Get Out of the Boat and Give God a Testimony

Mat 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained [ compelled] his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Mat 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Mat 14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed [ tortured tormented] with waves: for the wind was contrary.
[opposite against]
Mat 14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night [ 3- 6 a.m.] Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Mat 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; [ always think it is devil]and they cried out for fear.
Mat 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid [ command order] me come unto thee on the water.
Mat 14:29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw the wind boisterous,[ forcible mighty] he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Mat 14:32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Mat 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

• • They are straining at the oars (Mk 6:48)
  • 3.5 miles from land (Jn 6:19)
  • Lit “tormented by the waves” (Mt, v24)
  • Because of what is around us and we have given ourselves to our surroundings dictating our emotions which declares what we feel and believe if it is stormy we begin to sink.

Three types of storms

• Natural storms – we live in a fallen world, and some of the troubles we face are simply that – natural disasters
  • Rain falls on just and unjust
• Storms of correction – Like the storm sent to the boat Jonah rode to escape the call to preach to Nineveh. These usually last until we turn from our false course.
• Storms of perfection – Storms that God uses to build our strength and our faith. God doesn’t rescue us immediately. They are like the silversmith’s refining fire, where the raw silver ore is kept in the hottest flame until all the impurities are burned away, and it becomes strong, pure metal.

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• According to the Holy Scriptures, human extremity is the frequent meeting place with God
• At least four had been professional fishermen on this very lake, and were well aware of the danger to their lives. Despite the efforts of 12 men, their boat was making no progress. Jesus, walking on the water, easily caught up to them. The disciples were exhausted and afraid. When they caught sight of Jesus, they thought it was a ghost and screamed. Mark 6:52 says “They still did not understand the significance of the miracle of the multiplied loaves, for their hearts were hard and they did not believe.” Even today, we often fail to recognize the presence of Christ.
• Our inclination when we are in a storm is to stay safe in our boat,
  • It is logical to stay in the boat
• When we do not have enough money to pay our monthly bills and the pastor actually would dare to preach the word of god and actually believe that if I give god will bless
• Doesn’t he understand that I cant afford to give 10% tithe and offerings yes he understands that you cant afford to but if you do it for awhile you will be able to afford to do a whole lot more
  • I am just going to stay in my boat
    • Praise dance shout Witness give of my time pray w/ my family commit and follow through
    • God doesn’t run and hide while we are in the storms
      • Only God JOB 9:8 ..Alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.”
      • He is drawn to us
    • You don’t just step out and walk on water this is about OBEDIENCE

Mar 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

• Got used to became common no expectation
  • Mar 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
    
  • Mar 6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, [ doonamis dyno move things out of the way abundant miraculous] save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
    
  • Mar 6:6 And he marveled [ left an impression] because of their unbelief. [ apisteeah less than faithfull disobedient] And he went round about the villages, teaching.
    
• I know we are always concerned because of the fear of the unknown but too many times we are frozen by fear because to us jesus is unknown
  • Mar 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would [determined chose intended] have passed [ come beside approach] by them.
    
  • EX 33:18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
    
  • EX 33:19 And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you (paraerchomai), and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion
    Elijah’s too. 1KI 19:11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”
• it is the same as someone knocking on your door and saying o yea I was just in the neighborhood and thought I would drop by
  • 2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;)
    
  • 2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
    
  • 2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
    
  • 2Co 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s.

We have our shield of faith

• • When we really walk w/ god in faith his voice is so real to us we will get out of the safety of a boat and walk on a deadly storm
  • Faith will cause us to get wet
  • Script says out of your belly will flow rivers of living water the prophet ezek 47 said that water flowed from the altar and it became waters so powerful and strong that they could not be crossed
  • And everything the waters touched was healed and there was a great multitude of fishes
  • But the man 1st had to get off the shore and into the waters
  • Hesitation and delay is a a trick of the enemy but peter immediately stepped onto the waves
  • He had not sunk all the way but he was sinking

Heb 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Luk 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
Luk 7:38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Luk 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:…

• • faith gets the attention of god , because it brings out the best in god
  • when god testifies of our goodness