John 6:16-21
It was a few weeks before the Christmas of 1917.
Snow covered the battlefield.
It was World War I.
The American Army and the German soldiers were facing each other at a battlefield in Europe.
The Germans were in their trenches, and American soldiers were in their trenches.
The exchange of gunshots was intense.
Separating them was a very narrow strip of no-man's land.
A young German soldier attempting to cross that no-man's land had been shot.
He was entangled in the barbed wire.
He cried out in anguish and pain.
His screams were heard by both armies.
One American solder could stand it no longer.
He crawled out of the American trenches.
On his stomach, he crawled to that German soldier.
When the Americans realized what he was doing, they stopped firing.
The Germans continued their gun fire.
Then, a German officer realized what the young American was doing, and he ordered
his men to cease firing.
There was a weird silence across the no-man's land.
On his stomach, the American made his way to that German soldier and disentangled him.
He stood up with the German in his arms, walked straight to the German trenches,
and placed him in the waiting arms of his comrades.
Having done so, he turned and started back to the American trenches.
Suddenly, a hand on his shoulder spun him around.
A German officer had grabbed Him.
The officer had won the Iron Cross, the highest honor for bravery.
He jerked it from his own uniform, and placed it on the American.
The American walked back to the American trenches.
When he was safely in the trenches, they resumed the insanity of war.
What amazing courage of that young soldier!
How incredible!
Do you have courage in your life?
Are you able to meet the challenges you face head on?
More importantly, do you have the courage to be what God wants you to be, and to do
what He wants you to do with your life?
That takes courage!
Often, when God tells us to do something, we are afraid.
We are hesitant to step out and do what He wants.
Regardless of what actions or a changes must come to our lifestyle or habits,
there is no need for fear!
There is no need to be afraid!
Here are some reasons why we need to have no fear.
Read John 6:16-21
Jesus had just fed the multitudes with his miraculous power, and quickly left.
After Jesus had miraculously supplied their needs, they were ready to make Jesus, king.
This would mean to rebel against the Roman government.
This was not God's plan.
So Jesus withdrew by Himself to a nearby mountain.
His disciples went a different direction.
Then we see that Jesus finds them in the sea of Galilee.
We need not fear because Jesus is all-powerful. (vs. 16-19,21)
Look at that scene again.
After feeding the multitudes, the disciples went their own way.
They entered their boat, and set out across the Sea of Galilee.
Galilee is known for becoming treacherous without warning.
By now, it was dark, and the wind had picked up, and the waves were threatening to capsize their boat.
Jesus could see His disciples struggling to survive.
What would Jesus do?
He walked out on the raging lake toward His disciples. It was very late at night.
It was the fourth watch.
They saw Jesus walking toward them and thought that He was a ghost.
It had to be a ghost, for no human could walk on the water.
They were terrified!
Jesus called to them, and told them not to be afraid!
He climbed into the boat with them, and the winds quieted down.
John says the boat immediately reached the shore where they were heading.
Notice all the miracles that happened here.
Jesus walks on the water. Jesus calms the wind and the water.
Then the boat miraculously travels to their destination.
Jesus is all-powerful!
There is no need for fear!
Jesus has complete and total power over everything in this world!
That should remind every one of us, that we need not fear!
You can be courageous, if you know Jesus!
When those serious problems come, Jesus will be there!
There is no need to fear!
Talk to Him in prayer, He will answer.
When He lays something to do on your heart, do it!
He will provide the courage to do it!
You find Him meeting you in the storms of your life.
A man, named Jack, was walking along the edge of a steep cliff, when he walked too close
to the edge and fell over the cliff.
On the way down, he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall.
As he looked down, he realized that he would fall a thousand feet to his death,
if he let go of the limb.
He couldn't hang onto the branch much longer.
There was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff.
So, he began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him, and rescue him.
He screamed, "HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? HELP!"
He yelled as the precious minutes passed.
No one heard him.
He was about to give up when he heard a voice.
"Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?"
"Yes, yes! I can hear you. I'm down here!"
";I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?"
"Yes, but . . . Who are you, and where are you?"
"I am the Lord, Jack. I'm everywhere."
"The Lord? You mean, GOD?"
"That's Me."
"God, please help me!
I promise if You'll get me down from here, I'll stop sinning.
I'll be a really good person.
I'll serve You for the rest of my life."
"Easy on the promises, Jack.
Let's just get you down from there; then we can talk.
Now, here's what I want you to do.
Listen carefully."
"I'll do anything, Lord. Just tell me what to do."
"Okay. Let go of the branch."
"What?"
"I said, let go of the branch. Just trust Me. Let go."
There was a long silence!
Finally, Jack yelled,
"HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?"
Have you ever felt like Jack?
We say that we want to know the will of God, but when we find out what it is, we can't handle it.
It sounds too scary, too difficult.
We decide to look elsewhere.
When He says,
"Let go of the things that stand between you and Me, and trust Me with your life,"
it sounds pretty scary.
But when we let go, we find freedom and safety in His hands.
You may be thinking that it is the right thing to do, but its just not that easy.
When Jesus leads you to do something -- do it!
REMEMBER, IT IS JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SAVIOR!
During World War II, a military governor met with General George Patton in Sicily.
When he praised Patton for his courage and bravery, the general replied,
"Sir, I am not a brave man. . . The truth is, I am an utter craven coward.
I have never been within the sound of gunshot or in sight of battle in my whole life
that I wasn't so scared that I had sweat in the palms of my hands."
Years later, when Patton's autobiography was published, it contained this significant
statement by the general: "I learned very early in my life never to take counsel of my fears."
Place your faith in God, and there will be no need to fear.
Focus on God -- not on your fears!
God will take care of you!
Sermon by Dr. Harold L. White