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We are in our Lessons in Faith series

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and today we'll be in Faith in Action.

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In Matthew's Gospel we read, But the ship

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was now in the midst of the sea,

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tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary.

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And in the fourth watch of the night,

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Jesus went unto them walking on the sea.

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And when the disciples saw him walking on

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the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is

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a spirit, and they cried out for fear.

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But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be

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of good cheer, it is I, be not

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afraid.

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And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if

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it be thou, bid me come unto thee

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on the water.

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And he said, Come.

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And when Peter was come down out of

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the ship, he walked on the water to

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go to Jesus.

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I will stop there.

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We know the end of this familiar story.

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Peter sees the wind on the waves and

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loses his nerve and begins to sink and

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cries out, Lord, save me.

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And Jesus reaches out his hand and rescues

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him, but then asks him, O thou of

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little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

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Most preachers place the emphasis on this text,

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on the fact that Peter sank, because he

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took his eyes off of Jesus.

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But there's more to it than that.

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Peter stood out from his fellow disciples because

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while they were content to remain in the

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safety and security of the boat, Peter was

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not.

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Because Peter stepped out on faith.

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He was willing to put his faith into

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action and go out on a limb for

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God.

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And that's where faith begins.

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Faith is being so desperate and dependent upon

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God that you go out on a limb

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for God, believing God will do what man

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cannot.

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In Hebrews 11, we read, Now faith is

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a substance of things hoped for, the evidence

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of things not seen.

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For by it the elders obtained a good

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report.

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This kind of faith spoken of here is

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activated in the action of prayer, entering into

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the very presence of God to obtain a

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report from him.

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And you believe that promise is so, and

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God will make it so in your life.

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When that report becomes real to you, then

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you will experience a deeper reality of God

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that will increase your spiritual maturity.

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Men whom I've known who've had a close

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walk with God were men who had spiritual

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maturity.

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They knew themselves and they knew their God.

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And this came about through a life of

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faith.