Too many of today’s churches, in the United States and even the rest of the World, are starving. By this I mean that the preacher sent from God to feed the congregation is not supplying the necessary food to strengthen and sustain the Believers. Born-again Christians need more than just the sincere milk of the Word given to them from Sunday to Sunday. Spirit-fed meat should be found in their daily walk with God, but also served up on the preaching menu on a regular basis. The downside to this is that too many of today’s preachers are not off the milk themselves. How can they expect their congregation to grow?
My question is: are you hungry? The Holy Spirit has driven me to a desire for meat from the Word that it’s near ravenous. Physically I like a good ribeye loaded with all the trimmings, and spiritually the Holy Spirit has been serving just that.
Matthew 14:22–32 is a favorite section of Christ’s earthly walk that I have always loved. Mainly because it tells of the only 100% human to ever walk on water, Peter. But until the other day the Holy Spirit showed me something that I had never noticed.
So, here it goes…
Verse 22: “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.” Notice that Jesus made, or some versions use the word constrained, his disciples. Meaning he “urgently and repeatedly suggested” they get into a boat and leave. Shoo. Off you go. Can’t miss ya if ya don’t leave kind of constraining. No doubt one could see the Lord almost lovingly physically picking them up one-by-one and placing them into the boat, saying to that one to stay, and doing the same to the next just like parents do with their own children. This was done because he knew what was coming in verse 24.
This is good! Verse 24: “but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.” I love this! Jesus Christ knew the wind was going to be contrary! Do you see that? He knew when he was constraining, mandating, or urging the disciples to get into the ship in verse 22! He already knew then what was going to happen in verse 24! Now you can’t tell me that he isn’t the Son of God if, by chance, verse 24 just happened. Nothing ever happens by chance to God!
So, what does Jesus do? He goes for a leisurely stroll… on the waves of the sea! Cowabunga, dude! Verse 25: “And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.” I can see it now– wind and waves billowing about, a little ship being tossed to and fro like a ragdoll in a dryer, and there’s my Savior. Calmly, serenely, maybe even whistling, walking on the water – to his disciples. Do you get what I am saying? Jesus knew about the storm when he was making disciples get into the boat, he even knew about taking a walk on the water, and all for what? To go to his disciples. He placed them in the exact position where the only place to go for help was to him. Him alone. And there he was. In the midst of the storm– but in total control.
Verse 27: “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” He placed them into a boat. He placed them into the midst of the stormy sea. Only to prove to them his power and might over the extenuating circumstances that surrounded them. Hallelujah! My God is mightier than any storm surrounding me! Nothing is out of his control. My God even places me into storms if only for me to see how mighty he is. To see that he IS in control no matter what befalls me. To prove to me that he is there at every turn of life’s waves whether calm or contrary. No doubt he does it just to flex his everlasting muscles so his children can ooh and aah over them; aka give him the glory he so richly deserves. It’s like, “Hey kid, watch this”, and then he flexes his big muscles and the storm is calm. That’s my God!
Now that was all said for this. Verse 28, “And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Did you catch it? Peter ASKED to leave the “safety” of the ship and step out into the stormy sea exactly where Jesus was. It wasn’t satisfactory to be in the ship NEXT to Jesus. No, he wanted to get out INTO the water. He wanted to LEAVE the ship and replace it with the Savior– eternal security. He wasn’t content with the norm. He wasn’t satisfied being with the other eleven. Instead, he asked Jesus, “Can I come out there with you?” I’m sure he knew how secure those fishing boats were and decided it was safer on the water with Jesus! The key is that Peter ASKED to come out of the boat to be closer Jesus. We’ve all heard about Peter’s faith in walking on the water and his lack of faith in sinking once out there, but we fail to realize that Peter asked Jesus if he could go to him. And where was Jesus? In the midst of the storm on the water.
Now here is the meat. Jesus placed his disciples into a position in order to prove to them he was mightier that their surrounding circumstances. But once in those circumstances, he wanted to see who would take the step TOWARDS him. God places each of his children in circumstances we do not have control over. But it is only to see if we will in turn run to the One in control of those circumstances while in that situation. The next time you find yourself in a storm, ask the one in control of the storm if you can come closer. Peter found it easy for Jesus to stretch out his arm and catch him while sinking in the waves as Jesus was right in front of him.
Making it hurt… Jesus could have reached out his arm and caught me all those years ago before I stepped into sin. He had total control over the situations he had placed me, yet I chose to ignore the Holy Wave Walker. I’m positive that the Holy Spirit was convicting me to stay close to Jesus. If only in the middle of the storm I had turned and asked to go to him, instead of running from him. Ouch. It would have caused me so much less pain and turmoil. Not to mention reduce the amount of Heavenly discipline lovingly given. This year being fifteen years delivered from homosexuality, alcohol, and drugs is only a testimony to God’s ultimate power and proof that he is able to save. All glory to God!
Even closer… I am back in that same position. I never learned it all those years ago. At age fifty-four, almost fifty-five, I never thought my Lord would repeat that lesson. We’ve been here before in short amounts of time, but now it’s lasting longer than previous tests. I’m no longer scared, anxious, or ready to leave the love of my Savior. He can take it all. Nothing I have or consider my possessions belong to me anyway. They all came from him when times were calm. Now that the winds and waves are beating upon me it’s still calm here with the lover of my soul. Jesus is in control and in him is my safety, security, and closeness.
Grace and peace, James
*Scripture from ESV translation, Crossway Publishers, 2001
Note: If you want to read my testimony, search for “When Gay Meets Grace” on this blog. It’s in eight pieces so make sure you start at Part 1.