Walking On Water (WOW) Faith
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Intro: Living with confidence like a child. Observing children they often times attempt things that others will not do simply because they believe in the outcome they see. Thy jump off couches and land thinking they will land and not get hurt. They often times jump blindly and end up with bruises and bumps. This is why children are used as examples of faith and not impalas.
The impala won’t jump if they can’t see where their feet will land.
That means that Impalas stay trapped because they refuse to go where they can’t see!
So many times in life we’re the same way!
DT: Faith in Jesus will lead us to do beyond what we think is possible.
Lead into text: Jesus and the disciples have gathered the baskets of the left over food from feeding the 5,000 from five loaves and two fish.
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.
Jesus was seeking time away after hearing off the death of his John the Baptist.
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.
Be Faithful in your prayer life
Be Faithful in your prayer life
See
23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Jesus shows us that even after this miraculous event he seeks to be alone in prayer with God.
Jesus shows us that even after this miraculous event he seeks to be alone in prayer with God. Prayer is communicating with God. In prayer we can tell God of our good days and not so good days. Jesus had a day of highs and lows. Earlier he learns of the news of his relative John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod, the son of Herod the Great. Jesus was trying to get away but the people followed Jesus and gave him no time to himself.
13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.
Matthew 14:13
Jesus even with hardship still looks to love on others...
Jesus even with hardship still looks to love on others...
14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
This great service lead Jesus to feed them as well as he spent the day healing. So the day has been spent serving others and meeting their needs, yet Jesus still wanted to get some time to pray.
When prayer is your priority you will seek to pray always.
When prayer is your priority you will seek to pray always.
Jesus was seeking to pray and now at night he seeks to accomplish what he was looking to do earlier in the day. Prayer will keep us trusting in God. Jesus shows us that prayer should be a priority in our lives. Prayer leads us into God’s presence and his desire for us. When seeking to be with God we will seek to do God’s will in our day to day activities. This seeking after God will give us strength.
23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
It was a priority of Jesus to spend some time in prayer.
When prayer is your priority you will not neglect to prayer.
Prayer will strengthen your faith in God.
Have Faith to stand against contrary winds.
Have Faith to stand against contrary winds.
v.24
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
Matthew 14:24-
Jesus told them to go to the other side. They were instructed to go to the other side. Jesus in telling them this did not remove dealing with conflict on their way to their destination. We must know that faith in God is sure and steady but our life will test us in our faithfulness. Things will come our direction to see if we will keep going the direction God has sent us and embrace the hardship that come. The disciples were still on task pressing through the waves and the contrary winds.
When we are most tired and stressed out we are the most vulnerable...
When we are most tired and stressed out we are the most vulnerable...
vv.25-26
25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
It was the fourth watch the last watch, NLT gives us the time as 3 in the morning. They may have been warn out and tired and seeking rest when they see what appears to be a ghost.
When you are under stress you can turn to God. It is key to make prayer your priority to have the habit to seek God in prayer in times of stress.
The disciples were stressed out and thought they saw a ghost...
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
When we doubt our direction we question things.
Dealing with the issues of the weather had them shaky in facing anything else.
So when they see Jesus they became afraid because they thought they saw a ghost.
Faith in Jesus gives us courage
Faith in Jesus gives us courage
v.27
Matthew 14:27
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Jesus spoke words of empowerment to them.
Jesus said take courage or be of good cheer, be firm or resolute in the face of danger.
Or be like Simba and laugh in the face of danger.
The Word of Jesus gives us strength.
The Word of Jesus gives us strength.
There is power in the name of Jesus.
This world is in existence because of the word of God.
God encourages us and speaks over us. God told Joshua be of good courage for he will lead him as he lead Moses. God speaks life to His children to lead them in the direction he has sent them.
Where is the Lord leading you?
What conflicts have come against you along the way?
Remind yourself with God’s word.
Walking On Water Faith
Walking On Water Faith
Matthew 14:28
Matthew 14:30
vv. 29-29
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
Peter has that WOW faith. Jesus’s word makes Peter brave. Pere asks for Jesus to speak. Peter understands that by Jesus word things come true. Peter had faith in Jesus word that if he spoke him to come that something would happen to enable him to walk on water. Jesus says come! and Peter had the WOW faith to get out of the boat and move in the direction of Jesus. Jesus word made him brave in the midst of the contrary winds, the crashing waves, and the fear of the others. But...
Keep that same faith in times of conflict.
Keep that same faith in times of conflict.
30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Peter begins to sink.
Peter begins to sink.
vv. 30-31
Just like Peter we too start out strong and bold and on fire for the Lord then something happens that leads us to sink. We can learn from our failures that lead to our greater success. Do not let your failures hold you back from your future. Though they may weigh you down and feel like heavy burdens. I encourage you to call on the Lord.
30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
And know the Lord will respond immediately...
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
What has lead you to sink?
How have you learned from your failure?
Call on the name of the Lord ().
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
Have Faith and do not doubt.
Have Faith and do not doubt.
No need to not be uncertain with God for he is real. Peter in his journey on the water had doubts. Jesus reminds him that he had no reason to doubt because the Lord is supreme.
Worship Jesus.
Worship Jesus.
vv. 32-33
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Matthew 14:32
They worshipped Jesus for what they have witnessed and for how he brought them through the storm. There are times in our life that we learn to worship God because of what he has brought us through.
Jesus sent them to go to the other side.
Jesus command to them did not remove obstacles.
Jesus’ command to them lead them to know Jesus better from their own experiencing of his power in their lives.
Rejoice in the Lord our savior. He has called us and he will lead us. He will not abandon us but will pull us through. But lets not miss the narrative is about Jesus going to the other side. So this leads me to ask.
Q: Why did Jesus walk on the water?
Q: Why did Jesus walk on the water?
A:To get to the other side.
35 When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. 36 They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
Matthew 14:
The disciples were accompanying Jesus in this amazing kingdom ministry. Simple obedience to Jesus leads us to follow him and experience the power of God in our life and the lives around us. Jesus loves for us to be apart of his journey and partner in his awesome ministry that leads to the healing in others lives. We are to bless the Lord and celebrate how he has called us to be witness to his power and glory in our life.