“Get Out of the Boat”
Matthew 14:22-33
Opening:
(The Disciples Version of the Story)
It was the next night. They had gathered together as usual. Peter, of course, was running late. A crowd of friends had joined the group for dinner. Then Matthew brought up the story. “Last night Peter made a fool of himself again.” A voice rang out, “What did Peter do this time?” The crowd started laughing. Phillip spoke up, “Well we were all out in the boat when a fierce storm arose. It was about 3:00 o’clock in the morning and we saw what appeared to be a ghost. Then a voice spoke and we realized it was Jesus. He was actually walking on water. It was amazing!” James interrupted and said, “Then Peter opened his big mouth and asked if he could join the Master. He’s always trying to be the Lord’s favorite.” John added, “Yeah, but remember what happened next. Peter got out of the boat and almost immediately started to sink. Of course, Jesus rescued him by reaching out, grabbing his arm and pulling him up. But then he rebuked Peter for his lack of faith.” The other disciples and the group of friends roared with laughter. “Peter messed up again,” one said. Another replied, “He’s always finding a way to fail Jesus.” Then Andrew concluded, “My brother was lucky that Jesus was able to rescue him in the middle of that terrible storm last night. Hopefully he learned his lesson. Maybe next time he’ll stay in the boat with the rest of us.”
…And now the rest of the story…
(Peter’s Version of the Story)
I was on my way to dinner with the other disciples when I ran into an old fishing buddy. I was so excited about what had happened that I had to tell somebody. I started telling him the story: “You’ll never believe what happened last night. I was in a boat with the rest of the guys at about 3:00am. The winds and the waves started to rock the boat back and forth. We were caught in the middle of a terrible storm. Then out of nowhere we saw what appeared to be a ghost. The figure was walking on water. Then we heard his voice. It was the voice of Jesus. He told us not to be afraid. So I said, ‘Master, if it is you, then tell me to come to you on the water.’ He told me to get out of the boat and come. So that’s exactly what I did. Before I knew what was happening I was actually walking on water. It was amazing! Then all of a sudden I realized I was in the middle of a huge storm. I started watching the waves instead of Jesus. Then it happened. I started sinking under the water. Immediately I cried out to the Lord and begged him to rescue me. He reached out his hand and pulled me back up. He asked me why I ever doubted Him and encouraged me to have more faith next time. The other disciples just watched from the boat. I can’t believe they didn’t join me. Sure, I started to sink because of doubt, but at least I can say I’ve walked on water! Maybe they’ll learn from my experience and get out of the boat next time.
The challenge to you is this: Get out of the Boat!
All of you have a choice. You can stay in the boat and criticize those who step out. Or you can get out of the boat and say that you’ve walked on water. The choice is yours!
Background:
John the Baptist is beheaded by Herod (Matt. 14:1-12).
Jesus withdrew to a solitary place to mourn (Matt. 14:13).
The crowds followed Jesus and he ministered to them (Matt. 14:13-14).
Jesus miraculously feeds the crowd in the evening (Matt. 14:15-21).
Jesus sends the disciples away and dismisses the crowd (Matt. 14:22).
Jesus withdraws to a remote place to pray alone (Matt. 14:23).
A storm arises on the sea while the disciples are in the boat (Matt. 14:24).
Excuses for staying in the boat:
1. A Complacent Attitude
a. I’m fine where I am. Why do something different?
b. “One Stormy Night…” (see at end of sermon)
2. A Distorted View
a. The task is impossible. I could never do that.
b. “The Richest Place on Earth…” (see at end of sermon)
3. An Overwhelming Fear
a. What if I fail? What if I succeed?
b. "If you have a preconceived idea that you will fail rather than succeed, then you will succeed in failing and fail in succeeding.”
c. Thomas Edison Illustration – “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close to success they were when they gave up.”
Reasons for getting out of the boat:
1. Your Faith is Exercised
a. It took faith for Peter to make the first step out of the boat.
b. Peter saw this as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Initially he saw Jesus rather than the storm.
2. Your Faith is Examined
a. Jesus said, “You of little faith,” not “You of no faith.”
b. Peter’s faith wavered, but did not cease
3. Your Faith is Enhanced
a. He didn’t lose faith in himself, but instead faith in Jesus. He realized the true source of his faith.
b. Through this momentary failure Peter’s faith was challenged and enhanced.
How do I get out of the boat? How do I walk on Water?
Seven Steps to Walking on Water:
1. Recognize His Voice
a. “It is I” – The Hebrew equivalent is “I am.” The two statements are surrounded around the decisive self-disclosure of God statement: “It is I.”
b. “I am.” – Exodus 3:14, John 8:58
2. Remember Previous Victories
a. Year of Inauguration and Popularity had passed…Year of Opposition had begun (3rd Year of public ministry)
b. Jesus had turned water to wine, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, fed 5,000, and even calmed the storm in the past (Matt. 8:23-27).
3. Release Present Fears
a. Occurred during the fourth watch, between 3:00am and 6:00am.
b. Jesus was walking on the very thing they feared, Water! He was displaying his power over their fears.
4. Realize Your Potential
a. Peter understood that Jesus was not limited in His power. He was already able to do the impossible.
b. If Jesus could do it, why couldn’t Peter? Is it possible for Jesus to walk on water, but impossible for Jesus to cause Peter to walk on water?
5. Request Supernatural Help
a. Peter asked Jesus to allow him to walk on the water.
b. He knew that such a task was impossible on his own, but would require the supernatural power of God.
6. Remain Constantly Focused
a. The same faith that allowed him to walk on water is the faith he started to lose when he looked at the wind and the waves.
b. If the task is impossible without God then the only solution is to trust in God.
7. Receive Needed Correction
a. Peter was rebuked for his lack of faith.
b. Peter was saved by His amazing grace.
Conclusion:
You’ll never walk in water until you decide to get out of the boat!
Illustrations:
One stormy night, as the ship plowed through the seas, the captain was on duty on the bridge when off to the port he spotted a strange light rapidly closing with his own vessel.
Immediately he ordered the signalman to flash the message to the unidentified craft, "Alter your course ten degrees to the south."
Only a moment had passed before the reply came: "Alter your course ten degrees to the north."
Determined that his ship would take a backseat to no other, the captain snapped out the order to be sent: "Alter course ten degrees--I am the CAPTAIN!"
The response beamed back, "Alter your course ten degrees--I am Seaman Third Class Jones."
Now infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light with his own hands and fired off:
"Alter course, I am a battleship." The reply came back. "Alter your course, I am a lighthouse."
Example from Wayne Cadeiro’s book – Dream Releasers…
“The richest place on the earth is not the diamond mines of South Africa or the gold caches of Ecuador. It is not the oil fields of Saudi Arabia, or in the uranium excavations of the Balkans. Neither is it in the mineral deposits of the Dead Sea.
No, the richest plot of land on this planet is in your very own neighborhood. You might even have passed by it this morning.
It’s the cemetery.
That’s right! The graveyard is the wealthiest place in all of creation. Beneath those rectangular pieces of sod lie countless unsung melodies and unwritten poems. The grassy plots overflow with brilliant ideas that could have transformed entire communities, rehabilitated the lost and borne hope to the weary. Our burial grounds reek with unattained successes and unrealized dreams.”
Thomas Edison: “Never Give Up”
He was credited with 1,093 inventions. He produced the most patents of any one single individual, at least one a year for 65 consecutive years. He was named Life Magazine’s #1 Man of the Millennium. His name is Thomas Edison. However, when creating the incandescent light bulb, it took him over 10,000 tries to find the right materials to get it to work. I’m sure glad he didn’t give up at 9,999. He has been credited with this famous quote, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close to success they were when they gave up.”
