Desperate Prayer
Matthew 14:25-33,
When you think of a man of prayer, you generally, at least I don't, think of Peter. Perhaps that's why he has only got two prayers in the New Testament, two small brief prayers compared to Paul. That’s not to say that he wasn't a man of prayer, but after this particular incident, I think we could argue that he understood the necessity and the importance of prayer in a way he didn't before. In all likelihood he was the spokesman who came to Jesus and said at one point, “Teach us how to pray,” back in Luke chapter 11.
But here he finds himself in big trouble in the midst of a storm and sinking. Now Peter finds himself in what you could call a life-death crisis. From an Old Testament perspective we have David on several occasions where he was also in what you could call a life-death crisis. Remember King Saul trying to kill him and sent his army after him in the wilderness. It was for months that he was always on the run, a fugitive. And I think to some degree, David was a man of prayer for that very reason. His life was constantly in jeopardy, threatened by King Saul. He could say in Psalm 18, “The cords of death surround me or close in upon me.”
But Peter also experienced, when you think about it, three occasions of death or close death crisis. The first storm on the Sea of Galilee back in chapter 4 when Jesus was asleep in the boat, and then three other times Peter was arrested, twice he was put in jail. And on that last occasion, you might recall the church prays for Peter and he's released and an angel comes and he's out of that jail house and he goes to that home of Mary. But this time, this time in Matthew 14, his own private prayer reaches the ears of Jesus when he's sinking, about to drown. We don't know how deep he was when he cries for help; maybe up to his knees, maybe up to his waist, maybe up to his neck. But three words, three simple words, three brief words, “Lord, save me.” No sooner does he say that than the hand of Jesus stretches out and rescues him.
And there's several things we could say about this particular prayer. Number one, it was a brief and simple prayer, that's pretty obvious. I think sometimes we get into a mindset that we have to pray long prayers. We don't. Short arrow prayers can be very effective, at least especially throughout the day. The second thing I think we can say about this prayer, it was a desperate prayer, a brief prayer but it was a desperate prayer. There's a place for desperate praying. I like what Spurgeon says about this prayer,
And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped Him saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God.”
When you think of a man of prayer, you generally, at least I don't, think of Peter. Perhaps that's why he has only got two prayers in the New Testament, two small brief prayers compared to Paul. That’s not to say that he wasn't a man of prayer, but after this particular incident, I think we could argue that he understood the necessity and the importance of prayer in a way he didn't before. In all likelihood he was the spokesman who came to Jesus and said at one point, “Teach us how to pray,” back in Luke chapter 11.
But here he finds himself in big trouble in the midst of a storm and sinking. Now Peter finds himself in what you could call a life-death crisis. From an Old Testament perspective we have David on several occasions where he was also in what you could call a life-death crisis. Remember King Saul trying to kill him and sent his army after him in the wilderness. It was for months that he was always on the run, a fugitive. And I think to some degree, David was a man of prayer for that very reason. His life was constantly in jeopardy, threatened by King Saul. He could say in Psalm 18, “The cords of death surround me or close in upon me.”
But Peter also experienced, when you think about it, three occasions of death or close death crisis. The first storm on the Sea of Galilee back in chapter 4 when Jesus was asleep in the boat, and then three other times Peter was arrested, twice he was put in jail. And on that last occasion, you might recall the church prays for Peter and he's released and an angel comes and he's out of that jail house and he goes to that home of Mary. But this time, this time in Matthew 14, his own private prayer reaches the ears of Jesus when he's sinking, about to drown. We don't know how deep he was when he cries for help; maybe up to his knees, maybe up to his waist, maybe up to his neck. But three words, three simple words, three brief words, “Lord, save me.” No sooner does he say that than the hand of Jesus stretches out and rescues him.
And there's several things we could say about this particular prayer. Number one, it was a brief and simple prayer, that's pretty obvious. I think sometimes we get into a mindset that we have to pray long prayers. We don't. Short arrow prayers can be very effective, at least especially throughout the day. The second thing I think we can say about this prayer, it was a desperate prayer, a brief prayer but it was a desperate prayer. There's a place for desperate praying. I like what Spurgeon says about this prayer,
"It's never too late to pray. No matter what your circumstance, no matter what your situation, no matter how desperate."
I remember my older brother Douglas was in a crisis death moment. He was crossing a lake in Manitoba during the wintertime. He was working for the RCMP, that’s the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. So he was on police business, but he was on a snowmobile. And when he got halfway across the ice, it went through the ice. It disappeared and there he was trying to get out and he couldn't get out. He reached once, he couldn't, the ice broke. He reached a second time, the ice broke, he couldn't pull himself out, and then he prayed. He said, “Lord, get me out of this and I will serve you for the rest of my life.” Well, the Lord got him out but he didn't serve the Lord. But God showed mercy to my brother. And later on, I do believe the Lord saved my brother. God saved him physically that day; just like Peter, Jesus saved him physically that day.
But here's a good prayer for all of us. When we find ourselves in desperate or seemingly hopeless situations, we never give up. Think of all those graces. Hope never gives up, faith never gives up, neither does love. Love endures. Love endures. Faith, hope, and love never give up. But the most important thing about Peter's prayer is this, he was convinced that Jesus could save, “Lord, save me.” He doesn't turn to his disciple friends; he doesn't rely upon his own strength and try to swim. No, he goes to the only person who could save him. He alone has infinite power, He alone has infinite wisdom, infinite grace and mercy. As one person put it,
But here's a good prayer for all of us. When we find ourselves in desperate or seemingly hopeless situations, we never give up. Think of all those graces. Hope never gives up, faith never gives up, neither does love. Love endures. Love endures. Faith, hope, and love never give up. But the most important thing about Peter's prayer is this, he was convinced that Jesus could save, “Lord, save me.” He doesn't turn to his disciple friends; he doesn't rely upon his own strength and try to swim. No, he goes to the only person who could save him. He alone has infinite power, He alone has infinite wisdom, infinite grace and mercy. As one person put it,
"If God be God or Jesus be God, there is no insoluble problem, no situation, no situation He cannot remedy, and there's no person He cannot save physically or spiritually."
And something else Peter had to learn, he got his eyes onto his circumstances, he was looking at the wind and the waves, he got his eyes off Jesus, but the prayer got his eyes back on to Jesus.
When we pray, think of the exclusivity of Jesus. Only Jesus can save. Jesus and only Jesus can rescue us, no matter how big the storm or the trial, no matter how big the sin or the temptation. Well, let's pray, brethren. We go to a three-person God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the only God who can rescue us from the devil, from the world, and from the storms and trials of life.
When we pray, think of the exclusivity of Jesus. Only Jesus can save. Jesus and only Jesus can rescue us, no matter how big the storm or the trial, no matter how big the sin or the temptation. Well, let's pray, brethren. We go to a three-person God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the only God who can rescue us from the devil, from the world, and from the storms and trials of life.
Posted in Pastor Devotional