("Live Up!" Series - sermon 10) "I'm trying to do this!" Matthew 14.22-33

Matthew 14:22 NRSV

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.

Matthew 14:23 NRSV

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

Matthew 14:24 NRSV

but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.

Matthew 14:25 NRSV

And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.

Matthew 14:26 NRSV

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

Matthew 14:27 NRSV

But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Matthew 14:28 NRSV

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Matthew 14:29 NRSV

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:30 NRSV

But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Matthew 14:31 NRSV

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:32 NRSV

When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Matthew 14:33 NRSV

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Intro:

Freedom....

Before we dive directly into how we are to be intentional.....

......in being more like Christ in our living out spiritual formation disciplines.

Let’s first survey the Intentionality of God!

(pause)

And....

......what we see in God’s Intentionality involves

The Creation.....

The making of humanity....

The Reconciliation of humanity through Christ.

(slight pause)

It is here that we see how God has intentionally made a decision for Christ to be the source of our reconcilliation even before our creation....

“It is there determined in eternity’s past that the Son of God freely chose to give himself to the Son of Man”

- Karl Barth

(slight pause)

Freedom....

....In our vision statement we speak of our intentional role from a biblical perspective to suggest that we are.....

Rebuilding

Restoring

Reclaiming

And.....

The root words of each of these tiers of our vision are:

To Build

To Store

To Claim

And so.....

Our lives become an intentional testament of God’s intentionality for those who are watching us do life......

Because.......

.....it is God who Built us

.....it was sin that Ruined us

......and it was God who came back and Rebuilt us again!

And.....

.....if God will intentionally Restore you and me

.....I know God will intentionally Reclaim somebody else!

(pause)

Howard Thurman says,

“Most often you are brought face to face with yourself only when such an encounter is forced upon you, and usually it is in connection with a crisis situation.”

The accelerated finding that your parent/child relationship with your father of mother creates a flipping in roles whereby you are relating to their point of need versus the oether way around.

A death in an immediate circle of close family or friends, which forces a change in your way of living and thinking.

Regardless of what gets us there.....

......we must all get to a place where we ask the question,

“What is it, after all that I ultimately amount to?”

(pause)

And Freedom.....

I believe it is this question that causes us to begin operating with “Intentionality” that keeps us from doing too much......

....and at the same time causes us to do some other things on purpose!

Because it puts us into the very presence of God where we become “Self Aware” in relation to God!

......which motivates us to develop into the full stature that God has Intended!

(pause)

And....

....it is in today’s text that we find Peter illustrating for us this picture of Intentionality through this life moment with Jesus....

(pause)

The biblical narrative opens in verse 22 with this dramatic scene.....

....of Jesus forcing the disciples to go across the sea without Him

…while he dismisses the multitude of 5,000 that have just been fed

And....

.....what grabs my attention most in this verse is the fact that Jesus has to compel or strongly insist that the disciples go over to the other side of the boat while he handles the crowd.....

(pause)

.....and I am simply fascinated about how these disciples are intentional about staying in the presence of Jesus!

(slight pause)

It is suggested.....

......that there are at least 2 possible reasons that they have to be compelled by Jesus...

They may be afraid because of all the commotion going on over into Herod country ......related to John the baptist’s death.

They remember the last storm they ran into on the sea without Jesus.

(slight pause)

I wonder if some of you can relate to a time where.....

God was giving you an instruction to do something, but you were afraid of what you had to face.....

......or you were afraid to go into it by yourself!

(slight pause)

In my Spiritual Imagination.....

I see Jesus saying,

“Just trust me on this one!

.....everything’s gonna be alright

.....I just need to handle something and then I’m coming!”

(pause and optional expound)

According to the text in verse 23....

Matthew 14:23 NRSV

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,

After Jesus has sent the multitudes home, instead of immediately going to catch up with the disciples....

Jesus decides to excercise two of the other spiritual formation disciplines called:

Solitude

Meditation

(slight pause)

Now I need to clarify that.....

......there’s a difference between solitude and isolation,

(pause)

One note of comparison suggests that....

Isolation = being alone

Solitude = being alone with God

Isolation carries with it a negative

Solitude carries with it a positive

and.....

Isolation is like your breath is being taken out of you....

....while solitude is like a breath of fresh air!

(pause)

Freedom....

.....this aint what I’m really preaching about, but everybody listening to me needs to have a time of solitude and meditation

.....where you are spending some alone time with God!

(pause)

And according to the text.....

Jesus understands how important this is......

He comprehends that this is how he:

Overcomes sin and evil

Receives fresh anointing for daily tasks.

(pause and optional expound)

Matthew 14:24–25 NRSV

but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea.

According to the text......

.....the storm has suspended the travels of the disciples in the middle of the sea.

......and it’s not until early in the morning that Jesus starts heading their way.

(pause)

And because I know people.....

.....somebody had to be saying,

“I knew this was gonna happen.....!”

(pause and expound)

But Freedom.....

I wonder if sometimes, our storms show up.......

....because we just knew they were going to happen!

(pause and expound)

Watch the text....

Matthew 14:26 NRSV

But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

According to the text...

The disciples cannot quite make out who Jesus is....

.....and so they immediately start thinking the worst.

(pause)

And....

......the worst in their minds correlates with the cultural view or superstition that this is a ghost or a phantom.

(slight pause)

And...

....whenever you see a phantom on the water while sailing it meant shipwreck for you and your crew.

(slight pause)

And so...

....they are already in the storm

…and now they are assuming shipwreck is in their destiny.

(slight pause)

and.....

.....some of you listening to me are thinking the worst because everything that looks wrong is making too much sense....

(pause)

But......

.....here’s what needs to happen when we begin thinking the worst scenario makes more sense than Intentional living!

(pause)

watch the text.....

Matthew 14:27 NRSV

But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Family....

Jesus basically says,

“Calm down fellas.......it’s me!”

(pause a little longer)

Now watch this....

....because here’s the shift

(slight pause)

Because.....

.....up until now is regular, relatable life that occurs in time.

A storm comes.............it affects us.........we react........God shows up!

(repeat this)

But.....now here’s the shift,

Because....

....we can either continue on this pattern

....or we can intentionally step into another level of growth...

(pause)

Now.....watch Peter in verse 28

Matthew 14:28 NRSV

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Freedom.....

.....here’s how this could of went,

After Jesus identifies who he is, everybody in the boat could of just said,

“Ok, cool!

.....Everything is back to normal!”

(pause)

But that aint what happened......

Because Peter says in my spiritual imagination....

“I’m going to think on a more radical level.....

....and become intentional in my living so that I can experience God on a greater level!”

(pause)

Now......

....if you’re satisfied with just being in the boat with where you are in your relationship with Christ,

.....this message aint for you.

(pause)

But......

......for those of you that are hungering and thirsting for more

(slight pause)

I’m getting ready to show you that its all about being intentional!

(pause)

And listen closely.......

....because there is a difference between,

“Being Intentional” and “Good Intentions”

For example:

If Peter does not actually get up and move into the water.

He has intentions that are good, without being intentional!

(slight pause)

And....

many of us just have good intentions:

we know how to ask the right questions

we know how to talk the right talk

But the truth is......

We did all of that,

and we never got out of the boat!

Good intentions, but didn’t pray one time this week.

Good intentions, but didn’t pick up the bible more than twice.

Good intentions, but if God didn’t fit into our schedule, oh well!

(pause)

But we steady talking about living on a greater level.....

But unless we do like Peter.......

Good intentions will never break the cycle of average!

(pause)

But Pastor,

How do I know if I’m really getting out of the boat Intentionally?

Here’s how you know......

People who live intentionally will be in a storm

and still be trying to grow their way to Jesus.....

…while folk in the boat will say,

“I’m just gonna ride this thing on out till this storm leave!”

But....

People who are Intentional have decided,

“when I need God for Every step........

....I’m still willing to try to take my Next step!”

That’s why the woman with the issue of blood crawled her way through the crowd and said,

“If I could just touch the Hem of His garment, I will be made whole!”

And......

.....what I have discovered is that you cannot be comfortable and challenged all at the same time.

But......

.....I refuse to half step in my development just so that I can be comfortable...

(slight pause)

And so that means just like Peter.....

..........if Jesus is in the water

........take me to the water!

(pause and expound)

Look at it.....

Matthew 14:29 NRSV

He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.

Freedom.....

I hope you see this.....

Peter is not purposely stepping out of this boat and onto the waves when the waters have calmed down.......

But on the contrary, Peter is intentional about moving into a situation that looks completely absurd!

(pause)

Peter walked out of a boat........

........in the MIDDLE of a storm

.....at 3 oclock in the morning!

(pause)

“Peter, who get’s out of a boat in the MIDDLE of a storm?”

Peter it’s bad enough that you aint never walked on water on a good day!

.....but what on earth

......makes you think

....that you should be out here on the water in the worst conditions!?

(pause)

And that’s when I heard Peter respond by saying,

“Baker, our best growth.......

......happens in the worst conditions!”

(long pause)

Because.......

.....whenever we decide that I’m not going to let this storm kill me!

(slight pause)

.....and whenever we make up in our mind that I’m going to come out of this better!

(slight pause)

As crazy as it looks,

Peter says,

“I’m trying to do this on purpose!”

(pause and expound)

Freedom I hope you’re still watching Peter....

Because.....

not only did Peter purposely step into a storm....

.....but he also purposely stepped into the DEEP!

(pause)

And the reason....

.....that’s powerful is because,

we have no choice but to develop in Christ when we step into the deep.

Because......

.....something has got to get stronger when you step out into a place where there’s nothing for you to hold on to!

(pause)

And so.....

“What do you hold on to in the deep?”

And.....

.....this is the next level of our intentionality....

.....because some of us don’t mind stepping into a storm

.....as long as its not in the DEEP!

(pause)

But Peter says,

“If we are really decided on being intentional.....

Not only should the storm not stop us from being intentional.

But we also got to be willing to step into the deep waters of growth!

(pause)

And Freedom.....

.....there’s at least 4 ways to describe what “Being Intentional looks like:

Knowing what you believe

Identifying what you want

Thinking about what you need to do, to bring the results you want

Consistently taking action to see it through

(pause)

And so......

If we apply these things to our lives spiritually, by operating in these disciplines....

.....Imagine how much more like Christ we would be

(pause)

But the first question becomes:

Do I really want to be Intentional concerning Spiritual Formation of becoming more like Christ?

And then....

....secondly

How do we know what to be intentionally about specifically?

(pause)

Collosians 3.23.....says,

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as unto the Lord!

(slight pause)

Ok, I got that Pastor....

…but what happens when I fail in my being Intentional?

Look at verse 30......

Matthew 14:30 NRSV

But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

The text says....

Peter began to sink........

.....but what it does not say is that,

“Peter stopped walking!”

(pause)

And in my spiritual imagination.....

I see how fear slowed him down, but it did not have enough controlling power to stop him completely.....

(pause)

And so here it is....

“You cannot be intentional in how you start......

.....but then refuse to be intentional in how you finish!”

(slight pause)

Freedom.....

.....if Peter does not remain Intentional

....he drowns!

(pause)

But you never decrease in intentionality.....

.....just because you are no longer at your beginning.

(slight pause)

“Never say it’s just the end....

Most people lose because they can’t make it to the end!”

- Draymond Green

And.....

what he was basically saying is that talented people lose games that they should of won!

(pause)

.....and that’s because they hit the decrease lever on their intentionality

.....just because they were no longer at the beginning!

(pause)

But when you stop and think about how God literally moved heaven and earth....

.....intentionally so that you and I could be here...

Love ought to make us try!

Our Faith ought to make us try!

Our Worth to God ought to make us try!

(pause)

And I’m sorry but I think sometimes God sits back and looks at our lives and says,

“Yall aint even trying!”

(pause)

I hear God saying......

“Where are my Peters, that will at least try!”

“I would rather you sink trying to be more like me......

than to stay in the boat surviving to be who you always been!”

(pause and optional expound)

Here it is Freedom....

Because at the end of verse 30.....

Peter says,

“Lord, save me!”

(pause)

Here’s my next point!

We need our Intentionality to remain connected to Power!

Notice now,

…that Peter did not look back at the disciples to save him.

(slight pause)

....and you would be surprised at how many people look back at the boat when Jesus is standing on water!

(slight pause)

And for me.....

Peter realizes that Jesus cares about him too much to let him perish.

(slight pause)

And I see Peter saying,

“Don’t throw me something to believe in from the boat.......

.....I would rather beleive in the Jesus that was helping me to do something

.....I aint never done before!”

(pause)

“Im more interested in being challenged in this water.........

......than being comfortable in that boat!”

(pause)

And.....

I can’t go back to boat riding....

......when I been water walking.

just raise me back up on top of this situation!

(pause)

And I hear Peter saying,

“Now Jesus when you go back to the boat....

....then I can go back to the boat....

(pause)

But until then.....

“Keep transforming me to be more like You!”

(pause)

See.......

.......everybody wants to see Peter as a whimp who got scared on the water.......

(pause)

But Peter is the ONLY one who had the Unmitigated gall........

........to be INTENTIONAL enough to say,

“I tried to do this!”

(pause and expound)

And I hear Peter saying,

My intentions is not just to survive what tried to make me sink...

That’s the 1st level....

(pause)

But I aint finishing on the 1st level...

Because my significance is greater than my survival!

(pause)

.....what I’m really trying to do is

…BE more like Christ!

(pause)

And so....

if Jesus is walking on water

I’m putting on my swimming trunks!

But the one thing I hear Peter saying he needs us to understand is,

This aint by no accident.......

I’m Intentional about this!

(pause)

Now watch this Freedom.....

Because the one other thing that God showed me is that:

Peter is no longer just a person.......

but Peter is a Community!

(pause)

And this is bigger than just one of us getting out of a boat.....

But I hear God saying,

“We all gotta move!”

(pause)

Because......

What would it look like.......

....if ALL 12 of the disciples

......would of got out of the boat!

“We all gotta be trying to do this!”

(pause and expound)

Freedom......

The last thing I heard God saying was,

You know you gonna get to the other side because I’m the one that told you to go in the first place.

(pause)

But here’s the question.....

“How Intentional are you going to be?”

(pause)

And God is ssaying....

I need some Peters who will look at

the storm

The Deep

and then still look at me and holler out......

“i’m trying to be where you at”

“I’m trying to do what you doing”

(pause)

And aint no strom gonna stop me!

- I’m walking by faith and not by sight!

My steps are ordered by the Lord!

(pause)

As a matter of fact......

the disciples said,

“Let’s turn this boat into a sanctuary!”

.....and they started worshipping Christ Intentionally.....

(pause)

Freedom....

I don’t know about you...

But I’m trying to do this!

Expound..........Close................Conclusion