작성일 : 25-10-17 07:22
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2025년10월5일 주일말씀 English sermon "The Gaze of Little Faith" Matthew's Gospel 14:26-33
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Sermon English Text AKFPC / October 5, 2025 Rev. Yongjin Park
“The Gaze of Little Faith” (Matthew’s Gospel 14:26-33)
May the grace and love of God be upon you who is listening to God’s voice today in this worship.
A man from China has been in danger due to water while isolating a rock in the sea far from shore in Korea. A police officer tried to rescue the man and gave him his life jacket. The officer died instead in the sea unfortunately.
Sea is dangerous and scary. One friend of mine in seminary was fisherman. He used to say about how scary waves are in sea. He said when his boat was about sink in huge wind and waves in tropical storm, all fishermen have tied their bodies with one rope for easy finding their bodies if they might be died.
Like this sea under storm is fearful and scary to all people.
Today Bible says on Peter walking on the wave of sea.
Let us read together Matthew’s Gospel 14:28-32,
“Lord, if it is you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you in 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.”
When Jesus Christ began proclaiming gospel to people, king Herod killed baptismal John. And Jesus showed the miraculous sign to feed mor than five thousand people in the wilderness.
After feeding people who was gathered were amazed and they began to follow Jesus. But Jesus suddenly sent his disciples to opposite site of the sea by boat. He wanted to separate them from voice of temptation for secular lust.
People wanted more miracles while Jesus Christ wanted them to see only God feeding all life. They wanted to get more food more miracle only. This lust could make disciples go in the wrong direction rather than what they must go.
The day was almost dark, but they had to get onto the boat but soon a big storm came to them, and they struggled with the wind and waves in the middle of the sea. They were scared to lose their life.
Verse 24 say,
“buffeted by the waves, because the wind was against it.”
The disciples were desperate to save themselves from the storm in the sea of the dark night. Someone suddenly approached them, so they cried out. They thought it was ghost. They thought, person can’t walk on the wave of the water. Then Jesus said to them, “It is I.”
Verse 27 say,
“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
They were pleased once they knew it was Jesus, their teacher. And felt safe with Him. Suddenly Peter, one of them asked Jesus, to tell him walk in the water. Jesus said, “Come!” and Peter began to walk on the wave. Nobody could think about it. Peter’s faith and brave was great.
All people on the boat were surprised once they saw Peter walking in the water. But when Peter just saw the wind, he was beginning to sink.
Verse 30 say,
“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. Jesus said, “You of little faith! Why did you doubt?”
When Peter saw toward Jesus, he could walk in the water. But he lost his gaze from the Lord, his strength of walking in the water lost as well.
Jesus let them know about their circumstance was very challenging in politically Herod’s secular power, culturally People’s lust, and physically sea storm, while they are serving for God.
Even though their surroundings are all risky, they are all weak to even keep their own life. They have not enough ability to recognize good and evil as well.
So, Jesus teaches them to focus their eye on only God without losing their direction while life storm hit their way. The only way of surviving is on Lord, our God. Even though the storm is crying strongly we need not lost our gaze toward God, the Father in heaven.
If we keep our gaze on the Lord, we can overcome all obstacles as Peter walking in the water.
Brothers and sisters in the Lord!
This world is crying out loud and various secular voices toward our soul. Many temptations, treats or challenges are coming everyday toward our life.
If we just lose our eye from the Lord, we will be losing our ability and faith by secular power and dragging by their power into sinful world.
Don’t forget that we are followers of Lord Almighty. We can walk in the water if Lord tells us to do it. His power is with us if we follow his voice. Even though this world challenges us, we are safe in the hands of the Lord. He will reach out his safe hand and catch us from all kinds of wind.
Let us focus our eyes on the Lord every day and everywhere!
One gentile mother asked Jesus to heal her sick daughter because she focused her eye on only Jesus Christ. And her daughter was healed. The chairman of a synagogue asked Jesus to heal his dying daughter. Jesus saved his daughter from death because her father believed Jesus to save his loved one.
In Mark’s Gospel 9:24, the father with a sick son from evil spirit cried out to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” and his son was healed by Jesus Christ.
Only faith can bring all healing, blessing, and redemption.
One Christian man have been in successful career as business, community, political position. After retiring he confessed all other were passed but only faith to believe God is remaining with him. He was enjoying to go church for worship service to God and fellowship with church family.
II Chronicles 20:12,
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you!”
God be with all of you, Amen.
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