Fear is Holding You Back—Matt. 14:22-33
The disciples had just experienced the supernatural from Jesus as they fed 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. So they departed in a boat while Jesus sent the multitudes away and a storm broke out and they became fearful of their lives. Jesus was going to deliver them from their fear but first their fear had to be exposed as they came face to face with it.
The Situation:The situation (storm) isn’t the problem in the boat. Because the boat is designed to float as long as the situation on the outside doesn’t get on the inside. Boats only sink when the situation on the outside has gotten on the inside. The water on the outside can get on the inside if the integrity of the boat is compromised by the storm or the foundation and openings of it weren’t properly secured prior to setting sail.
You can go through situations and it won’t bother you at all. But the moment it starts to get in you, you will start drowning because the life around you has gotten in you. Now it’s in your conversation, speech, thought life, and attitude. The first sign that things are going down is when the life around you has gotten in you. People who ride on top of the storm do it because they can float through it without allowing it to get in them.
You keep the waters out by pitching your ship in every nook and cranny to the intent that they know that the waters are going to come but because they have built up a fortified ship in every opened place they know that they won’t get in the ship.
Watch how you associate and become intricately intertwined with people that penetrate your pitch. Negative, doubtful, fearful people will leave you with holes in your faith. When they leave you they will leave an impression that undoubtedly will eat away at your faith. You want to surround yourself with people that fortify you and build you up, helping you pitch your ship.
The disciples are afraid of the situation surrounding them. And all of a sudden they begin to face peril because of the circumstances around them. They are oblivious to the Christ that’s in them. What are you going through right now that’s getting in you? If you want to know what’s in you watch what you talk about. The bible says“out of the abundance of the heart……”if you want to know what your heart is filled with listen to what comes out of your mouth. People can talk about the past like it was yesterday because it’s still in their heart.
Double Jeopardy: Here comes Jesus walking on the water to meet them. They are faced with a double jeopardy here. They are afraid of the situation and the solution. I can understand being afraid of the situation but they are also afraid of the solution
(Building scenario): You’re afraid of the situation (fire), but also afraid of the solution (fireman). If you stay here you know you’re going to die but if you jump you might live. But fear often times nullifies your Relationship—you will measure everyone by the last one, Rationale—fearful people don’t think or act rationally, and Revelation of God—fear works to counteract and contradict revelation.
Blessing in the Storm: Here comes Jesus walking to them on the storm. They don’t recognize Jesus in the storm because God is hard to recognize in the storm. This is the Jesus they just left after feeding the 5,000. They saw Him and said it’s a ghost. Here they are in the face of the solution and they are just as afraid of the solution as they are of the situation.
Most people will do absolutely nothing when they are afraid of the solution. Then the enemy is able to steal your life away because you are staying on the boat of mediocrity. When God is trying to bring you opportunity and take you to a level of greatness like you never thought would happen.
Get Out of the Boat: Sometimes you find yourself on the boat with others that are fearful and full of doubt. Here in the text one man out of twelve has the courage to at least try and ask “if it be you Lord bid me to come.” Peter was asking to go to another dimension of faith. He says even though I’m this boat with them there’s something inside of me that’s different from them. They are willing to stay here in the boat of mediocrity. I’m willing to leave them behind to have an opportunity to walk with God in a supernatural way.
God was leading him to an opportunity and from the circumstance. Where you are isn’t where God is calling you to. He’s got more for you than what you’ve experienced. But you have to say goodbye to your circumstance and say hello to your opportunity. Your fear seeks to nullify all that God has put down inside of you. It wouldn’t be so bad to be held back by nature or short comings but this is a spirit holding you back. But God has not given us the spirit of fear.
God Conscious: Now Peter is walking on the water and the word because Jesus said ‘Come.’ As long as Peter is God conscious he walks on the water going to Jesus. It’s only when he becomes self conscious that he begins to sink. Some of you right now are beginning to sink. But you won’t finish sinking because God is going to snatch you out of your situation.
Fear Not: Fear not, it is I, be of good cheer. Its not that He wants you to step into the water He wants you to be excited about it. The only thing you should ever ask God is Lord is it you? Because if its God no devil in hell can stop you from walking on top of it.