GOD’S WORD FOR  NOVEMBER 14

Our  book excerpt today, and ongoing,  is from “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand”  Lessons from the Life of Peter, by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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Matthew 14

There is a FINAL LESSON:

THE POWER OF OUR FEET IS DEPENDENT ON THE FOCUS OF OUR EYES.

Goethe looked to the university but walked to the beer cellar, proving that his education didn’t have the strength to change him.  Knowledge alone will not break destructive habits;  we need a miracle on the inside.  When we gaze on Christ, we are granted the power to do the supernatural – to take charge of our situation and to survive the storm.

What was Peter’s greatest enemy?  Not the storm, nor the waves, but DOUBT WAS HIS GREATEST ADVERSARY.

There was no need to calculate the speed of the wind, there was no need to measure the depth of the water, for none of these forces could keep Peter from his victory.  Doubt and doubt alone was the only enemy that could make Peter fall.

Even if the wind is calm, we will still drown if we fail to look at Christ.  Hugh Martin writes, “You will sink through the waters whether the wind be boisterous or blow softly from the south.  In either case it matters not.  But if you stand firm on the waters in Christ’s name, sharing His dominion over sin and the curse,  Satan,  the world, and death – OH!  Then no danger can arise from the wind:  it must be all from unbelief”

A high-wire performer said that he must walk the wire concentrating completely on a fixed point on the other side.  If he has his attention diverted by looking at someone beneath him or if he were to glance at the audience, he could lose his balance.  Concentration is the key to walking where others have fallen.

How long did it take for Peter to sink when he looked at the wind?  Perhaps only a second or two and he was on his way down.  In the countless times I have failed Christ, I have learned that even a few minutes of broken fellowship can cause me to drown in the storm that seeks to destroy me.  The strength of Satan o the intensity of our trials is not what forces us to fall: 

UNBELIEF IS ALWAYS OUR MORTAL ENEMY.

A moment of uncontrolled anger can cause us to say words that destroy a relationship.  If self-pity is nurtured, it can lead to hopeless depression and despair.  How long does it take for us to be overcome by fear once we focus on those fears rather than on Christ?  Once we have opened the door to lust, it can invade our hearts in a matter of seconds.  All of these temptations and others like them can engulf us in a moment of time, and the more we are pulled in these directions, the greater their control of us becomes.  If we don’t diligently focus our eyes on Christ, we will lose our balance even in the small storms of life.

“THE STEADFAST OF MIND You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.”  (Isaiah 26:3).

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Mark 9:23: “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Romans 10:17: “Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

    Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

    Psalm 37:5: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.”

    Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you.”

    Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”

    Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

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