Step Out

Text: Matt. 14:22-33

Introduction: We’ve been going on a journey these few weeks I’ve been up here. We’ve discussed Taking Back what the devil has taken from us. The desire, the passion, the dedication, the devotion, the love that he took from us. The love for ourselves, our love for others, and ultimately our love for God. Then once we took it all back, we made a conscious decision to go Deeper! To push away from the shore, leave behind the shallow and go in the deep. Deeper on our spiritual walk. Deeper in the word of God, Deeper in our prayer life, and ultimately Deeper in our relationship with God. But the journey does not stop there. It’s time to Step Out in faith! It’s time to walk on water!

I. Step out in Faith (v.28-29)

1. Leave behind the world

A. In order to get closer to Jesus, we have to be willing to leave behind those people that keep us from going deeper

B. We have to take a stand for our faith and leave behind the ways of the world that God doesn’t approve of

2. God’s words impower us

A. When God said “Come”, it enabled the strength and ability for Peter to Step Out

B. One word from God is all it takes for us to do the impossible

II. Walk by Faith (v.29-31)

1. Peter walked on water

A. We always focus on the failures and not the accomplishments

B. Recognize the good in ourselves and others not just the bad

2. Stay focused on God

A. If we lose sight of Jesus, we are destined to fall

B. If our problems become our focus, they become bigger than our God

(Zoom picture object lesson)

3. Put your faith in Jesus

A. When Peter began to sink, his faith wasn’t in his feet, it was in the hand of Jesus

B. Our faith can’t be in how far we’ve gone or what we’ve done, it must remain in what Jesus has done and what He is gonna do

C. Not about how far we’ve come, its about how close we are to Jesus

III. Great Faith

1. No more little faith

A. You can do the impossible by walking on water, but if you ever doubt what God has promised you, you will never grow beyond little faith.

B. Great faith is trusting God’s words without a doubt (Matt. 8:5-10)

Conclusion: We will never walk on water if we refuse to step out of the boat. Why won’t we step out? Because we doubt what God has said, we still have little faith! Why won’t we go deeper because we have little faith! God said he will strengthen you and uphold you in his right hand, He said he came so you would have life and have it more abundantly, He said His plan is for you to have good not disaster, to have a future and a hope, He said he will never leave you or forsake you, He said we will soar like eagles, we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not go faint. He said by His stripes we are healed, give and it shall be given, me and my house shall be saved. He has never broken a promise before so why do we still doubt! Walking on water was little faith, great faith is when you know without a shadow of a doubt that if Jesus said it, there is no storm, no enemy, no chance in Hell! That it will not come to pass! If he said we’re going to the other side, we’re gonna get to the other side, If God said your gonna have your own business, its gonna happen. If God said your kids will serve the Lord, they will. If God said you are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, more than a conqueror, then you are! IF GOD SAID IT! IT SHALL COME TO PASS!