Impact Magazine

GET OUT OF THE BOAT

4 Positions of Faith

‘Muyiwa Omole

There is a problem in Church today: There is an epidemic of “Unbelieving Believers.”

How do I mean? There are lots of Christians who know the scriptures well, the read and hear the word and they have wonderful insight into the truth of the word. They can teach awesome messages from the scriptures and can even preach the message of faith so well, but they are not believers in real sense of it.

Many Christians live their lives as victims rather than as victors. They live in perpetual defeat rather than live as people made in God’s image with a dominion mandate. Knowing the Scriptures is not enough, you have to really believe them and be able to apply them to your daily living in this world.

“Believer” is not just a term used to describe people who come to Christ; it is a term that is supposed to characterize our lifestyle. Believers believe in God and what He says about them, their destiny, future and purpose in life.

Is it really possible to be close to God, to study His Word daily, raise hands in worship and yet be an unbelieving believer? Yes, even the disciples of Jesus struggled with this issue. The disciples were close to Jesus, had been chosen by Him, went about with Him everywhere and were given authority by Him, yet they still had unbelief in their hearts. There were unbelieving believers in some situations (Read Matthew 14:25-36; Matthew 17:14-20). This is why I will not presume that this is something we have mastered. For if the closeness of the disciples to Jesus did not eradicate their unbelief, how much more must we the church remain aware of this potential footbrake on our life and ministries.

So how do you know if you are a believing believer? By what you do. Believers are doers. Faith is a motivator; it is a force that energizes people to do something. Faith gets things done.

Let’s study Matthew 14:25-36 closely to see reactions of the disciples in a particular event that occurred.

Matthew 14:25-33. New International Version (NIV)

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.27 But Jesus immediately said to them:  “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”28 ”Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

From the reactions of the disciples that night let’s look at four positions we can find ourselves in when it comes to believing God:

1.       THE TERRIFIED BELIEVER

If you are in the boat, then like the disciples you love God, are saved, you go to church and are not a bad person as it were. In the boat you have found a safe place and you intend staying there. You don’t like waves and commotion. But suddenly, as with the disciples, storms started challenging where you are at. It is as if a voice is saying, ‘You can do more, you can be more than this, step out to a new level, get out of your comfort zone.’ God is calling you to a new level but you identify with the terrified disciples in the boat.

Getting out of the boat can be frightening, especially in the middle of turbulence. It means embracing the unknown. The challenge is: do you believe God of the boat is also the God of the unknown ocean? You may be scared of moving on but it is your choice to decide whether or not you really believe God when he says ‘come’ or not.

2.       THE INQUISITIVE BELIEVER

You may be in the boat but like Peter you immediately recognize the voice of God. Even though scared, you are inquisitive. Though surrounded by people who refuse to get out of the boat, your heart is pounding and you know you will have to do something about it. Like Peter your response is, ‘if this is you, tell me to come!” Jesus answered with one word, ‘come.’ He didn’t explain how to come or what to do, it was simply a test of faith.

If you know that God has asked you to do something, then stop hanging around with the terrified unbelievers in the boat and change your environment by stepping out.

3.       THE DECISIVE BELIEVER

Someone out there is reading this and you are thinking, ‘I’ve already got out of the boat.’ You made a decision, you went for it and now you are walking on water. But having decided to move forward into what God told you doubts are now creeping in. the waves of circumstances and disappointment are crashing around you and you wonder whether it was a mistake.

To you God is saying, ‘Don’t look at the waves, believe. God hasn’t changed His mind, He still believes in you. It’s just a storm and His love for you is stronger than any adversity you will face, so keep going.

Never let adverse circumstances alone determine whether you should continue or not. Jesus promised us that ‘in this world you will have trouble.’ Your faith should grow strong with every storm you face because fundamentally you are convinced that in Christ you have ‘overcome the world’ and your destiny is secure in his hands.

4.       THE SINKING BELIEVER

And to all of you who feel like you are sinking fast I will like to say two things. First, well done for getting this far, and second, get back up and believe again! Remember what got you out of the boat in the first place. Ask yourself what’s changed? God is still in control; He still believes in you and is still calling you. To the sinking Peter Jesus reached out a hand and caught him. To you he also says ‘I’m here, why did you doubt? Doubt will sink your life every time. So, let your doubt be drowned out by your faith.

God believes in you, He loves you and you are special to Him but are you willing to get out of the boat? Peter is not remembered today as the disciple who sank, he is remembered for being the one who walked on water. Do you want to be remembered for being a doubting Thomas or for being the Believing Peter? The choice is yours.