Participants: Carlton P. Byrd
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000020
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00:00 (Theme Song) ♪ Jesus is worthy ♪
00:11 ♪ oh yes, he's worthy ♪ ♪ worthy of all... ♪ 00:17 (Music) PB: I want to say welcome 00:23 to the Breath of Life viewing audience to the 00:24 services of the Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church 00:27 here in Atlanta, Georgia where I'm Dr. Carlton T. Byrd, 00:30 speaking director of this wonderful ministry. 00:31 I invite you now, everyone, church family as well as the 00:34 viewing audience, to take your Bible and turn with me to the 00:37 book of Matthew. 00:39 Matthew, Chapter 14 is where we're going and we're 00:41 going to begin reading from verse 22: "And straightway 00:44 Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, 00:51 and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the 00:54 multitudes away. " Verse 23: "And when he had sent the 00:57 multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: 01:01 and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 01:06 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with 01:08 waves: for the wind was contrary. 01:10 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, 01:13 walking on the sea. 01:16 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were 01:18 troubled, saying, "It is a spirit'; and they cried 01:22 out for fear. 01:25 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, "Be of 01:27 good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.' And Peter answered 01:32 him and said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee 01:36 on the water.' And he said, "Come.' And when Peter was 01:43 come down out of the ship," the Bible says, "he walked 01:46 on the water, to go to Jesus. 01:47 But when he saw the w@nd boisterous, he was afraid; and 01:51 beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me.' 01:56 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and 01:59 caught him, and said unto him, "O thou of little faith, 02:03 wherefore didst thou doubt?' And when they were come into 02:07 the ship, the wind ceased. 02:09 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, 02:12 saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God.'" The 02:18 Bible declares in the text that a storm comes. 02:23 Now, I want you to see this storm. 02:25 The storm is raising. 02:26 This is a serious storm. 02:30 Trouble is all around the disciples. 02:34 It's dark, it's hazy, about four o'clock in the 02:37 morning and for hours these disciples have been 02:41 wrestling with this storm. 02:43 And the only authority that the disciples have over 02:45 this storm is a voice of fear. 02:48 Right there in the storm I can hear them say, "If only the 02:52 master were here. 02:53 If only Jesus were here. 02:56 Jesus knows how to handle a storm." You see, all these 03:01 disciples had had some previous experience in a storm 03:04 with Jesus before, because they were out on a ship one 03:07 day and it looked like the boat was going to turn over, 03:09 the Bible teaches that Jesus was in the bottom of the ship. 03:12 He was in the bottom of the ship and somebody said, 03:14 you better go down and wake Jesus up. 03:17 We're about to lose our lives. 03:19 I know he's taking a nap. 03:21 I know he's preached hard. 03:23 I know he's worked hard, but somebody better go wake 03:26 Jesus up and tell Jesus we're in a storm and he needs to 03:31 come and handle this storm. 03:34 And so the Bible teaches, they went down in the bottom of the 03:36 ship and they wake Jesus up and they say, Master, 03:40 the tempest is raging. 03:41 The billows are tossing high. 03:44 Carest thou not that we perish? 03:47 You need to get up, Jesus, and handle the storm or we're 03:51 going to lose our lives. 03:54 And so the disciples in the middle of the fourth watch 03:58 say, if only Jesus were here. 04:03 He knows how to deal with a storm, but where is Jesus? 04:07 Right while they're talking they notice a walker 04:14 on the water. 04:16 Now remember, it's about four o'clock in the morning. 04:20 They cannot see clearly. 04:23 It's hazy. It's cloudy. 04:25 It's foggy. 04:27 They cannot really figure out what is on the water. 04:32 But they do know that somebody is walking on the water. 04:38 Fear grips their hearts and it's at that time that I can 04:44 hear Jesus speaking. 04:46 Jesus knew his disciples. 04:49 He knew they had this spirit of fear. 04:53 And it was about at that time that Jesus says, "It is I, 04:57 be not afraid." Now, outspoken Peter, never 05:04 tongue-tied Peter, hears this voice and I can hear Peter 05:12 saying, shhh, shhh Be quiet. 05:18 I hear something. 05:21 I know that voice is far in the distance and I know 05:27 I can't see the figure, but I recognize that voice. 05:33 I've heard that voice before. 05:36 That voice sounds familiar. 05:40 Wait a minute. 05:41 Jesus? Is it you? 05:44 Jesus is that your voice? 05:47 Bid me come out on the water. 05:51 Lesson number one, you have to be able 05:53 to recognize his voice. 05:56 Now how is that going to happen? 05:59 Let me tell you how that's going to happen. 06:01 You can't wait until the storm comes to talk to him. 06:03 But you've got to learn how to talk to him right now when 06:08 everything is all right, so that when the storm does come, 06:12 because you are familiar with his voice, you'll be able to 06:15 stand like Peter and say, hey, hey, hey, 06:17 I know that voice. 06:20 Anybody in here ever have a real storm in your life? 06:23 And you recognized the voice of Jesus saying, peace, 06:26 be still. 06:27 Jesus was so happy to hear Peter say, bid me come, 06:31 because there was going to be another lesson learned here 06:34 after that first lesson. 06:36 Lesson number two, impossibilities can 06:39 be transformed into possibilities. 06:43 Let me tell you something. 06:43 Listen to this quote good, this is a good one. 06:45 "You do not test the resources of God until you try 06:48 the impossible." You don't test the resources of God 06:55 until you try the impossible. 06:59 You aren't doing a thing until you try the impossible. 07:04 Do you know who you're asking? 07:07 You're not asking a mere man. 07:10 You're asking Jesus. 07:12 If you want to really know Jesus, try the impossible. 07:18 I'm a witness that when you try the impossible the Lord 07:22 will make a way; somehow the Lord will make a way out 07:27 of no way. 07:29 He will open doors that are shut; shut doors that open. 07:33 You all hearing me right now? 07:34 I say it all the time. 07:36 I've never had a vision for ministry that I could afford. 07:40 God always makes provision for the vision. 07:45 If it's his will, it's his bill. 07:48 If it's his choice, it's his invoice. 07:50 You all hear what I saying? 07:51 When your back is up against the wall and it doesn't look 07:55 like there's a way out, I've got some witnesses 07:57 right now who know that God specializes in things that 08:02 seem impossible. 08:06 All you've got to do is stand up and say, Lord, 08:08 work that thing out. 08:10 A man was once heard saying, I will do as much as I can. 08:16 But you know what? 08:16 Any fool can do that. 08:18 I've got some news for somebody today. 08:21 When you trust the Lord Jesus, you're able to do what you 08:25 can't do, because in my weakness he is strong. 08:30 Peter was perfectly fine on the ship. 08:33 The ship represents that place of comfort. 08:36 But Peter says, Lord, bid me to come. 08:40 The Lord says, if you want to come, come on. 08:43 Peter tells Jesus, I want to do what you're doing, Jesus. 08:46 In other words, I want to step out of my comfort zone. 08:49 I want to move on up a little higher. 08:51 Now, remember, friends, there's a storm on the sea. 08:55 The Bible says that the winds are contrary. 08:59 I could preach a whole sermon on contrary winds. 09:02 The winds are contrary. 09:04 The Bible says that a storm is taking place and the safest 09:07 place for a person like Peter, who, by the way is a 09:11 fisherman, is on the ship. 09:13 Because you're on water and you're in a storm, the 09:15 safest place to be is in the ship. 09:18 The ship represents comfort, but Peter was willing to step 09:21 away from comfort and be where God would have him be. 09:25 I've learned in life that there are some people who 09:29 would rather stay on the ship without Jesus than to be 09:33 off the ship with Jesus. 09:35 I'm trying to help somebody right now. 09:38 But let me tell you all something. 09:40 I don't care what ship you're on, if Jesus 09:46 isn't on it. 09:48 I don't care if it's a relationship, I don't care 09:52 if it's a friendship, I don't care if it's 09:56 fellowship, it's going to be a hardship if Jesus 10:01 isn't on your ship. 10:02 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 10:06 You'd be surprised at how many people miss their 10:10 blessing because they're not willing and too afraid 10:13 to risk the familiar. 10:17 But you've got to have, Lord, help me right now, 10:19 you've got to have what I call a reckless faith. 10:23 You all know what a reckless faith is. 10:27 It's totally opposite of careful faith. 10:30 Some of us are too careful with our faith. 10:33 If you're too careful with your faith, you're not going 10:37 to be able to deal with the impossibilities. 10:39 Is there anybody in this place that knows something about 10:42 a reckless faith? 10:43 That means you don't know where you're going, you 10:46 don't know what you're doing, but you've got it in 10:49 Jesus' hands, because Jesus has your back and all 10:53 you know is you're going to trust Jesus. 10:56 It's a reckless faith, a nebulous faith, 11:00 a indescript faith. 11:01 That's what God is looking for, a reckless faith. 11:08 So, look at Peter. 11:10 Peter, because he's got a reckless faith, he says, 11:18 Jesus, bid me to come on the water. 11:23 Jesus, don't send me a sidewalk, because Jesus 11:27 could have done that, don't send me a sidewalk. 11:31 Anybody can walk on a sidewalk. 11:34 Jesus, don't send me a boat, anybody can ride in a boat. 11:42 Jesus, I want to walk on water just like you. 11:47 Now, you do know that there were other disciples 11:53 in the boat. 11:55 I can hear them saying to Peter, Peter, calm down. 12:00 Take it easy, Peter.(laughs) You're getting too excited. 12:05 Yes, that's Jesus out there but you have to have zeal 12:08 according to knowledge. 12:11 Take it easy. 12:12 Peter, you've been on this boat a long time, you may 12:14 be a little seasick right about now. 12:17 And you know you can't walk on water. 12:19 Talk about Jesus bid me walk on the water? 12:22 You better stay in this boat. 12:25 Sit down. 12:26 Relax yourself. 12:28 Let Jesus come over here instead of you going 12:30 over to Jesus. 12:34 But I can hear Peter say, I want to walk 12:36 on water like Jesus. 12:40 Let me tell you something. 12:42 I've learned this in my life, if you're going to 12:44 see new oceans you must have the courage 12:46 to lose sight of the shore. 12:49 Which brings me to my third lesson. 12:56 You've got to watch who you're hanging with. 13:01 Do I have a witness in this place? 13:05 You have to watch who you hang with because there are some 13:09 folk who don't want you to go anywhere. 13:12 You've got to watch out for folk with what I call "boat 13:15 mentality." They're not going to get out of the boat 13:18 but they don't want you to get out of the boat either. 13:21 They're safe in the boat. 13:24 They're sitting in the boat talking about, don't 13:26 rock my boat, let me just sit on the boat. 13:30 But let me tell you something. 13:31 You can't do the impossible sitting in the boat. 13:34 You've got to get up out of the boat. 13:36 And if you're going to get out of the boat, you've got 13:39 to learn how to get away from folk with boat mentality. 13:43 People with boat mentality don't think big enough. 13:46 People with boat mentality don't think broad enough. 13:49 You've got to be willing to walk away from places of 13:52 comfort because those boat-mentality folk will keep 13:55 you in the boat and they'll sit there and watch you let 13:58 your dreams pass you by. 14:02 But if you're willing to walk on water, you've got 14:05 to be willing to step away from the crowd. 14:07 All the disciples were on the ship, yet it was Peter who 14:12 chose to be different. 14:15 And I don't know about you, but I'd rather be with Jesus 14:18 any day than be with the crowd. Are you hearing 14:22 what I'm saying? 14:22 And when you step out, you've got to be willing to 14:27 step out by yourself. 14:30 Watch who you hang with. 14:33 Get away from negative people. 14:36 Get away from folk who say you can't, because if Jesus 14:39 says you can, just stand there and say, I can do all things 14:44 through Christ which strengthens me. 14:47 Bid me come. 14:49 I know I look crazy, but bid me come. 14:52 I know it looks strange, but bid me come. 14:55 If you tell me to come, I will walk on water. 14:58 Peter walked on water. 15:01 He did what no other man did besides Jesus. 15:03 He walked on water. 15:04 I know some folk criticized him, but he walked on water. 15:07 I know some folk talked about him, but he walked on water. 15:09 Last point. 15:11 When you decide to get out of the boat, lessons from the 15:15 storm, storm lessons 101, when you decide to get out 15:18 of the boat and walk on water, don't make the same 15:21 mistake Peter made. 15:23 Peter, yes, did what no other man did. 15:25 He walked on water. 15:27 But all he had to do was keep his eyes on Jesus. 15:36 That's all Peter had to do was keep walking and keep his 15:40 eyes fixed on Jesus. 15:45 But I can hear Peter saying, Jesus, I have to do one thing 15:49 and I'll get back to you. 15:51 I've got to turn around just one time and look at these 15:55 disciples in this boat. 15:59 You're all not in a boat, but you're sitting 16:00 in church. 16:01 Come on, say Amen. 16:02 And I can see Peter as he took his eyes off Jesus, he turned 16:08 around, and I can see him with a smile on his face, saying, 16:14 do you all see me? 16:16 You thought I couldn't do it. 16:18 How you like me now? 16:20 You're in the boat, I'm walking on water, and you 16:23 laughed at me. 16:24 You thought I couldn't do it, but look at me now. 16:29 I can see Jesus saying, wait a minute, Peter, you're 16:34 all wrapped up in yourself. 16:37 If you're doing it, Peter, then go ahead and walk on 16:41 water by yourself. 16:43 I need not tell you what happened when Peter took his 16:46 eyes off Jesus. 16:47 Peter, the Bible says, went what? Down. 16:51 And when you take your eyes off Jesus, 16:56 you're going down. 17:00 And can I confess something to you all right now? 17:03 I used to be hard on Peter. 17:05 I used to say, shame on Peter for taking his eyes off Jesus. 17:12 Until I realized that even the best of us trying to do 17:19 God's will, the day will come that there will be a 17:23 storm in your life and that will cause you to lose your 17:28 focus for just one minute or one second. 17:33 Who am I talking up in here to? 17:34 Don't act like you all deep. 17:35 Don't act like you're so deep you've never 17:38 taken your eyes off Jesus. 17:40 Old folks, young people doing this, young people doing that, 17:42 you used to be young too. 17:43 Do I have a witness in this place? 17:46 But let me give you some shouting news. 17:51 Look at verse 30. 17:53 The Bible says in verse 30, "and Peter beginning to sink." 18:03 Somebody missed that. 18:05 I say it all the time, somebody missed that. 18:08 Let me try it again. 18:09 The Bible says, verse 30, Peter beginning to sink. 18:20 You all still don't get it. 18:24 Can I tell you to shout the news. 18:27 The shouting news is that Peter didn't go under. 18:36 Somebody needs to testify. 18:38 I began to sink, but God didn't let me go under. 18:44 Somebody ought to give God glory right there. 18:47 That it looks like I should have been under by now, but 18:53 God didn't let me go under. 18:56 I had financial trouble, but God didn't let me go under. 19:01 I had sickness in my body, but God didn't let me go under. 19:06 I lost my job, but God didn't let me go under. 19:11 I couldn't pass the test, but God didn't 19:15 let me go under. 19:16 I lost my family, I lost my marriage, but God didn't let 19:22 me go under. Hallelujah. 19:28 The Bible says, look at the text, if I had time to parse 19:36 that in the Greek, look at the text, not past tense, active 19:43 tense, beginning to sink. 19:50 The other good thing, I only have four points, but I'll 19:53 make this point number five, Peter, when he got in trouble, 19:59 Peter knew who to call. 20:05 Because with three little words Peter uttered 20:11 a prayer, Lord, save me. 20:18 You all thought I was through. 20:19 I've got one more whoopin' left in me. 20:21 Come on, say Amen. 20:23 Let me tell you something. 20:24 What's awesome about that prayer. 20:27 It's just three little words. 20:30 Three words got God's attention. 20:34 Friends of mine, understand, it's not always the length 20:37 of your prayer, but it's the strength of your prayer. 20:41 Mmmm. 20:46 Peter didn't have time for prayer preliminaries. 20:50 Peter didn't have time for a long prayer. 20:53 Peter didn't have time for a long discourse. 20:56 Peter didn't have time for flowery words. 20:59 All Peter had time for was, Lord, save me. 21:06 And sometimes, when you're about to lose your mind, all 21:12 you have time for is, Lord, save me. 21:16 When the devil is messing with your body, all you have time 21:19 for is, Lord, save me. 21:22 en you're stressed to the max, all you have time for is, 21:26 Lord, save me. 21:29 Jesus on the main line. 21:31 Tell him what you want. 21:34 Call him up, tell him what you want. 21:38 The Bible says Jesus took Peter by the hand, 21:42 lifted him up. 21:43 I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, 21:48 very deeply stained within, seeking to rise no more. 21:54 But the Master of the seas heard my despairing cry 22:01 and from the water, from the water, from the water 22:07 he lifted me. 22:10 Now safe am I. 22:14 Let me tell you something. 22:15 Don't take your eyes off Jesus. 22:17 I said, don't take your eyes off Jesus. 22:20 Know God's voice. 22:21 God can turn impossibilities into possibilities. 22:25 Get away from boat mentality. 22:28 Know who to hang with. 22:30 Keep your eyes on Jesus. 22:32 Give God some praise right now, everybody. 22:34 (Music) They that wait upon 22:40 the Lord, God shall renew their strength. 22:45 They shall mount up with wings as eagles. 22:47 They shall run and not get weary, walk and not faint, 22:49 trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to 22:55 thine own understanding. 22:58 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he 23:06 shall direct your path. 23:16 Some way, somehow, we're going to make it. 23:27 But yet, you're got to get out of the boat. 23:31 Some of you here today has been in a boat too long. 23:34 Rocking in the boat, moving in the boat, but I believe I've 23:37 got some witnesses in this church and watching that are 23:40 ready to walk on some water. 23:43 Every day I thank God for my water-walking experiences. 23:53 I had one this week. 23:56 There are a lot of folk who hate water walkers. 24:00 But if you're going to be a water walker, I've learned, 24:02 old folks have taught me and I've learned, if you're 24:04 going to be a water walker, sometimes you have good days, 24:08 sometimes you have some bad days, sometimes you have some 24:12 hills to climb, some days you have some weary days, 24:16 sometimes you have some sleepless nights, but when I 24:20 look around and think things over, all of my good days 24:26 out weigh my bad days. 24:29 I won't, I said, I won't complain. 24:34 Hallelujah, somebody. 24:35 I'd rather be walking with Jesus out of the water instead 24:40 of staying in the boat worried about backstabbing folk, 24:46 worried about lying folk, worried about folk that 24:49 mean you no good. 24:50 So, when you walk on the water with Jesus 24:57 you're in the right place. 25:00 (Music) When you walk on the 25:07 water with Jesus you'e in the right place at the right 25:13 time to receive your blessing right now. 25:20 Somebody, you came to Berean today and you're in the 25:24 right place at the right time. 25:28 and so, your heads are bowed your eyes are closed. 25:35 Somebody needs to walk on water, get out of the boat, 25:39 walk down this aisle, give me your hand, but give 25:45 Jesus Christ your heart right here and right now 25:47 in the right place. 25:48 Understand, Storm Lesson 101, you better know his voice. 25:56 You better know his voice, you better understand, 25:58 he can turn impossibilities into possibilities. 26:01 You better watch who you hang with and you better keep 26:04 your eyes on Jesus. 26:06 PB: I'm so glad you joined us today here at Breath of Life. 26:10 I also hope you enjoyed the message today from 26:13 the word of God. 26:14 I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to 26:17 become a partner of Breath of Life as we seek to share hope 26:21 and peace of mind with our dying world. 26:24 If you would like to become a partner with Breath of Life 26:26 and make a tax-deductible donation to our ministry feel 26:30 free to give us a call at 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This book is yours for a gift of $5 or more. 27:57 Or you may write to Breath of Life, Box 340, Newbury Park, 28:02 California 91319. 28:06 PB: But if you're willing to walk on water, you've got to 28:10 be willing to step away from the crowd. 28:14 And when you take your eyes off Jesus, you're going 28:17 down. 28:21 God specializes in things that seem impossible. |
Revised 2015-02-05