Courage to Get Out of the Boat – 3

                                                       Courage to Get Out of the Boat – 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. Walking on water and being obedient does not guarantee you no 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. 

–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... 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 12:2 (NIV) 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 consider walking on water you will be challenged…what is faith and what is foolishness.

–Peter said to Jesus...if it is you command me to come to you. Why did Matthew include 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. This is about ultimate obedience! Dare to trust God!

–What this means is before Peter gets out of the boat and attempts to walk on water, he makes sure that Jesus thinks it is a good idea. Is it His will? If it is You, command me...We should do the same! 

–Out in the darkness, in the storm, Jesus probably smiled because one of His disciples got it...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. 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…the waves are crashing against the boat...no Dramamine! Dark!

–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.

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! I ask you...what is your boat? Your boat represents safety.

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.

--It is also 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 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. 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. Yummy!

–The decision to grow (to get out of the boat) always involves a choice between risk and comfort. We must renounce comfort as an ultimate value of our lives...the American church is really into comfort. 

--Think of our missionaries in the Live Dead. 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! The Lord to Joshua:

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!

Wonderfully Complex - 3

                                                                 Wonderfully Complex - 3

Subject: Seeing We Have Two Destinies

By Rick Welborne

Psalm 139:13-18 (NLT) 

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! 

18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! 

Second Week:

1. We must recognize those defining moments which reveal our destinies.

2. We must understand what our soul print is.

3. We must believe that we were conceived by God before we were conceived by our parents.

–Michelangelo’s masterpiece “David” is enshrined at the Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence, Italy. Thousands wait every day to look at this beautiful work.

–Many fail to notice all the unfinished sculptures that line the corridor on the way to see “David”. Like petrified prisoners whose forms are identifiable...a hand here, a torso there, a leg, or maybe an unfinished head.

–These statues were intended to adorn the tomb of Pope Julius II but were never finished. It is almost as these sculptures are trying to break free and become what they were intended to be. Michelangelo calls them captives.

–Today I want to talk to you about our two destinies:

1. As you consider God’s destiny, you sometimes feel like a captive.

 

–You do not seem to be able to break free from the habits that hold you back or hold you down. Prescription drugs, sexual addictions, and alcohol are so rampant even in church. Addictions to relationships.

–Maybe a dream God conceived in your spirit years ago has not taken shape. You know who you want to be, what you want to do, and where you want to go, but you can’t seem to get there. 

–I have no idea where you are stuck or how long you have been there but I do know that God wants to finish the work that He started in you.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT2) ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. 

–In Jesus very first sermon Jesus stated with certainty what His mission would be...To set the captives free.

Luke 4:18 (NKJV) 18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 

–We tend to look at this promise of the captives being set free as the judge giving us a Get Out of Jail Free card but it is so much more than that. We should look at this as God releasing us to our dual destiny.

Key - Jesus did not die just to get us off the hook. He also died to resurrect the person we were destined to be before sin distorted the image of God in us.

2. As you consider God’s destiny...you recognize He not only wanted to save you, but give you a new life.

–Jesus does not just free us spiritually...He also sets us free emotionally, relationally, and intellectually. We are held captive by so many things and in so many ways.

–We are captive by our imperfections and our insecurities. We are held captive by our guilt and fear. We are held captive by unrealistic expectations and lies and mistakes.

–When Tricia and I met, dated, and eventually married I was an insecure mess...I was saved but I was all messed up emotionally...jealous, angry, and insecure.

–I brought so much into the relationship that was damaging...so much dysfunction from home, bad relationships, and a basic distrust of anyone. Of everyone.

–I was saved but I needed a new life...I needed to be set free...When we bring this kind of baggage into a relationship, we push the person further and further away. We feel we cannot stop!

–Driving between Lakeland and Bartow listening to James Dobson...Emotions: Can You Trust Them...Holy Spirit changed my life that day. Made a U-turn and went to my pastor for prayer and agreement.

--That was definitely one of those defining moments that we talked about last week. So glad I did not miss the work God wanted to do in me that day.

Batterson - He doesn’t just set us free from who we were. He sets us free to become who we were meant to be.  Salvation is not the end goal. Salvation is a new beginning. 

--We are saved...we are being saved...we will be saved.

1 Peter 1:3‑9 (NLT) 

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 

4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 

5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 

6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 

7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 

8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 

9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. 

–When we give our lives to Christ, God goes to work in us and with us. He begins to use our circumstances, no matter how bad those circumstances may be, to chisel us into His image.

Romans 8:28‑32 (NIV) 

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 

31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all‑‑how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

3. As we consider God’s destiny we focus on what and where. God focuses on what we are becoming.

–What and where are secondary issues as far as God is concerned...His primary concern is who you are becoming...being is better than doing. Widow in our church. I can’t do much!

–Please keep in mind that it has nothing to do with your circumstances...It has to do with the character of Christ being formed within you. 

Key – What happens in you is more important that what happens to you. Our destination or goal should be, we look, act, feel, talk, dream, and love like Jesus. 

Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT2)
³  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
⁴  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
⁵  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 

Batterson: The end goal is not a revelation of who you are. The end goal is a revelation of Who God is. After all, you will not find yourself until you find God. The only way to discover who you are is to discover Who God is, because you are made in His image.

–You see...you have two destinies...Our first destiny is just like everyone else’s (it is universal) and that is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

–To follow Christ is to become like Him and that is our chief objective...to be like Jesus! To be like Him in every way.

Philippians 3:8‑14 (NKJV) 

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 

11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 

14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

–I want to know Him...I want to be like Him...I want to know the power of His resurrection...I want to experience the fellowship of His suffering...I want to be conformed to His death...I want to die to my life and live what He has destined for me.

–My other destiny is unique to anyone else’s destiny...to be unlike anyone else. 

Batterson: Those two destinies may seem to be at odds with each other, but they are anything but. To become like Christ is to become unlike anyone else. He sets us free from whom we’re not, so we can become who He destined us to be.

Trust God or Trust Our Emotions - 1

                                                     Trust God or Trust Our Emotions - 1

Subject: Battling Our Emotions When a Test Comes

By Rick Welborne

Psalm 23:1-6 (NKJV)
¹  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
³  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
⁴  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
⁵  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
⁶  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. 

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV)
⁶  Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
⁷  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Fear (Noun) - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Synonyms: terror · fright · fearfulness · horror · alarm · panic · agitation. 

Fear (Verb) - be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or threatening.

Synonyms: be afraid of · be fearful of · be scared of · be apprehensive of · dread.

--The Bible Program that I use for study and sermon preparation shows that there are over 360 times in the Bible where the word “fear” is used. Fear of the Lord and fear that causes us negative emotions.

--One of my best friends’ years ago and I would have a regular argument. He said God gave us all these verses about fear so that we would absolutely not have fear at all.

--I told him that I believed the reason God gave us so many verses about fear was because He knew we would have so many opportunities to be afraid.

--I truly believe that anyone who will tell you that they absolutely have no fear of anything are afraid of telling the truth. Of course, there is healthy fear and unhealthy fear.

--My friend viewed fear as weakness, and because he wanted to be a manly man. Fears with his business, his family, his finances, and his health. Lived in guilt and condemnation.

--Adam was afraid, so he hid from God, Jeremiah was afraid to speak to the people and look at their faces (I know that fear), Joseph was afraid to take Mary as his wife, Peter was afraid of the wind and waves.

--The disciples were afraid of Saul when he was converted, God told Paul not to be afraid but to speak, Paul was afraid for the believers in Galatia that they would fall away, we are afraid for our kids.

--At some point all of us will have to deal with fear, we may have to walk thru the valley of the shadow of death, we may have to deal with things out of our control. 

--Years ago before I left to go on vacation, our staff became very concerned about my health, especially with the nerve damage in my feet. They had public prayer for me…It was very much appreciated.

--In the middle of that, one day while I was shaving, I found a lump under the ear where I had the two melanomas…I truly believe God was having them pray for me because of that situation.

--I went to my dermatologist, and then a specialist. They knew my history and both were very concerned. Sent me for a cat scan and they found a mass. More concern.  

--Just days before we leave for vacation (not knowing the results of the biopsy) I do a memorial service for people in the community who needed a pastor. Many raised their hands for salvation. 

--Things begin to stack up against you when you are trying to have faith in God. I am waiting to hear the results of my tests. Obviously when the C word is mentioned you are concerned.

--I asked the husband of the young lady (fifties) who passed away what kind of cancer did she die from. He immediately points to the area on his face where I have the mass and said her cancer started there. 

Isaiah 59:19 (NKJV)
¹⁹  So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. 

Revelation 12:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

--You might have cancer, my wife had cancer in that same exact place, then, we lose a pearl of great price (Margaret Belew) a lady we loved so much…it is piling up…You tired and you are concerned…afraid.

--I want to apologize to anyone and everyone who has ever told me you were waiting for the results of a test or biopsy. Not because I didn’t pray…I did. Forgive me because I did not take to heart. 

--The battle is so much in your mind as well as in your spirit. You need prayer and lots of it. You need words of comfort and encouragement. You need the body of Christ to hold you up…not put you down! 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NKJV) 
³  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
⁴  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
⁵  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

--These verses are easier to quote than to live especially when the thoughts are coming in like missiles raining in from the sky one after another. 

--During this time I sincerely talked to God and asked Him to help me through this valley of the shadow of death. This is what I felt God spoke to me.

1. When fear comes in like a flood…change the way you worship.

--I consider myself to be a worshiper so when God spoke this to me, it kind of took me back. I said, Lord, You have to lead me into the worship you want from me. Jesus said to the woman at the well…

John 4:23-24 (NKJV)
²³  But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
²⁴  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

--God spoke to me and said, your worship to me must be anointed. I knew immediately what God was asking me to do. The worship music I listened to was good and was very popular.

--I have Pandora Radio on my phone, computer, and IPad and I listen to hours of worship music when I pray and prepare sermons…God said change your music. Why? So the enemy is defeated.

2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (NKJV)
²¹  And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
²²  Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. 

--They put the musicians out front: When fear comes in, your worship has to get ahead of the emotions attacking you. Don’t let fear overtake you…let your worship overtake your fear!

2. When fear comes in like a flood…be filled or re-filled with Holy Spirit power!

Ephesians 5:17-18 (NLT2)
¹⁷  Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
¹⁸  Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

--Verse 18 has always been one of my favorite scriptures…Do not be drunk with wine…God spoke to me one time about this verse. He said, don’t be intoxicated by anything in this world…be filled with Holy Spirit!

--You can be intoxicated by emotions…emotions of fear can be intoxicating. Like strong drink, fear can make you unstable, it can blur your vision, and it can cause you to see things that are not there.

--You can un-expectantly have an anxiety attack…You feel like you can’t breathe and your heart begins to race! Your blood pressure can go through the roof. When you face fear; it can be overwhelming. What are you to do?

--How many have noticed Satan likes the darkness…he attacks in the night. He loves when you are half way between sleep and being awake. Don’t lie there and take it! Get up and be re-filled with Holy Spirit.

3. When fear comes in like a flood…be tranquil (peaceful) and hear His still small voice.

--Elijah had seen many great miracles in his life…rivers parting, false prophets defeated, a dead boy raised. Now he finds himself depressed, fearful, and suicidal. God wanted to get him alone. Why?

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NKJV)
¹¹  Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹²  and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
¹³  So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
¹⁰  Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Intimacy with God - 5

                                                                 Intimacy with God - 5

Subject – T.I.M.E.

By Rick Welborne

Philippians 3:7-14 (NKJV)
⁷  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
⁸  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
⁹  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
¹⁰  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
¹¹  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
¹²  Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:10 AMP                                                                                                                                         [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.    

--Today we conclude the series “Intimacy with God” but hopefully this is not the end of our quest to be intimately acquainted with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

--If we will experience the transformation that we need and if we will ever be what our world needs us to be to reach them, it will be from getting more intimate with our God. That I might know Him.

--Today I want to use an acronym for the word TIME. Hopefully Holy Spirit will teach us the truths we need to know about how to get more intimate with Jesus. 

1. T – Time

--Wow, Pastor Rick, that is so profound. I actually believe that with our world in this hectic spiral of quickly going nowhere fast that it is profound.

--If we will have this intimate relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, it will definitely take time. Paul said it in the amp version. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him.

Progressive – happening or developing gradually or in stages proceeding step by step.

--I am sorry to be the one to break the news to you but if you will get close to God and have this wonderful intimate relationship, it will take time. You have to be intentional. 

--The disciplines (we love that word) we discussed will take time to develop. The discipline of simplicity, silence, solitude (my least favorite), and surrender (trust).

--Many of you (I have heard you) have said “I would really like to get in shape. I would love to drop 30 pounds. If you are sincere, it will take discipline and time. We would rather take a pill. Listen to Solomon:

Ecclesiastes 3:1&11 (NIV)
¹  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
¹¹  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 

--Solomon is trying to help us understand that if we will draw near to God that it will take time. He even tells us that there are depths in God that we can’t even comprehend. They are revealed to us by Holy Spirit.

Romans 13:11&14 (NLT2)
¹¹  This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
¹⁴  Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

--There is only so much time and that time is running out. Let’s face it, we make time to do the things that are a priority to us. In your extreme busyness, what is it you make time for? That is your priority. 

Lamentations 3:25-29 (NLT2)
²⁵  The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 
²⁶  So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.
²⁷  And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline:
²⁸  Let them sit alone in silence beneath the LORD’s demands.
²⁹  Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. 

2. I – Intimacy 

--Obviously this is an invitation for closeness. Time alone with God is a crying out to God…Into Me See! The discipline of solitude is a welcoming of God to be close.

--That closeness reminds me of the mirrors you ladies use that magnifies your face about a 1000 times. I did that once and I thought I was looking at the surface of the moon. Craters!

--When we draw near to God in His presence and draw near to Him by reading and studying His Word, we begin to see ourselves for how we really look. Why I have trouble with prideful spiritual people.

James 1:23-25 (NIV)
²³  Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
²⁴  and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
²⁵  But the man who looks intently into the Perfect Law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

--If these mirrors are not bad enough you women use, some sick person decided to put extremely bright lights all around them. Every blemish is high-lighted and you wonder if there is any hope at all. 

--When I get as close to God as I possibly can and I am in the light of His glory, I see what a wretched sinful person that I am. The Word bears this out again and again.

--John the Revelator, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah, and the Apostle Paul experienced what I am talking about. They were not filled with pride but humility and surrender. That intimacy brought obedience. Example please.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (NIV)
¹  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
²  Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
³  And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
⁴  At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
⁵  "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
⁶  Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.
⁷  With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
⁸  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 

3. M – Meditation

Meditation - to focus one's thoughts on: reflect on or ponder over. The act or process of spending time in quiet thought.

--Meditation, in its self is not wrong, it all depends on what we are thinking about. To be intimate with God is a process whereby we find ourselves thinking about Him all day long. This psalm sums up everything:

Psalm 4:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
²  How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah
³  But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
⁴  Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
⁵  Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD. 

--Meditating on God is not a denial about the enemies you have. It is awareness that God is for you. Meditating on Him is being still and knowing He is God. It is drawing so near that you know you can trust Him. 

4. E – Evolution

Evolution - A gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form.

--Intimacy with God can become the process where we evolve into something better. Our intimacy causes cleansing from sin and the effects of this nasty world. Again, let’s allow the Apostle Paul to sum up:

Philippians 3:10 AMP                                                                                                                                         [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him—that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly. And that I may in the same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [the power it exerts over believers]; and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.    

--If you find yourselves not liking the word “evolution”, replace with “evangelism”. If you are intimate with God on a regular basis you will have the same attitude Isaiah had. 

Isaiah 6:8 (NIV)
⁸  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 

Courage to Get Out of the Boat – 3

                                                       Courage to Get Out of the Boat – 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. Walking on water and being obedient does not guarantee you no 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. 

–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... 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 12:2 (NIV) 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 consider walking on water you will be challenged…what is faith and what is foolishness.

–Peter said to Jesus...if it is you command me to come to you. Why did Matthew include 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. This is about ultimate obedience! Dare to trust God!

–What this means is before Peter gets out of the boat and attempts to walk on water, he makes sure that Jesus thinks it is a good idea. Is it His will? If it is You, command me...We should do the same! 

–Out in the darkness, in the storm, Jesus probably smiled because one of His disciples got it...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. 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…the waves are crashing against the boat...no Dramamine! Dark!

–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.

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! I ask you...what is your boat? Your boat represents safety.

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.

--It is also 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 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. 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. Yummy!

–The decision to grow (to get out of the boat) always involves a choice between risk and comfort. We must renounce comfort as an ultimate value of our lives...the American church is really into comfort. 

--Think of our missionaries in the Live Dead. 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! The Lord to Joshua:

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!