"Get Out of the Boat"

August 9, 2015                                                                      

Acts 4:5-12, Matt. 14:22-33

Story: A man was hired to paint lines on a newly resurfaced portion of interstate highway. The first day he painted 109 miles, and his supervisor, impressed by such an effort, told him he would recommend a promotion and pay raise if he kept up that pace. But the next day he was able to paint only five miles. On the following day he did only one mile and when he reported in at quitting time he was fired. It isn't my fault, he muttered as he walked away shaking his head. I kept getting farther away from the can.

J. Walter Cross of Bradenton, Florida

Prayer

We continue in our series Wandering Pilgrims. Last week we reflected about the wandering and waiting, and wilderness times we often feel in life. Jesus tells us there will be times like this throughout life and within our church lives as well. This is a normal experience in life and often these times are important times of learning and I hope we learn some things along this journey.

Today we will reflect on a reason we often find ourselves in wandering wilderness times. Furthermore, today’s focus could be an opportunity to end the wandering times… if we are willing to…  “Get Out of the Boat”

I want to tell you an amazing thing I can do… I can walk on water… YES… I can walk on water and you can too.

In college I had a classmate named Joseph… he was from Kenya, and he over-heard our professor commending me for going to college as an older person…. The prof likened it to walking on water…Joseph… the said, “by the end of your time here you will have the opportunity to walk on water…” Come January… Joseph walked on water.

Often during wilderness times we feel little hope. Quite often, we have a woe is me attitude. We typically feel worthless and helpless, and unable to do anything. We often only see our limitations and not the opportunities. The same is true for churches.

Many times our church loses focus on the main thing being the main thing, thus becoming self-serving and self-centered. In a sense… “Getting Out of the Boat” is a kick in the behind that opens our eyes to a needed perspective change. So… if you want to walk on water, then you need “Get Out of the Boat.”

Our bible story today is a familiar one. Peter takes a risk and we often see it as a failure… a failure of faith. Jesus says, “You of little faith.” However, this story isn’t only about Peter, but also about the other 11 who make no attempts to do anything.

So… in reality this is  a story about Fear and Trust.

Let’s look at these two attributes

 “FEAR”

John Ortberg in his book “If you want to walk on water, you got to get out of the boat” says,

 “There are 366 “FEAR NOT’S” in the bible, one for everyday of the year including 1 for Leap Year.”

Why do we fear so much? Why are we so afraid to do things? When we were younger we didn’t think too much about doing things… we just did them. Many times they worked out, and sometimes they didn’t, but generally we would continue to try things.

Many of us live in a constant tension between fear & trust.

Maybe you experienced this as a parent or child… your child is on a platform and you call out to her to jump… I will catch you… trust me… I’m your father or mother… I will catch you… I love you and I won’t let you drop. How many times did we jump? How many times did our kids jump?

Yet… fear still grips us and Fear paralyzes us… fear stops us from experiencing the joy of accomplishment.

We do this in the church as well. When churches stop trying out of fear or of failing, or the fear of not having enough money, enough people, enough leaders, etc. we lose. Sometimes we fear succeeding… new people will come… things will change… things will be different... it won’t be Lutheran. When we fear too much… fear will always win the day.

Fear however, can be a good thing… when a small child touches a hot stove… the fear of being burned is good. However, most of the time we fear for no reason at all. Jesus tells Peter, “Don’t be afraid… Don’t worry I’m here.”

I wonder how much ministry DOES NOT happen because of fear.

I wonder how much ministry DOES NOT happen because of the Fear Limitations we place on ministry... Not Enough Money… Never did it that way… is it Lutheran… I’m too old… etc.

 “TRUST”

Jesus says to the 12, “Surely you don’t have much faith.” Some translations say, “You of little faith” or “you don’t believe because you have no faith.”

Futurist Leonard Sweet in his book “I Am A Follower” the Way, Truth, and Life of Following Jesus, says; “Church culture has fashioned such an addiction to safety and security. If we cannot plot a future path with visible surety then we cannot imagine God would call us or lead us down it. But the way of the cross is one of trust, and it is trust that leads us to obedience in following the Master wherever he leads. The path may be uncertain, but for the trusting pilgrim, the One we follow will never steer us wrong.” (pg. 125)

You See… if we must first quantify what we do we will never do anything. And if we don’t trust in God to lead us, then there’s no sense in being Church. Because… when we lack in trust, and are fearful… it will kill the church. It will kill your faith… and in all likelihood… kill you too.

You See… Trust says “JUMP”….. Fear says “NO”

Why does Peter walk on water initially?

Why does a church stop growing?...

When Jesus calls Peter to come out of the boat…. He believes Peter can walk on water… and at that point Peter believes and trusts Jesus he really can walk on water too. Peter believes and trusts he can do what his rabbi is doing. Then Peter begins to fear and sink… Jesus still believes he can do it. Contrary to how we read the story, Peter hasn’t lost faith in Jesus. Peter loses faith that he could do what his rabbi is doing. Peter and the others have lost faith in themselves…. The others didn’t even try.

Rob Bell in his book “Velvet Elvis” says, “If the Rabbi calls you to be his disciple, then he believes you can actually be like him… what frustrates Jesus most is when his disciples lose faith in themselves.”

Closing:

Are you willing to have faith and trust in Jesus?

Are you willing to take a risk to get out of the boat and walk on water?

Are you willing to jump in trust?

The church needs you!

Jesus Needs you!

Our faith needs you!

Jesus believes you can do this!!!!

Jesus believes we can do this!!!!

DO YOU????