Keep Walking on the Water

How do YOU deal with doubt? Here is how one jury did:
A defendant was on trial for murder in Oklahoma. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse.
In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom."
He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But you all looked on with anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty."
The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door."
Answered the jury foreman: "Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t."
Doubt: to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.
Many times along our walk with Christ we have moments of doubts.
Am I good enough, can He really use me, is it even worth the hassle, I let Him down one too many times. He will never forgive me for this. I have made too many mistakes.
This morning I want to encourage you to…..
Keep Walking on the Water!

Matthew 14:25-28:
25 about three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
1. Its takes some form of Faith
Matt 17:20
He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
There is great potential in even a little faith when we trust in Gods power to act.
If you are facing a problem today that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith.
Only then will you be able to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way.
Peter was the only one who responded in true faith.
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
That was a tremendous act of faith; ask yourself if you would have been like people or the others who just sat there in fear?
2. The choice is Yours
How many of you would get out of the boat?
Do you have the kind of faith that would enable you to step onto the water?
Most of us know the rest of the story. He got out of the boat, started walking, got scared, and began to sink.
He even received a rebuke from Jesus.
31“You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
But think about it- Jesus didn’t say those words to the other disciples. The implication is the others had no faith at that moment.
When you think of those words like that they go from being words of rebuke to words of encouragement.
What if you looked at this event as Jesus saying to you, “you started so well. You believed me, and got out of the boat. You did it!
You walked on water just as I did. But then we allowed doubt to enter, and when that happened, you began to sink.
When this happens we must call out to Jesus to forgive us for our lack of faith. Ask Him to increase your faith and to help you to trust Him enough to follow His leading.
When circumstances around you threaten to pull you into the deep waters of doubt, ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus on Him.