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Free Bible Study Lesson Newsletter #42 June 01, 2005 |
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NEWSLETTER 042 MESSAGEMessage ”And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matt. 14:28-30 Sometimes we get the impression that the Christian life is supposed to be smooth. Here the disciples had obediently followed the words of Christ, and where are they? In a boat in the middle of the sea during a storm. At any moment they could be overthrown and drowned. Death was hovering near - from the viewpoint of natural eyes. The boat, although tossed and in danger of sinking, represented some measure of control. They could turn the rudder or bail out the water. It wasn’t much but it was still some sense of natural control. Even as Christians - in sometimes sinking boats - we want to have some sense of control or natural security. In the boat is where there majority of disciple-Christians live. [Many who only name the name of Christ have never obeyed Him long enough to get in the boat!] They have obeyed Christ. They are out on the waves doing what He has told them to do. Nothing wrong with that. It takes faith to be there, although still - in some measure - relying on natural resources and strength. Peter dared to dream and think beyond where anyone else was. If Christ was walking on the water then that is where he wanted to be as well. It is faith that pleases God and Peter had faith for great things. He did the impossible. Notice he didn’t just jump out of the boat. He did not know if it was God’s will or not for Him to walk on the water so he asked. Then he waited until he got an answer. That is the difference between faith and presumption. Faith asks and waits for the answer. Presumption just jumps out of the boat demanding God respond to our willful actions. Presumption drowns, faith walks. In some of you God is birthing dreams. They are impossible dreams. They could never happen - not by staying in the boat anyway. Don’t act in presumption. Get the Word of God. Hear Him say, “Come” to you. Once God has said come, don’t delay and allow doubt to set in. Step out of the boat - you may have to leave fearful or doubting friends behind - and walk on water. Everyday the door on the eternal torture chamber of the universe clangs shut forever on thousands of people. Everyday Christians are defeated or embarrassed before the enemy because they don’t understand God’s ways - no one has taught them or they have been mistaught or misdirected. Everyday Christians torment their own souls - like Lot - by deliberately observing or participating in unrighteous acts. Everyday...everday.... God is looking for water walkers. Men, women, and children who will step out of the boat in faith to do the impossible for God. As the pastor in my church pointed out, if you haven’t had to cry “Save me” you probably haven’t been walking on water. Yes, we when step out in faith we may start to sink, things may go wrong, we may do it wrong, we will have to cry, “Lord, save me. I’m in over my head.” Guess what, He always stretches out His hand and lifts us up. Remember, there’s no reason for God to get involved if we never step in the realm of the impossible. So what dream has God placed in your heart? It’s probably an impossible one - because He wants to get involved and give your faith a chance to grow. Be a water walker. Announcements There are now two brand new reports on our site: 602 The Theory Of Evolution: A Faith of Death And Destruction and 603 The Heresy of Democracy. You may disagree but hopefully it will provide food for thought. The web address joshuaclub.com no longer works [I may set up a redirect later]. Please change your bookmarks to www.free-bible-study-lessons.com. Those interested in the paid membership can check it out at www.joshua-club.com. If you haven’t been following the Genesis and Daniel blogs you are missing out. These have been updated 5 days a week as we move through these dynamic books. Check it out at Christian Blogs [www.free-bible-study-lessons.com/Christian-blogs.html] on our Free Bible Study Lessons site. God bless you, |
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