Stepping into the Supernatural

Peter walking on water, not Jesus

Peter always gets a tough go around in the Bible. He gets the bad wrap for not wanting to let Jesus’ wash his feet, but reacted in such a manner because of his high regard for the Savior. He gets remembered as the disciple who cut off someone’s ear, but he was the only one defending Christ, He gets a bad wrap for denying Christ, but the others had all scattered. We condemn him for sinking because he took his eyes of Jesus, but he was the only one that got out of the boat…

Context: After feeding of 5000 – story picks up immediately after this… important to remember because that signfies what they had just witnessed in the way of Jesus’ miracle working power.

Matthew 14:22–33 (NASB 2020)

Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”

Pray

Let’s summarize what just happened here… The disciples experience…

vs26 Fear because of the storm, compounded by the vision of a ghost (Jesus)

vs27 Take courage, it is me

vs28 Peter asked for a sign, Lord call me into the supernatural… Isn’t that great this morning. This famous scene in the Bible doesn’t start with Jesus telling Peter to come out on the water, it starts with Peter asking Jesus if He can join Him by walking on the water. Man church I wonder what God could do through us today if we would get serious about saying, if Jesus is doing the supernatural, I want to do the supernatural. So in verse 29

vs29 Jesus called him

vs30 Peter asked for the call, Jesus called him, and moments later he lost faith

vs31 Jesus confirms his lack of faith, and then still reaches out to save him

vs32 Jesus overcame the storm

vs33 Confession of Jesus as Lord

With this passage in mind I want to talk to you this morning about…

Learning how to get out of your boat

What can we learn from Peter’s adventure in walking on the water, that will help us think about our next steps in our walk with Christ. This morning we have numerous quick hitting lessons that are available for us to consider from this passage, …

Understand the Supernatural

We have to recognize the supernatural ALWAYS, not often but always, opposes our natural tendencies and understanding. Beyond that you will be reminded by others that you don’t know what you are doing. Think about what Peter might have heard that night from the disciples and how it might relate to that great step of faith that Jesus is calling you to take today.

You can’t walk on water – it is impossible.

You will look foolish and get wet.

It is dangerous and the boat is the safest place to be.

You are needed here in the boat – we need all the help we can get to fight this storm.

You are putting too much faith in that call. Ever heard discouraging thoughts like this when God is calling you to great leaps of faith? Hey church, look if we see whatever God asking us to do as a way in which His kingdom work can be accomplished in a greater fashion, we don’t have time to stay in the boat and argue. So as we journey out into the deep together this morning here are some things we must realize…

(Dont’ say this… DON’T LINGER BECAUSE YOU ADDRESS SO MUCH OF THESE THINGS WITHIN THE POINTS.)

Realize that your boat will sink

The tendency in the storms of life is to hold tightly to that which is familiar to us. This is the very time that we should escape from those ideas which have brought a false sense of security. Many times our boats are filled with ideas of dependency. Perhaps these are unhealthy relationships, certain amounts of money, areas where we can work in our expertise, or even chemical dependencies such as drugs, alcohol, caffeine, or excessive amounts of food. Within the church we might look at what has worked in the past that is seemingly good, think along the lines of ministry programs and classes that are familiar but continually yield less results. A healthy spiritual perspective would understand that while Peter seemed to be taking the greatest risk, he was actually going to the safest place that he could. In the most difficult times in our life or ministry, the closer we get to Jesus the better off we are. getting out of the boat means…

You will often go alone

Many are called, but few will answer. You will most likely become frustrated by the fact that others are not following with you in the great adventure, even though they are seeing God doing something incredible in and through your life. Why stay in the boat? What of those 11?? Why is it that we always see God big enough for other’s problems, but don’t think He can handle ours? Spiritual Leadership is often a very lonely place, because it’s a place where God might reveal something to you before he reveals it to others. As a pastor part of my responsibility is to hear from God about the future of our church, and then hope and pray He will let you in on what He is showing me as well. You might go alone sometimes, but it’s better than remaining with the faithless in a sinking ship. getting out of the boat will be life threatening…

It will be life threatening

It will call you to sacrifice your life –It is has been said that to die for Christ might be a simple matter in comparison for living for Him at the level of surrender that He asks of us. As you think about seeing the supernatural come to pass, think beyond your life being threatened and realize that your pride might be threatened… your ministry, your way of doing things might be threatened… your agendas, your traditions, your tastes and preferences might be threatened. But each of these represent part of the life that Jesus expected us to lay down to follow Him. Jesus said you will lose your life for His sake, but in doing so you will find real life. It might scare youto death, but you can rest in the fact that He has called you.

He has called you

If the master of the wind calls you out into the waves, the gates of hell cannot prevail against you. You will step out of the boat, and against all odds, you will defy the natural laws of this universe and He will cause you to do great and mighty things far beyond your wildest imagination. Thornville, OH 8 years ago… Wadsworth, OH, 4 years ago, where is that?

But we now know that He brought us to be with you. But He didn’t call us here to do fishing inside of the boat, He called us to walk on waves with HIm. The problem is that often we get into what He’s called us to and forget that it’s Him who is called us, and that’s where our focus has to remain…

Stay focused on Jesus

You will most likely lose focus at some point. You are most vulnerable after the miracle has happened. (remember the 5,000, Elijah after Baal God reserved 7,000) You are most vulnerable and need to seek the face of God in prayer immediately you have done something for the glory of God. It took me many years of ministry to learn all about being vulnerable, being drained and down, listening to the negative voice of the enemy immediately after something had brought God glory. If Christ needed to seek his Father’s face in prayer immediately after feeding 5000 then how much more do we after the things we do for God’s glory? If we are keeping Jesus our focus, and His glory our goal, then He won’t let us fail.

Jesus will not let you fail

We have to call on him. It’s not the size of your storm, but the size of your God in the storm. As soon as Peter said Lord save me, Jesus was right there. What would you do today for Christ, if you knew that you could not fail? When Jesus calls you, He will keep you. From the time Jesus called Him, Jesus knew that the two of them would walk back to the boat together. Isn’t that awesome? When you answer a supernatural call, God will bring supernatural resources, finances, people, rest, fellowship. Whatever it takes for you to accomplish His will, He’s a good father and He will provide for you. So as the worship teams re-joins us this morning. Are you ready to get out of your boat?

Get out of your boat

(Invite Team)

Response and Conclusion: God is calling us to step out of our boats. Maybe to confess a sin, to forgive another, to reconcile an enemy. We need teachers, we need preachers, we need people to share their faith. You might fall, but without trying you cannot experience the supernatural

The disciples in the boat will eventually acknowledge God, but only from a distance

Peter represents those who want to experience the supernatural power and essence of Jesus first hand… But He doesn’t just call us once but again and again. Remember, everything started not with Jesus inviting Peter, but Peter asking to step into the supernatural.

This was just the first supernatural step Peter would take, it would continue, in pentecost, in reaching the world with the gospel , and ultimately in being found worthy to give his life in death for Christ.

One big step is not the last… but the first. In our church we can’t ever get to a place or a sense of arrival, but instead we must be looking for the next water-walking experience God has to offer us. God has big things coming for cap city if we’re ready step up, but we have to be open and believe big things are coming, if you’re ready step up, tell Him that this morning.

Let’s Pray and worship

Offering - Awana at 37 with goal of 40, Next week I’m at university talking to incoming freshmen with the hope of also connecting them to cap city as they look for a home church. So preaching for you next week will be my brother, Pastor Jacob Barker. Many of you know that he pastors a church about 7 miles from here on Brown Road and we have already discussed ideas like partnering together for ministries like VBS, he is advertising our car show, and they have even had a conversation with Scott and Tara about Awana. With him coming over to preach this week and because he doesn’t currently have anyone else in his congregation that preaches they are all just going to come over and join us for worship next week. So we may have about 30 or 40 extra people with us next week so step up in making them feel welcome, volunteering where you are asked to, and look forward to having a full house next week. No matter what the future of the church in America might look like I am sure that the more time we spend working together with other ministries, the more pleasing it is to God. As we leave today, take whatever next step God is asking you to take and know that He will be there to walk the storm of this life with you.