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- [00:00]
A
Are you glad to be in God's house today? Come on, you made it in the room.
- [00:06]
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Give God some praise.
- [00:10]
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If y'all don't praise in here, I know they're praising in the watch party, watch party room. Give God some praise and make some noise. Social Global watching at home. Give God some praise. Somebody watching on the Pando app right now is giving God praise. Wow, wow, wow.
- [00:31]
B
Are you glad to be in church?
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Church?
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Do you like who you're standing next to? All right, that was a lot of yeses. Some of y'all keep it 100.
- [00:40]
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I've seen y'all before.
- [00:41]
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Go.
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No.
- [00:44]
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Oh, I'm so glad that you're here. If you walked into Social. We start off every single year with the word, and I cannot believe we're about to end this, y'all. Every single day, or Sunday, rather, of 2024, we've been declaring that we are unshakable. This is our year to be unshakable. And it's connected to Hebrews, chapter 12. And I think we ought to read it one more again.
- [01:07]
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Is that cool? Can y'all believe we've done this every single Sunday? How many? You still ain't gotta memorize.
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Can I see your hand?
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You still ain't gotta memorize that one.
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What you waiting for? Come on, I'm playing.
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It's my guy.
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Isaac, no condemnation. It's all good.
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You still got time.
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But come on, let's read it together with uplifted voices. 1, 2, 3. Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom. And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.
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For God is not an indifferent bystander.
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He is actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't.
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Quit until it's all cleansed. God. Him. You sound good, Social Fab.
- [01:52]
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You sound good. Sound good. If you serve on a serve team, would you give me a wave? Give me a wave. We love our serve team. I'm thankful. I'm thankful for every person that puts their hand to the plow to make it possible for us to do church. But we did that verse of the year at the serve team, and it went off. We just had an amazing time celebrating our serve team. I want you to go with me to Matthew, chapter 14 today. Matthew 14. Don't sit down yet. After this, you can sit, remain standing if you can, just to honor the reading of God's word. Matthew 14. And I want to look at verses 22 through 33, a familiar passage of scripture. But I believe God's going to give us fresh perspective on it today. Amen. You ready? It says, immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side while he dismissed the crowd. After he dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone.
- [03:00]
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That blesses my soul.
- [03:01]
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Even Jesus said, disciples, I love you, but I need a moment. Y'all go ahead and go across. On the other side, crowds. He just fed them food. He said, you got your food. Let's go. I need time to pray. And the boat was already a considerable distance from the land. It was buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. And shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It's a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them, take courage. It is I. Don't be afraid, Lord, if it's you, Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water. Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink. Cried out three of the most powerful words humanity could ever say. Lord, save me. Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and called him. You have little faith. He said, why did you doubt? And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, truly, you are the son of God. Can you say amen? Come on. That's good stuff. That's good stuff. I want to preach today. Just using this as a title. We out here. We not. We're out here. We. We. If this message ain't for nobody, I know it's for me. In this season that we're in right now, we out here. Would you help me preach? Look at the person next to you, whichever one you like the best, and just say, neighbor. Oh, neighbor, we out here. In case that neighbor was stuck up, find another neighbor. Find another neighbor. Come on, say other neighbor.
- [05:03]
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I'm walking by faith, so I've got to tell you, we out here.
- [05:10]
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If you believe God's gonna speak to you today, would you give him some praise.
- [05:15]
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Father?
- [05:16]
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Have your way today. Amen. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. We out here.
- [05:27]
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Whoo.
- [05:29]
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Social fam. This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to help my oldest offspring with something that I actually excelled in. When I was in school, by the way, let me just say. Any parents in the house? All the parents. Give me a wave. Make some noise. You hear that? Tired.
- [05:53]
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Oh, hang in there, y'all.
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We gonna make it.
- [05:56]
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Parents, one of the best feelings in the world is. Is when your child brings you a homework assignment that you can actually help them with.
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Okay?
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Contrary.
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One of the worst feelings ever is.
- [06:07]
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When they bring you a math problem. And you gotta go.
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You want help with this?
- [06:12]
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Okay, no. This is easy. Real quick. Let me go to the restaurant real quick.
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And you gotta walk away and say, chatgpt real quick. What is seven times three?
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That is not a good feeling. But this was awesome this week because I got to prepare my oldest baby.
- [06:28]
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Girl, Evie, because she was getting ready for her first spelling bee. Her first spelling bee. You remember the spelling bee, ladies and gentlemen? They still do this.
- [06:36]
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And so I said, oh, I got you. You want help preparing for the spelling bee?
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I'm the daddy for the job. Okay.
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Public speaking and spelling.
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I got you, girl.
- [06:45]
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So we got those flashcards out all last week. We're going through the flashcards. I'll tell you what word we had to work on.
- [06:50]
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This word almost took us out.
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Probably take some of y'all out.
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You ready for it? Wednesday.
- [06:55]
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Woo. Spent a lot of time on Wednesday. Cause some dummy wanted to put a D in Wednesday. So I told Evie, I said, hey, I don't care how it sounds phonetically. It is wed nez day. That's how you gonna win on the spelling bee. And so she prepared. She got ready. And I'm proud to announce today my baby girl got fourth place in the school. In the whole school. Fourth place. I cannot believe they're still doing spelling bees. I remember my spelling bee, y'all. I got second place when I was in the spelling.
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Okay, no claps.
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That's cool.
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That's cool.
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Second place, middle school spelling bee. I still remember which word took me out. Esophagus. That's what took me out. I jacked it up. First service.
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Let's see if I can get it. Esophagus. Ooh, E S O P H, A G U S. Esophagus. I butchered it. First service.
- [07:55]
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I got it that time. And this is what blows my mind is that we are still doing spelling bees, ladies and gentlemen. Why are we subjugating students to this pressure? I did my research. I found out that the first recorded spelling bee was in 1808. 1808. This is what they did for fun. Before TikTok. They would Gather around and watch students spell. Wor do you know how much pressure that is? You know how much courage it takes to step out in front of people and spell? Ladies and gentlemen, the number one fear. This is research. The number one fear, this is data is public speaking. Death is number two. That means people would rather be in the casket than speak at a funeral. That's how much pressure it is to just hold a microphone and speak in front of people. And we want to set up kids to get up and spell in front of people. And you don' get any help except for use it in a sentence. And what's the definition? Why are we doing this? Teachers, let's stop with the spelling bees.
- [08:58]
B
I think it's enough. Then I started thinking about my text today, and I realized that Jesus is not just savior. He's not just master, he's not just Lord. He's actually a teacher. He's a teacher. He's a teacher. That's why he has disciples. He's a teacher.
- [09:15]
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And I was thinking, if God himself.
- [09:18]
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Had a spelling bee, what would be the word that he would have us spell? I want to argue today that there is only one word in God's spelling bee. This one word every single believer will have to spell past, present and future. This is the only word that God includes in his spelling bee. That word is faith. Faith.
- [09:44]
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There's only one word in God's spelling.
- [09:45]
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Bee, and he wants you to spell it. It is faith. Faith, hear me, is at the core of our salvation. It is impossible to overestimate the value of what faith is.
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If you are going to walk with.
- [10:00]
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God, how many know you got to walk by faith? Faith is essential to your salvation.
- [10:06]
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So much so that when Paul writes.
- [10:08]
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To the church at Ephesus, he.
- [10:09]
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He says that we have been saved by grace through faith.
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That faith is the bridge, if you will, that even gets me to the.
- [10:18]
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Grace that necessitates my salvation.
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Faith is important.
- [10:23]
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It says without faith, it is impossible, impossible, impossible to please God. He also says that it will be according to you unto your. He says that the just shall live by faith. And I wonder if there's anybody in here that can testify that you have come this far in your life. Not by your intellect, not by your resume, not by how good you are. But you have come this far in your life by faith is critical. Faith is necessary.
- [10:59]
B
If you're going to walk with God, you've got to have faith. Faith. And I realize to some of you, I'm preaching to the choir because you're so familiar with the word faith that you've actually allowed faith to lose its potency. And you want to reduce faith to something that it is not. And I need to let you know what faith is not.
- [11:17]
A
First of all, faith is not a characteristic. Faith is not a personality trait. Faith is not something that you get when you matriculate from the upper echelon of the most prestigious theological seminary. Faith is not a degree that you put on your wall. Faith cannot be deduced. A picture at Hobby Lobby that is framed of a little kitten holding on to a rope talking about keep the faith. Faith is so much bigger than that, as a matter of fact. Faith is a noun, but it best operates as a verb. Faith is action.
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Faith demands action.
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Faith demands that you do something. Don't tell me you have faith and.
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You'Ve never taken a step forward.
- [12:00]
A
Don't tell me you have faith and you've never believed God for the impossible and then put some action next to it. That's why James says, faith without works is dead. If you are going to have faith, faith will push you out of your complacency. Faith will push you out of your mediocrity. Faith will make sure that you get off the sideline and get in the game. If you are going to play it safe, you ain't got no faith. You only got faith. Not when there's a guarantee for victory. You haven't stepped out in faith unless there is a possibility for failure. Some of y'all think you're walking by faith and you've been playing it safe. If you have not had a moment recently in your life where you're like, oh, I'm out here.
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You ain't walking by faith. You are playing it safe.
- [12:54]
A
Faith will have you do crazy. Faith will make you leave a good job and say, I'm believing God for what's next. When is it coming? I have no clue. I just know this season is over. And he said, go. Faith will have your family members looking at you like you have lost your mind. Faith will have you pack up and leave a city that you love and come to Dallas just on a word from God. Who am I preaching to? Faith requires courage. Faith will make you step up. Then when you step out, you go, oh, I guess the net will appear after I step out.
- [13:30]
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Faith is spelled, oh, let's spell it. Okay, because this is spelling bee faith. You spell let's spell it. See, this is how some of y'all spell faith. And this is why you don't pass the spelling bee. Because God gives you one word. It's his only word. Faith. And you go, faith.
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Okay.
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C, A, L, M. Faith.
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And God goes. Try again. Okay, one more chance. Faith.
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Okay.
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S, A, F, E. Try again. All right, Lord. Faith. P, E, A, C, E. Try again. That messed some of y'all up because you always use. Oh, I don't have a piece about this. As if to say, God just only gives you peace to step in to something. No, no, no. All right, let's try it one more time.
- [14:29]
B
Faith.
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A
Here's how you spell it.
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You ready?
- [14:31]
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Faith.
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R, I, S, K. Ding, ding, ding.
- [14:37]
A
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.
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B
Faith. Faith is spelled risk.
- [14:44]
A
Don't tell me you stepped out in faith and you haven't taken a risk. Pastor, could you use it in a sentence? Abso. Without risk, it is impossible to please God. Risk is the substance of things hoped for. It's the evidence of things not seen. Risk has made you well be it according to you unto your risk. Let me go. Hebrews, chapter 11. It was by risk that Noah built an ark before he ever got the forecast that it was going to rain. It was by risk that Abraham stepped out and said, I'm going to go to a land that God will show me. It was by risk that Sarah said, I'm going to conceive a promised child, even though I'm too old to bear. It is a risk to walk by faith.
- [15:29]
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So faith and risk are synonymous. And some of you are going to miss out on the adventure that God has for you because you trying to walk by safe. And God said, no, we don't walk by safe. We walk by risk and not by sight. Brings me to my text today in Matthew chapter 14, arguably one of the most famous passages of scripture in the entire Bible. I don't care if you skipped a bunch of Sunday school classes, you know about Peter walking on water and about Jesus walking on water. This is a monumental moment in the Bible, and I don't know which one impresses you.
- [16:10]
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Does it impress you that Jesus walked.
- [16:12]
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On water, or does it impress you that Peter walked on water?
- [16:15]
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I keep 100. When I first read it, I was not impressed that Jesus walked on water. I think if you can speak water into existence, you can probably walk on it, too. So at first, I really was not impressed that Jesus walked on water. But Peter, Peter walking on water.
- [16:31]
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Yo, Peter.
- [16:32]
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Some of you, your favorite Bible character.
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Your favorite disciple needs to be Peter, because you is Peter and Peter is you.
- [16:40]
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Peter, the one who one day he's up the Next day, he's down. Peter, who loves the Lord, but he's still got some issues that he's working out. Peter, who will speak before he actually thinks. Peter, who, in one moment he's saying, you're the son of the living God. And the next moment he's like, jesus, ain't nobody gonna crucify you. And Jesus said, get behind me, Satan. In the same moment, Peter, who will cuss you out. Peter, who has a knife up under his little skirt thing and will cut your ear off if you step too close. Even though Jesus said don't bring a sword, he's like, I don't care what he's said. It's getting real out here. Peter. Peter, who walked on water and had little faith by walking on water. Yo, that made me shout. To think that somebody as jacked up and as messed up as Peter, still with little bit of faith, was able to walk on water. It makes me wonder, what can God do with somebody as jacked up, as broken and as inconsistent as me? See, some of y'all acting bougie. Don't act like you always get it right. Don't act like you've had this perfect life. Don't act like you, John, the beloved, always just have your head on the chest of Jesus. You know, there's some Peter in you. So it just blows my mind that one of the craziest disciples is one of the only two people to walk on H2O.
- [18:03]
B
I'm impressed that Peter did what only Jesus could do.
- [18:08]
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But I really wasn't impressed with Jesus.
- [18:10]
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Walking on water, to be honest.
- [18:11]
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I was like, jesus, of course you.
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Can walk on water. But as I was studying this text this week, God began to speak to me.
- [18:17]
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He said, well, Robert, understand that you.
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Have the privilege of reading the Bible in retrospect and getting the full, complete story where I revealed who I was.
- [18:30]
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The disciples did not have that privilege.
- [18:34]
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Understand that when you read your Bible, you get the full story.
- [18:37]
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So you read.
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You know, you read about the storm.
- [18:40]
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And you're not even tripping because you're like, ah, I know Peace be Still is coming. So you don't feel the tension of it because you know how the story is going to end. The disciples did not have that privilege. Can we put our feet in the psychological shoes of the disciples?
- [18:57]
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Understand that Jesus revealed himself to them progressively.
- [19:03]
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It was over time he did not show all his cards. Day one, y'all, if it was me.
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I would have showed them everything.
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Day one, your Bible would be about.
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This thin right here.
- [19:13]
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Because day one, I'm glowing in the dark. Day one, I'm walking on water. Day one, I'm multiplying fish and bread at the same time. Day one, I'm healing people. I'm. I'm doing all the miracles on day one, Jesus didn't do that. He slowly disclosed his divinity to them. Over time, they would get in certain scenarios and situations, and then they would realize, oh, I didn't know he could do that. That's why all throughout the Bible, they're like, oh, surely he is the Son of God. He's like, I've been trying to tell you that. But he did not reveal it all at once. As a matter of fact, he put a demand on them to follow him and risk everything. And they did it not fully knowing who he was. They risked everything. They let their businesses, they walk away from everything. And they risked it not fully knowing who he was, but trusted him to reveal who he was over time. What is God teaching us? He's teaching us that you don't get the revelation until after you risk it all. Some of you never step into what God has for you because you're waiting for him to give you a full, detailed PowerPoint presentation. Jesus, I'll follow you, but I need the itinerary. When are we going to be in Capernaum? God says, I'm not giving you anything. All I'm going to tell you is, come and find, follow me. And I want you to trust that I know where I'm going, even when you don't know. And I'll give you the revelation after the risk. Oh, this is so good. Are y'all recording this? I'm gonna watch it later. They didn't know. They risked first, and then they got the revelation. They. They're like you on your wedding day.
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Where the married people at?
- [20:57]
A
You said, I do, but you didn't know what you were saying. I do, too. You said, I do first. And over years, you get revelation of like, oh, you never put the toilet seat down. Oh, oh, wow. This is your credit score.
- [21:11]
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Wow.
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Didn't know that before, but you risked first and you got the revelation over time. Since we out here. This is why living together before you.
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Get married, talk about it, talk about it doesn't work. It doesn't work because when you're living together, you're just trying to see, well, how much risk am I in for?
- [21:38]
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Cause there's no covenant to keep you. So you just waiting to see something so you can go, oh, what? Oh, I'm out. I'm out. And that's why you can never be settled in the love. And that's why God's way is make a covenant, make a commitment first. Because the covenant and commitment keeps me when the feelings are gone. Knew I wasn't gonna get no amens. But I'm out here now, and I'm cool with it.
- [22:06]
B
See, the revelation always comes after the risk. And they risked it all, and they followed him and watch this. Over time, he disclosed who he was. Can you imagine? Come on, let's use our exegetical creative imagination. Imagine being one of the disciples and you risked it all, but you really don't know who he is. Imagine being Matthew because you know he's a tax collector. So he keeps good notes and records. He's like, I'm following. I don't really know who he is, but every time he discloses something, I'm gonna make a little chart. So I know we could do all kinds of things, but let's just do water. What can this man do with water?
- [22:48]
A
He's at a wedding. Turns water into wine. Who knew that he could turn water into Pinot Noir? They didn't know that. So as soon as he did it, I could see Matthew pulling out his tablet, going under the category of water.
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B
Can turn water into wine.
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A
Wow.
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B
What else can this man do?
- [23:08]
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They fishing one day, couldn't catch anything. He goes, hey, I know I'm a.
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Carpenter, but throw your nets on the other side. Let's see what happens. I don't know why he telling me to do this. This don't make no sense. Let's try it. Throw their nets on the other side.
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Catch more fish than they ever caught.
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Matt pulls out his tab, knows where the fish are under the sea.
- [23:34]
A
They keep walking with them. All of a sudden, one day, they gotta pay some taxes. Jesus says, go catch a fish. And the first fish you catch, the money's gonna be in its mouth. Matthew's like, no, he didn't. Knows which fish got money in. They mess. This dude is incredible. I didn't know all of this was in hip rolls up on a blind. Dude, can you see Matt?
- [23:57]
B
How he gonna do it? How are we gonna heal him? He got multiple ways, how he gonna do it?
- [24:00]
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And all of a sudden, he sees Jesus spitting, spits in mud, rubs it on the dude's, and then does the most. I mean, just insanely rude thing. Go wash that off and you'll be.
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Able to see for real.
- [24:15]
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But the dude washes it off and gets his sight back.
- [24:18]
B
And Matt Goes, man, is this in the spit category or the water category?
- [24:22]
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I don't know, but I guess water, water from his mouth and then wash it. What can he do?
- [24:29]
B
Then one day they're in a storm, a bad storm. And Jesus is on the boat, asleep on a cushion. Mark says, chillaxing, deep sleep. And watch this. You can tell they don't know who he is by what they say when they yell at him.
- [24:49]
A
They did not say, jesus, can't you get up and say, peace, be still? They didn't say that because they didn't know that was in them. Since they didn't have a revelation of his power, they couldn't even attack his power. They had to attack his care. So they go, hey, don't you care? We about to die. And that care triggered him. He's like, oh, don't, don't, don't you do it now. Power. One thing you want to talk about. Care.
- [25:17]
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Excuse me.
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A
Excuse, excuse me.
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Peace, be still.
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And the winds and the waves have to shut up at the words that emanated from the mouth of the master and their jaws on the floor. And Matt gets his tablet and goes.
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Water can say, peace, be still.
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And the winds and waves obey.
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Extra addendum.
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If you're in a storm, as long as he's on your boat, you are going to be okay even if he's asleep. Period.
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B
Isn't that awesome?
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A
How many know if he's on your boat, you're gonna be alright.
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Y'all walked right into it.
- [26:12]
A
I used to say that stuff and I used to shout until I read our text for today. Remember, Jesus ain't on the boat. So if I'm going off the last revelation of how we stop the storm, my category for storm stopping in my life is he's got to be in my boat and he's got to say, peace, be still.
- [26:36]
B
But what do you do when Jesus makes you get in the boat and go to the other side without him?
- [26:48]
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What do you do when he, the Greek, is forceful? It's almost like he shoved him.
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Get in the boat, go to the other side and he's not in the boat with you. And while he sends you off, watch this. You run into a storm. You run into a storm that threatens to take your life and go, wind he's blowing against you and you have flashbacks of the last storm that you went through. But at least in that storm, Jesus was on your boat and now he's not in the boat. And what do you do when you.
- [27:28]
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Made me go in this boat? And I obeyed. And now my obedience got me in a storm. This is what church folks don't like to talk about.
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See, we love to talk about when our disobedience got us a storm. Oh, I've preached in other youth camps and I've given that message.
- [27:48]
A
You're in a storm right now. Cause of your disobedience. That's the Jonah message, by the way. See, there's a whale waiting for you. You disobeyed storm. That makes sense to our finite minds that if I am disobedient, then this storm is a consequence of my disobedience. Disobedience. And can I just say in love, some of you are facing a storm right now, and that storm is a direct result of your disobedience. That's why the storm is there. But this is not a storm of disobedience the disciples are facing. This is a storm of obedience. He told me to get on the boat and go to the other side. And I obeyed the word of the Lord. And here I am walking, rowing, if you will, in obedience. And I'm still facing. Facing a storm. And I'm still facing a wind. This ought to help somebody that's facing opposition right now to let you know that just because you're going through opposition, it does not mean you're not in the will of God. You can be in the perfect will of God and still have a storm. Away with this cotton candy theology that if I'm in the perfect will of God, I won't have any storms. Talk to me about Matthew chapter 14 then, because they're in the perfect will.
- [29:05]
B
Of God and the wind is blowing against them. And Jesus has the nerve to not only send them into a storm without him, but then he Go.
- [29:23]
A
Go up to the mountain prayer and just watch them. I don't know how you read the Bible. This is how I read the Bible. Hold up. This is malpractice.
- [29:35]
B
Jesus.
- [29:37]
A
It's a storm. I am rowing for my life.
- [29:41]
B
You know I can't swim.
- [29:42]
A
Salt water is getting in my eyes. And you in the mountain watching me. What is wrong with you? Oh, there's two ways to look at that.
- [29:56]
B
One way to look at that is God. I cannot believe that you would allow me to be in this storm and you would stand at a distance and do nothing about it. If you were really God, you would.
- [30:07]
A
Perform like you did last time and.
- [30:09]
B
You would just stop the storm.
- [30:11]
A
You would stop this. How dare you be on a mountaintop watching me, not be able to pay my Bills. Watching me be a single parent. Watching me go through this struggle. You feel so distant. That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is that even when I'm in the storm, I'm always in the sight of my Savior. That there is no storm that can face my life. That God's sovereign hand and eyes are watching over me. I don't know who this is for. I know you're in a storm right now, but please don't think that God has turned his head. His eye is watching you. He's still looking at.
- [30:50]
B
This is the love of a savior. Watch this.
- [30:53]
A
Who knows that his disciples are going to have a season where he will not be there in physical form. So I want to teach you to trust me even when you don't physically.
- [31:05]
B
See me in the boat.
- [31:09]
A
Do you have enough trust in me.
- [31:11]
B
To know that even when the winds are coming against you and you don't physically see me there, that my eye is still watching you? And I'm still watching to make sure you're gonna make it. You're gonna make it. He's just there watching them, and they struggling in the middle.
- [31:34]
A
Whoo.
- [31:35]
B
In the middle. That middle part messed me up. That's in John's Gospel, chapter six. Because if you've been to Israel, see if Galilee ain't that big. It should not have taken this long for them to get across to the other side. But because the wind is coming against them, they're struggling.
- [31:53]
A
You ever felt like that in life?
- [31:55]
B
It's like, really, I should be further than this. For real, Lord.
- [32:00]
A
She got a husband. I should be further, further than this, Lord, I still don't have the job I want. And this season. Have you ever felt, like, what is coming against me?
- [32:17]
B
The crazy part is, when you out there, if the wind is blowing against me, it would be so much easier to turn around and go back. And I don't know who this message is for, but you are about to turn around and go back because the opposition is too much. And God just sent me to tell you, trust him.
- [32:41]
A
He gave you a word.
- [32:42]
B
You are gonna get to the other side.
- [32:45]
A
I know it seems like it'll be easier to go back, but you can't go back. Cause we out here now.
- [32:52]
B
We out here, we out here. We out here. In the fight with wind is blowing against them. It's so funny. I turned into a meteorologist this week, and I didn't know that the way we categorize storms is by the strength of the wind.
- [33:10]
A
Like you know if it's category five.
- [33:13]
B
But how fast that wind is blowing.
- [33:14]
A
If it's category one, you know how fast it's all by the wind. Isn't that crazy that we categorize storms.
- [33:20]
B
By something you can't even see?
- [33:24]
A
We categorize the strength of a storm.
- [33:27]
B
By something you can't even see. That's why you got to be careful how you judge people. When you look at them from the.
- [33:34]
A
Outside, you don't have a clue what wind they're facing. You don't have a clue what battle they're going through. Be careful before you open up your mouth or open up your phone to put a comment on somebody else's life. You have no clue the wind that's coming against them. You have no clue what it took for them to get get up out the bed and actually come to church today. You don't have a clue about the wind. Have you noticed everybody posts their wins? I never mind. Everybody post their wins. W I N S But we don't post our wind. The stuff that's coming against you.
- [34:15]
B
Don't be impressed with the winds. Sometimes it's the wind that's coming against me. And there they are struggling, and God is just watching. He almost fell over.
- [34:36]
A
It seems cruel, doesn't it? It's part of the reason why I don't like going to public parks with my kids. I'm like, y'all playing the backyard?
- [34:44]
B
Because when I go to public parks.
- [34:45]
A
You know, you start talking to people and I got three of them and I start talking. Sometimes this has happened before. I get distracted in the conversation and I'm like, oh, hello. Where's the third one where they at? I'm like, don't talk to me. I gotta focus. Cause I gotta keep my eye on that which I love, that which I value.
- [35:02]
B
And I came to tell you your God is not distracted. He knows exactly where you are. He sees you. He sees you and he watches them and as they're struggling. But then he goes from watching to.
- [35:18]
A
Walking, which seems like something to shout about.
- [35:21]
B
But I'm still mad about the walk.
- [35:24]
A
Because if I'm about to drown and.
- [35:27]
B
The wind is coming against me.
- [35:28]
A
Jesus, if there was ever time for you to run, this it right here. Why is this text called Jesus walking on the water? It should have been Jesus running, running on the. If I'm drowning. Hey, I need to see you in a full out. No, Eliot sprint talking about I'm coming. He does not do that. They are struggling in the storm. The Greek literally Suggests that he's just taking a stroll. Don't act like you ain't never been there before. You're like, ah, help. And Jesus is like, why is he. Why is he not running? Why is he walking to them? Why do you have a calm savior and a chaotic storm? How many know he was not running to them? Because this was not a rescue mission. This was a revelation mission. The reason that your savior is poised, calm and collected, walking on the water is because he's trying to let them know that the thing that's trying to overtake you. I'm actually walking over it. The thing that's about to take you out is actually under my feet. I need you to look at me. If I'm walking on top of the thing that's trying to drown you, it should let you know who has the real power. It should let you know who has the real authority. It should let you know who's really in charge. I wish I had somebody in here that knew that your God has everything you're struggling with under his feet. Cancer is under his feet. Diabetes is under his feet. Lack is under his feet. He's got authority. Don't you let the wizard the Way trick you just because you're out of control. He's not out of control. He was proving to them by his.
- [37:10]
B
Walk that I have authority over the thing that's trying to take you under. He's walking and he's walking in their direction. He chooses strategically to walk the fourth watch of the night when it's so dark they can't see.
- [37:35]
A
Later he's going to go on the mountaintop and glow in the dark.
- [37:37]
B
This would have been a good time to glow in the dark. Jesus. He doesn't. They're drowning. And when they see him because they are so afraid, they're terrified. It's a ghost. There's actually a legend that if you died at sea, that ghost would be walking the sea at night. So they had enough evidence and stories to substantiate their fear. Just like some of you are terrified because of the storm you're in right now. And here they come and they think he's a ghost. They're scared to death. And in the midst of their fear, he speaks a word. First words out of Jesus mouth.
- [38:22]
A
Take courage.
- [38:24]
B
It is I Don't be afraid.
- [38:29]
A
Take courage.
- [38:31]
B
It is I Don't be afraid.
- [38:35]
A
Take courage.
- [38:38]
B
It is I Don't be afraid.
- [38:41]
A
If I had time, I preach a three week series. Week one take courage. Week two it is I.
- [38:49]
B
Week three don't be afraid.
- [38:52]
A
All of those are preached. First of all, notice he doesn't say, have courage.
- [38:57]
B
He says, take courage.
- [39:01]
A
How many know he wouldn't have commanded them to take courage if courage was not within their reach? If courage was not in their grasp. Who am I preaching to that's in a storm and you're scared to death right now? God telling you, take courage. I can't. I wouldn't tell you to take it if it wasn't within your reach. Hold your head up high. Remind yourself of who your God is. He can walk on top of the thing that's trying to take you over. Take courage. Get your confidence back. Get your boldness back. Take it. Stop waiting for courage to just come to you through osmosis. Every once in a while you got.
- [39:43]
B
To fight and take it.
- [39:45]
A
Take it.
- [39:47]
B
Take your.
- [39:47]
A
Do you know how much courage I'm walking in right now? I'm walking into meetings knowing how much we got in the bank.
- [40:00]
B
And knowing.
- [40:00]
A
How much it cost to renovate. I'm like, yeah, no, I don't like that. Yeah, let's move that wall. What can we do here?
- [40:09]
B
Taking courage. If you're not taking a risk, it ain't faith.
- [40:18]
A
Take courage.
- [40:19]
B
Slap your neighbor, say, take courage.
- [40:21]
A
No, don't slap them.
- [40:22]
B
We don't need a lawsuit.
- [40:23]
A
Can't afford it right now. Oh, oh, oh. Hold up. What he say next?
- [40:30]
B
It is I. They can't see him. And he says, take courage.
- [40:40]
A
It is I. Okay, if I come to your house.
- [40:45]
B
This afternoon and you don't got a.
- [40:47]
A
Ring camera, and you don't got a.
- [40:49]
B
Peephole in your door, and I'm knocking.
- [40:52]
A
On your door and you're like, who is it? I say, open up. It is I. What are you gonna say? Either gonna say, oh, it is who? Or if I'm saying, it is I. I am trusting that you have heard my voice enough to know that I don't have to give you a name. Cause you know my voice. My sheep know my voice. And a stranger they will not follow. God says, I know it's scary, but you got enough history with me to know my voice. It is I. You know who I am. I'm the same one that said, peace be. Oh, this is blessing me. Oh, I don't want to minimize your storm, but can I tell you it's.
- [41:48]
B
Not as scary as you think.
- [41:50]
A
God always gives you just enough history to take a step. They knew his voice enough to know it is I. Oh, I know that voice. I've heard that voice before. And some of you need to reflect on your history with God. If he opened up a door before, he'll open up a door again. If he made a way when we were trying to pay for Granada Theater, he'll make a way for the Look Theater. I want to thank God that he gives you history to take your step. It is I.
- [42:26]
B
Don't be afraid. Peter's still convinced.
- [42:33]
A
So he says, lord, Lord, sound like you.
- [42:38]
B
Oh, but still I'm not sure. Lord, if it's you, tell me to come on the water. If it's you. That if jacked me up.
- [42:55]
A
Because the last time I heard if.
- [42:58]
B
Was in the wilderness. When Satan himself says, if you are the son of God, turn these stones to bread. If you're out of, do this, do this.
- [43:11]
A
So I said, hold up.
- [43:13]
B
How in the world is Satan saying if and Peter saying, if it's you, Lord. And God began to speak to me and say, I understand the intent in the heart behind words. There's a difference between an if that is rooted in rebellion and wants me to perform and an if that is rooted in little bitty faith that says God. I just need a little more confirmation.
- [43:40]
A
Because this is scary right now and I've never done this before. Peter's if was different. Peter's if was saying, God, I just need some confirmation to know, can I take this step? Peter's if was running towards God. His if was towards Jesus, not away from. From him. I don't know who this is for, but there's somebody. You just got a little bit of faith and that's why you're saying, if it's you. And look at Jesus giving the confirmation that Peter needed. Come, come. I'm not giving you any more details. I just want you to come. How many know when God gives you a word, that's all you need is the word that he gave. He didn't have to spell it out. He just said come. And that come was enough for him to step out. And so walking on the water. Wait a minute. Was he walking on water or was he walking on the word from God? Just. I know church people. Can you see him in the boat? Oh, here he go. It don't take all that.
- [44:42]
B
Look, look at him.
- [44:43]
A
Look at him for real.
- [44:44]
B
Really.
- [44:44]
A
Just look. Always got to do the most. Look at him walking on water. See that? That's the problem with people who play it safe. If you play it safe, you'll end up critiquing the people who are stepping out and trusting God. Stop wasting your time. Critiquing and go back to what Jesus said. He said come. He didn't say come, Peter. That means every single one of them had an opportunity. You know, he could have been specific, like he was with Lazarus when he said Lazarus, come forth. But since he just said come, anybody could have taken a step. I need somebody to get up on your feet if you know this is your season to get off the boat, to stop playing it safe and take a step of faith. Take the risk. Take the risk.
- [45:43]
B
Take the risk. Knees knocking, heart beating out of your chest. Take the risk. Because if he told you to come, the power is in the commandment. So there he is, walking, like many of us do when we take that step and it gets distracted by the wind. This is a word for you in this season. There's some of you that need to get off the boat and take the risk. Some of you have gotten off the boat and you're walking. But hear me, keep your focus on him. Keep your eyes on him. The moment Peter looked away, it's when he sunk. Keep your eyes not on the wind that blows all kinds of things around. Keep your eyes on the steady one. Keep your eyes on the one that's the same yesterday, today, and forever.
- [46:49]
A
You know my prayer for Social Dallas.
- [46:51]
B
In our church that we would keep the main thing, the main thing, that we wouldn't be distracted. We would keep our eyes on Jesus. The moment he took his eyes off, he slipped. But even while he slept, at least he fell in the right place. I don't know how far he walked. I do know he got close enough that even when he fell and he said, lord, save me, the hand of God was right there, ready to pick him up. Hear me. I want to call out to somebody who feels like you're drowning, that you got distracted and you're sinking. Here's the worst thing you can do. I'm alright.
- [47:42]
A
I'm good. I've seen people. Doctor.
- [47:49]
B
Thank God Peter let go of every pretense and all of his pride as soon as he went down.
- [47:57]
A
Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus picked him up. I'm telling you, your father loves you. And if you ever lift up your hands and open up your mouth and say, lord, save me, I got distracted in this relationship. Save me. I got distracted away from my purpose. Save me, God. I got distracted by this addiction. But I believe in my faith that if I open up my mouth, God, you will reach out your hand and save me.
- [48:27]
B
The Savior, that's what he does. He saved him, picked him back up, said, oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt?
- [48:43]
A
Isn't it crazy?
- [48:44]
B
With little faith, this dude walked on water to Jesus.
- [48:49]
A
Can you imagine what big faith would do? If little faith can walk on water.
- [48:56]
B
What could big faith do? I'm thankful that it's never about the size of your faith. It's always about the object of your faith, and it is Jesus. And ask every head be bowed and eyes closed today. I don't know what storm you find yourself in. I meant to say this earlier. There's storms of disobedience where your decisions have gotten you in the storm that you're in. There's also storms of just life. We live in a broken world. And then there are storms of obedience. The reason you have the opposition.
- [49:45]
A
Is.
- [49:46]
B
Because of the word that God gave you. The reason he's fighting you is because of what's on the other side. Don't go back to the shore. I know it seems like you. It would be easier to have the wind at your back, but this is a savior that comes to you walking on top of the thing that's trying to take you under, and he's calling you to leave the safety of the boat and take a step towards him. When was the last time you took a risk and said, who we out here? I would rather be out there with Jesus than safe on the boat. Heads are bowed, eyes are closed today. But if you're in this room, you'd be so honest to say, hey, pr, this message is for me. There's an area of my life I believe God's calling me to take a step of faith. Been playing it too safe. I believe that there are people that God is speaking to, take risk. For some of you, it's as simple as the risk of joining a church community and actually fighting to have relationships. And the enemy wants you safe on.
- [51:09]
A
The boat, saying, nah, but man, that.
- [51:11]
B
Last church hurt you. And God has a way of using the church to heal church hurt. I know the enemy wants you to think that isolation is what will protect you, but it actually will leave you more lonely. Take the risk to find community. Somebody else is taking the risk of leaving that safe job because you know God is calling you to something else. Some of you, it's the risk of opening up your mouth and speaking up at your job and letting people know the God that you believe in and that you serve. Stop trying to fit in. Somebody else is with your finances. I am praying you know your pastor's heart. I am praying that this campaign that we're in will give an opportunity for somebody who hear me, God is speaking to to do something significant. That that would be an opportunity that he reveals. Oh, I am Jehovah Jireh, your provider. I know it was scary when you took the risk, but I promise you, there's a blessing on the other side of it. I am a living, breathing testimony of taking risk. You are sitting on the other side of a risk that we took when God gave us a word to plan a church. What is he saying to you? Heads about eyes are closed. If that's you and you know what that thing is that he's telling you to take a step, would you just lift up your hand as a sign to say, lord, I know what it is, and I'm going to take the step. Thank you, Jesus. Yeah. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Father. Thank you. That within the commandment to come forward is the enablement and the power to do it, Father. Every hand that's lifted, help them to take courage and keep their eyes on you. Heads are still bowed, eyes are still closed. I want to be specific for those of you in this room, in the watch party room who say, you know what, for me to respond today is to surrender my life to Jesus. Three of the most powerful words you could ever say is, lord, save me. You can act like you're not drowning. You can act like everything's okay, but there is a savior whose arm is ready to pull you up the moment you say, save me. So in this room, watch party room, somebody watching online on YouTube, somebody watching on Pando, if you'd be so honest to say, hey, I need to surrender my life to Jesus today. That's you. Would you just lift up your hand high enough and long enough to where I can see it, say, today's the day I'm giving in my life.
- [54:04]
A
Come on.
- [54:05]
B
Maybe there's a time you were walking with God and your heart got cold and you walked away. But even now, you sense him calling you. I see hands going up in this room.
- [54:13]
A
Come on.
- [54:13]
B
Even. Even there in the watch party room. We say it all the time here at social. You can always come home. You can always come home. I don't care what your past has been. I don't care what you're addicted to.
- [54:24]
A
This is a savior who is ready to lift you up. I don't care what some church person did to you. Please don't project what a church person did to you onto the nature of our God. This is his character. That any person that says, save me, he's there quickly to live Lift you up.
- [54:41]
B
Anybody else? Thank you, God. Here's what I'm gonna ask you to do. This is not to embarrass you. I believe that this is your moment to take a step. If you lifted up your hand or you should have lifted up your hand in this room or in the watch party room, when I count to three, I'm just gonna ask you to be so bold and so brave and just come right here to this altar. And I'm believing as you take that step, it's like you getting out the.
- [55:04]
A
Safety of that chair and you're saying, God, I'm trusting you for what's ahead.
- [55:09]
B
If you lifted up your hand or.
- [55:10]
A
You should have, I want you to come. 1. Don't worry about what anybody else thinks.
- [55:13]
B
2.
- [55:14]
A
Come on.
- [55:14]
B
This is between you and God.
- [55:15]
A
3.
- [55:16]
B
Would you come?
- [55:16]
A
Would you come? I don't care how far in the back, you gotta walk. This is your day. This is your day. This is your day.
- [55:23]
B
Come on.
- [55:25]
A
Come on. Come on. Come on. I'm taking a step. I know it's scary, but I'm taking a step. I would rather be on the water with Jesus than safe on the boat. I'm taking a step. I wish I had a church that would celebrate the courage, the risk. Come on. Come on.
- [55:46]
B
Thank you, Jesus.
- [55:48]
A
Thank you, God.
- [55:50]
B
Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Come on.
- [55:55]
A
Come on. Come on.
- [55:57]
B
Yeah, you. Yeah. Yeah.
- [55:58]
A
Come on. Social fam. Don't stop clapping until people stop coming.
- [56:03]
B
This is a big deal.
- [56:06]
A
This is a big deal. Come on. It's worth the risk. I promise it's worth the risk.
- [56:17]
B
It's worth the risk. He has a purpose for you.
- [56:23]
A
There's something on the other side.
- [56:26]
B
There's something on the other side. Anybody else?
- [56:29]
A
Come on. Come on.
- [56:31]
B
Yeah, they're still coming.
- [56:32]
A
Come on. Thank you, Lord.
- [56:38]
B
Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. Anybody else?
- [56:48]
A
Come on. I'm gonna ask that nobody leave.
- [56:49]
B
If you can just respect this moment. This is a big deal. This is a big deal.
- [56:53]
A
Come on. Come on. Come on.
- [56:59]
B
Thank you, Lord. Just real soft. Just real soft. Anybody else? Anybody else?
- [57:16]
A
Thank you.
- [57:21]
B
Yeah, Come on. Come on. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Now, come on, those of you. This altar. Would you mind just. Just closing your eyes just right where you are? It feels so strongly to tell you that he sees you. I know it's felt like he wasn't on the boat. And maybe your heart's cry has been, where were you? But his eyes have never been off of you. He sees you. He saw you when the people hurt you and mistreated you and didn't value who you were. He sees you and the fact that you're still here and you're alive as proof that the storm did not destroy you. And he still has a purpose. He still has a plan for your life. This is a wonderful Savior. The moment that we call out to him, his hand reaches the Bible said immediately. As soon as Peter finished saying lord save me, his hand was already there to lift him up. That same Savior is here today. So I just want to lead you in this prayer. I'm going to give you the words, but you just say it from your heart. Fact, let's all say it as one big family. In this room, in the wash party room, would you say this? Say, jesus, save me, Lord, I need you. Without you, I would drown in my sin. Jesus, I thank you for leaving heaven, coming to earth to live the life that I was supposed to live. For dying the death that I was supposed to die. You loved me so much, you took my place. So my response is to give you everything. Forgive me of my sin. Make me brand new. From this moment forward, I'm walking with you. My life is yours. No matter the storms, no matter the wind, no matter the waves, we out here, me and you. In Jesus name, Amen. Amen.
- [61:04]
A
Amen.
- [61:06]
B
Amen. Amen.