TAKE COURAGE
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Walking on water
i) 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:45-52 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) The disciples were afraid, but Jesus' presence calmed their fears. We all experience fear. Do we try to deal with it ourselves, or do we let Jesus deal with it? In times of fear and uncertianity, it is calming to know that Christ is always with us (Matthew 28:20). To recognize Christ's presence is the antidote for fear.
i) 20 ... And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV)
b) The disciples didn't want to believe, perhaps because:
i) they couldn't accept the fact that this human named Jesus was really the Son of God;
ii) they dared not believe that the Messiah would choose them as his followers - it was too good to be true;
iii) they still did not believe the real purpose for Jesus' coming to earth.
c) Their disbelief took the form of misunderstanding.
d) Even after watching Jesus miraculously feed 5,000 people, they still could not take the final step of faith and believe that he was God's Son. If they had, they would not have been amazed that Jesus could walk on water. The disciples did not transfer the truth they already knew Jesus to their own lives. We read that Jesus walked on the water, and yet we often marvel that he is able to work in our lives. We must not only believe that these miracles really occurred; we must also transfer the truth to our own life situations.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray the we not only believe that Jesus is the Son of God but also allow him to work in our life situations.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Walking on water
i) 45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:45-52 NIV)
1. What is the text all about?
a) The disciples were afraid, but Jesus' presence calmed their fears. We all experience fear. Do we try to deal with it ourselves, or do we let Jesus deal with it? In times of fear and uncertianity, it is calming to know that Christ is always with us (Matthew 28:20). To recognize Christ's presence is the antidote for fear.
i) 20 ... And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NIV)
b) The disciples didn't want to believe, perhaps because:
i) they couldn't accept the fact that this human named Jesus was really the Son of God;
ii) they dared not believe that the Messiah would choose them as his followers - it was too good to be true;
iii) they still did not believe the real purpose for Jesus' coming to earth.
c) Their disbelief took the form of misunderstanding.
d) Even after watching Jesus miraculously feed 5,000 people, they still could not take the final step of faith and believe that he was God's Son. If they had, they would not have been amazed that Jesus could walk on water. The disciples did not transfer the truth they already knew Jesus to their own lives. We read that Jesus walked on the water, and yet we often marvel that he is able to work in our lives. We must not only believe that these miracles really occurred; we must also transfer the truth to our own life situations.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray the we not only believe that Jesus is the Son of God but also allow him to work in our life situations.
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