christian life, at the point of conversion, along with regeneration and justification. ii. It is in this sense that the NT so frequently refers to Christians as “saints” (hagioi), even when they are far from perfect. V. Invitation a. You need to choose b. God right now as your Nissi (banner), before the storm come and you won’t have a foundation to stand on. i. Jehovah - Nissi - "God is my Banner"   (Exodus 17: 15) ii. You are my victory in conflict and confrontation! c. We need to proclaim the excellencies of His wonderful light

The Strength of the Believer Title:  The Unmatching God ** Pray This Wednesday is the 1 year anniversary of September 11 and the terroists attacks. So what will you be thinking:  Open the floor for comment - You may be thinking about future plans and how you will provide for things. - You may be going on and ignoring the fact of the insecure world in which we live Play the video clip – Moments that change lives – a clip about 9 - 11 9 – 11 show us that we are going to go through troubles, but we need to remember that there is one (not everybody) that will always be there. Isaiah 43: 15 – 21 I am the Lord, your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, you King.”  This is what the Lord says – he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:  “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.  The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise. Thesis:  No other way will work (no relative truths) and sometimes when we know that our deepest need is God we do not allow Him to fully work (wounded saint theory). - Today we have two popular views that limit us to fully coming to God and who He is. - We need to understand that our God is unmatchable… no one or nothing can stand up to God. Enact this sermon like a boxing round, have the boxing gloves on and everything. (Act like we are going to knock out all other views). Play an audio clip – Are you ready to RUMBLE!!! Match 1 I. Relative Truth VERSUS Absolute Truth a. What is Relative Truth? i.  A truth that is not prescriptive for everyone; one that is subjective and particular. b. What is Absolute Truth? i. A truth that is prescriptive for everyone; one that is objective and universal. ii. Roger Trigg, author of Philosophy Matters… 1. Actual knowledge must include not just a tentative claim to truth, but a claim that is itself correct and ought to be accepted by everyone. We want to make God who we want Him to be. c. We try to justify drug use i. That is why next we are going to be talking about:  God and our friend called BUD (marijuana) d. Pop Culture i. Oprahism – That may be true for you, but what is true for me? ii. Seinfieldism – homosexuality – I’m not gay, not that there’s anything wrong with that. This relativism is not new, it has been going on for centuries. e. Protagoras, a philosopher during the time of Socrates and Plato argued that truth was relative. i. Protagoras provoked Plato with his talk of a true belief being only true for those holding it. 1. Plato argued against this philosopher of the time f. Plato has adamantly argued that absolute (actual knowledge) existed with his views about the World of Forms. i. World of Absolutes ii. Trigg goes on to discuss that 1. Knowledge is of truth, and unless we revert to Protagoras’ confused talk of “truth for me’ or the more general ‘truth for our society’, truth has a universal claim. 2. Trigg says that relative truth is confused talk and that the only truth in existence is that of absolutes. g. Paul says the word of God is absolute, that none of it is relative to anyone but is absolutely for everyone. i. 2 Timothy 3: 16 1. All Scripture is God – breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. h. Jesus also claims an absolute view. i. He says that He is absolutely the only one ii. John 14: 6 1. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. iii. Jesus is stepping to bat when He says He is the only way to God. iv. Jesus declares Himself as the absolute truth. 1. other religions do not lead you to the creator, only Jesus. i. Is God a god of relativity or absolutivity? i. God says to Moses in Exodus, “I am” 1. A statement that declares him as the absolute way, truth, and life. ii. He makes absolute promises. 1. Genesis 9: 8 – 17; 21: 7; 50: 24; Exodus 2: 23 – 25; 12: 11 iii. Therefore, His word is absolute. 1. William R. Yount, in his book Created to Learn (351) says that a. Prayer is the connection.  The Word is the means.  The Spirit is the Power. Jesus is our Lord and Example. Thesis:  No other way will work (no relative truths) and even when you know God you do not allow Him to fully work (wounded saint theory) If we are to let God into our life to fully work, we need to understand the God’s healing characteristic: Match 2 II. Jehovah Rophe VERSUS Wounded Saints a. Definitions i. Jehovah Rophe – “God is my healer.” 1. God can heal my body, emotions, and relationships! a. Exodus 15: 26 i. And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I willl put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord am your healer.” ii. Wounded Saint – A believer in Christ that has been hurt, beat down, or worked so hard that they have no ability, desire or strength to live a full Christian life. b. Main Question i. How can there be wounded saints when the Jehovah Rophe exists. 1. Is healing (salvation healing) temporal or permanent? 2. With the detail that God placed in the salvation process, would that entail an everlasting healing or one that comes and goes? a. REMEMBER – The thought that Salvation is a free gift does not demean the complication and detail of its worth or value. IV. Salvation Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour. B. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favor with God. C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person's life. D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5. ii. Dr. Tim Beougher of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary says, that “the term wounded saint is just an excuse for a lack of commitment to God’s family.” iii. Others have said that those that may even call themselves wounded are hurt because they are rebellious Christians which have impaled themselves on the sword of authority. 1. Ephesians 5 & 6; Colossians 3: 18 – 25. c. Jesus and the Woman at the Well – Fountains of Blessings i. “The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). The picture our Lord described here is not that of a simple stream of water, but an overflowing fountain. Continue to “be filled” (Ephesians 5:18) and the sweetness of your vital relationship to Jesus will flow as generously out of you as it has been given to you. If you find that His life is not springing up as it should, you are to blame—something is obstructing the flow. Was Jesus saying to stay focused on the Source so that you may be blessed personally? No, you are to focus on the Source so that out of you “will flow rivers of living water”—irrepressible life (John 7:38). We are to be fountains through which Jesus can flow as “rivers of living water” in blessing to everyone. Yet some of us are like the Dead Sea, always receiving but never giving, because our relationship is not right with the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive blessings from Him, He will pour out blessings through us. But whenever the blessings are not being poured out in the same measure they are received, there is a defect in our relationship with Him. Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything hindering your faith in Him? If not, then Jesus says that out of you “will flow rivers of living water.” It is not a blessing that you pass on, or an experience that you share with others, but a river that continually flows through you. Stay at the Source, closely guarding your faith in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow into the lives of others with no dryness or deadness whatsoever. Is it excessive to say that rivers will flow out of one individual believer? Do you look at yourself and say, “But I don’t see the rivers”? Through the history of God’s work you will usually find that He has started with the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but with those who have been steadfastly true to Jesus Christ. d. Can we be hurt? i. Knocked down maybe, but never wounded. ii. Jesus says “come to me you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest. iii. Paul says that It is when I am weak when I am strong – 2 Corinthians 12: 10 iv. The Misery of Paul’s life – if anyone had a right to throw their hands up and say that he was wounded and never going to minister, it was Paul 1. 2 Corinthians 11: 23 – 27 a. “… I have been in prison more times … near death often … been whipped five times with 39 lashes by the Jews and three times by the Romans … once stoned … I’ve been in three shipwrecks … and once spent 24 hours in the water … in my travels I’ve been in danger from floods … robbers … enemies … wild animals and false friends … I’ve served long hours without sleep or food or shelter or even clothing …” v. Chumbawamba had it correct when they said, “I get knocked down but I get up again.” vi. We are able to get knocked down by the world if we are wounded and hurt. 1. We would keep our chin down if we were wounded or hurt. vii. If we were completely healed then the arrows of this world would not hurt 1. If we were completely healed then our chin would not drop, unless it was due to our own prideful ignorance. Match 3 III. Invitation a. God’s road or the broken road of sin. b. In conclusion, you need to absolutely accept jesus as your Rophe. You ned to abandon all else or end up in hell. c. We need to be more like Jehosaphat in 2 Chronicles 18, I will focus on God – (NIV) First seek the counsel of the Lord.

The Strength of the Believer Title:  The Identity of God ** Pray When it gets 10 til the hour, I will need all of you to start shaking your keys.  If you don’t have a set of keys get some.  I will not stop preaching until I see everyone shaking keys. - These keys symbolize the choice of the individual - Keys can lock and unlock doors. - God has given you a free gift of grace and it is your decision if you choose to open that door or lock that door behind you. - These keys symbolize your free will of choice today. - Do you want the eternal peace from Jehovah Rophe or do you want to lock it all away? - The choice is yours today. - Why should the audience care about the identity of God? - Speak a word of encouragement We can find strength by knowing who God truly is. Exodus 15: 2 – 3 2 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. I. The Lord is present. a. He is always there. b. He is omnipresent c. Millard J. Erickson quotes in his book Christian Theology i. God is not subject to limitations … there is not place where he cannot be found. ii. Jeremiahs 23: 23 1. Am I only a God nearby, … and not a God far away?” iii. Psalm 139: 7 – 12 1. The psalmist found that he could not flee from the presence of God – wherever the psalmist went, God would be there. Exodus 15: 2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.  He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. - the grammatical structure signifies that God is present with Moses. (my, my, my) d. Ezekiel 48: 35 i. “And the name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” e. The significance of this verse is found in the beginning of Ezekiel. i. The Israelites had ignored the character of God in such a manner that they despised Him. ii. They didn’t want a part of God, so he left. 1. Ichabod a. For the glory of the Lord has departed. iii. The book of Ezekiel ends with an image of a city that adorns God and thus God is truly present with it. f. “… The LORD is there” – Jehovah - Shammah - "God is Present with me" i. You are here! I am never alone! g. Psalm 46: 7 i. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. ii. The Lord Almighty is with us 1. The Hebrew transliteration a. The Lord Sabbaoth. 2. The God of Jacob a. The God of grace. b. The God of the individual, second chance, and of grace is with you. II. The Lord is mighty Exodus 15: 3 3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. Many people when they think about God or Jesus, they think of someone that is passive or weak.  Someone that is motherly and loving. Why does Moses say that He is mighty? Exodus 15: 6 – 12 6 “Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy. 7 In the greatness of your majesty you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. 8 By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 “The enemy boasted, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.’ 10 But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? 12 You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. Play Braveheart clip where he went to pick on the crowd.  Wallace goes to pick a fight with the English overlors. Luke 13 – On more than one occasion Jesus “picks a fight” with those notorious hypocrites. The Pharisees load the backs of God’s people, but never lift a finger to help them. The Pharisees are so bound to the Law that even healing someone on the Sabbath would be a sin.   They have twisted God’s intentions so badly they think that man was made for the Sabbath, rather than the Sabbath for man (Mark 2: 27) What does Jesus do? - does He tiptoe around the issue, choosing not to rock the boat, which is the preferred way of so many church leaders today? - No. He walks right into the situation, he baits them, and he picks a fight with them. - Read Luke 13: 10 – 14 o That leader that charged Jesus was such a weasel o We see that Christ draws the enemy out, exposes him for what he is, and shames him in front of everyone. o God has a battle to fight, and a. Jeremiah 20:11 i. But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. b. Revelation 19 i. Christ will return at the head of a dreadful company, with a double-edged sword and his robe dipped in blood. c. The names of God show his power i. Jehovah - Nissi - "God is my Banner" 1. Exodus 17: 15 a. 15Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner. 16He said, “For hands were lifted up to the throne of the LORD. The LORD will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.” 2. You are my victory in conflict and confrontation! d. Garden of Gesthsemane i. Jesus was a strong warrior 1. they asked him “who is it that you want?” They replied “Jesus of Nazareth.”  “I am he,” Jesus said.  When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. ii. John Eldredige notes, in his book Wild at Heart (27): 1. “Talk about strength.  The sheer force of Jesus’ bold presence knocks the whole posse over.” Keep your head up, be proud in the Lord, let people know you are a Christian. The champ is here, the champ is here. When we walk in a room, we need the room to see us Ali – The Christian is here, the Christian is here. III. Invitation a. Jehovah - Shalom - "God is my Peace” i. Judges 6: 24) ii. You give me peace in spite of circumstances! b. Psalms 29: 11 i. The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. When it gets 10 til the hour, I will need all of you to start shaking your keys.  If you don’t have a set of keys get some.  I will not stop preaching until I see everyone shaking keys. - These keys symbolize the choice of the individual - Keys can lock and unlock doors. - God has given you a free gift of grace and it is your decision if you choose to open that door or lock that door behind you. - These keys symbolize your free will of choice today. - Do you want the eternal peace from Jehovah Rophe or do you want to lock it all away? - The choice is yours today.

The Strength of the Believer Title:  Our Focus determines our strength ** Pray Matthew 8:23-27 23 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. 25 And they came to {Him} and woke Him, saying, "Save {us,} Lord; we are perishing!" 26 He *said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 27 The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Why should we care about where our focus is at? - If you start focus your attention, time and abilities on Florida football, then eventually you may warm up to the Gators. - As you spend time with the Florida Gators, then you are investing a lot into who they are, and they will become like a treasure for yourself - Matthew 6:21 o for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Everything you do from here on out would be in honor of the Florida Gators instead of the TN Volunteers. - Before you know it you will become a Gator fan, just because you started to watch their season, going to their website … focusing on them. - Focus is very important. I. Focusing on the storm is bad a. The disciples were fishermen i. They were used to storms on the water ii. But this was not any ordinary storm 1. Mark 4: 35 – 41; Luke 8: 22 – 25 use the phrase fierce gale 2. The word for this in the Greek is Lai’lay) a. a whirlwind, a tempestuous wind i. a violent attack of wind, a squall b. never a single gust nor a steady blowing wind, however violent, but a storm breaking forth from black thunder clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy b. This is a pessimistic view/a glass is half empty view. i. They focused on the storm and therefore became like the storm. 1. Chaotic, crazy and destructive. ii. Their started to panic, when they lost control of the situation. c. The little storms of life we can handle, it is the big storm that causes us to run back to Jesus. i. Even when the disciples ran back, they weren’t focusing on Him, but on the solution of the storm. ii. We do that with Christ as well. 1. We just want Him to make all things better, but not continue on with us. 2. He is not just the means of our strength, He is the ends as well. a. The purpose of going to Him should be with intentions of building a relationship with Him. The Loss of Focus - Play clip, TN VERSUS Florida (September 21, 2002) 2nd quarter 3:00 – - I am sorry that I have to use this clip, but some good must come out of this game - The punt returnee took his focus off of the football and lost the football, then a defensive player placed his focus back on the football and intercepted it back for a hope of a return. - When the football players put their focus on what is important (the football), then the game can go their way. o the disciples do what this punt returner did.  They take their eyes off of what is important to look at something else coming. II. Focusing on the self is bad a. Save US Lord; WE are perishing! i. This is the reason why they have little faith, because their faith at this time was not in Jesus but in their personal experiences of past storms. b. Galatians 6: 3 (HCSB) i. For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he is deceiving himself ii. They are focusing on their own self, thus their faith is shaken when something bigger than themselves confronts them. 1. We are powerless, we shouldn’t focus on our own strength to accomplish anything. 2. John 3: 30 a. He (Christ) must increase, but I must decrease. BUT 3. Philippians 4: 13 a. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. c. Their faith is watered down. i. Jesus says – “you men of little faith” – verse 26 ii. They do have enough faith to go to Jesus when times are bad, but not enough faith to stay with Him at all times. d. We see another instance of this in Matthew 14: 22 – 33 where Peter focuses on yet another storm and himself in that storm. i. Matthew 14: 22 – 33 1. 22 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!" e. John Gill  tells us about Peter bid me come unto thee on the water; i. thereby expressing great love and affection to Christ, being willing to come to him, though through danger, through storms and tempests; and also his strong faith in him, supposing it to be he; who, he knew, was as able to support his body on the water, as his own; and yet much modesty, submission, and dependence; not willing to take a step without his order. ii. Focus on the watered down – Peter walking on water focused on himself and sank.  He himself could have truth, but it is only a watered down version of God himself.  If you want a concentrated version of God, then go to the source.  We always miss the mark and focus on things that are pointing toward God, but are not necessarily completely, inspired or even Him.  For example, devotions. 1. We focus on the things that are not fully inspired. 2. We have a desire to focus on things that tickle our ear. 3. Devotions in themselves are not inherently evil, but they are the watered down truth. a. The Bible calls such a work – the milk of God. b. If you want to know God, then read go to God in His word. Transition:  Peter sinking in the water.  It wasn’t until he looked up to Jesus and said that he couldn’t do it that he received the strength that he could use to survive with. III. Focusing on God is good a. How? i. By reading His Bible 1. 5 minutes a day will change your life b. The strength of God. c. Psalm 37 d. How Does God give us strength when we focus on Him? i. Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 1. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. ii. Exodus 15: 2 – 3 1. The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name. To have the Lord as your strength He must first be your salvation. - How does can we do that? - Go over plan of salvation on the back of the program.