Pentecost 12 (4)

Matthew 14:22–36 (NIV84)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

What does it mean to “Step out on faith.”? It means to do something (usually new for you) that you haven’t done before trusting that God will be with you as you begin a new experience.

For some people it is a bold expression of confidence and trust that success and positive experiences will occur.

For others there may be a certain amount of apprehension.

For others they are almost paralyzed with fear of what might go wrong but are convinced that they must do it anyway because the current situation is intolerable and perhaps even quite dangerous.

In most cases it involves leaving your “comfort zone”.

Examples

Back to school (for students and teachers and even parents)

Starting a new job.

Beginning a new hobby or activity.

Making a new major purchase.

Moving to a new location.

Dating someone new.

Trying a new hairstyle, clothing fashion, sitting in a different location in church.

When good or bad change happens in your life, you’ll need to make an adjustment. Using healthy adjustment methods will help prevent negative effects on your mental health.

Change and Your Mental Health

Your outlook on the world affects how you deal with new situations. If you generally have a negative outlook on life, major changes may worsen these feelings. Negative thoughts and feelings can lead to greater stress.

Even positive change can be upsetting to some. This is because a once-comfortable way of life will soon look different. You’re put out of your comfort zone, which makes it harder to deal with change.

When stress becomes overwhelming, it can hurt your mental health. Unhealthy coping mechanisms and a negative mindset can make dealing with change feel impossible. Stress caused by change may have many physical and mental symptoms that can hurt your overall well-being if you aren’t able to manage them in a positive way, such as:

Headaches

Trouble sleeping or insomnia

Digestive problems and stomachaches

Muscle tension and backaches

High blood pressure and heart problems

Depression or anxiety

Irritability

Eating too much or too little

Alcohol or drug abuse

Something called uncertainty bias impacts how you deal with change too. When a major life change happens, your brain automatically sees it as negative. This can influence your decision-making process and increase feelings of anxiety and depression.

Five years ago you asked me to consider making a major change in my own life by calling me to be your pastor. You asked me to make changes I had not considered for almost 20 years. In several years my age will force me to make even more dramatic changes which many of you have already made as I transition from full time work to possibly part time or even full retirement.

As noted above, any change can and will impact a person’s life. Especially if it is long term but it can even apply to short term. So how do you approach change?

Use of reviews.

Comparison to similar experiences.

Promised results.

Logical conclusions.

The reason I want to speak on this today is because the event of Jesus’ walking on the water can help us when we are asked to step out on faith. Although this is not the main point of the story (Jesus’ power as the Son of God and his reassuring work is), when Peter stepped out of the boat and what subsequently happened can be used as an example of how to step out on faith. The difference between what Peter did and what we may at times consider is that we have more time and give more thought to stepping out on faith. Bold, rash, impetuous Peter basically acted rashly and literally just jumped out of the boat. But his willingness to take a chance in faith can be instructive to us.

This event takes place in a familiar place. The Sea of Galilee.

Matthew tells us that Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side while he dismissed the crowd. This takes place right after the feeding of the 5000. Although Matthew does not mention it, John goes into great detail that Jesus was being implored to make a major change in his ministry. The crowds who had been fed miraculously were trying to make him king by force because they saw him as a provider at no cost. (People will often elect someone who promised government handouts . . . )Jesus would have none of it and he strongly called for commitment but the majority of the people were reluctant to step out on faith and left him.

As often happens on the Sea of Galilee, the weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed . . . PAUSE. Storms at sea are dangerous. In the popular TV sitcom from the 1960’s it caused the shipwreck of the SS Minnow and seven passengers being stranded on an uncharted desert isle. On the Sea of Galilee, even experienced fishermen were in danger of sinking and most likely drowning because they didn’t have life jackets and a rescue team to find them.

We aren’t told that the disciples were in danger of sinking, but the weather was against them.

Aside: at this point one may comment on the “storms of life” and how we face difficult situations but I want to emphasize stepping out on faith and time is of the essence.

During the fourth watch of the night (between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM), a well known miracle happened. Jesus walked out to them on the water. Not something to be expected so the disciples tried to interpret it in a logical way. Humans of flesh and blood cannot walk on water, but a ghost would be able to do so. So they assumed it was a ghost which made sense but was also frightening.

Aside: Their assumption (although wrong) does not prove that there are ghosts but it does indicate that people in biblical times believed there were ghosts even as many people today may believe there are ghosts but does not prove one way or the other that they are real. Sorry, Casper.

In this case, it was not a ghost. Jesus reassured them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

One of the many, many times when fearful people are encouraged by God or one of his angels to not be afraid. Why not? Because if God is for us, who can be against us?

At this point, bold, impetuous, rash Peter is willing to step out on faith. He seems to relish going “where angels fear to tread.” He was willing to “boldly do what no man had done before”.

The world needs people like that. (Examples of great advances because people were willing to do something never done before.)

Advancement in culinary delights.

Inventions (mechanical, electronic)

Exploration

Medicine

Entertainment

You man manage perhaps even thrive without advancement but would you rather row across a lake or use a pontoon boat to get from one side to the other. We don’t spend a lot of time on the lake but we have noticed a lot more pontoon and speed boats than people kayaking or paddle boarding.

Peter was not reluctant to try something new.

But he was apprehensive and did show doubt. This was demonstrated by at first being able to walk on water but then giving in to doubt and beginning to sink.

Lesson: At times we may choose or are required to step out on faith.

We will experience a combination of trust and doubt.

Our God reassures us in many cases that he will be with us. (But not all.)

Isaiah 43:1–3 (NIV)

1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

“Do not tempt the Lord your God.”

Psalm 91:9–13 (NIV)

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

Common sense and experience should tell us whether an action we are considering is with the bounds of God’s promise to protect and foolish risks. But in some cases the courage to go outside of our comfort zone is rewarded when we combine courage with faith in an all powerful God.

“Trust in the Lord.”

Rely on our God when he has given us sure promises that he will be with us and protect us.

One of the greatest fears people have is public speaking — revealing what we really believe. God commands us to be open and honest about what we believe from the Bible and promises to be with those who are his witnesses which will often mean stepping out in faith.

Peter is a classic example on one who would boldly proclaim that he would never disown Jesus but when put to the test, he floundered, even failed. But after Jesus restored him, Peter was the lead witness of the original twelve disciples and demonstrated not only his own courage to step out in faith but teaches us to do the same when he writes, “Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that you have. “ Amen.