UNWRAPPING THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS

“Greater Faith”
Pastor Dan Levy – December 31, 2023

Matthew 14:22-36 — Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

1. The Word of Jesus AWAKENS greater faith in your HEART.

Matthew 14:27-29 — “Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,”he said.

Romans 10:17 — Belief you see, can only come from hearing the message, and the message is the word of Christ.

2. Faith is more than a feeling. It responds in RADICAL OBEDIENCE to the Word of Jesus. And when it does, MIRACLES BEGIN TO HAPPEN.

Matthew 14:29 — “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

3. Big faith is MORE than taking a step. It’s walking by faith EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

Matthew 14:30-32 — “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”