Page 32 - Fundamentals 7 ebook 1-16-19_Neat

straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the
fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea:
and He intended to pass by them. But when they saw Him
walking on the sea, they supposed that it was a ghost, and cried
out; for they all saw Him and were frightened. But immediately
He spoke with them and said to them, ‘Take courage; it is I; do
not be afraid.’”

So, now they are on the boat and they look out and they see a
ghost. The mountain was no sight, in the boat is all sight, in the
middle it is half and half – a ghost. When it is mixed you aren’t
sure if it’s an enemy or a friend. Should I be afraid or should I
pack up?

“That thing that came into my life; that doctor’s report; is that
from the devil or from the Lord?” So, there are some people
that relate to the Lord half and half, “I want to trust Him but
it’s still me.” It’s both. It looks spiritual but you aren’t sure. It
leaves you standing on the deck afraid.

If I don’t see Jesus invisible on the mountain, will he forsake
me? You know the answer is no. He’ll see you struggling at
the oars and He’ll come to you. He knows when you are
frustrated and He knows when you are trying to obey and you
can’t. Mark 6:48, “He saw them struggling at the oars,” but
notice that it says that He intended to pass by. He did not want
to get on the boat. He didn’t want to do the miracle of calming
the storm. He didn’t want to take them to their desired
destination. He won’t fail us if we struggle at the oars but what
if we don’t let Him walk by?

Let me tell you what He taught them by walking by. He taught
them, first of all, that He was there. He said, “Be not afraid; it’s
Me.” Mark 6:50, “For they all saw Him and were frightened.
But immediately He spoke with them and said to them, “Take
courage; it is I, do not be afraid.’” If I fail or struggle, the Lord
will come to me and He will let me know that it is Him. In
fact, it was the very wind of the storm that carried His voice.