Come Away With Me!

Sermon - Come away with me!

Thesis: Peter and the disciples are struggling across the lake on a cold stormy night. They are tired, worn out from rowing, their muscles are aching, they are cold and they feel like a dirty beaten rug. In that moment of fatigue they see something walking on the water coming to them. Terror and fear grips their hearts Jesus sees this and cries out “Take Courage – it is I – Do not fear!” Peter gets energized at this low point and asks to come meet Jesus and He gets out of the boat and literally for a moment walks on the water. He experiences a miracle!

Introduction:

Jesus Culture sings a song which says:

Come away with me - Open up your heart and let me in – It’s not to late.

The premise of the song is this:

You have to love Him and connect with Him - you have to open up your heart and let Him in. You have to be willing to go away with Him when He invites you too.

Jesus says come all of you who are burdened with life for I can lighten the load. JESUS says come - come - you are invited with me - I want you by my side, I want you to come - come on - come away with me. Leave the fear and take courage it is I! Come be a part of a miracle!

We all at times find ourselves in the journey of life – struggling to move forward - we fight, we row against the wind of the world – we get tossed around like rag dolls and we become tired and fatigued. But in these moments we can see Jesus – we can if we take the time to listen to hear his voice: “Take courage – It is I – Do not be afraid!”

Some of you are tired and weary and looking to hear Jesus’ words of comfort for your situation of life today – I believe you have come to right place today to hear from Him:

But maybe some of you need to hear Him say something specific to you today:

“It’s going to be okay you will see – press forward!”

“It’s going to be made right in His sight - just wait and see”!

“It –my message- is going to help you see the light in the midst of the dark stormy night!”

“I want you to participate in my light today so open your eyes and see me in the night!”

“Come to me and I will make you strong for the fight all you have to do is step out of the boat!”

“Take courage – it is I – do not be afraid!”

“Come to me and you will experience a miracle.”

Scripture Text: Matthew 14:22-36:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.

Observations from the Text:

Observation point 1: Jesus sent the disciples on ahead of Him in the boat and tells them he will meet with them on the other side. He dismissed the crowd that he had just miraculously feed over 5,000 people. He told them all to go home!