OUT ONTO THE WATER

[Albert Finch]

2 Peter 1:4 - "By which He (God) has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

Each of us has a promised land for our lives. God's promises are key to us entering into the vision that God has given us. If you are in a desert God is ready to take you out -- time to move on from eating manna to eating the food that God freely gives in the promised land of your DESTINY!

If we want to be co-laborers with Jesus, fulfilling His PURPOSE FOR OUR LIFE, we must step out of the comfort zone and move into the life of faith where our only source is the invisible God and the integrity of His word. He said we cannot be His disciples if we don't do this.
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." - Luke 9:23

When the Holy Spirit shows us promises concerning our CALLING, it comes by revelation. God gives us light to see. That revelation is a seed. Just as a seed needs to be watered to grow, so we need to water these seeds of promise with our prayers. Throughout the process, prayer is required to keep things moving in the direction of promises fulfilled. This requires patience on our part. God brings forth maturity in our hearts through this process. This is why we are encouraged not to lose heart. We can expedite God's promises through our response, pursuit, and actions.

ACTIVATION THROUGH RESPONSE

When we have received the seed of revelation concerning God's promises, we now have an opportunity to respond in some way that gets us "out of the boat."

Matthew 14:28 - "And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus."

Just as when Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, as His eyes were opened to the event, Jesus gave Him an invitation to get out of the boat. Peter did what he knew to do. He took a step out on the water. He went some distance. Taking His eyes off the Lord, he began to slip, but Jesus was still there to meet Him and lift Him up. Peter's response was not perfect, but, unlike any other disciple, Peter was the only disciple with the faith to get out of the boat and step purposely onto water!

Sometimes in our own minds we justify waiting in the boat, not realizing it is just our natural mind wanting to know every detail. Thinking to ourselves, "Well, maybe I ought to just sit in the boat a little bit longer – after all, we want to have wisdom." Do you think Peter did that? No. He got out of the boat of his comfort zone before his natural feelings could jump in to dictate the next step.

Our spirit man does not need to have everything figured out. Faith is the substance that gets us out of the boat. Be encouraged to seek God on how to get out of your boat. Because once we do all that we know to do in response to God's promise, the Lord comes through for us. God has given us promises. Some have time slots of fulfillment, and others are without time frames just waiting for our response.

Hebrews 11:6 - "No man can please God without Faith." (TEV)

Without faith it is impossible to please God. We are not allowed to simply wait for something to happen.

GOD MEETS US ON THE WATER

Jesus met Peter on the water. This was the place of faith. Peter experienced something that none of the other disciples experienced because he was willing to take a step. Is it any coincidence that it was Peter who was used to preach at Pentecost? Although Peter had done some presumptuous things, he also found the groove through his persistence, mixed with shortcomings.

God's grace meets us and brings God's PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES to pass. If it was about us doing everything perfect we would never make it. We need to:

Find the place of faith where we respond to what God has shown us.

Seek God about the proper response through communion, prayer, fasting, and worship.

Then do all we know to do. It may not look exactly like the perfect response, but God will meet us on the water to help us get there.

The Holy Spirit's desire is that we live our lives in the fullness of the Lord, by seeing above and beyond what we can do, and that Jesus would receive glory and honor through His great power that works in us and through us.
"Now to Him, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory..." - Ephesians 3:20

 

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
http://afministry.ning.com/