Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 1

                                                         Courage to Get Out of the Boat - 1

Subject: Finding the Courage to Get Out of the Boat

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, with God’s help, I want to start a series on walking on water...more specifically finding the courage to get out of the boat. To rise up from your situation and go to Jesus.

–It will be a message of trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ no matter what He asks us to do. No matter the storm we find ourselves in. The Bible is full of stories about unforgettable walks...such as:

–God Himself walking in the garden in the cool of the day...what God usually does is to ask someone to walk with Him. God is on mission and looking for someone to join Him.

–There was the walk that Abraham took with his son Isaac on the road to Moriah to sacrifice him to the Lord. This had to be one of the most difficult walks ever. 

–There was Joshua’s walk around Jericho where the walls fell before them. Sometimes the walks God sends us on can seem to be foolish in our own eyes. 

–There was Paul’s walk on the road to Damascus where he had a bright light (the presence of God) shown all around him…he had a confrontation with Christ...Who are you, Lord? That’s funny!

–There was the sad and holy walk that Jesus made from the Praetorium to Golgotha called the Via Dolorosa–the way of great sorrow. Simon the Cyrene was compelled to walk with Him and to carry the cross. 

–Probably the most remembered walk of all was taken by Peter when he got out of the boat and walked to Jesus...he was walking on water...H2O...a liquid.

–When Peter was walking on water he was walking in the most incredible way…he was doing something that was not possible…except that Jesus was there and told Him to come. 

–This message about Peter walking on water is an invitation to everyone who wants to step out in faith and who wants to experience more of the power and presence of God. To experience miracles. 

–I want walking on water to be a picture of what you could never do without faith in God. To trust Him.

1. There is always the call.

–God asks an ordinary person to engage in an act of extraordinary trust...that of getting out of the boat. Notice God’s call can be heard even in a powerful storm. 

Romans 11:29 (NKJV) 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 

–God’s call for me to preach and my knowledge of my difficulty with speaking. It wasn’t just public speaking ...no one could understand me. Can we trust God knows what He is doing?

–His call on my life became a matter of trust...Could the One calling be trusted to not put me in a situation where I would fail but would be able to accomplish His will for my life. 

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. 

--These verses are so wonderful to quote but imagine them in the situation of Jesus telling you to get out of the boat and to come to Him. Trust you when my understanding of water leaves me with a sinking feeling.

--He will direct your path and sometimes it is in the sea…really makes no sense. Sometimes He makes a road in the sea and sometimes He just says…Walk on the water.

Psalm 77:19 (NCV)
¹⁹  You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters, but your footprints were not seen. 

2. There is always fear.

–God has always had an inextinguishable habit of asking people to do things that are scary to them...walking on water can could be at the top of the list. How many of you have tried? 

–It can be a fear of being inadequate...Moses, “I am slow of speech and slow of tongue”. It may be the fear of failure...the spies saying we cannot take the land because we are like grasshoppers to the people there.

–It may even be an unhealthy fear of God...I knew that you were a hard man, seeking to reap where you have not sown. Fear of how people perceive us. 

2 Tim. 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.

–Trusting God with tithing (giving 10%) and giving to missions...we fear if God can really take care of us and will bless us like we are told. How many of you can testify of His faithfulness?

3. There will always be God’s reassurance. 

–When God asks us to do something we cannot do, like getting out of our boat (our comfort zone), He always promises us His presence. “The Lord is with you, Mighty Warrior!” the angel told Gideon at God’s call.

–God also promises to give whatever gifts are needed to fulfill His call.  “I will teach you to speak and tell you what to say” He said to a stuttering Moses. He told an apprehensive Joshua who was taking over for Moses:

Joshua 1:5 (NKJV) 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 

--When God called me to pastor this church He also promised me help and assurance…allow Holy Spirit to do what He wants to do when He wants to do it. 

4. There is always a decision when God calls.

–Examples like Moses and Gideon are people who said yes to the Lord. Then there are those like the ten spies who say no. Choose this day who you will serve...you must make a decision every day.

Deuteronomy 30:19‑20 (NKJV) 

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 

20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." 

–What has God set before you...you have to make a decision, a choice. Stay in the boat or get out and walk whether it makes sense or not. God has set before something He wants you to do...it will be life.

Luke 11:9-13 (NKJV)
⁹  "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
¹⁰  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
¹¹  If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
¹²  Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
¹³  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

–Just by the mere fact that you do not choose life and good, you have made the decision to choose death and evil. Don’t blame God for your bad choices. 

–Making a decision to follow God will obviously be a little frightening (ok, a lot) but think how exciting it will be. How many of you remember jumping into your dad’s arms or your kids jumping into yours?

–Think about the conversations between Peter and the disciples...what was it like...why did you start sinking ...doubting Thomas...I think it was a floating board going by.

–People who get out of the boat and walk on water never lack for a testimony...they have a story to tell. 

5. There is always a changed life.

–Let’s face it...those who step out of the boat and attempt walking on water do not do it perfectly. We have all made mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. 

–But because they say yes to God when He says “Come” or “Go” they learn and grow even from their failures. They become part of God’s redemptive hand to redeem a fallen world.

Matthew 14:30-31 (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?"

–Those who say “No” are changed also...they become a little harder in their hearts, a little more resistant to His calling, and a little more likely to say “No” the next time.

–Whatever the decision, it always changes a life and it changes the world that life touches.

–Could this event...this stepping out of the boat and onto the water by Peter have been the catalyst for Peter becoming one of the greatest disciples after Jesus’ death? 

–Could you stepping out of your boat be the great and effective door...the extraordinary faithfulness God is looking for...Your walking on water moment?

–One thing is for sure...you will never walk on water if you don’t get out of your boat (your comfort zone).