4 Steps to following Jesus in 2021

Big Idea:

Following Jesus starts with a step in the right direction.

Intro:

Hi Everyone, welcome to Church Online!

Something the Lord put on my heart for our church is the theme of “deeper.” That in 2021, we’d have the courage (another theme on my heart) to go “deeper” into God’s presence.

One of my best friends, the man who discipled me, would often compare Christianity to a beach. He’d mention “Christians loved the beach.” It’s beautiful. The beauty makes us think of God. We lay out our blankets and beach chairs, have a picnic, setup a bonfire, and maybe sing worship songs together.

A few of us might go into the water. Put our feet in - “Oh, it’s cold!” Maybe some go in up to their knees. Maybe their hips. But rarely was anyone in the deep. The deep is scary. You don’t know what’s going to happen out there. The shore is safe and comfortable. It’s where we play and stay.

But in his mind, the “deep” is where the fullness of God is at. Where we surrender control and comfort. Where we can lose ourselves in His presence. If you will, where we can sink deeply into His ocean of goodness and grace. The deep is like what David refers to in ...

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This morning, I’d like to go deeper. One of the difficulties of Sunday morning is it’s not always the ideal place to go deeper. Many times, we use the following Life Groups to do that - to discuss the sermon deeper! But today, I’d like to use our time together to go deeper into what we discussed last week. To just “sit” on the passage a little bit...

Joshua 1:8 ESV

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

I believe there is a huge spiritual benefit to sitting or meditating on Scripture. To go deeper.

Last week we discussed Peter walking on the water. And how this story points to Jesus as our destination! That when we have Jesus as our destination, life is better because we know we’re walking in God’s purposes for our lives. But I’d like to go a little deeper...

And the way I’d like to do that is by looking at this passage very practically. Answering the questions, “How do I make Jesus my destination? Are there steps I can walk in?”

So, to begin, I’d like to share some personal thoughts I had when meditating on this passage, because I believe this passage gives us four practical steps to following Jesus.

Matthew 14:28–29 ESV

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Exegesis:

When I think deeply on this passage, one thought I have is, “Why did Peter make this request?”

Many answer this by quickly pointing out Peter’s impulsiveness. Often, Peter says or does things without thinking. Which gets him into trouble. And I can see that here. Especially since Matthew tells us they were all scared because of their stormy circumstances.

Fear often makes us do and say things that don’t make sense. Asking Jesus to call him out onto the water certainly doesn’t make sense. Especially for a seasoned fisherman.

Remember, Peter grew up on these waters.

He worked this lake.

He probably knew every inch of it.

He was also familiar with how the sea worked.

And He definitely knew people don’t walk on water.

That doesn’t make sense!

Could fear be the reasoning behind this impulsive statement? Sure.

But as I sit on this passage, I sense something greater at work. Let me put it this way:

Everything Peter knew goes against the request he makes. And when it came to being on the water, Peter knew everything.

Yet, there is a “moment,” [say moment] in the middle of a storm, when Peter leaves everything, to go to Jesus.

And can we “sit” on this second thought?

When I say Peter leaves “everything,” at the very least, it means...

Knowledge he was confident about. Again, this guy knew how the sea worked. And yet, he makes a request that goes against his expertise.

He leaves behind his reputation. There were 11 other men in this boat. What would they think about his ridiculous request?

He leaves behind his safety. We can connect this to Peter’s knowledge of the sea. This man knew the dangers of the water. Fast forward a bit to when Peter is sinking and he cries out in fear. Peter knew how to swim! So, why was he afraid? Because this storm was crazy. It wasn’t the type of storm you survive swimming in the water. And yet, Peter still leaves the safety of the boat.

Peter leaves “everything” to go to Jesus. What is it about this “moment” that would cause this? I believe it’s when Peter saw Jesus as his destination. The “holy moment” when Peter saw Jesus as the Son of God. Not only that, but he sensed an opportunity to go deeper - to a place spiritually he had never been before. And this opportunity to step into God’s presence was greater than any risk or anything he’d leave behind!

So, as we take an opportunity to go deeper into this passage and ask “how” can we make Jesus our destination, the first step we see Peter take is to...

Leave and believe!

During the storm, when Jesus comes to them walking on the water, Peter hearsJesus call out, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (v. 27) At this “moment,”I believe Peter began to see Jesus clearly - as the Son of God - as the great “I am.” He was starting to really get it. To BELIEVE Jesus is “Truly the Son of God,” the Savior he’d been waiting for!

And if Jesus is the Son of God, He can do the impossible (as witnessed by Jesus walking on water). Not only that, but God can also call him into the impossible!

All his previous knowledge told him walking on water was impossible. But everything changes when God was with you. Although Jesus’s words, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” describes Peter’s eventual lack of faith, it also emphasizes Peter’s first step as correct! Peter’s first step included believing, “Jesus is God. And nothing is impossible with God!” He left what he personally knew and believed God.

If we want to make Jesus our destination - to walk in His purposes for us, especially in 2021 - we must first “leave and believe.” We must be willing to leave everything we know (even expert knowledge) and believe Jesus is God. And nothing is impossible for God.

Many of us BELIEVE Jesus is God. But it’s the LEAVING -part that LIMITS us. It keeps us stuck or headed in the wrong direction.

Right now, there are things in our life we need to LEAVE behind. Unhealthy habits. Addictions. Relationships. Reputations.

Safety or comfortable living...

...that part of us that says, “I like you God. Thank you for saving me from hell. I appreciate it. But honestly, I like the my current life. It’s comfortable. It’s familiar. It’s safe.”

Or maybe, like Peter, it’s an expertise that fights against our faith.

Let me challenge us: You’ll never get to your destination, if you never leave.

This morning, what is God asking you to leave behind so you can go deeper into the presence of Jesus?

The second step is when Peter says, “Lord if it is you, command me to come to you.” How do we get to God’s destination for our lives? We...

Ask Jesus where to go?

I know, this sounds super simple, but how many of us do it? How many of us take time to ask Jesus questions about what to do next?

While we could go a few different directions with this, let me focus on this: Storms are great times to ask questions.

Think about this: During storms, we slow down.

Now, last week, I mentioned how storms are excellent distractions. However, Storms Seen through the Sovereignty of God can be incredibly PURPOSEFUL! What I mean is, “When we know God is in control, we know God allowed the storm for a purpose - a good purpose.” One purpose being to slow us down, so we take the next right step.

The storm slowed down the disciples. The storm distracted them too! But for a moment - a holy moment - the storm slowed Peter down so he could focus on Jesus. Storms can help us see what’s truly important in life.

2020 was a storm with this potential. 2020 was filled with difficult and tragic circumstances. But it was also a year when...

We focused on the value of local community.

We focused on spending time with our family.

We (the church) focused on loving God and loving people, instead of programs and buildings.

When God’s sovereign storms slow us down, we begin to ask the right questions, because we’re focusing on what’s important. And since 2020’s storm has continued into 2021, now is a great time to ask Jesus the right questions.

...Beginning with: Jesus, what’s my next step so I can walk in my God-given purpose?

And then, while we are slowed down, the third step is to...

Listen for His response:

This is an important step. Because Jesus wants to speak to us.

Jeremiah 33:3 ESV

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

What God says to the prophet, I believe, is in the same spirit of what Jesus says to His disciples...

Matthew 7:7 ESV

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Basically, when we ask God a question, we should listen for His response, because He’s going to answer!

Now, here’s an unexpected encouragement for many of us...

Expecting an answer doesn’t require giant faith!

Sometimes a lack of faith keeps us from asking.

But it also keeps us from listening.

We ask, “Oh God, can you do this?” But deep down we believe, “God’s not going to answer me anyways.” So, we don’t listen for a response because we lack faith. But even if you’re faith is small or weak - LISTEN ANYWAYS!

When God tells Jeremiah the prophet to “call to [Him] and [He] will answer and tell [him] great and hidden things...” Jeremiah was struggling with unbelief.

When Peter asks Jesus to come out onto the water, two phrases reveal Peter’s faith had a measure of doubt:

First off, he says, “if it is you...” That’s a real question. There is a very real sense that Peter wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out.

Secondly, he says, “command me to come.” Peter realized nothing is impossible with God, he fully recognized that his request completely depended on Jesus!

In other words, “If this is going to happen - I have my doubts - it depends on You, Jesus! Because what I’m asking is ridiculous.”

The presence of doubt isn’t a disqualification. The man who asks Jesus to heal his son said, “I believe but help my unbelief!” Jesus still heals the man’s son! It’s just doubt needs to be surrendered to the Savior. And one way we do that is by actively listening and expecting an answer.

When Peter did that, he heard an answer no one expected. Jesus said, “Come.”

How do we make Jesus our destination? How do we walk in His purposes for our lives?

We leave and believe.

We ask Jesus where to go.

Then, we listen for His response.

But there is a fourth, final, and crucial step in our passage...

[We need to ] Take a step of faith.

At some point, if we are going to move towards our destination, we must actually TAKE A STEP! We need to get out of the boat. The only way to “walk” in God’s purposes is to take steps toward Jesus. Walking requires steps.

This can be one of toughest parts because walking toward Jesus requires faith. It requires believing God, even if we don’t understand.

Peter was not an ignorant fisherman. He understood everything about the water. But Jesus was calling Him out onto the water. He had to leave and believe, even if he didn’t understand.

Now, faith isn’t living without knowledge or reason. It doesn’t force us to ignore science. But it does call us to believe God, even when it doesn’t make sense. Even when it seems impossible.

At some point, Peter’s faith required action. He needed to get out of the boat and take a step on the water...

“Ha. Ha. Peter. You’re such a show off. Always running your mouth. Oh Jesus can I walk on water too?!? Big show off. Oh, wait… Peter, what are you doing MAN!?”

Peter didn’t really head towards his destination until he stepped out of the boat...

Sometimes God’s destination for our lives - our path towards Jesus -require us to face the impossible, and still take a STEP of faith. But until then, there’s no movement. Without a step, we’re stuck.

I want to share a big dream I have. Let me preface this with, “I’m typically a small thinker.”

Okay, our vision for The River Church is, “Building communities who love Jesus and bring joy to others.”

I’ve often asked Jesus how to do this. And one dream I’ve had that syncs with that purpose has to do with the Riverfront Music Festival here in Glastonbury.

Most of you know that every summer our town hosts a four-week outdoor music festival on Wednesday nights. It’s one of my favorite things! And I’ve had this dream about adding a fifth night - a “faith and family” night or a “praise and worship” night. Where we’d work with the town to add an additionally night for this purpose. And right here, at Riverfront park, there’d be hundreds (maybe thousands) of people, gathered as a community, loving Jesus through the tool of worship music, and bringing joy to our town by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

I know. For SOOOO MANY REASONS, this sounds impossible. Foolish. Silly. But at some point, if I genuinely believe Jesus put this on my heart, I’m going to have to take a step of faith. Regardless of how I personally feel. Regardless of my lack of understanding or unbelief.

And maybe me telling you this is a first step of faith. I have no idea how it would happen. Who would pay for it. Or, if it’d even be considered. But I’m taking a step of faith... so that maybe you guys can hold me accountable to dream big for God!

But let me turn the tables on you now! What is God calling you to do? What’s His destination for you? And will you take that first step out of the boat? Even if it makes you look stupid. Even if it’s impossible.

Response:

I’ll end with this. This week we celebrated Martin Luther King day. One of my friends - Sonja (shout out to Sonja if you’re listening) posted the quote...

Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just the first step.

I think that’s applicable to our time this morning. How do we begin to make Jesus our destination? To walk in His purposes for our lives?

We leave and believe.

We ask Jesus where to go.

We listen for His response.

And then we take the first step in faith.

But remember, as you beginning walking by faith, keep your eyes on the destination - on Jesus. Because like Peter, the enemy will use storms to attack our faith. As you take that first step, don’t be surprised to feel the wind blow a little hard. To see the waves swell a little higher and more frequently. But as Peter learned, “If you will just keep your eyes on the Son of God, your steps of faith will land on solid ground, even if they originally seemed impossible.”

Church, let’s stop playing on the shore. By faith, let’s take steps out into the deep, where Jesus is!

Let’s pray.

Father, thank you for Your word. Please use your simple word to help us take steps of faith. Steps towards You, Jesus. Help us to leave behind our unbelief. To take time to talk with You. And believe You, even when it seems impossible. So that, we can walk in the purposes You created us for. So we can go deeper into Your joy-filled presence. So, we can be with You Jesus. We pray this in Jesus name, amen.

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