Take Courage
Intro: Here we have a story where Jesus did a miracle and helped someone else do a miracle… The story has a lot of significant details: after this… (after feeding 5000 men), Jesus insisted…, he went up into the hills to pray alone…
Matthew 14:22 Immediately after this, (feeding 5 thousand) Jesus insisted (??) that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Hesitation make you see things that are not there.
25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
Jesus is coming for you
He has been praying… and praying for you!
Rom 8:34 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, (praying) pleading for us.
Fear makes you hesitate, doubt yourself, believe that it won’t work out,
Some of us got stuck here, and stalled in what we fear
Fear: being accepted, being unwanted, being gossiped about, being hurt, being laughed at, being ugly, being poor, being the parent of a deformed child, dying young, dying away from,
Fear causing the thing you are afraid of, to come toward you
Take courage
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here”
You can find these words about 7 times in the New Testament
The King James Version says “ “be of good cheer” (keep control of your emtions)
Take Heart (some Bible translations say this).
365 times the Bible says “do not be afraid”
But how does a person TAKE courage?
You have choices in a fear filled situation: take fear, take trembling, take running away, or TAKE COURAGE
When you can’t feel His presence, it says more about you than about Him!
It says you have tuned out, focused on other things, turned him off in your heart
His presence brings EVERYTHING!
In His presence there is fullness of joy! (Psa 16:11)
Ways to take courage: (use ALL your resources!)
Acknowledge your fear.
Confront it. ...
Use positive self-talk. ...
Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. ...
Make being brave a habit. ...
Practice mindfulness. ...
Find a mentor. ...
Embrace failure.
I. Places that take courage to be there: Saying you are sorry, being yourself, taking responsibility, keeping commitments, saying no, forgiving
Ask big
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
COME?: water walking can’t be done! Right? Have you ever felt water to be solid?
Could Peter have asked for anything larger?
Satan tells you “play it safe”. Run Away, hesitate,
Have you ever walked on water? Challenge him to ask you!
No PHD has ever walked on water.
No matter how much of God you have had: there is more
New levels of joy/fulfillment/giftedness/understanding/wisdom
Don’t JUST ask Him to heal, provide, restore, build. Ask Him to teach you something new!
Conclusions: 1.I have got terrifying things that I have to face…