Come!

Matthew 14:26-31 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright.27 But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid! 28 And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.29 He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus.30 But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]!31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?

For western Christians, many of us all think we have a good measure of faith. Yet, Jesus said that if our faith is small as a mustard seed, we can move mountains. I do not see many mountains being moved so that tells me that many of us do not even have the faith of a mustard seed. All He requires us is to have the faith the size of a mustard seed and He can work through us to do many great things for HIM. It is not just to move a mountain literally but it is to move the mountains of our lives. It is to conquer the Goliaths in our lives and of God's people.

When there is a Walmart down the road and we can draw water from our faucets with our bellies relatively full and having a roof over our heads, we can all easily say we have faith. But when those things are removed and if we are placed in a literal wilderness or desert with no food or water in sight, how many of us would be left standing in faith? Have we experienced in our walk with God to know miracles are real besides just hearing and talking of them? We must ask ourselves, do we have the faith to literally believe and call on food from the heavens as manna was provided for Moses and God's people? When we have never experienced such supernatural events in our lives, then how can we really know we have such a faith? Many of us can state it or claim it but when put in such position, will our faith be proved and genuine? How many Christians out there have genuinely experienced supernatural events and miracles to know God is faithful? It is fortunate that God may only require one person to have faith to save a nation or people. Although the majority of God's people complained and grumbled wanting to go back to Egypt, the faith of one person, Moses, was sufficient for God to supply water and food for the people.

To have faith in God is to be abiding in His Word and Will. Scripture says that if we ask in His Name, He will grant it to us. But this is conditional to our obedience keeping His commands as we continually stay in His Word and Will. How many of us Christians out there are actually receiving the answers to their prayers in His Name? One better ask themselves if they are continually abiding in His Word and Will. When we are in His Word and in His Will then our prayers will be according to His Will and purpose rather than for ourselves. He will answer our prayers as He will answer those who love HIM. They love HIM not just because they are able to say it but because they prove it by keeping His commands.

John 14:13-15 (AMP) And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as [a]presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.14 [Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as [b]presenting all that I Am].15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

Faith is not just the act of acknowledging something exist as many have perceived it to be. Faith is not something that will materialize just because one desires it to be. Faith works in accordance with the Word of God as one continues to hear HIM. Faith works as our steps are order by HIM and as we are in concert with HIM.

If Peter decided to step out into the water at his own will and his own time, then he would have sunk immediately. How many of us Christians out there seem to always be getting into trouble by stepping out on their own time and will getting ahead of God? Many Christians are erroneously led and taught and many go buy a car, a house or the likes in which they cannot afford and they buy on faith when in fact God did not tell them to step out. Many attempt to go on missions or the nations when they are not even spiritually prepared or ready. They must go when the Lord says, "Come!" Many servants of God build churches or expand without waiting for God to tell them to step out. They more or less step out on their own because God has told them He is about to tell them to step out.

It is a good thing that God did not tell Moses and the people before they left Egypt that they would cross the Red Sea. Otherwise, they would probably had pondered on how they would get across. If they were today's people, they would have received such word and started a fund raiser or telethon to build boats in His Name. And as they got close to the Red Sea with the Egyptians behind their backs, they would have rowed themselves across thanking and praising God for getting them across. If this had happened, it would have been grossly sad as men would have stolen His Glory. How can God be Glorified if men continue to steal His Glory by getting ahead of HIM? How can He be Glorified if He is not able to perform His miracles, signs, and wonders showing His Powers? Sadly, this what is happening frequently today. Many steal His Glory today. We must be led by the Spirit and not our fears.

Faith is real and genuine when we react to His Word. COME! Jesus said to Peter, "COME!" When the Word is given, then Peter is able to step out in faith walking on water. But as we step out, we will experience many storms of life attempting to sink us. If we continue to look at our circumstances, then we will be deceived and sink. When we come out onto the water, our eyes must be on Jesus continually.

Even though Peter sank, the Lord rebuked him and said "Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt." Yes, the Lord out of Grace will many times save us as we cry out to HIM.  Yes, it was Peter who had denied the Lord three times. But we cannot continue to use the failures and shortcomings of Peter to justify our own weaknesses. At the end, Peter was a warring spiritual soldier for Christ. He had spiritually matured learning from his shortcomings, mistakes, and experiences. He did not stay in them. He was baptized by His Spirit and Fire. He had become a soldier of the cross who was eventually martyred.

We must all grow up. We cannot continue to deny our Lord. We cannot continue to sink. We cannot continue to steal His Glory. We must come to spiritual maturity coming into the fullness and completeness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13-15 (AMP) [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [[a]full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead.15 Rather, let our lives lovingly [c]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).


Glory to HIM
Fire of God Ministries
Steve Yong Kim
August 10, 2012