Bible Reading: Numbers 15-16; Matthew 27:45-66
“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.” – Matthew 14:29-30
Have you ever wondered why some good Christians suffer and go through excruciating ordeals and challenges in church? Or why do sicknesses return after someone has testified of his/her healing?
It is not because God is not with them, but because the devil distracts them by shifting their attention and focus from God and His Word to the challenges of life.
Peter was excited when he stepped out of the boat to walk on water at the command of Jesus. By stepping out on the Word of Jesus, natural laws were suspended and Peter operated in another realm of realities. He could walk on water because Jesus’ Word changed the chemistry of the water from liquid to solid slab. The Bible says that Jesus “…upholding all things by the word of His power…” (Hebrews 1:3).
As long as Peter focused on Jesus, everything followed the order of the Word spoken but then scripture tells us that, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30.
Has it ever occurred to you that Peter and Jesus were both walking on the same water and right in the presence of Jesus, Peter ‘began’ to sink? Fear is why believers sink in the presence of Jesus. You must replace fear with faith in God’s Word because it is faith in God and His Word that establishes our testiminies and not fear.
He was afraid and began to sink when he ‘saw’ the winds and started considering them. The winds were a distraction because the winds have absolutely nothing to do with him walking on water. It won’t be easier to walk on water if the winds were calm.
This is what happens when believers receive their healing and the symptoms begin to show up again. Yes, symptoms can resurface because your testimony doesn’t excite the devil. He is not happy that you are healed. When the symptoms resurface, you must refuse to consider the winds and stay focused on the Word. Concerning Abraham, the Bible says in Romans 4:19, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:.”
For sure the devil will keep bringing distractions as long as you are on this side of eternity but you must be fiercely focused on the Word. Every miracle is a change in level and experience that must be sustained by constantly gazing upon the Word of God.
The Bible says that when Peter began to sink, he screamed, “… Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt? – Matthew 14:30-31.
If you feel yourself sinking, scream for help! Jesus will never scorn or mock you; rather He will reach out and sustain you by His Love and encourage you to keep walking.
Refuse to allow the doubts in your mind by keeping your mind fixed on God’s Word because true faith in God’s Word always turns situations around.
Prayer: Father, engrace my faith in Your Word to overcome every doubt in my mind in Jesus’ Name
Pst Alfred Samuel