Page 29 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

and tired and defeated and maybe they are even despairing. A
Christian attempting to obey God in His own strength will
experience that kind of frustration; defeat and failure. “I tried and I
can’t. I want to obey and I can’t.”

Every command in this book is impossible. “Husbands love your
wives as Christ loved the church.” I say, “I can’t unless I go to
Jesus.” “Rejoice evermore. In everything and for everything give
thanks.” “Love your enemy.” “Pray for those who curse you.” “Go
the second mile.” “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
I say, “I can’t without Jesus.” “Stretch forth your withered hand.”
The man with the withered hand said, “I can’t because it’s
withered.” “Take up your bed and walk.” The crippled man said,
“I can’t. I’m crippled.” “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus said, “I
can’t. I’m dead.” With every command we need to keep coming to
the Lord. So, they were struggling at the oars. That’s looking at
Jesus on the mountain while He’s praying.

I told you that the second one was Jesus walking on the water but it
will make more sense to you if I do the third one now. John
6:20&21, “But He said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’ They were
willing therefore to receive Him into the boat; and immediately the
boat was at the land to which they were going.” In John 6:21 they
received Him into the boat. Mark 6:51&52, “And He got into the
boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were greatly
astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of
the loaves, but their heart was hardened.”

I ask my own heart the question I ask you. Which would you rather
have? When I first started to study this, my heart said, “I want Jesus
in the boat. I don’t want Him where I can’t see Him. I want Him
where I can see Him.” This is the exact opposite of faith. We walk
by faith and not by sight. When He is in the boat we can see Him
and touch Him and we can hear Him. We are together. That is the
exact opposite of faith. They couldn’t have faith while He was in
the boat.