Faith Walk / William Carroll
We will be talking about the word of God and how he moved in my life as I stood on his word. His signs and wonders that I have seen during the last forty years praying for my needs and the needs of others. I hope to encourage a new generation of believers to pray the word of God and to believe that He will move on their behalf. God answers prayers!
Faith Walk / William Carroll
Ep 62 Dare to Step out of the Boat
Have you ever wondered why we're so quick to criticize Peter for sinking in the water, yet overlook the incredible fact that he was the only disciple brave enough to step out of the boat in the first place?
The story of Jesus walking on water in Matthew 14 carries profound lessons about faith that transcend time. After feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fishes, Jesus sent his disciples ahead by boat across the Sea of Galilee while he retreated to pray alone. When a violent storm arose, these experienced fishermen found themselves struggling against contrary winds. Then, between 3 and 6 AM, they spotted a figure walking across the turbulent waters—Jesus himself.
While most disciples cowered in fear, Peter made an extraordinary request: "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." When Jesus simply said, "Come," Peter did what seemed impossible—he walked on water. Yes, he eventually began to sink when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the howling winds around him. But in that moment of failure, he knew exactly what to do: "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out and caught him.
This powerful narrative speaks directly to our own struggles. Maybe you're facing financial pressures that feel overwhelming. Perhaps you're grieving a loved one or battling addiction. Whatever your personal storm, the invitation remains the same: step out of your comfort zone, fix your gaze on Jesus rather than your circumstances, and begin your faith walk. When your focus inevitably shifts and you begin to sink, remember that the same hand that caught Peter stands ready to rescue you too.
Ready to leave the false security of your boat behind? Join us as we explore what it truly means to walk by faith, not by sight. Subscribe to Faith Walk for weekly encouragement to step out boldly when God calls—even when everything around you says it's impossible.
Well, welcome to Faith Walk podcast. I'm William Carroll, your host, and this morning I had mentioned in one of the other podcasts about Jesus sinking on the ship, and this morning God laid it on my heart to visit that story, to read it, you know, and to look at it, to to dissect it, and so I wanted to share that with you. This morning we're going to be in matthew. If you got your bibles, turn to matthew, chapter 14, and I'm going to start in the 22nd verse, matthew, chapter 14, and verse 22,. Tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary.
Speaker 1:And in the fourth watch of the night, jesus went unto them walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying it is a spirit, and they cried out for fear. Now listen, first off, I want to go back Listen. They had just fed 5,000 people. They had just fed 5,000 people, which was a miracle because they had five loaves and they had two fishes, and they prayed. Jesus prayed and gave to the disciples and they handed it out and fed 5,000 people. Now Jesus said go, get in the boat and go across Galilee and I'll meet you over there. And he said while I bid the multitude go. So he was saying his goodbyes to all of them. It was 5,000 men. Besides, there was men and women too, so the apostles, or the disciples. At this time they were going to be the apostles. They had gotten the boat in Galilee and they were going to go to the other side and there a storm had come up. But I want to tell you something that these were not men, these were fishermen. These were men that were used to storms. These are men that spent all their life on the sea.
Speaker 1:And so it says that in the fourth night of the watch well, what time was that? That was between 3 and 6 o'clock. Well, what did Jesus do After he sent the multitudes away? He went up into the mountain, apart, away from everybody, and he prayed. He prayed and when the evening was come, he was there alone. So he was there spending time with God. See, that's some of our mistake. We don't spend enough time of our own, away from the multitudes, away from everybody else, praying and seeking God's face, seeking God for what he would have us to do. You know whether we're in the ministry or not, whether we're just. You know, an oil field worker. You know, as an oil field worker and as a firefighter and EMT, I needed God's guidance every day. I needed my time alone to pray, but anyway.
Speaker 1:So in the fourth watch of the night, jesus went to them, walking on the sea, and the storm was so contrary that the ship was tossed about but it wasn't going anywhere. You know, it wasn't going to the other side. And they thought they saw a spirit and they cried out with fear. You know, they thought they saw hank and and they were scared. But straight away, this is, this is 14 matthew. 14, verse 27 says straight away, jesus spake to them. Be of good cheer, it is, I be not afraid. And peter answered him and said lord, if, if, if it be, bid me to come to you on the water. And he said well, come.
Speaker 1:And Peter was come out of the boat, out of the ship, and he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Listen, how many of us have walked on the water? You know we beat up Peter so much that he denied Christ and you know he always had the wrong question or the wrong answer. But you know, peter got out of the boat, peter took a chance. See, there's sometimes that you've got to get out of your boat and you've got to take a chance. You've got to walk towards Christ. You have to walk toward him first. In your time of need, the time you need something, the time you have questions, the time you have answers, you've got to get out of your boat and walk to Christ. You know it's not always waiting for him to come to you. You've got to walk to him. Well, that's what Peter did. Peter got out of the boat. He said hey, man, I'm going to try this. You know the other guys. They said I think I'll stay in the boat. I guess is what they said. And so in verse 29, that's where we would just finish 29. So in 30, it says that in 29, the Lord said come. Peter was come out of the ship. He walked on the water to go see Jesus Immediately. Water to go see Jesus, immediately, I mean. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink, he cried saying Lord, save me. Now, I don't know, I don't know how far he was sinking, I don't know how fast he was sinking, but it says immediately when he cried out Lord, save me, jesus reached out his hand and he picked Peter up and he caught him.
Speaker 1:We need, we need in our circumstances a lot of times. You know we noticed the wind and the waves and all the stuff, all the turmoil around us. You know we notice the wind and the waves and all the stuff, all the turmoil around us. You know we're afraid to get out of the boat. Well, sometimes we need to get out of that boat and start walking to Jesus. You know we have to start walking on faith. He was walking on faith. We need to do our faith, walk and walk on faith, getting out of the boat, walking toward Jesus, walking toward where he would have us go and step out on our own. And then, if we falter, if we fall, if we start sinking, then we need to call out upon the Lord and say Lord, jesus, save me, because in that moment he'll pick us up. Well, see, peter did something the others didn't do. At least he used his faith to get out of the boat to walk to Christ.
Speaker 1:You know, there's so many Christians that just stay in the boat all the time. They never get out to to walk on their own faith. They just stay in the boat because it's comfortable, it's, you know, it's right there, and they think well, jesus will be here in a minute. You know God wants us to be faith walkers. You know he wants to walk our faith out. He wants us to get out of the boat and at least try to walk. You know, whenever the storm's around you, he wants you to try to walk through that storm. He wants you to go through the storm and then look upon him and then, if you falter, if you, you call upon him and he'll save you immediately. And and because he immediately, in verse 31, says he stretched forth his hand and he called him, he said to him oh thou of little faith, wherefore did thou doubt? Why did you doubt? And when they came into the sheep, the wind ceased and then they that was in the ship worshiped jesus, saying of a truth you are the son of god. So you know, as soon as jesus, jesus caught him on the water and picked him up. Then they walked back to the boat and got in the boat together.
Speaker 1:I don't know what you're going through. I don't know the storms of your life, the storms that are going, and maybe you're like Peter, maybe your faith is faltering because of everything you see. Maybe it's the bills that are stacked so high that you don't think that you'll ever be able to pay them. Maybe you're afraid of losing a job, or you have lost a job. Maybe you've lost a loved one you know and you don't know how you're going to deal with the loss of that loved one because they're gone and you won't be able to to, to have coffee with them, to see them anymore. Maybe you know, there's just all kinds of circumstances out there. Maybe you fell into temptation of alcohol and drugs and and you just are, are down and you you can't seem to get up.
Speaker 1:You know you need to start walking by faith. You need to call upon the name of the Lord, jesus Christ, and start walking by faith. Start your faith, walk walking, start walking through that storm, start walking on the sea, like Peter walked on the sea and then keep looking, looking for Jesus. Keep your eye upon him. See if he would have kept his eyes upon Jesus as he was walking to him, instead of looking down, seeing the waves, seeing the wind and listening to his own mind, saying I can't do that, I can't walk on water, I'm just a man. So you need to get your eyes off of those things and on Jesus, because we can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. You know, I want to encourage you today. If you don't know Jesus, if you haven't started your faith walk, start it today in Jesus' name Amen.
