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Today - we continue our series on ‘big audacious faith’ - stories found in the scriptures revealed through the lives of men and women who believed God inspite of their circumstances. These are men and women who cried out instead of shutting up. These are those who moved when others said you can’t go there. These are those who got back up when life pushed them down. These are those sacred ‘God’ moments in the lives of people who believed God. People just like us. These stories are found in moments and seasons of crisis, stress, great need, desperation, storms that are within and without. Audacious faith: showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks, bold, daring, fearless, brave, courageous, valiant, heroic….based on faith in Him, his word.Life is to be lived with a faith that is awake/alive….. Jesus said these statements about people and their Faith:  Have Faith in God.  How is that you have no faith.  I have not found such great faith.  Oh you of little faith.  Where is your faith?  O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you?  Do not be unbelieving but believing. John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.1. Have faith in God.a. Jesus calls us to faith.  Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.”b. Jesus gives us a working description of a faith that is active. Mark 11:23-24 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.Faith speaks to the mountain. Faith does not doubt in his heart. Faith believes. Faith receives before physical having. These are signposts of faith. 1 Peter 1:8-98 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.2. Faith comes.Rom. 10:17 NKJV So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.If Faith comes this way: Then we should Stay Close. Keep yourself around Jesus. Keep yourself around God’s word. His presence. His people. His church.Keep yourself in a posture of hearing. Keep yours eyes open to the truth. Keep your heart free from clutter. Ask the Holy Spirit to Help.3. Peter & Audacious Faith.Let’s take a few minutes and look at a snap shot from the life of a man named Peter.A very normal guy, A very common guy, Rough around the edges, A fisherman by trade, One who answered the call to follow Jesus Christ.Matt. 14: Background - John the Baptist Jesus’s cousin has been killed. Jesus heads out to spend some time in a deserted place…..Matt. 14:13-33 Jesus departs to be by HimselfPeople find out and follow HimJesus saw the multitude and was moved with compassion & healed their sick5 Loaves and 2 Fishes miracle - 5000+ are fed vs. 22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.vs. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when the evening came, He was alone there.Jesus went to pray.vs. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.a. Jesus has put them in the boat to go somewhere - there on a mission and can’t seem to get anywhere. Just because Jesus sends us somewhere or gives us a vision doesn’t mean it’s a cake walk, without resistance or trouble.vs. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.b. In the middle of our storms - look for Jesus. vs. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost! And they cried out for fear.to cause one inward commotion, take away his calmness of mindto disquiet, make restlessto stir upto troubleto strike one's spirit with fear and dreadto render anxious or distressedto perplex the mind of one by suggesting scruples or doubtsc. To get to the somewhere Jesus is sending us too requires faith.vs. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.vs. 28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.vs. 29 So He said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.vs. 30 but when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me!vs. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Him, and said to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?vs. 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.vs. 33 They those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him saying, Truly You are the Son of God.There’s 2 groups of people in this story: Those in the Boat.Those who walked on the water.4. Life in boats.Boatsitters:  In life it’s not always easy in the boat – These men had toiled all night to move forward and we’re stuck in the middle of an untamed sea. They had direction. Jesus had given them instructions. Go to the other side. there’s at least 3 groups of people that are in the boatpeople that have yet to see what’s going onpeople that watch what’s going on – make observations, make judgements ‘you can’t do that’ / ‘who do you think ur’people right in the middle of what’s going onFear came. In the face of fear. Faith is ALWAYS required. Don’t be content to just sit in a boat! Believe God. Waterwalkers: In the boat, Peter had the gall and audacity to ask the question – Can I walk to you on the water? Can I stand up and rock this boat? Faith can surely rock our boat. Nothing’s ever been done of significance in God’s kingdom without Faith.    Boatsitters: Tend to be governed by their emotions / circumstances / fear – vs. 26It’s a ghost? We can’t do that. What are you doing?p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 14.0px} p.p3 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 36.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p4 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 36.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 14.0px} p.p5 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 54.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p6 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 54.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 14.0px} p.p7 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 18.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} p.p8 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 15.0px} li.li1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Optima; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} span.s2 {text-decoration: underline ; font-kerning: none} span.s3 {font: 12.0px Symbol} span.s4 {font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'} span.s5 {font: 12.0px 'Courier New'} span.Apple-tab-span {white-space:pre} ol.ol1 {list-style-type: decimal} ol.ol2 {list-style-type: lower-alpha} ul.ul1 {list-style-type: disc} ul.ul2 {list-style-type: square}