I Can Do Hard Things
Part 6
Pastor Charles Nieman
Part of I Can Do Hard Things
April 28, 2021
  • Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
    • Scripture activates our faith
  • Faith-believing and speaking
    • It opens our lives to new and better possibilities
  • We can and must do all, including hard, things
    • Endure
    • Praise when life isn’t great
    • Speak to the mountain
    • Take a stand
    • Be a leader
  • We must not collapse in the must do’s
  • I Can Get Out of the Boat – Matthew 14:22-33
    • We are all tempted, sometimes even desire, to stay in what we think is safe and comfortable
      • Even when what is comfortable (boat- family, thinking, habits) and “safe” isn’t working
      • Even when the “boat” is holding us back
        • Is there something holding you back?
      • Why do we stay in the boat?

  • Matthew 14:22-33 – Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
    • Verse 24: But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary
      • The ship was caught in the storm
    • Verse 25: Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
      • Jesus comes walking on the water
    • Verse 26: And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
      • The disciples are afraid

    • Verse 27: But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
      • Be of good cheer and do not be afraid
        • Have courage
          • Courage and fear often appear next to each other
            • We choose which one we accept
    • Verse 28: And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
      • Peter summoned up his courage
    • Verse 29: So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
      • Jesus responded to his courage
        • Peter got out and walked on water
        • Circumstances have nothing to do with your ability to receive from God

    • Verse 30: But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
      • He saw the wind and he was afraid
        • He chose fear
        • The wind was already boisterous before he stepped out
        • Peter chose courage
          • You can and must chose courage and keep choosing courage
    • Verse 31: And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
      • Little- short burst
      • Doubt- accept the second opinion
        • Second opinion is what stopes us
      • Peter walked and could’ve kept walking all the way to Jesus
      • Getting out of the boat is both exciting and scary
        • We need courage
        • We need long term faith
        • We need to ignore and overcome the second opinions

10 Things (Fear Based) That Keep People in the Boat

  1. We’ve never done it before
  2. Nobody has done it before
  3. The change is too radical
  4. The staff (team) will never try it
  5. Customers won’t like it
  6. We’re not ready for it
  7. You’re right, BUT
  8. It’s a good idea, but impractical
  9. We’ll never be able to do it
  10. It’s impossible
    • Mark 9:23 – If you can believe, all things are possible to Him who believes

  • Ecclesiastes 11:4(TLB) – If you want for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done
    • If you are willing to get out of the boat, miracles can happen
      • You can begin while others are waiting
      • You can correct a situation instead of waiting for the perfect one
      • You can go get results instead of waiting for guaranteed results
    • What good is believing you can do all things if you never start doing them?
      • You’ve got to get out of the boat
        • Open your eyes to new possibilities
        • Open your eyes to new ideas
        • Open your eyes to God teaching you something new
        • Open your eyes to something exciting
    • Get out of the boat
      • Believe
      • Act
      • Forgive
      • Love
      • Give
      • Help
      • Overcome