Launching Out to the Other Side

This month God has brought me to an idea driven through the book of Luke of "Launch." Each week we are looking into different aspects of launching out.

Last week we looked at Luke chapter 5 vs. 1-8. We can get six life lessons from this passage of scripture.
1. Being in the presence of the teaching of Christ is not enough. v.1,2
2. Being in the boat with Christ is not enough. v.3
3. Nothing is enough without Christ v.5a
4. Being obedient to Christ and his commands is enough v. 4,5b
5. Obedience to Christ brings more than enough v.6,7
6. Jesus Christ is enough v.8

The greatest point of this passage is that Jesus Christ and obedience to his will is primary for the believer.

This week we continued in the thought of "Launch" with Launching out to the other side. Many times we find ourselves in an A.D.D. kinda of state. We sometimes listen on the front end but never carry anything to completion. It is vitally important and eternally determining where Christ is in your life. As we look into God's word this week we see five points of what it takes to launch out to the other side.

1. Launching Out takes Christ being in the boat. v.22a
Number one we must realize that Christ comes into our boat. He changes everything. He comes into our lives and the positions change. Where was before is not where I am right now. I have to move over, step aside and get out of the way so Christ can come into my boat. Sometimes this makes me uncomfortable because my boat is small. My boat is my boat. My boat is controlled and directed by me. My boat is my boat until Christ steps in.

2. Launching Out takes Christ giving the direction. v.22b
We no longer have control. We no longer determine our boats path. We didn't really have much control before he came in anyway. We really had no idea why we were in the boat except that we were just making it day to day. Now, Christ steps in; He makes a statement or commands, "Let us cross over to the other side." Now, Christ is in the boat. Christ has made his command or request. Now, do we obey? What's on this other side anyway? What's makes him so knowledgeable about where to go? Let's look at it from this perspective. If I were in a high school or college marching band and I had no band instructor to layout beforehand where each instrument player were to walk or where each accessory were to be placed, would I have any clue as to where to go? How would I refrain from running all over my other band members? I wouldn't, because this is my path. I charted this for me, by me and for my joy. But, life is not about me or you, it is about Christ and his plan. Christ knew what was on the other side of the lake. Christ knew that he had a purpose to get to the other side with you and me and those disciples. Christ knows the direction for which all should go.

3. Launching Out takes Christ being our Refuge. v.23,24
Let me say that if you don't have somewhere to run before you run, you run aimlessly. If you are in danger and are running to get to a safe place but don't know of one, you run aimlessly but, if you know where to run when danger surrounds you, you run purposefully. You want to get where things are safe. You want to get to the one in whom you can be comforted, protected and kept from all harm. I can't help but think of the movie, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings." Frodo, Sam, Mary and Pippen are running from the Horsemen of Sauramon. Frodo has the ring and they jump over this small ledge and scurry underneath it. Underneath the lesge there are worms, snails, bugs, snakes, spiders and many other creepy crawlers but the primary one they are evading is the Horseman. They pull in tight to one another, trying not to breath, move or make a sound. The wraith gets off his horse and peers over the edge but to no avail does he see the frightened runners. He leaves, frustrated because in their refuge, they were safe. When Satan comes at us, much like the Horsemen or the storm, Christ is our refuge. BUT, if he is not in our boats, we have nothing to run to, we run aimlessly. When the disciples called on Christ to save them, He awoke and spoke and everything was alright.

4. Launching Out takes Christ's discipline. v.25a
It's interesting to note that Christ knew where he wanted them to go, he got into the boat and took a nap. Christ knew, as God, what was coming for his disciples. He knew that He had something important to accomplish on the other side. Sometimes, we forget who Christ is and what he has done and can do. Colossians tells us that through him, for him and by him all things were created both visible and invisible. We get so caught up in the visible that we forget the invisible qualities of Christ are beyond our finite minds. We lose sight, heart and faith from time to time because we take our eyes off the unseen, the eternal, and focus them on the seen, the perishing. Christ wants us to have superhuman vision that focuses on the unseen. Faith. For it is by grace, through FAITH, that you are saved...Where is your Faith?

5. Launching Out takes an awe-inspiring reality of Christ. v.25b
When was the last time you were just in awe over what Christ has done or was doing? I got to watch the beginning of the VT and Boise St. game the other night and man was I in awe of the uniforms both teams were wearing (I liked VT's better). I got on facebook and updated my status to reflect my awe of the uniforms. I sought out the nike pro combat uniforms webpage and posted a link of it on the facebook page. We need to have that same awe of Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. He has done way more than any uniform or Alabama, Auburn or sports team has done or will do. Sometimes, we need to have a fear or God and ask, "Who can this be? For He commands the wind and the waves, and they obey him?" How marvelous and awesome! I like the song by David Phelps which sings, "Even the wind and the waves obey, why can't I? Why can't I? Where is my faith? Is it lost at sea? Lord help me to be, like the wind and the waves." Let us be like the wind and the waves, obedient to the Master of the sea. We must have Jesus Christ in our boats!

Reply or use as you see fit.
In Christ Alone,
Blake Prater