Friday 15 February 2013

Stepping out - walking on water


There are many stories in the bible that inspire and challenge us, and none other greater than Peter walking on water in Matthew 14.  I was listening to a song by Casting Crowns called "The Voice of Truth" and the revelation from the Holy Spirit really got me chewing on this.

                "To step out of my comfort zone
                Into the realm of the unknown

                Where Jesus is and He is holding out His hand".

Wow, what faith Peter had, leaving the comfort and others in the boat to step out onto the waves.  Generally we are so self focused, and look out for our self comfort and self preservation.  Yet in that frightening experience, even for skilled fishermen, in the dark of night, Peter calls out to the Lord and on His invitation, sets his eyes on Jesus and steps over the side of the boat.

Faith steps out.  Faith conquers fear.  And faith is what pleases God.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Yet faith is not a "leap in the dark" because faith is founded securely in Him.  Jesus is found and reigns in the supernatural realm where He is seated next to the throne of God.  This is where He is found, not on the avenue of doubt and unbelief.  His glory is found on the treacherous mountain pass of our faith.  Someone once said, "Faith begins where possibilities end. If it's possible, then there's no glory for God in it."  Jesus is found in the call and faith of His Bride and in every step of faith taken in obedience.  It never ceases to amaze me, when I have gone on mission trips and out of my comfort zone, God always meets me there, and every trip is a blessing beyond my expectations.

He is found in our giving.  Often people do not want to give their tithes or support the work of God because they are tied to money and possessions and lack the faith to give generously and with cheerful abandonment.  But if we don't give, we don't sow the seed, we don't get the harvest.  When we give, God is responsible for the harvest.  His laws of nature show us quite clearly that if you plant a seed, for example a tomato seed, you harvest much fruit from the one plant.  No matter what we sow, whether love, time or funds, harvest comes.  Ask anyone who faithfully gives and you will find out that God is true to His Word and as Jesus said:-

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luk 6:38 

God loves us and does meet us in the comfort zone but we won't see His glory there.  But so often, God forgive us, we have a fear of man and our own pride (what if God doesn't come through and I get egg on my face).  God's glory does not manifest in fear but in the faith that moves mountains.

So how do we get to this mountain moving faith?  Believe.  If God has said it, that should be enough for us.  Jesus said to Martha when she protested in the removal of the grave stone before Jesus raised Lazarus from the tomb:-

Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" Joh 11:40
   
Jesus commended those who had great faith and rebuked those who had little faith.  Therefore faith can grow from small to great. 

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17 

We hear.  We actually hear the Word of God and we can only do this by studying and meditating upon the scriptures.  We mutter and consider the Word of the Lord and that seed will drop down into our hearts, become ours and produce a harvest.  We understand it and believe it and act upon it.  Hence our faith grows as we test the faithfulness of the Word and the faithfulness and love of our Father in Heaven and see His power contained within His Word to change our lives and the lives of others.

Let me leave you with this precious portion of scripture to hear and think upon and make yours:-

Eph 3:16  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Eph 3:17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Eph 3:18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—
Eph 3:19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Eph 3:20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
Eph 3:21  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.