Stepping Out

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.”

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

(NLT) — 22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples

were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.

they were fighting heavy waves.

25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When

the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In

their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

“You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. I am Peter. And so are you. I don’t know of a single Christian who can’t identify at some points with Peter. I don’t know of a single one of us who can’t identify with guilt.

I am Peter. And so are you. I don’t know of a single Christian who can’t identify at some points with Peter. I don’t know of a single one of us who can’t identify with guilt.

We struggle with guilt resulting from

the frequency of sin (“I just can’t seem to stop doing it!”),

the effects of sin (“I hurt so-and-so so badly!”), and

the seriousness of sin (“what I did was so bad!”).

And yet, while we classify sins and rank them (everyone has a different ranking; in fact, while Americans might have a particular ranking, and American Christians might have another), likely there are others in other parts of the world who would rank them differently. Further, are our “rankings” Biblical? And can sin be easily categorized? Our Catholic friends divide sins into “mortal” and “venial”; that’s not a Biblical categorization.

Adultery. Lying, Stealing, Prostitution. “Biggies”.

Homosexuality. Drunkenness. Adultery. Lying. Stealing. Doing drugs. Prostitution. “Biggies”.

Gossip. Pride. Gluttony. “white lie”. Materialism. A critical, judgmental spirit. Oh, these are faults, to be sure, but really, everybody does it, don’t they?

judging at tax time? “Well, Uncle Sam takes too big a bite, you know!”

stinginess? “Hey, if I stick it in the plate, or give to charity, well, I’ll have to do without!”

prejudice? “All these people are going to ruin our country!”

the feeling of satisfaction you get when an enemy suffers? “Well, he got what he had coming to him!” Where would I be if I “got what was coming to me”?

Remember, Jesus was the friend of sinners. The drunks and the tax collectors and the whores were glad to see Him. His condemnation He saved for the better-than-thou, snide-remarking, down-the-nose-looking Pharisees. Do you look at Peter as though his sin is one you would not have committed had you been in his place? How self-deceived can you be?

Peter was oftentimes outspoken and yes, sometimes his mouth got him into trouble.

On this occasion, though, his mouth opened up the door to an opportunity to reveal the strength of his faith.

Although we like making fun of Peter and some of the things that he said, all of us would have to admit that Peter did something that none of us have been able to do-Peter walked on the water.

What about you today, are you strong enough in your faith that you would attempt to do something that defies explanation and something that would set you apart as truly dedicated to Jesus?

What can we learn as Peter walked upon the water?

1. We face fear and receive the invitation of faith.

While all of the other disciples were too afraid to challenge their faith, Peter said that if truly who they saw was Jesus, He should bid him to come to Him walking on the water.

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come

to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

Without hesitation, Jesus invites him to Come.

Without hesitation, Jesus invites him to Come.

Although we would think that like the others Peter would be too afraid, Peter would not chance failure and would be like the others, simply terrified, yet Peter accepted the invitation of Jesus and he proceeded to go to Jesus.

Our faith opens up doors of opportunity, but this opportunity comes with challenges and testing.

Our faith opens up doors of opportunity, but this opportunity comes with challenges and testing.

Before Peter's faith could be shown, he would have to demonstrate that faith, which means, he would have to get out of the boat.

What about you and your faith? Would you have enough faith in Jesus Christ that you would come to Him?

See, it is easy to criticize the actions of others, but when it is your turn to either prove the strength of your faith or fail trying, what do you do?

As I have already shared, at least one thing can be said about Peter, HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT! That is, you cannot deny that his heart was in the right place, and he certainly showed courage in coming to Jesus upon the sea.

3. We learn there are adversaries to our faith.

I realize that many of us find it hard giving Peter any type of high five or kudos, but Peter showed remarkable faith in coming to Jesus, but Peter was also a mere mortal man.

Peter showed courage, he showed faith, but he also showed that each and every day we battle adversaries to our faith.

The adversaries to our faith are temptation, grief, and fear.

The remarkable thing that Peter does is he calls upon Jesus for help before taking action and after taking action when he started to sink due to his own fear and doubt.

If there is but one thing you get from this message, it should be that you should never give up on Jesus, call upon Him before you try anything else.

When Peter called upon Jesus, it is Jesus Who reached down into the water and pulled Peter back to the surface and led him to the boat.

Truly the resource of faith is in Jesus Christ, and also we should count on His power to deliver us from all problems and issues.

As Peter is led back to the boat by Jesus, note that Jesus says to Peter, 'why did you doubt? What really happened that day is Peter was defeated by the adversaries to his faith, but when He called upon Jesus, he was able to overcome these adversaries and show that Jesus is the reason for each and every day. Will you trust in Jesus for help?

2. Go ahead and ask,closely.

(NLT) — 7 But if you remain in me and my words

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come

(NLT) — 7 But if you remain in me and my words

to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

(NLT) — 7 But if you remain in me and my words

remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be

granted!

2. Remain faithful and seek His help consistently

30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was

terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted

Warning!!! don’t doubt what you already have proof of

(NLT) — 28 Have you never heard? Have you

never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of

all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure

the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the weak

and strength to the powerless. 30 Even youths will become weak

and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. 31 But those who

trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings

like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and

not faint.

To develop a daring, bold & audacious faith,

I must not

F orgo

E verything

A nd

R un

I must

OR

F ace

E verything

A nd

R ecover

Faith is fear turned inside out