The Winning Mindset Series, Sermon 1: Yes, I Can - You Are Not In It Alone (Matt 14 Jesus Walking on Water)

Jesus sent the disciples away in a boat. After dismissing the crowd… He went up into the hills alone to pray Yes, I Can - You Are Not In It Alone (Matt 14 Jesus Walking on Water)

Matthew 14:25–31(KJV) 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? 

Today we start a new series entitled, SLIDE 1, THE WINNING MINDSET; I CAN, I WILL, I DID!!!* Today’s sermon is entitled, SLIDE 2, YES, I CAN - YOU ARE NOT IN IT ALONE!!!

When we are seeking to change our lives or to improve certain areas of our lives, we are going to need the faith to believe that we can change it. And one of the frameworks in the Bible is faith. While much can be said about faith from the Bible, for my purpose of reaching BELIEVERS, unbelievers and the unchurched, two tasks are important to remember:

The first one is the False or Fuzzy Views of God: All too often people think of God as distant, out there, especially those influenced by a New Age philosophy. So, people need to have a more intimate sense of who God is, which is why the Father sent His son, Emmanuel, God with us. So, preaching the good news about Jesus really helps our culture to reconsider Him.

The second is addressing False Views of What God Promises: People have struggled with why God allows people to suffer if He is such a loving God. In this text Jesus allows the disciples to suffer through a terrible storm but then coming to them. The disciples were never so far out, that Jesus didn’t know where they were. *

My goal of this message is to move you from fear and worry about yourself and your ability to handle the uncertainties of life to trusting first and foremost that you are not in it alone. That there is a God who will come to you in unexpected ways.

We will address self-doubt by refocusing our thoughts from our weaknesses and negative self-talk to our giftings. I start right now by inviting you to put your trust in God.

But for some this is a problem, because they heard sermon after sermon about miracles, about God having a plan and making a promise to help us. But they are still struggling.

So, this message addresses this skepticism about miracles and God’s plan by focusing on our tendency to put too much faith in what we think we see. This message is casting doubts on our too-easy-confidence in our own beliefs. Our own thoughts. It will show you that what you think you see can be wrong.

If you are listening to this message, you have not lost hope. But you have to have the winning mindset to live in victory.

The key point here is that, is not for me to convince you of the existence of miracles. It is to press the Truth that God exists, God has promised to help us, and that He will help us in ways we least expect, and we can say “I Can” because God has said “I will!”

SLIDE 3. BUT Why do We Doubt ourselves? SLIDE 4. Doubt comes in when our problems seam bigger than our strengths.

Matthew 14:22 -24(KJV)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.

Jesus sent the disciples away in a boat. After dismissing the crowd… He went up into the hills alone to pray. But while in the boat on the sea, the disciples soon found themselves battling a storm. And being battered by the waves and the wind. Have you ever been battered?

SLIDE 5. •Battered in childhood? •Battered by school? •Battered in marriage? •Battered at work? Battered by illness?

SLIDE 6. Our Past Traumas and. Our Setbacks Make Us Say, “I Can’t”. The disciples were in this storm far from land. Have you ever found yourself in a storm far from land?

SLIDE 7. •Far from a loving mother or father? •Far from good teachers? •Far from marriage help? •Far from career help? •Far from a medical solution?

SLIDE 8. When We Don’t See Real Help, It Can Make Us Say. "I Can’t”. The waves and the wind were against the disciples. And at times it seems that, •Your family is against you? •Teachers against you? •Spouse or partner against you? •Employers against you? •Your own body or mind against you? When We. Only See. Obstacles. It Can Make Us Say. “I Can’t”. Doubt comes in when our problems seam bigger than our strengths. SLIDE 9. Time For a Paradigm Shift! The Problem Is What You Think You See!

Matthew 14:25 - 26 Now 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.

What do you think that you see in your life? Do you see yourself failing or winning? Do you see obstacles or opportunities? Do you see, I CAN or I CAN’T?

SLIDE 10. There’s good news for you today, YOU CAN because GOD WILL HELP!

Matthew 14:27 - 30 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!" 

Jesus told the disciples don’t be afraid it’s me. SLIDE 11. And bold Peter said Lord if it is you let me come to you on the water.

SLIDE 12. But when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink and he cried, “Lord, save me!” SLIDE 13. What You See Determines What You Are Able to Do! You got to see it before you get it!!!*

SLIDE 14. Verse 31. And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 

SLIDE 15. When the road gets hard and everything is against you. And you think you can’t go on. SLIDE 16. You are not alone. God will be your strength and your unseen help.

SLIDE 17. When You’re Trying To Break Through To New Opportunities. But There Are Barriers In Your Way...

SLIDE 18. YOU ARE NOT ALONE! God Can Open Doors You Cannot Open!

SLIDE 19. Isaiah 15:19 “When the enemy comes in like a flood, there’re coming To Destroy Everything You Have…

SLIDE 20. God said…I will raise up a standard against them.” God Will Get in the battle with you! In fact, he’ll fight the battle for you!

SLIDE 21. You are NOT Alone! You Are NEVER Alone! Jesue said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Hebrews 13:5)

SLIDE 22. YOUR MOMENT OF TRUTH. Will You Believe “Yes I Can”?

SLIDE 23. Anything is Possible. Step Out of Your Boat! Philippians 4:13 “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ, who strengthens me”

You must have the winning mindset. I CAN. I WILL. I DID! YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Will somebody shout, YES I CAN! (3X)