It’s time to do what God has called you to do. Whatever vision, dream, witty idea or invention that God has placed into your heart — it’s time to execute. The vision that God has placed within the walls of your heart is meant to bless the world. What gifts, talents, treasures, and abilities are you hiding? What skills are you not utilizing? What skills are you under utilizing? It’s time to pour out what God has poured into you. It’s time to execute. Now is the time. Now is the season. You were born for such a time as this.
The Ship Was Tossed With Waves
“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” (Matthew 14:24 KJV)
Matthew 14:22 KJV declares, “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.” Jesus commanded the disciples to get into a ship and go before him, unto the other side. Matthew 14:22 AMPC puts it this way, “Then He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds.” Jesus gave the disciples a couple of orders: 1. Get into the ship. 2. Go to the other side.
Has God given you a command? Has He given you some instructions to follow? The disciples were to obey Jesus’ instructions: First, get into the ship and then go to the other side. There was purpose waiting on the other side. Someone’s breakthrough was waiting on the other side. Someone’s deliverance was waiting on the other side. Someone’s healing was waiting on the other side. It’s time to go. It’s time to execute. Your obedience is critical.
As the disciples were crossing over, Matthew 14:24 KJV declares, that a storm arose and the ship was tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. Notice, the Bible declares that after the disciples obeyed the Voice of Christ — the wind and waves didn’t appeared until they were in the middle of the sea. It wasn’t until the middle of the disciples’ journey when trouble arose.
Maybe you’re in the midst of your journey and you’ve obeyed God’s Instruction — and while you’re in the middle of the sea, all of a sudden the waves of life toss your ship. You’re in the middle of the journey and you can’t turn back. You’re in the middle of the sea and you can’t see the shoreline ahead of you. The waves of life seem to crash into your boat — wave after wave. Circumstance after circumstance. Situation after situation. What do you do? Where do you go? Who do you turn to?
The disciples were in a dire situation. Their boat was being tossed to and fro. It seemed as if they had no way of escape. Water filled their vessel. Matthew 14:24 AMPC declares, “But the boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs [a furlong is one-eighth of a mile] distant from the land, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.” They were beaten and tossed by the waves, they were gripped with fear — until something happened in the middle of the night — during the Fourth Watch.
The Fourth Watch
“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” Matthew 14:25 KJV
According to Matthew 14:25 AMPC, the Fourth Watch is between, 3:00am – 6:00am. Remember, a few verses back, in Matthew 14:23 AMPC, when Jesus had sent the multitudes away, and commanded the disciples to go to the other side — it was evening time. “And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.” Matthew 14:23 AMPC. Now here are the disciples in the midst of the sea — in the middle of the night, during the fourth watch.
The disciples obeyed Jesus’ Instructions. They obeyed His Voice. They obeyed His Command to go over to the other side — and now the winds were against them. The waves were crashing against their ship. Just a few hours ago, they were positive that they heard God’s Instruction to get into the ship and to go over to the other side. So what went wrong? Why were the winds and waves against them? Why was it so hard?
It was in the fourth watch where the disciples’ fear and faith collided. James 1:8 KJV declares, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” There are times when fear and faith collide and it’s up to you to choose who you will serve. Will you choose to move forward in faith? Or will you bow to fear? Will choose to trust in the Word of God? Or will you succumb to the wind and waves of life? You choose. Joshua 24:15 KJV declares, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Maybe, you’re in the middle of the sea, and the waves are crashing against your boat. Maybe, you’ve started well and you’ve obeyed God’s Command to start that business, start that ministry, launch that initiative or to write that book and now it seems as if the winds are contrary to your progress. It seems like the waves of life want to drown your progress. Maybe, like the disciples you’re in the Fourth Watch, your in the middle of the night, and the waves are trying to sink your ship. Be of good cheer — although it was dark and dire during the Fourth Watch it was in the fourth watch where Christ met the disciples out on the water.
In the midst of their turmoil, in the midst of their distress, in the midst of their chaos — Jesus met them. Matthew 14:25 KJV declares, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” God will meet you in the middle of your circumstance — even when it seems like all hope is lost — He will meet you in the Fourth Watch.
The wind did not distract Christ. The height of the waves didn’t matter to God. The storm didn’t move Christ. Matthew 14:27 KJV declares, “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Fear will sink your ship. Fear will cause you to forget what God’s Word has declared over your life. Be of good cheer and focus on Christ. When fear tries to grip your heart — focus on His Word. When the waves seem insurmountable — focus on Christ. If God told you to get into the boat and go to the other side — trust in His Word. Trust that He will not let you sink.
Be Of Good Cheer… It Is I
“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Matthew 14:27 KJV
As the disciples were frightened. They were full of fear. They were in the middle of turmoil and chaos. The wind and the waves seemed like it was too much to bear. While they were in the midst of the sea — in the middle of their circumstance — Christ came to meet them out on the water. The Great I Am is out on the water. Be of good cheer — Christ wants to comfort you. Be of good cheer — Christ wants to bring you peace. Be of good cheer — God wants to still your storm.
Notice, I stated that Jesus wants to still “your” storm. The storm did not bother Christ. In fact, Christ had dominion and authority over the wind and waves. The wind and waves were no competition for Christ. As they vehemently crashed upon the disciples’ boat — Jesus was walking on water. Notice that in the same environment that the disciples were struggling in — Jesus was thriving. Christ wants you to thrive in the midst of the storm. Don’t let the wind and waves of the world serve as distraction.
It’s time to go to the other side. The winds and waves may be vehemently crashing against your ship — choose to trust that Christ will not let you sink. Be of Good Cheer — Christ wants to meet you on the water. He’s waiting on you.
Maybe, you’re in the midst of a storm and the wind and waves of life seem like they’re more than you can bear — my brother or sister, choose to trust in God’s Word. Choose to trust that the waves and winds of life are not bigger than God. Don’t exalt the storm — choose to exalt Christ. Focus on His Word. Trust in His Promise. Our God will not let you sink.
Prayer:
Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I choose to trust You. Father, I choose to place my hope in Your Word. Lord, Your Word is greater than the problems that I face. Father, Your Word conquers all of my fears.
Father, Your Word crushes every storm and there is nothing that can compete against You. Father, You are greater. Father, You are more powerful. Father, You are Sovereign and I declare that You are Lord over my life. Father, I completely surrender to You now and forever.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
This article was written by Vance Jackson who serves on the leadership team of Word of Life Christian Ministries in Detroit, MI. For more resources, books, blogs and articles from Vance Jackson visit: www.VanceKJackson.com
