Step Out of the Boat

A Tale of Two Crossings.

Beginning two part sermon series.

Important to Matthews Gospel is Immanuel God with us.

Jesus while he is fully human he is also fully God. Jesus walking on the water adds an exclamation point showing that he has the victory over the chaos, over the wind, waves and storms he tramples it all in this picture under his feet.

Job 9:8 NRSV

8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the Sea;

STEP OUT OF THE BOAT

In this two part series we will see two crossings with two different challenges for God’s people. Today’s challenge we see Christ calling his people out of the boat, and into the stormy, windy, choppy sea of life. He calls them out that they may be the light in the darkness of the storm to others, to bring peace in the midst of the storm for others, and to bring hope where there is despair. For us his people to do this requires action. It requires us to be like Peter and step out of the safety of the boat. In our dark stormy times we are living in, the world needs more Peter’s willing to step over the side of the boat and trusting God will lead them through this storm. In what way is Christ calling you to step over the boat?

Peter’s Faith required Action

This Story starts with Jesus getting time alone for prayer. It is in prayer that Jesus sees his disciples struggling. That prayer begins a chain reaction of actions. Jesus action is to come to his disciples through the wind, the waves, the darkness, to descend from the mountain and walk on the water.

Water symbolizes chaos, wind symbolizes evil, the storm life’s struggles. To have things under your feet is a pronouncement of victory.

Romans 16:20 NRSV

20 The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

By walking on the water Jesus is displaying to his disciples that in the midst of the every thing going on around him he is still God, who comes to them victoriously walking on the water.

Thanks be to God who gives us the victory over the sea, the wind, the waves through our Lord Jesus Christ. Who enables us to respond in faith and step out of the boat.

The disciples are terrified at the sight of someone walking on the water, that they think they see a ghost. Christ tells them to take courage. Don’t be afraid. It is I. The literal translation from the Greek would be it is I AM. It is God not a ghost coming to them on the water. Peter as always is the first to speak up. He answers, not quite sure of what he is seeing or who he heard, If that is you invite me to come out to you on the water. There are only two men in history who have ever walked on water, Jesus was the first one. Peter by responding in faith to Christ’s call was the second. In asking Jesus to bid him come to Him walking on the water, Peter is not asking for supernatural powers, but is recognizing what Christ commands, Christ makes possible. When the commands of Christ are taken seriously they create miracles, they open an incredible reservoir of divine resources. Had Peter not stepped out of the boat his faith would have been worthless. Peter in response steps out of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus on the water. Peter’s story doesn’t end there.

As Peter is walking on the water he starts off well eyes focused on Christ through the wind and the waves. However whether it was a large wave, a huge gust of wind or if reality of what he was doing just set in, something distracted Peter and he began to overwhelmed by the sea and the waves and began to sink. Overcome by the chaos, the storm, and the waves Peter Cries out Lord save me!

Christ reaches out his hand and pulls Peter up from the waves. The hand of the Lord is always there for us to take hold of in times of trouble. Christ asked Peter Oh you of little faith, Why did you doubt? We can learn more about prayer here. No matter how big or how small the storms we face are God is there waiting to intervene. We just need to cry out to him and have faith that he’s got this.

The Other’s response

*Through Seeing Jesus walk on water

*Peter walking on water

*Peter’s failure

*Jesus saving Peter

*Jesus bringing peace and calm to the chaos of the sea.

It was through each of these steps that the others worshiped and declared you really are the Son of God!

If we want to see others worship and declare that Jesus truly is the son of the living God, then we the people of God must be like Peter and step out of the boat.

What is our Step?

You can’t make an omelette without cracking a few egss, and we the people of God can’t see the miracles God desires in our homes, in our churches, and in our communities without stepping out of the boat.

Our faith in Christ requires action. It requires us to be like Peter and step out of the boat. It is times like now today that God’s people need to step out of the boat, and into the storm, into the wind, into the waves, into the darkness that surrounds us. If we truly want to see God act in the darkness of political unrest, in the storm of Covid 19, in the chaos of the world around us then it’s past time that the people God be like Peter and step out of the boat. No more excuses , it’s time to step out of the boat. If God is calling you out of the safety of the boat he will be with you.

How is God calling you personally to step out of the boat? How is God calling Leicester Church of the Nazarene to step out of the boat? To be the light in the darkness of the storm, to bring peace in the midst of the wind and waves of life, to bring hope where there is despair. Remember if God is calling you to do it, he will be with and enable you to do what he has called you to do.