Get Out of the Boat

Intro: This morning we looked at going Back to Bethel to refresh our hearts and minds of who we are in Christ and hopefully fan the flames of service to the Lord. I wanted to remind you of how you felt when you were first saved and nothing would get in the way of you walking with Jesus. And if you’ve never been to Bethel before, I hope you found Him this morning. I closed the message this morning outlining the way we can all grow healthier spiritually in 2023;

‌Return to Bethel/salvation where it all started. Are you saved?

Put away foreign gods/Christ must be first in our life. Who is your first love?

Purify ourselves/ confess sin. Repent!

Change our garments/habits. Become addicted to Jesus

Follow through/ talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words

The last point is where I want to pick up tonight as we prepare for 2023. We can listen to the preacher, read the Word, pray, talk about what we need to do, but unless we follow through with action, then by February we will be back in the same ole’ storm in the middle of the sea rowing against the storms of life getting nowhere!

We need to “Get Out of the Boat” so we can Walk on Water with Jesus!

Text; Mt. 14:22-33

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.”

Background of the context of this scripture;

Jesus has just performed one of the greatest miracles in His ministry, feeding the 5000 with only five loaves and two fish. Right after Christ had fed the crowd, they wished to take Him by force to make Him King (Jn. 6:15).

John 6:15 NKJV

15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

Christ knew the popular view of Messiahship. The Jews believed the Messiah was to lead Israel in revolt against the Romans, freeing the people and establishing the kingdom of God over all the earth.

‌Unfortunately the disciples were caught up in the excitement as well. So Christ had to send them across the lake and disperse the crowd in order to calm the disciples, and the crowd from making a serious mistake.…

‌If Jesus was made king by the crowd, and not the Cross, He would be just a man with no power over sin and death. Satan himself even offered that to Jesus in the temptation in the wilderness.

Matthew 4:8–10 (NKJV)

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Emotions are a part of a persons life, but emotions are not the root of faith. And too often emotions can blur a persons faith. Storms in life separate emotional high’s from true faith and that is what we see in or text tonight.

1. In the Midst of the Storm; 24-27

These men were on a high after the feeding of the 5000 but they were headed into a storm. Being fishermen and in their element when they were on the lake at night, it was nothing to have a storm come up on the Sea of Galilee. Matter of fact they had been here once before while Jesus was asleep in the bottom of the boat [Mt. 8:23-27], but this time Jesus wasn’t in the boat. This storm was a violent storm that they battled for hours and they were stuck in the middle of the sea.

‌Two things I want you to see in the storm;

‌1. When a storm comes we have a choice to make. We can turn back to where we came from or we can move forward.

‌If we turn back when the storm comes, then we put ourselves in a “seasonal christianity mode”. Spring and summer followed by fall and winter. Then we need a constant rekindling and become stagnant in our faith and lose that desire in Christ! [The disciples continued rowing for 6 hours in the darkness against a contrary wind].

Hebrews 12:3 NKJV

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

2. Remember that Jesus is in the storm with us whether we see Him clearly or not.

‌[25-27] The disciples were physically and mentally drained as they battled the storm. They had been struggling for survival. Finally they see Jesus, but He appears to be a ghost to them. So they have fear until they hear His voice. [Regardless of your storm, health issues, financial, family, job, religious, church, Jesus is there whether you see Him clearly or not. Listen for His voice.]

‌We also need to remember as we battle through the storm. Jesus knows what we’re going through. He is familiar with our weaknesses, and He is working for our good in all things. He is sovereign over our lives and our trials.

Hebrews 2:18 NKJV

18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

There will be storms in 2023, some small but some will be hurricane like storms, keep rowing and remember Jesus is with you!

2. Walking on Water; 28-29

Regardless of what anyone says or thinks about Peter, whether he was showing off, or trying to be better than the other disciples, or he failed, Peter did something that no other human in history did except Jesus, he Walked on Water!

‌Walking on Water is not risk taking but an opportunity to grow in grace! God uses real life challenges/storms to develop our trust in Him.

‌Peter realized it would be safer in the storm with Jesus than to be in the boat without Him.

‌[28] Peter said “command me to come to you on the water”. “Come”

‌Jesus is giving Peter an opportunity of a lifetime, to Walk on Water. And Jesus gives us the same opportunity today.

‌Turn to [Mt. 25:14-30] This parable is given by Jesus for all to understand that He is the Lord of the Gift [salvation/eternal life/opportunity to serve Him].

‌The man travelling to the far country is Jesus.

‌The servants are those He has intrusted with His goods [gospel].

‌The value of the goods are astronomical [1 talent =15 years wages, eternal]

‌These servants were offered the chance of a lifetime. They had daily carried out routine duties of their master. Now in one single act of compassion, their master changes their destinies forever, he calls them to be a part of his life, to take part who he is. And everyone in this parable was given gifts according to their ability in the maters eyes. Everyone was invited to participate.

‌Now, what will we do with the talents/gifts/opportunities given to us? Jesus has bestowed upon all believers the power of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts to use in this life to serve Him. [Song The Commission (Cain), chorus]

Don't forget the things that I taught you I've conquered death and I hold the keys Where I go you will go too, someday But there's much to do here before you leave

Go tell the world about me I was dead but now I live I've gotta go now for a little while But goodbye is not the end‌

We will either increase the kingdom of God by Walking on Water or will we continue to sit in the boat. Two servants were blessed because they took this opportunity given them by their Master and got out of the boat and Walked on Water with Him and they were blessed in the joy of their Lord.

‌The one servant that was judged by the master didn’t do anything bad, he just didn’t do anything at all!! He sat in the boat!

‌We all have a choice to make. We can Walk on Water with Jesus or we can continue to sit in the boat!

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3. Stay Focused; 30-33

Water walking can be scary. Facing the storms of life can be scary. Serving Jesus can be scary. So we have to stay focused on Jesus.

‌Just like Peter, too often we let the circumstances of our storms distract us and take our eyes off Jesus. And when we do, we may sink, but you won’t drown. All we have to do is call out His name and He is there to pick us up when we fall!

Psalm 37:23–24 NKJV

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

Our faith might be little like Peter’s at times, but little faith is better than no faith at all. Little faith moves mountains!

Matthew 17:20 (NKJV)

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

[32-33] Peter’s faith to Walk on Water, even though he sank after a while, changed not only his life but also those who stayed in the boat. They worshiped Jesus!

‌Worship [Voddie Baucham] When the hearts affection and the minds attention is solely focused upon the Person of Jesus Christ! Worship is not rooted in our emotions but is the result of an active faith!

Close;

I want to ask you a question.

‌How did Peter get back into the boat? He either walked back on the water with Jesus or Jesus carried him in His arms!

‌Either way, Peter overcame the storm in Jesus!

‌Jesus has given believers the opportunity of a lifetime, to Walk on Water with Him. The question is, “Are you willing to Get Out of the Boat in 2023?”‌