#4 - Get Out of The Boat - Pr. William Lee | August 10, 2026

Let's bow our heads for prayer. Eternal Father in heaven, God, we are so grateful once again that your word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. God, we do ask now that indeed you will speak to us through your holy word. God, we ask that you would indeed give us exactly need of for we ask it in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. I invite you to take your Bibles with me and go with me to the New Testament Gospel of Matthew today. Matthew chapter 14 and I'll begin reading beginning at verse number 22. Matthew 14 and beginning at verse number 22, I'm going to go all the way down to verse number 33. Matthew chapter 14 and beginning at verse number 22 through 33. I'm going to read today from the King James version of the Bible, Matthew chapter 14. And beginning at verse number 22, the word of God says, "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship and to go before them on the other side while he sent the multitude away." And when he had sent the multitude away, he went into a mountain apart to pray. And when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship now was in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. 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 with fear." And straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, "Be of good cheer, for it is I. Be not afraid." And Peter answered and said unto him,"Lord, if it be thou, bid me now to come on the water." And he, Jesus, said, "Come." And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and began to sink and cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, Oh, thou of little faith, whereforth did thou doubt? And when they were come to the ship, the wind ceased. Verse 33. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, "Of a truth, thou art the son of God." I want to speak for a few moments on this morning on this subject entitled, "Get out the boat." Get out the boat. If we are honest this morning, most of us like to play it safe. We like predictable. We like comfortable. We like knowing what is going to happen next. We like to know that we have money in the account. We like to know that the job is secure. We like knowing that the children are safe. We like knowing that the doctor's report is good because there's something inside of all of us that likes the boat. A boat is what makes you feel secure. Your boat can be your job. Your boat can be your education. Your boat can be your money, your family, your position. The boat can even be the church. [snorts] And there are some here in Nairobi who there are people who are navigating tremendous uncertainty. Young adults are asking will I find meaning after I finish my education. Parents are asking how can I provide for my family when the cost of living continues to press us. Entrepreneurs are asking, "Will this business survive?" And in the middle of uncertainty, our natural response is, "Find something safe and hold on to it." But in Matthew chapter 14, we are introduced to a man who discovers something that sometimes the safest place isn't the boat. Sometimes the safest place is wherever Jesus is. Who says amen? In Matthew chapter 14, this is an extraordinary chapter. John the Baptist has been murdered. Jesus has fed 5,000 men besides women and children with five loaves and two fish. And immediately after this miracle in Matthew 14 and verse 22, the Bible says, "And straightway [snorts] Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship." The Greek word here for constrain carries the idea of compelling, strongly urging, making somebody to do something. In other words, church, Jesus sent the people, his disciples into the boat. He constrains them. He compels them. He tells them, "You must do this." And that's an important fact here in the text that while they are in the boat, they encounter a storm. Now, wait a moment. Who sent them there? Jesus sent them into the boat. Jesus knew that the storm was coming. Who put them there? Jesus put them directly in that path. This gives our first lesson on today. Sometimes obedience will lead you into a storm. The reality is in Matthew 14:22- 24, we have sometimes preached a theology that suggests if I am obeying God, everything should be smoothly. But the Bible does not teach that sometimes trouble comes because you disobeyed God as Jonah. But sometimes trouble comes because you obeyed God. Ask the disciples. The disciples had a storm while they were right in the middle of God's will. And that's important because difficulty does not always mean disobedience. Sometimes difficulty is exactly where obedience takes you. The Bible in Matthew 14:22 says that Jesus tells the disciples to get into a boat and go before him on the other side of the lake. Now the disciples really don't want to go. Uh but Jesus basically again compels them and forces them to go on the other side. Now the Bible says that the disciples get into the boat and they push away from the water onto the shore. I love this because now the disciples are in the boat and Jesus went up into a mountain apart from them. And the Bible says that our Jesus spends time with the father in prayer. You see church, Jesus is fully human, but yet Jesus fully understands that he must spend time with the father, even being the divine son of God. If Jesus had to stay connected to God through prayer, how much more than you and I need to be connected to God in prayer as well? You need to know today that prayer equals power. Can I say it again? Prayer equals power. Say it with me. Prayer equals power. In ma in John chapter uh 1 John chapter 5, go there right now. Take your Bibles. Go to 1 John 5. 1 John 5. I want you to see this right now. 1 John 5 and verse 14. The word of God says this. First John chapter 5 and verse 14. Prayer equals power. 1 John 14. The Bible says 5:14 says, "And this is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us." Matter of fact, Isaiah 65 and verse 24 says, Isaiah 65:4 says, "And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they're yet speaking, I will hear." What is Jesus praying for? I believe that Jesus is praying for his disciples. The disciples are in the boat on the sea, but yet Jesus is on a mountaintop praying. Look at the geography here. Jesus is on a mountaintop. The disciples are on the sea. Jesus is high, but the disciples are low. And Jesus is praying on the mountain that the disciples are now resting on THE SEA. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN the Bible says that their peace is interrupted in Matthew 24 uh Matthew 14 verse 24. The ship now was in the midst of the sea tossed with waves for the wind was contrary. The disciples there were minding their own business resting upon the lake. But the Bible says that during the night season all of a sudden a storm came out of nowhere. You see church, sometimes you will recognize that things may be going well in your life, but how many of y'all know that a storm can come out of nowhere? All of a sudden, health storms may appear, financial storms may appear, relationships, marriages, parenting, jobs, employment, depression, anxiety, all types of storms appear. But the Bible says in the midst of the storm, Jesus is watching the disciples. He knows what's going on in their life. And can I tell you today, church, that the storms may come in our lives, but God can handle our storms. >> God knows how to handle every storm that we face in life. This world that we're living in is a constant storm. The Bible tells us in Daniel 12 and verse one. Go there now. Daniel 12 and verse one, the Bible says these words talking about a storm. Daniel 12 and verse one says this. It says, "And at that time Michael shall stand up, that great prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as was never since, where there was a nation to the same. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book." Following Jesus does not always mean that you'll be exempt from the storms arising in life. In fact, when you follow Jesus, sometimes a storm will come out of nowhere. But yet, God is trying to bring us closer to him through the storms in our lives. Sometimes the test is what can be a powerful testimony in your life. Church, I praise God that everything that does not go our way does not mean it is not the will of God. Sometimes God allows the storm to push us closer TO GOD. SOMETIMES GOD allows the chaos and the uncertainty so that we will come to him in prayer and know that God is able every step of the way to handle our situations. The Bible says the disciples now are on the lake and as they are there on the lake the storm arises. Oh, but notice the text today. As the storm arises, the Bible says the disciples are afraid, the disciples begin to panic. They're wondering, "Oh, are we about to perish right now?" But in the middle of the darkness, in the middle of the storm, here comes our Jesus. And when Jesus, now Matthew 14:25, the Bible says, "And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them walking on the water." Now, get the picture in your mind. This is maybe Lake Victoria right now. Maybe there's a boat that's going there on the lake AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A hurricane comes out of nowhere. Can you imagine how you would feel there on Lake Victoria? The hurricane winds begin to blow and the ship begins to rock left and right. Water is now on the boat. The boat is almost about to sink. But the Bible says that in the midst of the storm, the winds are blowing. There are no life jackets around. But here comes our Jesus. walking on the water. I don't know if you ever tried it before, but every time I go to a beach, I bring this story to my mind. I try it myself. Maybe you have not have the faith that I've had. But when I go to a beach, I I stick my feet on the water and I say, "Oh, God, let me have the faith of Peter. And when I take the first step, I notice that I feel myself going down. Ladies and gentlemen, the reality is is that in the fourth watch of the night, there are in the Hebrew culture, there are four watches. Hear me now. The first watch is the first the watch that is from 6:00 p.m. to 900 p.m. The second watch is from 900 p.m. to midnight. THE THIRD watch is from 12 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. in the morning. But hear me today, somebody. The fourth watch is the darkest watch. The fourth watch is when you cannot see your hand before your face. The fourth watch is where everything seems that could go wrong is going wrong. The fourth watch is when it feels as if the world is about to collapse in front of you. But it is in our text that our Jesus knows how to come to us just when we need him most. Oh, the old hymn says, "Just when I need him most, Jesus is there." Oh, and the fourth watch of the night, here comes Jesus walking on the water. Because here is the fact I want to say today that you can always trust Jesus in the middle of your storm. Here is what I love. I believe that God allows the storms in our life because God wants us to trust him in the middle of every single storm. The Bible says that prayer is not only power but our faith will strengthen our lives. You see, you may feel weak right now, but when you keep on praying, God knows how to answer our prayers. In Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15- 16, the Bible says this, go there. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15 and 16. The word of God says this. Hebrews chapter 4, verses 15 and 16. The Bible says this. It says, "For we have not an high priest, which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted as we are, and yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need." Who says amen? You see from our perspective it seems as if God really sometimes does not care. AH but when you cannot trace God you can always trust God. Jesus was praying there on the mountain while the disciples were going through. But now here comes Jesus walking on the water. You see church I've come to understand young people. I've come to understand that God will never leave us nor will God ever forsake us. Psalm 46 verse1 says that our God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. I love that today because trouble will come our way. Ah, but Psalm 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all." Can you say amen again? >> I found out that God knows how to deliver. In fact, God does not need our help. God is always in control. It was during COVID 19 where we were all afraid wondering if this was the end. An unseen an unseen virus that indeed affected the entire world. I remember I don't know how it was here but in the United States we were sheltered in place afraid to go outside. I remember one day going to the grocery store and uh we were all wearing masks. Anybody remember that time? Wearing masks and I went to the grocery store. I went to uh their Walmart in the United States and uh at that time we were afraid not knowing what was going to happen. I was in the aisle shopping, picking up my groceries, and all of a sudden, somebody in that aisle said, "Cacho, [cough] let me tell you, I left everything in my basket. I walked out and said, "In the name of Jesus, I'm not going to catch the virus in Jesus' name." We were afraid during that time. We uncertainty was going on that time. And the reality is church, we live in an uncertain world right now. Every single day at the top of every hour, we are being reminded that this earth is a sinking ship. Every single day, chaos and calamity is flooding our world. And we can know today that this earth will not last forever. We know that one day the Bible says that he that shall come will come and will not carry. All of the sickness that we see in our world, all the trouble that we have in our world, all the the wars that are going on around us, the Bible says soon we will be done with the troubles of this world. I don't know about you, but I look forward to the day where Jesus Christ shall come back. I look forward to the day where there'll be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more heartache, no more trouble, no more bills to pay somebody, no more all of the things that we go through. But in the midst of our time that we live in right now, I want to tell you again, we can trust our God. I tell people all the time, stop worrying about things you cannot control. My wife said one day that worry is like a rocking chair. It goes backwards and forwards, but it never gets us anywhere. You've got to understand, somebody that the Bible says that when we trust God, then we can be more than conquerors through him. The Bible says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Greater is he that's within me than he that's in THIS WORLD. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE world that he gave his only begotten son." We have nothing to fear for the future unless we forget how God has led us in the past. And I would argue today that God has been with us every step of the way. God has led us. God has blessed us. God, matter of fact, will not allow for us to be tempted above that which we are able. But with every trial, WITH EVERY TEMPTATION, THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD WILL MAKE A WAY OF ESCAPE. >> THAT GOD WILL BE THERE FOR US EVERY STEP OF the way. When you feel trouble, when you feel as if that you cannot make it, you ought to remind yourself that God is our present help. THAT GOD WILL BE with us every step of the way. That our God is a strong tower and the righteous can run to him and find safety in Jesus. Oh, the Bible says in our text today again that the ship now is tossing and and when the disciples now saw Jesus walking on the sea, they were troubled. And the Bible says that they said they cried out for fear. They said, "Oh, it must be a spirit." Let me tell you today church that you cannot live in fear and in faith at the same time. You cannot trust God and doubt God at the same time. Either you're going to trust God or you're going to doubt God. But as for me and my house, I'm going to trust God every step of the way. When I can't trace God, I'm going to trust God. It's the fourth watch of the night. It is the darkest season of the night. The winds are waging. 60 70 mour winds are blowing. But that does not offstop Jesus because now Jesus begins to walk. The disciples are afraid. And the disciples now are there. Ah, but I love Peter. Somebody say, "Peter." I love Peter. Your pastor's name is Peter. I love Peter because Peter has some faith today. Oh, I wish I had a witness right now. Peter. And And we often times criticize Peter. We oftent times say that Peter was that pussilanimous Peter that oftent time he he speaks before he thinks. But I love Peter because Peter has faith. When all the rest of the disciples were afraid and did not want to get out of the boat, Peter said, "Jesus, if it is you, bid me to come." And the Bible says while Peter is there, I love this word right here because Jesus says one word. Don't miss this word today. It's probably the most powerful word in the sermon today. While the boat is rocking left and right, while Jesus is walking, Jesus tells Peter one word. The word is come. Come. Come is a divine invitation to walk on the water. Come is a divine invitation to leave the boats behind. As the children said, children's story said, "Leave the meat behind. Leave your comfortability behind. Leave your sin behind. Leave whatever is holding you back. Leave it behind because Jesus says to all of us, come unto me. Oh, Matthew 11 verse 28 through 30. Jesus says today, he says, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lonely in heart and you shall find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Come, come ye who are burdened down. Come ye children and get to know God for yourself. Come mother who is praying for your children. COME FATHER who is praying for your children. Come church to the foot of the cross because there's power at the foot of the cross. There's power in the name of Jesus. Peter steps out of the boat and he begins to walk on the water. Peter is the only disciple that can ever say, "I walked on the water." And the only disciple that can say it is because he had enough faith to come unto Jesus. I want to suggest to us today on this midday hour that the most important thing that God wants from all of us is a personal relationship with himself. Jesus wants you for himself. You see, church, I began as a young man to understand when I was a child, and I told you the other day that my parents took us to church every single week. I don't know about you, but I thank God for parents that indeed bring your children to church. Come on, say amen. >> I thank God for parents who know the word of God, who will put the word of God on the inside of their children. I am the man that I am today because my parents gave me the word of God. The Bible God wants us to have a personal intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. And Peter knows that. Peter knows that if I begin to walk and come to Jesus that everything is going to be all right. But now as he walks on the water, you know the story. The Bible says that Peter took his eyes off of Jesus. And whenever you take your eyes off of Jesus, you begin to sink. Bible says he began to sink and and he begins to go under the water. His mouth is now filled with water. He's about to die. But here is the good news of the text that in the middle of Peter's sinking, he had enough sense to cry out. Here it is. Lord, save me. Peter did not get down on one knee. Peter did not do the most reverent thing in the sanctuary. He did not have time to take his shoes off because let me tell you today that whenever you find yourself about to sink. There's power in the name of Jesus. >> You have to call upon that name. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus in the morning. Jesus in the afternoon. Jesus in the evening. There's power in the name of Jesus. He says, "Lord, save me." And the Bible says that Jesus took him by the hand. He lifted him up. And the Bible says immediately he stretched forth his hand. Verse 31 caught him and said unto him, "Oh, thou of little faith. Wherefore did dust thou doubt?" Let me tell you something. Jesus can save you right now. The Bible says that when Peter and Jesus got into the boat, the winds and the waves began to stop. And sometimes you wonder, why am I going through so much in life? And maybe it's because God is trying to get our attention. Maybe God is trying to use the storm to bring us unto himself. He says, "Lord, save me." Peter failed, but Jesus did not. Peter's faith was weak, but Jesus strength is always perfect. Peter lost his footing. But G but Jesus never lost sight of Peter. Church, somebody thinks that you have to pray in an impressive prayer. No. Sometimes all you can say is Jesus. Sometimes all you can say is, "Lord, I lift my hands to thee. No other help I know. Jesus, save me." And when your faith is weak, God can make your faith sufficient. Lord, save me. Notice something about Peter. Jesus never criticizes Peter. only says, "Oh, ye of lack of faith." But yet the 11 had dry clothes on. But Peter had a testimony that the 11 did not have. I saw Jesus and I began to walk on water. I know what it's like to feel to walk to him on the water. Now we reach the last point in this sermon today. We reach the theological destination because in verse 33 the Bible says, "And when they were come into the ship, the winds ceased." There they were in the ship. And the Bible says they came and worshiped him saying of a truth, "Thou art the son of God. And that's where Matthew was trying to tell us all along that Peter is amazing. But Jesus is the son of God. Who says amen? The miracle produced worship. And maybe that was the purpose of the storm. Maybe God allows the storms in OUR LIFE BECAUSE GOD wants us to worship him. You see, the storms produce worship. Your testimony will only come when you begin to know that God is the God of every single storm in my life. Do you really want Jesus? If you really want him, sometimes he allows the storms to come your way so he can push you out of your comfort zone and push you into a relationship with him. Naobi Central, what is your boat today? What is the thing that you're trusting more than you're trusting Jesus? Maybe your boat is fear. Maybe your boat is comfort. Maybe your boat is what will other people think about me. Maybe your boat is a relationship with God that he told you you need the most. And what God is telling us today is come. Come unto me professional. Come unto me children. Come unto me and I will give you rest. Peter isn't the hero of the story. Jesus is the hero because Jesus sees you in your storm. Can I ask you one more time today? Have you ever been in a storm before? Have you ever been in a storm where it felt like it was not getting better, but it was only getting worse? I want to tell you today, those watching online, those here in the sanctuary, that though the storms may blow, and though the tempest may roar in these last days, we have an anchor and our anchor is in the Lord. We can trust God because God will come to us in our darkest hour. When we feel as if he's not there, he's always there. My last story today is one day my father told us to walk to school one day. I have an older brother and my father told us to walk to school. Now, we were used to to driving a short distance. It wasn't far. But that day, daddy told us that you have to walk on your own to school. My older brother, he's four years older than me. He was taller than me at the time. I grabbed his hand. Hear me today. We were walking to school. And as we were walking, it was dark outside. We were walking slowly. Are you there walking slowly? I was nervous. I was scared cuz it was dark outside. And all of a sudden, as we're walking, I see in the distance a man. He's following us. I couldn't see who it was. And now my heart is beating faster. I'm thinking to myself, "Oh no, we're about to be kidnapped." As I kept on walking, my brother now walks with me, holding my hand, and I'm walking faster now. And I turn around again and I see a man in the far distance and now the man ducks behind a tree. And I said, 'Oh. We started running and now as we're running down to school, I see the man and now he ducks behind a tree again. And now my HEART IS BEING FASTER. I'M THINKING, "OH, WE'RE ABOUT TO GET KIDNAPPED." Until the last time we began to walk faster, run fast. I looked back and there was no more tree. I noticed who it was that was following us in the dark season. IT WAS MY FATHER THAT WAS FOLLOWING US. My daddy wanted to make sure that in the darkness when we could not see what was going on that he was going to make sure that we were going to be safe in the middle of the darkness. Can I tell you today that we have a father in heaven who is lurking all around trees. He's there in the darkness. He's there in the MIDNIGHT SEASON. HE'S THERE WHEN you can't see him. He sees your tears. He sees YOUR HEARTACHE. BUT HE KNOWS THAT IF GOD BE FOR US, CAN NOBODY BE AGAINST US? He knows how to bring us safely through. And when I turned and saw my daddy, I put a smile on my face. And I began to walk in confidence knowing that my father is right there beside me. Can I tell you right now that God is watching over us? He sees you. He loves you and he's going to bless you in the middle of a storm. Your response to God must be like Peter. Lord, since it is you, can I come unto you? The storms of life [music] blow us to Jesus. >> And he wants you for himself. How many believe God's word today? You believe God's word today? Let me see your hands. Say you believe God's word today. Amen. If you believe God and you want [music] God to walk with you, I invite you right now as a commitment right now. Stand to your feet right now. Stand to your feet. As we sing this song today, I'm going to ask you, Lord, just say, Lord, come into my life. You can have all of me and God will bless you in the middle of your storm in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.