MY FRIENDS, “COME” DON”T FEAR “TAKE COURAGE! IT IS CHRIST, DON’T BE AFRAID”

Jan. 14, 2015

MY FRIENDS, “COME” DON”T FEAR “TAKE COURAGE! IT IS CHRIST, DON’T BE AFRAID

I remember at a young age, having nightmares about a backroom in our church kids use to tell folk tales about. I remember it was always a little old lady chasing me through the catacombs of the basement, only to wake up to the sound and love of a mothers voice that always assured me when I heard that voice, it was only a dream.

Nothing will ever happen to me, my parents will always be there. When life was so simple, when all it took was a mothers voice to assure you “Don’t be afraid or terrified because of them, for [your mother and father] goes with you; [we] will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Then one day, life begin to take on a nightmare of its own that you never seemed to wake up from until you heard God’s voice saying “come.” Matt.14:22-36 (NKJV) tells us after Christ had feed the 5,000. “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead…….

He dismissed the crowd then He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him….they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “take courage! it is I.

Don’t be afraid” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.” Oh what Faith, in the middle of the storm and the raging waters too heed Christ call and “Come”

But what about you and I In the midst of our storms, how easy is it too heed Christ call and “Come” but what are our fears today? What is keeping us from having that heartfelt passionate and intimate relationship with Christ and “come”?

Where is our faith when Christ has already told us “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you [so come]” Deut. 31:6 (KJV) My friends where are your fears, do they reside deep in the catacombs of your mind, as you also hear the voice of the enemy saying don’t go.

Remember “God is our refuge.”  But there must be a passion, or a thirst for what our God is willing to give us through His word and our faith and endurance. Psalm 42:1-2 (NLT) says: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.” I thirst for God the living God.”

We need to recognize our need to be filled by Christ and Not by the “things of this world that one day will pass away.” Peter did get out of the boat, and he did walk on water towards Christ when He said “come” and that must be our initial step of faith to get out of the boat, and come to Him.

But we must make God’s passion to save us, our Passion to be saved and tell others also about the saving grace of our God. What A risky step! But by Faith it is possible but it must be all about Faith and God’s saving grace.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Heb.11:1 (KJV) So friends tell God today “God, I’m going to listen, obey and trust in spite of being satisfied and content with staying in the boat where the cares of this world surrounds me.

Remember, Satan’s control over us is with fear, but in 1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) it tells us: “Be self-controlled and alert.” key word alert, Webster explains the word alert as an attitude of vigilance, readiness, or caution, as before an expected attack.

Yes, we will sink at times like Peter because of life’s situation and circumstances. But Christ will always reach out His hand  and catch us no matter how close to the bottom we have sunk. So don’t fear “take courage! it is Christ who says “come”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY