Strong from Start to Finish

Jamie Greer, my thoughts live your love was steadfast. It never moved my fate is not in my foot is always limited my faith is in your steadfast love is what I do want to water you stay on top of it. Our God is a God, he will always be there to catch us always be there to pick us back up always be there… Back on top of the waves. So when you waiver put your eyes back on him just super excited at first doing research and screening up in every conversation you had posting about it all over social media becomes routine a lot harder and more monotonous to keep it well today on Summit life pastor Jamie Greer warns us about a similar effects that can happen in our spiritual lives as well were learning how to persevere to the end as we kick off the new teaching series called staying thing pastor Jenny titled this message strong from start to we all have the experience of starting thing with them and then petering out all the way to correct that we all have that experience. When the life of faith, we have the experience. I'm sure you will agree is starting some things but not finishing them also so I want to talk about this staying faith, the kind of faith that not only makes the commitment for the kind of faith that sees it through Jesus told a story. This is not a bear in the Gospel of Matthew that I'm a show you, but he told a story about two brothers, their dad asked them to go work in his field and one other brother said he would. Then he didn't go in the other brother said he would be, but that he did go and Jesus said which of these two is the father pleased with Mansour is the one who said he wouldn't go but did end up going in and doing it is not a decision that pleases God is following through with the decision that pleases God. In fact, maybe you should write that down is making the decision. The Council got it see through your Bible.

Matthew 14 to begin around verse 2214 we got a rather infamous story of a man who faltered in his face.

That man's name was Peter. Everybody seems to love Peter because I think you get to know Peter you see a lot of yourself and him.

Here is a man that is big on promises but often short on execution. Peter is a man whose aspirations are often loftier than his accomplishments. Peter, by the way, was not his real name was a nickname that Jesus gave him Simon was his real name Peter Matt rock but it's a little like a plot of his brain or his head would like your rock.

It was applied to just Peter Scurry is a little ironic because it seems like The time you're asked like anything but a rock. He sometimes Peter. Sometimes you Simon yada think of him as two different people trapped in the same body. For example, right before the crucifixion, Peter, of all the disciples. Peter look to Jesus and says even if all these other guys leave you I will never leave you will die with you that Peter the rock that same night.

He's the only one to deny Jesus verbally three times in the space of a couple hours.

That's Simon Peter is the one he stands up and accepted to the first one to declare that God has included the Gentiles in the hope of the gospel, Peter. The rock did this a few years later, he's refusing to even eat with Gentiles because he's afraid that the Jews are going up no cities eat with unclean people). Paul has to call him out publicly in the book of Galatians and and embarrass them a savior not be inconsistent. That's Simon writing in this story or to see you see a time in which Peter says Jesus if that's you on the way I want to you, he's the only disciple do that all the other little coward stated about. He's the only one to get out of the boat and after a few steps, he's going to begin to lose his faith and start to sink, and you have the reappearance of Simon Peter got a faith side to him, and Peter set up a fierce side to it right so that's that's Peter on verse 22 Jesus had just fed the 5005 loaves and two fish and astounding miracle immediately made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the grouse and after you dismiss the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray and when evening came, he was there all by all alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land beaten by the waves because the wind was against them. Several quick policies since the disciples into a storm he knew was coming. I never heard the line the safest place to be is in the will of God or the line is not entirely true. Here all I mean one since it is but sometimes people confuse that lines of mean that wherever God, since you will be safe. It will be easy to be like a walk-through rose garden will be for you to be a stroll to the fields of prosperity. Here they obeyed the direct command that Jesus gave them and ended up in a storm. As a result, like you need to understand that so that when storms hit you. You will assume that you're out of the will of God because certain storms are part of the will of God for you because you see, God is not just doing something for you got us doing something in you and part of that process is to send you through these kinds of storms, Paul. For example, in October 20 said the Holy Spirit is told me that I'm supposed to go to Jerusalem and the only thing he's told me about it is that there are prisons and hardships and torture that awaits me there. Also, all those things.

As part of the will of God for him. So when you make a decision of faith and it gets difficult, you shouldn't be surprised. Why because you got an enemy that is now arrayed against you, one without concerned with you when you were sit around doing nothing. But when you stood up and you begin to walk and you begin to run. That's when he put that target on you.

So of course he gets difficult writing the other reason that he gets difficult is because God is trying to test your resolve case trying to deepen your faith. The biggest thing that God is doing in your life is teaching you to trust them. That's an important thing for you to learn you want to know what God's doing for you. He's teaching you to trust them so faith usually leads you through difficulty not around it so Isaiah would say when I pass through the waters, you will be with me when I go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm me.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned in the family flame will not consume you. I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel. I am your Savior.

See what I want to say without a Savior.

Mighty Savior. Once you tell me how to get around the water.

Once you tell me the bridges go over top of that river. Once you keep away from the flames altogether.

But he says no because I want you to understand I'm deeper than the waters I want you to understand stronger than the rivers how to understand my presence is more mighty in the fire and I want you to be able to trust me in any situation in the way that you learn that is by going through the fires through the waters and through the rivers. Faith leads you, not through difficult life lead you through difficulty not around it because what God is doing in you is even more important, what is doing for you. Verse 25 in the fourth watch of the night he came to them about 4 AM. By the way, which means they been battling the storm for six hours by themselves right so what that means is that they been battling for six hours and Jesus let them battle it for six hours.

Seemingly all alone. That's important. Many comes to them walking on the sea, but when the disciples see them walking on this either terrified missing different jobs. They cried out in fear, but immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, take heart, as I do not be afraid to talk about this for just a minute come immediately and when he does come he comes walking close enough as a middle seat right see Galang bills a he chooses a path that is going to be close enough that they can see him and hear him which, in the midst of a basically a hurricane type of storm had to be really close, but as it is, popping about me like a phallus that is here where he got it you don't think they care you guys not at all comes close enough.

But if you read the parallel account to Bismark 648 is one parallel account of this in another gospel uses this phrase he met to pass by them.

You think about this for a minute decision on the storm he chooses a path of walk like 4 feet from the boat and he needs to pass them by disease walking by like see you fellas in the other side. Judges them never overlook human initiative in gaining the help of God as you struggle. The sovereign God places himself within the years reached for the story. Try to show you is it an automatically come you got a call to God. You gotta ask him.

You got to retrieve the sovereign God for his help and I say that because there are some of you in here that a gotten a dose of bad theology and you start going to the midst of the storm you say what the smart program must be the will of God that I just be face first in the midst of the storm all the time God is there to help you, but God will not come to you unless you call him the sovereign God wants close enough for you to call his name out so we can hear you but you will only get in that boat.

If you call his name. He's the one that said call on me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you, I will deliver you your to glorify Mesa never overlook human initiative in getting the help verse 28 and Peter answered, Lord if it's you, command me to come to you in the water. They said it so I come. Notice that Jesus did not fix the disciples problems by making the storms go away right the day Peter another command, are you in difficulty. Maybe you want to stop asking God to fix the situation to start asking God's command is see this on the wall. That's gotta fix the situation and do that in a minute but on the same first before you ask him to fix a situation maybe you want to first ask him what his command is if you want to stop demanding and start listening many good asking for to situations or Peter got out of the boat you walk in the water and came to Jesus, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord save me. But Jesus immediately reached out his hand, Chuck, Lucius took hold of him and said oh you of little faith, why did you doubt my question wise historian or you're always asked that question whenever you're reading something in the Gospels why sitting there. The story is not in there to inspire you to actually attempt to walk on water. You know that all the boxes you get a shipwreck in a single, easily slowed and not once is here what I know that the Portales album Waterworld short, the story is in there to show us how to continue what we started in faith because Jesus knows listen, that's it to be one of the biggest problems that Christians have is that were going to start a number of things in faith, and when I got to be able to finish the so here's the lesson. Initial faith is not enough. We need state faith. Initial faith is not enough.

We need state faith. When Jesus said to Peter at the end of this little story all you little faith, why did you doubt he's not talking about the intensity of Peter's faith is being little talking about the duration initial faith is not enough. We need state faith. B.

Here we find staying faith at the same place we found initial faith we find staying faith to be exact same place we found initial 20 Peter's initial faith come from 40 come from. I see at least two places. One, a vision of Jesus, a vision of Jesus. Verse 27 when Jesus said watch it when you said, take heart, is I do not be afraid, those you have your Greek New Testament open right now. You notice of the little phrase it is. I is in Greek. Go Amy go immediate was significant about that. We translate that literally, as I am, which is the name of God.

So Jesus literally said, take heart. I am Peter Saul, that the great I am, was walking on top of everything that terrified him so he sold it he was mightier than the waves cycling television Jesus sickening Jesus command he saw Jesus he heard Jesus and Peter figured that it was more important to obey Jesus command that it was a focus on the circumstances, the great I am, was on top of those waves and what he said was larger and more powerful than the storms that were coming against them. So Peter chose to focus not on what he had to walk through. But, on whom he was walking to write this down, Peter is not so much walking on water as he is walking on the promises of God is not so much staining on the waves as he is standing on the character of Jesus is when he took his eyes off of those two things that he started to sink his eyes and his ears, so verse 30 says specifically when he Saul Bolin when he heard the howl of the wind. That's when he began to sink. You focus on the word you walk on water. You focus on the waves. You wallow in weakness told W that you think of you will secret of this passage is very important point of this passage is not to demonstrate the greatness or weakness of Peter's faith. The point of this passage is to demonstrate the greatness of God's grace will always, we know that I miss in the parallel accounts earlier this story and other Gospels in Mark's gospel. Mark chapter 6, the same story. Is there but there's no account of Peter getting out of the boat and sinking somewhat significant about that Mark Christian history scholar Phyllis Mark was Peter's traveling companion which means that the gospel of Mark is essentially a collection of Peter's favorite sermons. That means Peter when he chose to tell the story left out the part about him sinking now when he first discovered that the thought was all wise they were going to want to be embarrassed so you squeeze out the part about him is an embarrassing story but probably after better explanation is that Peter doesn't really want the focus on him.

In the story at all because he knows listen, this story is not about the strength of the weakness of Peter's faith.

This story is about Jesus's faithfulness because were not putting faith in faith for putting faith in the God that is on top of the waves. Psalm 9418 when my foot slips, your steadfast level. Lord help me out. My foot slipped your lovely steadfast. It never moved my faith is not in my foot in my thoughts always flip it. I pray this in your steadfast love is what I do want to water you stay on top of it. Our God is a God, he will always be there to catch us always be there to take us back up always be there to look back on top of the waves. So when you waver put your eyes back on him distorted and give you an example to emulate. It gives you a savior to trust in the side of the cross we see that Jesus not only came not only to us when we were in the store. He took the storm of God's rapid to himself so that we can be saved in only walk on top of the water the sword over death and sin. He resurrected himself so that we could be with him only lifted us up on top of the waves he filled us with the power of resurrection life and I know that if he reached all the way down into hell to save me. I know that he will reach out to help me when I stumble and fall. If he reached out to save me when I was his enemy. I certainly know that it will help me when I am his son. Ultimately, God's purpose in the Christian life you want to know the game plan behind everything he's doing is trying to teach you to trust them. Probably why Peter's first letter to the church. First Peter says it this way for 3 to 16 in this you rejoice there now for a little while, if necessary, you been grieved by various trials or you could be that storms so that the tested genuineness of your faith may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ was God doing is trying to give you a faith you will say Jesus is deeper than the waves.

He's stronger than the fire is more mighty than the overwhelming waters.

There is not hell itself that I can pass through his presence would I do with me and protect me. If so, let come what may.

Let whatever storm the enemy wants it brought me bring it on. As I got a job it is mightier than the storm. Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world to initial faith is not enough. You need staying faith and staying faith comes from the same place as initial faith to what does that leave us where does that leave you. You're in the midst of difficulties in the decisions of faith that you have made.

You started out well, but now your faltering, you need to put your eyes and your ears back on the things you were looking at and listen to when you first made that decision. You believe in Jesus was trustworthy to bear on them. You obeyed his commands. But now things have gotten difficult does not mean that Jesus has left you, and it does not mean that you made a wrong decision. It simply means he's testing your resolve case trying to deepen your trust in him, you need to re-embrace his character need to rehear the command and you need to take the next step. The expression of faith is not a dream you dream expression of faith is the next step. People always confuse that they think like faith, is this big dream that you dream one time to make one big decision. No safety faith best expression is the small step, not the grand dream getting to the end of your life and feel like you walked on water is the result of a lifetime of small faithful daily steps and know what you want from your life and know what you want from your life. You get to the end of an look back on and say I walked on water. I did my family. I did my marriage I did it I did it my ministry I did with the people I work with and what you want to say if that's what you want to say and come from a dream you dream in one service. It comes from a small daily step of faith that you take never the dreams you dream is the little decisions you make. So you need to take that next step of faith to know what it is you know what it is our notice. Menus for giving that person. Maybe that's so small step of faith. You gotta take that will lead you into a life where you walk on water, but is gonna come from you giving forgiveness of that person maybe is reclaiming God's forgiveness re-embracing the gift of righteousness of Christ and getting back out to struggle against that sin another day because yes, you fall into it again.

But I have often told you so. My favorite verses in Proverbs 2416 the righteous man falls seven times and gets back up again.

Every time the righteous man falls seven times, get back up again every time because his righteousness is not demonstrated by the fact that he never falls his righteousness as demonstrated by what he does when he falls because he knows it was a he knows his righteousness is a gift of God. He knows his righteousness is not based on how well he will and how well Jesus walked and died his place and gave it to them as a gift.

And so when he is on his face. He says thank God that my position before God is secure because I have the gift righteousness of Christ and he embraces the resurrection power of God is given to him as a gift and he gets back up because while his foot may waiver God's steadfast love never falters when my foot slipped the Lord your steadfast love. Help me out to a righteous man falls seven times, get back up again.

Maybe expression of faith for you.

Maybe it's to put up a storm. One more day as you try to be a faithful witness to Jesus and that group that he's told to be a faithful witness to and they just keep going back in your faith started well you said I would do this and then if you were back in your face and use. Gotta go back in there again and say, God sent me here, leaving that his trust in God again with your finances so that you can be generous.

Maybe it's embracing sacrifice another day. Maybe it's been willing to press on. Without a boyfriends as you wait for the one with the choice as a gift from God. The expression of faith is the step so take the next step. The next step for you is the first step see the latest essay not to faith. If you want to walk on water.

John Norbert says. Gotta get out of this is the first step I read a book recently in which the guide author made this point was only one line in life that you can control is never the finish line. The one line you can control is the starting line every big finish begins with a very small start menu this and maybe that's it for use take the next step with your family or whatever it is, God told you close in his compassionate going to criticize you start to walk in faith and he will help start finish the goal as well as the title of our message today from JD Greer on Senate life. It's the first message enter new teaching series called staying faith. If you happen to join us late. You can listen again free of charge@jdgreer.com while you're on the website. You'll also want to subscribe to pastor JD's blog articles go in depth with many other topics that we cover on the broadcast. Sign up online@jdgreer.com for free online teaching archive and these daily radio broadcasts are made possible by listeners like you when you gave your helping people across the country dive deeper into the transformative power of the gospel and at this time of year. Your gift is so important as we plan the next year of ministry here at Senate like will you join with us today. When you do say thanks by sending you an exclusive resource if the one you've been waiting for all year 2021 Summit life day planner want to stay focused on the gospel in the new year call right now. Jenny often talks about the important of using our resources for God's glory and that includes the resource name. This planner will help you stay organized and it also includes Bible verses quotes in a Bible reading plan to remind you to keep God at the center of every day.

Ask for a copy of the 2021 Summit life day planner when you donate today by calling 866-335-5220 866-335-5224 request the planner when you give online or when you make your first gift as a monthly gospel partner@jdgreer.com. If it's easier you can mail your donation and request for the planner right to clear ministry, PO Box 12293, Durham, NC 27709 and if you're new to Summit life sign up for email last you receive pastor JVs devotional blog post as well as the popular wisdom for your weekend. Subscribe right now clear.com and Molly benefits you join us today and again Thursday as we continue our new series thinking JD will remind never intended to allow, but instead do something desperate, generous tomorrow. Life JD Greer ministry