The Call and the Encounter with Jesus – Paul Black

Sermon notes:

WE ALL NEED OUR OWN PERSONAL CALL AND ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.

21^ST MAY 2023

The last few times I have spoken about the need for each one of us to be,

“Transformed by the renewing of our minds”. Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

I highlighted some of the hindrances to that happening – Our Fears; Not listening to God; and the way we can come with ‘Confirmation Bias’, only wanting to hear what we have decided we want to hear.

I would like to look briefly, at what I think can be another problem area, and that is:- NEAGATIVE THINKING

Most of us have used the phrase ‘what is the worst that can happen’ in relation to something we might be trying for the first time. Verity mentioned a few weeks ago at one of our Leadership Meetings, ‘what’s the best that can happen’.

I remember growing up after the war in Manchester – Going to church on a Sunday morning – seeing groups of men gathered on bombed sites where houses had stood.

They were stood in a circle all flipping coins in the air – gambling – heads or tails.

Imagine a coin; on one side it reads, ‘what is the worst that can happen’ and on the other side, ‘what is the best that can happen’ Why does it always seem to come down on the, ‘what is the worst that can happen’ side. (The coin seems biased that way. Maybe that is reflective of our ‘natural thinking’.

WHAT IS THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN – WHAT IS THE BEST THAT CAN HAPPEN

Has anyone ever played bowls? Bowling Ball – not a perfect sphere – has an inbuilt bias, which always turns away – our thoughts seem to turn to worry and negativity.

A well known Christian leader who had seen an amazing move of the Holy Spirit in his life and in the church did one of these ‘negative thinking tests’ and found that 80% of his thinking was negative.

I believe Negative Thinking is as much a part of renewing our minds as dealing with fear is. WHAT WE FEED GROWS – that is why Philippians 4:8 shows us the antidote to Negative Thinking. – POSITIVE THINKING – OR FOCUSSING ON THE POSITIVE. – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

HOW OFTEN OUR THINKING – POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE AFFECT OUR ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOUR.

Matthew 14:22-33 – Jesus Walks on Water – After the feeding of the 5,000 –
(Mark 6:45–52; John 6:16–21) 22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone, 24but the boat was already fara from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25During the fourth watch of the night, (3am to 6am) Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. 26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 28“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.” 29“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” 32And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

PETER WALKED ON WATER – THE CALL OF JESUS ‘PERSUADED HIM TO HAVE THE FAITH (BE PERSUADED TO GET OUT OF THE BOAT) – WHY DID YOU DOUBT – WHICH CAUSED HIM TO BEGIN TO SINK (even “beginning to sink was a miracle”)

(Matt 14:31) – SG1365 – distazo: (dis-tad’-zo) to waver, doubt; to hesitate (Verb) – –

1365 distázō (from 1364 /dís, “two, double” and 4714 /stásis, “stance, standing”) – properly, going two ways, shifting between positions; choosing “a double-stance” and so vacillate (waver) – fluctuate in opinion or resolution; (figuratively) uncertain at a crossroad because refusing to choose one way over the other – to halt between two opinions (views, beliefs). (There are times when we just over think it)

SO HERE, PETER’S THINKING IS COMING BACK INTO PLAY – Is he going to continue in the faith imparted to him to get out of the boat in the first place, which has brought him this far, OR is he going to take into account the storm and wind blowing against him.

(WHAT IS THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN – HE IS GOING TO SINK – WHAT’S THE BEST THAT CAN HAPPEN – HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE WALKING ON WATER.)

IN HIS CONFUSION PETER CRIES OUT TO THE LORD WHO TAKES HOLD OF HIM AND LEADS HIM BACK TO THE BOAT.

PETER WALKED ON THE WATER BECAUSE JESUS CALLED HIM TO DO IT – FAITH WAS IMPARTED TO HIM SO HE BELIEVED HE COULD – NOTICE NO OTHER DISCIPLE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT.

Watching a documentary on King Charles last Saturday – Coronation Day – 7^th May 2023 – Charles, was I believe in Westminster Abbey, listening to the Choristers Singing. Music has very important place in his life and he said this:-

WE DO NOT THINK MUSIC; WE RESONATE WITH IT AND FEEL IT – IT SOMEHOW HARMONISES WITH OUR OWN HUMAN NATURE, SO WE FEEL SOMETHING IS MEANT BY IT.

I WAS MOVED BY THESE WORDS. THE THOUGHT CAME TO ME THAT THEY COULD BE DESCRIBING “FAITH”. – “WE DO NOT THINK FAITH; WE RESONATE WITH IT AND FEEL IT – IT SOMEHOW HARMONISES WITH OUR OWN SPIRIT”.

PETER’S WHOLE BEING RESONATED WITH THE FAITH IMPARTED TO HIM AND HE GOT OUT OF THE BOAT AND WALKED ON WATER.

PETER HAD A PERSONAL CALL FROM JESUS – WE ALSO MUST HAVE A PERSONAL CALL – A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.

TESTIMONIES ARE GOOD AND ENCOURAGING BUT WE CANNOT LIVE ON OTHER PEOPLE’S STORIES – WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR OWN PERSONAL STORY – WE CANNOT WALK IN OTHER’S SHOES – WE MUST WALK IN OUR OWN SHOES – WITH JESUS.

THE WOMAN AT THE WELL WAS TOLD BY THE VILLAGERS – WE NO LONGER BELIEVE BECAUSE YOU TOLD US BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN FOR OURSELVES,

John 4 -:41-42 – And many more believed because of His message. They said to the woman, “We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Saviour of the world.”

PETER HAD A PERSONAL CALL – TO COME TO JESUS – AND SO MUST WE – TRUSTING THAT THE REQUIRED “FAITH” WILL BE IMPARTED TO EACH ONE OF US.