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PETER'S AND PAUL'S TEACHINGS
Enter Doubt, Exit Faith
Matthew 14:30, 'But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.'
MATTHEW 14:30-31
The reason Peter began to sink was because of his fear. In verse 31 Jesus used the word 'doubt' in reference to Peter's fear. Fear is simply negative faith or faith in reverse. Where did this fear come from? Second Timothy 1:7 says, 'For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.' It didn't come from God. This fear was able to come upon Peter because he took his attention off of Jesus and put it on his situation.
Fear or doubt cannot 'just overcome' us. We have to let it in. If Peter had kept his attention on Jesus, the...
THE LOVE WE ARE TO SHARE
Word Power
Matthew 14:29, 'And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.'
This one word 'come' was spoken by the one who made all things (Jn. 1:3) and it had just as much power in it as the words that were spoken at creation. This is where the power came from for Peter to walk on the water. Likewise, any word spoken to us by God carries in itself the anointing and power it takes to fulfill that word, if we will release it by believing it and acting on it.
We need to not only know God's power, but the greatness of God's power, and then the exceeding greatness of God's power. This exceeding greatness of God's power is towards us. That means that it is for us and our benefit. Some people get glimpses...
PRAYING THE WORD OF GOD
About Humility
John 6:15, 'When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.'
Jesus 'was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin' (Heb. 4:15). The temptation for Jesus to submit to the crowd and exalt Himself must have been there but He didn't respond to it. He came to do the Father's will and not His own will (Jn. 6:38). He immediately withdrew from everyone and spent all night in prayer with His Father. Prolonged prayer is an antidote for the temptation of pride and will work a God-type of humility in your life.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul is preaching a death to self, but it is very important to notice how this death took place. Paul said he was dead...
God's Options Or Ours?
Matthew 14:27-28. 'But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come unto thee on the water.'
MATTHEW 14:22-33
It is important to analyze Peter's statement. Peter was overwhelmed when he saw Jesus walking on the water, and he wanted to do the same. While there is really nothing wrong with his desire, the request he put before Jesus was totally wrong. He didn't ask the Lord if he wanted him to walk on the water, or if his faith was up to it. Instead he said, 'If it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.' What was Jesus going to say, 'It isn't me. Don't come.'?
There are no other examples of someone...
Jesus Meets All Our Needs
Matthew 14:16, 'But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.'
MATTHEW 14:15-18
The disciples were using natural reasoning and recognized that they didn't have the ability to minister to the multitude's need for food. Jesus did have the ability and the willingness to minister to their needs, so the multitude did not need to depart. All of their needs could be met through Jesus.
The same thing is true today. Some disciples today are sending the multitudes to the world to meet their physical needs (finances, health, counseling, etc.) and proclaiming that God only meets spiritual needs. But, 'they need not depart.' The Lord is willing and able to heal our bodies, prosper us...