Matthew 14:22-33: (NIV)

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Today’s teaching is based on learning to walk in faith. And I was led to share from this Scripture where Jesus walked on water.

Notice Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side. Sometimes God will send you ahead to the other side-He will send you on a specific direction in a designated vessel and dismiss those around you. Jesus dismissed the crowd. He separated His disciples from the crowd. Has God separated you from the crowd? Or rather the question should be have you allowed God to separate you from the crowd because the LORD stands in the gap. He makes intercession for us:

Romans 8:34 (NIV):

34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

This is the journey of faith-when we choose to follow Him and it may not seem like much. The land may seem more attractive but Jesus will ask you to get into the boat. Have you gotten in? Have you gone ahead of Him even if you cannot see where He is sending you? Remember we walk by faith not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Jesus dismissed the crowd and then went up on a mountain to pray. Prayer is a part of our relationship and intimacy with God. The Word says you should pray for the saints always (Ephesians 6:18). Jesus had sent the disciples out but He went up to pray-does prayer hold priority in your life. Prayer requires separation and also positions you for elevation-how? Notice that Jesus went up to a mountainside to pray-alone. This is separation and elevation. When we come to God in prayer we are separating ourselves from the world and seeking His face and this will always elevate your situation and more importantly your perspective-hence the fact that Jesus went up to the mountainside to pray.

The boat was already a considerable distance from land and the wind was against it. The world does not stand for God-so do not be surprised if you face persecution (1 Peter 3:14).

When God sends you on a mission the wind would be against you-and the vessel He has sent you in-the world would stand against you and try to prevent you from moving forward but the Word says if God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

This was also in the night-there is a time for everything under the sun (Ecclesiastes 3). There is a time where you will feel persecuted and alone as you walk with God-where you will feel like He cannot hear you or He is not listening but this is not the truth. These trials are to build your faith. (Romans 5:4).

Notice that Jesus went out to them walking on the lake. He was not running on the lake or calling for them. He was walking on the lake and this is important because we walk by faith and not by sight. And Jesus is literally illustrating what it means to be walking by faith and not sight because He is walking on a lake. When we face challenging situations and choose to focus on Jesus He shows us how to walk in faith through that situation. Hence Jesus will teach you how to walk by faith and not sight.

And then we are able to see Him because we are not focused on our sight but our faith and as believers we live by faith. (Matthew 16:16-17). He becomes alive in us through that situation and we experience Him personally.

The disciples saw Him walking on the lake and were terrified and thought it was a ghost. They cried out in fear. Sometimes when God is trying to get your attention He needs to put you in a position of fear so you will listen-this is usually through trials and tests that come your way. Notice these are the followers of Jesus and they were not even able to recognize Him because they were afraid. When you are afraid you are not able to see God in your situation. The devil tries to distract you with fear because He does not want you to recognize the presence of God in that situation. This is why the Word says perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). God is love. (John 3:16).

But Jesus spoke to the disciples and told them to take courage it is Him. The LORD has told us to be very courageous because as His disciples we will face multiple challenges and have to recognize God in that situation. He may not come how you expect as Jesus did not come here how the disciples were expecting but He will show up.

Peter responded to Jesus’ words and told Him to tell him to come to the water. Peter saw an opportunity where others saw danger. He spoke in faith when others around him were surrounded with fear. Too many of the LORD’s disciples stay on the boat of faith instead of stepping out into the lake and stepping away from their fear. Sometimes your solution is not on the boat it is in the lake.

Ask the LORD to send you! It will require further separation. The more you grow in your faith, the closer you grow to God and the farther you fall away from man. This is an environment of faith not logic because the LORD speaks a language of faith. And we constantly have to practice this language so we can hear Him clearer and clearer when He speaks.

The LORD simply said to Peter-Come. We should strive to reach that point where the LORD is no longer trying to calm down your fears but is now challenging your faith-where He calls and you immediately answer. This is a serious separation-this is why now He is only talking to Peter because it is only Peter that is willing.

Remember: the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).

Peter responded in action-he got out of the boat of his fear and safety and walked on water and came toward Jesus. Through the power of Jesus we are able to do anything in His Name if it is in His will. When we lose focus of Jesus-of who sent us or even who called us we become afraid and this is why Peter started sinking when he saw the wind. Men and women of God we must learn to stop looking at the wind in that situation of frustration, of fear, of impatience and rather focus on the one who called us out.

Peter called out to God to save him and Jesus immediately caught him and told him: his faith was little because he doubted. So do not let doubt infect your faith. Notice also in James 1:6 we are told that we must believe and not doubt because when we doubt we are blown and tossed by the wind. So doubt should not be present in the believer-let us learn to walk by faith. And also this means we must reach the point where we do not depend on our feelings-because although you cannot see wind you can certainly feel it. Stop relying on your feelings! It is dangerous and contaminates your faith.

When Jesus got on the boat the wind died down. This means the wind was a test. Jesus would test you on the boat-He will not leave you but He will test your faith on that boat and give the wind permission to blow. Which is why when He stepped on the boat the wind died down.

And it is through these situations we receive revelation of Jesus being the Son of God (Matthew 14:33).