Water Walkers: See Failure as an Opportunity to Grow

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Topic # 956 (trust in Jesus)

Introduction:

A.     Mt. 14:22-33 is the text of study today.

B.      Previous Lessons:

1.      Discussed the need to step out in faith…and how we can be held back in doing so.

a)      Apathy and distorted viewpoints lead to lifeless existences as Christians.

2.      Step out in faith…knowing that there will be problems that come our way.

a)      It is when we step out that it may feel we are at our weakest, most vulnerable moment – but we have success through our complete & total dependence on Jesus.

3.      Step out in faith…knowing that the fears we experience are the price of growth and that God will protect us no matter what.

C.     Mt. 14:28-33 – Peter joins Jesus in the sea.

1.      14:29 – Peter joins Jesus in the water. 

2.      14:30 – takes eyes off Jesus – gets scared – begins to sink.

3.      14:31 – Jesus reaches out, pulls him up.

4.      Remember… these verses are a real-life, physical example of what happens all the time in our spiritual life.

5.      Think of how we step out in faith – join Jesus in the water – then lose faith and begin to sink.

6.      How do we respond? Do we call out? What do we do?

 

I. A look at Peter’s life.

A.     Wonder how many times during Peter’s experiences as an apostle that he recalled the events of Matthew 14? The storm? His walking on water? His sinking and the lessons Jesus tried to teach early that morning in the boat on the Sea of Galilee.

1.      We often think of Peter as a rash individual – who often acted before thinking.

2.      While there are incidents where that could be argued, if we just look at him from that angle, we do Peter a great disservice.

3.      We often over criticize him, and fail to understand that we are in many ways just like him.

B.      How many times have you failed the test?

1.      God has called you to respond in faith…and you’ve failed to respond?

2.      Or…you did respond to God’s expectations, but the winds of doubt & waves of fear distracted you and you began to sink.

C.     Peter certainly failed the test at various times in his life, and failed miserably.  But, each time, he picked himself up.

D.    So must we.

II. Peter at the cross and his early ministry

A.     There would be times when the winds of doubt and waves of fear would strike again.  Who could forget Mt. 26:69-75?

1.      26:75b – he went out and wept bitterly.

2.      You think he’s sinking?  Gone under? What would we have done?

B.      When the rooster crowed, he got it. He realized what he did.

1.      Imagine his embarrassment…

a)      Mt. 26:31-35

2.      Imagine his remorse…

a)      When Jesus needed him most, he wasn’t there.

b)      26:57-58 – he only had the courage to follow at a distance.

c)      26:70, 72 – when someone asked, he denied that he was a follower of Jesus.

d)      26:74 – cursed and swore he didn’t know Jesus and had not been with Him.

3.      How could he ever face Jesus again? The other disciples?

4.      Don’t think for a moment that the devil wasn’t telling him it just wasn’t worth it!

C.     But John 21 tells us he didn’t quit. Jesus reached out to him, forgave him, and helped him stand in the Lord.

1.      21:17 – he finally understands the need to love Jesus w/a sacrificial love

2.      21:18-19 – Jesus calls Peter to serve God in faith – even to the point of violent death.

D.    And look at his response in the early church:

1.      The one who had sunk, gave in to fear & doubt…boldly proclaims the gospel of Christ.

2.      Acts 2:36-40

3.      Acts 3:14-15, 19-20

4.      Acts 4:9-12, 19-20

5.      Acts 5:29-32

 

II. Even after this, Peter was not perfect.

A.     Acts 10:34-35 – God shows no partiality. Able to save all men, Jew & Gentile.

B.      He preached it. Cornelius & family were accepted into God’s church.

1.      Acts 11:17-18 – Peter explained the Cornelius conversion story and the church glorified God.

2.      Acts 15:7-11 – Peter defended salvation of Gentiles at Jerusalem conference.

C.     But then we read Gal. 2:11-14.

1.      Certain brethren applied pressure on Peter to cease associating with “unclean” Gentiles.

2.      And Peter gave into the pressure – leading Barnabas and “other Jews” to do so as well.

D.    Make no mistake, Peter believed and preached the truth on this matter.

1.      Problem was that when the winds of doubt and waves of fear began to rock him, he did not live up to what he knew was right.

2.      So what did he do after this?  Quit? Give up? Or use the failed test as an opportunity to grow & learn from his mistake?

 

III. Peter viewed failure as an opportunity to grow.

A.     1 Peter 1:3-4; 6-9; 4:12-19 – look at the hope and confidence of this apostle.

B.      Now, nearing the end of his life, look at how the application of Christian principles had molded his life.

1.      Had he not come a long way from the person we read about in the gospels?

2.      Every time he failed the test; he got up, kept going. He looked to Jesus. His trust and confidence is evident in this gospel.

3.      Everything in his life was utilized to glorify God.

C.     Remember John 21:18-19?

1.      Tradition says Peter was crucified upside down during the later days of Roman Emperor Nero…

2.      As he contemplating death, wonder if he reflected on words of Jesus in Matthew 14:27: take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.

 

IV. Everyone of us can view failure as an opportunity to grow.

A.     We may be a lot more like Peter than we care to admit.

1.      Let’s be like him in his resilience to pick himself up and keep on keeping on in living for Christ. 

2.      He never gave up!

B.      14:30 – when we realize doubt/fear have overtaken our life…we need to cry out – Lord save me! We need to look for Jesus!

1.      And the beauty of serving God is that every time, when we come to God w/a repentant and humble heart – Jesus reaches out to us. 

2.      We respond, trusting not in our power, but God’s!

3.      And we do that throughout life.  And each time, it should be our desire to grow stronger because of what we have learned from our mistakes.

C.     Lk. 15:20-21 – father of the prodigal son. That’s God!

1.      Even though he did not deserve it…

a)      15:22, 23

b)      15:24…for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; for he was lost and was found.

 

Conclusion:

A.     Look at the God we serve: Isa 43:4, 22-25.

B.      He is willing and ready to take us back.

C.     Even if you have failed him many times, will you now come back?  Will you now begin to serve Him?

D.    I N V I T A T I O N