(Read Mat 14:20-29)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. We have been studying the life of the Apostle Peter. Our study has brought us to Matthew 14. For a few days now we have been looking at Peter’s famous walking on water incident. Let’s go back to this passage and continue to learn about God’s grace and our requirement to live by faith.
The disciples were in a boat, it was after 3am, they thought they saw a ghost, and then the ghost-like figure started speaking. They heard a familiar voice say, “Don’t worry! It’s me! Don’t be afraid.” All 12 disciples heard Jesus’ voice, but only Peter spoke up. Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, tell me to come to you on the water.” To which Jesus replied, “Come”. The Bible says, “Then Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Faith begins where the will of God is known.
a) Human faith has it’s roots in divine grace. There can be no faith where there is no grace.
b) Peter had to know it was God’s will for him to walk on water before he got out of the boat. Anything less would have been “wishing” or “hoping”.
2. Faith adds substance to our hope.
a) The Bible says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).
b) As believers we should live with high-hopes. But high-hopes is not faith. Peter hoped he could walk on water like Jesus, but he was not sure if it was the will of God. Once Jesus said, “Come”, that meant the grace of God to walk on water was available to Peter. The Word Jesus spoke to Peter added substance to his hope and he was able to walk by faith – a faith that accessed the grace of God.
c) Many believers claim to live by faith when they are actually living by hope. Hope is open ended. Hope is not connected to a Word from God. But once you have a Word you can have faith, because you know that Word brings with it God’s grace.
3. One Word from God can propel you beyond your limits.
a) Peter and the other disciples were confined to the boat. The water represented certain death. The water represented earthly limits. The water represented the boundaries of this world. But with ONE WORD, “Come”, Jesus authorized Peter to overcome the limits of humanity and to step out in the power of divinity. One Word from God can do the same for you.
b) For you the limiting factor may not be water, the boundary holding you back may not be the edge of a boat, but you certainly have limits. If you have been attempting to walk and live by faith, you most certainly have heard the call to stop beyond those limits. When you hear the call to “Come”, that is God saying, “Son, daughter, I have given you the grace.” The question is, will you have the faith?
c) If you feel in your heart that God is calling you past your limits, it is an indication that He has already given you the grace to do what He is leading you to do. But you must have the faith to get out of the boat. Do you?
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. I am called and commanded to walk and live by faith. I can’t have faith where I don’t have a Word from You. Faith begins where Your will is known. So You speak to me daily. You speak to me through Your written Word, prophetically through others, through the Holy Spirit as I pray and walk throughout the day, through dreams while I sleep, and through visions while I am awake. You are my shepherd, I am your sheep, and I hear Your voice. When You speak to me Your Word adds substance to my hope. Your Word confirms to me that You have already given me the grace. The question then becomes: do I have the faith? I declare that I do. I have faith that accesses Your grace. I hear Your voice, I heed the call, I push past my limits, and I venture out into the realm of Your divine will for my life. I am determined to become the person I was called to be and I will do what You sent me into the earth to do. I will do it by faith, so that the manifestation comes by grace! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
