How to Walk on the Water - Part 2

Text: Matthew 14:22-33 Theme: This is Lesson 2 in this brief series of How to Walk On the Water. We've all heard it before - "People just aren't interested in church these days." We could accept that as the law and gospel and take on a mind-set that says, "Well since that's the case we'll just hold out until Jesus comes," and we could sit here on our blessed assurance and dry up and blow away. SOME ARE DOING THAT VERY THING. But I believe the statistics show us some things we must take into consideration. While church attendance is on the decline in America, interest in the supernatural is at an all time high. This is why you see commercial after commercial for psychics, fortune-tellers, horoscopes, tarot card readers, etc. The reason the world is flocking to these things is because it appears to be supernatural. You see, they've been to our churches and heard us preach & testify about miracles, signs & wonders but they've never witnessed a demonstration of the power. May I add, this is why not just the world but also people of the church are dropping out. There's a lot of talk about walking on the water but no one ever gets out of the boat. INTRODUCTION If there's anything the world & the church wants to see today, it's a demonstration of power. The world doesn't care for the most part if it's a divine demonstration or a demonic demonstration - they just want to see & experience something that transcends the ordinary On the other hand, we the church have no interest in the demonic -- we want to see the glory of God fall -- the real thing. However, much of the church is like Gideon of old in Judges 6:13 when he asked the angel about the miracles, he had been told that his parents saw in earlier days. (Judges 6:13 MV) "And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying. Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us. and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Some have the belief in the church that "the Lord hath forsaken us..." just as Gideon did. But the truth of the matter is, God hasn't forsaken us. We've been content to live without the supernatural. It hasn't bothered us that no one walks on the water. It's seen as a bit of an inconvenience but not as the end of the world. Ladies & gentlemen, I believe many in the church today are asking the same question that the young prophet Elisha asked after watching Elijah be taken up into heaven in II Kings 2:14 (KJV) "And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when lie also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over." But the question I believe God is asking is, "Where are the Elijah's of the Lord God?" Where are the men & women who can make the axe-head swim and cause fire to fail from Heaven? Where are the people who will step out of the boat and walk on the water? A. In Psalms 68:1 we have the passage where that chapter opens with the words (Psalms 68:1 KJV) "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him." Let -- "allow" ALLOW GOD TO ARISE. Some would ask. "Well just who is keeping us from arising?" Who is hindering him from working & ministering in our lives & in our church? Answer: WE ARE! It's not the world or the devil, nor is it the church down the street who doesn't even believe in miracles. It's you & me! B. There's an interesting passage in Matthew 13:58: (Matthew 13:58 KJV) "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief." Dake points out that the reason Jesus did not do many miracles there was not because their unbelief tied the hands of Jesus. Jesus worked miracles in many places where unbelief was rampant. The reason for only a few miracles was because their unbelief kept them from bringing the sick and afflicted to Him for healing & deliverance. Our unbelief keeps us within the confines of the boat (that which is comfortable & familiar). Often people prefer to stay with problems they understand rather than look for solutions they're uncomfortable with. When Jesus invited Peter to come to him by walking on the water, no power or force could stop him -- only his own unbelief. Ladies & gentlemen, when I become willing to believe God & when I get to where the Lord wants me to be, nothing or nobody can keep me from walking on the water. How to walk on the water -- How can I move into the realm of the supernatural? In the first lesson over the past three weeks, we have covered the first four steps. They are: I. You Must Grow Weary of Riding In The Boat. II. Your Desire to Be With Jesus Must Be Greater Than Your Fear Of The Unknown. III. You Must Have A Commitment to Jesus. IV. You Need to Have A Commission From The Lord. Those are the requirements - now let’s look as some of the Rules. V. DON'T LISTEN TO THE BOAT PEOPLE. A. Imagine the conversation of the other disciples in the boat that night. 1. What do you think Thomas was saying? I doubt he was singing that wonderful song Mike Murdock wrote, “You Can Make It…” Personally, I think he was probably singing, “Don't say I didn't warn you." 2. Judas, the money-conscious one was probably saving. "Peter you know our group policy doesn't cover stupid stunts like that. Get yourself back into this boat." 3. His brother Andrew might have been heard to say, "He's always been this way since he was a kid. He's not satisfied to be like the rest of us. He's got to always be showing off" It's Boat Talk! And remember, the folks in this boat weren't a group of Pharisees or Sadducees. These were the most spiritual of the litter. This was the crowd that walked with Jesus & assisted in ministry. B. You don't have to go one of the dives on Amarillo Blvd. to hear boat-talk. Just hang around church & you'll hear plenty. “1. It will never work. 2. We'll never be able to afford that. 3. Dream on -- this church will never get that big. 4. Well, it looks to me like we've signed our death warrant for sure now. I guess you heard they went off and hired a youth pastor.” BOAT TALK! C. It has been proven that for every negative remark a person is told, it takes eleven positive remarks to compensate for the one negative statement. In case you've not already found out, for every one person who will encourage you there will be seven who will talk BOAT TALK. 1. "Boy, I'd sure hate to be in your shoes." 2. "I'm not going to say that it'll flop, but when it does just remember that I told you so." If you are ever going to walk on the water, you cannot afford to listen to the boat talk. D. This would be a good time to drop another nugget of information on the other scale, one that brings balance to what I'm saying. There's a difference between Boat Talk and wise counsel. What many folks foolishly labeled as Boat Talk, because it wasn't what they wanted to hear, was in fact the voice of God speaking, but their mind was closed to anything other than their own selfish will. I am not speaking against wise counsel when I refer to Boat Talk. (Proverbs 11:14 KJV) "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Remember church, Peter had a word from the Lord. He was not jumping out on his own trying to make a name for himself. He had heard from God. When you've heard from God, don't allow the opinions & beliefs of others change your mind about what God has said. E. There are people seated in this service who have witnessed miracles first-hand but if you would have listened to the Boat Talk of those around you, you would have never had your miracle. 1. People told me, "You'll never make it in the ministry. Don't leave college for the pastorate -- you'll be sorry." Some even advised me, "Don't go here or there to minister or pastor.” 2. REMEMBER: IF THE MOON LISTENED TO ALL THE DOGS THAT BARK AT IT, IT WOULD NEVER SHINE. You can't afford to listen to the boat talk if you intend to walk on the water. F. If you're tired of riding in the boat, if your desire to be with Jesus is greater than your fear of the unknown, if you're committed to the Lord, and if you've heard a word from the Lord, my recommendation to you is stop listening to the boat talk and get out of the boat and begin walking in the realm of the supernatural. 1. Alexander Graham Bell's first banker wouldn't loan him a few thousand dollars for his invention to be marketed and he told Mr. Bell, "Get that toy off my desk." 2. The first agent who looked at the movie script for Gone With the Wind told the producer, "It's a flop already. It will never make it." Peter didn't listen to the boat talk. VI. DON'T LISTEN TO THE WIND AND DON'T LOOK AT THE WAVES. (CIRCUMSTANCES) A. If you look at the miracles of the Bible and the miracles of present day there has been, and there will always be present, adverse circumstances. If it's humanly impossible then it's not a miracle. (Matthew 14:30 KJV) “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” B. To direct you away from God's victory the devil will always try to break your focus. Satan's plan for you is to get you focusing on the wind & the waves. God's Plan for you is found in Hebrews 12:2-3. (Hebrews 12:2-3 KJV) “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” There's a great secret in that old chorus we sing that admonishes us to. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” C. Possibly there's someone here who has felt faith diminish and hope disappear as the wind of adversity and the waves of difficulty have beat upon you, and rather than keeping your eyes on the Lord you've allowed your focus to be broken and what has your attention now is the circumstances surrounding you. Financial reversal, Physical sickness, Family Problems, Job Termination, etc... My friend, God hasn't changed! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He's God when interest rates are soaring & He's God during recession & depression. He's God when your company is hiring & He's God when the plant is shutting down. He's God when the Democrats are in office and He's God when the Republicans move into the White House. If you're going to walk on the water, then you must not allow your focus to be drawn to the wind and the waves. D. I've heard people say, "Boy, if a fellow would have been around here in the `60's he could have really made some money. Nowadays it's just about useless." (3 John 1:2 KJV) Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV) But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day'. (Philippians 4:19 KJV) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Ecclesiastes 11:4 KJV) He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.