Chris Mikkelson
June 26th, 2022
Read Matthew 14:22-23
Even in the midst of a great storm, persecution, or trial in your life, Jesus can give you the faith to come out on the other side.
During the storm that takes place in Matthew 14, the disciples, although trained fishermen, were very afraid for their lives. They even thought they saw a ghost walking across the water but Jesus commands them not to be afraid because He is the one walking on the water. Matthew 14:27 says, “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus wants the disciples to know that the great I am is here. This was a direct reference to when God shows up in the burning bush and he talks to Moses to tell him that He will deliver His people from Israel. Exodus 3:14 says, “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’’” God is once again reminding them that in the midst of this crazy environment, He is here.
Peter cries out in the storm for God to call out to him and God showed Peter that he could trust Him. During the storm, your trial or tribulations, God is with you and He is for you so you can live in faith.
HAVE FAITH IN JESUS
If you’re going to have faith that overcomes any obstacle, you got to have faith in Jesus. Great faith starts with Jesus. Faith in Jesus is not like any other religion. The religious man puts his faith in his worth. The material man puts his faith in his wealth. But a true spiritual life is only as good as the object it worships.
When you turn your back on the world and put your faith in Jesus, He will set you free. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
No matter what you’re going through, Jesus is there and He is willing and able to save you and set you free. You only need to call Him and He will save you.
STAND ON THE WORD OF GOD
If you’re going to have faith that overcomes any obstacle, you need to stand on the word of God. Evangelist Smith Wigglesworth once said, “I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe.” And you need to believe in the word of God.
A lot of times you put faith in your emotions, situations, or your own intellect, but the word of God is more real than reality itself. Your reality was birthed from the word of God.
Romans 10:17 says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” if you want to grow in your faith, you need to get the word of God in you. Peter was in the storm and when he sees Jesus walking on the water, he calls out to Him. When God commands Him to come, he steps out into the water with faith.
In Matthew 14, Peter, in his natural state, began to walk on water. But in reality, Peter wasn’t walking on water–He was walking on the words of Jesus. Peter knew he couldn’t walk on water, but he stood upon the words of God. Matthew 14:28-29 says, “‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
No matter what you’re going through, the word of God is real and a firm foundation upon which you can stand. When you’re in the storm of your life, stand on the word of God.
If you’re dealing with a health situation, grab the word of God and start quoting the scripture over you. If you’re in a marriage situation, a business situation, or a financial situation, dig into the word and stand on the promises of God.
CRY OUT TO JESUS
If you’re going to have faith that overcomes any obstacle, you need to cry out to Jesus and He will set you free. Often times when you’re going through your situation, it is easy to believe that God is watching you sinking and He isn’t coming to save you. But you need to take your eyes off your situation and put your eyes on Jesus.
When you’re going through a storm and you begin to declare the word of God over your situation, anything is possible. Your tongue has the power of life and death in your situation and when you speak, anything is possible. Mark 11:23 says, “Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”
If you stand up and speak by faith, and start declaring freedom and victory over your situation, you will see it in Jesus’ name. When you’re going through a storm and you begin to declare the word of God over your situation, anything is possible.
Job 22:28 says, “You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.” On that day, Jesus declared to Peter to come out to him on the water. He declared something in the natural that made the supernatural possible.
No matter what you are going through, speak by faith and declare victory over your situation. You need to live in faith.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
How can you show God that you trust Him during the storm you are facing?
Are you standing on the word of God like Peter?
Do you have faith that you will overcome any obstacle? Are you trusting that God will bring you out on the other side?
