Walk on water...

You will never “walk on water” until you step “out of the boat”.  In Matthew 14:22-33 we read an account of an actual event that happened.  Now understand this point up front: this event REALLY happened.  If you don't believe that then the rest of this will make no sense and really be of no value.  If we think that this didn't happen then one must ask what else is in the Bible that I don't believe really happened?  Either you believe the events happened or you don't, now to say you believe it happened does not mean you understand how.  Faith is not the ability to understand how God is or can do something, faith is an absolute conviction that what God has spoken is true and will happen.  Please understand this very important “key” when walking by faith - you don't step out until He calls you.  As you read the account of Peter walking on water, he, Peter, did not step out of the boat until Jesus called him out.  Matthew 14:28-29 (Message) “Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water.". He said, "Come ahead." Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus.”  I love how The Message reads this “suddenly bold”. Where did this boldness come, it came after Jesus after Jesus spoke to them.  Peter must have recognized His voice, just like sheep recognize their shepherd’s voice, and it not only calmed him but gave him boldness.  Now the next thing Peter did was also important, he asked “Master if it's you call (command or urge) me to come”.  Again Jesus responds (with words) and Peter again recognizing the voice of the one he trusted, stepped out onto the water and walked toward Him.  Now, if you’re familiar with this event then you know at some point Peter took his eyes off The One and began to sink.  While this is true, I want you to think about this: 3 quick points.  1) Grace called Peter out, 2) Grace enabled Peter to walk on the water and 3) Grace picked Peter up when he became focused on what was going on around him.  Listen! Grace will always call us out of our “boat” and when we hear Grace call and we know that it is His voice calling then we must be persuaded (faith) that Grace will give me the ability to do what Grace is calling me to do.  AND should I take my eyes off Grace and look at what's going on, or start to doubt that He called me out, or that I am able to do what He has called me to do, Grace will also reach down and pick you up.  So when Grace calls, step out of the “boat” and start walking towards what Grace will equip you to do.  Faith always responds to the call, Grace enables the faith walker to walk!!

Much love,
Pastor Michael