Go For It

It was a Spring morning in El Paso, Texas when I struck out for the Franklin mountains. With a small backpack, riding my bicycle 10 miles to through the desert. I wanted to climb, camp and explore. I was alone, fearless and foolish. I got there, set up my camp in the desert at the base of a steep outcropping of rock and started upward. I had climbed all through the mountains before with no ropes or gear. I was a 15 year old kid that loved the out of doors, adventure and challenge. On this particular day, I got about 40-50 up the rocks when a slipped and began to tumble down the mountain. As I grasped for something to hold onto the skin came off my fingertips, and I started to pull my arms in and roll, hitting rocks all the way down.

How I survived that fall I’ll know. I had no broken bones, just a lot of scraps, bruises and removed skin but I was alive. I packed up and headed home to get help.

I’ve been a risk taker. I’ve been one to push the limits, partly to prove I could, partly to prove I was worthy of my parent’s approval or praise, partly to feel good about my accomplishments.

When I 18 my desire for adventure, risk taking and what some might call foolishness lead me to the 82nd Airborne, to jump out of perfectly good airplanes.

Risk taking has led to risk managing over the years as I got married, had children. When Gail was pregnant with Emily she informed me that my parachuting days were over. I was in a Pathfinder reserve unit at the time. Pathfinders are the guys that parachute into a enemy occupied drop zone and secure it and set it up for the troop drops. But those days were over.

Risks had to be managed and ultimately avoided. A few years ago I was going to climb a mountain and Gail went online to see how many people die annually on the mountain and then to decide how much life insurance should would need to take out on me. So how about you?

Slide Are you a risk taker, a risk manager, or a risk avoider?

Like me, you may have different level of risk tolerance depending on the season of life and what you have at risk. But the truth is .. We all live with risk.

Over the past two weeks Pastor Brian unpackaged two stories by which faith in God’s provision were essential to experiencing life by God’s hand. We looked at the death of John the Baptist and saw that faith has a cost but it’s not over when we die. Then there was the miracle of multiplying 5 loaves and 2 fish to feed thousands. We saw that in our scarcity, our God can take a little and do a lot. This morning, we are wrapping up chapter 14 with a challenge to go for it. When we are faced with difficulties, tragedy, scarcity, storms and more we are called to trust our Lord. You might be thinking, “Go for what?”

John Piper in his book Risk is Right…

A choice lies before you: Either waste your life or live with risk. Either sit on the sidelines or get in the game. After all, life was no cakewalk for Jesus, and he didn't promise it would be any easier for his followers. We shouldn't be surprised by resistance and persecution. Yet most of us play it safe. We pursue comfort. We spend ourselves to get more stuff. And we prefer to be entertained. We are all tempted by the idea of security, the possibility of a cozy Christianity with no hell at the end. But what kind of life is that really? It's a far cry from adventurous and abundant, from truly rich and really full, and it's certainly not the heights and the depths Jesus calls us to. Risking takes faith! But when Jesus says come, Go for it! Just don't take your eyes off of Him! John Piper, Risk is Right

For many of us, when we when were younger, more adventurous, we probably were less risk averse. I think that men in particular have a gene, a hormone, a bent toward risk. Until there is more at stake than just their lives. Mark Twain wrote …

Slide Most men die at 27, we just bury them at 72. Mark Twain

I think that we live in an age where men have been domesticated. That why books like Wild at Heart by John Eldridge and Raising Modern Day Knights by Robert Lewis have taken a hold in our churches among Christian men. We don’t want to lose that sense of calling to live with a sense of abandon for Jesus.

Slide In all of life’s most challenging moments we have a choice, go for it or play it safe.

Maybe you've noticed that over the years, society has shifted its focus regarding the idea of risk. We have gone from being risk-takers to risk-managers to risk-avoiders. I'm not sure of the reason for the shift—maybe it's due to the fear of getting sued, the fear of getting hurt, or the fear of failure

Something about playing it safe that destroys the opportunity to discover what lies beyond the confines of our safety. Mark Labberton who was the president of Fuller Theological Seminary says,

Slide We will discover things about God and ourselves and our world that we will not know if we decide to live for the sake of safety. Mark Labberton, Fuller Theological Seminary

This life that we are called to live in faith and trust in God is a life defined by our ability and commitment to obedience in our following Jesus. You might say …

Slide Living Life by God’s Hand … Requires that we go for it!

The Bible is filled with amazing stories and teachings about and from the greatest risk-takers in human history. If we learn anything from the people in the Bible, it's not that they played it safe.

· Noah took a risk by building a boat in a rain-deprived desert.

· Abraham took a risk when he left Ur for some unknown place that God would eventually reveal to him when he got there.

· Moses took a risk by approaching Pharaoh numerous times and asking that he release the Israelites.

· Gideon took a risk when he fought the Midianite army of 15,000 soldiers with his puny army of 300 soldiers, clay pots, and torches.

· Esther took a risk by appearing unannounced before King Xerxes, knowing that the penalty was death.

· The apostle Paul took many risks proclaiming the Gospel to an unbelieving audience who at times were hostile toward him.

Time and again in the Gospels, we see examples of people taking risks that are motivated by their faith in Christ. In Matthew 8–9, for instance, we see no fewer than six examples of individuals who took a risk and stepped out in faith: the leper who alone approached Jesus (8:1–4), the centurion with the paralyzed servant (8:5–13), the paralytic and his friends (9:1–8), the ruler whose daughter was ill and the hemorrhaging woman (9:18–26), and the two blind men (9:27–31). In four of the six situations, we are explicitly told that Jesus responded to the individual’s faith—as it was manifested in risk-taking—by granting each what he or she desired.

This morning we are in the end of Matthew 14 with a story of risk taking. To some of you might know the story of Jesus walking on the water, no real risk, He’s God in the flesh. But then there is Peter who takes a risk and tries his hand at water walking only to fail. So let’s dive into this story with a few points along the way.

First …

Slide A Life with God prepares us for life and all its risks!

Life is risky. But we are constantly trying to put it in bubble wrap. There was a time when life was just dangerous. Disease, famine, war, poverty and then modernity, the industrial revolution, modern medicine … all good … then there are seat belts, bicycle helmets, wrist guards. We want our children to not get hurt so we do everything we can to manage and avoid risk! But a life with Jesus is life that freedom not fear, a life relationship and reward in the midst of risk. So our story begins with the end of a great miracle.

Slide Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, Matthew 14:22–23

Jesus is not with the disciples when the

Slide The Unexpected and the Unimaginable create opportunities to go for it!

I think of my own life when I have been most challenged to leave the comfort and safety of the known and go toward the voice of Jesus

Slide … but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. Matthew 14:24

Sometimes we feel like the waves and wind of life is beating us down.

I love this quote by G.K. Chesterton about how we can easily misinterpret inconveniences, problems, risks ……

Slide An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered. G.K. Chesterton

Slide And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25

It was around 3:00 am and the disciples thought they had seen a ghost,

Slide But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:26-27

The Bible tells us to "fear not" or "don't be afraid" 365 times! Now, let's be honest, God shouldn't have to say something 365 times to get through to us. But think about this, we can read a different Bible verse every day...for one whole year...that will remind us that as followers of Jesus Christ we do not have to bow to fear.

Slide Faith always involves risk!

Slide And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29

Peter’s challenge to Jesus was, “If you're not a ghost then tell me to come to you.”

Slide Risking takes faith!

Slide And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6

Slide If you wait for everything to be perfect … you will never go for it!

Slide He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4

Slide I would rather attempt to do something great with my life and fail than attempt to do nothing with my life and succeed.

Slide When you go for it, it will expose your faith!

It is in doing that we discover so much about God and ourselves. Peter discovered that he was easily distracted and discouraged by the wind and the waves and cried.

Slide But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30

You might think that Peter failed but he was the only one to get out the boat. It’s said that

Slide Failure is not the same as being unable to do something. Failure is being unwilling to try.

There are so many places in scripture that we are admonished, commanded to trust God. to Get out of our boat, our safety, our security, and go for it! knowing …

Slide Jesus is with you no matter what happens!

In that moment it when life is the scariest, when you are most vulnerable, when everything seems to be challenging your faith, your belief in God and his promises … in that moment Jesus reaches out and touches us …

Slide Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

So, when Peter begins to sink, Jesus saves him and says, “You have so little faith.”

Why does Jesus rebuke Peter in this way? After all, Peter leaps out of the boat and onto the waves; many of us would be too fearful to do even that much! Shouldn’t Jesus say, “Nice try! You did much better than the other eleven disciples; they just stayed in the boat!”

In fact, the phrase “little faith” is used five times in Matthew (6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20). The thing is, this phrase “little faith” refers to a specific event rather than referring to an ongoing, perpetual problem that could be described as not having the proper amount of faith.

You see, if a person is in a constant state of not trusting Jesus and not wanting to learn more about his ways, this is called “unbelief” in the Bible. However, those persons charged with “little faith” are experiencing a knowledge problem or a trust problem within a certain situation or particular incident.

Slide Little faith is the inability or refusal to see, grasp and use spiritual truth.

Slide But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:30

His doubting was without ground or reason. If he believes at all, why does he doubt? The unbelief which makes faith little is to be confessed as a sin and mourned over as such; it would be wrong to regard it as a mere infirmity and invent excuses for it. Charles Spurgeon

The closer you are the greater the expectation of greater faith

The further you are and you believe that is greater faith.

It is not on about quantity or percentage

Slide Little faith does not mean, no faith!

Sometimes, we are discouraged, disappointed, even distracted … sometimes we forget.

We forget what God has provided for us in the past, we forget the promises he has given to us in the present and we forget who holds the future in His hands, allowing the thought of future potential problems to preoccupy our minds.

Slide When you go for it, and you will discover what you truly believe.

Slide You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life or death to you. C.S. Lewis

· Little faith is saying God's clear promises, can't, won't or don't come true.

· Little faith gives up easily on the things of God.

· Little faith only sees the circumstances and cannot grasp and apply God's truths at the necessary moment.

Slide And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:32–33

Slide Faith-filled Risk taking is putting your faith in Jesus in that moment!

I think, the key lies in faithful risk-taking. It is not risk-taking to which God responds. It is faith. God responds to faith that manifests itself in taking risks and stepping out by trusting Him. If our risk-taking is faith-full, it cannot be foolish—no matter how incredible the risk or unlikely the outcome

Jesus doesn’t just want us to accept the truths about him, but he wants us to grow in our trust that His way and His purpose are exactly what we need, and obviously there is a correlation between how much we trust and our willingness to obey. Thus we can say like those in the Bible, “Increase my faith,” without forfeiting our salvation or questioning if we really believe.

Slide What keeps you where you are

What keeps you where you are? Fear of the unknown, fear of losing it all, fear of discomfort, inconvenience, etc.

Slide Facing our fears requires faith.

It requires us to say to God … there is nothing more important …

Slide For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:25–26

Slide Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20–21

Slide Where there is no risk, there is no faith...and there is no growth.

Great faith sees a Savior whose heart never sleeps. Great faith remembers the words “Peace! Be still!” which have silenced many a fiercer storm. Great faith holds onto the hand that has first grabbed hold of us. Great faith feels the love from which we cannot be separated, even if the waves should drown us.

Slide Let us all go for it and watch our faith grow!

It's time to get uncomfortable!