Story of Jesus on the water
Matthew 14:22-34 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.
When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.
"It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.
But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."
"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. Everybody remembers one thing from this story: Peter sank.
The implied message is therefore,
Don't try to walk on water, or anything else that might be construed as foolish or courageous.
Play it safe.
Stay in the boat.
That is not the message here!
Jesus said to Peter, "Come."
How amazing!
Does Jesus really expect us to do what He did?
Even if we did, it would be by His power, and by always keeping our eyes on Him.
We have not power of our own, and whatever we do, we do by His strength.
Therefore, the message of this story is "Walk on water!"
Whatever you might think is impossible, Jesus is likely to encourage you to try it.
Build a church? Save that soul?
Overcome that weakness?
Impossible!
But Jesus says to you, "Come."
Remember, Peter did not always sink
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Here Peter and the others were standing in front of the Supreme Court of their day. They were threatened and they knew they might even die. Yet Peter and the others walked on water that day. They did not look around and grow fearful, but they kept their Lord in their mind, and stopped the mouths of the whole Sanhedren! They walked on water. (and Peter walked on water the rest of his life) And so must we all. The world expects it of us you know. They're treading water and feeling uneasy in the storms of this life, and when they look at us they are looking up at us as we walk on the water, unencumbered by the things of this world that so easily traps them. They expect us to walk like our Master walked. That's why Jesus said, "Come."
WALK ON WATER
All Christians walk on water
I want to prove this by asking a couple of questions.
How many live / work / go to school at this church?
How many live / work / go to school at in the world?
We all live and work in the world.
And to live and work in the world and still be Christians we must perform miracles as great as walking on the water.
I know tomorrow is Monday, and I will have to perform three miracles before that day is done.
I don't know how I am going to do it, but with Jesus' help, I will.
So will you. You know what I'm talking about don't you? (We are in the world but we are not of the world).
Jesus was the only one who kept dry walking on the water.
Only the bottoms of His sandals were wet, and maybe not even those.
Sin had nothing in Him. Satan was coming for Him, but Jesus said he had nothing on Him.
Why?
Only He was able to overcome Sin.
How about us? (we sin) Like Peter, we are likely to get wet. Thats OK, because Jesus has us covered.
He is strong to save us, and as long as we don't pretend we are dry, He is faithful and just to cleanse us from all sin and unrighteousness!
We will be dry and not spotted with sin when we get to our port, Heaven.
He is the Captain of the boat. He will get us all to the other side.
How do we walk on water?
We keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Don't try to play in the water. Don't go out into the world and dabble in it.
Stay away from the things of the world that will stain you.
Don't be a fish.
There are a lot of attractions down there in the water.
There's a whole playground of sports and games and televsion and shopping and materialism and sexy, enticing things.
You left that behind when you got into the boat.
Remember that.
(You been cleansed by His blood).
The church is our boat. Heaven is our port.
Many duties in the Lord's Navy (This part of the church building is the Nave. (auditorium)
This is the word we get our Navy from).
Rowers Deacons, ministers, workers, helpers.
People who put their back into getting done whatever needs to be done.
Each using their own talent and abilities that God gave them.
Sail trimers Elders
Steerman Preacher (he is the rowing drummer)
Bailers people who keep sin out of church
Rear Admirals useless and in the way (their bad orders)
Passengers complainers about the wetness
Rescuers people who pull in drowning souls (all of us)
Church is like a boat in the water
Jesus is the Captain of the boat
Steering into the waves that come upon us (face the issues)
Steering for shore (our goal is heaven)
Everyone working hard
Not much headway (jesus is the one who gets it done)
Off to the right is legalism / fear (elaborate)
Off to the left is liberalism / complacency (elaborate)
Straight ahead is heaven