HEALTH, HEALING, AND MIRACLES – PART TWENTY-SIX
Sunday – September 2, 2018, Elul 22, 5778
Wow, Sunday again already! Are we all growing in faith to maintain our health, and obtain healing and miracles in our lives and the lives of those who come or are brought to us? Health is God’s best but if we do not maintain (our responsibility) our health healing and miracles are available by faith, just like everything else in the Kingdom. Today let’s walk on water.
Matthew 14:22-33 (KJV)
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
I realize these are long passages of Scripture but they tell the story and we can all learn from the thoughts, words, and behaviors seen in these accounts. Remember, nothing pleases the Father that we do if faith is absent (Hebrews 11:6). Also, never lose sight of the fact that our faith is the faith of God, it is a part of our spiritual DNA. Also, faith is built in only one way and that is by hearing with spiritual ears, believing, and doing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith is the one thing in our tool box that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).
Okay, now are we ready to walk on the water with Jesus? From our text we see that Jesus has been ministering to the multitude. The time is come for the disciples to go to the other side and for Him to go apart with the Father for a time. He tells the disciples to go to the other side. Never lose sight of the fact that Jesus was led of the Spirit at the direction of the Father in all that He said and did. As we see in this account, doing the will of God does not mean you will not encounter storms, in fact, it is guaranteed. These disciples are going to run into a storm, their faith is going to be tested, we are going to run into storms, our faith is going to be tested. Will we rise to the occasion and not allow the hindrance to the plan of God for us and the Kingdom or will we be consumed with fear? Our text tells us that the wind was contrary and the waves were tossing them about on the sea. These are the conditions that may precede our most impressive manifestations of God in our lives. The devils can see in the spirit realm, see things coming, and the potential we can do to his kingdom (world system) before we do. Therefore, hindering demons will attempt to dissuade us from continuing in a particular direction.
In this Bible account the disciples do not seem to be in any danger just have encountered headwinds (hindering winds – the winds here are evil spirits). They were being hindered but Jesus was even though it is the same wind and waves. Jesus is just walking right over the waves and through the wind without hindrance. If Jesus can do this, what about you and me? Did you just think, well that was Jesus? What theologian confused you on Jesus’ own words telling us we are to do as He did and even greater things (John 14:12)? We can see already the difference in faith levels between Jesus and the disciples? Jesus is not being hindered by the same winds (devils) that are hindering the disciples. They have their eyes on the natural and the natural solutions and not the Word of God spoken by Jesus on the shore and the supernatural solution the Word brings. Jesus is operating in the supernatural (spirit) for supernatural purposes and the disciples are operating in the natural with a supernatural purpose. That will not work, we must operate in the supernatural to attain supernatural results.
The disciples see Jesus walking on the sea and do not recognize Him. Have you ever seen someone you know in a different or unexpected location or situation and failed to recognize them? This suggests to me that they were not spending the quality time with Jesus that would have brought them into the intimate relationship that would have allowed them to identify Him anywhere. What about you and me? Are we only looking for Jesus to manifest in ways we have been taught, witnessed many years ago, or perhaps only heard about? They immediately identified this unusual occurrence as evil, a spirit. I wonder if we have ever heard of or seen unfamiliar events and immediately concluded it was not of God?
Until our next publication, I speak this Scriptural prayer for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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