Matthew 14:32
“And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.”
All of us have come against things in our lives that have challenged us & more than likely caused us to have fears. Fears bring questions, doubts as well as anxieties. When we go through storms in our life, we may start asking questions like:
• Will this storm take me under?
• Is this the end for me?
• Will I ever be able to overcome?
• Is there any hope?
• What do I do next?
We’ve talked about this many times before, but the enemy of our soul comes at each one of us in many different ways making it difficult at times to recognize where the attack came from. The enemy will lie to us making us believe “there is no hope”. (Sound familiar?)
It is true that sin can bring on a lot of difficulties in our life, but we must remember that Jesus sees where you are & knows all about your storm. He wants to help if you’ll let him.
Let’s take a better look at Matthew 14:22-29. When the disciples were close to Jesus, they felt confident that Jesus could handle any problem that may arise. When they saw that the people needed food & they had none to give they went straight to Jesus believing He could take care of the need. It was when they were away from the presence on the Lord, they ran into a storm feeling that all hope of survival was gone.
I’ve seen many ladies in this room touched by the hand of God. While they were hearing as well as feeling the touch of God, they had all the faith they needed to trust that the Lord would help them overcome whatever their situation was. (addictions etc…) But after they return to their cell a few days (or hrs) they start doubting the possibility of any hope of change in their life. (let’s read on)
Jesus knew where the disciples were. He also knew they were caught in a storm. He decided to go to them. Verse 25, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” He came to them walking on the very thing they were afraid was their doom. Don’t ever forget that Jesus has more power than any problem we’ll ever face. The biggest problem we have is not believing the lie the devil feeds us telling us there is no HOPE!
When the disciples saw Jesus walking on that stormy water they were very frightened thinking it was a spirit. Verse 26, “And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” The Jewish people were very superstitious people. They believed if you saw a spirit in the darkness it meant sure death was coming to them.
The devil places false fears in our hearts & minds taking our focus off the Lord and onto the problem. Superstitions are never from the Lord. We must always base our beliefs on the Word of God. If we will listen Jesus can speak peace to our fearful hearts giving us the power, through Him, to overcome whatever the enemy has placed in our life.
In verse 27 Jesus knew that the disciples were fearful so He wanted to reassure them that He was there to help them. “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
In verse 28 Peter was able to exercise a bit of faith & called out to Jesus saying, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.”
Jesus does not want us to live in fear. He wants to give you peace on mind as well as a desire to live for God.
Notice in verse 29, “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.”
Peter did walk on the water! It was stormy water. I’ve traveled on a ship before & I truly believe that stormy waters while on a ship would be very frightening! To come out of that ship Peter must have felt a boost of faith. He had made up his mind that he wanted to get to Jesus no matter what his surroundings were telling him.
Peter was walking on his problem! The very thing that they were afraid was going to be their watery grave he was walking on it!
You too can walk on your problem! You can put that addiction or any sin that controls your life under your feet. It does not have to control you anymore! All you need to do is get to Jesus no matter what! Jesus is your answer!
Is your focus more on the problem than on “Getting to Jesus”?! IN THE NAME OF JESUS, you can do it! That thing that has held you down for so long can be overcome if you can get to Jesus.
You may say I’ve tried before & it didn’t work, but when you get to Jesus you can call out to him & he will help your faith to return. Peter dealt with some doubt brought on by fear. Read verses 30-31: “ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
The key is you’ve got to cry out to Jesus. You don’t have to spend your whole life letting your sin & problems walk on you! YOU CAN WALK ON YOUR PROBLEMS! You can be an overcomer In The Name of Jesus!!
Debbie Woolett