Worship

“All That I’m After” by Kalley Heiligenthal

Scripture

“After the crowds dispersed, Jesus went up into the hills to pray. And as night fell he was there praying alone with God.

“But the disciples, who were now in the middle of the lake, ran into trouble, for their boat was tossed about by the high winds and heavy seas.

“At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the waves! When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water, they were terrified and screamed, ‘A ghost!’

“Then Jesus said, ‘Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!’

“Peter shouted out, ‘Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!’

“‘Come and join me,’ Jesus replied.

“So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. ‘Save me, Lord!’ he cried out.

“Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, ‘What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?’

“And the very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased.”

-Matthew 14:23-32, TPT, emphasis added

Beyond Traditional Interpretation

The Lord woke me up one morning this week with this story on my mind. I knew it was for us, so I stepped into the waters of this Scripture for a few days to pull out what the Holy Spirit would have us hear. For years I heard message after message on Peter’s little faith in the middle of the storm, but what I sense that is even greater is the invitation of Jesus. It’s our invitation—“Come and join me!” In fact, there’s so much to this story, I will share the second half next week!

Look at Peter, the one and only one willing to step out and test the waters. Everyone else was paralyzed in fear, but if that could even possibly be Jesus, that’s who Peter wanted. Eleven had an encounter with fear, and one zealous and curious man longed for an encounter with Jesus. All in the middle of a storm, in the dark of night, when no one else would go with him, the invitation of his friend called out from the middle of the waves.

Among twelve disciples, only Peter dared test the waters. While eleven remained paralyzed by fear, one zealous heart longed for Jesus enough to risk impossibility. In darkness, amid storm, Peter heard and responded to his friend’s voice.

Peter longed for the impossible. He knew the laws of gravity. But this moment to walk with Jesus on impossibility defied all logical reason.

Peter wasn’t thrown overboard like Jonah, in order to calm the raging sea. He also wasn’t shipwrecked like Paul in order that an entire island would be saved. He was invited to come and supernaturally walk on the waters with Jesus. I wonder what he pictured the outcome to be. Did it cross his mind that he could possibly sink? Did he see himself jumping from one crest of the wave to another? Before Jesus invites him into deep waters, He honors the curious faith in Peter and calls him to come! Jesus’ invitation on the shores back when He first called Peter to come and follow Him is the same invitation to a life of wonder and adventure. He had more for Peter than he could imagine! He would be the one on the day of Pentecost to lead 3,000 Jews to the arms of Jesus. He would also be central to the Gentile Pentecost in Acts 10. He was the guy who, it could be said, “That never happens, except to Peter!”

Peter approached each encounter with Jesus as fresh possibility. Unbound by religious tradition or past expectations, he created a theology of impossibility through experience. His life became marked by the extraordinary – from Pentecost’s 3,000 converts to opening the gospel to Gentiles.

Funny rabbit trail: I have a brother-in-law named Ron who lives a life like Peter, where the most obscure and crazy things happen to him. I don’t think Ron goes looking for it; his life just naturally attracts the outlandish. One year he came upon an accident at a gas station en route for more Christmas lights for his family’s tree. Ron called 911, and the wife in the vehicle asked him to take their “baby” home. She preceded to hand him their pet pig, whose hooves were painted pink. The pig watched Ron and Kristi decorate the tree that evening. God uses him in moments that most of us would pass by.

Back to Peter: I presume Peter had a blank slate as it pertained to his experiential relationship with Jesus. His heart lived for these moments. He was creating a theology for impossibility. He wasn’t bound by a Christian religious box or even expectations from past seasons. He just wanted to do what Jesus was doing. It was new, and it was wondrous. We can get so bound up intellectually or in fear that we never accept the invitation to the grand and glorious life with Christ that defies our rationale.

The Present Invitation

This is a season that is pregnant with invitation from Jesus. “Come and join me!” It’s a pregnant pause for a divine reset and preparation, dear Bride of Christ! He says to us, “Come and do what I am doing and even greater things!”

From Failure to Destiny

Peter’s life was anchored in radical faith—submitting caution to the wind of the Spirit. After his reinstatement on the beach with Jesus, post resurrection, he was literally unleashed. The Church was born on the shoulders of this young believer. Those shoulders that carried the shame of denying Jesus were the shoulders by which the church (Jew and Gentile) was born! This is why he writes about refining faith in 1 Peter 1:6-7—he actually experienced this with the Lord. He entered the furnace of purification and came forth as gold! And Jesus stood by his side praying for him (Luke 22:32)! The enemy wouldn’t have the final word; there was a destiny over Peter’s life, for the sake of the world, that would be fulfilled. (Someone needs to receive and believe that promise as you are reading this. You will go back and strengthen your brothers and sisters. You will come forth as gold, in Jesus’ name.)

Learning Dependence

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

Peter experienced the humility of surrender and dependence on Jesus on this sea and many other “seas” of his life. He could say with confidence that Jesus will lift you up. He will protect you. He will not let you drown. When you are sinking and anxious, He will lift you up. He did it for me! He will do it for you! Again and again, over and over, without condemnation or hesitation.

From a fishing vessel to impacting the global Church, the Lord was faithful to fulfill His destiny over Peter’s life that was given before the foundations of the world. Even an uneducated fisherman, filled with the spirit of God, can write a book or two that will be used to bring strength to the Church worldwide. (Some of you need to get writing that book that you know the Lord is calling you to write!)

A Call to Response

Sisters, Jesus is longing to defy logical reason in your life! All of your self-talk of “I’m too old” or “I’m too afraid” or “I’m not gifted” aren’t reasons; they are excuses. The mere invitation of Jesus was proof of the promise of the miracle. When Peter says, “Lord, if it’s really you (Matthew 14:28),” it shows his uncertainty. All Peter needed was one word, one invitation, to just hear His voice to hop out of that boat. Sisters, we get to hear His voice. He speaks all the time, and don’t ever let anyone tell you He doesn’t speak to you. Don’t let them snatch away the wonder of intimacy you can have with the Lord. We dine, dance, walk, worship, converse, adventure, and partner with a very intimate, loving, and communicative God! It’s our inheritance as daughters to speak with the God who created the entire world. Oh the majesty of such intimacy, and He’s calling you to “come and join me (Matthew 14:29)”.

Let’s address the sinking piece just because we can all relate. Gravity was at play because it’s a force in the natural realm that we live in. But for Peter and for Jesus, the supernatural became more real than the natural. Natural reasoning kicked in, and Peter began to sink. It was faith that kept Peter on the top of impossibility! Peter had an opportunity to be offended at God in that moment. He could have said, “You invited me out here knowing I could sink. Why would you even do that? Didn’t you want to see my miracle all the way to the other side?” Jesus had much for Peter in that moment that would bear fruit for the rest of his life. Guard your heart against offense when trial comes or you feel like you are sinking. God will lift you up in due time and you will experience the supernatural power of God, but allow Him to deposit, deep in you, all you are to pull forth from these encounters with Him. Guard your heart and trust Him with the process. He can handle the doubt along the way.

Please don’t be offended with the ways of God when you don’t understand them. Like Kalley sang in the worship song for today, after experiencing the death of her baby, Olive, she stood back with tender resolve to worship. She had a choice to remain with Jesus, and He was faithful to lift her out of deep waters when she was drowning. And she’s going back to strengthen the melody of the Bride in worship.

I pray that you will hear the voice of your Beloved calling you to come and join Him on the top of the water, regardless of whether it is still or tumultuous. Out of this encounter, faith will be refined, and you will have a testimony of extraordinary encounter and worship. Come out and join Him; that’s the safest place to be!

A Few Key Details

• Our next Arise Bible Study will take place at 10 a.m. CST this Friday, July 17.

Link: https://zoom.us/j/2410161101?pwd=ak9qaWFsTE4vaHNIRWJUZUNnTGYwZz09

Meeting ID: 241 016 1101

Password: 072485

• I am hosting two trainings in July over Zoom on sharing the gospel in your city. The trainings will be at 7 p.m. July 21 and 28. Then, small teams will go out to share the gospel Aug. 1 and 15. If you are interested in joining, please take this quick survey.
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