walks in water

If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.

Chapter 1.

ON WATER WALKING

"It's not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.. who at best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly. So that his place will never be with those cold timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt


* Water-Walkers Recognize God's Presence

In the midst of waves and the storm the disciples didn't recognize Jesus but rather believed saw a ghost in the middle of the sea. They were terrified and cried out in fear. I wonder how they could have failed to know it was Jesus. Who else could it be? But Matthew wants us to know that sometimes it takes eyes of faith to recognize when Jesus is around. Often in the middle of the storm, tormented by waves of disappointment and doubt, we are no better at recognizing his presence than they were.

Jesus pass them by..

to pass by (by garland) - 'striking and temporary appearances in the earthly realm to a select individual or group for the purpose of communicating a message. "

ex. Moses, Elijah

In each case God had to get peoples attention. With each person God was going to call them to do something extraordinary. In each situation each person felt afraid. But everytime that people said "yes" to their calling, they experienced the power of God in their lives.

So when Jesus pass the disciples he was revealing his divine presence and power.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER: That OBEDIENCE is no guarantee of being spared adversity.

Human extremity is the frequent meeting place with God.

God is presnt even in the most unlikely place.

* Water-Walkers Discern Between Faith and Foolishness.

This is not just a story about risk-taking; it is primarily a story about obedience

Courage alone is not enough, it must be accompanied by wisdom and discernment.

Not a story about extreme sports. It's extreme discipleship.


* Water-Walkers Get Out of the Boat

Boat= safe, secure, and comfortable
Whatever you are tempted to put your trust in.

Water = rough
Waves = high
Wind = strong

You were made for something more the merely avoiding failure. There is something inside you that wants to walk on the water - to leave the comfort of routine existence and abandon yourself to the high adventure of following God.

Boat = Whatever pulls you away from the high adventure of extreme discipleship.
= Your fear will tell you about your boat.

What produces fear in me - especially when I think of leaving it behind and stepping out in faith.?

What is your boat? In what areas of your life are you shrinking back from fully and courageously trusting God? Leaving it may be the hardest thing you ever do.

*Water Walkers Expect Problems.

Peter goes to the side of the boat. he puts his foot in the water while carefully gripping the edge of the boat. Then he does something religious - he lets go.

Then it happens. "Peter saw the wind."

He was terrified. Nothing has really changed, though. The storm should have come as no surprise - it's been there all along. What has really taken place is that Peter's focus has shifted from the Savior to the storm.

Risk lock - a condition which like gridlock, leaves us unable to do anything or go anywhere.

everything is risky

Like hitting a homerun, if you don't step up in the plate and hold on to the bat you will never know the glory of hitting a homerun. You may strike out but it's alright because you can handle your bat better to hit your homerun. The best batters are those that had 2 strike outs..

everything is risky

*Water -Walkers Accept Fear as the Price of Growth.

You've got to get out of the boat a little everyday.

Deep truth about water walking: The fear will never go away. Why? Because each time I want to grow, it will involve going into new territory, taking new challenges.

"The fear will never go away, as long as I continue to grow." - Susan Jeffers

Fear and growth go together like macaroni and cheese.

*Water Walkers Master Failure Management

Failure is not an event, but rather a judgement about an event. It is a way we think about outcomes.

"I never failed anything in my life. I was given a second chance opportunity to get it right." - Winston Churchill.

Only Peter know the glory of walking in water another eleven people were failures sitting in the boat.

The worst failure is nor to sink in the waves. The worst failure is to never get out of the boat.

*Water-Walkers See Failures as an Opportunity to Grow.