Serve On Another Level Bishop Michael L Mitchell

The most dangerous place for your faith might not be the storm, it might be the boat you refuse to leave. We sit with Matthew 14:27–29 and let the story press on real life: Jesus speaks into fear, the disciples wrestle with doubt, and Peter risks embarrassment to ask for one clear word before he moves. That word, “Come,” becomes the line between comfort-zone Christianity and active discipleship. 

We talk about destiny, divine appointment, and the hard truth that free will can keep us stuck even when God is calling us forward. When storms hit, confidence drains fast and our minds start rewriting the story: maybe we won’t make it, maybe we heard God wrong, maybe we’re alone. Yet the message flips the perspective, reminding us that God can turn the very waves that threaten us into a pathway, and that “fear not” isn’t a slogan, it’s a survival skill for spiritual growth. 

We also dig into what happens when you step out and start to sink. Seekers aren’t perfect, but they move, they cry out, and they get helped. The invitation is to refocus when pressure pulls your eyes toward the wind and away from Jesus, and to serve on another level with courage that shows up in action. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with someone who’s facing a storm, and leave a review with the “boat” you’re ready to step out of.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:54

Matthew chapter 14. Lifting up verses 27 through 29. Find these words at once. Jesus said to them, No worry. I am Jesus. Don't be afraid. Peter replied, Lord, if it is really you tell me to come to you on the water. Come on, Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water. I just want to talk tonight for a few moments if the Lord says his name about serving on another level.

unknown 2:11

Amen.

Destiny And Trust Over Control

Get Out Of The Comfort Boat

SPEAKER_01 2:28

Oh complication planning comes from the twelve physical history. I believe that we're going to be able to move to the next level that God has for each and every one of us that are in the house today. I mean if we're going to be able to move from membership to discipleship by not being spectators but participants. I mean, if we're going to be able to move things out of the way that stop us from going. But I believe in destiny. I believe in divine appointment. I mean, I believe that the God that I serve, that He has definite timetables for our lives. I believe, beloved, that God has a set destiny for our lives. Now, you need to know and understand that we all have the choice of free will. But God has a perfect plan for us. I mean for each and every one of us. If we would just learn how to put our trust in Him, learn how to be obedient to Him. You need to know and understand that when destiny is driving the car, that sometimes you have to just sit in the backseat, close your eyes, and just hang on in there for the ride. In other words, beloved, you gotta learn how to say there's nothing that I can do. But learn how to take my trust out of man and learn how to put my trust totally in God. Once you set yourself to fulfill God's vision and move to serve home another level, need I tell you tonight that it will require that you get out of your boat and learn how to walk home the wall. What do you mean, preacher, when you say I gotta get out of the boat? Well, a boat of it symbolizes our comfort zone. I mean, the boat civilizes the place of being loop. You remember Bible readers that Jesus said in Revelation the third chapter, he says, I know your works, and you're neither cold nor I could wish you were cold or hot so then because you are loop, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my Wow, why why does Jesus so detest something that is neither hot or cold? He feels that way, beloved, because the word lukewalm means not making a difference. I mean, if you ever want to fulfill God's vision for your life and be able to serve on another level, you gotta learn how to move from where it appears that you are comfortable and dare to take a step on the water so that you can make a difference in this world in which we find ourselves living in. Now the question, the question, the question. Somebody shout the question.

SPEAKER_02 7:15

Are you ready to serve all another level?

Storms Steal Confidence And Hope

SPEAKER_01 7:21

When you look tonight in the text relevant, you find Jesus. I mean the word declares that he's walking on the wall. When we look at the word of God, we'll discover that no other disciple is so outspoken like Peter. You do know Peter, don't you? I mean, there is not one person in the Word of God who intruded into the affair of others or interfered with the Lord proceed. As did his disciple named Peter. Peter, Peter, Peter, and the disciples, they were all their way to the other side. I mean, don't, don't, don't, don't take my word for it. This is Michael, not Michael's gospel, but it's the word of God. Look at it. It's a sudden there was a ship that found itself in the midst of a storm tossed. Look at verse 24. It says, they and all of their cargoes are tossed like wood ships from an axe. Look, if you will, at this situation. I mean, you have a dozen brothers, I mean, who are manning the war, they are battling with the tippers and fighting through the dark hours of the night. And with a storm with sea, can you can't? Can you see them tonight? Oh, look, look, look, look, look, your imagination tonight. Look, look, look, look at them out there struggling for their life. I mean, can't you see them?

SPEAKER_02 8:47

Can you see them? Can't you break them? Can you see that? I mean, can you see them? I mean they're fearful. Can you can you see them? They are afraid. Can you see them? I mean, they're landing the wall, they're beating the shot out there in the midst of the sea. Can you see them?

SPEAKER_01 9:09

Frightening for their life. I mean, they're frightened out of their wits. But I suspect that more than once they said to each other. I mean, here we are out here in the midst of a storm of sea. They began to give up hope. Leave that honorable men the audacity to declare that here in this midst of the sea, we're not going to be able to make it. In other words, they say we are born to die.

unknown 9:55

I wish. I wish, I wish.

SPEAKER_01 9:59

The master. I wish, I wish the master had come with us. Told them to take the boat. I just wish he would get on. He would have gotten on the boat with us. And we are in the midst of the sea. What happened to their confidence? I've never seen the sea like this before. It might just be it for us. Why did Jesus tell us? I mean, to come out here in the midst of the sea. I mean, he had to know that there was gonna be a storm. I mean, he had to know that a storm was on his way, and he told us, I mean, to get on board the ship and he stayed himself on the shore.

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Why would Jesus do that?

SPEAKER_01 11:05

Why would he do that? I mean, somebody, somebody can't can't can you hear him say, I knew listening to him would get us in trouble.

SPEAKER_00 11:19

Come on, come on, come on. Come on.

SPEAKER_02 11:28

Terrified looking them in the face, feeling as though they were not going to make it.

unknown 11:42

What happened?

SPEAKER_01 11:42

What happened to their confidence? Forgetting about the wall who had brought them thus far along the way. What happened to their confidence? I mean, we heard it so many times, and sometimes even when we look at our own lives, I mean, sometimes we'd we appear to get amnesia. I mean, we forget the God that took him. Know that he is the same God today. I mean, I mean, when the election took took place last week, yes, I was disappointed, but I want you to know that I had to keep my focus because I knew that God had to take a care for me.

SPEAKER_02 12:36

I don't care who sitting in the light. I believe that the God I serve, he still poses the world.

SPEAKER_01 12:52

They lost their covenants. But then suddenly, look at verse 26. They see the master. I mean, they see Jesus. Can you see? You're still out there in this chair? Come on.

SPEAKER_02 13:19

Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 13:22

Walking on the way. Walking on the water.

SPEAKER_02 13:36

You do see him, don't you?

SPEAKER_01 13:41

He's walking on the sea. And the good news tonight, beloved is that they left Jesus on the shore. But here it is when they are in the midst of a storm tossing the sea. Feeling for their lives. Losing their confidence.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

Here come Jesus.

God Turns Waves Into Path

SPEAKER_01 14:13

It's just like it. The trouble hits in our lives. It's just like the text says that he's walking toward the disciples. Beloved God use the very waves that had threatened the disciples' lives as a pathway. For the Lord's feet. Oh, beloved, you must always remember that sometimes your waves may be dull. Sometimes they may be tossed. Sometimes they may be terrifying. But God told me to tell you that in the midst of it all, you got to learn how to keep your confidence in the Lord. Whatever your waves, you may have waves of sorrow, waves of suffering, waves of discipline, waves of testing, waves of trouble, happiness, waves of whatever it is that you might be going through.

SPEAKER_02 15:30

God told me to tell you tonight that you cannot lose your confidence at the wrong time. Because God can take the same wave.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

Verse 26 says that when the disciples saw him walking on the water, for some reason they didn't recognize it. I mean they thought that he was close. I mean, having to struggle against the storm the storm for hours. They were mentally drained from using all the skills at their disposal and appearing to get nowhere. They were psychologically abandoned and felt that it was Jesus' idea in the first place to come out on the water and he isn't even here. And they were spiritually shaken and thinking that no matter what they did, it was not going to change their situation. But look at what all the disciples are doing tonight.

unknown 19:45

And here it is that Jesus is walking on the water. Here it is that Jesus is walking on the way.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

And they are believing him to be a ghost. In the midst of our struggle. I mean, listen, listen to what he says. He says, be of good cheer. It's hot. It is high. Nothing to be fearful about. Because you gotta know and understand, beloved, that when Jesus shows up, he's getting ready to show out. Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 20:47

Be a good chip?

Come And Walk By Faith

SPEAKER_01 20:50

Nothing for you to worry about. I mean, that's why I tell you that every day you want to get up in the morning with a breeze on your heart. Breeze in your heart. I don't care how dark it might appear to be. Come on now. I will bless the Lord all times. Sometimes we can get the feeling that the only reason that the Bible was written was to steal the fear of our timid hearts and to teach us not to lose confidence in God at the wrong time. Over and over again, down through the years, God has used a common reframe, fear not. When it looked desperate for Moses, God said, Fear not. When it looked hopeless for never, he said, fear not. When it looked beyond repair for Elijah, he said, fear not. Even as we pray and move about every day of our lives, God is telling us to fear not. When the doctor says it's no use, and the lawyers say there is no hope. God says, fear not. I mean, even after last Tuesday election, God is telling us tonight, fear not. I remind you that even in the midst of what's going on, I hear God saying you don't have to be afraid. So when the disciples saw what appeared to be a ghost and attempt to call there, Jesus says to them in verse 27, be of good cheer, in his eye, be not afraid. Listen, beloved, what Peter says in verse 28, Lord, if it be thou. Then bid me to come to thee on the water. Why would Peter ask, Lord, if it's you? I mean, Jesus just said, it is me. Why would Peter say, if it is you? I don't know how you feel about it tonight, but it proves that in the midst of our struggles, in the midst of our trouble, whatever we say will make little sin. It proves that in the storm, what we say and how we feel are in two different worlds. I know I'm right about it.

SPEAKER_02 24:01

He began to have hope. He had gave up God and began to believe so much that he said, Lord, if it means you can allow me to walk home.

SPEAKER_01 24:25

An enormous impossibility. Peter is now thinking something capable of being accomplished. Just give me a few more moments. It'll be a while before I preach to you again. Jesus didn't have to think about it. I mean when Peter said, Lord, if it's you, then maybe it needs to come to you on the wall. Jesus didn't have to think about it. But the word says still the remote remote. I think that's why sometimes we live we gotta be careful of what it is that we have.

SPEAKER_02 25:13

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

Jesus says it must have been quite a sight watching Peter. Jesus walking over the water. The rest of the disciples said in the boat and watch.

unknown 25:37

They would all tell the story someday, but each of their stories will be slightly different.

Purpose Over Fear And Sinking

SPEAKER_01 25:44

Peter has the right to tell his right children about how he walked over the water with Jesus. How the water felt beneath his feet, and how the wind blew, and what happened when he allowed the confusion of his mind to take over. Peter would have an incredible story to tell. They would explain how they were there and with their own eyes. They saw Peter and Jesus. I mean, I should have been the first one to make that move. I should not have waited for a better time. I mean, I shouldn't have waited to see what somebody else was going to do. How somebody else was going to respond. I mean, I didn't have to, I should not have had to wait if somebody else was going to make the motion. I should not have had to wait if somebody else was going to agree. I shouldn't have had had to wait to see if somebody else was going to give their tithe or their offering. I should not have to think about the unknown and I was just too scared to make the move. Humps like these haunts, the minds of meaning of God's children every day. Why, why, why, why not change? Why? Why not step out of the boat and do what God has told you to do to achieve another inspiration? Each and every one of us is saying, Come, me. I want you to be able to serve on a level. I don't care.

SPEAKER_02 28:18

What you want where you are?

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Jesus said, come, I don't care about your educational degree. Jesus said, Come, I don't care.

SPEAKER_02 28:28

I don't care. I want you to be able to Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 28:39

Touch your neighbor and say, come. Come on, touch, touch Jesus, Jesus said.

unknown 28:44

Come on.

SPEAKER_01 28:48

I'm gonna lift up three tiny subjects. Then I promise you I'm gonna get out of the way. When you look at the text, you first discover that there are sinners. Somebody say sinners.

unknown 29:08

Sinners.

SPEAKER_01 29:12

The question arises, why do sinners sin? Well, they have no revelation of their divine purpose in the world. Come on now. Jeremiah 1 says God speaks to the young Jeremiah tells him that before he was born, he was already sanctified and ordained. And the word sanctified means to be set aside for a safety. The word ordained means for a special duty. If you're going to get out of the boat of complacency and to be able to serve on another level and fulfill God's mission for your life, then you must have a revelation of why it is, beloved, that you are here in this world. If you are alive, and if you doubt that you are alive tonight, then I just dare you to pitch yourself. You need to know that you've been set apart for a sacred use and even a Pacific duty. God has placed you in this world and given you something to do to promote his kingdom. When you begin to understand who you are in the eye of God, you will begin to move out of your boat. You will begin to have hopes that you never that you could create to walk on the water.

SPEAKER_02 30:32

You were not designed just to come to the house and sit in the truth, even though it might feel comfortable. But because you need to understand that you got a much higher calling and just to come into the house of God and just sit there and do nothing and give me a few members. God is inviting you to come.

SPEAKER_01 30:58

Come to come to come where he is. Just give me a little bit more away. Just to come where his sitters talk of their inabilities. When God spoke to Jeremiah, he quickly made an excuse and told God that he was only a youth. I mean that he was just a young person. Treating it like a snap in the face. God quickly said you are not a youth. God calls us to see the end results of our lives and the potential that he has placed on the inside of us. Don't you know that God is aware of everything there is to be known about us when he calls us? And if God already knows about us and he's still willing to use us, we ought to just get up out of our heaven and say, thank the Lord for the purpose that he has for my life. All he asks for us is to accept the call, and you got to know and understand, believe it, that if we accept the call that God will make it happen, he transforms us from glory to glory, and God matures us. But uh, as long as we hide in the boat, that transformation can never take place. I mean, if you talk of your inabilities, if you talk about your inexperience, then you will destroy what faith you have. God uses us to do his will in the earth. God needed you to be committed to him and to trust him. When the angel appeared to marry the mother of Jesus and told her of all the miracle events that were to take place, she didn't ask why me, am I good enough for anyone believe me?

SPEAKER_02 32:54

What will I have to go through? Instead, she opened up her heart, received the word of the Lord, and explained, be it unto me.

SPEAKER_01 33:05

That's what is that's what faith is all about. You have to leave up your conversation with God, what God is saying about you. You would talk yourself in the city, in the boat of life, and never accomplishing what God wants to do through you that for you. Not only do sinners talk of their inabilities, but sinners are filled with fear. This is not Michael's gospel reading the way you said Jesus was doing something wild. Jesus was doing something miraculous. He was doing something that no one else had ever done before. So when we get to tell him, did we hear him right? Make a name to come. That it would take true God-given faith to move from where you are to where I want you to what the Spirit of the Lord is requiring us to do sometimes. Someone said on occasion that one day fear knock at the door. Faith answered the door, and no one was there. All right now, beloved. We must stop reasoning in our mind and trying to figure it all out. We cannot do that. What we have to do is take the first step and allow God to show up. And if God shows up, I just believe that God will perform, God will work it out. If God told you to do something, you need to know that He will never let you down. I mean, God is not going to let you fail, God is not going to let you fall. I mean, that's why you gotta learn, believe it, how just to take authority over the fear in your life. Begin to speak the word of God to yourself and then watch your faith in God just rise. I mean, move from where it is to where it is that God really wants you to be. Not only are there sinners in the text, but they are also seekers. Somebody say seekers. I mean, when we can't we cannot be hard on the seekers because at least they had the audacity to walk. Even though you sink, beloved, at least you attempted to walk, and it was better than spitting your life in a sitter. I mean, it was better than spending your life sitting in the boat. Sinkers know that they are not sunk. I mean, while Peter was walking on the water, he looked around and the Bible says that he began to sink. There, I am. It does not say that Peter sunk. I mean, before he could completely submerge on the water, the Bible says, Undertemps, the night that Peter cried out, Lord Say. My brother said that we ever we cried to the Lord, that God will come and see about us. The Bible says that when Peter cried out to the Lord, that Jesus scoop him out of the water. Never home until you stop breathing. You may feel like you're living with a snorkel right now. You might feel that you're swimming for your life, but you know that you're going to be a great swimmer. Am I right about it? A car is not too big, the car that I served tonight. You got to know, beloved, that God is just too big to let you sink. He's too big for you to stay under the water. You can always stretch his arms out to save these. God loves us just too much to let us be lost, to let us sink in the midst of our trouble. I tell you what, we gotta do when we feel as though life is getting the best of us. God told me to tell you that we gotta learn how to refocus and Jesus demanded Peter to come. Peter headed out on the waters. He was looking straight in the face of Jesus. But after he was on the waters, he began to look at the storm that was going all around him. He looked like he took his eyes off the Jesus. And I shall believe tonight that he started focusing on the land, he started focusing on the storm toss in the midst of your troubles, in the midst of your storm, but you take your hands of Jesus, and in the midst of your struggles, you gotta refocus, you gotta learn, have a look to the heat, permit to your health, you gotta motivate alone.