Audacity with God

Matthew 14: When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was a long way^b from the land,^c beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”28And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind,^d he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

I love this passage, because of the interchange between Jesus and Peter.  The set-up is interesting.  It is in the middle of the night and the disciples find themselves in rough waters.  They are far out from land and struggling in a storm when Jesus walks out to them on the water.  Peter has such audacity to ask the Lord for an invitation to walk on the water with Him.  Who would have thought?  Peter wanted to be where Jesus was, and doing what Jesus was doing without any thought for the difficulty-- in fact-- impossibility of it all.  But to everyone's surprise, Jesus said "come".  Jesus gave Peter what He asked for even though it was something completely irrational and ridiculous.

So what are you asking God for?  Is it something that can be achieved through personal effort, understanding and advice?  Is it something reasonable that you could ask a man?  Let us remember who we are asking and ask in light of that knowledge.  Psalm 2 says 8"Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession."  We can ask big things of God--even nations-- because we serve a big God and there is nothing too hard for him.

What we ask God for becomes our possession if we believe it is for us and walk into it.  Caleb was a man with audacity to believe the promises of God.  In Numbers 13 when everyone else was saying "we can't" to God's promise of land, Caleb was saying "we are well able to overcome it."  What are we saying about the promise we are asking God for?  Some ask God for the promise but then say all the reasons why it can't happen.  By words of doubt, they cancel out the very blessing God intends for them.

Next, what are we doing to get the promise we are asking God for? Some want to stay in the prayer closet and expect God to do all the work.  True faith puts feet where the mouth is.  Peter jumped out of the boat.  Caleb charged into the land to chase out giants.  To get the promise, the Holy Spirit will bring action steps to mind.  Faith doesn't analyze or think it out, but goes with the flow of the Spirit.

Then, what are we doing when obstacles begin to block the promise?  Peter was walking on water when he started to think.  When seeing the storm and waves he started to sink.  Much like this, there will be tests in your trust walk with God to see if you are really depending on Him or not.  Thankfully like in the case of Peter, Jesus will lift us up even when our human faith fails.  In Matthew 15, three times the Canaanite woman was blocked from the miracle she requested for her demon possessed daughter to be healed.  First, the people told her to hush.  Second, Jesus said he didn't come for her kind--because she was a Gentile.  Third, Jesus compared her to a dog saying it was not good to throw the children's bread to dogs.  This woman did not look at the obvious obstacles and offensive words that even Jesus gave her.  She had audacity.  She gave Jesus some fast words right back to show she was not moved and 27said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." At this point, Jesus could not hold back, commended her for having great faith and gave her what she wished.  In the same way, God is watching us to see how we react when obstacles scream "you can't have that."  Those with unshakeable faith will be rewarded.

Also, what are we doing when time begins to wind down on the promise?  Caleb was young and bold when he first saw the promised land and made his proclamation, but at age 85, he had yet to have his possession.  It is amazing that despite all the years of waiting,  Caleb was not in one bit swayed or discouraged about his promise.  In Joshua 14 at the age of 85, Caleb asked Joshua for his land saying 11"I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken."  Can you imagine such a mighty man?  God does not want us to retire or slow down with age but continue asking, receiving and knocking to take territory for God's kingdom with increasing strength, glory, and power.

Finally,  What we ask God for and walk into to possess becomes our inheritance. I was always struck by the audacity of Caleb carried on in his descendants and family line.  Othniel (Caleb's younger brother) became a great deliverer.   Caleb's daughter had his same audacious spirit to ask for land.  In Judges 1:15 Caleb said to her, "What do you want?" 15She said to him, "Give me a blessing, since you have given me the land of the Negev, give me also springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs."  God will give the faith you show to those who follow in your footsteps.  You are leaving a legacy and pattern for those who come behind.  What better reason to live an audacious faith-filled life for all to see God glorified on this earth!  And just like at the end of the story, as with Peter, all eyes will be on the One who calmed the storm and there will be nothing left to do but worship Him.