Cut The Rope.
Matthew 14:24-33NKJV
In 1853, America hosted its first Worlds Fair in New York City. The organizers built a beautiful exhibition Hall called the Crystal Palace.
This is where the latest and greatest inventions were showcased. This is also where a man named Elisha Otis pulled off one of the most remarkable stunts in the history of the Worlds Fair. Otis was the inventor of the safety elevator break, but he was having a hard time selling his idea to safety-first-skeptics.
It was a time to go big or go home. He stood on an elevator platform hoisted high enough for everybody in the exhibition hall to see him. Then Otis, who had positioned and axman above the elevator, cued hi—to cut the rope!
The elevator fail a few feet. The crowd let out a collective gasp. And Elisha Otis pronounced, all safe, ladies and gentlemen. All safe.
In Matthew 14, Jesus takes a young lads lunch and divinely multiples it to feed 5,000 men, let alone women and children.
And then we read in Matthew 14, that Jesus compels His disciples to get into a boat and to cross to the other side, While Jesus goes by Himself, and prays up in the mountains.
God’s word say’s in verse 23b, “When evening came He was alone in prayer.”
Jesus’ prayer life is seen by men from the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5, 6 and chapter 7, and John chapter 17, just to name a few.
Remember this word, “When you’re in prayer you’re never alone.”
Matthew 14:24NKJV But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
You ever gotten in the middle of something and everything goes wrong? We all have.
Matthew 14:25-26NKJV Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
Jesus’ disciples had been out in the sea for quite a while now, the fourth watch would be 4-6AM, they were frighted and tired from rowing in this long storm.
They cried out for fear—Fear wants to be first seat, front row. Fear will always give you a front row seat.
Matthew 14:27NKJV But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
The Greek words—Be of good cheer mean, “to pull up your spirit!”
In other words, Jesus speaks, fear not, be of good cheer!
Refuse to be moved by a few bitter unmotivated people—Say yes to God!
Listen to, Hebrews 11:1-6TPT Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen. 2 This testimony of faith is what previous generations were commended for. 3 Faith empowers us to see that the universe was created and beautifully coordinated by the power of God’s words! He spoke and the invisible realm gave birth to all that is seen.
4 Faith moved Abel to choose a more acceptable sacrifice to offer God than his brother Cain, and God declared him righteous because of his offering of faith. By his faith, Abel still speaks instruction to us today, even though he is long dead.
5 Faith translated Enoch from this life and he was taken up into heaven! He never had to experience death; he just disappeared from this world because God promoted him. For before he was translated to the heavenly realm his life had become a pleasure to God.
6 And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.
It’s your faith that pleases God! It’s when you take your misplaced values, and even your good old fashion horse-sense, your knowledge, your intellect, and place it at the altar of God, and speak boldly with confidence—“God, I’ll trust you. I’ll follow you, I’ll walk on some water with you!”
Matthew 14:28-33NKJV And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
See this, Peter’s water-walking-skills, (actually his faith), convinced the other disciples that Jesus was the Son of God!
Wow, your faith will convince others—Faith is contagious—its catching!
Going back to Elisha Otis for a minute. I know, cutting the rope doesn't seem safe. Can I tell you what's not safe? Playing it safe!
In fact, the greatest risk is taking no risk. Cutting the rope is about taking calculated risk.
When I say calculated, I'm talking about a risk-reward ratio. I'm not advocating blind leaps. Keep both eyes wide open, but you'd better not focus on the wind and waves. The only way to walk on water is to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus! And Well, you have to get out of the boat too!
Maybe be the first to give a thousand dollars to a special project. Be the first to say yes when the Holy Spirit is moving and watch what God does!
The other disciples had the same opportunity as Peter did, but they stayed put, they stayed in the boat. If you’re going to do great things for God, first you must be willing to get out of the boat! P.H
The Bible states in Matthew 14:32, When Peter and Jesus got back into the boat the wind ceased.
Ecclesiastes 11:4NKJV He who observes the wind will not sow, And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
Again, Matthew 14:30, When Peter looked around and saw the raging storm—the condition of the weather, he begin to sink.
Notice, When you begin to sink, that’s when Jesus steps up, that’s when He does His best work!
You testimony isn’t developed when everything goes well, No, your testimony becomes rock solid, kind of like concrete when you can’t get out, when all natural hope seems lost.
That’s when God steps up, that’s when He carries you. That’s when all conditions become just right for God to be glorified! Remember, He won’t share His glory. P.H
God say’s, “Trust Me, give Me your cares, give Me your anxiety, give Me your good times, give Me the bad times. He say’s, “I’ll carry you!”
Listen to Matthew 14:33TPT Then all the disciples bowed down before him and worshiped Jesus. They said in adoration, “You are truly the Son of God!”
“Your faith in God will demand a response from unbelief. Your faith in God will move and cause others to trust in God, and in return they too will move mountains.” P.H
There is one crucial verse in the Bible, it says in, Romans 14:23bTPT For anything we do that doesn’t spring from faith is, by definition, sinful.
Keep your opinions about what you can eat and what you shouldn’t eat to yourself, only allow your faith in God to move you.
I want to read to you some more hero’s of the faith. Hebrews 11:32-40TPT And what more could I say to convince you? For there is not enough time to tell you of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, 34 put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. Although weak, their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. 35 Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power.
Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured, and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection!
36 Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. 37 Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. 38 They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were.
39 These were the true heroes, commended for their faith, yet they lived in hope without receiving the fullness of what was promised them. 40 But now God has invited us to live in something better than what they had—faith’s fullness! This is so that they could be brought to finished perfection alongside of us.
As Elisha Otis believed in his Elevator break, he stood alone. If you decide to live in strong faith you too will sometimes stand alone.
When Elijah Otis pulled off this unforgettable sales pitch, there were only a few buildings in New York City taller than five floors. Why?
No one wanted to climb the stairs! It was next to impossible to rent top floor real estate. Then in 1854, Otis installed an elevator in a building on Broadway, and the rest is history.
By 1890, there were 10 buildings taller than 10 stories. By 1900, there were 65 buildings taller than 20 stories. And by 1908, there were 538 buildings in New York City that qualified as skyscrapers.
At last count, New York City has 58,000 elevators.
All because Elisha Otis one day said, “Cut the rope!” You see, Now day’s, the costly buildings are the highest, those that have a penthouse view!
All because of Elisha Otis!
Benediction.
