Sermon Central
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Save Nothing For The Next Life
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Jul 4, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: Thoughts gathered after reading the book Last Arrows for a Men's Meeting.
Dare to believe that you can walk on water
Greetings-
Prayer-
Question-
How many of you were raised that you had a positive mentor in your life? Someone you felt you could ask anything?
Most guys have a lot of acquaintances, but few friends they are comfortable with to talk about personal things.
They say that if you get a few good friends in your lifetime, that you have accomplished much. I must be fortunate because I have a good number of good friends.
“We are better together” that is what my sign says outside- we need each other and we need to realize that we need each other.
The way I am now and the way I grew up as a kid and young adult is different. Because I did not feel I needed anybody. I had a hard time trusting anybody to have my back.
My mother raised my brother and I and she was tough- she was both the father and mother- the hardest thing for me as a Christian was to believe that Jesus has your back and that He cares for me. That I didn’t have to perform and I didn’t know how to reach out to a male figure because my dad was never there. I had a great uncle and wonderful grandfather, but it is not the same.
The scripture text tonight is right after John is beheaded(cousin) and Jesus feeds the 5000- Jesus is hurt because of John and ministering to the needs of those who are following Him.
Do you dare to get past your past and walk on water with Jesus?
Illustration-
They built a plexiglass walkway on the Sea of Galilee. It was to mimic Jesus walking on the water and so you can experience the feeling of walking on the water.
To onlookers- they appear to be walking on water
To those doing it- they had a feeling of walking on water.
Can you picture the advertizing? Come see the place that Jesus preached. Visit the city of Capernaum. Walk on the sea Galilee as Jesus did.
JESUS DESIRES THAT WE WALK ON WATER- DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
Greater things you will do in my name!
TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT POSSIBLE IN OURSELVES.
JESUS HAD JUST FED THE 5000- THAT IS IMPRESSIVE
WITH A BOYS LUNCH OF A FEW FISH AND SOME BREAD.
MOSES WAS SENT TO PHAROAH TO SET THE JEWS FREE- GOD ASKS MOSES… WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND?
MY SHEPHERDS STAFF. THROW IT DOWN MOSES! GOD TURNS THAT SHEPHERDS HOOK INTO A SNAKE. PHAROAHS MAGICIANS DID THE SAME. GOD TELLS MOSES TO GRAB THE SNAKES BY THE TAIL AND PICK THEM UP!
IF God is in it, there is a risk. It will be something that you cannot totally do by your means.
Do you think that we cannot do impossible things because we do not have the trust needed in Jesus?
We have our focus on situations and circumstances instead of on a miracle working God?
When things do not turn out the way we thought they should does not mean God has abandoned us or never shown up.
Illustration
The time I was in the hospital with Covid-19. I was unsure if I was coming home. It made me think and pray but it also made me reflect and praise.
It made me see how powerless I was in my own talents and abilities.
I could not get myself out of that hospital. God would have to do it.
God would have to give those doctors the ability to take my situation and turn it around.
My walking on water came after the Lord intervened and I was broken being wheeled out of that room to a waiting car with my wife in it.
I broke because I felt that God had done a miracle and I was walking on water because my savior had done something super natural for me!
If God is in it, there is risk and there has to be trust. Trust that no matter what happens He has got you!
Think about this-
Jesus waited that they were about 3-31/2 miles out into the lake.
Jesus was prayed up and they were scared.
Jesus went to them- in their storm.
The sea got choppy and all they saw was the storm- forgetting that Jesus had put them in the boat and told them to go to the other side.
Their nerves were shot and they were on their last nerve.
Battling storms wear us down and cause us to lose focus.
We may have fair weather when Jesus sends us out, and yet met with storms before we arrive where Jesus has sent us.
When they saw Jesus, they thought they were seeing a ghost- because of their past teachings and past experiences.
