Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus' presence during life's storms, illustrating this through observations from the New Testament. He explains that storms are opportunities for growth in mature love and faith, as Jesus leads us through trials while remaining sovereign and unaffected by our circumstances. The sermon highlights that even when we feel lost or overwhelmed, Jesus sees our struggles and invites us to trust Him, teaching us to keep our focus on Him rather than our fears. Ultimately, the message encourages believers to embrace the process of spiritual maturity that comes through trials and to find comfort in Jesus' unwavering presence.

Enlarge us wanting to produce mature love, tried love, tested love, a love that trusts. We're going to make observations from three different places in the New Testament tonight. And the purpose of these observations is to gather information, very helpful information, that relates to things that we go through as Christians. And as we gather this information and see what Scripture has to say, we can apply this information to our own lives through prayer and through waiting on the Lord, and we can be greatly encouraged during times when the Lord is giving us a special opportunity to grow in grace, to cling to a greater participation in the cross of Jesus Christ. So let's make our observations tonight, and I just feel that I feel confident tonight in the Lord that his word will indeed be sown on good soil. Let's make our first observation in Matthew chapter 14. Matthew chapter 14, we're going to look at one particular story, then we'll look at a few more. Okay? Matthew chapter 14. We're going to make some observations. Now, again, we want to reiterate here, these observations that we are making are not just simply observations about the historical facts that we are reading about, the historical facts being these things really occurred. But these observations tonight are going to be applied by the Holy Spirit to us because the various different things that we learn from these three stories are things that happen to us now, so we can be encouraged by the relativity of God's word to us. Now, I want to just introduce this little teaching tonight, Observations During a Storm. There's the title, Observations During a Storm. Now, everybody goes through storms, and I think it would do us very good if, while going through a storm, we can remember these observations that we're going to read so that our hearts can be comforted and not be dismayed or despondent. Observations During a Storm. Okay? Matthew chapter 14, beginning in verse number 2. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side while he set the multitudes away. Okay, the first observation that we want to make tonight is that Matthew chapter 14, verse number 22. Matthew chapter 14, verse number 22. And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side while he sent the multitude away. The first observation that we want to make tonight in relation to storms, okay, is that Jesus constrained. That means Jesus led. Jesus compelled. Jesus was the one who was leading his disciples on this little journey from verses 23, 22 through 33. So the first observation we want to make tonight is that Jesus was, not indirectly, Jesus was directly responsible for the disciples going in this direction. I say he was responsible for the disciples going in this direction. Verse number 23. And when he had sent the multitude away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray. And when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. The second observation we want to make is that the ship was shaking. Okay, now Jesus was leading the disciples, knowing that there was a storm that they were going to be running into, and the results of the storm was a shaky ship. Verse number 25. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. Okay, now the next observation we want to make is that, number three, Jesus was over the storm. Now, Jesus was, listen, Jesus was not being affected by the storm. You see, he was walking on the sea, he wasn't showing off. He wasn't showing off. He was just showing the world, and all the angels, and the devils, and the demons, and anyone who was looking in there. He was just showing that, hey, there might have been a storm going on, but he was above that storm. Now remember, we're making observations about being in a storm. Have you ever been in a storm? I'm not talking about a storm where thunder, I'm talking about a spiritual storm. Alright, now remember these things. Now listen, when we remember these things, and become in union with these things, this is what mature love is. Mature love apprehends these facts, and lives by these facts. Mature love clings to these facts, and is resting upon the certainty of these wonderful truths. See? Okay, now listen, we get excited here now, because this is the word of God, and it doesn't change. Just simple tonight. You know, the word of God is simple. It's deep, but simple. There's all different ways of understanding God's word. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit. And they cried out for fear. Okay, our next observation is that the disciples did not recognize Jesus. Okay, why didn't the disciples recognize Jesus? The disciples did not recognize Jesus because they were too caught up in the storm. Ah, the storm got the best of them. Did the storm ever get the best of you? And consequently, you didn't, now listen, here's the tragic thing. Not only didn't they recognize Jesus, but in not recognizing Jesus, they didn't understand that he was above the storm. So what happened? Now these are just observations, very simple observations. No Greek tonight. No Hebrew. But it's good to get into that sometimes, and there's a place for it. But no Greek or Hebrew tonight. Just on-the-surface observations. Bread and butter. What they used to say down south? Cornbread and beans. This is cornbread and beans. Just the simplicity of the word of God. But yet it's profound. See, it's this simple stuff. If you get this in your spirit, and your faith is grounded in this, and in nothing else, you're going to mature in God, and you'll become a pillar, and many people will come and be ministered to through Jesus' strength that's living in you. So not only were the disciples caught up in the storm. Now here's some observations. When we get caught up in the storm, there's two things that occur. Number one, we fail to recognize the closeness of Jesus. And number two, we fail to recognize that Jesus is being unaffected by the storm. Jesus is being unaffected by the storm. See, this is what's developing. And the reason why the Lord allowed all this to happen was so that when the disciples became filled with the Holy Ghost, and Jesus wasn't with them anymore, Jesus promised them they would have to suffer great things. In other words, this event was going to reoccur. Not necessarily as it did there, but it would take on an incredibly spiritual meaning to the disciples. See, and they would remember, and they would say, Oh, Lord, you were there all the time. Oh, Lord, you were walking on the water. Oh, Lord, you were sovereign. And that's what enabled them to grow and mature so that they could endure the storms that they were going to have to ride because of their stand for Jesus. That's how God matures our love. Okay, let's go on here. We don't want to get too deep because we have two more. We have two more that we just want to casually walk through like this. Then you know what you do? You put them all together, and you've got a good picture of what to expect, and what to sense, and what to know is going to happen when God says it's time to grow up. Hey, this is good ammo, I tell you. I mean it. This is good. You'll go for this stuff when God makes it. You might not even be relating to this now. It's all right. It's all right. Okay, but the ship was now tossed. Okay, we already went through that. And verse 26, when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled. I mean, what a paradox. I mean, to be troubled at the Lord's presence. You know, that should have encouraged them. Why were they troubled? Because they didn't recognize him. When we don't recognize the hand of God in our situation, the very hand of God troubles us instead of encouraging us. Isn't that a paradox? Jesus troubles us when we don't recognize his presence. But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid. The next observation we want to make is that Jesus speaks. Okay, this is what Jesus speaks means to us. During the storm, Jesus will come. Now remember, it wasn't until the fourth watch. That represents God has a time plan. He didn't come at the third watch. He came at the fourth watch. He comes right when it's the right time. And he makes himself known. He makes himself known when it's time. And verse 28, and he encourages us. He speaks to our fears. He immediately comes and begins to relieve our hearts. Easy does it. Take it easy. You're caught up in the emotion of the temporary affliction. Settle down. Relax, my child. It's okay. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, come. And when Peter was come out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand and caught him. Now, verses 28-31, Jesus speaks. Number six, Jesus invites. Jesus invites us in the storm to enter into His rest, enter into His person, enter into His participation in the storm. Our part in the storm is, His is, I'm on top of things. Now, this is the stretching. He bids us to enter into His rest in the midst of the storm. Okay? Now watch. He invites us to enter into His rest. But as He invites, this is what else He does. He invites, and Jesus teaches. See, Jesus knew that if He bid Peter to come and walk with Him, He would only do it for a short season, and then He would start to sink. So here's what Jesus does now. He invites us to come, and then He teaches us. And here's the central lesson that Jesus teaches us in His storm. Listen carefully. Then we're going to go to our next little passage of Scripture. Verse 30, And when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid. Here's the lesson that Jesus is teaching. You can only walk on the water, which represents you can only be above your circumstance if you keep your eyes on Me. See, when Peter saw the boisterous wind, he began to sink. Isn't that ironic? The king of the universe was there, yet Peter saw the boisterous wind. The human heart is strange, isn't it? I'm glad God understands it, because I sure don't. I mean, to think the eternal God is something that we can look at, but yet we look at the wind. Okay, here's the lesson. Jesus invites. Now, don't be discouraged if in a moment of zeal, when you finally see Jesus in your storm, for a second you walk. So many Christians get discouraged because they feel temporary relief, and then they start sinking again. Relax. Relax. God's teaching you something. He's teaching. He's giving you a taste of what that love, that mature love, that walk of faith is. But He's going to let you sink again, because He's not going to just make it happen in you. It's got to happen through walking it out. Tried love is love that is not just spoken into our spirit. One day Jesus says, Yea, I shall make thee mature. I mean, it would be so good, but it doesn't happen like that. It's through a process of decisions and failures and workings of God in our life that mature love has grown in us. So He invites us. Then He teaches us. Here's the lesson He teaches us. While in the storm, when I'm trying to mature your love, you must keep your eyes on me, and not the emotion of the storm. And when you get your eyes on the emotion of the storm, you will sink and drown. No way, Jose. Glory to God. What does Jesus do when you start to sink? And immediately Jesus stretches forth His hand and caught him. That's the word there, snatch. He snatches you. And He says unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? So after Jesus invites, He teaches, and then Jesus saves. He teaches us our weakness. We fall in our weakness, and then He saves us before we fall and drown. And then, listen, you know why the storm ended? Because the purpose of the storm was over. Are you waiting for your storm to end, Marcel? When it's time, it will. In a moment's time, Jesus spoke, and look what happened. Verse 32. And when they were coming to the ship, the wind ceased. All glory to the Lamb of God. His ways are incredible. Mark chapter 6. Observations during a storm. Mark chapter 6. Now, mind you, this event occurred. Now, listen closely. Beloved, this is important. These events that we're reading about occurred right after Jesus did something very spectacular with His disciples. Guess what happened? I'm not going to be accurate now in time, but just to make it easy for us, let's say today's Wednesday, and we went through this storm. Well, Tuesday, Jesus fed 5,000 people with a couple pieces of bread and some fish. So He does this right after the spectacular. What does that teach you about the spectacular? It does not bring Christian maturity. The spectacular does not bring Christian maturity. Okay. That doesn't mean the Lord doesn't give it to us. But people get to where they get less than after it. And God says enough is enough. Mark 6. Verse 45. And straightway He constrained His disciples. Okay, now we have the same observation here. Jesus is constraining. Okay? To get into the ship and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida while He sent away the people. So we see that the observation we make here is Jesus, and plus this is true in the other one that we didn't point out, Jesus said get in the ship because it's going to the other side. So Jesus doesn't intend for us to go and on the way sink. But see, He says go because you're going to the other side. See. And when He had sent them away, He departed into a mountain to pray. And when evening was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea and He alone on the land. Okay, so observations here. Jesus sent them knowing they were going right into the midst of a storm. Okay, so we see that we're shaken again. We're shaken. Okay? Verse 48. And He saw them toiling and rowing. Okay, now here's the observation. Now remember, you've got to combine these. Okay, the last story we observed that Jesus was over the storm, but now we see here that Jesus saw the toil. So not only is Jesus over the storm, you know, because sometimes we might be able to say, oh, I know God is in control, but does He really see what's happening? So not only is God sovereignly over the storm, but Jesus sees the toil that is being produced in our hearts as a result of the storm. He sees the toil. And about the fourth watch of the night, He cometh unto them walking upon the sea and would have passed by them. But when they saw Him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit and cried out. For they all saw Him and were troubled. And immediately He talked with them and saith unto them, Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid. Now there's a very interesting portion of Scripture here that we want to point out. It says that when Jesus saw their toil, He came walking, showing His sovereignty over the storm, but it inserts something in between here. It says He would have walked by. What can we learn from that? He would have walked by. Is it possible that Jesus is teaching us in this particular sentence that He would have walked by showing them and us His utter confidence that they were going to be alright because He was God? Now this teaches us something very, very important. When we're in a storm and we sense Jesus is coming close, but seemingly He's going by us, it's only Him bidding us to trust Him. When He seems to pass by us, it's not because He's rejecting us, but because He's giving us an opportunity to grow in our faith and to almost smile and say, Watch this. Jesus come by and check me out. He saw I was toiling, but He saw that there was faith in me where I can trust Him, even though He doesn't directly come and do something spectacular. Wow! To have that faith grown up in us so that Jesus can just check in on us and seem to pass by, and yet, we're trusting in God. Then, of course, the natural course of events occurred because, see, they weren't there. They weren't there. So the natural course of events. Verse 50, And they saw Him and were troubled, and immediately He talked with them and said unto them, Be of good cheer. It is I. Be not afraid. And He went up into the ship, and the wind ceased, and they were sore amazed at themselves beyond measure and wondered, for they considered not the miracles of the loaves, for their heart was hardened. Okay. We have one more story that we're going to consider quickly. It's only 8.30. And then we will draw a conclusion to our little observations tonight. John 6, verse 15. Verse 16. Third observation. And when evening was now come, His disciples went down into the sea and entered into a ship and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. Now let's read that again. There's an interesting observation to make. And when evening was now come, His disciples went down unto the sea and entered into a ship and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. Now let's just make a quick observation here. The other two stories, it was very clear that Jesus had led them, right? But here, there is not the clarity as there was in the other two stories. Nevertheless, let's read on. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. And when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea and drawing nigh unto the ship, and they were afraid. But He saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid. Then they willingly received Him into the ship, and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. So the observation that we make here is a very simple one, but it's a profound one. Basically, the events are about the same. It might have been a different occasion, but here it is. Even during those times when we don't have the total, total assurance that the Lord is leading us, the Lord is still watching over us and taking care of us. He's still watching over us, and He's still taking care of us, and He's still intimately involved in our life. So there's one more story that we're not going to turn to, and that's about when Jesus was on the boat and He was sleeping. Remember that? Jesus was on the boat sleeping. And sometimes it seems like Jesus is sleeping, doesn't it? Huh? He never oversleeps. Amen. So, beloved, I want to encourage you to do something. I want to encourage you to do something, alright? Gather this data together. Write it down. And pray it. And pray over it and ask God to put it in your spirit. Because I assure you most solemnly that if you are a true child of God tonight, and I don't have any doubt that you aren't, you will find yourself walking through these events. And God's intent will be to mature your love for Him and deliver you from the spectacular and the need for God to do something and bring you into a rest where you are just content knowing that He is God and you don't need anything else. Any questions before we close? Observations in a storm. Well, praise the Lord. How about if we just sing a song before we spend some time fellowshipping with each other? Anyone have a song upon their heart? Huh? Okay, where's that? Is that in the number... In the chorus book. Faith in God can move a mighty mountain. In the chorus book. Then we can have a little time fellowshiping with each other. 151. 151. As we're singing this, ask the Lord to put you in this storm.