Did any heads turn when you stepped out in faith?
Did anyone gasp at your decision to step out in faith?
Did anyone critique your decision?
The Story…
Mat 14:22 As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people.
Mat 14:23 With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
Mat 14:24 Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves.
Mat 14:25 At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water.
Mat 14:26 They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
Mat 14:27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Mat 14:28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
Mat 14:29 He said, “Come ahead.” Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. (MESS)
In this story Peter chooses to obey Jesus even though all the natural knowledge and instincts were telling him, “No don’t do it!”
Have you heard the voice of God? It’s that nagging feeling that you can’t get rid of. It’s like your conscience gnawing away at you on the inside except when it’s God’s voice there’s an urgency attached to it. You can ignore it for 30 years but it still feels more urgent every year.
WHEN WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND OBEY GOD?
It’s vital to hear the voice of God
We get caught up in the hum drum of daily lives. God waits patiently by. He has already spoken the command to us and we are preoccupied with the petty unimportant trivialities of life.
When will you obey Him?
Mary and Martha
Luk 10:38 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home.
Luk 10:39 She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.
Luk 10:40 But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.”
Luk 10:41 The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.
Luk 10:42 One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it–it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”
What are you fussing over while the most important issue goes unchecked in your inbox?
Come on, be honest – you heard God calling you!
WHEN WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND OBEY GOD?
What has He called you to do?
MY STORY
When I was at Uni – I wanted to serve God. That was passion, commitment and dedication talking. But what was God saying? “Get a job!”
Can you hear God say what you don’t want to hear?
Then later when I’m settled into to a high paying job, God calls – “Now come and work for me” So now I ask God directly, What do you want me to do? He responds with these words etched into my heart; “What good is an arrow that never flies, what good is a wind that never blows, what good is a fire that never burns?”
God usually speaks in a way that you least expect and couldn’t make it up.
I was expecting a “Yes” or “Wait on me” or “Your time has not yet come”
WHEN WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND OBEY GOD?
So many times we have heard it and we discount that word.
Gideon
Jdg 6:34 GOD’s Spirit came over Gideon. He blew his ram’s horn trumpet and the Abiezrites came out, ready to follow him.
Jdg 6:35 He dispatched messengers all through Manasseh, calling them to the battle; also to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali. They all came.
Jdg 6:36 Gideon said to God, “If this is right, if you are using me to save Israel as you’ve said,
Jdg 6:37 then look: I’m placing a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If dew is on the fleece only, but the floor is dry, then I know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said.”
Jdg 6:38 That’s what happened. When he got up early the next morning, he wrung out the fleece–enough dew to fill a bowl with water!
Jdg 6:39 Then Gideon said to God, “Don’t be impatient with me, but let me say one more thing. I want to try another time with the fleece. But this time let the fleece stay dry, while the dew drenches the ground.”
Jdg 6:40 God made it happen that very night. Only the fleece was dry while the ground was wet with dew.
God’s been speaking to you for years!!! When are you going to acknowledge it?
When are you going to respond? Will you live your whole life wondering what could have been?
WHEN WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND OBEY GOD?
Obedience has a cost.
The disciples
Luk 5:10 And so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon (Peter). And Jesus said to Simon, Have no fear; from now on you will be catching men!
Luk 5:11 And after they had run their boats on shore, they left everything and joined Him as His disciples and sided with His party and accompanied Him.
MY STORY
Five years at Uni. I had a new job an Electrical Engineer paying well. My whole career was ahead of me. I came to work for a church in an unskilled position for a quarter of the pay. Then after about 6 months the church went through a financial crisis and my pay was halved. We learned faith. Is God our provider or not?
WHEN WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND OBEY GOD?
Fear will stop you obeying God.
Peter
Mat 14:26 They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.
Mat 14:27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
Mat 14:28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”
The mind is often an adversary in your walk with God. It will think of a huge number of reasons why obeying God is a bad idea. Think of Peter’s dilemma. How experts would be happy to give you advice that walking on water is just impossible?
Fear will target your insecurity.
If I obey God how will I provide for myself?
Wrong – God is your provision.
Fear will target what others think.
If I obey God every one will think that I am a fanatic, unbalanced, crazy even!
Wrong – Psa_118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? [AMP]
Ultimately, eternity will tell the story of your obedience.
In a million years from now – what will really be important to you?
What decisions will really impact eternity?
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. (AMP)
I want to draw your attention to what God has called you to do. Not the day to day little acts of obedience, though they are important, but to what the big picture call is saying to you.
That has God asked of you – what has He called you to do?
WHEN WILL YOU GET OUT OF THE BOAT AND OBEY GOD?
Put aside fears, forget what others will say about you, look past the inconvenience of today and get out of the boat!
YOUR NEXT STEP
Go and talk to the most respected man or woman of God that you know and have access to and share your decision to obey the call of God.
craigmanderson 