Stepping Out of the Boat

Stepping Out of the Boat: nv 7/24/05 p.m. (Matthew 14:22-36)

OS: We live in a “Me” society – one way that works for the Lord’s work – People are not satisfied with where they are.

I.       Too many churches encourage people to move forward but don’t give them an opportunity to move forward.

A.   People have dreams and ministries locked up inside them – not knowing how to go to the next level.

B.    As a church we must learn how to help one another move to that next level. What is it that God wants us to attain?

C.     Book, Dream Releasers – “The richest place on the earth is not the diamond mines of South Africa or the gold caches of Ecuador. It is not the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, or in the uranium excavations of the Balkans. Neither is it in the mineral deposits of the Dead Sea. No, the richest plot of land on this planet is in your very own neighborhood. You might even have passed by it this morning. It’s the cemetery. That’s right! The graveyard is the wealthiest place in all of creation. Beneath those rectangular pieces of sod lie countless unsung melodies and unwritten poems. The grassy plots overflow with brilliant ideas that could have transformed entire communities, rehabilitated the lost and borne hope to the weary. Our burial grounds reek with unattained successes and unrealized dreams.”

D.   These are things that could have been done but couldn’t because people couldn’t bring their dreams to realization.

TS] Text: Matthew 14:22-36

PS: Before we start moving forward we need to discover some things about where we are in our relationship with God.

I.       God has a plan for me. (22)

A.   Disciples had been through the ministry gauntlet, so Jesus gave them direction that they needed.

                      1.       Dealt with the murder of John the Baptist and grieving process.

                      2.       Then they had to deal with feeding 5000 people.

                      3.       Ministry is draining at times. It’s exhausting. Sometimes we run on adrenaline, and when the adrenaline drops so do we.

                      4.       Jesus knew this – they needed some down time. It was come apart before they came apart.

                      5.       He is involved with us in the same way – direction (Phil 2:13)

B.     There was an officer in the navy who had always dreamed of commanding a battleship.  He finally achieved that dream and was given commission of the newest and proudest ship in the fleet. One stormy night, as the ship plowed through the seas, the captain was on duty on the bridge when off to the port he spotted a strange light rapidly closing with his own vessel. Immediately he ordered the signalman to flash the message to the unidentified craft, "Alter your course ten degrees to the south." Only a moment had passed before the reply came: "Alter your course ten degrees to the north." Determined that his ship would take a backseat to no other, the captain snapped out the order to be sent: "Alter course ten degrees--I am the CAPTAIN!"  The response beamed back, "Alter your course ten degrees--I am Seaman Third Class Jones."  Now infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light with his own hands and fired off:  "Alter course, I am a battleship." The reply came back. "Alter your course, I am a lighthouse."

                      1.       God’s plan is the proper course – we must stay in tune…

C.     Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

TS] God has a plan for me.

II.    God sees everything I’m going through. (23)

A.   Don’t you think Jesus knew what was going on?

                      1.       Mark 6:46-48, And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 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.

B.    God know everything going on in your life.

C.     I heard a story the other day of a preacher that was building a church. When the church was almost to the end his administrator and a council member met with him to inform him that they were $25,000.00 short. They would finish the building but would have no money for the carpet, furniture and sound system. The council member (an old crotchety type man) kept saying, “So… what are you going to do?” Finally… after a while the preacher began to feel a little discouraged. He told the two men that he was going to take a short walk. As he began his walk, he noticed that the mail man just delivered the mail. He decided to go pick up the mail. As he pulled the mail out of the mailbox… he noticed that there was an envelop from another congregation about 40 miles away. As he opened it up… he noticed a check from this congregation for $25,000.00 stating that God had put it on their hearts to help with their new building project.

D.   God knows (period)

                      1.       Isaiah 65:24, I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

                      2.       1 Peter 5 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

TS] God has a plan for me, and He knows what I’m going through…

III. God’s help is always right on time. (26-27)

A.   Ask yourself this question… Why does God sometimes delay? Why did Jesus take so long to get to them?

                      1.       The answer is this… If God delays… He’s got a good reason.

                      2.       Do you remember the story of Lazarus in John 11? Jesus waited two more days after hearing about the death of Lazarus. Why did He wait? His delay was so that God would be glorified.

                      3.       Often… we don’t understand God’s delays but God always has a reason.

B.    Joseph was promised that he would someday be great and that his brothers would bow down to him. 16 years later he finds himself in a prison and no closer to his dream.

                      1.       If God delays it is because He wants to reveal His character to us.

                      2.       The whole time Joseph was in prison… God was building character inside him. His time in prison was not in vain.

TS] God Has A Plan For Me And Its Good! God sees everything I’m going through. God’s help is always on time.

IV.  God’s purpose is always for our growth (28-29)

A.   Consider Peter

                      1.       God wanted Peter to let go of his security blanket and trust him.

                      2.       How many of us hold on to things from the past?

B.    God allows hardship to prepare us to minister.

                      1.       2 Corinthians 1 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

                      2.       I must step out of the boat in faith if I intend to go to the next level.

C.   Notice, only Peter stepped out.

                      1.       When he took his eyes off Jesus he sank.

TS] God Has A Plan For Me And Its Good! God sees everything I’m going through. God’s help is always on time. God’s Purpose Is Always For Our Growth.

V.     God’s Word Never fails (34)

A.   They arrived just where Jesus intended for them in the first place.

B.    Jeremiah 33 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’