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Gleanings From The Word

Category: Matthew

  • Step Out of the Boat Faith

    Man standing on the water beside the boat - get out of the boat faith

    When I awoke this morning, I was remembering a fishing trip long ago, with a friend and his dog. We were sitting out in the lake enjoying the sun and catching a few fish, when Tawny spotted a duck she wanted to visit and decided to step out of the boat.

    The result was as inevitable as it was comic. The water wasn’t solid ground, and down she went. By the time we got her back in the boat, both Bruce and I were soaked and had nearly capsized a couple of times.

    Whenever I remember that trip, my mind drifts to a familiar passage in the gospel. The one where Jesus walked on the sea, and Peter, too, decided to step out of the boat.

     Immediately, he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.


    And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.

    But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
    And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”


    He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

     Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-23

    I’m sure the other disciples ribbed him about that for years. We often talk about the foolishness of Peter panicking when he began to sink.

    We forget one important point, Peter actually stepped out of the boat. He had faith, weak faith, but faith nonetheless, and acted on it. Jesus rescued him.

    The other disciples didn’t even bother to try. They probably teased Peter for a long time, but I suspect that deep in their hearts, they wished they had been the ones who tried.

    Faith that isn’t put to the test isn’t faith; it’s a wish, a vague hope.  You’ve got to put into practice the things God has called us to do, exercise your spiritual gifts.

    Perhaps you’ll find yourself in over your head, but trust God. Peter didn’t fail; he tried. The other disciples stayed in the boat and didn’t experience God’s rescuing hand.

    It’s time, my dear friends. Step out of the boat, walk in the Spirit, and put your faith to the test.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

    Disciples – what are they?
    # Right Belief Must Become Right Living
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  • Happy Anniversary Church – What is our future?

    A styled image of a church with the text Immanuel's 40th Anniversary - our lccal church is celebrating

    This weekend, our local assembly is celebrating its fortieth anniversary.  That’s both a huge milestone and a stepping stone for our little church. 

    Statistically, over 80% of new church plants last less than five years, so this one has done very well. Depending on which source you look at, churches that make it past the first 5 years last somewhere between 75 and 100+ years. There’s lots of time to go yet.

    Like most congregations, this one has ebbed and waned over the years. It’s presently undergoing significant change, with a much larger multicultural makeup reflecting our community as a whole. That’s a good thing.

    I’ve often spoken of the need for unity in the church, and an area that doesn’t often get touched on are cultural differences between what differing communities think of as “church.” I’m excited to see what we will look like at our 45th and 50thanniversaries,

    Will the music change? The service format? What about the ministries we are involved in? It’s likely. The question is by how much. Will we even recognize the church?

    Will you move as the Spirit leads, or will we fight change it tooth and nail because it isn’t the way we think church should be done?  Probably some combination of both.

    We can forget that it is never “our church”. The church in all its forms belongs to God. His pleasure is to use the church (both as the body of believers and the organizations therein) to fulfill His goal, of seeing all who will be saved come to Him, and as a training ground for believers to be shaped into His image.

    And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  Matthew 16:18

    And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  Ephesians 1:22-23

    He is preparing His bride (the church) to present to the Father and will shape her as He wills.

    That’s great news for us. We don’t have to fret about change. We are free to simply follow the Lord as He leads and walk by faith.

    I don’t know what the next 40 years hold for Immanuel: growth, decline, or even demise.  I do know I needed worry. I can celebrate what God has done, is doing, and will do.

    That’s a good place to be.

    Be blessed

    Kevin

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    Every Member Is Necessary — 1 Corinthians 12

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