Miracles, Part 2: Walking on Water

Theme verse:   (John 14:12)  "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." Title of my message:   Walking on Water   (Matthew 14:22-23)  "Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,"   (Matthew 14:24) "but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it." (Matthew 14:25-26)  "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear." (Matthew 14:27)  "But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."" (Matthew 14:28)  "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." (Matthew 14:29)  "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:30-31) "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"" (Matthew 14:32-33) "And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.""   Have you ever been consumed by your circumstances?   We feel far away from help.   (Mark 6:47)  "When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake…"   (Psalm 10:1) "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"   We get blinded by our problems.   (Matthew 14:24)  "…but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it."   We struggle to fix it ourselves. (Mark 6:48)  "He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them."   We have a hard time recognizing God.   (Mark 6:49-50)  "…but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified."   VIDEO  (I will put it on dropbox later) How to position ourselves for a Miracle   1.  Open up to the supernatural.   (Matthew 14:25)  "During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake."   (John 3:12)  "I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?"   2.  Get out of the boat.   (Matthew 14:29)  "Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus."   "Everything is risky.  If you're looking for absolute safety, you chose the wrong species."  (2 Corinthians 4:18)  "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."   3.  Don't try to figure it out.   (Matthew 14:30-31)  "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!'  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'"   (1 Corinthians 2:14)  "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."   4.  Give Him all the glory.   (Matthew 14:32-33) "And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, 'Truly you are the Son of God.'"   (Romans 11:36)  "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."   For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.