and in Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Now the part of the chapter that I want to focus on is toward the end, this story about
where Jesus Christ has gone up into the mountain in the evening to pray
and his disciples get him to a ship and they go to Passover on the other side
and in the fourth watch of the night, it says in verse 25, Jesus went unto them
walking on the sea and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled
saying it is the Spirit and they cried out for fear
but straightway Jesus spake unto them saying
be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid
and Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou
bid me come unto thee on the water and he said, come
and when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water
to go to Jesus. Now what I want to preach about
this morning is this, stepping out in faith
stepping out in faith, because here we have a story about
twelve men who were on the boat and yet only one of them got out of the boat
stepped out in faith and walked on the water to Jesus
now this is an amazing event, not only because the fact that Jesus did the miracle of walking on the water
but it's amazing that Peter actually had the faith
to not only obey Jesus Christ and come on the water, but it was actually his idea
to say, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water
I mean here's a man of great faith that when Jesus uttered a single word
just come, do you see that? That he obeyed
it said in verse 29, and he said come, and when Peter was come down out of the ship
he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Now it says in the next verse, but when he saw
the wind boisterous
he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried saying
Lord save me, and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him
and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou thou?
Now that's little faith, and he said he was able to walk on the water
because Jesus said, O thou of little faith. Jesus said in another place
if you have the faith of a grain of mustard seed
now that's pretty small, he said you'd say to this mountain
remove thence and to yonder place, and he said it would be done
you see, God doesn't require a lot of faith
but if we would have a little bit of faith we could do great things for God
and the Bible shows us here an example of a man who wasn't afraid to step out in faith
now you have to stop and think about the story, in order for him to walk on the water
he didn't know he was going to be able to necessarily walk on the water
I mean he believed that he could, he believed that Jesus was telling him so
but think about taking that step, I mean there was a certain point of no return
where he stepped out of the boat and either he's going to sink down
or it's going to hold him up, and yet he had the faith to step out of the boat
and do it. Now I don't want to be a spectator in life
I don't want to be one of the 11 who's just sitting on the boat
while everyone else is doing great things for God
everyone else is getting closer to God and closer to Jesus Christ
everyone else has the faith, and I'm just on the boat
and I'm sure it's more comfortable on the boat
I'm sure it was nice and warm and comfy and safe
but yet the excitement was out of the boat, stepping out on the water to go to Jesus
turn to Hebrews chapter 11
Hebrews chapter 11, you see today's Christians
in many cases are afraid to step out in faith
they want everything to just be laid out for them
they want to follow the yellow brick road like Dorothy
instead of stepping out in faith and saying
hey I'm going to step out of the water to go to Jesus
no it's not solid, no it's not something that I can see with my eyes
or understand how it's going to be
but by faith I can see my path before me
you see we need to learn to step out in faith
to believe God, to take chances if you will
and not just always want to play it safe sitting on the boat
watching everyone else do the work
you see in Hebrews chapter 11 it says, this is the faith chapter
and in verse number 1 the Bible reads
now faith is the substance of things hoped for
the evidence of things not seen
for by it the elders obtained a good report
through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God
so that things which are seen were not made of things which you believe
well give me some evidence that God created this world
give me some evidence that there's a God
faith is the evidence
I'm not going to pull out some fossil out of the pulpit
to try to tell you this fossil proves that God created the world
this fossil proves that the Bible is true
this fossil proves that Jesus Christ is our God
no, in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth
that's what the Bible says and I believe that by faith
that is the evidence
faith is the evidence of things not seen
faith is the substance of things hoped for
through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God
so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear
but look down at some other people in this chapter
we're not going to go through every person in the chapter
but I want to show you some of the people in this chapter who stepped out in faith
look at Abraham it says in verse 8
by faith Abraham
when he was called to go out into a place
which he should after receive for an inheritance
obeyed
now the first thing I want to show you is that
when you're stepping out in faith it's always obedience
he said by faith he obeyed
about Abraham
because it's not faith when you dream up something that you want to do
or that you think God wants you to do
and then you say I'm stepping out of faith and doing it
wait a minute
faith is when you obey God's word
faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God
Peter was told by Jesus come
now if he just jumped out of the boat that might not have been faith
but because Jesus said to him come
he had the faith to know that he was going to be able to come
and here Abraham was called by God
to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance
he was told to leave his hometown
to leave his family
to leave father and mother
to leave everything that he knew
and to go into a country
and God described this way which I'll show you
but he didn't tell him where it was
he didn't tell him how far away it was
he didn't tell him what it was going to be like
he just said I'm going to lead you to a country that I'll show you
and he went out it says at the end of verse number 8
not knowing whither he went
he did not know where he was going
he had no clue but he obeyed
it says by faith in verse 9 he sojourned in the land of promise
as in a strange country
dwelling in tabernacles was not
let's talk about tents
he lived in a tent
he didn't have a big nice house
it says dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob
the heirs with them of the same promise
for he looked for a city which hath foundations
whose builder and maker is God
skip down if you would to verse 13
these all died in faith not having received the promises
but having seen them afar off
and were persuaded of them and embraced them
and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth
for they that say such things declare plainly
that they seek a country
and truly if they had been mindful of that country from once they came out
they might have had opportunity to have returned
but now they desire a better country
that is in heavenly
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God
for he hath prepared for them a city
you see Abraham looked for a city
which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God
he never even found that city in his lifetime
he thought God was leading him to an earthly city
it turned out he was leading him to a heavenly city
but he sojourned in the land of promise
that would later be the country that his descendants would live in
where the children of Israel would live
but he never even saw the promises in his lifetime
but yet he obeyed
yet he followed God's commands
yet he stepped out in faith
and yet today people don't have the faith to step out
and take any kind of a chance
they want everything to be security
and that's the big word today
security
right?
I want to have job security
I want to have homeland security
you know, I want to have social security
everything is just security, security
even the name of my company is Anderson Fire and Security
I think I probably should change the name
but anyway, you know, it's all about security, security, security, security
we got to be secure, we got to be safe
safety is of the Lord
you're never more secure than when you're obeying God
and even if you're stepping out into a raging sea
you are obeying God, you're secure
you're safe
you don't have to worry about just everything being so secure
you say, oh, you know, I'm afraid to do this and that
I'm afraid to do that
fear does not come from God
the Bible says God did not give us the spirit of fear
but of power and of love and of a sound mind
and yet people won't step out in faith
here's some examples of stepping out in faith
you know, your people are afraid to go soul with it
have the faith, God's commanded you to do it
God said, go ye therefore into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature
it says he sent them out two by two
it says daily in the temple and in every house
they cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ
and yet people won't step out and just take that first step
and that's the hardest part about soul in it
just taking that first step
just going out for the first time
and then you get out there, yeah, this isn't so hard
piece of cake
pretty soon, you know, you'll be wanting to do it
but see, you've got to step out and take that first step
before you see everything exactly what it's going to be
you have to step out in faith
obviously getting saved is stepping out of faith
but stepping out of faith to go soul in it
stepping out of faith to obey the command of God
to preach the gospel to every creature
what about having children?
many young couples today
don't have the faith to have children
because of uncertain economic times
but the Bible says that my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus
the Bible says, except the Lord build the house
they labor in vain to build it
except the Lord keep the city
the watchman waken but in vain
it is vain for you to rise up early to sit up late
to eat the bread of sorrows
for so he giveth this beloved sleep
lo, children are in heritage of the Lord
and the fruit of the womb is his reward
as arrows are in the hand of a mighty man
so are children of the youth
happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them
they shall not be ashamed
but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate
hey, you'll not be ashamed when you have faith
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
the Bible says
and if you step out of faith and say
I don't care what, you know, Wall Street does
I don't care what the finances do
I don't care what Obama and the economy does
I believe that if I obey God's command
to get married, to have children
to be fruitful
God will bless me and I will not be ashamed
I'm not going to be rich, I might live in a tent
but God is going to bless me
for obedience
and yet be, oh, wait two years
wait till the economy turns around
no, have children by faith and God will feed your children
I don't have to sit there and wonder about
and I remember
you know, my sister was telling me that basically
you know, her husband said to her
you know, one day each of our kids is going to be eating a whole pizza
you know, where's it going to come from?
and it's true because
you know, my children are to the point, a lot of them
where they eat almost as much as an adult
you know, and going out to eat is just a really expensive thing
and eating at home is an expensive thing
but you know, I believe that God is going to provide my needs
according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus
and so no, I'm not pumping my wife full of birth control pills
no, I'm not paying it safe, you know
no, be careful for nothing the Bible says
everything is oh, be careful, be care, secure, security, safe
be careful, be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God
and the peace of God which passeth all understanding
shall keep your hearts and minds to Christ Jesus
Lee casting your care upon him for he careth for you
I'm not sitting up late
getting up early, sitting up late, eating the bread of sorrows
wondering where my next meal is going to come from
I already know where my next meal is going to come from
God!
and I know how I'm going to provide for my children
when they're each eating a whole pizza
God will provide those pizzas, okay?
and so, I believe that
and so, you know, people follow the world's advice
or liberal Christianity's advice
or backslidden preacher's advice
to not have children
they're wrong
God said just step out of faith
don't live in fear
do what he told you to do
I thank God that I have the blessing of my children
I love my children
I thank God for the blessing that they are
I'm glad I wasn't too scared to have children
you know, because of the economy
or because the world's a wicked place
and those are the reasons that I do it
but there are many other things where we need to step out of faith
like you think of
you think of Peter stepping out of faith
stepping out under the water
and many Christians don't want to take the step of really
selling out for God
you know, kind of going from being on the fringe
maybe of Faithful War Baptist Church
to kind of jumping in, right?
jumping out of the boat
and getting out there
doing the soul winning
cleaning up their life
sometimes it can be an act of faith
to throw away your DVDs
that are wrong
that you know are wrong
that God has convicted you about
that you know they do not honor Jesus Christ
you know, your DVDs, your CDs
and I've known people
they had music that they knew was wrong
and they boxed it up and put it in the closet
and said, I'm not going to listen to it anymore
it's like, why are you boxed up and put it in the closet?
well, you know, because in case they get back to it
and they don't want to re-buy all that stuff
because it's expensive
so they figure, you know, just put it up in the closet
put it away, see how I do
no, you ought to just burn your bridges behind you my friend
and just throw it out in faith
and you say, well I just don't know if I can do it
I can do all things through Christ
which strengthens me, the Bible says
don't ask yourself, I don't know if I can
I'm just not sure if I can go solo
I'm just not sure if I can give up some of the sin of my life
why don't you just do it?
why don't you say, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me
why don't you step out in faith
and burn your bridges behind you
and say, I can do, I will do
God is going to help me
if God commanded it
He gives you the ability to do it
and so do what God has commanded you to do
let's look at some other examples from the chapter though
in Hebrews chapter 11, it's a great chapter
we saw Abraham who was an amazing person
because he actually just went to a place
he had no idea where he was going
he had no idea what the job market was like
he had no idea what the economy was like
he went to a place that he should after receive for an inheritance
he obeyed not knowing whether he went
not knowing where he was going
but look at another person, how about Rahab the harlot?
look down at verse 30
by faith
the walls of Jericho fell down
after they were compassed about seven days
this is when Joshua and the children of Israel
marched around the walls of Jericho
sounded the trumpets, the walls fell down
it says in verse 31
by faith the harlot Rahab
perished not with them that believed not
so here's a woman of faith, she believed
now was she a good example of godliness and morality?
she was a harlot, she was a prostitute
okay, that's a pretty low occupation wouldn't you say?
this is a very ungodly person
and yet she believed and that's why she didn't perish with them that believed not
and let me tell you something
there are a lot of people in America
that are not going to perish with them that believed not by faith
even though they did live a sinful life
because somebody knocked on their door and preached them the gospel
and they believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and their sins are forgiven
but he says here by faith the harlot Rahab
perished not with them that believed not
and look at the next phrase
when she had received the spies with peace
now here's what happened, let me tell you the story
these two spies from the children of Israel
Joshua sent them into Jericho to spy it out
to check it out to see how they could attack the city
because they're going to defeat these people
well these two spies came in
and they basically lodged at the house of Rahab the harlot
that's basically where they stayed
okay, don't ask me why they stayed there
but that's where they stayed
anyway, they went and stayed there
maybe they didn't know what she was
maybe they didn't know what... I don't know
but maybe they were just trying to keep a low profile
so that's where they ducked in
I don't know why
but anyway, they go and basically stay there
and they talk to her and she says to them right away
she says I've heard about you guys
she said I know what's going on
she said I know how you cross the Red Sea
I know how you cross the Jordan River
I've heard about the Ten Commandments
I've heard about Moses
I've heard about all the things that God has been doing
and she said basically that she believed that their God was the true God
I mean she believed on the Lord
and she told them, she said
I know that you're here to defeat us
I know that you guys are right
I know that you're following the Lord and so forth
and what happened was they made an oath to her that
we'll make sure that you don't get destroyed
and anyone that's in your house
and so he said gather all your family and your friends into this house
and anybody who's in this house
because she lodged right on the wall
it was actually built into the wall
as it often was in those days
anyone who's in your house will be saved
and they will not be defeated
they will not be destroyed
as long as you don't utter this our business
well, what happened is
while they're over at her place
there's a knock at the door
and basically the cops are at the door
and they come in saying
where are these two guys
we saw these two guys
we know they're spies
they came in here
she had hidden them on the roof
in some piles of flax
basically under, you know
you picture like a pile of hay or something
and they're basically hidden underneath
on the roof
and she tells them
well there were two guys here
but they left
I don't know where they went
and I think they went that way
and if you hurry up you'll get them
and then they rushed off that way
and of course they didn't find anybody
now that took some faith to do that
because of the fact
that when she did that
she's risking herself
you know
because she's aiding and abetting
they probably would have killed her
for treason or something
if she's helping these spies
and look if you would at James chapter 2
you're in Hebrews
just go a few pages to the right in your Bible
look at James chapter 2
and in James chapter 2
it says in verse 25
it says
James 2.25
likewise also was not Rahab the harlot
justified by works
when she had received the messengers
and had sent them out another way
that's where she basically
let them go
these two messengers
she sent them out another way
not out the front door
she let them out the back door
in order to get them out
and get them escaped
she was helping them
she was putting herself at risk
but not really because she knew
that God was going to bless these guys
she knew that the children of Israel
were going to destroy the city
because that's what God had said he was going to do
and she believed God's word
she stepped out in faith
she put her literal life on the line
and God blessed her for stepping out in faith
look if you would at Hebrews 11 again
we'll look at another example
there's a lot of people in this chapter
who took some steps out in faith
where it seems like
they were putting themselves in danger
but they were basically following God's word
look if you would at
verse 23
it says by faith Moses
when he was born
was hid three months of his parents
because they saw he was a proper child
and look at the next phrase
and they were not afraid of the king's commandment
now the king had made a commandment
he was a very wicked king
to basically kill all of the male children
that were born to the children of Israel
and Moses' parents did not fear the king's commandment
they put their own life at risk
by hiding that baby
by concealing him
and they concealed him for three months
until it got to the point where he was just making too much noise
it was too obvious
they weren't going to get away with it
that's where they put baby Moses in the bulrus
in the basket
sent him down the river
and then watched him to see what would happen to him
but you see they stepped out in faith
because they were risking their own life
to do what was right
and not allow their son to be killed
Moses
look at the next verse
by faith Moses
when he was come to years
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God
than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season
esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt
for he had respect under the recompense of the reward
by faith he forsook Egypt
not fearing the wrath of the king
for he endured as seeing him who is invisible
and on and on
men who stepped out in faith
who did great things for God
always were men of faith
because they believed God's word
and therefore they took what the world would call taking a chance
taking a risk
and yet we don't want to take any risk
I mean stop and think about it
when I came to Phoenix, Arizona four years ago
to start Faithful Word Baptist Church
I was stepping out in faith
because we didn't have a plan
and today people don't want to start a church
unless they have a guaranteed income
and they want to have all these other churches giving them money
and they want to have a guaranteed paycheck
just in case they fail
you know, just in case they fail
they're still coming
no, failure is not an option
when you step out in faith
and you step out of the boat
failure means you're drowning
okay
the Bible, this is what I would define
as stepping out in faith
or water walking faith
I would define it as this
either God comes through or I'm through
that's it right there
either God comes through or I'm through
that's when you've stepped out of faith
and until you can say
if God doesn't come through then I'm through
then you haven't stepped in faith yet
that's when you've stepped out in faith
and that's how Rahab stepped out of faith
if God didn't come through, she was through
I mean that's how Peter stepped out of faith
that's how Moses stepped out of faith
that's how Moses' parents stepped out of faith
that's the kind of faith that we need to have
to step out and say
I'm going to go and start a church
if that's what God wants me to do
I'm going to start that church
and failure is not an option
if God doesn't come through then I'm through
I'm not leaning on some financial support
I'm not leaning on anyone
I'm leaning on God and Jesus Christ alone
and people say, weren't you afraid?
Fear not!
No, I'm just afraid that
I'm afraid to start a church
because I'm going to fail and then people will laugh at me
Shame on you!
Jesus Christ, when he went to the cross
they shot up the lip and made fun of him
and slapped him in the face
Do what's right and don't fear
what man shall do unto you or say about you
You see, there are many people
that probably should have started churches throughout history
that should have went to that city
and brought the gospel and knocked the doors
and they just didn't have the faith to do it
or they didn't have the faith to do it
so they leaned on some man-made institution
that would pay their bills and pull their strings
and form their little denomination
You see, we need some young men
in 2010, 2011, 2012
that will step out in faith
and not lean on man
not rely on the flesh
and not fear what man thinks or what man says
and say, I'm going to start a church
by the grace of God
I'm going to preach the gospel, I'm going to do it God's way
and if I perish, I perish
whatever God tells me to do, I'm just going to do it
and I'm not going to fear the outcome
and step out in faith
and not just have it all laid out
you say, well when you started the church, did you have a plan?
did you have it all planned out?
there was no plan, this was the plan
preach
this was the plan, go soul winning
and yet today you've got to have it all planned
it's got to all be laid out for you
no, just do it
if God wants you to do it, then do it
don't worry about how you're going to be
six months from now or a year from now
the Bible says, take no thought
for the morrow
the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof
I mean, God tells us
not to look too far into the future
He says, just look right in front of you
what is the right thing to do today?
that's all you need to know
for example, it says
in Psalms, thy word is a lamp
unto my feet and a light unto my path
He didn't say it's a flashlight
a floodlight that's going to light up the way
a mile ahead of you
He said, it's a light to my feet
but I can see the next step that I need to take
now, I can't necessarily see
what's going to be a month from now
or three weeks from now
but I can see what I'm supposed to do today
I know today I should be in church
I know today I should go out soloing
I know today I should preach the Bible
I know today I should preach God's word
without apology
without watering it down
without sugar coating the message
and you say, but what are the results going to be down the road?
doesn't matter
God's word will lead me to a country that I haven't even seen yet
but at this point, I just need to preach
and do what I'm supposed to do
and live for God
and that's what you're supposed to do too
don't try to plan everything out and figure out your whole life
God's word will light your feet and your path
and you'll know what the next step is
if you're not saved
the next step is to get saved
if you're saved, the next step is to get baptized
if you're a young baby Christian
the next step is for you to get out soloing
if you've never read the Bible through
your next step is to start reading the Bible through
cover to cover
it's easy to see what the next step is
it's difficult to see the whole journey
but you don't need to know the whole journey
all you need to know is that
in all thy ways, acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths
that's all you need to know
you step out in faith, he'll lead you
you step out in faith, he'll guide you
you live in fear, you'll be paralyzed
you'll go nowhere in your life
you can sit on the boat, sucking your thumb
with three life preservers on
and you're going to get nothing done for God
or you can be Peter and step out of the boat
and say, hey, I'm going to step out in faith
and do something great for God
now
here's another story, the story of Esther
in the Old Testament
you remember how Esther was the queen
but there was a
very, very strict king
on the throne, who was actually
a dictator of pretty much the whole world
I mean, he ruled an empire
that had 127 different provinces
in it, that stretched all the way
from Ethiopia to India
so he had this massive
massive kingdom, and his name was king
Ahasuerus, and this
mighty powerful king, Esther
was his queen, and
Esther was not allowed to go see
him, it was like, when I
want you, I'll call you
not, she calls him
it didn't work that way, because this guy was
a very powerful man
he was like
an emperor of this giant empire
okay
well, Esther had found out
that her people were going to be destroyed
they were going to be killed through
Haman's machinations
and his evil dealings
he was trying to
basically slaughter all of her people, the Jews
and
what happened is, she got wind of it
through her cousin Mordecai, who had
raised her since she was a child
and she needed to go in and talk
to the king about it, to stop this from happening
but the problem was, he hadn't
called for her in a few weeks
and so, she knew that there was
one sentence that, because of this country
in Shushan
the palace where they were
that if she walked in
and she was not called for
no one was allowed to walk in
just, you know, bust into the king's chamber
or else the penalty
was death
unless the king would hold out to them
the golden scepter
and basically give them like a pardon
for stepping over the bounds
and for breaking that law
well, she told all of her
relatives and all of her friends
in Mordecai, fast
for three days and three nights
and pray for me for three days
and three nights, and I'm going to be fasting
I'm going to pray
and she said, then I'm going to break the law
she said, and I'm going to step into the king's chamber
which is not allowed
and she said, if I perish
I perish
you know, because Mordecai had preached to her
God's word
that she needed to do this
it wasn't right for her to just say, well I'm safe
so I'll let my people be destroyed
I'll let my people perish, I'm safe
I'm cool, I'm not going to get hurt
so she basically
stepped out in faith and risked her life
broke the law
and you remember what he did to the other queen
broke the law?
she was thrown out
Vashtai, the original queen in chapter 1
and so this guy was a pretty ruthless guy
she walked in
and
God worked it out, God answered prayer
to where she found favor in sight
even though she busted in and interrupted him
and embarrassed him in front of everybody
and whatever
he held out to her in the golden sector, pardoned her
and she ended up
getting basically her request answered
and saved her whole people from being destroyed
by the wicked Haman
and Haman ended up being hung on the gallows
that he had made for Mordecai
and Haman ended up
the whole thing was backfired
he was destroyed
and so he reaped what he sowed
but Esther had to step out in faith
and risk her life
Esther had to risk everything
in order to see God
perform that miracle and that great victory
where everything got turned around on Haman
and it's a great book in the Bible, Esther
but back to Hebrews 11
we'll finish up with this
in Hebrews chapter 11
the Bible says
at the end of these lists of all these famous people
that we read, Abel, Enoch, Noah
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
Joseph, Moses
when we get down to verse number 32
the Bible reads
and what shall I more say?
for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon
and of Barak and of Samson
and of Jetha
of David also and Samuel
and of the prophets
who through faith subdued kingdoms
wrought righteousnesses
obtained promises
stopped the mouths of lions
that's Daniel
quenched the violence of fire
escaped the edge of the sword
out of weakness were made strong
waxed valiant in fight
turned to flight the armies of the aliens
women received their dead
raised to life again
and others were tortured not accepting
deliverance that they might obtain a better
resurrection and others had
trial of cruel mockings and scourgings
yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment
they were stoned
they were sawn asunder
were tempted were slain with the sword
they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins
being destitute, afflicted, tormented
of whom the world was not
worthy, they wandered
in deserts and in mountains and in dens
and caves of the earth and these all
having obtained a good report through
faith received not the promise
God having provided some better thing for us
that they without us should not be made
perfect you see God said of these people
in verse 38 of whom the world
was not worthy these were great people
great men of God
great women of God all throughout the Old Testament
who did great things for God
they all had one thing in common
faith, that's what they all
had one thing in common, faith
and faith is what gets you saved
but after you're saved
the Bible says that we need to live a life
of faith, we need to walk by faith
and not by sight
Jesus told his disciples have faith in God
and you'll never do anything
great for God sitting on the boat
where it's comfortable
you'll never do anything great for God
living your comfortable, perfect, lukewarm life
you can't do anything for God like that
God says I would that thou
who are cold or hot
and either cold or hot are both uncomfortable
but God doesn't want us
just sitting on the sidelines
where it's comfortable
God doesn't want us always playing it safe
where we always have six months wages
in our bank account
who in the world has ever even heard of such a thing
but you know
six months of wages in my bank account
and I've got insurance upon my insurance
and then I have a rider
and then I have an umbrella policy
am I speaking your language?
and I have all this
all this insurance
and I live in a white padded room
and I'm the boy in the plastic bubble
because I'm afraid of germs
because I'm afraid of myself
I'm afraid of my family
I'm afraid of losing my money
I'm scared of everything
step out of faith, let God lead you
let God protect you
God can keep you safe
God can keep you afloat financially
God can keep you up
God can protect you
God can make you walk on water
and so don't live a life
paralyzed by fear
where you don't do anything for God
because you're afraid to
and so you sit on the sidelines
and the safe place
that's not what God wants you to do
God wants you to step out in faith
you say I don't know how it's going to work financially
do it anyway
say I don't know how it's going to work
now, doesn't matter
who knows what's going to happen a month from now
thou knowest not what a day
will bring forth
and you need to just do what's right today
do what's right tomorrow and let the chips fall
where they may and whatever happens
happens, if I perish, I perish
but God is going to bless those
who step out in faith
always just decide
what you're going to do based on what the best
thing is spiritually
whatever God wants you to do, whatever God commands you
and don't sit around
worrying about all your physical security
and safety
now again, I'm not saying to just
be stupid
but when you're obeying God's word
you're never being stupid
you see what I'm saying?
oh that's stupid
to step out of the boat in a storm
you're going to drown
yeah it is stupid, except when Jesus said come
then it's not stupid
you see it is stupid
to throw your
financial concern to the wind
unless you're obeying what God told you to do
you see, whenever
you're obeying God's word, it's never
stupid, now the world will look at it
and say you're a fool, you're foolish
the world will look at you and say
you're irresponsible
you need a little wisdom brother
and basically their term
wisdom is just a code word
for doing everything
with a lack of faith
following man's advice
wisdom, basically when they say wisdom
it's usually the wisdom of this world
that's foolishness with God
you're never foolish when you're
following God's word
let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer
Father we thank you for these great examples in the Bible
of people who stepped out in faith
God help it to inspire us
so that we don't live the
boring, lame
plain Christian life
like 99% of the people around us
who don't step out and do anything
for God, they won't step out
in faith, they won't step out of
their comfort zone and give people the gospel
they won't step out of their comfort zone
financially or spiritually or physically
God help us to be the few
help us to be like that great list
in Hebrews chapter 11 that gets out of the boat
that gets out of the comfortable
that gets out of the secure
and steps out in faith and says
if God doesn't come through then I'm through
help us to have that kind of faith Father
because I know that's the only kind of faith
that's going to move mountains
that's going to see the multitudes safe
that's going to do a great work in 2010
we love you and in Jesus' word
and in Jesus' name we pray