Well, good morning, First Baptist Church family.
My, what a privilege and a joy it is to be back here.
Thank you, choir, so much for your leadership and worship this morning.
And thank you, Pastor Sam, for the invitation to come back, for Susie and I to be with you today.
I keep hearing good things about you as far as some conversations that we would have with First One
and then another.
And, of course, I'm glad to hear those things.
I particularly have been pleased to hear about the election of several young deacons.
I'm grateful for those veteran deacons, as I know you are within the church that has served the church for many years.
But what a joy to hear about the election and the ordination of these young men.
And that's going to be something that I'm convinced will make First Baptist Church a better church
and speaks well of the future.
And I'm also so pleased to hear how the church is following the example of the pastor
and moving outside the church to minister to those within this community.
I truly believe, as I spent some time with you, that I could see that the brightness of your future as a church family
would be tied in so much with the relationship that you would have with the schools,
with other organizations within the city, with coming to know and minister to the people that are truly outside the walls of this church,
some of which need to be in some of our churches.
But right now, they're different from us.
They don't all look like you do or smell like you do or act like you do.
But that's our field of service, isn't it?
That's our target group.
And we need to certainly be engaged in those ways in which we can
that would move us outside the walls of the church and beyond ministering just to each other.
And I commend you in that.
Thank you so much for the way in which you were so gracious and good to Susie and I.
During the months that we were here, we have such fond memories,
and we'll have those all the rest of our life.
And thank you for the way you treated us so graciously.
At the present time, we have been called to serve as the interim pastor up at First Baptist Church Bonham.
If you know where Bonham is, up there between Sherman and Paris,
had our first Sunday there last Sunday.
And I kind of apologized last Sunday to say,
I'm sorry to be here one Sunday and go on the next,
but we promised the people up at First Baptist Henrietta that we would be there next Sunday.
And they understood that.
But every time you can think about it, my, how we would appreciate your prayers for us
as we come to deal with a church that, folks, let me say to you straight out,
is a very different church in many ways from the one here in Henrietta.
They're facing some really difficult challenges right now,
and only the work of God is going to be able to really make a difference.
Hey, we brought help this morning.
James and Wanda Nichols are with us as our guests.
They're neighbors to us there in McKinney,
and we're going to head on up into Oklahoma for a couple of days
and aggravate one another up there.
But if you've not met the Nichols,
well, I hope you'd feel free to introduce yourself after the amen
or maybe during our potluck lunch today.
Well, on this Sunday preceding Thanksgiving,
I am reminded of one of the things for which I am most grateful.
I'm referring to the thing that helps me perhaps more than anything else
when I find my back against the wall,
when I find myself facing a difficult and trying situation.
Folks, I am so thankful for the character
and the nature of the God we call our Savior.
That is such a source of a resource of strength and help to me
when I face trying times to remind myself
of the kind of God that we serve.
One of the places that we see God's character expressing itself
is there on the Sea of Galilee
when Simon Peter decided that he would walk on the water.
Remember?
I'm sure you do remember,
and I want us to go there this morning.
There's a man by the name of John Ortberg
who has written a book entitled
If You Want to Walk on the Water,
You've Got to Get Out of the Boat.
And I want to springboard off of some of the things
that John said about this passage
that's found in Matthew chapter 14.
So if you have your Bible,
and I hope that you do,
turn with me this morning to Matthew and chapter 14.
And you follow along with me in whatever translation
that you have with you.
I'll be reading out of the English Standard Version this morning,
or you can follow along there on the screen
to these verses 22 through 33
in Matthew chapter 14.
The Bible speaks to us there to say immediately.
He made the disciples get into the boat
and go before him to the other side
while he dismissed the crowds.
And after he had dismissed the crowds,
he went up on a mountain by himself to pray.
When the evening came, he was there alone,
but the boat by this time
was a long way from the land,
and then beaten by the waves
for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night,
that would be between 3 and 6 a.m.,
in the fourth watch of the night,
he came to them walking on the water.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,
they were terrified and said,
it is a ghost.
And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying,
Take heart.
It is I.
Do not be afraid.
And Peter answered him,
Lord, if it is you,
command me to come to you on the water.
He said, Come.
So Peter got out of the boat
and walked on the water
and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind,
he was afraid.
And beginning to sink,
he cried out,
Lord, save me.
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand
and took hold of him,
saying to him,
Oh, you of little faith,
why did you doubt?
And when they got into the boat,
the wind ceased.
And those in the boat worshipped him,
saying,
Truly, you are the Son of God.
Well, we were approaching Denver
at about 20,000 feet.
It was a rough day.
And I was thinking
I might just fill up
one of those little bags
that they place in the seat
in front of you,
you know,
with my motion sickness.
However, more importantly,
I was concerned
as to whether or not
we were in some serious trouble.
I was flying Frontier Airlines
for the first time.
Any of you remember Frontier
out of Denver?
Well, my questions were things like,
Can this pilot be trusted?
Was he or she
of sufficient competence
that I can place my destiny
in his or her hands?
Well, it was too little late
for those kind of questions.
You know,
I was simply going to have to have faith
that they knew what they were doing.
Have you found yourself
in those situations
from time to time in life
where matters very important to you
or in the hands of somebody else?
That requires faith, doesn't it?
And intimately connected to faith
is risk.
Where there can be no faith
without risk.
And risk is intimately connected to fear.
There can be no faith
without risk
and sometimes failure.
Faith requires risking failure.
And that brings us to the story
of Peter here in the boat.
According to verse 24 there,
a storm comes along so rough
that the disciples can't be able
to make it across this body of water.
And these,
I would remind you,
are professional sailors.
Several of them are.
Verse 25 tells us
that Jesus came there
between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
in the fourth watch of the night.
Now picture in your mind,
if you will,
the size of the waves,
the strength of the wind.
Picture the darkness of the night
and this little boat
struggling to avoid being capsized.
Picture in your mind,
I say,
this little boat.
Well, Matthew says
the boat was tormented by the waves.
That's the Greek word that he uses,
tormented by the waves.
So here they are.
Cold,
wet,
exhausted,
terrified.
Those are the conditions
under which Peter
is going to get out of the boat.
I spent a little time
on Lake Texhoma
and Ray Roberts,
Sam Rayburn,
some of those reservoirs
around our state.
When the waves were high
and the wind had gotten up
and I was glad
to be in a large bass boat,
you know,
we negotiated those waves
carefully
as we would make our way
to safety.
I can hardly imagine
someone suggesting
that I would step out
of the boat
under those kind of traditions
trying to stay upright
in that kind of weather.
I would think
that it would be difficult enough
to get out of a boat
and try to walk on the water
when it's calm in the daylight.
I mean,
good night.
How much courage
would it take
to average person
could be able to
do what Simon Peter
did that night?
Imagine doing it
with the waves crashing,
with the wind
at gale force
and three o'clock
in the morning.
Well,
Peter gets out
and he falls.
He doesn't make it.
It's a story of failure.
Or is it?
Is it a story
of failure?
failure.
Include yourself
if you've ever
flunked a test.
If you've ever been
cut from a team.
If you ever
didn't get that job
or that promotion
that you wanted.
Include yourself
if you've ever
been impatient
with a three-year-old.
If you've ever
said the wrong thing
or eaten
with the wrong fork.
Oh my lens,
if you've ever
experienced failure
of any kind,
I say to you,
all of us
are would-be
water walkers.
All of us.
And God
did not intend
for human beings
His children
that are created
in His divine image
to go through life
in a desperate effort
to avoid failure.
The Lord
never intended
that for us.
But the boat
is so safe
and so comfortable.
The waves are high.
The night is dark
and a storm
is out there.
And if you get
out of the boat,
you very likely
are going to sink.
But if you don't
get out of the boat,
you're never going
to walk on water.
Duh.
You know?
God,
yeah,
there's something
inside of us,
folks.
Wouldn't you agree?
There's something
inside of us
that tells us
that our lives
are about more
than just sitting
in the boat.
Something that wants
to walk on the water.
Something that calls us
to leave the routine
of a comfortable existence
and abandon ourselves
to the adventure
of following Christ.
Yeah,
there's something
inside of us
that tells us
now that's the right
thing to do.
Jesus comes
to his disciples
here and
the disciples
see him
walking on the sea
and they are
terrified.
You can imagine.
Put yourself
you ever seen
anybody walk on?
Of course
they were afraid.
Terrified.
Jesus says
have no fear.
It's me.
He says you can
he's saying
in so many words
is he not?
You can trust
my character.
You can trust
my confidence.
You can safely
without reservation
with no hesitation
you can place
your hands
in my hands
and your life
in mine.
You have this storm?
you have me.
Now decide
which is more powerful.
And so
Simon Peter
says all right
Lord
if it's you
then command me
to come to you
on the water.
And as we read
Jesus said
all right Peter
come on.
And now can't you
just see it?
Picture it in your mind.
as Peter
throws one leg
over the side
of the boat
and then he lifts up
the other leg
and puts it over
the side of the boat
and puts both feet
down in the water
and then
he lets go.
And he's still
standing.
And he turns
and he takes a step
toward the Lord Jesus
and then he takes
another step.
And folks
for the first time
in human history
the first time
in the history
of the human race
an ordinary
mortal man
is walking
on the water.
And for just a moment
it's Peter
and Jesus.
and then
all of a sudden
Peter realizes
what he's doing.
He sees the waves.
He feels
the sting
of the water
and his faith
gives way.
He is afraid
again
and he sinks.
Some people say
he took his eyes
off Jesus.
The Bible says
he was afraid.
He was afraid
and he sank.
So my question
for you this morning
is
well did Peter fail?
I mean really
did he fail?
This text
I believe
radically defines
failure
in the life
of a follower
of Christ.
Failure is not
so much of an event.
It is a way
that we interpret
and judge
that event.
It's a label
that we might
attach to it.
Jonah saw
I understand
attempted
200
unsuccessful
vaccines
before he
found the
vaccine
that would
take care
of polio.
Somebody asked
how did it
feel to fail
200 times
trying to
invent a
vaccine
for polio.
His response
was I've never
failed 200
times at anything
in my life.
My family
taught me
never to use
that word.
He said
I simply
discovered
200 ways
how not
to make
a vaccine
for polio.
Somebody
asked Winston
Churchill
one time
said
what most
prepared you
to lead
Great Britain
through World
War II?
As most
of you know
for a period
of time
Great Britain
stood virtually
alone
against
Nazi Germany
as it
dominated
the western
world.
Here was
Churchill's
response.
It was
the time
I repeated
the class
in grade
school
he said
and the
questioner said
you mean
you flunked
a grade?
Churchill said
well let me
just say
I was given
a second
opportunity
to get it
right
he said
yeah
did Peter
fail?
Well
yes
in one
way
he did
fail
his faith
gave way
he could
not stay
locked
in to
Jesus
he sank
he failed
his faith
gave way
I say
but now
listen to me
this morning
folks
there were
eleven
other
men
who were
bigger
failures
I would
suggest to
you in
that boat
yeah
they failed
privately
they failed
quietly
their failure
was safe
and unnoticed
and
uncriticized
only
Peter
experienced
the
shame
of public
failure
but then
only
Peter
knew the
glory
of walking
on the
water
amen
only Peter
knew the
glory of
walking on
the water
only Peter
knew in a
way that
others would
never perhaps
know that
when he sank
Jesus would
be there
he knew that
Jesus is
wholly adequate
to save
and Peter
he had a
shared moment
a connection
like nobody
else could
have and
that could
not have
happened
if he had
never thrown
that leg
over the
side of the
boat
and gotten
out on the
water
faith means
choosing
to follow
Jesus
perhaps
you're
wondering
this
morning
what it
means
to get
out of
the
boat
you say
brother
Wallace
that
sounds
exciting
I'm
all for
it
but I'm
wondering
what you
do
at the
heart
of it
I'm
convinced
is the
choice
to become
a disciple
of Christ
Jesus
the disciple
is not
simply
someone
who believes
in certain
things
so they'll
go to
heaven
when they
die
a disciple
is someone
who says
it is my
ultimately
my ultimate
goal in
life
to allow
Jesus
to live
as if he
were in
my body
it is to
live and
love
like Jesus
a non-disciple
is somebody
who has no
other goal
you're not
likely to
drift
into
discipleship
you have
to choose
you have
to decide
to step
out
on the
water
some of
you
this
morning
who sit
here
first
baptist
church
henrietta
I dare
say
some of
you
need
to do
what
you need
to do
in
conjunction
with your
marriage
in
relationship
perhaps
with your
children
or for
some of
you
perhaps
in
relationship
to your
parents
some of
you need
to pull
the trigger
and throw
your legs
over the
side of
the boat
in connection
with your
addiction
God knows
your alcohol
addiction
or other
drug
your
pornography
some of
you regarding
your job
your future
God's calling
in your life
some of
you need
to let
go
and let
God
have
his
way
in
relationship
to your
boyfriend
or your
girlfriend
or perhaps
your health
all you
thought about
it
and for
some of
you
it's
about
all
you
think
about
anymore
you've
examined
that
thing
from
all
the
angles
and
now
it's
time to
do
something
about
it
you
need
to
quit
talking
about
it
and
begin
to do
something
about
it
God
said
to
Peter
come
and
he
says
to us
this
morning
trust
me
depend
upon
me
in
this
thing
this
is
something
that
you
cannot
do
on
your
own
and
I
am
worthy
of
your
trust
well
what
about
it
this
morning
this
day
in
which
our
world
and
our
country
in
particularly
is
talking
about
thanksgiving
I'm
wondering
if you
are allowing
the God
of your
salvation
to really
be
the Lord
of your
life
in such
a way
that you
are willing
to give
him the
circumstances
some of
you to
give to
him
the
difficult
circumstances
within
your life
and that
is the
great need
this morning
you do
need to
come out
of the
closet
so to
speak
as far
as some
of those
areas
or that
area
in your
life
in which
you need
to trust
him
and realize
as the
choir sang
it so
well
this
morning
to
recognize
that he
does
walk
on water
and that
he'll give
us the
opportunity
to do
what for
otherwise
would have
been impossible
for us
to do
except
for his
strength
his
courage
his
presence
within
our
lives
I
think
about
a
seamstress
a member
of the
Dexter Avenue
Baptist
Church
devoted
Christ
follower
who
believed
that
Jesus
had
something
to teach
a segregated
world
about love
and justice
and community
and so
one morning
in the
December
of
1955
it was
a bus
driver
told her
she must
vacate
her seat
and move
to the
back
of the
bus
because
she was
an African
American
and a
white
person
needed
the seat
and in
one of
the most
courageous
choices
of the
20th
century
she did
not move
and she
started
the revolution
the next
Monday
night
10,000
followers
of Christ
gathered
together
at her
church
to pray
and to
ask God
so now
what do
we do
next
because
of that
choice
a revolution
started
that was
not easy
it had
a high
cost
many
were
beaten
some
were
imprisoned
some
even
died
but it
changed
the
conscience
of a
nation
it
didn't
change
it
enough
but it
changed
it
all
because
a
mild
mannered
soft
spoken
Christ
follower
a
seamstress
got out
of the
boat
and that
brings us
to an
aspect
of
discipleship
that
a lot
of
people
don't
like
I
don't
like
it
much
myself
I
mean
a
commitment
to a
life
of
following
Christ
is a
commitment
to the
constant
experience
of
fear
did you
hear me
I
say
a
commitment
to a
life
of
following
Christ
is a
commitment
to a
constant
reoccurrence
of the
experience
of fear
it'll
happen
over
and over
again
Jesus
commands
the
disciples
to get
into the
boat
they do
a
terrific
storm
comes
up
and they're
afraid
Jesus
comes
on them
by walking
on the
water
and when
they see him
they're
terrified
he says
take heart
don't be
afraid
Peter
asked
what
he's
supposed
to do
Jesus
tells
him
the
next
step
Peter
gets
out
of
the
boat
walks
and then
sinks
what does
he
experience
more
fear
but
Jesus
rescues
him
once
again
and of
course
that won't
be the
last
time
that
Peter
is
going
to
experience
panic
or fear
is it
not at
all
oh
to a
disciple
it's
to be
a
learner
and
a
student
it's
to
choose
to
grow
in
Christ
and
growth
means
entering
new
territory
getting
out
of
the
boat
and
every
time
you
do
that
I
say
every
time
you
do
that
you're
going
to
experience
fear
do you
realize
that
you are
going
to
here
is
the
amazing
thing
about
discipleship
or
one
of
those
amazing
things
about
discipleship
you
will
always
experience
fear
it
will
never
go
away
every
time
you
get
out
of
the
boat
every
time
you
enter
a
new
challenge
area
to
be
every
time
you
you're
going
to
experience
discipleship
is
always
a
choice
between
comfort
and
fear
to
be
a
disciple
is
to
renounce
comfort
you
found
that
out
haven't
you
I
say
to
be
a
disciple
is
to
renounce
comfort
that's
bad
news
for
many
of
us
because
our
society
is
heavy
duty
into
comfort
aren't
we
oh
we
like
to
come
home
and
say
I
just
want
to
veg
out
you
know
usually
in
front
of
the
television
set
and
people
that
do
that
we
call
them
couch
potatoes
don't
we
yeah
not
good
training
for
discipleship
may
I
suggest
to
you
that
eleven
other
disciples
were
boat
potatoes
yeah
they
didn't
want
to
run
the
risk
they
didn't
want
to
experience
the
fear
churches
are full
of folks
that we
might
well
call
pew
potatoes
yeah
people
who's
who do
not
want
to run
the
risk
churches
are full
of folks
like
that
their
religious
faith
amounts
to
little
more
than
spiritual
padding
that will
comfort
the rest
of their
lives
oh
you've
got
such
a
really
nice
boat
here
you
haven't
been
out
of
in a
long
time
maybe
there
was
a
time
earlier
in your
life
in which
you
stepped
out
of the
boat
some
of you
maybe
even
on a
regular
basis
Jesus
just
give me
the word
and I'll
come
maybe
you
now
however
gotten
really
comfortable
in your
boat
where you
are
and for
some
of you
maybe
you're
just
flat
out
afraid
I
know
that
feeling
I've
stepped
out
of the
boat
a few
times
and
getting
out
of the
boat
for me
was not
just
taking
a
risk
it
was
dying
to
this
crazy
obsession
of
needing
to
appear
successful
sometimes
I wanted
to walk
on the
water
to impress
the boat
potatoes
you know
that's not
what walking
on the
water is
about
walking
on the
water is
about
coming
to the
Lord
Jesus
and if
you try
that
you very
well
may sink
but I've
got a
secret
for you
it doesn't
matter
it really
doesn't
matter
because
Jesus
is adequate
to save
sinking
people
huh
and he
does
Peter
got out
of the
boat
he noticed
that strong
wind
became
frightened
and beginning
to sink
he cried
out
what
Lord
save me
Lord
save me
did you
notice he
didn't go
in our
heavenly
father
majestic
above
creator
he said
Lord
save me
it was a
pretty simple
prayer
wasn't it
it was a
pretty strong
and we
become
desperate
as we
find
ourselves
in those
kind of
situations
we don't
try to
become
creative
we just
simply
want to
call
on his
name
and that's
exactly
it's a
confession
of the
lordship
of Christ
and a
plea
for
deliverance
and Jesus
immediately
reached out
his right
hand
and caught
him
the point
is not
that Jesus
will constantly
bail us
out
it is
that he
is always
ready to
respond
however
there is
no failure
that can
place you
beyond the
length of
his arm
is it
not a
thing you
could do
ah
Jesus
as he
reached out
to Simon
Peter that
night
was able to
say what
the scripture
says
casting all
of your
cares upon
him
because he
cares for
you
I wanted
to ask
you this
morning
what about
that kind
of faith
in your
life
is it
a faith
that you
recognize
requires a
risk
if it is
then it's a
risk
that will be
characterized
by fear
faith
can result
in some
remarkable
things
but we've
got to
move through
that area
of having
both a
confidence
and a
faith in
God
being willing
to take
that risk
and being
willing to
declare
ourselves
as
uncomfortable
and at
times quite
fearful
as a result
of Peter's
having gotten
out of the
boat and
as a result
of his
failure and
the redeeming
hand of
Christ that
entire boat
began to
worship Jesus
when people
get out of
the boat
when people
get out of
the boat
the power
of God
is put into
play and
some remarkable
things can
happen
I wanted to
close the
message this
morning by
telling you
about a
man by the
name of
Bob
I learned
about Bob
from a man
whose name
was Doug
Cole
he had a
ministry
in Washington
D.C.
mostly to
the political
types
Bob became
a Christian
though he
wasn't involved
in politics
as a matter
of fact
he sold
insurance
he didn't
have any
church
background
he really
didn't know
very much
at all
about
Christianity
Bob did
not
Doug was
teaching him
some of
the basics
and he
was teaching
him some
things about
prayer
Doug
told him
for instance
that Jesus
said
ask whatever
you will
in my name
and it
will be
yours
Bob was
amazed
at that
Doug told
him that
he would
have to
understand
it with
some common
sense
but Jesus
was ready
to respond
Bob decided
he wanted
to pray
for a
certain
country
in Africa
and so
Doug said
alright
you pray
for a
month
for this
country
and if
at the
end
of the
month
nothing
happens
I'll
give you
$500
but if
something
remarkable
happens
then you
give me
$500
he said
if you
don't pray
every day
though
all bets
are off
well Bob
agreed to
that
and he
started to
pray
and it
was getting
on toward
the end
of the
month
and nothing
had happened
he was
at a
dinner
people at
his table
were saying
what they
did for a
living
and one
of the
women said
that she
worked for
a medical
facility
a kind
of a
hospital
orphanage
in the
very country
that Bob
had been
praying for
well boy
did he
set up
and began
to pay
attention
and he
started pumping
her with
questions
and she
asked him
why are you
so interested
in calling
the country
by name
why are you
so interested
in this
country
and he
told her
about this
strange
prayer
arrangement
that he
had with
Doug
Cole
well
she said
would you
be interested
in visiting
this country
and seeing
these folks
and Bob
said yes
I would
he had
plenty of
money
and he
could do
that
so he
flew there
and he
toured
the facility
and as
you might
imagine
in a
third world
country
those people
were quite
desperate
they were
short on
supplies
and medicine
and so
when Bob
came back
to the
states
he started
writing
and calling
some
pharmaceutical
companies
and they
ended up
raising over
one million
dollars worth
of medicines
to be sent
back to this
place in
Africa
afterwards
this woman
phoned him
and she
invited him
to a big
celebration
over in
that country
and Bob
went
and while
he was
there
he met
the president
actually the
president
of the
country
who had
heard about
the story
and had
come to
the celebration
it was a
relatively small
African country
and this was
the largest
medical facility
in the country
at that time
he met
Bob
the president
did
and he
invited him
to the
capital
to give
him a
tour
so Bob
went with
the president
of his
country
and toured
the capital
they went
past a
prison facility
and Bob
said
what are the
prisoners
in there
for
and the
president
said
those are
political
prisoners
and Bob
said
you know
that's not
a good idea
you should
let them
out
well they
finished their
tour
and Bob
flew back
to the
United States
and a few
days later
I understand
he got a
phone call
two o'clock
in the morning
he got a
phone call
from the
state department
of the
United States
government
the official
said when
you were
in
recently
in
and he
called
the
country
by name
that Bob
had visited
were you
recently
in that
country
and Bob
said
yes
did you
say anything
to the
president
of that
country
about
political
prisoners
and Bob
said that
he had
and the
fellow from
the state
department
said well
I don't
know what
you said
but they've
been released
we've been
trying in the
state department
for years
to get those
prisoners
released
and now
they've been
released
what did
you say
and Bob
said well
I told him
it was a
bad idea
to have
political
prisoners
folks
when people
get out
of the
boat
there are
some
amazing
things
that can
happen
I wonder
what would
happen
in Henrietta
and in
Clay County
and in
this part
of God's
world
if the
very people
who are
sitting here
this morning
were to
actually
get out
of their
boat
and be
able to
give God
their
tomorrows
be able
to give
God
their
circumstances
what if
everybody
in this
room
were to
say
Jesus
command
me
I'm
yours
can you
imagine
the kind
of power
that God
could release
in our
communities
and within
our nation
if our
people would
take him
seriously
at his
word at
this point
all
Jesus is
still looking
for people
who are
willing
to get
out of
the boat
but let me
tell you
something now
with that
if you go
you're going
to face
problems
a storm
is out
there
your faith
and mine
will not
be perfect
we'll be
afraid
and it's
very
probable
that we're
going to
sink
but I
know two
things
out of
this story
when you
fail
and sometimes
you will
the Lord
Jesus is
going to be
there to
read out
his hand
to you
and to
pick you
up
and the
second thing
that I
know
is that
every once
in a while
folks
you're going
to walk
on the
water
yeah
you're
going to
walk on
the water
for you
see when
God
made us
and saved
us
and called
us
he intended
for us to
have that
kind of an
adventure
in our
faith
this
thanksgiving
season
as we
thank him
for who
he is
and for
what he
means in
our life
for the
very
presence
that he
presents
to us
would you
have the
faith
would you
take the
risk
would you
become
uncomfortable
would you
face the
fear
that will
be necessary
for you
to walk
on water
God
help us
to say
Lord
allow me
to come
to you
and then
do it
would you
stand with
me please
and let's
pray
our father
we live
in a
generation
of people
that they're
not going
to give us
much attention
if it's
just business
as usual
we can't
just have
church
and expect
to make a
difference in
the lives
of the people
that we can
influence
the folks
that live
right here
in Henrietta
most of
them have
decided
whether or
not they're
going to
go to
church
many of
them have
decided
whether or
not they're
going to
pay much
attention
to the
word of
God
but Lord
what not
a one of
them can
deny
is that
water walking
experience
that can
happen in
the life
of your
children
so I
pray this
morning
for this
thy people
I pray
for them
one by
one and
I pray
for them
corporately
that oh
God
people might
be able
to see
that miraculous
yes miraculous
power of
God that
can happen
when we
give ourselves
without
reservation
to you
Lord
there very
likely are
a number
of people
this morning
who stand
here
that they
need
the greatest
need right
now their
life
is to let
go
and to let
you have
your wonderful
way within
their lives
I pray for
them as I
pray for
myself I
lift them
up to you
this morning
that they
might know
the victory
that comes
in complete
surrender
I pray for
some God
who face
some very
trying and
difficult
a storm
right now
and they
do need
so much
to allow
you
to perform
a miracle
like only
you can
do
may they
oh God
this day
place their
hands in
confidence
in yours
draw us
unto thyself
and use
this time
to bring
honor to
thee
for this
is our
prayer
in Jesus
name
amen
as we
often did
when I
was here
as the
interim
pastor
I invite
you this
morning
some of you
to come here
to the front
to kneel
and pray
you don't need
to talk to
brother Sam
you don't need
to talk to me
you need to
talk to God
huh
and some of you
perhaps God's
impressed you
this morning
that you need
come here
to pray
if not for
yourself
for someone
that's on
your heart
and then there
are others of
you here this
morning
and you need
to talk with
the pastor
to say to him
what you have
really said to
God
sharing that
decision that
the Lord's
placed in your
life
some of you
need to join
this church
you need to
join hands
with the people
here in
first
baptist
and that
faces such
a bright
future
and be able
to move
into that
future
as one of
God's
children
with them
my lands
you've
moved your
furniture
and your
suitcase
and your
kids
why not
move your
letter
if God's
led you here
to first
baptist
and you
know it
you're
convinced
of it
now
don't wait
until he's
preaching
do it
today
if God's
in it
it'll be
exactly right
the thing
that you
ought to do
as the Lord
would speak
to you
this morning
you come
on
as we sing
together
brother Greg
pastors here
at the front
you come
ahead
as we sing