This week's sermon: Stepping out in Faith-The Lordship of Christ

Matthew 14:22-33.
Peter went out walking on the water to Jesus because he had Faith in Jesus as Lord. He said, "Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus called him, and Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus.

Habakkuk 42:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38.
"The righteous will live by faith."
Four time in scripture it repeats this phrase in contrast to corrupt living, striving to earn our salvation through the law, trying to walk in our own strength, and giving in to fear and persecution. In each of these areas--lifestyle, salvation, perseverance--it is easy to become distracted by our surroundings and lose our focus. When our eyes are fixed on Jesus as Lord, we are walking by faith. When we choose to trust ourselves rather than His leading, we walk according to the flesh.

Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 3:15.
Paul said in Galatians that the life he lived in the body, he lived by faith in the son of God who gave his life for him. If we believe Christ gave up Heaven and came to live and die for us; if we believe that he rose from the grave to give us life in him, there is nothing that is safer than trusting him. Peter writes in 1Peter 3:15 that we ought to set apart Jesus as Lord in our hearts in order to gain victory over fear. Sometimes we, like Peter give way to fear, and the Lord is waiting to scoop us out of the water with a warm embrace and a reminder that our faith still needs to grow.

1 John 1:6; 2:4.
Part of trusting Jesus as Lord is being obedient to his call on our hearts and lives. We have to listen for his voice, and we have to follow through with whatever he is directing us to do. It may be an outward visible action--like Peter getting out of the boat. It may also be something just between God and ourselves--like an attitude change. Whatever the nature of the command, we need to obey. His word to us will always be in line with his commands in scripture, and they will always move us toward Christ-likeness in ourselves and wholeness in our relationships, family, and fellowship. Only you can choose to trust him as Lord of your life, only you can choose to follow his commands and watch him grow your faith as he proves himself faithful. Trust him to handle the consequences of your obedience.