Speaker: Karen Jensen
I was several minutes late to this service, sat down to start taking notes and discovered I’d left my notebook at home. Further investigation revealed the bookstore wouldn’t open til 9:30am. So, this post will be shorter than the rest. I’ll be relying on what I remember and what I managed to send out via Twitter.
She was speaking on the verses where Jesus and Peter both walk on the water.
Here’s what I was able to post via Twitter: (I’ll go into details in a bit.)
*Wind and waves have nothing to do with your miracle. You gotta hold fast to God’s words.
*If Satan can’t make you bad he’ll make you busy. Discipline yourself to listen and focus on God’s directions.
*Faith is based on knowing someone. Strengthen your knowing and you will strengthen your faith.
Matthew 14:22-33
22 And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away.23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone.24 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary.25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon 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 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 upon the waters.29 And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus.30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?32 And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased.33 And they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
First: Wind and waves have nothing to do with your miracle. You gotta hold fast to God’s words.
We’re not supposed to be able to walk on water. Even if the lake had been as flat as mirrored glass Peter should not have been able to walk on water. But he did. He was focused on Jesus and as long as he focused on Jesus Peter was able to walk on water. As soon as he focused on the wind and waves and let those things distract him, Peter started sinking.
Don’t let the wind and waves distract you from your miracles. Keep your focus.
Second: If Satan can’t make you bad he’ll make you busy. Discipline yourself to listen and focus on God’s directions.
She, Karen Jensen, had an illustration to explain focus. Prayer is like a rope and at the end of that rope is the answer or the miracle. So you pray and you pray and you pray some more. And each time you pray you’re bringing that answer or miracle closer to you. But when life happens, when the wind and the waves happen, and you get distracted, or you get busy, you forget to pray or lose your focus. It doesn’t mean that your answer isn’t coming or that your miracle won’t happen. It means you need to keep your focus on God and continue to trust in Him until such a time as your answer or miracle is revealed. (It’s much more effective when you see the rope tied to a bag and strewn about the stage!)
Third: Faith is based on knowing someone. Strengthen your knowing and you will strengthen your faith.
I love the illustration Karen used for this. She said, “If you needed $200 and I told you to call my dad way up in Oregon and ask him for it, would you?” Think about this. Karen knows her dad. She’s known him for her entire life. You and I have never met him so we do not know him. Karen wouldn’t hesitate to call her dad if she needs $200. You and I, maybe we’re desperate enough to call him and maybe we wouldn’t but either way we don’t know him so we have no idea what his reaction would be to our request.
It is just like this with our Heavenly Father. The more we know Him, actually know Him, the stronger our faith is that He will do what he said He would. Think about that.
Okay, that’s all I have from this session. It’s not a lot and it’s a little disjointed but hopefully you got something out of it!
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