Sunday, 30 December 2012

PETER WALKED ON WATER

Matthew 14:29 – and He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:22-33

Fires and waters are often used in the scriptures to denote calamity or challenges. When we talk of Peter walking of water, we are talking of Peter walking on his challenges or overcoming his challenges. The fact that we are now born again does not exempt us from challenges. Peter had a relationship with Jesus yet he had to walk on water. The assurance we have as believers is that we have the Prince of Peace with us so no matter what happens; there will be peace at the end.

Present in the boat were twelve disciples, on the same waters, how come only one managed to get out of the boat and walked on water? How come while others sat in the boat, Peter was able to get down and walk on waters? Firstly, when Peter saw Jesus walk on water, he saw an opportunity for the glory of God to be manifested in his life; he saw an opportunity to walk on water. Others saw ghost and were troubled when they saw Jesus walking on water. The other disciples saw the end but, Peter saw the beginning of a special walk with Jesus. When the storm of life begins to blow, whatever we see will determine the outcome. Everyone who came across Goliath saw defeat, but David saw an opportunity to become the King’s son-in-law and not to pay tax again for life, 1 Samuel 17:1-58. When challenges come, please see an opportunity for testimony not disgrace. Secondly, Peter’s confession was different from that of the other disciples. When the other disciples saw Jesus walking on water towards them, they cried out of fear. They began to say things like they were doom, they were finished and so on but Peter said ‘Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water ‘meaning I know only you can make me walk on water, help me to walk on water. Believe me, whatever we confess during challenges is what will come to past. The Lord says in Numbers 14:28 “as you have spoken in My ear so shall I do”. Thirdly, while other disciples focused on the sea and the storm, Peter set his focus on Jesus. Whatever we focus on becomes big. If we focus on Jesus long enough, He will become bigger than our challenges but if we focus on our challenges long enough, they will be bigger than Jesus. The reason why the faith of many grow weak during challenges is because they focus so much on the challenges not Jesus. We experience fear as a result of focusing on the outcome not Jesus who decides the outcome. Fourthly, Peter accepted the invitation but others ignore it. When Jesus said ‘Come’, what He meant was come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28. Peter left the boat with his challenges and went to Jesus, others held unto their issues and challenges in the boat. While Peter was walking on his challenges, they sat with theirs in the boat battling with it.

KEY WORD – To walk on the storms of life or overcome any challenges, you must : 1 – see an opportunity for God to glorify Himself in your life; 2- you must confess victory ;  3- focus on Jesus alone not the challenges ; 4- take the matter to Jesus .

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