GET OUT OF THE BOAT – MATTHEW 14:22-33

Charles Billingsley 

Matthew 14:22 (NKJV) 

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 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. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 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.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

Where are they?   They are in an area just south of a fishing village called Bethsaida .  (map of Sea of Galilee)

Jesus instructs them to go the the other side – toward Capernaum.  

Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 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. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

Topography – the Sea of Galilee is below sea level.  

Surrounded by cliffs (some of which are 2,000 ft high)

It is a magnet for storms – cool air flying through the canyons funnels into a narrow throat , hits the warm air over the Sea of Galilee….and it can whip up a massive storm extremely quickly.   

They are headed westward into the wind – and they are getting nowhere.  

1. Stand watch 

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

But this is the first time their own lives have been at risk.  And it is going to take them to a whole new understanding of who Jesus is.  

God often allows troubling times in our lives for the purpose of deepening our faith.  

it’s no fun.  And it frustrating, trying, discouraging and can be terrifying, but if He sent you in to the storm, then you can absolutely know that He can also protect you in the storm. 

If your storm is a result of obedience to Christ’s command, then you’ll never have to worry about going under if Jesus said “go over.” – Terry Anderson  

So stand watch.  

Stand watch over what?  

• The truth 

• Your heart  

Proberbs 4:23 (CSB)

Guard your heart above all else,

for it is the source of life.

• Your family

Do not let the winds of culture, the temptation of the evil one, or the weakness of your own convictions allow you to fall.  

1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Pray that God will give you the strength to stand watch in the night. 

2. Step out of the boat

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. 

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”   

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Stepping out of the Boat takes: 

A. Courage – 20 seconds of insane courage changed his life.   

B. Requires taking a risk 

1Stand Watch

2Step out of the Boat

3Stay focused on Jesus

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid;

Fear took over!  

The enemy will attack you from every side.  

Often our greatest defeats come right on the heels of our greatest victory.  

But what Peter forgot in that moment and what you and I need to remember in this moment is that He was safer on the water with Jesus – than in the boat without Jesus.  

(30b)  and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”  

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 

“Faith and fear are mutually exclusive

Faith cancels fear

Fear cancels faith.  

You are going to either walk in one or the other.  If you walk in faith it will cancel the fear.  But if you walk in fear, it will diminish your faith!”  – Chuck Smith

The disciples had a tendency to over estimate the magnitude of their problem while at the same time underestimate the power of the God.  

Instead of telling God how big your problems are

Start telling your problems how big your God is!  

1. Stand watch

2. Step out of the Boat

3.  Stay focused on Jesus 

4. Jesus will silence the storm 

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

 Colossians 1:15-18 

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.