Power to Be Brave

 

Series: Power to Live!

 

Prayer

 

Do video clip of Matt. 14: 22-33:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z_Yvm4CL-U

 

Introduction:

 

A.   When I read the scripture for today, I have to ask myself, ACould Peter swim?@  Why else would he be so excited when he began to sink?

 

B.   In this regard, I can relate to Peter.  I am not too brave when it comes to water things because I can=t swim.

 

C.   Tell story of canoe trip . . . .

 

Trans.

I am perhaps a little less brave when it comes to water things after this trip.  I like to watch water; I fish from the shore mostly; I wear a life jacket when in a boat; I don=t wade out too far when baptizing someone ; and It would be in my

wildest dreams to ever ski!  But I think the lesson from this scripture has much more important implications than this.  Let=s look and see what we can learn about the power to be

brave.

 

I.   Let=s look at the scripture:

A.   Peter was brave in this scripture, especially if he could not swim.  If he could swim, he was still brave with the water as rough as it was that day!

 

B.   Peter was brave when Jesus was arrested; one gospel writer records that one who was with Jesus (believed to be Peter) drew a sword and cut off the ear of the slave of the high priest. (Mark 14:47)

 

C.   Peter was there all the way through the mockery of a trial.  He denied, but he was there.  He hadn=t quite matured in Christ!

 

D.   But when Peter was killed, tradition has it that he was crucified, and at his request, because he felt unworthy to be killed as his Lord, he was crucified upside down.  He was really brave by the time of his death!  What happened?

 

I. How does the implications of this message go deeper even then

     this?

A.   A lot of physical things in life take bravery; getting in the water if you can=t swim, riding a motorcycle for some of us, sky diving for others, handling snakes, etc.

 

B.   But I think, where the rubber hits the road, it is spiritual things and what God calls us to do that takes the most bravery!  In Peter=s case, it was Jesus who told him to step out onto the water.

 

C.   Jesus can give us the power to be brave in these cases too:

1.   When I became a Christian, mine was Public speaking.

     Tell of my first experience at standing before a class

     . . . .

                   a.   I am an introvert by personality type.

          b.   Preaching was the last thing I could imagine myself doing!

          c.   But here I am!

          d.   I still rely heavily on prayer before public speaking!

2.   Telling others about Christ!  Even the toughest dude, needs power when it comes to sharing with others about Christ!

3.   Giving a public testimony! What will people think?

4.   Teaching a class.

5.   Singing for Christ!

6.   Using our gifts, whatever they are, for Christ!

 

A. These things take bravery, but Jesus can give us the Power to

     be Brave!

     1.   Jesus helped Peter!

     2.   Jesus helped me!

     3.   I don’t know what the future holds or what I will be

          asked to do, but I know who holds the future and I know

          He can empower me to do it!

 

Conclusion:

A.   Is God calling you to something that you can=t imagine yourself doing?

 

B.   Give it an honest look; don=t discount it too quick because you can=t see yourself doing it.

 

C.   Be willing to surrender to trying the Spirits! Be willing to step out into the water!

 

D.   Come to me and talk to me about; God can give you the Power to be brave!

 

E.   Are there things in your life that you need bravery to face?

     Come to the one who can give you Power to be Brave as we encounter Christ at the table this morning!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion