How Jesus Changes hearts
Matthew 14:22-33
We live in a world that is obsessed by change. We have political parties that change leaders. We have TV reality shows where people compete to change their shape or their relationship status or their cooking Prowse.
We are a world obsessed with change. Why is that?The Bible gives us the answer that's very interesting and makes perfect sense.
The Bible says we want to change because we have changed. We are not what we sense we should be, made for. We want to be happy and we are not.
Our story today is about change; real Change, inside out heart change.
There is only one person who can really change us and that is the one who made us Jesus Christ.
He is our creator, the maker of this world and every single human being.
He made us with hearts to know Him and please Him but we rebelled - our hearts, who we are at core, want desperately to get back to who we are meet to be but we can't.
We need him to change our hearts - how we think, feel and want.
What has to happen for our hearts to change? Our story helps us to
1. Look at our hearts
2. Look at Jesus’ heart
3. Look at Jesus to change your heart
1. look at our hearts
What are our hearts honestly?
>Our hearts don’t want to be alone -
Look at verse 22 “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat.”
He makes them be alone? But they have to be with Him. They can’t explain the feeling, the rush. Aren’t we often the same? We can’t stand being single. We have to have the intimacy of a sexual relationship... Why is that? It’s because our hearts are broken. Broken with God so we use people to fill the gap only His Son is meant to fill.
>Our hearts are often fearful
Notice verses 4 but the boat by this time was a long wayb]" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">[b] from the land,c]" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">[c]beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And V)" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23622V" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, W)" data-cr="#cen-ESV-23623W" style="line-height: 22px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; top: 0px;">they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27
What's happening here. Arn't these hard sailors who have been in storms before? Why do they literally shreik when they see Jesus. They have forgetten what Jesus did just a few hours before - Feed 5000 men let alone women and children. They have forget everything he has taught them. They slip back into their old ways of thinking about evil spirits. They completely fail to understand what is happening, who is doing it and allow their emotions to control them.
Isn't that so often.
>Our hearts are impulsive
Look at
v28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
Peter is so passionate, but also impulsive and impatient, not thinking things out, He speaks too soon, is always quick to complain and lodge a protest, often needs to apologize for rash statements.
Is this you? Maybe our hearts aren’t impulsive. But;
Our hearts need saving and talking to
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”
Peter looked at his circumstances and His heart was possessed by fear. He new He would drown and go to Gahanna or Hell. He cry’s instinctively to be saved
Aren’t we so often the same? Circumstances overwhelm us, we feel ourselves drowning and we cry to God in prayer. But notice Christ rebukes Peter.
31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Why does Jesus rebuke Peter? Because He takes his eyes of the very one who can save Him. His heart doubts and disbelieves. Isn’t that us I know it’s me. I look to myself or my circumstances or other people or things rather that the very one who can full me with faith and courage more than these other things.
But secondly
2. Look at Jesus’ heart
Jesus’ heart prays
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
Even though Jesus is God He prays as a humble son to his father. He prays for His disciples. That they will get the lesson – that there hearts are lonely??
As our high Priest He prays for His people
Jesus’ heart is compassionate and speaks
look at
v25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
Jesus heart is full of compassion for his disciples. He want stop the storm but
teach them about there hearts and their need of Him being the one who fills their hearts. Jesus is being compassionate to you now if you don’t know Him.
notice v29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him,
Just as Jesus says this to Peter he says it to every one of us this morning. Wether we be Christian or not. He commands us to come to him which is another way of saying believe in Him. Why? We instinctively believe in ourselves, want to run our lives and we need His voice. He said; “My sheep hear my voice and they follow me.
Jesus’ heart saves
.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him,
Peter needs saving from certain death. We are all dying. But are we aware of how lost we are. We have a broken record in heaven and a bad heart on earth.
We are bad, rotten to the core. Our hearts are desperately wicked who can know them. Because God is Holy He must punish sin either in us in hell or in His Son on the cross.
Jesus’ heart prays, is compassionate, speaks and saves
But notice thirdly
3. Look at Jesus to change your heart
>Look at Jesus to change your needy heart by praying to him
Look at Jesus to extinguish the darkness of your heart so you see Him as the blazing God man. For the first time in your life you see your need of Him. And like Peter and you cry out for Him to save you – you want to be saved from God who is Holy and must punish sin either bin His Son or sinners who don’t turn to Him in Hell.
>Look to Jesus to cahnge your unbelieving and doubting heart so it believes in his power and promise
See Him walking on the water to you. Hear Him say to you “Come” and believe He will meet you. After all hasn’t He said, “Be of good courage it is “I” don’t be afraid.
>look at Jesus to change your heart from self worship by worshipping Him alone
Who are you worshipping? We become what we worship. If we worship Jesus we will become like Him. But if sex or money, possessions or power are the things we worship we will be damned by them because God says you shall have no other Gods before me. He will not share His splendour/glory with another.
Friends Jesus found Himself in a storm far worst. Jesus hung on a cruel cross taking upon Himself the full storm of God's just fury and anger everyone of your sins deserve.
Remember the words he cried from that cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
God His Father has broken fellowship with Him He feels utterly forsake and alone for you.
Why did He do it? To restore the relationship broke in the garden by our first parents and passed on to you. Yes you.
You deserve to die; "The wages of sin are death - soul that sins will die." But look at Him hanging there for you.
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21
We are going to give you an opportunity to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you aren't a Christian and want more than anything to become one please pray this prayer.
God,
My heart is lonely, impulsive and needs saving. God I'm drowning because of my bad heart. Thank you that you died to save me from Your Father’s wrath and restore me to know you as my me king... Forgive me now. Cause Jesus heart to extinguish my old heart as hourly I look to him not myself as my Master and saviour. Amen
If you prayed this prayer please don't hesitate to contact us here and we will help put you in contact with a local Bible believing gospel church in your area.