Learning from Peter's Walk on Water

Matthew 14:22-33

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.”

Be Courageous and Listen to His Call verses 27-29

Will you be like Peter, having the courage to get out of the boat and step out onto the water? Many times we are like the other disciples who stayed safely in the boat. Will you be brave and listen to what God is calling you to do? This might be the calling of Him drawing you into a personal relationship with Himself, calling you to accept Him as your Savior. This might be the call of Him asking you to trust Him in a situation that you know you can’t handle on your own.


Don’t Get Distracted by the Waves verse 30

Storms surround us in this life. It is not all smooth sailing as we all know and can attest to. There are so many circumstances that will arise, that if we allow them to, will take our focus off of God. Just like Peter began to sink, we also start to sink as we look around and let the strong waves suck us under. We know, as it says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He will hit you with waves from all sides trying anything he can do to keep you away from the great things God wants to do in your life.

 

 

Have Faith and Call Out for His Help verses 30b-31

God is not calling us to trust in our circumstances. He is calling us to trust in His power! He is the perfector of working out situations that in our minds are impossible. Later, in the book of Matthew Jesus says to them, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” There is also a verse in Job 42:2 that states, “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” When you are in the storm, have faith in what He can do, and like Peter did, call out, “Lord, save me!”


Worship Him and Let Him Use Your Life to Show His Power verses 32-33

When He does great things in your life, make sure you point to Him, worship Him, and give Him the glory He is due. So many times when a situation works out we throw up a quick “thank you prayer” and move on. God might have a bigger purpose for the mighty “waves” we are facing. A purpose to show His great power through circumstances in your life that to the world watching, and maybe even to just yourself, shows what He can do.

So I ask you today...

1. Will you go, stepping out of the boat, trusting in His power to see you through in what He is calling you to do?

2. Will you focus on Jesus and not the waves of your situations?

3. Will you have faith enough to trust Him and call out for His help, not depending on your own strength?

4. Lastly, in however God works through the storm, will you worship Him and allow Him to use your life for His purposes?

Parts of a Race

 

This past weekend I did a triathlon with my sister, along with my dad, brother, some friends, and many other competitors. The race was along a beautiful course that involved climbing up the National Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes during the running portion, riding your bike around two gorgeous crystal blue lakes, and kayaking (yes, thankfully instead of swimming). As we were participating in the longest portion of the race, the bike ride, a bible verse came to my mind that I had taught my Sunday School girls a short time ago. In the first part of Hebrews 12 it says, “...And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

 

Preparation

To perform at your optimum, you must train and prepare for the course you are racing. Whatever the sport, practice is the key to ready yourself to execute the race. Reading and studying the Bible allows the Holy Spirit to bring to mind what God says about things when you face situations of daily living, just like staying “fit” for a race.You’ll remember what God said and be able to make the right decisions and have the right frame of mind. Prayer, which is talking with God, also prepares you in a supernatural way when you encounter the unexpected. Psalm 25:4-5 says, "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Potholes

Just like in a race where you might get a flat tire, flip your kayak, or like my sister, have your bike chain fall off, life is full of obstacles and trials. When these trials come God, has commanded us as in Joshua 1:9, “...Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” James 1:2-3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” We won’t always know in this life why God allows us to face certain potholes to land in our path. We know that God sees the bigger picture, and those ugly situations can make us stronger, and we never know just how He might be using those things for His glory.

Partner

In this life we need others to encourage and help us with the challenges of life. This might be someone on the side of the road who says, “Great job. You can do it. Keep going.” as they ring a bell and clap for you. This might be the person out in the water with the boat that helps you flip and get back into your kayak. Or this might be the one who is by your side running the race with you. God has given us people to come along side of us and run this race with us for many purposes. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”.

Perseverance

Sometimes the race is long and we can get exhausted, but God calls us to remain constant to our purpose and rely on His strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. When you feel like you can’t keep going, hold fast to His power and remember He goes before you. Colossians 1:11,17 “...being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience...He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”

Prize
Philippians 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.” At the end of this race, this life, where will you stand? James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Eternal life in Heaven with our Creator is the most epic prize there will ever be. Are you running your race in such a way as to receive “the prize”?

What's In A Name?

Have you ever sat and thought about the names given for God in the Bible and what they mean for you and I? At a friend’s church I was visiting in Chicago last weekend, they asked men to come up and read Bible verses during the worship service that spoke on the different names of God. I was overwhelmed as I listen to them read, just dwelling on the power of His names. Think of what they mean to you as you read a few...

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”-Isaiah 9:6

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”-John 10:14-15

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”-John 14:6

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”-Hebrews 13:6

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”-Psalm 18:2

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” -which means “God with us.”-Matthew 1:23

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”-Revelation 1:8

So what are we to do with His name? First of all, we need to believe on His name. We are to praise His name, gather together in His name, find comfort, strength, peace...in His name. Proclaim His name, pray and call out to His name! Take time and look up some verses for yourself (there is an abundance). A relationship between two parties is spending time together and getting to know each other. God’s names reveal things about Him and help us know Him more as James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...”