MISSING the POINT
You Want Me To Do What? Part 3
August 5, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:*** To you Christians today - God will nudge us to do something that we probably say,
"You want me to do what?"
- It is not so much we aren't WILLING but not ABLE.
I just don't know how to do that.
I just don't have the resources- so I'm going to have to decline.

* Sometimes it is something in scripture, relational, just pushed past your comfort zone….

* What are you going to do when God nudges you out into situations that are BEYOND you?

* When God nudges us out beyond our comfort zone & our faith intersects with His faithfulness…
* It is in that moment we know God- we discover who it is He wants us to be.
Maybe we sit back & MISS what God wants to do through your life.

*** We are not the FIRST group of people that have to go this process…
Mt 14 Begins 2 stories… you've heard the stories but they are connected.
Mt 14:15-16 1. Jesus is setting them up with this impossible task
Mt 14:17 2. What we say to God when we are getting NUDGED…

Mt 14:18 * Jesus- bring to me WHAT you DO have.
Mt 14:19-21 Did you see what Jesus just did?
- He knows they don't have the resources to meet the need…

* Look at what Jesus did with the disciples- while they were trying to figure it out…

Mt 14:22 Now comes the test…
* Now here comes a 2nd impossible task
(6-8 miles trip, done it before) WIND, not a storm, but the wind…& darkness…
* Jesus is hoping the disciples will make the connection
Mt 14:23-24 Get the picture- middle of lake & can't get across…
Mt 14:25a (3-6am) in the boat @ 9hrs.
Mt 14:25b (Mk 6:48 "…walking on the water… would have PASSED by them."
Mt 14:26-27 A ghost… - made them AFRAID…
* A VOICE comes out the thing that made them afraid, and said, "Be not afraid it is I."
* Suddenly when Peter hears the Lord speak- it all comes CLEAR to Peter what Jesus was teaching them.
Mt 14:28 "If is you" - then ask "bid" me to come… ask me to do the IMPOSSIBLE.
* Call me out to do something that I don't have the resources to do.

Mt. 14:29 Jesus was trying to teach them / us a principle…
* That when God calls you to do something- & it is the will of God you can rest assured that you will be provided the resources to accomplish the task.

Mt 14:29 Peter knew how to get out of the boat & how to walk- but not how to do the supernatural.
* Jesus wants to take us places we NEVER imagined…
(Relationally, spiritually, influentially…)

* Staying in the boat DOES NOT require the POWER of God.
We want Jesus to come into our little organized boat, but Jesus trying to get us out of the boat.
* Can you think of DEFINING MOMENTS in your life where Jesus "Bid" you come out of the boat?
What is it for you?
- Give up some friends
- Look at that marriage like Jesus wants you to
- Make a move from your job to another
- Maybe today you feel in your heart the Lord's call to accept Him as your Savior.

My favorite part…
Mt 14:29-30 Saw the wind- began to sink…
* Isn't that what you are worried about?
- What if I mess it up?
- What if I ruin the relationship?
- What if they never call me back?
- What if it doesn't work out?
- What if I'm single forever?
- What if she / he…?

Mt 14:31
Mt 14:32 compare Mark 6:51-52
"And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."
* The other disciples didn't get it… Peter did,
Not my resources, but His.

* We are to trust Him & get out of the boat & go to Him.

* That is the Christian life- God this is NOT my idea… so
The challenge is…will you say yes when you don't understand why God wants you do something…

* "You want me to do what?