What Is Your Boat?

Matt: 14 – 22:33

Introduction

Boat (bôt) n. A small vessel for travel on water. This definition of a boat from the Merriam–Webster Online dictionary can be expanded to include being in the same boat or

situation as others. It can also mean being bound to certain constraints in life i.e. not exercising your freedom to expand your horizons beyond the narrow constraints of the society you live in.

The illustration of Peter walking on water in Matthew 14 – 22:23 is a classic example of risk taking and an exercise of faith that others in his boat had a difficult time following. When reading this event in Matthew, we see that the other eleven disciples did not show

the courage to step out of the boat and missed an opportunity to test their faith. There was a huge storm in the sea and the disciples struggled with high winds and waves. During the midst of this storm they saw Jesus walking towards them on water. Peter, as is his want, took the bold decision to get out of his boat and walk on water like Jesus. “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”, Matt.14:28. Peter’s challenge to test his faith has the following points about faith that we need to look at:

1. The Invitation to Faith. 2. The Adventure of Faith. 3. The Adversaries of Faith. 4. The Resource of Faith. 1. The Invitation to Faith, Matt.14:29 (So He said, “Come”) Come – is a word of invitation. There are more than 1900 Invitations in the Bible.

Consider some of the invitations Jesus has given us in Matt 11:28 (“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”), Matt 19:14 (“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”), John 6:37 (All who come will he receive), John 7:37 (Jesus inviting the thirsty to come and drink). Come to Jesus and trust him as Savior.

2. The Adventure of Faith, Matt. 14:29 (“And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.”)

Peter coming out of his boat is an adventure of faith. He had knowledge of the sea as a fisherman, had experiences with drowning companions, he knew how treacherous the sea could be. His was an extreme act of adventure similar to trying to go over a water fall in a barrel, or mountain climbing, sky diving, car racing, etc., the adventure of stepping out on God’s promises, in trusting God instead of man, in giving and not knowing how God will provide, in going and trusting in God to lead the way. Peter walked on water and found

out that Jesus is Lord of all!

3. The Adversaries of Faith, Matt 14:30 (“But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink”)

Peter’s fears were adversaries of his faith. His main fear was not the sea but the wind which was blowing wildly. We need to know what our adversaries are – temptation, fear, grief, etc. Are we struggling with them? Fear and faith are opposites. As faith increases, fear decreases. The more faith you have, the less you have to fear your adversaries.

4. The Resource of Faith, Matt 14:30 (“he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”) Peter prayed when all looked hopeless. It was a short intense prayer. A prayer that recognized the power of Jesus to answer! And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt 14:31). Think about this – Peter failed at walking on water. He began to sink. Jesus told Peter he had little faith because he began thinking about the storm and doubted. But Jesus was right there to pull him up. He’ll be there for us, too.

It wasn’t being right that made Peter the one Jesus chose to carry on after Him. Peter was wrong much of the time, sometimes in very embarrassing ways. It wasn’t his fearlessness. He denied Jesus at a crucial moment. It wasn’t his careful, diplomatic use of words, he blurted out some of the most foolish things. What was it? Peter was willing to get out of the boat. Willing to speak. Willing to act. Are we willing? Will we do what He’s called us to do? Will we speak when He prompts us? Are we willing to make mistakes trying to follow Him? Let’s not be frozen in fear, but instead act in faith.

Jesus is telling us to get out of our boat just like He did when He walked on the water and told his disciples to come to Him. How much faith did those who never got out of the boat have? Get out of the boat. Afraid to talk to your teenager? Get out of the boat. Talk to them anyway. Afraid of what people will think if you lead? Get out of the boat. Lead anyway. Have faith that people will follow. Has God called you to do the impossible? Start! Get out of the boat! He won’t leave you stranded. If He’s given you the job, He’ll give you the tools to get it done. If He hasn’t, you’ll find out sooner if you get out of the boat. Step out in faith. Refuse to be frozen in fear of failure. So what if you fail. Failure is the stepping stone for success.

Conclusion

Are you also like the other eleven disciples? What is your boat? What are your

constraints in life that is preventing you from serving Jesus? Find out what your boat is. Is somebody or something limiting you? Confront your boat. What are your fears? Get out of the boat in your life and step out towards Jesus. Remember there will be storms in your life. But Jesus will pick you up. With Jesus, it is safe to be weak and needy! Sometimes we need to be a fool for Jesus, like Peter was very often, to act, to speak, and to trust

Him to lift us up when we begin to sink. Respond to God’s invitation to the life of faith! He will receive you and care for you through life’s storms. Where the Mind is without Fear — Rabindranath Tagore

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high; Where knowledge is free; Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth; Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection; Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit; Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action— Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.