Sermon Central
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Get Out Of The Boat Series
Contributed by Bill Burnett on Jan 30, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Do you want to grow in your relationship with Christ? Are you having a hard time making that first step? This passage encourages you to put your trust in God and help you get out of the boat of your life.
#2343
Stepping Out Of The Boat: Daring To Live The Life That God Has For You!
Going To The Next Level Series
Let me ask you a few questions today…
How many would like to move forward in your relationship with Christ?
How many have felt like you’ve been stuck in a rut?
In talking to a lot of people – I’m finding that people are not satisfied with where they are. They want more.
The problem lies in the fact that too many churches tell people that they need to move forward but don’t give them an opportunity to move forward.
People have dreams and ministries locked up inside them – not knowing how to go to the next level.
It is my desire that I personally and this church move to the next level What is it that God wants us to attain.
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.”
These are things that could have been done but couldn’t because people couldn’t bring their dreams to realization.
Mat 14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
Mat 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Mat 14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Mat 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to 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 ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
Mat 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
Mat 14:28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
Mat 14:29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
Mat 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
Mat 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Mat 14:32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Mat 14:33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
Mat 14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
FIVE THINGS REGARDING MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Before we start moving forward… we need to discover some things about where we are in our relationship with God.
1. God Has A Plan For Me And Its Good – v.22
Mat 14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
The disciples had just been involved in the intensive situations.
They had to deal with the murder of John the Baptist and go through the grieving process of that.
Immediately afterwards they were thrown into a ministry situation where they were to feed 5,000 people and the only food they had was five loaves and two fish.
Ministry is draining at times. It’s exhausting. Sometimes we run on adrenaline. When the adrenaline drops… so do we.
Knowing this… Jesus decided that it was in the best interest of the disciples that they get away for a while.
They needed some R and R. They needed to be refreshed and spend some alone time with God.
It’s… Come apart before you come apart.
It’s at times like this that we often resist God because we don’t feel that He understands our life and the direction that we’re going.
There was an officer in the navy who had always dreamed of commanding a battleship.
