Good Evening, Greetings… Series of “Lessons From Matthew.” Background: Jesus finished preaching the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7). (2) Jesus traveled home to Capernaum where He healed many (Mt 8:1-17). (3) Jesus then “tired” asked the disciples to cast into the Sea of Galilee and challenged his disciples to “count the cost of discipleship.” Current: Jesus is now in a boat on the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. It is here we discover the…(SLIDE)

The Faith Of The Followers Jesus, it would appear, was going to “test these men’s faith.” After all Jesus had just… Explained what great faith looked like in the centurion (Mt 8:10). Taught the need to count the cost i.e. put ones complete and total faith in Jesus (Mt 8:18-22). Now it seems time to test the disciples faith. Matthew 8:23-27

Matthew 8:23-27 “And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’ ” Here in is our text and the backdrop of this lesson. Let us look at our first point…(SLIDE)

Oh You Of Little Faith As we just read in our text the disciples were “sure they were perishing.” Keep in mind at least four of the disciples were fishermen who were well versed in navigating this particular sea and no doubt storms. However this storm is so great and they don’t know what to do. It is here in Matthews account we want to focus our attention. Notice what some of the disciples on the boat say to Jesus again.

Matthew 8:25 “And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ ” Don’t forget what all has gone on before the disciples wakeup Jesus. Some of these men were fisherman and new the signs of a storm coming (Mt 16:3). JW McGarvey’s book “Bible Lands” illustration. They had prepared the boat for the storm, they had done all they could. Last but not least they “seek out Jesus.” (READ AGAIN) Notice Jesus’ response…(SLIDE)

Matthew 8:26 “And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” The phrase “o you of little faith” is found five times in the N.T. All but one time it is found here in the book of Matthew. The other time being Lk 12:28. Why did Jesus call their faith “little?” After all there was a great storm and they came to Jesus to be saved from the storm. Their faith was “little” because Jesus was really their last resort. Do you think any of them would have woke Jesus up if they would have been able to navigate the storm?

Oh You Of Little Faith How many times in your life to you think we put Jesus as our “last resort?” 1 time, 50 times, 100 times? The truth is like the disciples then, we must grasp and act upon the concept of “faith in God.” This means recognizing “faith” is not a leap in the dark it is based on “substance” and “evidence” (He 11:1). If that faith is missing we cannot be pleasing to God (He 11:6). God will never “leave us nor forsake us” (He 13:5) but that is only the case if we seek Him and His kingdom first in our lives (Mt 6:33). Here in Matthew’s account we only have part of the story as it is sometimes said. In both Mark’s account and Luke’s account we find some other disciples response by Christ. These disciples here…(SLIDE).

Oh You Of No Faith In Mark 4:35-41 we find some more to this account. Notice what the disciples said and Jesus’ response in Mark’s account…(SLIDE)

Mark 4:38, 40 “…And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’…40 He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ ” Jesus’ response underlines the significance of understanding what biblical faith is. These men here are disciples of Jesus (Luke 8:22). These men are not likely those that would later become apostles but never the less they were disciples of Jesus. They have witnessed Jesus heal all the sick in and around Capernaum and yet they still lack faith. It’s not that it is simply a little faith no their faith is “missing” altogether. If our faith is not grounded in substance and evidence from God’s Word (Hebrews 11:1; Romans 10:17) then it is not faith in God but rather a lie we tell ourselves. We tell ourselves we are pleasing to God but without faith that is impossible (Hebrews 11:6).

The Faith Of The Followers Brothers and sisters the faith we find in these followers of Jesus are two fold. Those with little faith and those with no faith. Let us make certain we fit neither of these categories but rather have a faith that is will lead us into eternity with God. Question: Is your faith mighty, little, or absent? Matthew 8:23-27

God’s Plan Of Salvation Study God’s Word Have Faith In Jesus Repent/Turn To God Confess Jesus As Lord Obey The Gospel Live A Faithful Life Romans 10:17 Hebrews 11:6 Acts 17:30 Matthew 10:32 Romans 6:3-5 1 John 1:7