12/2/21-YOU ARE CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE

Have you ever pictured yourself doing more than you are right now? Do you see yourself running your own business, owning your own home, walking in divine health, writing a book, finishing college, high school, teaching, putting that artistic talent to work? Do you see yourself walking on water? 😐 I know that last one stumped you. But is it impossible? So are all the other things I just mentioned if we tell ourselves that it will never happen to us. Some of us can walk in faith for others but we fail at believing it for ourselves.

How many of you have prayed for the success of someone else’s business or accomplishment while just settling for where you are? Believing that you can’t be better, what you have is good. Playing it safe. Taking the path of least resistance. Complacency is the thief of greater expectations. It’s the killer of ambition and dreams. It distorts vision and cripples innovation. God has placed within every one of us something that benefits another. We’re created for much more than we are doing right now. Let’s read about someone who did something that has not been duplicated by any other human being in all of creation. It wasn’t limited to him, but no one else has ever dared to try.

“As soon as the people were fed, Jesus told His disciples to get into their boat and to go to the other side of the lake while He stayed behind to dismiss the people. After the crowds dispersed, Jesus went up into the hills to pray. And as night fell He was there praying alone. 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?”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:22-31‬ ‭TPT‬‬

The reason why most of us remain stuck is the question Jesus posed to Peter: Why would you let doubt win? Every time we talk ourselves out of doing what we’re capable of, We’re letting doubt win. Had I given in to doubt I wouldn’t have written my first book or my first morning message. Believe me I didn’t think that I could, but like Peter, I stepped out and He hasn’t let me sink. Writing and teaching is like walking on water for me. I don't have formal training or education for either. But I have kept my eyes on the One who said “come and join me.” There were times when I felt the overwhelming waves of doubt and fear. But each time I’ve reminded the Lord that it’s all about Him, and that He can shut it down whenever He’s ready. If I ever start believing that it’s my doing, I’ll sink faster than Peter.

Walking on water in any unfamiliar situation is an act of our will and faith in Jesus Christ. They go hand in hand. When the Lord asks us to join Him in doing the impossible it means we’re capable. That nudge to do what you have been talking yourself out of is Him saying “come and join Me” you’re capable of doing much more with Me than without Me. I didn’t think I could own a home. In the natural I shouldn’t qualify for a mortgage. But He said come join Me. Now He’s stretching me even more. What He’s shown me is impossible for me to even consider doing, but impossible has never stopped Him, so I have accepted His invitation to join Him on the water. I will not let doubt win!

God is asking us to believe in what He has placed inside of us. His limitless all powerful resurrection Spirit that brings dead dreams, abilities and gifting to life. All He’s asking us to do is join Him. The other eleven disciples played it safe, but Peter did not. We may say “but he began to sink,” but did he drown? Why not? He still knew who to call on for help. He may have started to sink, but he walked back to the boat with Jesus. He did something no one else dared to do. We are capable of doing so much more, the question isn’t whether we can, the question is whether we will. Are we willing to step out of the comfort of the boat that is being tossed by the waves and walk on water to the One who will never let us sink? If He said come! We’re guaranteed never to sink. We may hit some bumps or waves along the way, but we’ll walk back to the boat. The waves didn’t cease until they were both back in the boat.

We miss that when Peter stepped out the squalls hadn’t subsided. The waves were just as boisterous as when he was in the boat. The elements hadn’t changed. He stepped out at an invitation to join Someone greater than his fears. By keeping his eyes on Jesus, he was assured of a favorable outcome. But even though fear gripped him momentarily, still he successfully finished what he set out to do. We will too. Joyce Meyer has coined the phrase, “Do it afraid!” Sometimes what God has called us to do must be done afraid. This is in order that, according to the apostle Paul;

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When we do whatever it is- afraid- it denies us bragging rights. If we can do all things through Christ, then we are capable of doing much more. Peter didn’t just walk on water, he walked on water because Jesus said come. His enabling power makes us capable. Do it afraid. Do it because He’s asked and invited you to. He’ll be there to catch you when you begin to sink. We won’t go under because we are designed to walk atop the waves of adversity and testing. Why? So that the excellence of the power to accomplish great things may be of God and not of us. Our help comes from the Lord. Someone rightly said “Hell trembles when we walk in our identity.” The enemy wins whenever we succumb to doubt. He wins when we tell ourselves what we cannot do. Stop the liar, and do it afraid in Jesus Name!

2022 is fast approaching. What have you been putting off because of fear? Where have you allowed doubt to win? Hear Him saying “Come join Me.” You are capable of so much more.

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

December 2, 2021