Matt. 14:28 Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
When ever these scriptures are taught it’s always about Peter living supernaturally in the moment. I’ve taught that many times, and will many more times in the future, but I think there is something else revealed in these verses that is worth considering. Peter is one of my favorite biblical characters because he is so normal. One moment we find him doing some extraordinary thing in his zeal for God, then the next moment find him failing terribly in action or words. One thing is for sure though, Jesus was ravished by Peter’s transparent love for Him and Peter’s passion to live in His presence. He didn’t always walk it out right, but His heart had been ruined for Chri.
Look at these verses in John 13:36-37 when Jesus announced He was going away, “Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, where are you going.’ Jesus answered, ‘Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you shall follow later.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for you.'” In Matt.14 when Peter realized it was The Lord on the water, and he was in the boat, he couldn’t stand it. He didn’t say bid me to walk on the water, instead he said if it really is you, command me to COME TO YOU on the water. In other words, “If you are going to be out there, then that is where I want to be.” It then says Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water TOWARD JESUS. You see Peter wasn’t about getting to walk around on water; he about getting as close to Jesus as he could, and if the only way to get there was to risk it all and walk on water then he wanted that.
Of course Peter blew it, but he also went for it. When we risk it all; sacrifice it all for His presence, then God will release a supernatural grace for that kind of pursuit and lifestyle. Like Peter, there will be times when you will sink because you get afraid of the risks and take your eyes off of the prize, which is Him, but when you do, He will come and lift you up to walk on the water in His presence again. Don’t live safe in the boat. Step out, leaving all the pleasantries, securities, and safety of the boat behind and go after Him. It’s that kind of “waste it all” pursuit for Him that releases a supernatural anointing to apprehend Him. There will be times when you will sink in your WILD pilgrimage, but when you do, He so treasures your longing and abandonment that He will simply pick up His Sinking Saint and set you on your feet again.
Oh yeah, when you do get out of the boat to go after Him, walking on water, supernatural living in every arena, including ministry, comes with it. Abandon it all and go after Him then all that He is, does, and has will be yours.