From Faith Unto Faith

King James Version (Matthew 14:22-31)

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

King James Version (Hebrews 12:1-2)

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

1. The Christian walk is a walk of faith!

King James Version (Romans 1:16-17)

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

King James Version Chapter 6

12 jFight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life,

King James Version Chapter 6

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

King James Version Chapter 2

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

A lot of people don’t step into this faith because they expect God to do this and this and this.

The Jews.

No sign shall be given.

There are signs and wonders but God doesnt have to do anything! He’s done enough!

I said all of that to say this.

2. Many people never get to experience what God has for them because they are not willing to step away from what they are used too and realize that this walk is a faith walk.

Our text speaks to this.

King James Version Chapter 14

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

i. The environment they are used too.

ii. The thinking they are used too.

iii. The perspective of others that they are used too.

English Standard Version (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

nor the heart of man imagined,

what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

YOU SEE,

3. God calls us to take the step towards Him out of our comfort zone.

i. People have to be willing to step out of the environment that they are used too.

My fear!

ii. People have to be willing to step out of the thinking they are used too.

Out of what is known and out of what we think.

iii. People have to step out of the perspectives of others that they are used too.

You know the issue today and it has been for a long time. People run to whatever they think is right without even a question to as if it is really God or not!

King James Version (Matthew 14:22-29)

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come.

This is not about emotion. This is not about popularity and fame. This is not about the call of God and with the call of God comes conviction and a true drawing.

God calls us to take a step of faith. Some people are like they are waiting for some big bang! I got that but not everyone gets that that way because...

Now here is the thing.

4. This christian walk, this lifestyle, doesnt just start with faith, but it continues with faith and it will also end with faith.

When Peter stepped into the unknown. When Peter begin to do what seemed impossible. The biggest challenge that Peter now had to face was His own faith.

King James Version (Matthew 14:29-30)

And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink,

I am afraid that I am going to drown. But I believe that I can walk on the water.

I am afraid that I am not going to make it because this storm is too strong. But I believe that God is able to carry me through.

Do you see how those two ways of thinking do not go together.

Because you are a Christian does not mean that you will not havew to face storms, etc.

Its still a faith walk. If you want to live this Christian life you need to keep your eyes on Jesus!

This is why people fall away. This is why people give up. Its a faith walk!

King James Version Chapter 14

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Peter never felt the touch of God while He was walking on the water.

He did feel the touch of God when he began to drown!

5. We simply need to put our eyes on Jesus to start and we need to keep our eyes on Jesus with every single step we take!

King James Version (Hebrews 12:1-2)

12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;

King James Version (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.