Exhausting and exhilaratingExhausting and exhilarating Ends with Jesus…Ends with Jesus…

•ProtectingProtecting His disciples His disciples•PrayingPraying to the Father to the Father•PersuadingPersuading disciples to disciples to greater faith in Him as the greater faith in Him as the Son of GodSon of God

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The multitudeThe multitude: Obsessed with : Obsessed with physical purposes, physical purposes, John 6:15John 6:15

JesusJesus: Driven by divine : Driven by divine purposes, purposes, Matt 14:23Matt 14:23

DisciplesDisciples: Follow the Master’s : Follow the Master’s will, will, Matt 14:22Matt 14:22

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Feeding the multitudeFeeding the multitude Jesus walking on the Jesus walking on the waterwater

Peter walking on the Peter walking on the waterwater

Jesus calming the stormJesus calming the storm4

Soothing and refreshing reliefSoothing and refreshing relief•Multitude pressing upon Him with Multitude pressing upon Him with false conclusions, intentions and false conclusions, intentions and expectations, expectations, John 6:15 (Luke 9:11)John 6:15 (Luke 9:11)

•Eminent rejection by many disciples, Eminent rejection by many disciples, John 6:60John 6:60

•Disciples’ hearts still hard, Disciples’ hearts still hard, Mark 6:52Mark 6:52

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Soothing and refreshing reliefSoothing and refreshing relief•Continual training of the 12 apostlesContinual training of the 12 apostles•Daily appeals for help, Daily appeals for help, Luke 5:15-16Luke 5:15-16•Daily conflict with and danger from Daily conflict with and danger from opponents (incl. Herod)opponents (incl. Herod)

•Daily trials and temptations, Daily trials and temptations, Lk 22:28Lk 22:28

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Prayer: The Christian’s comfort Prayer: The Christian’s comfort and assurance, and assurance, Phil 4:6-7Phil 4:6-7•Suffering, joy, petitions, Suffering, joy, petitions, thanksgiving… thanksgiving… Jas 5:16; 1 Ths 5:17-Jas 5:16; 1 Ths 5:17-18; Psa 55:16-1718; Psa 55:16-17

•Do not lose heart, Do not lose heart, Luke 18:1; 11:5-8Luke 18:1; 11:5-8•God will not forsake the righteous, God will not forsake the righteous, Psa 55:22Psa 55:22

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TossedTossed (basanizo):(basanizo): “harassed, distressed, “harassed, distressed, tortured”; struggling (toiling, tortured”; struggling (toiling, KJVKJV) against a head wind) against a head wind•The boat, The boat, Matthew 14:24Matthew 14:24•The disciples, The disciples, Mark 6:48Mark 6:48

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False Doctrines, False Doctrines, Eph 4:14Eph 4:14•Swept away with excitement, Swept away with excitement, John 6:15; cf. Mk 6:52 (Acts 1:6-7)John 6:15; cf. Mk 6:52 (Acts 1:6-7)

•Jesus made them leave, Jesus made them leave, Matt 14:22Matt 14:22•The Lord’s commandments protect The Lord’s commandments protect us from spiritual danger us from spiritual danger (Deut 10:13)(Deut 10:13)

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False Doctrines, False Doctrines, Eph 4:14Eph 4:14•We can be swept away by error We can be swept away by error through excitement, emotion and through excitement, emotion and false concepts, false concepts, 2 Peter 3:16-18; 2:1-32 Peter 3:16-18; 2:1-3Plan of salvation, Plan of salvation, Acts 22:16Acts 22:16MDR situations, MDR situations, Matt 19:6, 9; Rom 7:2-Matt 19:6, 9; Rom 7:2-33

Unity in diversity, Unity in diversity, Eph 4:3-4Eph 4:3-410

Compromise, Compromise, Gal 2:5; 2 Cor 6:14-Gal 2:5; 2 Cor 6:14-1818•Promise of “smooth sailing” pushes Promise of “smooth sailing” pushes many souls into rocks of many souls into rocks of destruction, destruction, Jude 12-13Jude 12-13WorldWorld (1 Jno 2:15-17); (1 Jno 2:15-17); False teachers False teachers (Jude 3-4); (Jude 3-4); fellowship with error fellowship with error (2 Jno 10-11)(2 Jno 10-11)

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Trials, Trials, Hebrews 12:1-3Hebrews 12:1-3•Reproached for your faith, Reproached for your faith, 1 Pet 4:14-161 Pet 4:14-16

•Physical challenges, Physical challenges, 2 Cor 2 Cor 4:11, 16-174:11, 16-17

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Notable lessons…Notable lessons…•The Lord sees us straining against The Lord sees us straining against contrary winds, contrary winds, Mk 6:48 (Heb 13:5-6)Mk 6:48 (Heb 13:5-6)

•Strain can weaken flesh but strengthen Strain can weaken flesh but strengthen spirit, spirit, Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 12:7-10; 1 Pet Jas 1:2-4; 2 Co 12:7-10; 1 Pet 1:6-71:6-7

•Lord did not rescue at the first sign of Lord did not rescue at the first sign of trouble – but He did come, trouble – but He did come, Mark 6:48; Mark 6:48; Matt 14:24-25Matt 14:24-25

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The word of Jesus calms fears, The word of Jesus calms fears, Matt 14:26-27Matt 14:26-27•God’s word gives assurance and God’s word gives assurance and strength, strength, 1 Jno 2:141 Jno 2:14

•Trust the word of Christ to Trust the word of Christ to protect and save you, protect and save you, Jas 1:21; Jas 1:21; Eph 6:13-14Eph 6:13-14

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Go to Jesus for salvation, Go to Jesus for salvation, Matt 14:28-29; 11:28; Acts Matt 14:28-29; 11:28; Acts 22:1622:16

Keep your eyes on Jesus, Keep your eyes on Jesus, Matt Matt 14:29-31 (Heb 12:2); Phil 4:1314:29-31 (Heb 12:2); Phil 4:13

Trust the power of Jesus, the Trust the power of Jesus, the Son of God, Son of God, Matt 14:32-33Matt 14:32-33

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