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Eyes on Jesus: Overcoming Fear When the Storm Hits · The Bible Bit Podcast

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  Welcome back. This is Kimmy Miller of Woman at the Well Ministries bringing
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  you another Bible bit for you to enjoy.
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  Fear overwhelms you when you take your eyes off of Jesus.
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  Today as we journey through the scriptures seeking God's wisdom and understanding,
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  we are going to continue our study on Matthew 14, 22-33, which reveals lessons
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  we need to know from the account of Peter walking on the water.
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  Today's scripture reveals that when we take our eyes off of Jesus,
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  you become overwhelmed with fear.
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  Matthew 14, 30 through 31 says, But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.
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  And beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
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  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and called him and said unto
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  him, O thou of little faith, Wherefore didst thou doubt?
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  Peter starts out great, but then something happens. Doubt crept in as Peter
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  shifted his eyes from Jesus and fixed them upon his circumstances.
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  This same scenario plays over and over in our own lives if we do not discipline
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  ourselves to stay focused on Jesus.
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  Romans 14.23 declares, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
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  Peter started well, but then he became distracted by the storm.
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  Matthew 14 30 says, but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink.
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  He cried saying, Lord, save me.
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  The wind had been blowing before Peter stepped out of the boat.
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  The waves had been there before Peter began walking on the water.
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  The storm had not suddenly appeared, what changed?
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  What caused Peter to sink when previously he had walked on the water?
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  What changed was Peter's attention, where he was placing his focus,
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  where he was looking for help.
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  At first, Peter was responding to Jesus' invitation.
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  Then Peter became overwhelmed by what was happening around him.
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  So his faith dwindled, and he no longer was placing his emphasis on who Jesus
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  was or his faith in Jesus.
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  But he was now focusing on his inabilities and the storm that was raging around him.
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  This is how life is sometimes for us. We begin with faith, but then the bills come due.
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  We begin with faith, but then a doctor's report arrives.
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  We begin with faith, but then family problems arise. We begin with faith,
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  but then we face disappointment.
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  We begin with faith, but our prayers seem unanswered.
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  And before we know it, our circumstances begin to look bigger than our Lord and Savior.
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  When we focus only on the storms in our lives, fear can begin to control our hearts and our minds.
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  But don't miss this wonderful truth found in Peter's story.
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  When Peter began to sink, he knew where to turn for help.
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  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him.
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  Matthew 14, 31. Jesus forgives the repentant sinner.
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  If we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to
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  cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1, 9.
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  Peter's faith wavered. But Jesus' power did not.
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  Jesus didn't wait for Peter to
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  try and save himself. Jesus didn't chastise Peter before delivering him.
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  God's goodness and power is good news for every believer.
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  Friends, you may have moments of weakness. You may become afraid.
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  You may even struggle to trust God as he commands.
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  But when you cry out to Jesus, you can turn to him for help, and he will deliver you.
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  God is faithful even when we are not.
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  There is such comfort in knowing that your God delivers.
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  The psalmist David said it like this, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
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  my God, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high tower.
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  Psalms 18.2 Our God delivers.
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  Friends, when fear begins to overwhelm you, turn your attention back to Jesus.
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  When worry creeps in, pray.
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  When discouragement comes, remember God's promises.
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  When you fall short, repent and seek God's help. When you feel yourself sinking, call on Jesus.
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  You don't have to pretend that the storm is not real.
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  You simply need to remember that Jesus is greater than the storm.
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  Remember you are loved Jesus loves you Join us on Monday as we conclude our
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  study on Lessons Learned from
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  the Account of Peter Walking on the Water as recorded in Matthew 14, 22-33,
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  Please visit Woman at the Wow Ministries at www.watwm.org for more resources,
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  podcasts, and to connect with us
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  If you would like to have Bible Bits delivered to your cell phone via text messages
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  go to our website at watwm.org to subscribe.