Taking The First Step
Text: Matthew 14:22-33
Introduction
1. Read Matt. 14:22-33
2. Illustration: The physics professor had just finished his lecture about the pendulum, wherein he had shown the mathematical proof that an untouched pendulum will always swing in ever-decreasing arcs.
He then asked for a volunteer to demonstrate this fact by standing against a wall with a pendulum bob against his chin, then releasing the bob and allowing the pendulum to swing naturally through its arc. The professor reminded the class that the bob would return to, but not quite touching, the chin. No one volunteered. Although the science students “believed” that this law was true, they were unwilling to put it to the test.
How like many of us in our relationship with God! We know the facts, but are unwilling to risk a step of faith based on them.
3. Many Christians talk about faith, but there are more talking about then acting upon it.
Proposition: If we want to walk on water, we have to get out of the boat.
Transition: First...
I. Taking a Step of Faith Requires Overcoming Your Fears (22-27)
A. Be Not Afraid
1. Jesus went up into the hills by himself to pray.
a. During his ministry on earth, Jesus was in constant contact with the Father--
b. He may have gone off alone to pray often, so his desire to do so may not have surprised the disciples, who departed in the boat as instructed.
2. The disciples had left sometime before sunset, so by the time night fell, they were far away from land. They got into trouble, however, facing strong wind and heavy waves.
a. The word "tossed" means to be tossed about with great force—Practical Word Studies in the New Testament
b. In this Scripture, it is a picture of being completely at the mercy of a force greater than any possible human resistance.
3. The storm arose while the disciples were working. They were doing exactly what Christ had told them to do, but the storm still came.
a. How true of life: storms come upon the just as well as upon the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
b. Even when we obey the Lord the storms of life can come our way, but he has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us.
4. Notice that Jesus did not come to them immediately because Matthew tells us that "in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them..."
a. Jesus didn’t come to them immediately because he wanted to teach them something (Horton, Complete Biblical Library, 307).
b. He needed to teach them to trust Him and to obey His command no matter what happened to them.
c. They were doing what He had told them to do, so they could trust His care and His will.
5. Next, Matthew tells us that when they saw Jesus "they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear."
a. From evening until about three o’clock in the morning, the disciples had been out on the sea, much of that time fighting a strong headwind and high waves. Jesus came to them, walking on the water.
b. Suddenly, in the predawn mist, Jesus came walking toward them on the water. They reacted in terror, imagining that they were seeing a ghost.
6. Jesus called out to them saying "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."
a. The literal reading for "it is I" is "I am"; it is the same as saying "the I AM is here."
b. Jesus, the great "I AM," came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need.
c. Their need was real; their fear was real. But in the presence of Jesus, fear can be dismissed.
B. Perfect Love
1. A young couple, very much in love, were getting married in church. However, Sue the wife was very nervous about the big occasion and so the minister chose one verse that he felt would be a great encouragement to them.
The verse was 1 Jn 4:18 which says:
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear” ( Jn 4:18)
Rather unwisely, the minister asked the best man to read it out and to say that the minister had felt that this was a very apt verse for Sue and that he would be preaching on it later in the service.
However the best man was not a regular churchgoer. And so he did not know the difference between John’s Gospel and the first letter of John.
So he introduced his reading by saying that the minister felt was a very apt verse for Sue. But he read John 4:18, which says “You have five husbands and the one that you now have is not your husband.”
2. Fear can do amazing things to a person. It:
a. Warns us when danger is near.
b. Keeps us out of dangerous situations.
3. However, it can also keep from being what God wants us to be and doing what God wants us to do.
4. It is one of the devil’s biggest weapons.
5. Rom. 8:37-39 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6. We don’t have to fear, because if God is for us who can be against us!
Transition: Secondly...
II. Taking a Step of Faith Requires Getting Out of the Boat (28-29)
A. He Walked On Water
1. When Peter heard Christ’s voice, he was stirred.
2. He asked permission to join Christ. Peter’s request was most unusual, and it has always baffled some persons.
3. We must picture the scene:
a. the physical and mental exhaustion;
b. the hours of struggle for survival against the storm;
c. the fear that strikes when thoughts of death face a person for so many long and unbroken hours;
4. Peter thought he was dying. A man in such a condition wants to be saved and delivered from danger. Peter knew Jesus, both His power and His love: "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
a. Peter was not putting Jesus to the test, something we are told not to do (4:7). Instead, he was the only one in the boat who reacted in faith.
b. His impulsive request to also walk on water led him to experience a rather unusual demonstration of God’s power.
5. Jesus’ presence in the storm caused Peter to exercise a fearless faith.
a. But notice that he did so only with Jesus’ command to come.
b. Jesus’ command was, "Come." The word is strong; Christ was not merely giving Peter permission to come; He was commanding Peter.
6. Notice also that he asked only to do what Jesus was doing; that is, he wanted to share in Jesus’ power, some of which the disciples had already been experiencing (10:1).
B. Stepping Out
1. Illustration: Imagine, if you will, a wire stretched between the Arvest Bank building and the Court House on the square in our town. A lone individual stands atop the bank building and announces his intent to walk across the wire to the other building. Of course, a crowd has gathered below because what he intends is a bit strange (needless to say). The tightrope walker asks the crowd if they believe he can make it across. They nod in assent (who would be dumb enough to try without a reasonable chance?). Carefully, slowly he teeters his way across almost falling. Reaching the other side he holds up a wheelbarrow and asks the crowd if they think he could push it across before him. Some nod in assent. Some shrug their shoulders in response. The tightrope walker then singles out a man and yells down to him, ’Sir, do you think I can make it?’ The response is affirmative so the walker says, ’Then prove your faith by riding in the wheelbarrow.’ Christ calls to us personally, saying He will guide us over life with its dangers. Would you ride in the wheelbarrow?
2. Sometimes Jesus commands us to "come" just like he did Peter.
a. When we are scarred
b. When we are confused
c. When we are not sure
d. When we are tired
3. We have got to be willing to do what Peter did - get out of the boat.
a. Only if we get out of the boat will we experience the power of God.
b. Only if we get out of the boat will we receive the blessings of God.
c. Only if we get out of the boat will we know the joy of the will of God.
4. If we stay in the boat we will never:
a. Be who God wants us to be
b. Do what God wants us to do
c. Receive what God wants us to have
5. As we will see next, he did doubt and begin to sink, but at least he got out of the boat!
Transition: Thirdly...
III. Taking a Step of Faith Requires Trust (31-33)
A. You of Little Faith
1. Matthew tells us in verse 30, "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me."
a. Peter started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the high waves around him.
b. His faith was strong enough to trust that he could walk on the water. But when he realized that he was in a terrifying storm, his faith wavered.
c. Heb. 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith (NASB).
2. Although we start out with good intentions, sometimes our faith falters. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have failed.
a. When Peter’s faith faltered, he reached out to Christ, the only one who could help.
b. He was afraid, but he still looked to Christ.
c. When you are apprehensive about the troubles around you and doubt Christ’s presence or ability to help, you must remember that he is the only one who can really help. —Life Application Bible Notes
3. Notice what it says in verse 31, "And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand..."
a. Jesus’ immediate response showed Peter that divine under girding and power are present in times of testing.
b. Jesus grabbed Peter, saving him from drowning in the waves.
c. Even when we falter, and even when we doubt, Jesus is always there to come to our rescue.
4. Jesus then rebukes Peter’s lack of faith, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
a. "Why did you doubt me?" (NLT)
b. It wasn’t the water that he doubted.
c. It wasn’t the wind that he doubted.
d. It was Jesus that he doubted.
B. Trust
1. Illustration: Faith is unutterable trust in God, trust which never dreams that He will not stand by us.” — Oswald Chambers
2. Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
3. Faith is all about trust.
a. Not trust in ourselves.
b. Not trust in our abilities.
c. Not trust in our resources.
4. Real faith is about trust in God.
a. Trust in His grace
b. Trust in His mercy
c. Trust in His power
d. Trust in His love
5. Faith is about trusting in God even when we cannot see the outcome.
a. It is the evidence of things not seen.
b. I can’t see it, but God can.
c. I can’t touch it, but God can.
d. I can’t hear it, but God can.
Transition: Who is your trust in?
Conclusion
1. Taking a step of faith requires:
a. Overcoming your fears
b. Getting out of the boat
c. Trusting in God
2. Are you ready to get out of the boat?
