WALKING ON WATER

WALKING ON WATER

Many years ago the Lord had me to respond to a Facebook post regarding Peter lacking faith to walk on water. When the Lord told me to respond to the post I asked the Lord if I should send it in a private message because of the unbelief of many as they would not receive what I was going to reveal. I suppose looking back today I would likely quote what Paul said that he fed them milk because they were not ready for solid food. I did as the Lord asked of me and wrote my reply needless to say I came under attack as totally absurd and was accused of stating that Jesus was a “shape-shifter”. I only received one response that was positive. Never the less the Lord is having me write this post regardless of the opinions of others.

So today the Lord has put it on my heart to write about this publicly so people can see what really was happening and get spiritual insight. If you have read some of my other articles I emphasized that it was the Son of God by the Spirit of God that discipled the disciples. Not the son of Man. Let’s begin by reading the walking on water event then I will provide my commentary. I have highlighted some key verses to reflect on.

Matthew 14:22–33 (NKJV)

Jesus Walks on Water

Mark 6:45–52; John 6:14–21

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.”

Looking at verse 24 you can see what the conditions were that the boat was going through. The fourth watch is the hours between 3 am and 6 am in the morning. This is likely why people have dreams or prayers of intercession during these hours of the day. Notice that when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water they were troubled saying “IT IS A GHOST”! What they saw was Jesus in the Spirit not in the flesh. It would be foolish to say otherwise because they had been with the incarnate Christ for some time now.

What Jesus was revealing to them was what was written in the Torah, book of Genesis! Jesus was revealing Himself as the God of creation as in Genesis 2. Hallelujah! Glory to God! Jesus replies to them not to be afraid! Notice Peter had not yet stepped out of the boat but all of the disciples cried out for fear. Now pay attention to the interaction between Peter and Jesus.

Peter speaks out “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus replied COME. What happened here was Peter was “testing the spirit” of “ A GHOST/SPIRIT” which is required of all of us! (1 John 4:1) Jesus appeared in the Spirit not as a man. When Jesus replied COME (Revelation 22:17) Peter responded in faith and stepped out onto the water. Jesus told us that His sheep hear His voice so Peter was testing the spirit and heard the voice of the Lord. Let’s read a few scriptures and then I will continue commenting.

Genesis 1:1–2 (NKJV)

The History of Creation

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

1 John 4:1–3 (NKJV)

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

When Peter took his eyes and attention OFF from Jesus who was revealing Himself in the Spirit and focused his attention to the waves of the storms, winds and conditions he began to sink. Jesus stretched out His hand and grabbed Peter stating “you of little faith, why did you doubt”. Peter originally stepped out in faith but when he took his focus off the Lord he put his confidence in his own ability and not that of Jesus. Paul writes in his epistle to have NO confidence in the flesh! Please remember Peter is a disciple and learning to grow in faith. Faith is always tested so that we may grow in faith, trust and love in Christ Jesus as all are 3 in 1 of equal measure. Where you lack in one you lack in all of them. If you truly want to grow in faith, love and trust in the Lord Jesus the Lord will help you to release the burdens of this world so that you can grow in revelations of Christ Jesus and witness the supernatural provisions and loving care of our Lord Jesus.

Matthew 6:25 (NKJV)

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

This next point is one of my own but I believe it bares mentioning. Originally Jesus appeared as a Ghost but then Jesus hand reached out. While the scriptures do not state this what I believe happened is Jesus went from The Holy Ghost/Spirit back to the incarnate Christ physical human body. I believe as Jesus approached the boat in the Spirit of God He went back to the Son of Man as the incarnate Christ as Jesus stretched out His hand to Peter. So I pose this question could Peter having seen the Spirit of God “hovering over the face of the waters” witnessed the Lord transforming back to the incarnate Christ and thus lost faith in the human/flesh as the divine was not manifest any longer? Just a thought to pose.

When I stated this on the Facebook post years ago I was laughed at and asked to back it up with scripture. Immediately I thought of the transfiguration! The disciples were told on the Mount of Transfiguration NOT to tell anyone until after Jesus was resurrected, however they saw once again Jesus as the Spirit of God. In Isaiah 43:2 reflects on the “faith” of Jesus being with us when we pass through the waters, rivers or even the sea for that matter that these waters will NOT overflow you because Jesus is with us.

Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Revelation 22:17 (NKJV)

¹⁷ And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Matthew 17:1–13 (NKJV)

The Transfiguration

Mark 9:2–13; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Pet. 1:17, 18

17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; ² and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ⁴ Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

⁹ Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

¹⁰ And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. ¹² But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Philippians 3:3 (NKJV)

³ For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Now take a moment to reflect on these scriptures and ask yourself why do people falsely believe today that they can not encounter the resurrected Christ when the disciples witnessed the transfiguration of Christ BEFORE they received the Holy Spirit? Why do people say you would have to have been alive and witnessed the incarnate Christ to be an Apostle when Paul encountered the resurrected Christ.

I truly believe with all of these false teachings such as preaching cessationism has stripped the power of God from the saints. These false pastors are preaching “unbelief” by denying the Spirit and Truth of God’s Word! The doctrines of men, demons and many religious organizations have stripped the power of God from the LIVING WORD. I have said this in many of my postings that the devil doesn’t care if you read your bible or can recite your bible. The devil does NOT want you to be born again and operate in the Power of God because when you do you are a threat to the devil’s kingdom. Every born again saint is removed/delivered from the kingdom of darkness and the clutches/hands of the devil! Very few teach or preach on gifts of the spirit, how to walk by the spirit, discern the spirit and be empowered by the spirit of God. We need to build a “spiritual house” not an earthly house with the knowledge of men but with revelations of Christ Jesus. Without the five fold ministry the church has become powerless and filled with unbelief and this blocks and restricts the power of God. Because of unbelief many will not operate in the power of God.

It wasn’t that Peter had NO faith or Peter would not have gotten out of the boat! Peter’s faith was challenged so Peter could grow in faith and revelations of Christ Jesus! I will give you a key point to remember when you “step out in faith”. You must surrender the outcome to the Lord, we do not hold the outcome only the Lord holds the outcome! Otherwise you will receive the “sign of Jonah” spending 3 days in darkness which means dying to yourself and repenting.

I hope this posting has helped you to reflect upon these scriptures and maybe view these events a little differently. Let us trust in Christ Jesus with ALL of our hearts and lean not upon our own understanding.