'Lord, Save Me!'
The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith in overcoming fear and failure, and the privilege of Christian living is to do what cannot be done.
J.R. Miller reflects on a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus and His disciples, emphasizing the importance of faith amidst trials. As the disciples struggled in a storm, Jesus walked on water to reach them, and Peter, eager yet impulsive, stepped out in faith but began to sink when he doubted. Miller highlights that Jesus' call to Peter implied the ability to walk on water, illustrating that faith can achieve the impossible. He reassures that even in our failures, Jesus is patient and ready to rescue us, urging believers to strengthen their faith and trust in His presence. The sermon encourages Christians to embrace the extraordinary potential of their faith, as it is through faith that they can accomplish what seems impossible.
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Those who was one of the strangest nights of our Lord's life. In the evening He sent the disciples out upon the sea alone. Then He went up into the mountain and spent the night with His Father. A storm came on, and the little boat was wildly tossed in the waves. From His place of prayer, Jesus kept His eye on His disciples. He saw them distressed in rowing, and around three in the morning, He came to them walking on the water.
Then it was that Peter called to Jesus, "Bid me to come unto You upon the waters." It was just like Peter, loving and eager--but impetuous and rash. Still, the Master said "Come!" and instantly the disciple stepped out from the boat. While he kept his eye on his Master, he walked on the water as if it were a solid pavement. But for a moment he saw the waves, and at once began to sink.
In his despair he cried, "Lord, save me!" and immediately Jesus reached out His hand and lifted him out of the waters. But while He was rescuing him, He said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" The words show that Peter need not have sunk into the sea. He could have continued to walk on the water as he began. Jesus had bidden him to come, and the bidding implied ability to do it.
Nothing is impossible to faith. A good man said, "Doing what can't be done--is the glory of Christian living." Anybody can do the things that can be done--but it is the privilege of the Christian--to do what cannot be done. It was a prayer of Augustine's, "Command what You will--then give what You command." It is only the littleness of our faith that causes our achieving to fall below what our Master expects of us.
Though Peter's peril was caused by his own fear, the Master did not disregard his cry. He is patient with our failures, pitiful with our weaknesses, and His love never wearies in delivering us. But why should our faith be so small? The Strong One is ever beside us. When we are doing what He has bidden us to do, when we are in a place to which He has sent us--we need never fear nor falter; we cannot fail but through the failure of our own faith.
Sermon Outline
- The Master's Patience and Love
- The Privilege of Christian Living
- The Strong One Beside Us
- Doing what cannot be done is the glory of Christian living
- Faith is the key to achieving what our Master expects
- Jesus' presence and power in our lives
- The importance of faith in overcoming fear and failure
Key Quotes
“Nothing is impossible to faith.” — J.R. Miller
“Doing what can't be done--is the glory of Christian living.” — J.R. Miller
“Command what You will--then give what You command.” — J.R. Miller
Application Points
- We should strive to have a strong faith that enables us to do what our Master expects.
- We should not let our faith be small, but instead, we should trust in the presence and power of Jesus.
- With faith, we can overcome fear and failure, and achieve what seems impossible.