Fakers or Followers (2)

Fear or Faith

Show of hands - who has watched a movie and found yourself relating to the main character?

Marvel - if had super powers, I would...

Scary movie - I would never...

Lord of the rings - Aragon - the hero

But, then reality sinks in:

Someone says something wrong, or does something wrong but instead of speaking up you stay silent. You don't want to risk a friendship or offending them.

The truth is I wouldn't be any of those heroes - I would be in the background somewhere.

How do I know? If we don't do the little things that scare us, we won’t do the big things that scare us.

We are called to be Fearless - we need Jesus to be Fearless.

That’s what I want us to talk about tonight.

Lets Pray.

We are in a series called Fakers or Followers.

Our goal is to find out how to become a fully devoted follower of Jesus

1 John 4:18–19 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

But fear is one of our greatest obstacles.

Fakers are controlled by fear, Followers are controlled by faith.

Becoming fearless requires faith

Faith - trust based on evidence, that leads to obedience.

Fear or Faith

Christian like starts with a step of faith. I told you all last week I went to college with the goal of disproving Christianity.

I lost purpose direction and joy.

I had to take a step of faith and obedience for Jesus to transform me.

Jesus meets us where we are at but loves us enough not to leave us there.

Tonight we are going to look at Peter who wanted to be a follower but at times was a faker.

CHOOSING FAITH — __________ ____________ — _____________ ____________

Remember last week we saw the invitation of Jesus

Matthew 4:19–20 ESV

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

CHOOSING FAITH — __________ ____________ — _____________ ____________

They Responded by choosing faith - they trusted Jesus

If I am being truthful, there are many who claim Jesus with there words but reject him with there actions.

We tell a story what we want the world to think , but is that truly us?

Every step of faith builds our courage and preps us for the next one

In Matthew 14 we find Peter and the rest of the disciples in boat.

It is dark, it is storming and they are terrified.

Then this happens:

Matthew 14:25–29 ESV

25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 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. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Look at Peter - hey if it is you I should be able to do this also.

He does what only one other has ever done - he walks on the water

Jesus will ask us to do things that are scary, but He gives all we need

How many have been to camp or an event that pumped you up for God, but when you get back you deflate?

Same thing happened to Peter here.

CHOOSING FAITH — FALLING SHORT — _____________ ____________

Matthew 14:30–31 ESV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

He had enough faith to get out but not to keep walking.

He took his eyes off Jesus and fear took control.

We see this again the night Jesus was arrested.

Matthew 26:33–35 ESV

33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

CHOOSING FAITH — FALLING SHORT — _____________ ____________

Peter denied Jesus at his greatest need

But our failure is never the end of the story with Jesus

CHOOSING FAITH — FALLING SHORT — RECEIVING FORGIVENESS

Out of the boat Peter called out

Matthew 14:30–33 ESV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

CHOOSING FAITH — FALLING SHORT — RECEIVING FORGIVENESS

Did you notice it said Jesus was there immediately.

Even after Peter denied Jesus, he went and found him after the resurrection and restored Peter.

Look what Peter became:

Acts 4:10–13 ESV

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Fear or Faith

So what does this all mean?

This is how we become fearless. We choose faith

Do the small thing that scares you

Fear or Faith

What will your small step be?

Because if you don't do the small things that scare you, you wont do the big things that scare you either.

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