November 8, 2016 1:38PM
VISION: Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
I want to share something with you that will bless you, as we all face trials and storms in our lives. During tough times it’s hard to keep our eyes on Jesus because we are so focused on what’s taking place around us, and the enemy uses our weakest moments to sow thoughts of doubts and fear in our minds to create unbelief and wear away our faith, to take us away from God.
I will share my vision first and then I will go into scriptures.
The vision started with me pondering some things. Suddenly, I heard Jesus say “Come” and the scriptures of Matthew 14 where Jesus walks on water became alive (if you are not familiar with those scriptures, don’t worry we will cover them briefly). In the vision I was in the boat instead of Peter that day. The tempest was raging all around us. Lightning, thunder, the wind was ferocious, the ocean was raging and waves coming up against the boat. The scenery was threatening. But I heard the Lord say “Come” and I slowly put my right foot in the water, then I helped myself out of the boat and onto the water, and locked my eyes on His. I slowly walked while I kept looking at Jesus, and He said, “do not take your eyes off of Me even though your circumstances look impossible in your sight. Don’t take your eyes off of Me to look at the storm.
Please grab your bibles and follow along; that we may each be diligent in being students of the Word.
Please turn to Matthew 14:22
[Mat 14:22-33 NKJV] 22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind [was] boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out [His] hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
This story of Matthew 14: 22-31 teaches us so many things that we can apply to our own lives, but The Lord chose to reveal this particular point today, to keep our focus on Him and trust Him thru our storms and our victories. It’s a call for us to get out of our comfort zones, and step out of our boats in faith, locking eyes with Him, The Almighty, who can carry us and take us by His perfect will.
When we focus on our circumstances, our eyes and minds are distracted by focusing on the tempest and not on The Mighty Creator, by whom all things are possible. Walking on the water with Jesus is possible for us too, but it requires faith!
1John 5:4 tells us 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.
The waves will come against us and perhaps makes us “feel” The Lord is not there because we don’t see him, just like Peter couldn’t see and he for fear he took his eyes off of the Lord. We see the waves, we see the tempest and we take our eyes off of Jesus. Then the enemy starts sowing seeds of fear in our hearts about the situation. If we believe his lies rather than what the Word of God says, we open the door to the enemy. We have to remember that satan is a defeated foe and we must not receive his lies in our minds. Victory is ours in Christ Jesus!
[Col 2:15 NKJV] 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
[Mat 28:18 NKJV] 18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Oh we serve a Mighty God of promises! [Heb 13:5 NKJV] 5 [Let your] conduct [be] without covetousness; [be] content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Please turn to James 1:2-8 Let’s read it in context:
[Jas 1:2-8 NKJV] 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Let’s look at what The Lord tells us about faith
Please turn to Hebrews 12:1
[Heb 12:1-2 NKJV] 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us], and let us run with endurance the race that is set (prepared, appointed) before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Whatever we are going thru, when we focus on our circumstances we can feel defeated, without hope, and the situation seems bigger than it is because our eyes are no longer fixed on The Holy One that has a perfect plan for us.
Let’s see what God tells us about His command “not to fear” and to know His Word to stand against trials:
Please turn to Joshua 1:5
[Jos 1:5-9 NKJV] 5 “No man shall [be able to] stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God [is] with you wherever you go.” this word is for us, His word never returns void.
God is bigger than anything and anyone! This vision is such beautiful vision of Hope and of Faith in our precious Lord Jesus.
God’s thoughts towards us are of good and not of evil, (Jer 29:11) He always prepares us for our next season that we may finish our race victoriously. We are each important in the Kingdom of God and we each have an ultimate goal, and a destiny prepared by The Lord God Almighty.
If you have been battling in life and have no sense of hope, if you are in despair and have never received the Lord Jesus in your heart as your Lord and Savior please repeat this prayer with me. Sincerely pray this from your heart and He will come in and transform your life and carry you thru the storms victoriously! He will give you hope and a purpose for your life: