AfterShock

Matthew 14:22-33

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How do we respond? What should our reaction be? When our
world shakes, when we are in shock after it happens after
shock has gripped our being what we do next is absolutely
vital.

The earthquake in Haiti measured 7.0 the death toll will be

measured in the tens of thousands but character is measured in
the response to the tragedy. You see, we all are shaken at times,
and sometimes in a powerful way that leaves us quaking and
crumbled.

If you havent faced great tragedy yet listen up, because you
very likely will. We all feel sympathy when we see the graphic
pictures from this week. We all share in the despair with events
like 9/11, the Asian Tsunami, or Hurricane Katrina. It seems
like its always someone else. But what if it were you?

You see, theres a prophetic message in these events. The Bible

says we should take warning at such disasters as signs of the end
times upon us. And then God is specific about earthquakes,
saying that they will increase in frequency and intensity, and

Matthew 24:7
and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Talk about a diverse place. Not on the Pacific Rim or ring of
fire where you expect major earthquakes. Definitely the most
powerful in all of history in Haitiand the only one in
the Caribbean in at least 200 years. These are people who are
used to hurricanes threatening them, but not earthquakes. They
didnt think it could happen to them.

And America is in the same boat, and since we happen to be

asking for Gods judgment [throwing morality out the window
and God under the bus] we must ask ourselves, what if it was
me? And again, its not really a question of if as much as
when? Im telling you, we should not be surprised if
something big happens in America, and maybe to us
personally. Im not hoping for it, just sensing it in many ways,
whether its a financial collapse, terrorism, natural disaster, or
something else we would never expect.

The aftershocks have been intense in Haiti. And we need to

learn how to respond after shock has rattled our lives

I. HAVE FAITH - NOT FEAR Vs. 26. ...and they cried out
for fear.

Vs. 27, ...Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Vs. 30, ...But when he saw the wind boisterous, he
was afraid;.
Vs. 31, ...O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

I am not suggesting that we should not express normal emotions

of concern and uncertainty when tragedy strikes. I am saying
that fear is not the spiritual response.
II Tim. 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind.
Fear will not comfort anyone. Fear will only bring more anxiety
and distress.

As we have observed the horror that is present on the faces of

Haitians, we each have related with them. And we Christians
should not be nave to overlook the fact that the worst is yet to
come for this planet.

Yet, we must not let fear reign during times of crisis. There are
no answers in fear. Only faith will have the answer for us.

Jesus said in Mark 11:22 , Have faith in God.

We are commanded to keep the faith, ESPECIALLY when the

world caves in, which is precisely when many give up on God
and head for the hills.

Jesus told Peter in our text he had little faith because he looked
at the storm in fear instead of looking to Him in faith.

Look at what He said from the beginning when they first saw
Him approaching, walking on the water:
v. 27 It is I, be not afraid Yes, God is there in Haiti, Hes
there in the rubble with some still clinging to life. Hes there
with many who have suffered loss of family and possessions,
and He is ever present with us, especially in the aftershocks of
life. God was there on 9/11, and in New Orleans and the
beaches of Thailand and everywhere tragedy strikes.
And though its not a popular notion, and definitely
politically incorrect to say so, I do believe God uses these
things to get our attention. They are labor pains announcing this
world is soon to be delivered! So if you are not saved, respond
in faith, not fear, and get saved today!

So, Have Faith and not Fear.

II. PRAY - DONT PANIC

v. 30
When panic takes over prayer ceases. Peter was looking to the
Lord in faith, but when he panicked he began to sink. When he
prayed he found rescue. We must resist the urge to respond in
panic and in everything by prayer and supplication bring it all to
the Lord.

And now we should continue to pray for those in Haiti. We

should pray for America with what we face today and in the
future.

The natural man panicsbut the supernatural man prays!

Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall
abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Its hard to see in the shadows, and it can

bescary there, until we realize Whose shadow that is!

III. BELIEVE GOD - DONT BLAME HIM

This is not Gods fault, though we call it an act of God.
Some will blame Him. Some will turn against Him.
Pat Robertson immediately suggested God was punishing Haiti
for a pact it made with the devil long ago. Let me just say that if
you make a pact with the devil you certainly have punishment
coming, but it is far more severe than an earthquake.

Its part of our nature to make ourselves feel better by

assigning blame.

If Peter were like many Christians he would have sunk under the
water with a look on his face that could kill, saying, Lord, I
cant believe youd let it come to this! I cant believe youre
gonna just stand there and let me go under like this! But no,
Peter didnt blame Jesus, he looked back up in faith and
believed.

And by the end of the story in vv. 32-33 we see the strength of
all in the ship was fortified.

Im happy to say its not the Presidents fault, or FEMA

either. Im waiting for some to connect this to the previous
administration somehow!

Eccles. 9:11
time and chance happeneth to them all.

Its a sin-cursed world, and we are the sinners who cursed

it, and bad things happen.
It gets oldwatching Christians get mad at God when things go
wrong. In a twisted way of thinking they imagine that they are
punishing God when they turn away from Him or fall out of
church in response to tragedy. But they are only punishing
themselves.

Whatever has shaken youGod didnt do it. Sin did it. God
allowed it for a higher purpose, and we need to believe that and
not blame Him.

We shouldnt blame God, but believe on Him. God is not

responsible for our circumstancesHe wants to save us from
them, and He will, if only we believe.

We dont know all the reasons why. We do know that God is in

charge, and He controls all. Thus, we must believe and not
blame.

IV. RESPOND - DONT RUN

Dont try to escape the fire. Stay put and let it purify you!

We must take this as a lesson and a call from God to do that

which must be done.

This is an opportunity to learn, and a chance to help. Its time

we do like Peter and get out of the boat and be a water
walker! Cowering in the hull of the boat during a storm is
cowardly. It's time to step out, for theres a job to do, people to
save, anchors to get set, life preservers to cast, sails to mend,
rudders to steer, and opportunities to step out and make a
difference!
V. BE ASSURED - NOT ANGRY
We are assured that God always does the right thing.
We can be assured that God never makes mistakes.

Our anger must be directed toward sin.

Righteous anger must be directed toward the Prince of sin.

And we must thank God that Hes still on the throne and in full
control, and rest in that sweet assurance.

Anger will only enhance confusion and misunderstanding.

So we need to focus upward in assurance, not outward in anger.

Peter got into trouble when he looked at the storm, but when he
looked at his Lord he rose above the storm. The wind and
waves which seem over our head are under His feet!

We have a problem in that we always want to feel good. We

need to rest in the fact that all is well even when we dont feel
it. Bad things happen, butGod is good!

If God can be trusted with our souls He can be trusted with our
feet and everything that stands above them!

We can be assured of the goodness of God in all things if we

have the assurance of salvation

What will we do in the aftershocks?

We must have faith, not fear.
We must pray, not panic.
We should believe and not blame.
Dont run from problemsrespond to those in need