Walking On Water - 2
Subject: Do Not Let Jesus Pass You By
by Rick Welborne
Mark 6:45‑51 (NKJV)
45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.
46 And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.
48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
–Last week we talked about getting out of the boat and walking on water...we talked about the process where God calls us to trust Him and obey even if it is out of our comfort zone.
1. When God asks us to get out of the boat and walk on water there is always the call.
–God calls an ordinary person to engage in an act of extraordinary trust...that of getting out of the boat.
Romans 11:29 (NKJV)
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Proverbs 3:5‑6 (NKJV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
2. When God asks us to get out of the boat and walk on water, there is always fear.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
3. When God asks us to get out of the boat and walk on water, there will always be God’s reassurance.
4. When God asks us to get out of the boat and walk on water, there is always a decision.
5. When God asks us to get out of the boat and walk on water, there is always a changed life.
–It was interesting to hear so many talking about God’s call and the process they went thru in obeying Him and even some who struggled to obey Him.
–Tonight we will look at what Jesus was doing or attempting in the lives of the disciples when Mark records:
Mark 6:48 (NKJV)
48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.
–Today I want to speak to you about: Do not let Jesus pass you by.
1. Recognize Jesus, and do not let Him pass you by when it seems your boat is going to sink.
–One of the things that we struggle with so much when we are in the storm is recognizing the power and presence of God. Didn’t He say He would never leave us?
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
–So what was Jesus up to when He was out walking on the sea at three in the morning?
–What was His purpose or His intention of passing them by? Was He trying to show them how cool He was to be able to walk on water.
John Ortberg: David Garland points out the verb parerchomai (to pass by) is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament as a technical term to refer to a theophany—those defining moments when God made “striking and temporary appearances in the earthly realm to a select individual or group for the purpose of communicating a message.”
–God put Moses in the cleft of the rock so he could see God’s glory pass by...God told Elijah to stand on the mountain “for the Lord is about to pass by.”
–There are always patterns to these revelations whether thru a burning bush, thru wind or fire or even walking on the water...with each person God was calling them to do something extraordinary for Him and to see His glory.
–Fear was always in their lives, but when they recognized Who it was, Jesus, they made a decision to say yes to Him...they truly experienced the power of God in their lives. It was Life Changing!
–The whole concept of the series ‘I Love My Church” was hopefully to connect you on a deeper level. It may just be the Lord’s time and way of telling you to get out of the boat and walk to Him.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NCV)
24 Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.
25 You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming.
24 Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.
25 You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming.
–Pastor, I have been hurt...I’ve been burned...all of us have been hurt or disillusioned at some time but never do we get an option to quit: Remember:
Romans 11:29 (NKJV)
29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
2. Recognize that this is a chance of a lifetime, and do not let Jesus pass you by.
–Is your boat filling up with water? Are the winds and waves pushing you all around? Are you thinking...there is no recovering from this situation. I lost my chance to minister.
–Cry out to Him with all your heart:
Mark 10:46‑52 (NKJV)
46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you."
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."
52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
–He heard Jesus was passing by and he knew this was his opportunity for God to heal him, to restore him, to use him for His glory.
–He began to cry out...They warned him to be quiet...there are always those who will warn you to be quiet ...don’t make a scene...don’t bother Jesus...this is your lot in life. Ignore them kindly!
–No way! Jesus is passing by and this my opportunity...It may be my only opportunity...He cried out all the more...Son of David, have mercy on me!
–Some of the most powerful words in the Bible...Jesus stood still...Bartimaeus had Jesus’ attention. Jesus is close by for a reason. He loves you!
–Maybe you are hurting, brokenhearted, sick, blind, broke, feel burned out...you fill in the blank...Cry out to Jesus until He stands still for you and calls you to Himself.
–What do you want Me to do for you? A blank check! Are you kidding me? I want to see...I want to be able to see You Jesus! Immediately He received His sight.
–Get out of your boat...cry out to Him...let Him turn your life around! Surrender totally to Him! I don’t mean for you to try Jesus…He is Lord and He is not to be tried but to be served and obeyed.
3. Recognize that obedience to Christ is no guarantee that you will not have adversity.
Psalm 34:19‑22 (NKJV)
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
20 He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken.
21 Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.
–Wasn’t it Jesus Who told them to get in the boat and to go to the other side...The One Who had power over the sea, over the winds and waves thought it was time for them to see Who really is in charge.
Mark 6:45-46 (NCV)
45 Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida across the lake. He stayed there to send the people home.
46 After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray.
45 Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida across the lake. He stayed there to send the people home.
46 After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray.
--Jesus instructed them to get in the boat and to go to the other side. Let me mess with your theology a little bit. Would Jesus ever send us into trouble? Into a storm?
--Just as a reminder, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted or tested by the devil. Yes, God would send us into a storm, not for our destruction but for His glory.
--If that was not enough…once He sent them into the storm, He went to the hills to pray. Does God hear His prayers? Of course. Would He be praying the perfect will of the Father? Of course!
Romans 8:34-39 (NKJV)
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
–I am sure Peter said we have this thing...I am a fisherman and I know the sea...really? Don’t trust yourself when Jesus is so near. Don’t let Him pass you by!
–Jesus: Yes, guys you will have adversity but understand that I can be trusted...If I say get in the boat and go to the other side...you will get there. Your destiny is in My hands. How many of you believe that?
–There will be those defining moments which are divinely appointed by God which will shake us to our foundations, to our core...not a time to pull back or quit.
–If you were to take a survey of all those in this service tonight who have been at the breaking point...that would be most of us...it is not a time shrink back.
Hebrews 10:37‑39 (NLT)
37 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.
Dale Brunner: According to the Holy Scriptures, human extremity is the frequent meeting place with God.
–When you get to the end of yourself, when it appears all hope is lost, when you think you are going under, when you have been given no chance by the doctors...reach up...Cry out...You just might touch the hand of God!
–Key: Do not let Him pass you by!
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