Take the Step: Walking on Water Through Faith

Matthew 14:22 through 33 places the disciples in a boat where the wind is blowing, the waves are beating, and the night is dark. Jesus comes toward them on the water, and his first word is not condemnation but courage: “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter does not jump out on a feeling or try to be reckless. Peter asks for a command, and Jesus gives him one word: “Come.”

Faith, then, is more than believing that Jesus can do the impossible. Faith listens for the voice of Jesus and moves when Jesus says move. Faith does not wait for everybody to understand, agree, or provide permission. God’s word matters more than public opinion, because a step ordered by God can stand even when people do not see what God is doing.

Metropolitan’s clinic and pharmacy opportunity bears witness to that kind of faith. God honored an application submitted a year and a half earlier, even while the needed partner, doctors, furniture, and full plan were not yet visible. God showed that a dormant thing does not mean God is not at work. Faith makes itself available, fills out the application, takes the meeting, and trusts God to do what only God can do.

Peter also shows that faith steps out before conditions change. Jesus does not calm the storm before Peter leaves the boat. The wind is still blowing, the waves are still moving, and the boat is still rocking. Peter changes before the circumstances change. Faith says, “I would rather be in the storm with Jesus than be in the boat without him.” Faith does not demand all the money, all the answers, or the removal of every fear before obedience begins.

The bicycle image makes the call plain: training wheels eventually have to come off. Knowledge about the bike cannot replace getting on it. Faith may fall, but faith can get back up because God has called it forward. God’s command may mean making the call, sending the application, starting the ministry, having the conversation, releasing what must be released, forgiving, giving, serving, building, or walking away.

Peter’s sinking also reveals that focus matters. The wind was already there, but fear took over when Peter stared at the storm rather than Jesus. Anything held in view long enough will influence faith, just as a car drifts toward whatever holds the driver’s gaze. Peter walked, even though the other eleven stayed in the boat. Jesus calls each person to move toward his voice, not to wait for those who were never given the command to come. Confidence is not in personal skill but in God, the one who orders every step.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith listens before it steps Faith is not reckless motion dressed up in spiritual language. Peter waited for Jesus’ command because a bold step must be rooted in God’s voice, not personal impulse. God’s direction may not make sense to everybody else, but obedience begins with the question, “What did God say?” [54:05]
• 2. Move while the storm remains Jesus did not remove the wind before Peter stepped onto the water. Faith does not make perfect conditions a requirement for obedience, because perfect conditions may never come. God calls his people to move with empty pockets, unanswered questions, and trembling hands when his voice has said, “Come.” [59:30]
• 3. Dormant does not mean abandoned God used a program entered more than a year earlier to open a door that nobody could have fully planned. What looks delayed, forgotten, or inactive may still be held in God’s hands. Faith stays available and takes the next obedient step, trusting God to bring the right provision at the right time. [58:08]
• 4. Keep looking toward Jesus Peter began to sink when the storm became the center of his attention. The wind had not changed, but Peter’s focus had changed. Fear grows when it is stared at too long, while faith stays steady by fixing its eyes on the One who controls the storm. [63:15]
• 5. Take the step God assigned Peter walked where the other disciples remained seated, because Peter received and answered the invitation to come. God’s call cannot be postponed until every observer is ready to move too. When God says start, forgive, serve, give, apply, build, or walk away, obedience means taking the step.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [14:03] - Prayer at the Altar
• [21:22] - Praise Is Always in Order
• [23:05] - Beacon Clinic and Pharmacy Announcement
• [34:09] - Giving Beyond Sunday Morning
• [45:52] - Forward by Faith
• [46:57] - Jesus Walks on the Water
• [50:17] - Take the Step
• [54:05] - Faith Listens for Jesus’ Voice
• [58:52] - Faith Steps Before Conditions Change
• [62:34] - Faith Keeps Looking at Jesus
• [66:21] - Obey When God Says Come
• [71:04] - Invitation and Prayer
• [74:53] - Benediction

Bible Reading

Matthew 14:22-33
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.” [46:57]

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [07:25]

Hebrews 12:2
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [01:02:42]

Psalm 37:23
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; [01:10:55]

Observation questions

1. What details in Matthew 14 show that the disciples’ situation was difficult before Jesus came to them?
2. What does Peter ask Jesus to do before he gets out of the boat, and what is Jesus’ answer? [54:21]
3. What changes in Peter’s attention between the time he begins walking and the time he begins to sink? [01:02:47]
4. What actions were taken before the clinic and pharmacy partnership, even though the full plan, partners, doctors, and furniture were not yet in place? [58:08]

Interpretation questions

1. Why does Peter’s request, “Command me to come,” show the difference between faithful obedience and reckless decision-making? [54:29]
2. Jesus does not stop the wind before Peter steps out. What does this reveal about the kind of conditions believers may face when God calls them to obey? [59:30]
3. Peter walked while looking toward Jesus but began sinking when he focused on the wind. How can ongoing attention to fear, obstacles, opinions, or numbers weaken a believer’s willingness to obey? [01:03:15]
4. Eleven disciples remained in the boat while Peter answered Jesus’ invitation. What does this suggest about waiting for other people’s approval or readiness before responding to God’s direction? [01:05:35]

Application questions

1. Is there an area of life where you have been praying, thinking, talking, or planning for a long time, but have not taken the next step? What might that step look like this week? [50:32]
2. Before taking a major step, how can you make sure you are responding to Jesus’ voice rather than acting only on pressure, emotion, fear, or personal ambition? [54:54]
3. What “storm” are you waiting for God to remove before you obey—lack of money, fear, unanswered questions, disagreement from others, or something else? How might God be inviting you to move while the storm is still present? [01:00:19]
4. Is there something in your life that feels dormant, delayed, or forgotten? What is one faithful action you can take to remain available to God rather than assuming the opportunity is over? [58:19]
5. What has been holding your attention more than Jesus lately: discouraging news, financial pressure, other people’s opinions, past failures, or fear of what could go wrong? What practice could help you turn your focus back to Christ? [01:04:01]
6. Which specific act of obedience may God be placing before you—making a call, applying, forgiving, serving, giving, beginning a ministry, having a hard conversation, or walking away from something? What support do you need to take that step faithfully? [01:06:36]