Podcast-Feed7th March 2010 - Neal Garratt - The Prodigal Son and Peter Walking On Water
[Unfortunately, Neal’s preach this morning did not record. ]
Neal looked at two passages today: Luke 15 vs 11-32 – The Prodigal Son, and Matthew 14 vs 25-32 -Peter walking on water
These two passages were looked at against a background of God speaking to us very clearly at CITP both as a Church and individually – calling us to be ready, to prepare ourselves and to follow God hard wherever he takes us – this takes faith and trust in God. Firstly we looked at the story of the prodigal son with particular reference to the reactions of both brothers in understanding their fathers heart towards them both.
We looked at how we have to be careful with our own reactions and how we respond to father God. We need to understand the father heart of God and that he loves us unconditionally and that we can return to God at any point if we have been far away from him.
We talked of the difference between our POSITION in Christ and our PERFORMANCE and how our position is not changed by our performance. We are sons and daughters no matter how we fail or even if we go off and do our own thing.
Understanding the heart of God is vital if we are to follow God and step out of the boat as this is an act of FAITH – To do this we have to totally rely on God – we cannot walk on water in our own strength!
We looked at the fact it is easier to sit in the boat than get out, its comfortable and safe and has no risk! However Jesus is not in the boat – so if we want to be with him we have to get out of the boat! It takes FAITH to get out of the boat and trust in God.
What keep us in the boat? FEAR – Fear of failure, fear of risk, fear of change, fear of getting out of our comfort zone and yet we also noted that perfect love cast out fear – and this is what the father has shown us in our lives ever since we became Christians.
God is calling us to expand our borders – to take risks and to have faith and trust him – in small things and big things – the principal is the same!
Jabez prayer is
” Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me and that you would keep me from harm, that it may not pain me”
This prayer needs to be on our lips every day as God calls us on with him – lets go!
Be brave, have faith, trust in God and lets see where he takes us! Remember Peter walked on water with Jesus – how amazing must that have been!!
Questions:
1. In the story of the prodigal son how do the reactions of the older son and the prodigal son compare – what do they show us of their understanding of their fathers heart.
2. In vs 24 we see what the fathers heart was towards his son – ring any bells?- What do we need to learn about God`s heart for us?
3. We spoke of the difference between our POSITION and PERFORMANCE – Discuss those issues and do we fully understand them and believe them?
4. The father did not condemn the son – and yet we condemn ourselves so often – the enemy also seeks to whisper in our ear and condemn us – what should our reaction to this be?
5. Are you a staying in the boat person or a get out and walk on the water person – how does that sit with the fact that we are new a new creation in Christ?
6. What makes us stay in the boat? Fear? If so fear of what? Is it like being on the rollercoaster at Alton Towers?
7. What do you think we are missing out by staying in the boat?
8. What is God calling you to step out into? What is your response and how do you feel about taking RISK Having FAITH and TRUSTING God?
9. The prayer of Jabez is the prayer of a man who wants to walk with Jesus – Why not pray it everyday and see what God can do?
“Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thy hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm, that it may not pain me”