Overboard

I. THE SETTING – V. 22-23

Jesus and the disciples had just spent all day in ministry where Jesus taught and did a creative miracle with the feeding of the five thousand. The disciples had facilitated the miracle and were rightfully exhausted.

A. Jesus drew away to pray

1. There is so much to be learned here. If we don’t watch it we will go from ministry assignment to ministry assignment without replenishing ourselves.

a. Even Jesus needed replenishment

B. Jesus commanded the disciples to get away (go to the other side of the sea) and He commanded the multitudes to go away.

1. The disciples were operating on a word from the Lord

2. There are times that you have to tell those who keep hanging on and draining you that they need to leave you alone for a while.

C. Jesus was finally ALONE!

1. Some of our greatest times with God come from those alone times.

2. Give Examples: My Stump; 3 days in the fall to prepare for the following year; When I get overwhelmed.

II. SOMETIMES THE STORM CLOUDS GATHER – V. 24-27

Sometimes the Storm Clouds Gather… Just because we are operating on a Word from God doesn’t mean we won’t weather a storm every now and then.

A. We can’t stay away forever. There comes a time when we need to leave the quiet place and return to our assignments.

1. The ship was in the midst of the sea which means the disciples were in the middle of their obedience.

a. Don’t let the devil make you doubt that you heard from God just because you’re in a battle!

b. How many times have you heard someone say, “Well, if it was God it wouldn’t be this hard so I must have missed it.” (Tell that to the Martyr’s)

c. The winds were contrary – Sometimes we have to fight through the “contrary”! (Contrary Thoughts, Contrary Circumstances, Contrary People!)

B. When we faithfully continue operating God’s plan we are setting ourselves up for expanded revelations of who God is!

1. Jesus came to them walking on the sea!

a. Sometimes God will show up in the most unusual places!

C. They experienced fear because of the untimely appearance of Jesus!

1. The last place they thought they would see Jesus was walking on the water towards them.

a. They were exhausted, their emotions were a wreck, they had seen these storms before and now they thought they were seeing a ghost!

2. Jesus calmed them with His words, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid”!

a. Have you ever wondered why He said, “Be of good cheer?”

III. OVERBOARD – V. 28-32

A friend of mine’s father used to say, “Peter was the first man to go overboard with his faith”!

A. What made Peter say, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water”?

1. Who thinks like that?

B. Get out of the boat! Jesus said, “Come” …

1. Jesus didn’t say, “Let me calm the storm first!”

2. Peter went “Overboard with his faith” while the storm was still raging!

3. SOMETIMES YOU JUST GOTTA KEEP MOVING FORWARD!

C. Walking towards Jesus!

1. Peter did well as long as he was walking towards Jesus.

2. He also did well as long as his eyes remained on Jesus!

D. That sinking feeling.

1. Peter “began” to sink when he saw the winds and fear entered.

a. Don’t fault Peter! That man walked on the water and…

b. He didn’t sink – he “began” to sink but had enough sense to cry out to Jesus!

c. FEAR PRODUCES DOUBT!

2. The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus carried Peter back to the boat. Jesus stretched forth His hand and Peter either took His hand or received faith from the outstretched hand of Jesus.

a. The wind ceased only when they re-entered the boat!

b. This whole experience unfolded as the storm continued to rage!

c. Old Song: THERE IS PEACE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR STORM-TOSSED LIFE…

IV. ACTIVATING THE ANOINTING FOR MINISTRY – V. 33-36

Sometimes we think that worship sets the atmosphere for our miracle but in this case the miracle set the atmosphere for worship!

A. God can’t be put in a box!

1. There’s no wrong time to worship God!

2. RIGHT NOW… is a great time to worship God!

3. Miracles attract others to God – The others who were in the ship came to worship him!

B. Their next ministry assignment was in Gennesaret where they brought all that were diseased to Jesus and they were made perfectly whole.

1. This is another place in Scripture that alludes to the sick reaching out and touching the hem of Jesus’ garment! – There’s a message here for another time.