R1 Red Hot Priorities – Let’s see what God can do Matthew 14:19 Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children! Matthew 14:22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. Have you discovered the Jesus of this story yet? In this story of Peter walking on the water, what drives Peter to do what he did was one thing: Jesus. This is a story of what happens when a man or a woman truly sees Jesus for who he is. Just a glimpse of the glory of Jesus, just to see him for who he is, you will jump out of the boat. All through the New Testament we have people jumping out of boats – so to speak – when they see Jesus. The man hanging on the cross next to Jesus jumps out of the boat and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his glory. A bleeding woman jumps out of the boat and touches the hem of Jesus’ garment. When you get a glimpse of who Jesus is, your faith in him will turn daring and risky. Maybe you don’t know all about the history of Riverside but at one time it was in a different location and there was a vision to build. The only problem was that no bank would loan money to this church. They wanted collateral. And that’s when some of the members put up their own homes as collateral. That’s daring and risky faith. When I started out in ministry 43 years ago it was never about “let’s see what God can do.” It was, “let’s see what we can do.” Let’s see what our budget can handle. Let’s see what the big givers in the church will give us permission to do. Let’s avoid these certain sections of the Bible that might upset somebody. In this story we have 11 disciples huddling around. They are going to see what God can do, but they are not going to experience what God can do firsthand. They are going to watch Peter walk on the water. The good news is that what the disciples saw with Peter and Jesus will inspire them later on to trust Jesus on their own. Matthew 14:28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. I love how this Peter and his type A personality asks for something big. “Let me come to you and walk on water.” How audacious is that? And then Jesus said, “yes, come.” This is the power of Jesus. The moment those words left his lips, everything that needed to be in place for Peter to walk on water fell into place. Atoms started to change. Molecules were rearranged to hold the weight of a man. The water became like cement. This is the power of the word of God. When God speaks, heaven responds to anyone who dares to believe it. Water walkers have faith in Jesus to go over the side. Faith tells me that what can’t happen – will happen. Faith tells me what shouldn’t – shall. Faith tells me that nothing – will be something. Faith can hear things that no one else is hearing. Faith sees things no one else is seeing. Faith is walking and working toward a destination, believing that the destination will be there once we arrive. Faith is believing it will be so, because God said so. Faith is believing that an unseen hand is unfolding unseen events to reveal an unseen plan to reach unseen goals that will only be revealed beyond my lifetime. And then it begins to fall apart. Jesus asks Peter, “why did you doubt me?” We often blame Peter’s failure on him looking around at the wind and the rain. But Peter temporarily lost sight of Jesus. And what does Jesus do about it? When Peter began to sink, Jesus just lifted him back up. Let’s see what GOD can do! Pastor Brian Harrell