How Big Is Your Vision?

How Big is Your Vision?

January 23, 2005

Intro: Today we are talking about vision. What is it we desire God to do in and through us in 2005? Is our vision of what God desires to do an accurate picture of what he wants to do?

The Setting

The setting for today’s talk is a boat. Here in the worship center we have a boat set up because I want you to get in your mind the picture of what scripture is talking about.

We are going to pick up the story in Matthew 14:22-29(NIV)

“Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” Matthew 14:22-29( NIV)

Observations about the passage:

• There’s a storm- deep water was terrifying to Jews because that was where the demons dwelled

• Jesus walks on water

• Peter calls out to come

• Peter gets out of the boat- wanted to do what the rabbi does

The Action

Why down Peter get out of the boat?

He has been called by Jesus.

“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’” Mark 1:16-17

He is a leader of disciples

Name always listed first (Mark 1:29-31)

Probably older and married, has to pay temple tax (Matt. 17:26-27)

He wants to do what his rabbi does.

The Result

Peter holds record for walking on water

He confesses Jesus as the Christ

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’” Matthew 16:13-17(NIV)

He is given the keys to the kingdom authority

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19(NIV)

He is given a second call

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!” John 21:15-19(NIV)

Fisher of Men netted 3,000 (Acts 2)

The Point

To do something big for God requires a big vision.

Peter wanted to do more than catch fish all his life.

We must be willing to get out of the boat in spite of the storm.

When David Livingston was a missionary in Africa, a missionary society sent him this message: