Insolomonsporch's Blog

Day Twenty-Three

To Tread, Or to Walk Upon

“… Take courage!  I AM!  Stop being afraid!”

Mt 14:27

                The other day the Lord showed me a comparison of what working in my own power looks like versus working in the Spirit.  Working according to my own nature – in my flesh, even with my best stuff in operation – is like me treading water.  You really don’t get anywhere, you get really tired overtime, but it does keep your head just above water.  What the Lord is looking for however in His saints– is the work that is done through faith in Him that overcomes – even our faith.  It is work done through love, in the Spirit.  This kind of work looks like Peter – walking on the water!

          Now I have heard that Peter was disobedient, reckless, all kinds of things negative because of this water-walking episode.  But interestingly enough, the Lord’s only rebuke to him was that he doubted!  In the Matthew verse above, Jesus had just spoken to them as a group and commanded them to stop being afraid.  Under the canopy and faith ignition of that word, Peter – in exuberant spirit – says to the Lord, “If it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  The Lord did then command him to come.  Only after Peter allowed his attention to move from the Lord to the wind and waves did he succumb to fear and began to sink.

          But notice this.  Jesus had already made a perfect provision for Peter to walk on the water, and walk without sinking!  When Jesus said, “I AM!  Stop being afraid!”  He was laying out a blanket statement which made it possible for Peter to walk on water.  His query to Peter about doubting did not pertain to Peter’s walking on water.  It pertained to Peter’s doubting the very veracity of Jesus’ word which He had just spoken.  The same word released faith in Peter initially to walk – but was dissipated in the face of the contesting wind.  The cares of this world do indeed choke the word that is within us!

          Peter, had by faith in Jesus, overcome his natural fear to walk on water because of the power of Jesus’ word.  But then Peter’s focus gave way to the wind and waves (the world) to overcome the word in him!  This was his failure, and though momentary it brings a glorious demonstration for us.  You see – ignited by faith in the Lord’s word through love, we too are called to be overcomers of every situation that life hands us. 

          Can you believe this?  John 16:33 tells us this very thing!

                   “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”

Also, 1Jn 5:4 further develops this concept:

          “For whatever is born of God is victorious over the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world even our faith.”

          Whatever is born of the Spirit of God – is spirit!  This spiritual power (of faith through love) has the capacity to overcome every thing which the world can throw at it – even our faith.  This spiritual power is  the very life of Jesus operating within us as believers!  Hence, this Scripture (1Jn 5:4) is a depiction of Peter walking on the water.  Walking on water: – the truth of the supernatural life in Christ.  Treading on water: — the natural power of man’s own natural life on display.

          Can we believe Jesus’ word even now – even for today?  He still says: “Take courage!  I AM! Stop being afraid!”  It is just as true today!

          Be-loved!