Our Mission - 2

Our Mission - 2

Subject: The Process and Purpose of Getting to The Other Side

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." 

–How exciting last week was it to have all the Life Church Ministries pass before us on the screens and see what all God is doing.

–Thank you for so many of you filling out your ministry forms and thanks to the rest of you who will do the same...It is obviously time to get out of the boat and minister. We need some water walkers!

–I hope and pray that the day is over that you have to guilt people into doing something for Christ and that they will do it because they love Jesus so much.

–Tonight I want to speak to you about the process and purpose of going to the other side.

1. Jesus made His disciples get in the boat to go to the other side.

–Immediately Jesus made His disciples...I love the urgency and the authority of Jesus to get His disciples to the other side.

–Evidently there was something or someone very important on the other side...people!

–Jesus was sending His disciples on a mission’s trip because there were people who needed salvation and healing.

--Do you suppose Jesus wants to use Life Church to minister on the other side of the ocean and here at home?

–He sent the multitudes away and He went up on a mountain to pray...I suppose He was praying for those they had just touched to remain faithful and praying for those on the other side to be saved.

Dan Betzer: Why should we be able to hear the gospel over and over again when there are people who have not heard it once?

–He sent the people away so He and His disciples could go to the other side. An urgent mission.

2. Jesus never promised us that the process of getting to the other side would be easy.

–The boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Maybe as you try to support missions, your sea is rocking and rolling. That does not change the mission.

–Why is it, so often, that when we decide to do the right thing that there is adversity? The devil hates souls.

–Jesus made His disciples get in the boat to go to the other side and now they are in the middle of a storm.  Must not have heard from God...having all this trouble. Remember he is the father of lies.

–Listen to what God says about Israel crossing the Red Sea on dry land:

Isaiah 43:15‑19 (NKJV) 

15 I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King." 

16 Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 

17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): 

18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 

19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 

–He is the God who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters...a road in the wilderness ...rivers in the desert...if He says Go...He will make a way.

–If He lays on your heart to help Life Church to be able to send almost 196 missionaries all around the world...He will make a way in your financial storm.

–If we do that, Pastor Rick, we will surely drown...So I guess you are saying that God cannot keep His Word ...He will make a way in the sea and in the mighty storm.

–If Jesus said we are getting in the boat and going to the other side...we will get there...The people...the souls on the other side are of such value to Jesus...He will make a way. 

3. Jesus promises to go with us when He sends us to the other side.

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

–What makes ministry and missions possible is knowing that Jesus will be with us. He has promised that Holy Spirit will give us power to be witnesses.

Matthew 28:18‑20 (NLT) 

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

–Jesus is with us always...He has all authority in heaven and on earth. He has told us to go or help people go to the other side to do what...make disciples, baptize them, and to teach them to obey His commands.

--This is what missions is all about. His power and authority is evident by how He walks on the very things which cause us fear...the storms of life.

4. Jesus commands Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water to Him.

–How do you know He commanded Peter to walk on water?  Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." He said, Come!

–Too funny...Jesus tells the disciples to get in the boat and now He tells Peter to get out and walk...The purpose of this is to let us know we must obey on the way to the other side

–Maybe you cannot see any way that you can pay your tithes (10% of your income) and to give to missions also...I strongly encourage you to obey what Jesus commands you.

–Maybe this coming week you should have the faith of the apostle Peter...Lord command me to Come to you...command me what to do about paying my tithes and missions. Faith Promises!

–I cannot re-iterate to you enough how blessed you will be if you joyfully obey whatever Jesus asked you to do in your heart or thru His Word. Or by listening to your pastor. God gave me a mandate when I came here.

–What if we obey and we begin to sink...The same thing will happen to you that happened to Peter.

Matthew 14:30‑33 (NKJV) 

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." 

–You cry out: Lord, save me!  Jesus will reach out His hand and catch you. When He does you will worship Him and say:  "Truly You are the Son of God." 

Malachi 3:10 (NIV) 

10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 

5. Jesus sent them to the other side so they could witness a great revival.

Mark 6:53‑56 (NKJV) 

53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. 

54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, 

55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. 

56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. 

–When they have crossed over...Yippee!  Mission accomplished...well not completely.

–You see when we give to Missions...it is the front side of the miracle...we provide for those getting in the boat to physically go to the other side.

–You see, our A/G missionaries and others travel from church to church sharing their call to some land and they ask churches like Life Church to support them on a monthly basis.

–When they have enough churches supporting them they get in the boat (plane) and go to the other side...Many of them face great difficulty getting where God calls them.

–They persevere because the God Who says “Come” also says “Go”. You could literally help a missionary fulfill God’s call and also fulfill God’s plan to reach the lost.

–When the disciples (along with Jesus) come out of the boat...revival broke out! I am of the opinion as the people of Life Church get out of the boat...the same will happen.

–This is what we call “Good News!” Such good news that the people began to run thru the whole surrounding region bringing to Jesus those who were sick.

Mark 6:56 (NKJV)

56 Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or in the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well. 

–We declare revival is coming!  We declare revival is coming!

–All we need are some folks to get in the boat (catch the vision of Jesus, the church, and missions), endure some hardships and sacrifice, and then get out of the boat on the other side...reaching the lost.

–Find your purpose: Get out of the boat...fill out a faith promise next week (100%), fill out a ministry form, get connected to the body of Christ, and walk on the water for someone else’s soul!

--Covington Youth missions trip to Mexico.…making our way to the base of the mountain.