Water Walkers: Accept Fear as the Price of Growth

Introduction:

In Mt. 14:28-33 – Peter joins Jesus in the sea. Remember… these verses are a real-life, physical example of what happens all the time in our spiritual life. Peter joined Jesus in the water.  Jesus asks us to respond to Him as Peter did. Are we prepared to respond to Jesus in this way? Christianity is not about asking Jesus to get in the boat with us; it is about getting out of the boat & joining Jesus where He is….in the water! When we are challenged spiritually…it is not always pleasant. Fearful situations can and will come up. How do we respond?

I.  The disciples were clearly in a fearful situation.

A.     14:25-27 – disciples to learn a great lesson: trusting Jesus during the storm.

B.      Yet…these verses indicated there was a moment they didn’t recognize Him.

C.     Are we really any different?

D.    In our darkest hours, we can forget He is nearby – even if things are really rough.

1.      We forget that fear is a part of life and must be turned into opportunities to grow; to develop trust in God.

II. We must learn to cope with our fears.

A.     Fear can be a destructive force that plagues all Christians at times.

1.      Talking about fear in spiritual realm. It can destroy us if we yield to it.

B.      Fear is not of God.

1.      God is not the author of fear.

a)      What is there for God to fear?

b)      Psa. 62:11; Mt. 28:18 – why should we, His children, be fearful?

2.      Consider Psa. 37:1-5, 23-26, 39-40

C.     If the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and if God upholds the good man with his hand, then He must be with us all the time!

1.      Remember that God is there, not far from us.

2.      The fear we experience can teach us to grow and trust more in God.

III. We must learn to resist the negative, the ghosts of life.

A.     Mt. 14:26 – disciples thought Jesus to be a spirit, a ghost.

1.      When we fail to see Jesus and give into our fears – we begin to imagine what is not real at all.

B.      Normal anxiety/reasonable fear becomes compounded when we get carried away with wrong thinking.

C.     We should not let fear push us into “wrong thinking.”

1.      Ghost of wasted time?  Ghost of grudges? Ghost of compromise? Ghost of blame?

D.    The storms we face are really where God is at work.

1.      He seeks to reveal Himself in His saving, keeping, and preserving power.

2.      The storm has a purpose. Js. 1:2-4; 4:7-8a, 1 Cor. 10:13; Heb. 13:5-6

3.      It is the price for growth.

Conclusion:

A.     God does not want His children to be filled w/anxiety & worry. He fills us with hope that He is there, and will always be there.  He will take care of His children.

B.      Are you His child? If not, why not?