Matthew 14:22-33:
(NIV)
Jesus
Walks on the Water
22 Immediately
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them,
he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there
alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from
land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 Shortly
before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When
the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”
they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But
Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord,
if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,”
he said.
Then Peter got down out of
the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he
saw the wind, he was afraid and,
beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately
Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why
did you doubt?”
32 And
when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those
who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
When I came to
Christ I was very lost-that was when He called me. And that birthed my book
about faith and trials and triumph: Gift Of Grace: A Sibling Bond.
And I thought in
writing that book, I had stepped out of the boat like Peter; I thought I had
walked on water. I assumed that my faith had grown as a result and did not need
to be further pulled or prodded or stretched-but rather it was complete.
I am not sure
why I had that assumption. And its funny now looking back because I have come
to discover that our growth in Christ takes place with each step we take
towards Him; and those steps never stop.
We never
actually stop walking on water. He will always tell you to: Come.
And literally,
there will be other Christians on the boat of faith that will be afraid. But
are you part of those on the boat, or are you part of the few that actually
step out? You can limit your journey in Him by staying on that boat-or you can walk into His purpose for you by stepping out.
I found out this
is how faith works.
Just because He
put you on the boat does not mean He would not call you out of it. I learned
that once you obey one instruction, He gives you a bigger one.
The disciples
were told to get on the boat-and they did in obedience.
But then He came in a
different form towards them and He would come in a different form towards
you-bearing instructions for you to follow. He will walk on the lake towards
you when He knows it is time for you to get out of the boat.
And they all saw
Him on the lake-and they all thought He was a ghost.
The point I am trying to
make is-they had never seen the LORD walking on water before hence they could
not recognize Him. When He moves you deeper in Him, He will show you more forms
of Himself-He will show you more of who He is like you have never seen Him
before.
And that was why
they thought He was a ghost. And He will reassure you He is the One.
As He told them:
It is I. Don’t be afraid.
Fear. A
predictable human response to an unpredictable situation. And they were all
afraid.
But Peter replied.
Are you Peter?
Or does the conversation end when He shows you Himself? Are you quiet in fear? Or
do you respond in faith?
I chose to be
like Peter when He told me to start this Ministry which was birthed out of my
first event in Christ The Call.
I was not sure
it was Him. I was comfortable on the boat He had placed me in. I had never seen
Him in the form He came to me when He told me to do this event. I was
uncertain.
I questioned
myself. I questioned those around me and with me on the boat and asked: Is this Him? Is He telling me to do this? And
they all responded with doubt. Like the other disciples they were not sure. And
this is not because they were not on the boat, but because He was calling me out.
Hence the instruction was for me and me alone.
And I was
afraid.
And when He responded
and told me to Take courage!
I reacted like
Peter. I said to Him if it is indeed you,
show me. Tell me to come.
And in numerous
ways, in my heart, in my mind, in my environment-He said: Come.
And so, taking a
deep breath, I began my next journey in Christ walking on that water of faith.
Unsure of what it meant but certain of who had called me to move forward.
And I did not look at the wind because
when I did I grew afraid.
So I focused on Him.
The wind of
doubt, the wind of uncertainty, the wind of whispers that cried I was crazy for
doing this so soon after launching my book, that it was going to be an
unsuccessful event, the wind that nearly made me sink when I sat in my
emotions. I decided to ignore them all-my emotions, my fear, my disbelief and rather
walk on the water towards Him and He fed my faith.
There is an
important lesson hear-forget what your emotions are saying-and let your actions
do the talking: Remember faith without
deeds is dead.
And when I
walked out on that water in faith, He showed me more and more of Himself-and
that walk became more about Him and less about me as I got closer to His call
for my obedience.
And He came
through for me. The Call happened.
That alone is a
testimony for me. That something He had shown me in spirit had come forth because
of faith. He will call you and you alone. So listen to Him.
I saw more of His face, He showed me more of
His plans for my life-because I had taken that step of faith despite my fear. And
when I was sinking in worry, He would
always catch me.
My message today
is-walk out in faith-even though you are filled with fear-let Him do only what
He can do-that is why it is a walk on
water. It is not logical-the only reason you are able to walk is Him.
And He is
faithful!
So I encourage
you-get out of that boat of fear-and walk in faith. Walk towards Jesus and He will not let you sink in your fear. He will
catch you!
That was how The
Call happened and channeled
my steps into Gift Of Grace Youth Ministry. It all started with obedience
in faith.
Take the first
step; and then He will show you the following steps-He never shows you the
whole picture-each step is important. One faith filled step releases a piece of
purpose into your life.
So get out of that boat and walk on the water
of His Word:
Come.
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