Ever heard the saying, "If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat"? See Mt 14:22-33
In a Sunday message at a church that I was visiting, the pastor commented, "If anyone in here is walking on water, I would like to know. You need to be up here teaching the rest of us."
This sounded like sarcasm to me and demeaning to his congregation. He sounded like he did not believe anyone, today, in this world, could have the faith to follow Jesus and do miracles.
I have done and witnessed miracles in the name of Jesus. This means I did not do the deeds; rather, the deeds were done in His name, by Him, through the Holy Spirit. It does happen. Many believers do, and receive, miracles. Ro 8:28
Just believe He can and will. Heb 11:1
There are testimonies daily from people who witness miracles in their own lives by believing in spiritual healing and/or having the faith to call a work in His name. Pastors and evangelists perform healings and good works by calling on the name of Jesus. God answers millions of prayers around the world on a daily basis.
Sometimes,
we loose sight of Jesus and we sink. But, other times, it is easier to
keep our eyes on the prize and follow through.
The pastor's comment on Sunday seemed like mockery to me. How dare any one mock the Holy Spirit? These gifts are not limited to prophets and spiritual leaders but given to any believer in Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8
After all, the Holy Spirit resides in all believers. II Cor 5:17 The spirit lives in us. I have called on Him in the name of Jesus to heal. I pray for people and situations. I make effort to serve others. There are many people out there today "walking on water", and much more than me.
Any believer, in faith, can call on the name of Jesus to enable us to perform works of healing, surviving, sharing and giving. I John 2:6
Let's learn to recognize teaching that is not correct when we hear it. Do not see yourself as being less than you are through Christ.
Jesus is alive and well. What are you waiting for? Get out of the boat!
Amen ?
The child grew and was weaned. Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned. Gen 21:8
In the verse above we see Isaac weaned off of milk so he could consume
solid food. Hebrew children were weaned at three to five years of age
and their religious training began at that time. In a spiritual way,
babes in Christ grow to taking solid food; the word of God. We grow
from taking God's word in literal form to reading with understanding as
we grow. We learned the 10 Commandments as children. As we mature and
grow in the understanding of Jesus, His sacrifice and the grace we have
through Him, we are said to be eating the "bread of life" - Jesus. We
realize we no longer need the milk (God's perfect law) because we cannot
grow healthy on just milk. We now have bread (the grace of Jesus).
Through understanding grace over law, we can mature in Jesus. We, as
Christians, can grow in understanding and reflect the light of Jesus in
this world.
Just a few years ago, I did not understand the bread
of Communion for healing. I saw speaking in tongues done in the wrong
way and did not accept it. There was a time that I did not believe in
anointing for healing. I thought the 10 Commandments were our absolute
law for living; that we could loose our salvation if we did not keep
them. I was self righteous; I was judgemental.. I did not have joy. I
thought the rapture was folklore. I recently realized that I did not
grasp the concept of the trinity. Over the past couple, or three, years
I have been shown the grace of God and my understanding of all these
things has come to light through scripture. I can now read with greater
understanding. I was the babe on milk until I was taught the grace of
God and found the bread of life; Jesus.
And you shall love the Lord your God out of with your whole heart, and
out of with all your soul and out of with your mind - with your faculty
of thought and your moral understanding - and out of with all your
strength. Mk 12:30 & 31
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. II Cor 12:9
