FAITH – Part 3: O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
In Matthew 14 we find the account of when Peter walked on water.
Matthew 14:24-33 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 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. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Fear and doubt are the great enemies of faith. In this account of Peter, we can see that he was already walking on water going towards the Lord, but finding himself in a stormy sea, he was overcome with fear and doubt and began to sink. "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." This account of Peter is also a picture of us who try to walk by faith and not by sight, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." The stormy sea can represent the circumstances in our lives that take our focus away from Jesus in our daily walk with the Lord. When fear and doubt are allowed to creep into our minds and distract us from our focus on the Lord, the devil can easily introduce thoughts into our minds to bring us further down. Resisting fear and doubt and holding on to solid and unwavering faith and love are keys that help us keep our focus on the Lord in our daily walk with God. Only then are we also able to feel the joy and peace that comes to us only from God.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be not anxious for anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Keeping a steady focus on the Lord and trusting in His will for us, is what gives us perfect peace.
Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
It was fear that caused Peter to deny the Lord 3 times.
Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Fear is an enemy of love, but it is with the power of love, that we can keep out fear.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
In 2 Timothy 1 we read of unfeigned faith and the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:3-7 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Scripture is clear to teach us that when we are able to keep ourselves focused on God with love and unfeigned faith, God will give us perfect peace as well as the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. With the power of love, we can hold on to great faith that will keep out fear and doubt as we walk through the stormy seas of life in our daily walk with the Lord.
Matthew 14:24-33 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 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. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Fear and doubt are the great enemies of faith. In this account of Peter, we can see that he was already walking on water going towards the Lord, but finding himself in a stormy sea, he was overcome with fear and doubt and began to sink. "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." This account of Peter is also a picture of us who try to walk by faith and not by sight, as stated in 2 Corinthians 5:7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." The stormy sea can represent the circumstances in our lives that take our focus away from Jesus in our daily walk with the Lord. When fear and doubt are allowed to creep into our minds and distract us from our focus on the Lord, the devil can easily introduce thoughts into our minds to bring us further down. Resisting fear and doubt and holding on to solid and unwavering faith and love are keys that help us keep our focus on the Lord in our daily walk with God. Only then are we also able to feel the joy and peace that comes to us only from God.
Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be not anxious for anything; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Keeping a steady focus on the Lord and trusting in His will for us, is what gives us perfect peace.
Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.
It was fear that caused Peter to deny the Lord 3 times.
Matthew 26:69-75 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Fear is an enemy of love, but it is with the power of love, that we can keep out fear.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
In 2 Timothy 1 we read of unfeigned faith and the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:3-7 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Scripture is clear to teach us that when we are able to keep ourselves focused on God with love and unfeigned faith, God will give us perfect peace as well as the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. With the power of love, we can hold on to great faith that will keep out fear and doubt as we walk through the stormy seas of life in our daily walk with the Lord.
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