Step Out, The Water’s Fine

Welcome

Follow along in Logos!

Text

Matthew 14:28–31 KJV 1900

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

After the Miracle Meal

The Disciples Were in the Boat in a Storm

We are now moving out of the story of feeding the five thousand directly into what came next. Which actually was included in the movie King of Kings Friday night…

So just imagine the aftereffects of feeding the five thousand. Remember - please remember - the disciples were directly involved! And this meant putting the people into groups and distributing the miracle.

We can imagine that this made for quite a day! The disciples were exhausted. They had ridden this emotional high of what had just happened. And then, this multitude that had gathered to see amazing things… they had made it impossible for them to find any sort of rest or peace.

Jesus then sends the disciples out in the boat, back across the lake, while He remained behind. And He sends the multitude away, encouraging them to return to their homes. And then, Jesus goes off to find some solitude of His own. It had even been a long day for Jesus!

There is something to be said for how both Jesus and John the Baptist spent private, personal time in the wilderness, then re-emerged available for ministry.

What I have stressed in this series (for which I believe I am a messenger to you for) has quite simple been this: IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO STEP INTO MINISTRY.

We need an army of people who are willing to do the work of God.

We need holy ghost infillings - not just on Sunday, but on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday! It is not the will of God that they only happen on this property! It is the will of God that many of these happen when you are reaching someone personally!

We are going to see miracles through your prayer for people directly. I’M TELLING YOU.

We are going to witness prophetic words from God that shift the atmosphere… FROM YOUR LIPS.

But what I want to tell you is something I’ve found to be certain: If the public ministry is going to be there, it requires private devotion and anointing.

THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.

I’ll say it again: If the public ministry is going to be there, it requires private devotion and anointing.

It was John the Baptist’s way, it was Jesus’s way. It is the way of any truly anointed man or woman of God I have ever met in my life. If anyone has witnessed the powerful work of God in their life, that was the 10%. The other 90% will always be private devotion that is entirely faithful.

Again - THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.

Jesus and John are found going into the wilderness to pray. They are there long in prayer and solitude, allowing God to form them. Then, they emerge - and they are the same person as they are in the wilderness, but now there are opportunities for the oil applied to them in the wilderness to touch someone; MINISTRY!

John the Baptist spent 30 YEARS in the wilderness, and then his public ministry that followed was only about 6 months!!!

I did the math on that, and do you know what it comes to??? 1% PUBLIC MINISTRY, 99% PERSONAL DEVOTION AND PRAYER.

Now… I believe we currently see more than 1% of our time in miracles, signs, wonders, gifts, and manifestation. I really do! We see more than John could ever have seen. But what I’m trying to express to you is this: IF THE OPEN POWER OF GOD IN MINISTRY IS GOING TO BE THERE, IT WILL ONLY BE BECAUSE THE PRIVATE PRAYER AND DEVOTION IS THERE IN GREAT SUPPLY!!!

Listen: you are going to have to take that seriously! You are going to have to be serious and intentional about your private time with God. When are you going to get serious about it? Can I tell you that there is nothing more important in you life right now than that. NOTHING. Not even close.

And if you’ll do that, God is going to follow it up naturally with His hand on your life in ministry. I promise you. Jesus does, too:

Mark 16:17–18 NKJV

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So… Jesus is in solitude.

Let me see if anyone can identify with this: it takes time to process highly emotional events and energetic experiences. And there are like emotional swings like a pendulum from one extreme to another. Some of our greatest tests come right after some of our greatest victories.

A Monday morning gruel may counter Sunday’s astronomical spiritual explosion.

Camps are in progress all across America. It’s always been a factor (when I was a camper, as well) that you can be so greatly impacted at camp (or camp meeting) and then come home and experience a whiplash. That’s why the devotion must be there!

So… the disciples are out here to get rest on the sea. But THAT doesn’t happen. This storm arrives unexpectedly on the Sea of Galilee.

The turn of the wind suddenly…

The drop of atmospheric pressure…

The collision of weather fronts…

It all scoops up the waves and begins rocking this boat they’re in. Just no relaxation for anyone. Everyone is responding to what is happening. All hands on deck! And they’re getting seriously concerned that they might not make it out of this thing.

Jesus Walked on Water to Get to the Fearful Disciples

And just when it could not get any worse…

Through the rain and the mist… waves that are crashing against one another to no end…

Sporadic flashes of lightning begin to reveal this silhouette of a figure that is above the waves in the distance.

The disciples see this figure, and they actually cry out in fear:

Matthew 14:26 NKJV

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.

They’ve stopped worrying as much about the storm. Now they are all fixed on this figure. And it is walking in their direction! Is this DEATH that is coming for them???

And then this familiar voice calls out:

Matthew 14:27 NKJV

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

And that voice, being Jesus’s voice, calmed their fears. It brought them hope. Even when they couldn’t clearly see Him through the dark.

They were still in the storm… but there was something reassuring about knowing Jesus was out there in the darkness headed their way!

I Will Trust That Jesus Sees Me When I Cannot See Him

Now, the disciples could not know, and we often forget, that Jesus saw them before the storm, during the storm, and afterward. He knew the lessons to be learned… the results of the storm…

Even while Jesus prayed on the mountain, He was also aware of the pending danger that the disciples were sailing into. He knew their fear, and He knew His miraculous plan to meet them in the middle of their fear.

And we can find comfort in knowing that Jesus sees us in our darkest of nights. When our visibility is low in the middle of our storm, His visibility is perfect! He sees us!

God sees you in the middle of your storm today, no matter what it is!!! No matter how scared you may be!

I’ve come to find this (and this will help someone today): if there is ever a part of my life in which I have anxiety, fear, shame, nervousness, etc… that means that the peace of God does not currently rule and reign in that area of my life. And so it is now time to INVITE HIM IN.

Peter’s Prayer Request

Peter Asked to Walk on the Water; Jesus Granted His Request

The disciples recognize now that it is Jesus walking on the water. And, in an incredible surge of faith, Peter calls out:

Matthew 14:28–29 NKJV

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Jesus responds, “Come.” HE RESPONDS TO FAITH. ALWAYS. ACT IN FAITH AND SEE IF HE WON’T!

And now, Peter was over the railing and out on the water without really thinking about the impossibilities of the physics of this! The surface of water will not support the weight of a person.

And that’s what we do, right?! “Foot… water… foot go through water.” (That’s my best cookie monster!)

But look - Peter doesn’t even think about the physics or logistics! That’s what our flesh will try to get us to do. But faith says, “GO!”

LITERALLY ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT JESUS SAID, “COME!”

DON’T REASON YOURSELF OUT OF A MIRACLE!!!

All the Disciples Witnessed the Miracle; Only One Experienced It

Our focus is usually on Peter’s failure instead of his faith to step out of the boat when Jesus invited him.

But look at this… no one else dared to step out into the storm! No one else felt the miracle of a firm footing on the water’s solid surface!

You know, you can go ahead and criticize Peter for his wavering faith, but he was the only one who asked Jesus if he could join Him! He was the only one to take that step of faith to experience a momentary miracle before plunging into the deep.

Only Peter would feel the strong hand of Jesus as He grasped his arm lifting him from danger.

ALL THE DISCIPLES WITNESSED THE MIRACLE.

ONLY ONE EXPERIENCED IT.

I speak to you what the Lord says: It’s time to stop WITNESSING and begin EXPERIENCING!!!

I Will Ask God to Involve Me in the Miracles He Wants to Work

Many miracles are simply awaiting those who are bold enough to ask God to use them in the demonstration of His glory!

You’ve got to ask God to INVOLVE YOU IN THE MIRACLES HE WANTS TO WORK! USE ME IN THE WORK OF REVIVAL YOU WANT TO DO!

Psalm 144:1 ESV

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

This is what He wants to do with you! You are not to be an observer; an innocent bystander! You are to be directly involved in the mighty work of God!

And what comes with that is that the greatest deliverance follows a desperate need! Before we see Jesus come to the rescue, someone must be in danger. We love to see Jesus heal cancer, but first, someone has to HAVE cancer.

Make a practice of drifting toward the opportunities for miracles! And GOD IS GOING TO DO IT! HE IS GOING TO DO IT! HE WILL MEET US THERE!!!

Peter’s Wavering Faith

Peter Walked on Water Until He Focused on the Storm

Peter walks on water. No one else but Jesus can make that nearly unbelievable claim.

And as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he had no reason to fear. Jesus had authority over the elements, they could now see. But when Peter focused on his fear, he lost faith. The storm was a distraction.

Matthew 14:30 ESV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

His eyes were no longer on Jesus; they were on the storm around him.

Now, admittedly, we should think of Peter’s situation here.

It was nighttime.

He was in the middle of waves, wind, and the spray of water on his face.

It wasn’t easy to see Jesus in the dark night with thick storm clouds.

We have all known fear in the darkness, so with the additional frightening elements around Peter, the dark made it difficult to focus on Jesus.

The “Hey, dude!” story of grandpa Tom almost shooting dad when he though dad was a burglar in the dark garage.

Peter is starting to sink in his fear. He cries out:

Matthew 14:30 ESV

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”

And look, Peter wasn’t the only disciple who struggled with faith. Every one of them missed the importance of the lesson they should have learned from the miracle of the loaves just a few hours earlier. That multiplication of the boy’s lunch should have shown them that Jesus is up to every challenge there is; all authority is in His hands!

In the crisis of the storm, they forgot Jesus previous lessons. And look at this! Mark reveals it to us:

Mark 6:52 KJV 1900

52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

Jesus Rescued Peter When He Cried Out for Help

Peter says, “Lord, save me!”

And God will not disregard a plea for help. Our natural response is His opportunity to answer.

Just like Peter cried out for help without hesitation, we should do the same in our time of need. Because He is near, able, and willing to respond.

In Jeremiah 23:23, God posed a question to the prophet:

Jeremiah 23:23 NKJV

23 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off?

The answer to that is obvious. But the question demands a response.

We should never doubt God’s ability or availability. A simple prayer or a desperate plea will gain His attention when we call out to Him. BOOM. His attention shifts straight toward us.

He is ready and willing to show us more than just an answer to prayer but a new understanding of who He is and a greater dimension of His power. God has MUCH MORE in store for those who will simply follow Him, claling out in faith for every need.

The psalmist David also found God to be near each time he turned to God. David’s songs were filled with references of prayer and praise, themes of deliverance from the adversary, and assurances of the abiding presence of God to bring us into a safe place.

Psalm 81:7 NKJV

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah

We can be confident God hears us when we pray.

Psalm 27:5 NKJV

5 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 61:1–4 NKJV

1 Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

I Will Fix My Eyes on Jesus

Our eyes will focus on all kinds of things. Jesus taught this:

Matthew 6:22–23 KJV 1900

22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

What our eyes take in is what we’re going to reflect and refract. That’s why we ought not have our eyes on just anything and everything!

Psalm 101:3 KJV 1900

3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

It is vital for our eyes to stay focused on what is good and right. If we are going to be filled with His light, our eyes must be focused on the Light of the World!

What we look at affects our thoughts and our faith. It is natural to look up toward the heavens when we reference God. So we have to do that in all our situations! The Psalmist said:

Psalm 121:1–2 KJV 1900

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, Which made heaven and earth.

He is our source and our supply. All we need we will find in Him.

And as we keep our focus on Jesus, we are aligned to His purpose and available to participate in His ministry.

Conclusion

Now I want to show you one last thing…

If we’ll look in the scriptures of this story, we’ll find our own story. Watch! This is what I have underlined in my own Bible. It’s our story. Your story. Look:

Matthew 14:30–35 KJV 1900

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

Let’s pray for the private devotion and the open demonstration.