Matthew 14:28-31 “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
If we study Peter in the New Testament we find him a strong-willed man. Many times this was useful and many times this got him in trouble. The problem here is that he took his eyes off of Jesus. As long as he had his eyes on Jesus he was able to walk on the water. It took faith to get out of the boat, but it was also a certain amount of foolishness. Who can walk on water?
When my wife and I were transferred from San Diego, California to Newport News, Virginia we had one son, Michael John. I have heard it said that all it took was enough faith to walk on water, but Michael John disproved that quite easily. He was about 2 ½ or 3 when we went to visit one of the Virginia amusements. I’m not even sure which one it was. There was a floating dock that was just about level with the water. He, Michael John, being full of energy and quite able to walk well. Took off for toward something that caught his eye and he walked right off the pier onto the water. He had faith (really a lack of knowledge) that the water would hold him up. It didn’t and half a second later I was fishing him out of the water. It takes faith plus Jesus to walk on water.
Humanity gets itself in trouble just like Peter. We get too self-confident. David got self-confident several times in his life, but listen to what happened.
Psalms 69:2 “I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.”
David got into trouble that he could not get himself out of. He pleaded with God to help him. Even though he was a man after God’s own heart, he needed God’s strength and protection his entire life.
Psalms 69:14 “Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.”
The next part of this message you may have trouble believing but it is true none the less. David had people that hated him and he needed God to prevent them from overcoming him. So do you! Everything God loves, Satan hates. John 3:16 tells us that God loves you. Guess who hates you! Many times we will find outselves in trouble by cunningly laid traps the devil places to snare you. Alcohol, drugs, pornography, adultry, fornication, and many other traps the devil lays to snare you.
1Timothy 3:7 “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
Many times the devil uses ungodly “friends” to lead you astray. You have confidence in that friend and you soon find yourself in the snare of the devil. Do you remember the old saying ‘misery loves company’? Friends that lead you into a cycle of disreputable things feel bad about them, but they love your company while they are sinking deeper in the mire, like David.
Now Peter had only to call out and reach up for Jesus to come back to the top of the water. David had only to call out to God to be delivered from certain death. If you are sinking in sin and cannot find a way out, I encourage you to call out to God. You might even be a saved man or woman, but are sinking in the mire of sin. Call out to Jesus to help you! If you have never asked Jesus Christ to save you and you are sinking deeper into sinful practices day by day, call out to Him to save you! Only He can give you the power to overcome the snares the devil has laid for the unwary and the foolish.
Foolish? Yes, those who have too much confidence in themselves. “Oh, I can quit anytime I want to” is usually what they think, until it is too late to quit without help. Our State of Oklahoma has many programs to help you with any kind of addiction, but it takes Jesus to make you whole again. Without Him, your body will continue to crave your addiction even after you have successfully quit. It will draw you back into it unless Jesus heals you from that addiction. “Can He help me?” you ask. “You don’t know my circumstance or situation.” While that is true, the answer to your question is, “Yes, He can help you and furthermore, He wants to help you, but just like the Oklahoma’s programs, you must ask for that help. Come to church any Sunday and I will pray with you.
