When we give our lives to Jesus, we sometimes expect everything to be easy. God never promised us smooth sailing, but be assured that we can count on Jesus for help when Satan attacks. The disciples followed Jesus and learned from Him, but they also had some very trying times that stretched their faith. They had to learn to trust Jesus by taking baby steps.

One day early in His ministry, Jesus had been teaching a multitude of people, and His body needed rest. He told the disciples that He wanted to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. What should have been an easy trip – because Peter, Andrew, James, and John were experienced fishermen and knew how to handle a ship – suddenly turned dangerous.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full” (Mark 4:37).

I can understand why the disciples would be concerned. The ship was sinking. They didn’t have enough experience to know that they could trust Jesus to get them through the storm, and this was a step in building their faith. All they could see was the danger, not the hope found in Jesus. Where was Jesus?

“And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38).

Although they had spent some time with Jesus and were learning from Him, they categorized their faith; there were some things that faith in Jesus would help, but other things, like a major storm, they felt was up to them to deal with. Their faith was new, and they had to learn to truly trust Him, even in storms.

Do you ever find yourself in a situation like that? All you can see is the danger, and fear rules your reasoning instead of faith. Maybe the storm is a financial one or a health problem. These things can bring fear into your mind. I think of stories I’ve heard of wealthy people committing suicide during the financial collapse that led to the Great Depression. People had to decide about their priorities. Did they love their money so much that it was their god, or did they have faith in Jesus to see them through the storm? It wasn’t an easy time in history, but those who placed their faith in Jesus were far better off than those whose god was earthly treasure.

The disciples could only see the storm. They were in the baby steps of their faith and had to learn. It was Jesus’ will to cross the sea, and that should have assured them they would make it safely.

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). The disciples were in awe as Jesus calmed the storm. “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:40).

Jesus asked them about their lack of faith, and we need to have an answer to that question when we face the storms in our life with fear instead of faith.

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41).

What manner of man, indeed! He was God incarnate, and He had stepped into His creation as a man. Only He can calm the storms in life.

The above event happened early in Jesus’ ministry, and the disciples were just beginning to grow in their faith. We have the same problems as we stumble through this life. When we first meet Jesus, we have to take baby steps in faith and learn to trust Him. We all face uncertain times in life, and we feel our faith being tested. “I trusted Jesus, but now I face this great crisis. Is He sleeping while my ship sinks?” No, Jesus never sleeps, and He is always there. So many of the troubles we face in life are caused by our own choices and actions, but we blame Jesus for not saving us from the consequences of those choices.

Possibly, you’ve chosen to smoke cigarettes, and now you face lung disease. Maybe you’ve chosen to live a deviant sexual lifestyle, and now you’ve contracted a deadly disease. Jesus isn’t to blame. Are you facing prison because you were driving recklessly and had an accident where someone died? It was your choice to be irresponsible.

The thing we must remember is that no matter what mistakes or bad choices we make, Jesus never turns away from those who repent and truly accept His free gift of salvation. He will see you through the storms in life. That doesn’t mean it’s okay to keep making the same mistakes. Repent means to change your mind and turn away from sin. Whatever happens in this life, faith in Jesus will bring eternal salvation.

Of all the great men in Scripture, most people can relate to Peter. He meant well, but he made many blunders. With one breath, he declared Jesus as the “Christ, the Son of the Living God,” but in the next breath, he was pridefully telling Jesus what to do. Jesus very plainly told His disciples that He was going to Jerusalem and He would be killed there. Prophecy would be fulfilled there, but sometimes, prophecy being fulfilled can cause confusion and anxiety. Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. Jesus knew what had to happen, and no man could hinder the events that had to take place.

“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:33).

Peter had followed Jesus but didn’t really know Him. Many Christians have the same problem. They say, “I’m a Christian,” but when their faith is tested, they turn to human solutions. Instead of studying Scripture in order to know Jesus better, some try to mold Him into what they want in order to justify their sins. We also see frightening world events happening and forget about studying prophecy. If we study Scripture, we can see that prophecy is being fulfilled exactly as God told us in His word. Sometimes we feel that Christ came to make life easier for us. He came to open eternal life for us.

Peter kept taking those baby steps and growing in faith. There was another storm, and we see that Peter had learned some lessons about faith. Once again, Jesus had been teaching a multitude of people.

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away” (Matthew 14:22).

They didn’t question Him as to why they were to set sail without Him, but they obeyed. When the multitude was gone, Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. He was able to see His disciples as they struggled to cross over.

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:24-25).

The fourth watch was around 3 AM, and that’s when the disciples saw a marvelous sight. They were frightened as they saw Jesus coming toward them, walking on the water. His disciples thought He was a spirit, and He told them not to be afraid. Peter was excited, and true to his character, he spoke up.

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (Matthew 14:28).

This is a good lesson for all of us. Rather than just jumping into the water, Peter first asked Jesus for permission. Peter was learning, and the baby steps were becoming more confident.

“And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus” (Matthew 14:29).

Can you imagine the thrill? Peter stepped out in faith but then made a mistake.

“But when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30).

Peter took his eyes off Jesus and saw the storm. His human “logic” told him that it was impossible to walk on water. Nothing is impossible with God. As always, Jesus answered his plea.

“And immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

Peter took a big step of faith by getting out of the boat, but his fear caused him to sink. Had he kept his eyes fixed upon Jesus, he would have kept walking. Peter was learning to trust Jesus, and in the years to come, those baby steps would be confident steps of faith.

Brothers and sisters, we are headed into a storm. Are you still taking baby steps in your faith? If so, you need to get into God’s word and study. Prophecy is being fulfilled, but too many Christians feel fear as they hear of all the major things that are happening in the world.

Israel is at war with the Muslim nations around them, and many prophecies are on the verge of being fulfilled. The Jewish people want to build their temple, but the evil that surrounds them won’t allow it. It will be built in spite of the storms trying to stop them. If you study prophecy, you’ll know that the temple is an important part of end-times prophecy. It must be built before the halfway point of the Tribulation. That’s where the Antichrist will set up the abomination. All of the necessary items to fill the temple are ready, but there have to be ashes from a red heifer in order to purify the temple and the priests.

“This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke” (Numbers 19:2).

It’s very rare for a cow to have no white hairs. Today, there are 5 red heifers in Israel, and so far, they seem to qualify. The sacrifice will be made, and the only thing missing is permission to build the temple. It will happen when God says it will happen.

As bold as Peter was, he really had many fears. When Jesus was arrested, Peter hid and denied knowing Christ. Even though a few hours before that awful arrest, Peter had declared that he would lay his life down for Jesus. Sadly, he couldn’t live up to his proclamation. Aren’t we like that? We walk up to an altar and profess faith, but at the first sign of trouble, we go back to our sin. Maybe your friends mock your faith, or the temptation of living a life of sin is strong, and you return to your old ways. Remember that Jesus didn’t come to ruin your life, nor does He look for every chance to condemn you.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).

After the crucifixion, all of the disciples felt as if they had put their faith in the wrong man. His death, to them, was a tragedy, but in reality, it was the ultimate victory. He conquered death for all who truly believe in Him. The Roman tyranny would end one day, but everlasting life is forever. One day soon, true Christian believers will be taken to Heaven in the Rapture, but those left on earth will face unimaginable horrors. We need to share the Gospel with everyone we can. Time is getting short. Stop taking baby steps in your faith, and start walking strong in Christ.

The disciples continued to be together, which is what Christians should do. If we continue to hold onto old friends, it’s easy to fall back into old ways.

One day, they were together at the sea of Tiberias. Even though Peter had denied knowing Jesus, he was still a part of the group. He was probably pretty down on himself for his failure. Like Peter, we often get tired of waiting for Jesus to give us direction in life, and that’s when we return to old ways. For Peter, it was fishing. That’s not a sin, but it wasn’t what Jesus had planned for Peter. The whole group went fishing together, but they caught no fish until Jesus appeared, and they followed His directions. They caught more fish than their boat could handle.

That’s another lesson we learn through Peter. Our own efforts are all for naught, but when we follow Jesus’ directions, we are blessed abundantly.

Peter had been stumbling around, taking baby steps in faith, and failing. It was now time for Jesus to restore Peter and to give him his purpose in life. Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me? In English, we miss the full meaning of the question. Jesus asked if Peter loved Him with a godly love. Peter could only say that he had a friendly love for Him. Jesus understood, but He gave Peter a purpose. Peter was to feed the flock, both sheep and lambs. The baby steps were over, and it was time for Peter to start walking like a man of God. Jesus told him to feed the flock…

both sheep and lambs. There wasn’t a flock to feed at the time, but when the day of Pentecost came, it was Peter who stood up and boldly gave a sermon that convicted about 3,000 men, and they gave their lives to Jesus.

Peter had to take baby steps and experience some failures in order to become the leader of Christians in Jerusalem. That took courage. He wrote letters that are filled with prophecy and encouragement. It was the storms he faced that made his faith grow stronger, and his failures helped him to learn to trust Jesus more.

When storms come into your life, instead of hiding out of fear and denying Christ, grow bolder in your faith. You have a testimony that can help other people to come to know Jesus. Share it with others. It’s not always easy, but it is always important. Step out in faith, and don’t take your eyes off of Jesus. If you do, you’ll sink.

Take those baby steps of faith, and grow. Peter did.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

Deep down, most Christians want more people to come to a saving faith in Christ. Whether we think of a relative or a friend, our desire is that someone we love does not end up in Hell for eternity. Were you baptized as an infant? You didn’t make your own choice, nor did you repent from your sins. Let’s be clear: there is no purgatory. The individual choice has to be made before we leave this earth. No matter how sweet Aunt Clara is or how kind and reliable Uncle Bill is, without faith in Jesus before death, they won’t go to a better place. Neither will you. Another truth to understand is that everyone lives forever…some to eternal life, while others join Satan and his minions in the Lake of Fire that burns forever.

Forever is a long time to live with poor decisions. The Apostle Paul understood this. After he met Jesus, his life was spent sharing the Gospel. The only way anybody can accept Christ is for someone to share the truth with them. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). 

Today, I see a lot of people who think that bribery is the way to spread the Gospel. Missionary work today is not what it once was. There are groups who think the way to spread the Gospel is to do repair work on homes (provided the person has insurance) or to give Christmas gifts to children who have no idea who Christ is. Brothers and sisters, the Biblical way to bring someone to understand who Christ is and why they need salvation is to share the Gospel. I attended a church for many years that has forgotten who Christ is, and it is under the leadership of a very seeker-friendly pastor who seldom preaches from the word of God. Pew-sitters will multiply, but true believers will be divided.

God’s word must be understood from Genesis through Revelation. Each concept and each verse is important and must be applied to each person in the congregation. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

It might be a feather in the cap of a preacher to have a full congregation to speak to every Sunday, but if those people aren’t hearing God’s truth, it profits nothing… except a stuffed collection plate. I hear so many people yearning for revival, and so do I. The problem is that it seems people want revival without Christ. This is a sign that we are in the end of days. Too many people have turned away from God’s truth found in Scripture and cling to the man-made ideas of “church doctrine.”

When the rules and regulations of the denomination you attend conflict with God’s word, obey God. There is much division among denominations, and that doesn’t honor God. Today, outright sin is accepted by many Christians, but if the Bible is seen as authority, the sinner would be shown God’s love, but the sin would be rejected.

After Moses died, Joshua was the strong leader of the Israelites. The first thing he did was to lead the people back to God. He re-established the celebration of Passover and brought the people back to a covenant relationship with God. This meant all the men had to be circumcised. Yes, it hurt, but unless they were right with God, they couldn’t expect God to bless them. Giving up a sin may hurt, but we can’t honor God if we pick and choose what rules we will follow.

Years passed, and Solomon desired to build a temple to honor God. Solomon’s father, King David, wanted to build it, but God didn’t allow him the privilege, so the honor fell to Solomon. God was pleased with what Solomon had built. Then God told him, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Today we just want God to bless us because we want Him to. We take no responsibility for our actions as we dabble in sin and accept false teachers into the pulpits. God wants Christians to multiply, but we must follow His ways, or we will be divided.

Time passed, and the people forgot to honor God. Israel divided into two kingdoms, and the Northern Kingdom was destroyed because of the evil leadership and pagan worship which they embraced. The Southern Kingdom fared much better, for a while. They didn’t fully follow God’s Law like they were supposed to. It’s never wise to pick and choose which part of God’s word you want to obey, or twist Scripture to condone your sin. The beautiful temple which Solomon built was destroyed, and the people were taken captive to Babylon.

Years later, the time had come for the temple to be rebuilt, but there was much turmoil. Read Ezra and Nehemiah to understand what all went on, but once the temple was rebuilt, it was time for revival. “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel” (Nehemiah 8:1). 

The first thing that must be done in order to bring revival and be in a right relationship with God is to understand God’s word. “And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithia, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, and Zechariah, and Meshullam” (Nehemiah 8:4).

Revival cannot happen unless God is honored. “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground” (Nehemiah 8:6). 

Does your pastor honor God’s word? Does he preach a sermon centered upon Scripture, or is it centered upon books written by men? I’ve listened to too many sermons that are centered around a purpose-driven idea, or quotes by atheists and rock stars. These sermons aren’t designed to edify anybody or confront sin but to assure that everyone is happy. Never mind that the word of God is compromised. The congregation may multiply, but those who come to faith and honor God are few. In fact, such sermons actually deny Christ. “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). It’s very serious to deny Christ in order to tickle ears.

Jesus was born at a time when there was much turmoil and tension in the world. The Jewish people were allowed to practice their faith, but the Romans ruled over them. Jesus came to fulfill the Law, not to demolish it. God’s morality still applies to us today. When Jesus walked in Jerusalem, it was a serious offense to follow Christ. The temple was the center of Jewish life, but anyone accused of following Christ was expelled from the temple and the protection it offered. If you followed Christ, your family would disown you. Jesus wasn’t unaware of this problem but was more concerned with saving souls than with multiplying followers who would be persuaded to follow each new craze.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law, and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:34-38). 

That’s not very seeker-friendly, but it is the truth. Will it cause division? Yes, but it will also bring salvation. If you only want to please people, you may have many followers and be a megachurch, but unless you follow Christ, you gain nothing. Christ brings division between those who follow Him and those who follow the world.

One of the most non-seeker-friendly sermons ever preached was spoken by Simon Peter. The disciples, now Apostles, were gathered together. They must have been unsure of what to do after Jesus had died, and their hopes had been dampened. They didn’t know that they would be the ones to bring revival into the world. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). They were of “one accord” in “one place.”

There was no division in them. They were all together, with the exception of Judas who had turned against Jesus and ultimately committed suicide. Judas would have always caused division. Peter was there. Peter had denied Christ three times but repented and was restored by Jesus. He would be used in a big way. The Apostles weren’t divided; they knew what Jesus had taught them and didn’t deviate from His truth. That’s when the fire of the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they were never the same. Peter turned his boldness towards spreading the Gospel. “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). 

People who heard thought they were drunk. Peter had been told by Jesus to feed the sheep, and feed them he did. He used Jewish Scripture found in Joel 2:28-32 to explain that prophecy was being fulfilled that day; prophecy is a very important study. Peter’s main focus of this Holy Spirit-inspired sermon was Jesus. Peter convicted the crowd of their sins, but he also spoke of the miracles and sacrificial love of Jesus. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:23-24). 

Many of these same people who were listening to Peter had been in the crowd at Jesus’ trial. They were shouting, “Crucify Him!” Peter didn’t sugarcoat their sin. Did these people get in a snit and stomp away? No, they didn’t. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). They were to repent and be baptized. They couldn’t remain in their sin; they had to turn away from it. The baptism was an outward sign of an inward change. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). Christians were multiplying, not dividing.

Today, we have many divisions among the various denominations, and many of the doctrines aren’t found in Scripture. Some denominations say that musical instruments cannot be played in worship services, and others believe you have to speak in tongues. Jesus said to “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39.

When the Apostle Paul took the Gospel to the people of Berea, he found that “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). If your pastor doesn’t teach from Scripture, he is in error. That shouldn’t stop you from studying God’s word. Brothers and sisters, be like the Bereans.

Paul also encouraged the young pastor Timothy to study Scripture. Remember, the Scriptures were Old Testament writings, so don’t neglect any of Scripture. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). You need to study to be sure you’re being taught properly.

My husband first came to know Christ in a church that had many false teachings. I encouraged Ron to compare what was being taught from the pulpit to what God said in Scripture. Ron was very discerning and soon came to realize how wrong that church was. Ron never lost his love for God’s word and did his best to live for Christ.

If your pastor is trying to multiply pew-sitters by preaching seeker-friendly or New Age heresy rather than rightly dividing God’s word of truth, then you need to rebuke him or find a Christ-centered, Bible-believing congregation to worship God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.