Step up, mess up, re up

Have you ever known someone who wants to be the first at everything?

Standing in line at school

First in the lunch room

I knew someone who wanted to be first at everything.....literally everything

I imagine this is how Peter was.

Peter was a fisherman, so i imagined he wanted to be first to the docks in the morning

I’m sure he cut in line to be first when he was selling his fish

I’m sure he’d push ahead of the other disciples to be closer to Jesus (Who wouldn’t, though)

Peter had this mentality of “go go go”

He was the first to do a lot of things

Think about his life and look at all the firsts he got into:

· One of the first to follow Jesus

o When he first heard John the Baptist proclaim who Jesus was, he was one of the first, even of the 12, to follow Jesus.

· The first to step out of the boat

o Which we will dive into in a second.

· The first to declare Jesus as the Messiah

o Out of everyone who followed Jesus, he was the first. He also was the first to be called Satan by Jesus but that’s another story.

· The first to follow Jesus after Jesus got arrested

· The first to cut off an ear

· The first to speak without thinking (Mark 8:32)

-He rebuked Jesus. He told Jesus he was wrong. Yikes.

Imagine if we were to live our lives like Peter…Peter had a truly incredible first. He got out of the boat! That’s where we’re going to be tonight.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

English Standard Version Chapter 14

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 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. 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.”

He Brought Me Here

This story happens right after the feeding of the 5000

Jesus is dismissing the crowds because they were trying to make Jesus King ()

Jesus was sending the disciples away because he knew if they stayed, they probably would’ve encouraged the crowds and fallen into their plan.

Jesus sent the disciples to a boat....he knew they were going to be in for a hard night on the sea.

The disciples were in a God-given storm just like we are sometimes.

They obeyed to the letter, and they were still in a storm.

Sometimes we’re in a storm, even though we obeyed to the letter

Jonah was in a storm because he didn’t obey

Have you ever done the right thing and it caused hardship in your life?

When i was in middle school, we had a sub. I didn’t talk, but my whole class got sent to the office.

We need to realize that God calls storms into our lives to teach us something. Whether to show us we are depending on ourselves, or we need to depend more on God.

He is Praying for me

this entire scene is a picture of the church today.

God’s people are on the sea, in the midst of a storm.

Jesus is in heaven making intercession for us ()

He knew the Disciples were in trouble ()

Just as He knew they needed help, so he knows we need helps.

He knows exactly what we are going through ()

Imagine if Jesus were in the next room praying for you, wouldn’t that strengthen you and make you more courageous?

It’s better than in the next room....he never leaves you or forsakes you

He will come to me

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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.”

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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.”

Often we feel like Jesus has deserted us when we’re going through storms

David often complained about this in the Psalms

Yet he knew God would ultimately rescue him

Jesus Always comes in the storms of life (—When you pass through the waters I will be with you)

He may not come when we expect him to, but he always comes

He waited until the ship was as far from land as possible

Possibly to extinguish all human hope

Why did Jesus walk on water?

TO show His disciples the very thing they feared was only a staircase to Him to come to them.

Why did they not recognize him?

Because they were not looking for him

Fear and faith cannot live in the same place

Don’t be so blinded by fear that you are blinded to thing or person that God may use to save you in your storm.

He Will Help Me Grow

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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. 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?

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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

The whole purpose of this storm was to help the disciples grow

Jesus would leave them one day and they’d have to survive on their own

Jesus told Peter to come

It would’ve been easy to stay in the boat

Peter dared to be different (just like he was always doing)

It takes a person of real faith to leave the boat and walk on the water

Has God ever asked you to do something that scared you? God asks me to do things that scare me all the time…Be a teacher…do GNC....Be a youth Pastor.....Witnessing a drug deal on Monroe Avenue.

Peter was called to do something scary and he did it

But then he began to sink

Why did he sink?

Jesus said he doubted

This word doubt can be translated “standing uncertainly at two ways”

Peter saw 2 ways instead of one…God is the only way

Peter knew he was sinking and cried out to the Lord

Do we cry out to the Lord when we’re sinking or when we’re drowning?

This was a hard test for Peter, but it taught him a lot

FAITH IS NOT BELIEVING IN SPITE OF EVIDENCE....IT IS OBEYING IN SPITE OF CONSEQUENCE

Have you stepped up? Are you willing to get out of the boat? Or are you too afraid to mess up?

Garrett Ranson…Not stepping up…running away

He will see me through

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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.”

English Standard Version Chapter 14

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.”

If Jesus says, “Come” then that word is going to accomplish its intended purpose.

Whatever Jesus starts He is going to complete

Jesus picked up peter and they walked together to the boat

When Jesus got back the storm stopped

Jesus is totally capable of calming the storms in our lives

When He calms those storms He is worthy of being praised…not us

We need to remember to give God all the glory

Conclusion

Why are we not getting out of the boat?

Complacency --This is being okay with status quo; being fine with the way things are.

Comfort—We spend too much time thinking about our comfort

I love being comfortable

I love going on vacation and laying down

I love wearing sweatpants, a long sleeve tshirt, and my robe and sitting on my comfy couch and watching tv

Why are we so scared of getting out of the boat?

Because getting out of the boat and standing for what is right is uncomfortable

We care more about what people think about us than what Jesus wants to do through us.

What if someone’s eternity, or even their present, could change on the other end of an awkward conversation?

So the big question is, why step out? Why take that chance?

We could affect change in our area if we’re willing to step out

1 Peter 4:12–19 ESV

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Where are you right now? Are you getting out of the boat?

Are you stepping up?