Pastor Matt Higa
August 17, 2014 - W1433

Aloha, everybody.  It is an honor and a privilege to be here. 

 Today we are going to be talking about taking a risk because sometimes God is going to ask you and me to do things that just don't make sense.  There's no logic to it. It doesn't fit your schedule.  It doesn't fit your budget.  You might be 40 years old and the Lord says to back to college.  And the Lord might say, “You know that person who ripped you off and treated you mean?  I want you to bless them and do good to them.”  And then the Lord would ask us to do all these things like leave a secure comfortable position and take another one that makes less money.

 But sometimes we overanalyze, we debate, and we talk ourselves out of taking a risk for the Lord. Sitting here today are world shakers and history makers, but it's going to take a risk taker for Jesus to take you from good into great. 

 On the other hand, I know people and you know people who risk nothing so they gain nothing, and that's why they got nothing. So, a lot of times in life the Lord is going to ask you to get out of your comfort zone if you want to walk into the miracle zone. And it doesn't make sense, and you look at it and you wonder if it's God. 

 So we're going to look at a story today in the Bible. Many of you know this story about Peter, Jesus, and Jesus walking on water.

 Now, right before this whole miracle happens, another miracle took place first.  Jesus took five loaves of sweet bread and two dry akule, and he feed the multitudes. In Matthew 14:22. He tells the disciples to get in this boat and go to the other side. Now in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw them walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and they cried out of fear. 

 How many of you know that the darkest time of night is about 3 am right before when the sun comes up?  So how many of you are so glad that in the darkest time Jesus shines the brightest? 

 So at the fourth watch they're heading into this storm.  And then the scripture goes on to say this:  But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying to be of good cheer. 

 So Peter said, “If it's you, command me to come on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” All it took was one word for him to overcome his fear, his doubt, and his apprehension to get out of the boat and to take the step into the miracle.  Peter came out of the boat and started to walk on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out saying, “Lord, save me.”

 Nevertheless, what Peter did was he took a leap of faith by going from his comfort zone into the miracle zone; and he walked on water, the only other human being outside of Jesus Christ to walk on water.  Now it goes on to say this, and a lot of you know that Peter started to sink.  Why?  He took his eyes off of the Lord and he looked at the storm.  He took his eyes off of Jesus and he saw the boisterous wind.  That's what happens when the Lord gives us a word and we're walking into His miracles and we take our eyes off of the Lord. We start to sink.

 How many of you know that if God brings you to it, he's going to get you through it? 

 Of a certainty, when we look at this, we can learn what's going on.  Oh, Lord, how many times have you given me a word, I walked and stepped in faith, and while I was doing that, all of the storms of life and challenges, all of the things ?? how many of you just like me, your life was comfortable and your life was good, your life was maybe even great until you became one Christian?  And then you started to serve, and now all of a sudden there are challenges ?? remember, Jesus made them get in the boat and go to the other side.  Jesus made them go into that storm. 

 We can blame Peter for sinking, but at least he wanted to walk with the Lord instead of cowering in his comfort zone.  I'd rather get out of my comfort zone and sink trying to be like Jesus than staying over there and just being comfortable and good.  Because good is the enemy of great, and Peter walked into greatness even though only for a moment then. 

 So when it said he reached out and cried out, “Save me, Lord,” how many of you are so happy that when you reach out and cry out to the Lord, “Save me, Lord”, He stretches His hand out no matter how big that storm is and He pulls you out?  And He saved Peter.  Then the Bible says, “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand, called him, and said, ‘O, you of little faith, why did you doubt?’”  And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 

 Peter is the only one who got to witness and be a part of these great miracles.  Why?  He was the only one who wanted to get out the boat. 

 Therefore, if you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat; and some of us have already done that.  Some of us have said, “Okay, Lord, I'm going to surrender to You.  I'm going to start serving You.  I'm going to start going into a higher level, another dimension.  I'm going to give my whole life dedicated to You.  And God will say, “Good job.”

 Moving on, the Bible says, “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the son of God.’” 

 When I look at that, I say, “Oh, Lord, am I a person who sits back in my comfort zone while someone else steps out of the boat until I get it? Or are You asking me to be someone to step out of my comfort zone into the miracle zone because it's going to take a risk taker to become a world shaker and history maker for the Lord?”

 A lot of us, myself included, are not always going to understand what God is asking us to do.  It just doesn't make sense because faith is not in the mind; faith is in the heart.  And when the Lord asks us to do something that you and I cannot even fathom, we cannot even relate to, it is beyond logic, it doesn't fit into your schedule, it doesn't fit into your budget.  God is asking us to come.  That's one word, “come”.  And then you look at your life, and you go, “Wow, Lord, I came to you and I’m coming to church every Sunday.  I’m even doing my devotions, and we pray now.  And, wow, look, I’m going through more storms.  I’m going through more trials and tribulation.”  And the Lord is saying, “Come.”  Lord, I started to come to church.  You made me come to church and now look.  It's a divine setup as long as we see what God is doing.  Lord, you are the one that told me to join this ministry.  Now look at this ministry.  You are the one that told me come to this church.  Look at these guys over here. 

 And if we really look good, this is a divine setup of the Lord.  As long as I don't take my eyes off of Him, I'm not going to sink in the midst of this storm.  

 For some of you today, taking a risk may entail just coming to church.  It's a risk of getting out of your comfort zone.  Others, maybe you’d say, “Oh, I'm going to join a small group now or I'm going to start a small group, or I'm going to start to serve now.”  That's a risk.  Doesn't fit your budget, doesn't fit your schedule, doesn't fit any of your time, but you’re going to start to serve.  Others, maybe just becoming a tither. That's a financial risk.  But when you look at it, God is setting you up for you getting out of your comfort zone to walk into the miracle zone, and you're going to see things and do things other people will never see and do because you became a risk taker and a history maker and a world shaker for Jesus. 

 Now, if you get anything, get this today.  Some of the best fruit, in fact, the best fruits in life are always on a limb.  Out on a limb is where the best fruits are.  Stop hugging the tree because some people risk nothing, they gain nothing, and they wonder why they have nothing. 

 You and I have to be risk takers for the Lord if we're going to be victorious in this life.  Amen?

 Questions:

1. Why do we need to go out of our comfort zone if we want to see a miracle?

2. How did Peter step out of his comfort zone?

3. Why did Peter start to sink as he began to walk on the water?

4. Why was Peter the only one in the boat to witness a miracle?

5. What are some of the risks you could start with in your walk in faith?