Continuing in Matthew 14    

     I know, you read ahead and you are thinking, “Peter sank.  That is exactly why I am not stepping out.”  What we are missing in that thought process is the huge transformation that took place in Peter when he popped the big question, “Lord , if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Often it takes a little sinking to experience transformation.  Let’s take a closer look.

     First, a transformation process began when Peter took Jesus up on the offer of courage in exchange for his fear.  There is always an equipping that is supplied beyond ourselves.  We aren’t called out of the boat without being equipped for success.  Peter was convinced he was equipped.   He wasn’t stepping out with a half hearted, “Well I’ll try” mentality.  Peter completely emptied himself to make room for the courage Jesus was offering.  He didn’t need a plan B to rely on.  Peter left no courage on the table so he was able to trust and let go of control.  If the invitation doesn’t stretch you and require supernatural abilities then it probably isn’t an invitation from Jesus.  In fact I would go so far as to say it is probably an invitation to settle for less than God’s best for you.

     What you gotta want, What you gotta need at a time like this is to be with Jesus where He is.   No matter where that might be, No matter what that might require, No matter what that might look like.  Whatever Jesus is doing you gotta want and you gotta need more than the comfort of where you are and the comforting thing you are doing.  Simply put, Peter wanted to join Jesus more than he wanted to stay in the boat.  How about you?  Do you need to be where Jesus is more than your comfort?  More than relying on a plan B to save you?  More than your control?   

     That control thing is a real big deal for us isn’t it?  What controls us directs us.  Peter’s courage was enough for him to step out into the unknown to do what was seemingly impossible.  What kind of person would ask to step out of a boat that was being battered about by wind and waves?  By all indications this might be a good time to stay in the boat, right?  For some the answer is YES and AMEN, but for those that take ALL the courage offered and are CONVINCED of the abilities of their source, when the invitation comes, they surrender the control and step out.  

     When the invitation comes, we have to be ready to go.  Before we can get any more instruction, before we can grow any more, there is always a step.  In fact there are two steps.  First there is the invitation to step out.  Peter had to step out before he could experience anything else.  He would receive no further instruction until he first made the decision and put into action, the step out part.  This is where we learn to use the equipping.  We can have all the equipping in the world but if we continue to stay where we are, we never learn to use what we have.  There is no excuse good enough to bypass this step.  To experience the fullness of God you must take the step.  When Peter took that step he experienced life change like never before.  Peter experienced walking on water because he was willing to take a step.  We can spend our entire life failing to experience the ability to walk on water if we refuse to take the step.  It isn’t a trial to be dreaded but an opportunity to be transformed.   

     Peter learned that real help wasn’t found in himself.  He learned that God sized invitations required God sized help.  When the disciples first became fearful did any of them call out for Jesus?  What did they do?  They sat in the boat fearful together allowing their imaginations to run wild.  But once Peter stepped out and walked on water he recognized how the seemingly impossible was made possible.  So when Peter lost his focus and fear began to grip him as he began to sink he called, “Lord, save me!”  Where did his help come from?  His help came from the Lord.  Peter didn’t cry out “Jesus save me.”  Peter cried out to the Lord.  The Lord here means the owner; one who has control of the person, the master.  Peter knew the one who controlled him was able to save him.  Yet another sign of Peter’s transformation.  

     Peter also learned that to imitate the master required focus.  No looking at the circumstances, no evaluating personal strengths and weakness, firm gaze on the master was what would bring success.  Want to know where your focus is?  Evaluate whether you are walking or sinking.  It isn’t about the circumstances because the waves and wind didn’t subside until they got in the boat.  Peter walked on water in the midst of wind and waves because he was equipped and fixed on the source.  When we are equipped and fixed on the source we can walk on top of the circumstance.  That means the wind and waves don’t have power over us.  The wind and waves don’t dictate our success or failure.  Peter overcame the wind and waves as long as he directed his focus on the Lord and walked in His equipping.

     I mentioned that there were two steps.  Once you step out, there will always be a circumstance, a situation, a person that will come against your step and it is at this point that you must step up.  I wonder what happened that broke Peter’s focus.  I wonder if the enemy sent a giant wave that washed over Peter or a huge gust of wind that knocked him down.  When you walk on water, you can be certain there will be something, some form of evil that will try to discourage, discredit or disarm you.  This is the step where we must overcome to develop staying power (the power that keeps us from running back and forth between trust and distrust, between fear and courage, between gaining ground and losing ground).  I think this step is sometimes harder than the first step.  It’s that time when you step out and notice what’s at stake and that enemy voice tells you that you made the wrong step.  The enemy voice says, “You didn’t hear the invitation correctly.”  Your thoughts go from I can to I can’t.  In your mind you begin to picture not success but failure.  You strength begins to fail you and you begin to sink.  If you learn nothing else from this series I pray you learn this:  Cry out to the Lord to save you.  This isn’t the time to turn back and give up the walk.  What happened for Peter will happen for you, “Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him.”  The second step is to Step Up.  The enemy will try to get you to step back or step down.  Don’t do it.  STEP UP.  Peter didn’t continue to sink.  He stepped up when he called for the Lord.  He shut the voice of fear and doubt down and reconnected and refocused on his source.     

What are you waiting for?  It is time to step out, step up and ReSet.