Walking on Water – 3

Walking on Water – 3

Subject – Facing Difficult Challenges

by Rick Welborne

Matthew 14:22‑33 (NKJV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 

29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." 

–Tonight I want to talk to you about the challenges of walking on water.

1. Stepping out to walk on water and being obedient to God is no guarantee that you will be spared adversity.

–I can guarantee you that if you have stepped out of the boat to help with missions that the day will come you will have the choice...give my faith promise or not. You must trust God. Just give it first with your tithe.

–As your faith is tested I challenge you to trust God and watch Him take you by the hand and save you!

–Whatever your storm, Jesus is saying...You can trust Me... Keep your eyes on Me! Jesus can be trusted with our destinies and He is saying...Take courage...It’s Me! A quote worth repeating:

Dale Brunner: According to Holy Scriptures, human extremity is the frequent meeting place with God.

–There are moments which are divinely appointed by God that will be defining moments in our lives. He will ask us to do extraordinary things...we must keep our eyes on Him.

Hebrews 12:1‑2 (NIV) 

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

–All the disciples were faced with the same challenge...Jesus is in the sea...we are in the boat...do we walk on water or stay in the boat...one got out of the boat. Peter. How about you?

2. As you attempt to walk on water you will be challenged to discern what is faith and what is foolishness.

–Peter said to Jesus...if it is you command me to come to you.

–Why do you think Matthew included this detail? Why doesn’t Peter just jump out of the boat and take off to Jesus? I think the reason is very important.

–This is not just a story about being a risk taker but it is a story about obedience.

John Ortberg: That means I will have to discern between an authentic call from God and what might simply be a foolish impulse on my part. Courage alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment.

–Matthew is not glorifying risk taking for its own sake. Jesus is not looking for bungee jumping, hang gliding, tornado chasing adventurers. 

–Peter does not view walking on water as a recreational sport...this is not about extreme sports but it is about extreme discipleship...ultimate obedience! Dare to trust God!

–What this means is that before Peter gets out of the boat and attempts to walk on water, he better make sure that Jesus thinks it is a good idea. Is it His will?

–Peter asks for clarity...If it is You, command me...We should do the same! This is powerful and important. 

–Out in the darkness, in the storm standing on the water, Jesus probably smiled because one of His disciples got it...saw what He was up to.

–Peter somehow understood that Jesus was wanting them to step out of the boat and to walk on water.

--He had enough faith to believe he could be a part of history by walking on the water to Jesus...2000 years later we are still talking about it. He became a history maker!

3. As you attempt to walk on water you will be challenged to simply get out of the boat.

–Try to put yourself in this story...you are in the middle of a violent storm...violent enough that seasoned fisherman were struggling to keep the boat from being capsized.

–The wind is violent...the waves are crashing against the boat...it is all happening in the darkness of night and you have no Dramamine! 

–These are the conditions that Peter was going to get out of the boat...it would be tough enough to try to walk on water when it is calm, the sun is bright, and the air is still.

–Imagine the terror of the moment...ghost on the water, wind, waves, and darkness.

–Put yourself in Peter’s place for a moment...you think you have an insight into what Jesus is doing...the Lord is passing by.

–He’s inviting you on the adventure of your life but at the same time you are scared to death. What would you choose–the water or the boat? We look back and know the end!

–At least in your mind...the boat is safe, secure, and comfortable (somewhat).  On the other hand, the water is rough, the waves are high, the wind is strong, the storm is out there.

–If you get out of your boat (whatever makes you feel secure), there is a good chance you are going to sink.  

–But if you do not get out of the boat there is a guarantee that you will never walk on water...This is an immutable law of nature.

James 4:17 (NKJV) 

17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

–If you want to walk on water...you have to get out of the boat. So what is your boat?

–You were created for more than just sitting in a boat...you were made for more than just avoiding failure.

--Something inside of you wants to walk on water...to leave the comfort of your boat and abandon yourself to do something great for God...A History Maker!

–Again, I ask you...what is your boat? Your boat represents safety and security to you, apart from God Himself.

Ortberg:  Your boat is whatever you are tempted to put your trust in, especially when life gets stormy. Your boat is whatever keeps you so comfortable that you don’t want to give it up even if it’s keeping you from joining Jesus on the waves. Your boat is whatever pulls you away from the high adventure of extreme discipleship.

–Maybe it is your vocation or job, maybe it is a relationship that is holding you back, maybe it is secrecy with porn or pills, maybe your boat is trying to win the approval of a parent, maybe it is success.

–What is your boat? In what area of your life are you shrinking back from fully and courageously trusting God?  Fear will tell you what your boat is. Leaving it may be the hardest thing you ever do.

4. As you attempt to walk on water you will be challenged to see fear as an opportunity for growth.

2 Timothy 2:3 (NKJV) 

3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

–We come now to the part of walking on water that we may not like very much and some will interpret as a negative confession.

–The choice to follow Jesus...the choice to grow...is the choice for the constant recurrence of fear. You’ve got to get out of the boat a little bit every day. 

–The disciples get into a boat, face a horrific storm, see what they thought was a ghost walking on the water, and they are afraid.

--Oh yes, they have been with Jesus and they had witnessed miracles but they were still afraid.  Jesus says:

Matthew 14:27 (NKJV) 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 

–Peter was afraid but asks for permission to come to Jesus...don’t be afraid...How many of you truly believe this was the last time Peter would be afraid?  Denial of the Lord.

–Here is a deep truth about those who want to continue to walk on the water a little every day...The fear will never go away. 

--Why?  Because each time I want to grow, it will involve going into new waters, taking on new storms. And each time I do that, I will experience fear again.

Susan Jeffers: The fear will never go away, as long as I continue to grow.

–What is there to fear when we choose to never get out of the boat and attempt to walk on water. Fear and growth go together like chips and salsa! It is a package deal.

–The decision to grow (to get out of the boat) always involves a choice between risk and comfort.

–As a follower of Jesus (water walker) we must renounce comfort as an ultimate value of our lives...the American church is really into comfort. Our missionaries in the Live Dead adventure.

–Almost 400 times in Scripture fear is dealt with and much of that has to do with God telling His people to not be afraid...why?  Because they were.

–Number one chair in America...La-z-boy...we want to go home and veg out in our La-z-boy...we become couch potatoes...watch adventure on TV but do not do it.

–Eleven disciples (did not mind watching but did not want to do anything) became boat potatoes but before we are too critical maybe we should stop being pew potatoes.

–Millions of church people want the comfort they get from grace and mercy but want little to do with getting out of the boat and walking on water...too dangerous!

Joshua 1:6‑9 (NKJV) 

6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 

7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go!

--With Peter and Joshua God was giving a command…their job was to trust and obey! That is our job too! Water walkers experience fear but they also experience miracles!