On Sunday at the Underground Service, I spoke on Matthew 14 and Jesus asking Peter to get out of the boat, and walk towards him on the water.
Just before this occurs, Jesus has sent his disciples after the miracle of feeding 5,000 men with their families from the small packed lunch of a child. Imagine having been there to see that. Imagine seeking that miracle! Do you not think that we did it would birth faith in us? Here is a miracle that is not so easily explained away, unlike some that we see today. We are, I believe, to eager to explain miracles away and put them down to science, medicine, or some other reason. Well, this is not exactly where I think God wants us to be. God is in the business of Miracles, and he always has been – he is still working today, the same as he was through the feeding of the 5,000+. Whatever medium he chooses to use, a miracle is still a miracle.
I wonder what miracles you might have experienced in your life? Think about it, without trying to explain them away. What have you seen, what have you experienced, that has helped to birth faith in you?
I can share quite a few examples, from the healing of family members, and myself come to think of it, to seeing friends releases from bondage and oppression. I have seen God step in and provide for me in times of trouble. These acts my friends, when we call them as they are, as they should be strengthen our resolve, deepen our relationship with Christ, and fortify that foundation which we stand on. Miracles happen and they borsht faith in us.
Returning to the story of Peter, and we have the disciples in the boat, and Jesus has gone up a mountain to pray. This is very important, and we have to make sure we don’t miss it. When we see, or play our part in a miracle, we need to give thanks to God in prayer – we need to connect with God on a deep and meaningful level.
When we are connected to God ion this way. When we spend time with him given thanks for the things that he has done, and asking him to keep sustaining us for the things that are to come, then we are more able to tune into what he is saying to us today. What is that, you might ask? I believe that God is wanting us to hear the words which Jesus spoke in response to the disciples fear as they sat in the boat looking out over the lake. “It is I, do not be afraid.” Jesus wants you to know that he is with you, that you don’t need to be afraid, and if he is with you then nothing can stand against you.
Peter responded to Jesus asking for confirmation, and when he received it, he didn’t wait around, or double check to make sure that things were safe enough to proceed, he got up, got out of the boat, and started to walk towards Jesus – on the water! You see when God calls us, he equips us. Peter cannot walk water any more than you or I can, but with Jesus’ instruction, in following and being obedient to the word, it became possible.
But then we see Peter at his best. He is there, he is doing it, he is being obedient and things are working out brilliantly – He’s walking on water! But he loses focus, he takes his eyes of Jesus, his attention is drawn tot he waves, and fear sets in. I love Peter, because I can relate to him so much. I get things wrong so often, but I learn from the example that Peter sets for us, because whenever he is in trouble he comes back to God, he repents and on this occasion he calls out “Lord, save me!” Can you not relate to that?
The main thing I am learning from having invested time into this passage of scripture, and I want to challenge you to consider is this. Peter got out of the boat. His faith was there, even if fear stepped in moments later. Jesus called him, Peter came, Peter fell, then Jesus picked him up and brought him to safety in the boat once more.
We need to be more willing to step out of the boat. but we need to make sure that in doing so we keep our eyes fixed on jesu, the way, the truth and the life.
But remember also that even in our failures, we can increase our faith. even when we mess up, and we don’t quite get as far as wee wanted to, to thought that we should, we at least took the first step – and Jesus is there to pick us up every time, again and again.
Faith is important, but know this, it doesn’t have be enormous. We justness to be willing to step out of the boat as see what happens, calling out to Jesus when it gets a bit rough and having him help us out. Jesus himself said that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed and we can move mountains.
I’d love to have faith that size, without equivocation, each and every day – but if I’m honest some day’s all I can do is call out “Lord, save me!” And i think god everyday that he shows up, and everyday he does I am more secure in the knowledge the He is with me and he is for me, and because of this nothing can stand against me.
You might have heard people say that faith is spelt RISK. Well I would say if you have heard that forget it. My experience is that faith is spent SURE – because stepping out the boat when we are called by Jesus really has no risk involved – it’s simply surrounding to him over crippling fear that wants us to think we are taking risks, where there is no risk at all there is security in Christ Jesus.
Pastor Dan Hetherington