WALKING ON WATER
Mt 14:22-36
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
INTRODUCTION
Being a believer is wonderful, but not easy
FAITH IS HARD: Noah ark, David Goliath, Daniel lions den
God expects great faith from us
Matt 14:22-36 JESUS ABOUT TO PASS BY = “reveal self” to them
“pass by” = reveal self in a theophany
Moses in rock – Elijah in desert
Need deeper revelation of God
Jesus send them into danger – told them to get into the boat
STORM all night, Jesus send them – end of own strength
No exemption from the storms of life
Jesus comes: when & in way least expected
YOU looking for Jesus in current situation in life?
PETER WILLING TO DO GOD’S WILL
Mt 14:27-29 (to “come”)
Why did Peter ask Jesus if He should come?
IN God’s will = FAITH – OUTSIDE God’s will = FOOLISH
PETER WALKS ON THE WATER
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
Imagine stepping over side of rocking boat, placing weight
The greater the risk the greater you experience God’s power and presence
RISK: need God’s power to let go
What in your life are you doing can’t do on your own?
If God would withdraw His power what would change?
Probably more things than you think:
Loving that hurtful person in your life
Forgiving those who don’t deserve it
Living a life of honesty and integrity
Putting the needs of your family before yourself
Being faithful at work despite what isn’t fair
Staying on the victory side of a sin that would destroy
If want to walk on water you must get out of the boat
PETER DID, DISCIPLES DIDN’T
DISCIPLES IN BOAT like me, playing it safe, no risk, no
WHAT’S YOUR BOAT?
= safety, security apart from Jesus found where?
Where do YOU run in a storm?
Relationships, Money, Job, Success, Secret sin
He actually walked on water … for awhile…
STORMS COME IN LIFE
30 But when he saw the wind,
STORMS come, even if following Jesus – Job, Joseph
Storms have a way of teaching what nothing else can
PETER GOT AFRAID
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid
Fear/danger = opportunity to trust
FEAR: #1 command in Bible is ‘fear not’ – Fear or Faith
Walking on water = RISKY BUSINESS = 1 step at a time
Following God takes you out of your comfort zone
Little by little move further and further from your ‘security’
ME travel, speak – like never thought I would/could!
Not an easy PROCESS, but PRODUCT worth it
Where God asks you to get out of boat right your FEAR
-what do you fear most? WHERE GOD STRETCHES YOU!
-what is God asking you to do out of your comfort zone?
Henrietta Mears, great Bible teacher and wonderful Christian woman, on death bed asked what would do differently if had to do it over again: “I would have trusted Jesus more!”
Don’t want to have to say that at end of our life!
GOD doesn’t stop/remove storm (us not exempt to it)
NOT trust God to remove storm
BUT trust God to get through storm
Life without storms – no opportunities to trust
PETER STARTS TO SINK
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink,
Eyes OFF Jesus, onto storm, sank
Circumstances not change, Peter’s perspective of them did
Did he expect Jesus to stop storm for him? Do we?
Won’t ever grow without taking risk
Physical muscle
Spiritual muscle
DANGEROUS out of the boat
But more dangerous in the boat – if not in God’s will
Would Peter have gotten out of the boat if it weren’t sinking?
In storm with Jesus safer than in boat without Jesus!
NO PLACE SAFTE THAN BEING IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL
Danger, fear will never go away!
Conquer one area of fear, ready to take on greater fear
ME fear Sunday afternoon car ride, any trip from home
ME not like meet new people, speaking to new groups
PETER LEARNS FROM HIS FAILURE
Matthew 14:30-31
But failure = opportunity to grow, learn from it
WHY RISK GETTING OUT OF THE BOAT?
God calls us to it
It’s the only way to real growth
It’s the way true faith develops – no shortcuts!
THE DANGER OF STAYING IN THE BOAT
COST TO PETER: face fear, go thru risk, stretching
BENEFIT: growth, closer to Jesus
COST TO DISCIPLES: miss opportunity to grow close Jesus
BABY goes through much risk, stretching, failure,
But what if stay safe newborn whole life?
Is it worth it for a baby? (43 yrs old and still fed, diaper)
Is it worth it for a Christian? (believer fear, not growing)
Reason: Never got out of the boat!
GOD’S POWER SEEN IN DANGER
Matthew 14:32-33
Jesus IS revealed to them!
FAITHFULNESS COMMANDED
Parable of the TALENTS
1, 3, 10 = to invest for the master
Risky to invest, use – could lose it all!
Safer to hide it away – keep it unused
Jesus returns, those who took risks commended
Keep my glasses safe and not enjoy – one day gone!
CONCLUSION
TIME TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT
No excuses, blaming others, mate, life, God
No putting it off for better time, easier time, tomorrow
When God calls you to get out of the boat He gives you power to walk on water!!!
It takes FAITH to get out of the boat
RISK involved = opportunity to trust