Reckless
by Kristel Ward, Grace to Grow
Key Scripture –
Matthew 14:28–29 (NLT)
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
Intro –
The Apostle Peter is often seen as reckless.
- Yet, Jesus made him the head of The Church.
- Peter is the only recorded person to walk on water other than Jesus.
- His very shadow in Acts healed the sick.
- Maybe being reckless in our relationship with Jesus isn’t such a bad thing…
Reckless in our Relationship with Jesus
Not in life. Scripture warns against the pitfalls of being a fool. Being reckless with money, reckless in relationships, etc. Proverbs says seek wisdom. But what about in our relationship with God?
Reckless Defined – utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action; without caution; careless
- Utterly unconcerned about the consequences of going all in with Jesus
- Surrendering without caution
- Care-less in our pursuit of God
Let’s look at one of Peter’s most reckless decisions:
Matthew 14:22–33 (NLT)
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 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.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” 32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Peter may have been reckless in his relationship with Jesus, but he walked on water!
What holds us back in our relationship with God?
1. Fear of Man
Proverbs 29:25 (AMP) – 25 The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.
2. Fear of God
Not reverence
God may ask me to do something that I hate!
God may embarrass me!
3. Fear of Failure
How do we go all in with Jesus?
1. Let Go
Matthew 14:26–29 (NLT)
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.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
I usually picture all the disciples just standing in the boat watching Peter walk on water, but there was a life threatening storm beating down on them. Scripture calls it “serious trouble.” The other disciples were likely holding on for dear life, but not Peter! He let go!
Are you holding on to things that are holding you back in your pursuit of God?
What is causing resistance to your obedience?
Do you feel like people are going to look at you funny if you go all in in worship?
Are you afraid you’re going to fail if you pray for that person in the grocery store?
Are you afraid you might get rebuked by church leadership if you do it wrong?
Are you afraid your husband / wife won’t get it?
Do you feel unworthy because of shame and/or sin?
It’s time to let go and go after God. Let Him take care of the results.
Results are God’s responsibility.
Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
2. Look at Jesus
Matthew 14:29 (NLT)
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
Walk towards Jesus.
Focus on Him.
See Him in your situation.
Let’s look at a different account of Peter walking on water:
Mark 6:47–51 (NLT)
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed…
Why did Jesus intend to go past them?
Mark 6:50 NLT
50 They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!”
“I am here” – in Greek, “THE I AM is here!”
In English it’s translated as “I am here.” But in Greek it’s “ĕgō ĕimi,” or “THE I AM” is here! Every Jew in that boat would have understood what He was saying.
I believe Jesus was walking by that boat like God walked past Moses in Exodus 33. It is what is called a Theophany, or a physical manifestation of God to humankind.
Exodus 33:19–20 (NLT)
19 The LORD replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. 20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.”
Exodus 34:6–9 (NLT)
6 The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin…
Jesus: The I AM and Emmanuel
- Jesus was revealing Himself as the great I AM – “I AM all you will ever need”
- Then He got in the boat with them? WHY?
- The I AM who parted the Red Sea, delivered the Israelites from 400 years of slavery, defeated giants and kingdoms is also EMMANUEL, “God with us!”
- When the I AM met Emmanuel, the storm stopped and John says that they immediately arrived at their destination.
John 6:21 (NLT)
21 Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!
He is all you could ever need and in the boat with you.
You’re not going to fail.
You’re not going to miss your time.
God is the Author of time and is not bound by it.
If you fall, He will catch you.
3. Let God Catch You
Matthew 14:30–31 (NLT)
30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
God wants you to trust Him.
When we read Jesus’ words, “You have so little faith,” it’s easy to think that Jesus was being harsh. Peter was walking on water after all. But the disciples had already seen Jesus calm the storm before in Matthew 8. Peter had already seen Jesus command the wind and waves.
How many times has God come through for you?
What will make this time any different?
He will never fail you!
Still, Peter shouted, “Save me!”
Save – sōzō
Illustration – Trust Fall
Many of us are going like this with God (arms clenched and crossed), but God wants us to relax and let go (fall back).
It’s time for some water-walking.
Let go.
God will catch you.