When I say “risk”, what do you think of? Some may think of the strategic world conquest board game. Some you may think of something daring, like jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge – that sure involves risk. To some risk means trying something new and to them that sounds as risky as jumping off a high bridge with a parachute. To each person risk means something different. Just to get you thinking, most of you risked your lives to some extent to come to church this morning, but let me put you at ease. Church is one of the least risky places to come to. Follow along with these statistics:
- Avoid riding in automobiles—they’re responsible for 20 % of all fatal accidents.
- Don’t stay home—17% of all accidents occur in the home.
- Avoid Walking on the streets—14% of all accidents occur
to pedestrians. - Avoid traveling by air, rail, or water—16% of all accidents involve these forms of transportation.
- Of the remaining 33% of deaths, 32% of all deaths occur in the hospitals. So avoid hospitals at all costs.
- You will be surprised to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point is at church. And, Bible study is safe too. The percentage of deaths is even less. For safety’s sake, attend church and read your bible, it could save your life.
The next time someone says that going to church could kill them, tell them, “It’s less risky to go to church than to ride in your car.”
We do want to take a look at risk this morning. Since we are in this series on Adventures in the Gospels, we want to take a look at Peter. I can relate to Peter. He wanted to please Jesus and follow after Jesus, but He never really got there during Jesus lifetime. It was only after Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit did Peter really make a change finally.
Let’s take a quick look at several times when Peter put his foot in his mouth:
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid
on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit
on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
Not long after this Jesus was teaching his disciples and told them he would go to the cross. Peter replied to this teaching that that should never happen. Jesus told Peter to get behind him, because Satan was setting up a trap.
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?[l] Is anything worth more than your soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. 28 And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”
Peter received a serious rebuke from Jesus. Did that deter him? No, let’s go to Matthew 17:
1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.
I can relate to Peter. It is great to be on the mountaintop worshiping Jesus. But the disciples were reminded that there was much work to do.
We also know what happened to Peter during Jesus’ trial. Jesus told Peter that he would deny his Savior three times. Peter protested but later that night Peter would do a Jesus said.
I want to take a look a one other place where it would appear that Peter was a failure – taking a bad risk. Let’s go to Matthew 14:22:
22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.
So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong[d] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
This happens immediately after the feeding of the five thousand that we looked at last week. Jesus finally gets off to be alone, but he is concerned about his disciples. He takes some time to pray. Then he goes to the disciples. He walks across the water to the disciples and they think they are seeing a ghost. I love what Jesus says. This is something each one of us needs to remember when we are going through a storm. Jesus says, “Take courage, I am here.” Jesus is with us always when we are going through the storm.
Here’s where Peter jumps into the action. He calls to Jesus and asks Jesus if he can walk on the water too. Jesus tells him, “come on over, the water’s fine.” We know how the story ends; Peter takes his eyes off Jesus, puts his focus on the wind and the waves and starts to sink. Jesus reprimands Peter, “You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?” Many times we focus on that part and that is an important part of the lesson. But let me ask you, “How many other disciples volunteered to get out of the boat?” Peter was the only one to even venture out of the safety of the boat. Now granted being in a small boat – in a storm – isn’t exactly safe, but I think you’ll agree with me, it’s much safer than being in the water. Peter was the only one willing to get out of the boat. Peter took a risk – Peter was willing to risk getting out of the boat and getting into the storm with Jesus.
One of the great things about Peter is how when the Holy Spirit got a hold of his life, things changed dramatically. When the Holy Spirit got into his life, instead of putting his foot in his mouth, he did great thinks for God. Peter was the first of the disciples to respond to the crowd on the Day of Pentecost. As a result of his gospel message, 3,000 were saved that day and more and more each day beyond that. The same Peter who denied Christ, was now willing to risk going to prison, which happened several times. Each time God delivered him miraculously. Peter was even willing to die for his faith – Peter was a man of risk. In fact, his faith finally did kill him. The Romans were going to put him to death in the same manner as Jesus. Peter refused to be killed the way his Savior was – he felt he wasn’t worthy, so he asked to be crucified upside down. Peter was a man of risk, but when God got a hold of him – when the Holy Spirit filled his life, he became a changed man.
Here comes the challenge. What is God asking you to risk for Him? Is there something that God is calling you? Is there something that God is challenging you to do? Do you think there is too much risk involved? To do it on your own, would be failure, just as we saw with Peter before Pentecost.
God desires to fill his people with the Holy Spirit. One of the verse that I have been reminded of over and over during the past few weeks is, “Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord God Almighty.” If we try to do God’s work on our own power, we are doomed to fail, but if we are filled with His Holy Spirit – If we say, “I am weak, but through the power of God’s Spirit,” we can accomplish great things for God.
Again, to what is God calling you? Does it seem impossible? Does it seem crazy? Maybe it’s time to embrace God’s Spirit and step out of the comfort zone and get into the storm with Jesus.
