"What's Water Walking?"
Sermon Series: "If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out of the Boat", Part 1
Pastor Mike Anderson
Sunday, September 9, 2007 - GSLC-North
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As I grew one of the things we did as a family was to go snow skiing each Christmas. Of course in Michigan the hills weren't very big, but we had a blast skiing as a family for a week each Christmas break at Boyne Mountain or Boyne Highlands. Then when I went to college I went on my first ski trip out West my freshman year, to Steamboat Springs. Now there was some skiing.
I thought I was pretty good skier but some of my friends invited me up the Black Diamond chairlift. There was an ominous sign that said, "For expert skiers only!". Hmm.. was I an expert???…Hmmm…maybe I might want to get off this lift! Oh well we're going up now!
As I stood at the top of the hill all the warm, fuzzy skiing memories of my youth were gone as I stared this hill with moguls about the size of me! I had decided to talk a risk and now it was time to pay the piper! So I took off ever so gingerly trying not to make a mistake. I realized quickly that wasn't going to work.
Finally, as I let go and began to trust my ability and said a couple of quick prayers and down the hill I went and the payoff was the fresh powder toward the end of the hill. As my comrades made it down we gave each other high fives and I had a rush of adrenaline I hadn't felt in a long time.
As I looked back on the experience it all came back to that moment of truth when I had to push off and go down the hill. I'm glad I took a risk and it paid off for I got to experience the joy of skiing through powder, which if haven't done is like a little slice of heaven.
Peter and his friends got into a little boat one afternoon and decided to cross the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had gone off to a solitary place to get a little "down time", and Peter and the others went back to what they knew best … "boating". He had done it his whole life. He liked boats.
But tonight he was in for a new experience. A storm had blown in and it was not just a minor storm. In fact, the wind was so strong that the disciples were straining at the oars to get back to land and apparently the wind was winning. By 3:00 am the (4th watch of the night) Jesus decides okay I guess these guys need some help.
You see Jesus often shows up in the middle of our storms. The disciples thought it was a ghost or something. But Jesus was just doing a little moon walking. Jesus realizes these guys are a little stressed out and tells them not to worry it is him!
At this point Peter takes a risk and says, "Lord if it is you tell me to come to you on the water."
There are a lot of times in life as we face something we fear, we want someone to give us permission to take risk. Oftentimes when faced with a fear-producing situation we look for people who might tell us not to take a risk and then we can say to ourselves, "see that was not a good idea anyways!"
But Jesus sees this is a moment for Peter to experience his power and to increase Peter's confidence. Plus he is the only disciple that is "biting" so to speak.
Before we go any further let's put ourselves into the story. It is late at night. The storm is furious and Jesus is out on the water telling Peter to take a risk. It's decision time. Peter could have easily sat on the boat and come up with a million rationalizations as to why it would be prudent to get out of the boat. But if you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat!
Fear is a powerful force within us that often prevents us from getting out of the boat. Fear can be debilitating. I got to watch it firsthand with my son in the pool the other day. He has taken swimming lessons and yet, when he was hanging on to his dad and the noodle he felt very secure. Then I said, "Why don't you go on your own?" You should have seen his eyes, they were wide open saucers!
So I started about four feet from him at the end and he began to paddle his feet like mad, there were a lot rpm's in those little paddles and sure enough he made it. And you should have seen his smile. The next time he did it he was a little more certain and more secure of the outcome.
You see as we face our fears they get a little less intimidating. Each time we step out in faith, each time we get out of the boat, walking on water becomes a little easier.
What is it that creates the biggest fear in you? Speaking in front of people. Confronting your boss or close friend. Taking a financial risk. Losing your job. Maybe it is dealing with a family issue that has been buried for years, and yet you feel called to not let it define your relationship with those you love.
Maybe your boat is success, as was the case with the rich, young ruler. When Jesus challenged him to get out of the boat, he couldn't because his possessions kept him safe and secure in the boat.
Fear will tell you what your boat is, and leaving it may be the hardest thing you ever do, but if you want to walk on water you have to get out of the boat.
Peter confronted his fear and got to walk on water…well for a little while at least. Then what happened? He began to sink. Reality sets in. Peter takes his eyes off of Jesus and the newfound ability seems to have left him.
As we take a risk to walk on water and confront our fears there are no guarantees, but there are also no guarantees when sitting in the boat either. Listen to what one woman has written, "You can live on bland food so as to avoid an ulcer, drink no tea, coffee or other stimulants in the name of health, go to bed early, stay away from night life, avoid all controversial subjects so as never to give offense, mind your own business, avoid involvement in other people's problems, spend money only on necessities and save all you can. You can still break your neck in the bath tub, and it will serve you right."
While I'm not sure I agree with the last point, I do agree that there is a price we pay for not getting out of the boat. We miss out on the adventure that God has called us to. We miss out on using our lives for something significant. We miss out on the joy of overcoming our fears and pumping our fists in the air when we do!
After all nothing great in this world has not been accomplished without some amount of failure. Ortberg cites Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed a vaccine for polio. What a lot of us don't know much about were the 200 unsuccessful tries that might have been labeled failures by some. Someone once asked him, "How did it feel to fail two hundred times?" He replied, "I never failed two hundred times, I just discovered two hundred ways how not to vaccinate polio."
What a great attitude and I would argue was the type of attitude Peter had when he stepped out of the boat. And we see when he discovered his first way on how not to walk on water he called out to the Lord and it says, "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him."
Jesus not only helps him physically by lifting him out of the water but also spiritually by addressing the reason he sank! He says, "Why did you doubt you of little doubt?" I don't see Jesus doing this in a harsh critical way, but more as mentor that was saying you did great why did you take your eye off the ball?
The problem was crystal clear with Peter's eyes on Jesus he could do anything but when he focused on the problems around him he went back to mortal Peter. The same Peter I might add that would creep up again when challenged at Jesus' crucifixion whether he knew him.
But rather than being guilt and shame producing, this experience was one of growth for Peter. You see for a second he could walk on water. And isn't that how all of our truly great experiences are, when for a minute we feel as if we are doing what we were meant to do.
I remember the first time I preached a sermon, and granted it was not very smooth, but as I got out of the pulpit I had this sweet sensation that this is what I was made to do, if only for a minute before the rest of the "I could have done this betters took over!"
How about you have you done much walking on water lately? What's stopping you? Maybe it is getting involved in a small group. Your fear is that once you make that kind of commitment you won't have a life. Maybe it is sharing your faith, that you will look stupid or someone will think you are a religious nut. Maybe it is stepping out and starting a ministry that you know we need to make this church the place God wants it to be.
Guys, we all have fears, but Jesus is waiting out there on the sea and bidding us to come out and join him. Yeah it's a little bit stormy, but once we take that step we're not alone!
And even if you start to sink a little bit, guess what he'll be there to catch you and teach you something you didn't know before!
As John Ortberg says "Let's do something religious. Let's get out of the boat and yes maybe we'll walk on water together!" Amen