If You Want To Walk On Water You Have To Get Out Of The Boat

Sermon: If you want to walk on water, you better get out of the boat! Mt 14: 22-33:

1. Introduction:

I would like to focus on two particular verses from our Gospel reading today.

They occur in the middle of the story of Jesus walking on the water.

The disciples have run into a storm on the middle of the Lake of Galilee – and Jesus comes out to them – walking of the water.

Peter sees Jesus and asks him if he can come out join him. And Jesus replies:

“Come”

Then Peter got out of the boat, walked on water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink.” (Mt 14:29-30)

When people preach on this passage they almost always seem to focus on Peter’s lack of faith.

But I want to talk about Peter’s faith because I think Peter gets a bad press on this.

I’d like to look on Peter’s actions in a more positive light.

I know of ONLY two people who have walked on water – and one of them was Peter.

PETER WAS PREPARED TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND WALK ON WATER.

2. Peter’s Experience of Walking on the Water

When I think about it - what amazes me was that Peter had faith to get out of the boat IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

Having been on the Lake of Galilee in a squall, I know I would not have wanted to get out the boat in a gale.

I know I wouldn’t have the guts – but Peter did.

NONE of the other disciples joined Peter on the Lake!

Are we prepared to get out of the boat?

The question I would like to ask today is:

If Jesus called you to walk on water in the storm, would you be prepared to get out of the boat.

Story: On 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King gave his famous speech “I have a dream” at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

Who then would have dared to dream that 50 years later we would have had an African American President?

Yet Martin Luther King’s dream, I believe, had much to do with Barak Obama becoming the 44th President of the United States, as did Barak Obama standing as the Democratic Candidate for President in 2008.

We need people who are willing to swim counter current to the popular mood, when inspired by God.

We need those who dream of God’s Kingdom coming here on earth.

Quote: It was the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who wrote:

"If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away. "

Who is the drummer that WE are listening to?

Dreaming dreams is quite biblical actually

2.1. Dreams

God often gave new directions as a result of dreams in the Bible.

2.1.1 Jacob

Jacob had a dream after he has duped his older brother and is fleeing for his life (Gen. 28:10-22).

He was alone, running to his mother’s relatives. But he had stop to sleep.

In this condition, he was a good candidate for an intrusion from beyond.

He dreamt of angels coming and going, messengers and promise-makers.

He heard the voice of God and this holy voice promised to be with this fugitive and to bring him safely home.

2. .2. Pharaoh

Pharaoh, the mighty king of Egypt had a dream that troubled him (Gen. 41:14-24).

Who would have thought that this powerful king would be so vulnerable?

His dream involves a confusing scenario featuring cows and shocks of grain.

He has no clue to the meaning of the dream.

After Pharaoh’s "intelligence community," (Pharaoh’s magicians) failed him, he summoned an outsider, a slave on the advice of His Cupbearer, an Israelite Joseph who had no worldly credentials at all.

As we know Joseph told Pharaoh the meaning of his dream: there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine that would destabilise the empire. God tells Joseph how to deal with the problem and Pharaoh listens to Joseph and then tells him to carry out God’s plan.

Truth in the night is spoken to the one who has power in the daylight.

2.1.3. Nebuchadnezzar

In a similar way, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that Daniel interpreted (Dan. 4:19-37).

The dream foretold the imminent judgement that God was going to visit on King Nebuchadnezzar for his arrogance towards God.

But for a year Nebuchadnezzar did nothing to change his ways and so God’s judgement came to pass.

The King lost his mind, was driven out from civilised people and lived for a time like the wild animals around.

However one day Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven his mind returned as he gave glory to God.