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A Little Faith Introduction: After feeding 5,000 people Jesus sent His disciples across the Sea of Galilee. They were sailing at night and the sea was rough. About 3 to 6 AM Jesus came walking up to the boat. How would you have reacted to Jesus walking up to the boat? Matthew 14.26-32 I) Peter Stepped Out Of The Boat A) Where were the other disciples? 1. They were content to remain in the boat and be silent. 2. Which was better, to have tried and failed or to never have tried? B) Consider the times we have to get out of the boat. 1. Opportunities we have to talk about the gospel, Acts 17.16-17 a. Usually we are afraid of rejection, saying the wrong thing, making others angry. There is risk to speaking up. b. It is easier to just be quiet and let someone else speak up. 2. We have opportunities to take part in worship (sing, pray, teach, preach, etc.) a. We can find all kinds of excuses to not try and let someone else do it. 3. Some people may be drowning in the boat. C) Peter sank but he did not drown 1. We may not have the results we want but we may still be succeeding, 1 Corinthians 3.6 2. It is better to have tried and failed than to not have tried at all. II) Peter Knew Where to Get Help A) Peter know only Jesus had the power to save him, v. 281. Have we learned that lesson? Phil. 4.13 2. How often somebody says, "I know what the Bible says but I cannot do that." a. You can do what the Bible says with faith and reliance. b. Look at the earlier feeding of the 5,000; only possible through Jesus.
d. Just a little faith, Matthew 17.20 3. The key is if Christ is with us, don’t go by yourself. B) Peter turned to Jesus for help. 1. He did not try to swim, go back to the boat, or call for a life line. 2. Where do we turn for help? a. Some try to handle all things by themselves and ignore help from others, 1 Corinthians 10.12 b. Pride keeps some people calling for help. c. Some go back into the world, family, friends, but not to Christ or their brethren. 3. Often we get angry at others and bury the bad attitudes inside. 4. We must be willing to turn to Jesus for help, James 4.6-7 5. He is our only source of salvation, John 6.68 III) Peter Kept Growing A) Peter did not quit 1. He preached on the Day of Pentecost, stood before the Sanhedrin, was put in prison, etc. 2. Peter grew to become an elder, 1 Peter 5.1 B) Quitting is a lack of faith and commitment 1. How many good works never were started and never completed due to a lack of faith? 2. Some quit for various reasons: When others criticize, when the work gets hard, when they make mistakes, when they see others not doing their work, when we think the cost is too high, etc. Conclusion: Peter walked on water so as to walk with Jesus. It may not have been for long but imagine what Peter saw for that brief period of time. How about you? Romans 6.3-4 D.T. @ Westside Church of Christ 12.10.06 |