Mark , I have to be honest and say that prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines that I struggle with most , and I make it my aim to have solitude and to go into prayer . But if I'm busy , it's the first thing to go and it grieves me . Why do we struggle so much with prayer ?
Speaker 2We are infatuated with ourselves and we think that we can do it . A man who realizes that he's dependent upon God will talk to God . Martin Luther said to be a Christian and not pray is to be alive and not breathe . They don't go together . You will pray . I mean , it's not like Jesus didn't know who he was going to pick as the apostles , yet he spent all night in prayer and prepped for that . The disciples . They didn't say teach us how to preach , teach us how to feed the multitudes . They said teach us how to pray , because prayer is the backbone of any Christian service , of any focus that you're going to have . Prayer , remember , it's not getting my will in heaven , but it's accomplishing God's will in my heart here on earth . So it's just communion with God .
Speaker 2Prayer is one of my favorite things to do and I had mentioned , and Ray had concurred , that my favorite place to pray is inside my car . So commutes are great . Don't waste your commute if you're driving to work , because it is a great time to come clean and to have God search you and try you and see if there'd be any wicked way in you . In other words , wicked is synonymous with idolatry . Is there anything that's going to lead me down in an idolatrous way , that thing . I don't know what it is , but is there something that is potentially going to lead me that way ? So , yes , when our eyes are on ourselves , we don't pray . When our eyes are on ourselves , we won't step out of the boat . When we're not communion with the Lord , we're going to think we have something to do with it , that we can accomplish something by our own efforts , and a man who prays can accomplish far more than a man who has a PhD .
Speaker 1Welcome to the how Wait no , keep rolling . Welcome to the how many words can you say forward that are read backward game , where we see how many words we can say forward that are read backwards Bob , anna , mom . Okay , here we go . Isolop , excuse me , isolop .
Speaker 4That's the backwards . Oh , that's police .
Speaker 3Yeah , woolly .
Speaker 1Holy yellow . Now I was way off Revogna . Easy Hangover A couple more .
Speaker 4Hangover .
Speaker 1Yeah , lackasum Musical . You guys are bad .
Speaker 4Well , it's really difficult . You have to get to the front and stop with it .
Speaker 3If I wasn't dyslexic .
Speaker 1I am now Okay , Yenrab Rab .
Speaker 3Barney , how am I doing so terrible ?
Speaker 1Okay , last one . I don't think anyone can get these Bobignops , spongebob , I feel so cute right now . Oh , okay , now these will be easier Words that mean something else backwards Deserts , stressed , live , evil , evil .
Speaker 2Oscar , yeah , let's keep it at four letters or less .
Speaker 3Yeah yeah , it's easier the smaller the word you go .
Speaker 1Okay , this one you'll like Ray Knits . Spin no easy Spin , stink . Oh man , these are fun , are they Are they . Yeah , pals , slap , slap , I'm not going to give you guys time . Raw war , snug guns , lived Devil , strong Warts , raw's warts and star and rats Raps . See , I wonder if you could start a language . Everything's backwards completely .
Speaker 4Yeah , it's called easyism . Well , what you guys ?
Speaker 3cited
earlier .
Speaker 1Mark and you were trying to do Bob and Anna . Those are good . Do you guys know what those are called ? Palindromes ? Yeah , did you read my notes ?
Speaker 3No , I just know what a palindrome is .
Speaker 1Look at you .
Speaker 3That's where they keep planes .
Speaker 4Yeah , not flown by men . Palindrome Bibb .
Speaker 1Nun , madame Civic Race car Define , madame Civic Race car Define , level Nun Radar , kayak Wow Pop mom , dad no more Hannah .
Speaker 3Look , hannah was in there , I'll do you even better . There's palindrome sentences and then Bob no . Yeah , watch , hold on . Seriously , I'm going to pull it up . There's one that's Owl 8 . Mr Owl 8 , my metal worm . Seriously , yeah , what is it ? Or here's an easier one Was it a car or a cat I saw . So , if you say it backwards , was that's not it ?
Speaker 1Oh , and forget you . Oscar , you don't know how to do this stuff . Okay , we do have something else backwards our names , right ? Yeah , trough Mock , oh . Here's one now , you and your friend , your friends , used to do .
Speaker 4Dale Dunlop was ill and poh not , and Rodney Force . It was the indoor test way .
Speaker 1Why , okay , how stupid is this ? Why are we fascinated by things that are when all here's one madham .
Speaker 3I'm Adam . Oh , what is it the other way ?
Speaker 1around madham . Oh , the same thing .
Speaker 3Yeah .
Speaker 1There are a few like that . I like those .
Speaker 3There's one cat .
Speaker 1I just don't remember it . Mark , do you know who you are ? Backwards cram . Echnips crams . Oh , what are these ? Tickled me ? Oscar , of course is or Oscar or a van Rackso , rackso , mind , and I am , ian knows lame lame .
Speaker 4Yeah , oh , that's a bad breath Ian's lame .
Speaker 1Yeah , you know what I've never been able to figure out . You guys know what you do . I don't know what this is . You know when they do a sobriety test with people ? No , was it a cat ? I saw Same thing backward .
Speaker 1Yeah , was it a cat I saw no way , yeah , look , oh , that's pretty fascinating . That was the one I was sure . I remember I don't want to see a cat . Why do we ? Why wait ? Oscar likes cats , right ? No , I don't hate them . Okay , then you're out . I love cats but seriously though , there is a camaraderie among many men who don't just like not like cats , but they hate cats .
Speaker 2Really , I hate cats my kids are all allergic to cats , so it's just like it's pointless . Yeah , why bad my wife ?
Speaker 4Did you say you don't like it ? I ?
Speaker 1hate cats . What really ? Oh , I can't you you feel the ? Same way .
Speaker 4I can pet a cat . I don't . I don't dislike them , I have a question .
Speaker 1I thought you hated .
Speaker 4Oh , I ran over one , that's obvious .
Speaker 3How could you hate something God created ?
Speaker 2Yes , they're beautiful .
Speaker 4I hate you the conviction .
Speaker 1I hate turnips . But one thing I've never , I've never understood is how , when they do sobriety tests , they'll make people say the alphabet backwards no , you can't do that , sober , I think so I can't do it , so don't just gonna walk a line ? No , you have to , or at least count backwards .
Speaker 4Anybody get this right , say they have bit back . Was he going to jail ?
Speaker 3Yeah do you think they're just messing with ?
Speaker 4you Z .
Speaker 1I can't go more than Z Y W is there a W in there somewhere ?
Speaker 2Z Y , x . But respond to the police officer like I can't do the sober .
Speaker 3Why would I be able to do it in the state that I'm in ? I know s RQ . I'm doing pretty good Really . Yeah , I think so .
Speaker 1I'm sure you felt all right .
Speaker 4Someone sent me a meme who . I don't know it amazes me that much exercise Sounds just like extra fries .
Speaker 1Wait , I just saw that yesterday .
Speaker 4Yeah , I think I sent it to you . That's why no , I sent it . No , I sent it to you was a yeah . You couldn't even say the alphabet backwards . What do you mean ?
Speaker 1Oh , it's the worst , man , my exercise sounds like extra fries . No , you know what Oscar was just saying , how you're telling us before we came on out . You love and you blessed your wife with . The worst thing I do to Rachel is when I recount and and like an encounter or something that happened , and I'm telling her the story . And she was there .
Speaker 3She goes , I was there there what does it happen ?
Speaker 2It's like my child was born , usually goes , usually he's a . I was there , I was right there .
Speaker 1Hey .
Speaker 4I don't remember . What I find is , you realize you've told people something . Afterwards , like about an hour lady thing , I told him that , oh , that's the word .
Speaker 1Yeah and I feel insulted because they're trying to be nice . They pretend like they didn't hear it before .
Speaker 2What's that ?
Speaker 1I'm not a long set of stopping me and making me feel like an idiot . What's that I saw this time ? Loads of time . All right , you guys rudely interrupted me . Okay , we have a comment .
Speaker 2This Is the one that made you cry earlier off my mojo .
Speaker 1No mark that one is for a future date . We have a comment . This is from MM 5 , slash 19 can't get enough . You guys , all four of you . I'm going to be honest . My daughter introduced me to your podcast months and months ago . I listened to one with her , but then , for some reason , I didn't continue after that , sorry , about a month ago . I don't know what prompted me to listen to your podcast again perhaps a Holy Spirit but since then I have been listening to your latest episodes . I decided to start listening from the very first episode and now I am on episode 96 .
Speaker 1You guys are literally in my ears almost 24 7 . The only time I'm not listening is when I'm sleeping , and even then I'm hearing snippets of things I've learned throughout the day . You guys make me laugh and you educate me on God and his word on so many awesome topics . I love how you incorporate the word into everything . I've learned so many new words that I've never even heard of . Mind you , I'm a young , 59 year old , year at years of age believer . I love the age differences between all you all . There's something for everyone . Easy , I can't believe you're a grandpa . You look too young , yeah .
Was that a man mark was a discretion mark . Sneezing or coughing ?
Speaker 1He's allergic to lies . I think that was a disguised amen regarding my youthfulness usefulness , youthfulness , usefulness . I Just love all of your points of view and different inputs . Ray comfort , I love watching your YouTube videos Of your witnessing mark . Your laugh cracks me up along with your face . Oscar , what in the world ?
Speaker 4attacking me . I want to make him laugh .
Speaker 1Oh man , oscar , I too am Hispanic . I can relate to your family . I will continue listening till . I'm all caught up and beyond till Jesus comes super thankful for y'all here in central Texas . Many blessings your number one fan , Maria Murphy . Oh , I'm gonna .
Speaker 2Maria , thank you .
Speaker 1And there were a few other things . I sometimes I have to Kind of condenses a little bit . But , maria , thank you , and how encouraging , wow , 24 7 whatever , did you say what she liked about you ? Well , my youthfulness . I'm very young , young . Was it a time time I was a braille email ?
Speaker 4If you don't have anything good to say .
Speaker 1Yeah , that's what it was . All right , friends , this podcast is brought to you by why ? Jesus , answering life's most important question . Ray , what is life's most important question ?
Speaker 4I don't know .
Speaker 1Right , yes , why ?
Speaker 4Jesus , why ? That's the . That's the . Our director today is Tony smiles . Oh , does he smile ? No , his name is a sentence which is great Tony , tony smiles , tony . And why Jesus is a question . Even though it's two words , it's the greatest question you'd ever ask . Yeah it comes to your eternal salvation or anything .
Speaker 1Yeah , the book will help you recognize Jesus . It's the only path to everlasting life . Identify lies that distort humanity's view of God and use the Bible to highlight our need of the savior . Yes , ray , comfort what I was gonna say . All that , mm-hmm and more , with a beautiful cover , by the way it is yeah , the publishes , they're doing your book too .
Speaker 4They are doing my book . Their covers are phenomenal . Oh they are . You remember the story ? What happened ? They sent Graphic of the first book I published with them and my name wasn't on the cover . And we says you gotta have the Author's name on the count . Publish a book with an author's name not on the cover . They're all watch . They wrote back and said we've sold over a million devotions . Oh we don't know what we're talking about . Thank you , I know , and when we got the book , it was just Phenomenal cover .
Speaker 1Proof is in the pudding . I think they've sold around half a million of your books right , so they've been wonderful one broad street publisher , one lady . Yeah and yeah , my book covers almost done . Yeah , the books are gonna come out before long . Friends , stay posted . Fight like a man bull , biblical battle plan for Personal purity . And don't forget the Living Waters , mug and evidence study Bible . All Living waters . Oh it's crazy . We love it . You have no idea . All right , france . Today we are talking about takeaways from Jesus walking on water .
Speaker 4You guys know I have a ways . Is the words used for fast foods Tachal under that's ?
Speaker 1true , hmm , take away , do they still have ? Do they still say to go here , yeah , sometimes , yeah , they make sound just to go , hmm , togo's , oh , but yeah , takeaways from Jesus walking on water . You guys know the painting that I have , yes , in my office . Wonderful , I Love it Basically .
Speaker 4I saw you bury down to it today .
Speaker 1I became Catholic again slowly became a shrine , yeah , but I love it because it depicts what we're talking about today . Yeah , and one of the things I love about it most is the lighting . Like the way they captured the light in the painting . It looks like it's actually backlit . It's not a painting , it's photo . It almost almost looks like one . It's so well done . Peter took it , but it's a selfie that would be a funny one .
Speaker 1Here I am walking as he's sinking , but I love it because just feet in him but but I love it .
Speaker 1It's it's because it's it captures the moment where Peter is reaching out to Jesus as he's sinking and that you know the waves are huge and about to crash . You see the other disciples on the boat and Jesus reaching out , you know , to grab them and I love that . You know , I I didn't , but I wanted to get under it the scripture From the account where Peter just said Lord , save me Something about those , those words , and I believe they , they , they're so precious to the Lord . You know I was sharing this with the staff the other day , but but yeah , I mean this is a very , very well known account . I wish all of scripture was as well known as this one . But you know , you talk to people , jesus walking on water , you know they'll know it right away . It's been mocked a lot , obviously . You know lots of , lots of . In fact , I've seen a few videos where people try to , you know , emulate it in different ways and try to poke fun of it . But , guys , this , this has a lot to it , this whole account .
Speaker 4It's not hard to walk on water , it just has to be frozen .
Speaker 1Yeah , I saw someone do it where they put glass , but it really looks like like they're walking on water .
Speaker 2But um I , what a step of faith when you think about it . Nobody ever did this before Peter . It's not like he was thinking . I remember when Jimmy did this , so I'm going to step out of the boat the way he did it . Without faith , it is impossible to please God , and I love this quote from William Booth that God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting with a passion for the impossible . That really is what is happening there , Cause the impossible is taking place . He put his eyes upon the Lord and he stepped out of the boat .
Speaker 4Impossible , the impossible .
Speaker 1Yeah , so let me read the account . The account is found in Matthew , mark and John Actually Luke leaves it out , but Matthew , mark and John , I'm going to read Matthew We'll touch on the other ones to just grab a few things from them but Matthew 14 , 22 to 33 . Immediately , jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away . And when he had sent the multitudes away , he went up on the mountain by himself to pray . Now an evening came . He was alone there , but the boat was now in the middle of the sea , tossed by the waves , for the wind was contrary . Sorry .
Speaker 1Now , in the fourth watch of the night , jesus went to them walking on the sea . And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled , saying it's a ghost , and they cried out for fear . But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying be of good cheer , it is , I do not be afraid . And Peter answered him and said Lord , if it is you , command me to come to you on the water . So he said come .
Speaker 1And when Peter had come down out of the boat , he walked on the water to go to Jesus . But when he saw that the wind was boisterous , he was afraid and beginning to sink . He cried out saying Lord , save me . And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him oh you of little faith , why did you doubt ? And when they got into the boat the wind ceased . Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him , saying truly , you are the son of God . Man , this is packed , you know . You just think of the scene Jesus walking on water , peter walks in , he starts to sink , lord save me , and that's it . But there's a lot that's packed in here .
Speaker 4Those that imitate it on flat water aren't imitating what Jesus did , because this was a storm , so it would be easy to walk on flat water , but no one's told me water and I wonder , you know like ?
Speaker 1was he hovering over it just a bit ? Were his feet actually touching ? And as each foot touched it became solid for him . You know like what was that like ? It's mind-boggling to think about how that all played out . But I wanna start here to back up before we see the scene . And in verse 23 , it says he went up on the mountain by himself to pray Ray . How significant is that ? You know , when we look at the gospel accounts and we see the different places where Jesus was going away , in one account it says he went and he was in prayer all night to God . What does that say to us as believers ? By way of example , jesus praying .
Speaker 4You can't do anything without prayer . Jesus said without me you can do nothing . And I try to pray . One night Once I think I mentioned it before I last about 130 and went running home to bed . It really is not easy to pray . I've prayed lots during the night , and longest time probably about an hour , two hours maybe . But prayer is an essential , it's the oxygen for the Christian , and so we gotta follow the example of Jesus . Paul said follow me as I imitate Christ .
Speaker 4So , he prayed . We must pray . I try and pray without ceasing . That's not easy to do , but you're always in prayer . Yeah right A Y P R A Y . I love that .
Speaker 3Jesus here and many other parts of the New Testament put on display what contemplative , meditative prayer looks like . And not only I think that the church has lost a sense of that , but I , confessionally , I've lost a sense of that . I think often when we pray it's like a place to put our anxious thoughts . We plead with God , we ask for God , we bring all of our needs and wants to God , and that's good . He asks of us to do that with him . But prayer is actually , according to Jesus , it's a two-way street , it's a back and forth .
Speaker 3And I mean , how often do we spend time in meditative contemplation where we're not just speaking but we're also resting in listening to and when I say listening I don't mean like somehow hearing the literal voice of God , I mean meditating on his word , allowing that to penetrate deep within your heart so that in that time you are being rested and restored by the power of the gospel .
I'll tell you when I like this is an area of the scriptures that have been convicted me lately because my prayer life does not look meditative , it doesn't look restorative , it doesn't look contemplative , it looks hurried and rushed , like if you say you know , oscar , do you pray ? I pray every day . I pray often , I pray a lot , but like that , going away and praying , no .
Speaker 1I don't do that very often . Yeah , that's so good . And , by the way , oscar , it's great to have you back , man , we seriously missed you . I mean , we joke about how we can't stand you .
Speaker 4There was such a big gap with you not being here . We had to put that dummy in there .
Speaker 1I heard he did great .
Speaker 4Yeah , he said better .
Speaker 1No , but seriously , man , you're a real treasure to this podcast . We're blessed to have you . It's good to have you back , mark , I have to be honest and say that prayer is one of the spiritual disciplines that I struggle with most , and I make it my aim to have solitude and to go into prayer . But if I'm busy , it's the first thing to go and it grieves me . Why do we struggle so much with prayer ?
Speaker 2We are infatuated with ourselves and we think that we can do it . Right ? A man who realizes that he's dependent upon God will talk to God . Right , martin Luther said , to be a Christian and not pray is to be alive and not breathe . Right , they don't go together . Right , you will pray . I mean , it's not like Jesus didn't know who he was going to pick as the apostles , yet he spent all night in prayer and prepped for that . The disciples . They didn't say teach us how to preach , teach us how to feed the multitudes . No , they said teach us how to pray , because prayer is the backbone of any Christian service , of any focus that you're going to have . Prayer , remember , it's not getting my will in heaven , but it's accomplishing God's will in my heart here on earth . So it's just communion with God .
Speaker 2Prayer is one of my favorite things to do and I had mentioned in , ray had concurred that my favorite place to pray is inside my car . So commutes are great . Don't waste your commute if you're driving to work , because it is a great time to come clean and to have God search you and try you and see if there'd be any wicked way in you . In other words , wicked is synonymous with idolatry . Is there anything that's going to lead me down in an idolatrous way ? That thing ? I don't know what it is , but is there something that is potentially going to lead me that way ? So , yes , when our eyes are on ourselves , we don't pray . When our eyes are on ourselves , we won't step out of the boat . You know , when we're not communion with the Lord , we're going to think we have something to do with it , that we can accomplish something by our own efforts , and a man who prays can accomplish far more than a man who has a PhD .
Speaker 4A man , nothing drives you to pray like driving on LA freeway .
Speaker 1So true , you know , I think that for me there are times when I struggle with , like how do you figure out how prayer works against the backdrop of God's sovereignty ? Right , like , god is sovereign and he works sovereignly and he knows all things , but somehow , some way , god takes our prayers and uses them in his sovereignty to accomplish things . I often think what scripture says you have not because you ask not . I believe there are certain things that are conditioned upon us asking , and we could have had them , but the Lord chose not to give them because we chose not to ask . And I think one of the biggest benefits of prayer is that it draws us near to the Lord .
Speaker 1You know the analogy of the anchor right . That's anchor to an island and you're out in a boat . If you pull on that chain , you're not going to pull the island to you , you're going to pull yourself to the island . That's good and when we pray we align ourselves with the Lord and you know , you think about the benefits of it .
Speaker 1Philippians is clear right . When we make our request known to him , his peace , which surpasses all understanding , will guard our hearts and minds and we get this freedom of like . I've cast my cares upon the Lord . He cares for me . I've made my requests known to him and now I can be at peace , knowing that if it's something God wanted it to do and conditioned it on prayer , I've prayed and it gives us a confidence . First , john five says if this is the confidence we have , if we ask anything according to his will , he hears us . And then it goes on to say well , you know , if he hears us , we know we've had , we have the requests which we've asked . But the converse is true . If it wasn't his will , he doesn't hear us in the mode of answering it in the positive . And if it wasn't God's will , it's the last thing we really want , you know .
Speaker 3I love that metaphor that you use . It kind of reminds me . It's like when we pray , it's not so much that we're trying to change the mind of God , rather we're trying to change our own hearts , or at least making our hearts available to be transformed by him . And you look at Jesus , you know we're talking about Jesus as the great example of prayer and you can stop and think , like Jesus in like praying that much . He was God , he was a part of the Trinity , he was attuned with him and he got away in solitude and prayed all the time If he needed it for his own rhythm of life . How much more do we need it for art ?
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , big time . All right , so we can say before Jesus walked on water , he spent time in prayer and I think it's a good lesson to learn . You know , when we're going into anything that we're bathing it with prayer , and I love to do that . You know , oftentimes before we leave to go somewhere as a family , I'll just stop and pray before we drive , not just for you know God's mercies on us and safety , but just to cast up some cares together as a family to him , any occasion we can find we should , you know .
Speaker 4It's always a step of faith when you pray .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 4And faith places God .
Speaker 1Yeah , and then there , you know , this morning I was leaving really early before the sun rose to come to the ministry and Danny has a big final . I just said , son , let me pray for you . Such a joy to wrap my arm around my son and just bring him before the Lord and that reminder that he can be at peace . He had another big midterm yesterday and he was worried about it . He did great and so I just , in my prayer , I'm saying Lord , remind him , let his heart remember that you're in charge . He can rest in you . We just ask you to bless him .
Speaker 4And we even pray before this podcast , surprisingly .
Speaker 1Shall we pray , I'd do it in the flesh . That's our constant saying . All right , so we pick it up in verse 24 . It says but the boat was now in the middle of the sea , tossed by the waves , for the wind was contrary . So the Sea of Galilee , it's about 64 square miles , and in John's account he says that they had rode three or four miles , and Mark says that he saw them standing a straining at rowing , for the wind was against them .
Speaker 2So I did not say that . I did not say I'm sure it happened , but I did not say that we both looked at Mark when Jesus Mark said this , you guys , unbelievable .
Speaker 1So they're straining , they're rowing against the wind , they're going for three or four miles as they're rowing , and God questions , said it says . One of the most more noteworthy aspects of this body of water is that it is greatly susceptible to sudden and extremely violent storms . These storms are caused by the cold air rushing down from the mountains surrounding it and colliding with the warm moisture air rising off the surface of the water itself . So I'm sure you guys have heard this it's really known for just these sudden , like major storms that just hit .
Speaker 1Yeah , tempest so .
Speaker 3I'll go ahead . No , I just love your sound effect of a storm Go Kupak , kupak , bah , bah , Bah , bah , bah , bah , bah Bah .
Speaker 1Bah , duffy duck . That's the sentence .
Speaker 2Mark .
Speaker 1That's all you got .
Speaker 2That's not Duffy duck . Rick can do an Indian Duffy duck , donald Duck .
Speaker 1Duffy Duck is ffuck a tash . Oh , my god , was that Duffy ? No , that's so best for the cat . What am I doing ?
Speaker 2Alaska brings sanity back to us .
Speaker 3I love God questions . I love when faithful historians and just people , observers of science , can come alongside the scriptures and help us understand the context in a literal way . In addition to that , it's also important for us to immerse ourselves in the rich meaning of God's word to help us understand his truth in a clear way , and one of that is understanding what the ocean , what the sea , what storms represented so to an ancient people , to God's people , 2000 years ago . Anytime you go through the scriptures , what you will see is that when it talks about the waters , a storm or even a serpent , it always comes from the water . And that's because the ocean , the water , the sea was a representation of uncontrollable danger .
Speaker 3And so the sea was like where invaders came from to attack a desert people . It is where the serpent and the dragon would come from and prophetic language , and it's where their people , their family members , left and never came home . And so the sea represents danger , represents evil , and in Genesis one , two , it says the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters . And that's important , because when the New Testament writers are talking about Jesus walking on water , they're comparing it to the spirit of God and Genesis one hovering over the waters . When in the New Testament it says that he spoke and calmed the storms , it wasn't just literally he's calming the storm , he was , but it was also metaphorically . God has power over the sea , over the danger , over the devil , over all the things that means to kill , still and destroy you , oh man that's so good , oscar .
Speaker 1Yeah , and I think that is important . All scripture is given by inspiration of God as a profitable for doctrine , for reproof , for correction , for instruction and righteousness that we've equipped right , and so that's good to recognize that .
And , ray , when we look at this here , it says that the winds coming against them , they've rode for four or five miles , the sea is tempestuous , and it says that it was in the fourth watch of the night , so it's sometime between 3 am and 6 am . That term , watch of the night , was used by the Romans to talk about the kind of the changing of the guards , and so this was somewhere between 3 am 6 am . It was night , they called it , so it was obviously still dark and Jesus went to them walking on the sea . And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea , they were troubled , saying it is a ghost . So , ray , so what's I mean ? What's happening here ? These guys are exhausted , they're straining , they're terrified , I'm sure , because the storm was raging and they're still miles off from land , and then they see Jesus walking on the water .
Speaker 4I can understand why they thought it was a ghost , because that would make sense . A ghost or spirit could walk on water . That's in an apparition , so trying to look at it naturally and figuring it out . But I have no problem with Jesus walking on the ocean , walking on the sea . The whole of nature is beneath his feet . In fact , god , if he wanted to , could play basketball with a son , no problem .
Speaker 4And it wouldn't worry me at all because we , as Christians , believe in the supernatural . So with God , nothing is impossible , absolutely nothing . So I just love the thought of Jesus walking on water and showing that he has power over nature .
Speaker 1Yeah , I think that's a key . Matthew Henry talked about that the demonstration of Christ's power over nature . I do have a thought , ray Ray , ray Rose and it's my thought .
Speaker 4I wonder if the disciple said hey , what are we doing with a boat ? Let's all get out and walk with Jesus across the other side . I mean , why do you need a boat if Jesus has power to walk on water ? When it went calm , he says let's all just . Did they make the suggestion ? Or the feeding of the 5,000 ? Why on earth are we buying more food when Jesus can do this ? Or the raising of Lazarus from the dead ? Hey , that was a cool thing . Let's go and do some more graveyards .
Speaker 1You know , that's actually a good point , mark . I'd love your thoughts on this , because there's times you'll watch a movie and there'll be someone with magical powers or whatever , but they're like , oh , I can't use them all the time . I'm like , why not man ? Of course , use them all the time , but true , right , jesus didn't have to walk anywhere . In fact , in this account it ends up telling us that they immediately , john says , then they willing to receive him into the boat , and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going , right , so Jesus doesn't have to travel on boats across water . He doesn't have to walk anywhere . He doesn't have to . He could do anything , right . Why is it you think that miracles were limited ?
Speaker 2Well , I mean , I wasn't expecting you to head that direction . But let me say that I mean God does what he wants , whenever he wants . When we begin to think through miracles in the supernatural , god often reacts and works very naturally right . When we say God , heal my headache , he would say you know , there's a Tylenol right , take some Tylenol . That God uses very natural means to take care of a supernatural thing . So we pray for a headache to go away . The headache doesn't go away . So then we go to Brother Baylor you know who can take away the headache , you know .
Speaker 4So we have to it took me a minute . Yes , that's not original .
Speaker 1So wait Brother .
Speaker 4Baylor . It's Baylor aspirin .
Speaker 2It's like an aspirin .
Speaker 4Bear , you mean no , no , here you're derailing this easy .
Speaker 1There's something called Baylor . Yes , whatever , whatever the pink packet , they don't have it in the Middle East . Okay , well , no , that's right . They have it in the Middle East , they have sand .
Speaker 4They're cold .
Speaker 2They're cold . Cable pills Take three kernels of sand and call me in the morning . God does what he wants , right ? I mean , how difficult would it have been for God , for Jesus to walk instead of a room and it was dark as a middle of the night and just go ? Well , I just dropped that thing . Where did that thing go ? And he could just turn on a little bit of light . He was just fingered up . He didn't do that , he emptied himself and he can relate to us and that is just a beautiful thing .
Speaker 3Yeah , as it pertains to miracles , it's also important to remember . I can't remember . Is it at the end of John ? I'm probably messing that up , but it says , like there are many other things he did that we don't worry about World can contain the books Exactly .
Speaker 3So there's a lot he did that we don't even know about , but also it's important to see the grand narrative . I think John actually does a really good job of this . We may have talked about this before , which is the miracles that John highlights is trying to show you something more than just random miracles . Again , the idea of Jesus turning water into wine at the first wedding that is with great intention . The first curse that what'd I do ?
Speaker 4No , I just got a confession . To make Easy was right , it's Bayer .
Speaker 1Oh , I was gonna say it too I packed it in Vendication .
Speaker 4Yes , Mockery look at you guys . Yeah , well , we humble enough to say it . Baylor .
Speaker 3We are wrong . Baylor's the universe . In Mexico we say Baylor , yeah , exactly .
Speaker 2Oh , in Mexico you say what Baylor ?
Speaker 1All that mockery and they don't have pills in the mouth .
Speaker 3I can't believe they are making funny .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah , it's not easy . Wow , look at evil .
Speaker 4It was just . We're trying to see if you're humble of heart and being right , I'm very humble . It's easy to handle being wrong but being right .
Speaker 3So , speaking of miracles , first miracle that Jesus does in John turning water into wine . It could seem rain , and but it's also important to remember that the first curse in Genesis against Egypt I'm sorry , in Exodus , against Egypt is turning the river into blood , and so there's a reversing of the curse . The reversing of the curse is going from water to blood , to water to wine , and you see that all throughout the book of John . You get to Lazarus , the last curse in Lazarus .
Speaker 4Yeah .
Speaker 3The last curse in Exodus is Jesus taking the life of the firstborn . The last miracle before his death in John is him bringing back to life a firstborn son in Lazarus . And so the point is , there's Lazarus .
Speaker 1You keep saying Lazarus , and then Lazarus .
Speaker 3I think he's a lie really it's the lisp . It is Way to make fun of my Mexican accent .
Speaker 1Oh , pull in the race card . Pull that race card , Oscar .
Speaker 3And so the point that I'm trying to make is that the scriptures have so much more of a rich meaning in what Christ is doing through these miracles than just healing the blind . Amen .
Speaker 1That's good , amen , all right . So they're afraid .
Speaker 3We're in verse two , I know .
Speaker 1It says , and they cried out for fear . But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying be of good cheer it is . I do not be afraid , ray . How sweet is that .
Speaker 4Oh boy , sweet . Okay , I'm speechless . It is just wonderful . It's one of those I Ams . Yeah , yes , it is .
Speaker 3It really is .
Speaker 2There's a promise here of God being with us in the midst of our storms as well , and at any time he really can say peace , be still or be muzzled , as it's laid out there in the Greek . But oftentimes it's not God's desire to remove us from the storm , but for us to recognize that he's with us in the midst of the storm and we can take courage of that . Isaiah 43 too . It says when you pass through the waters , I'll be with you . When you pass through the rivers , they won't sweep over you . And when you walk through the fire , you won't be burned , the flames will not set you ablaze . Contextually , we know it goes . What it's all about in the midst of that .
Speaker 2But Psalm 46 , one , you know that God is our refuge . He's our strength , our very present help in time of need . He guides us with his eye , he we take refuge into the shadow of his wing . He's just a very present help in time of need . And it doesn't matter what trial or circumstance we're going through . All of the storms are beneath the feet of Jesus . Amen . And that's the beauty of us traveling so much when we get inside of a plane and it could be cloudy , it could be stormy , but once you get above those clouds , you know the sun is always shining , that sure , there's some momentary turbulence , but know this though that turbulence may last for your entire life , that turbulence one day is gonna be under the feet of Christ , and under your feet if you're a believer in Christ .
Speaker 1Yeah , amen . And you know Jesus uses the words there ego Emi . The Holy Ganeer ministry says in this instance Jesus uses the phrase Greek phrase ego Emi in reference to himself , a clear claim to deity . It's the equivalent of the I am Christ walking on water was a revelation of his deity in the Old Testament . Only God can control the wind and sea , and he's even said to walk or trample on the waves , and passages such as Job nine , eight and so forth . So this was a declaration of his deity .
Speaker 3Absolutely the commentary that I read . The quote is what he says is better than what he does For him to say I am , he's claiming , I'm not just a magician that has power over this water . They can walk in water , water , I don't just exist . We'll leave that one going .
Speaker 1Lazarus walking on water .
Speaker 4What is wrong with me ?
Speaker 1today , lazarus walking on water .
Speaker 4Oh how , since we are , he says .
Speaker 3I don't exist because of something . Everything exists because of me . I am . That is what Jesus is saying .
Speaker 1Amen , goosebumps and Ray . Oh , we need to put out the Goosebumps Bible . What a cover that would be .
Speaker 4It's all bumpy Highlighting the deity of Jesus .
Speaker 1Yeah , but Ray the part , especially where he says be of good cheer . I mean you have to understand the scene here , right . I mean this is like something you say to someone who's just kind of sitting sulking on a couch in a nice quiet house hey , be of good cheer . We're talking waves , there's sound effects again .
Speaker 4Right , I think they're going to die .
Speaker 3Yeah , right , I'm like be of good cheer . It is high , oh man , be courageous , macarthur says courageous is contagious , and we see that .
Speaker 2you know , when other people around us are being brave in the midst of adversity , it stokes the fire inside of our faith as well . Ts Eliot said only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go . Wow , that's so good . Let's thankfully stepped out of the boat .
Speaker 1Yeah , amen , okay , so Ray , then Peter does what he always does , just says the most like random thing .
Speaker 4No , it's not .
Speaker 1I love it . Who would have thought of that right In terms of like , hey , call me to come out to you . No , I know .
Speaker 4So , ray , why do you love it ? I absolutely love it Because it was Peter's idea . Jesus didn't say I got an idea , you come and walk with me on the water . Peter took the initiative and said Lord , if that's you , you're not a ghost . Tell me and I'll come walk into you on the water . And this is just so wonderful . It shows that you and I , as Christians , can exercise initiative , have an idea and ask God's blessing on our idea and walk on water . That is walk supernaturally , because God has given us our heart's desire .
Speaker 1I mean , ray , that's really kind of been the story of your life . And so what happens in those moments Like you get an idea ? We're all very familiar with your crazy ideas . Do you just immediately think , lord , you can do this ?
Speaker 4Yeah , that's kind of it . It's the starting gun is already gone . Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature . So what am I supposed to do ? Go , preach to every creature , all the world . So when the Olympics are coming up , that's it , let's just go . And so we just commit our way to the Lord and he establishes our thoughts and blesses our efforts , and for those of you guys who don't know because you've never worked at Living Waters Ray is insane .
Speaker 3He has these amazing ideas and often , confessionally , we look at it like that's never gonna work . Crazy ideas like let's give away tens of millions of dollars for a London outreach how could we possibly ? And then we do it and happen .
Speaker 4You just say that again .
Speaker 3Tens of millions of what is wrong with you .
Speaker 4You're rusty man . I know what this is , but it is . I had to just back up and think now , when did I do that ?
Speaker 1Yeah , where's your faith , Ray ?
Speaker 3Tens of millions of gospel tracks for the London outreach and a lot of us here were like I don't know if we can pull it off . And we did it . The Lord pulled it off and I can't tell you , let's make a featured film . The only thing we've ever done is 40 minute documentaries on iPhones . How are we gonna do this ? And Ray constantly faithfully steps out of the boat and invites us to step out with him , and we have seen God do some amazing things .
Speaker 1Amen , amen , and yeah , and I think that is kind of that spirit of Peter . Just , Lord , I want to . And in a sense it's like Peter . He wants to engage with Jesus , he wants to connect with him in this incredible thing . And so he calls
him out . Peter starts to walk and it says in verse 30 , but when he saw that the wind was boisterous , he was afraid and beginning to sink , he cried out saying Lord , save me . So , Mark , what's the significance there , Like Peter , just starts to worry about what's happening . Again , you guys remember I've shared it before with the disciples in the boat and Jesus had fed them altitudes . And then he talks about the love of Herod and the Pharisees , and then they go oh no , we don't have bread . It's like he's forgetting Jesus . Just , you walked on water , Peter . Why are you afraid ? He told you right , be of good cheer , Don't be afraid , it's me .
Speaker 2I've often heard different preachers say that the amount of scripture that they know outside of the studies for the pulpit is due to the fact of the trials that they've gone through , that it has forced them to run to the Lord , to cling to the promises as found inside of scripture . Thomas Brooks , at a gracious soul , may look through the darkest cloud and see God smiling on him . We have to realize that when we fail he's there to catch us , that when we mess up , he's there to smooth things out . He specializes in bringing beauty for ashes . He brings beauty for the burnt toast that we cause , that he does all things well , even when things seem horrific inside of our lives .
Speaker 2So who said something along the lines of failure is not fatal ? Right that my son , nathaniel , yesterday sent me a text . Something along the lines of the master has failed more times than the beginner has tried that we end up hiding behind our inability . So we cannot do this . Let's stop and think logically through this for a moment . Ray's just never stopped to think logically through anything , period . So because of that we have , like the Paris outreach for the Olympics happening soon . You know , if we didn't have , maybe if we didn't have the London outreach , we wouldn't have tried the Paris outreach . But one victory leads to another victory inside of our lives . Right , we'd learn precept upon precept , or change from glory to glory , and by the time the second coming takes place , right , ray's gonna walk into the IC units and heal everybody . All right , I'm kidding , that is not what's gonna happen . But Ray's not gonna be limited more and more .
Speaker 4LivingWaterscom forward slash Paris for details of what marks you have .
Speaker 1Yeah , check it out , depending on the timing one You're listening to this . But yeah , yeah , and you know , I think that , with Peter panicking and being afraid and that led to him beginning to sink because of what he was seeing around him , to me , again , it's like someone who just inherited a hundred billion dollars . And they know it , they've seen it , they've used it , and then , like the next day they get a bill for 50 bucks in the mail . They panic , they panic go . Oh , it's like man .
Speaker 1The benefit of remembering who our God is is again maintaining that composure of sanity and peace . It's like no , okay , I can be sad , I can grieve over loss , I can , but we have to get to a place in our maturity and in our sanctification where we can say no , I have seen God work , I know who God is , I know what his word says about him , I'm not gonna be undone . Because when that happens , we start to sin , we start to lack love toward people , we start to be rude in the way we speak , we start to flip out , we start to make foolish decisions instead of saying my God is sovereign , it'll work it out , even if it doesn't go how I want it to go . I trust him .
Speaker 3Well , that's really good , because we've been talking quite a bit about God's power , jesus clearly putting on display the power that he has over the sin , over the earth , over what's going on out there . And to your point , izzy , we have to also recognize that there is a sea of sin in our own hearts , that there is a serpent in us all that rages , that has waves , and only Christ can calm the sea of sin in your own heart . So , for anybody who's struggling with sin , who you know , whether that's whether you've been walking with the Lord and you feel like there's just something in your life that you can't kill , whether you haven't been walking to the Lord and you're realizing now that turning from sin feels so difficult and so hard because it's got a hold of you man , only the God who calmed the seas of the world can calm the sea of sin in your own heart , and so turn to him in repentance and know that he will soften your heart and open your eyes to the wonderful things of his law .
Speaker 1Amen , yeah . So to wrap it up , ray Peter Jesus reaches out , he grabs him , brings him in the boat and then he says oh you of little faith , why did you doubt ? And that's really the conclusion of it . When we begin to sink in the trials of life , it's because we're not having faith .
Speaker 4You trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding . Lean to your own understanding , you're gonna sink . You've got to look further than what your eyes can show you .
Speaker 1Amen and I pray . I pray , friends , as you hear this , and this is important . I think there are times we need to pause and just say listen , ray didn't just utter some nonsense words , like he usually does .
Speaker 4Easy's wonderful , all right .
Speaker 1But to pause and to ask yourself that am I really trusting the Lord ? Meditate on that , pray on that , think on that . And then Mark , finally it says , then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him , saying truly , you are the Son of God .
Speaker 2That was the old proverb Anything God does should cause you to worship , whether it seems to be a success in your eyes or a failure in your eyes , everything should cause us to worship when your eyes are on the Lord .
Speaker 4And Jesus didn't say stand up , I'm just a man . He let them worship him .
Speaker 1Exactly very well said . That's good . All right , friends , man . We could go on and on and on with this , but we must stop now .
Speaker 1But that was exciting , so don't forget , friends . Why ? Jesus answering the most important questions . The Living Waters mug and evidence study Bible at livingwaterscom . Hey , you're keeping us at five stars because of the ratings . Millions of downloads , thousands of ratings , still at five stars , one of the top podcasts in the world . Thank you for that , friends . God is using this podcast to change lives , so continue to give us your comments and , if you haven't , repent , thank you for joining us , friends . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters podcast . Yes , the ultimate cure for insomnia .
Speaker 4We don't need to do that last bit .
Speaker 3Yes , I'm gonna need some Baylor medicine after this M advert .