Get out of the boat (2)

Get out of the Boat.

Matthew 14:22–33 NKJV

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Intro:

Jesus had just fed the 5000+ people. He wants to spend some time alone so he can pray, but there was going to be a test for the disciples faith. Elab on what they had just seen.

When we see God do something great it should increase our faith.

1. He will test our faith.

a. Willing to do what ever it takes.

b. Willing to do thing different.

c. Willing to something you have never do before.

d. Willing to put your trust in him.

I. TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD. VS 22-23

Matthew 14:22 NKJV

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

Jesus tells them to get into the boat and go to the other side. Sea of Galilee. 8 Miles wide. When he told to go to the other side they were going to make it to the other side.

1. When the Lord calls out to you to do what ever it is you call, you have to trust him, take that step of faith. If he call you to do something you can do it though him. But we have to be willing to put all our trust in him.

Matthew 14:23 NKJV

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

He had sent the crowd away, he had sent his disciples to go to the other side. He did this for the purpose private prayer. He was busy, but he found time to pray. (Find time to pray, what ever it takes) "It was evening"

II. How will you react when things get tough. VS 24-25

Matthew 14:24 NKJV

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Serving God is not easy, there will be tough times.

I. If you are serious about serving the Lord, Satan will do all he can to discourage you.

1. God will test us to see how serious we are about serving him. It may involve a storm in our lives.

2. The disciples have done what Jesus has told them to do, now they are in a storm.

Matthew 14:25 NKJV

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

fourth watch of the night" 3am-6am

3.In the book of Mark "And he saw them toiling and rowing"

4. They were working hard.

a. It takes work to serve the Lord.

b. They were working together. UNITY

III. JESUS IS ALWAYS WATCHING. VS 25-27

1. We may sometimes feel Lord is there or does not care. But he is always watching.

vs.25 It is around 3am-6am They left when it was evening.

1. Jesus had been praying. He knows the disciples were in need.We see this in the book of Mark.

He begins to walk toward them.

2. Maybe they had been praying.

Matthew 14:26 NKJV

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

3. They thought it was a KJV spirit. (Phantasm)

a. When we pray, how many times do we pray, and but not expect the Lord to answer, or we think of ways to resolve it ourselves. If you pray and still worry, you have done this.

b. This may be what happened to the disciples.

c. Always expect Jesus to be there, look for an answer.

Matthew 14:27 NKJV

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

Immediately Key to this verse, "Be not afraid" Stop fearing

1. We all have our fears.

a. Maybe fear of standing in front of people and speaking.

b. Maybe fear dealing with problems, confronting people.

c. Maybe the fear of trying something new.

2. What ever your fear is, Jesus is there. He is telling you "be not afraid" Stop fearing

VI. IF YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE THE LORD, YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT. VS 28-29

Matthew 14:28 NKJV

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Elab. Most of the messages that I have heard on this scripture. Peter lack of faith because he took his eyes off Jesus. This is true, but there were still 11 guys still in the boat. Peter was the only one that took a step on faith.

1. Peter was not testing Jesus. Peter was reacting in faith.

Matthew 14:29 NKJV

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Elab on what Peter asked Jesus. Jesus didn't say, Peter of course it's me. He didn't try to talk Peter into coming to him. He just said "come"

1. Peter heard the word of the Lord, he believed the word of the Lord. But, it didn't show his faith until he reacted on the word of the Lord. Elab the first time they caught all the fish.

2. We have to take the Lord at his word. We can do all this though him. That is his word.

a. But it is more then just believing and hearing the Lord. Like Peter we have to take that step of faith.

VS. 29b. Peter lifted one foot over the side of the boat. The waves begin the splash against his leg. Then he lifts the other leg. He is now standing on the water, but he is still hanging on to the side of the boat. Thinking of the word of Jesus "come"

his faith is real when he lets go of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus.

1. Think all the people that he taken that step of faith.

a. Abraham

b. Daniel

c. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego

d. And the list goes on.

2. We can add our names to that list. If we are willing to get out of the boat.

a. TO many Christians are doing a lot of talking, but their still in the boat. (Tell story about man with pig)

b. We must listen to the Lord, hear his call believe, step out of the boat.

V. WHEN WE STEP OUT OF THE BOAT, WE MUST KEEP OUR EYES ON JESUS. VS 30-33

Matthew 14:30 NKJV

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

When we do step out of the boat, the serve the Lord, to live for the Lord. Storm's will come our way.

1. People

2. Sickness

3. Fear

4. Loss of job

5. Money, or the lack of

A. It storm's or troubles come our way, it is easy to focus of them and not the work the Lord has called to do.

1. This means we need to focus or keep our eyes on Jesus.

B. Here is Peter, Walking on the water. There is a storm, wind, the waves. That becomes Peter's focus ans d not the Lord. He takes his eyes off Jesus.

C. When he does he begins to sink.

D. Sometimes as adults we need to be like children.

1. Elab a child jumping into his fathers arms. Why trust.

2. This is the way we should be in our walk with the Lord. Trust.

A. How do we do this?

1. Prayer.

2. Doing things his way.

3. Being faithful

4. Being around other believers.

5. Realizing that focusing on the storms and not Jesus is a trick on the enemy.

Matthew 14:31 NKJV

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When we do mess up, when we slip, or sink like Peter. Jesus is there to lift us up.

1. Elab how Jesus reached out to Peter.

2. Elab what he didn't do.

He will always be there for us.

3. Peter way did you doubt?

VS. 32, 33

Matthew 14:32–33 NKJV

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

1.They realized how Jesus was.

2. We need to realize who Jesus is, and put our trust in him.