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At the beckon of Christ, Peter took a step of faith, which was honored as long as his eyes were on Christ Jesus.\u00a0 The Lord expects us to do likewise, for it is written, \u201cthe just shall live by faith\u201d, Hebrews 10:38.\u00a0 In this study, we shall have a closer look at how to practically live by faith, using the experience of Peter as an example.<\/p>\n
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Faith is the assurance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1.\u00a0 To take a step means to move forward or go ahead to do something.\u00a0 Taking a step of faith therefore means daring to act on what seems impossible to the natural eye or taking an actual step in the direction one believes that God is leading him or her in order to achieve the desired goal.<\/p>\n
The disciples were in a ship on the sea which was being tossed with waves because the wind was contrary.\u00a0 At the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to meet them, walking on the sea.\u00a0 As the disciples cried out for fear, Jesus told them to be of good cheer and not to fear that He was the one.\u00a0 Peter then said, \u201cLord if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water\u201d and Jesus said \u201ccome\u201d. Then Peter went out of the ship and walked on water to meet Jesus before he started to sink out of fear.<\/p>\n
Peter was bold, fearless, humble, obedient to his master and courageous and had and unwavering faith on Jesus.\u00a0 He later confessed that Jesus is the Christ; the son of the living God, Matthew 16:16.\u00a0 Peter trusted Christ with the assurance that \u201cif Jesus bid him come, he would come even to walk on the water.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid. . .\u201d, v. 30. Peter started sinking when he removed his faith on Christ and lost focus.\u00a0 This can be likened to circumstances of life faced by believers.\u00a0 He was afraid forgetting that Jesus was also standing on the same water.<\/p>\n
\u201c. . . and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me\u201d, v.30b.\u00a0 Peter immediately called on Jesus to save him and Jesus responded.\u00a0 Peter\u2019s case here is like any other believer who has answered the call of God to follow Jesus.\u00a0 The water and wind represents the troubles of life believers face.\u00a0 But as long as we hold fast to the promises of God that He will not leave us nor forsake us, we are sure to overcome.\u00a0 Moreover, trials and challenges of life are necessary ingredients\/tools that make true believers climb the ladder of Christian life in order to be fit for the kingdom and to prove ones loyalty to Christ who also suffered, leaving us an example that we should follow His footsteps.\u00a0 They are not to make us turn our back against Christ.\u00a0 God has promised that no temptation that comes to us will be able to overcome us rather He will give us a way to escape.<\/p>\n
Unemployed\/underemployed:\u00a0 The unemployed\/underemployed should prayerfully seek employment knowing that only God can provide a job for His children.<\/p>\n
Students\/Admission Seekers:\u00a0 The students and those seeking admission should study hard while trusting God for success.\u00a0 They should attend classes, do their assignments\/tests and endeavor to write their exams with full assurance and confidence that they will pass.<\/p>\n
Unmarried Matured Brethren: \u00a0\u00a0\u201cMarriage is honorable in all\u201d, Hebrews 13:4.\u00a0 He that findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favor from God. \u00a0The matured unmarried brothers while standing on God\u2019s word and promise should prayerfully and through God\u2019s leading, approach the sisters and allow them to decide.\u00a0 At the same time they should gradually prepare to start a new home while the unmarried sisters should wait on the Lord for His perfect will for them as they also prepare to start their new homes.<\/p>\n
Business Minded with no Capital:\u00a0 Such individuals should make plans, budget the amount to be used and table it to God who without prejudice will answer because the earth is the Lord\u2019s and the fullness thereof.\u00a0 God expects such people to commit their works to Him and He shall establish their thoughts.<\/p>\n
The Sick\/Handicapped:\u00a0 The history and act of God since creation shows that healing and health is God\u2019s will for His children.\u00a0 This has been an integral part of His covenant with His people and blessing upon those that will be obedient to His word, Exodus 15:26, 23:25-26; Deuteronomy 7:12-15; 3 John 2.\u00a0 What God desires is the prosperity of our souls, i.e. proper knowledge of His word and His ways\/dealings with man, and then He will take care of the rest.<\/p>\n
Those with various projects:\u00a0 Wisdom is better than strength.\u00a0 Believers with various projects should continuously depend on God\u2019s wisdom and directive to success.<\/p>\n
\u201cBrethren I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. . .\u201d\u00a0 Forgetting the past failures, weaknesses and successes in the service of God and pressing forward will help us improve ourselves in future.\u00a0 To achieve this, we should continuously abide in Christ, Psalm 91:1; John 15:1-5.\u00a0 We should find out the area of our calling as individuals and prayerfully follow on.\u00a0 We should be watchful to avoid dabbling into other people\u2019s calling and avoid compromise of any kind, Matthews 26:41; Job 32:21.\u00a0 We should diligently study and mediate on the word of God and be resolutely committed to keeping the terms of the divine covenant.\u00a0 We should also accept corrections whenever we make mistakes.\u00a0 Many believers will always want it their own way; this is wrong.<\/p>\n
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Peter actually walked on water until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked on the storm.\u00a0 Faith in a believer\u2019s life determines what they will become.\u00a0 Patriarchs Abraham, Jacob, Job, Shedrach, Meshack and Abednego, Esther, Ruth, etc., exercised unfeigned faith in God and having obtained a good report . . . are \u201cnot made perfect without us\u201d, Hebrews 11:39-40.\u00a0 They are all waiting for those that will overcome.\u00a0 So if your faith says yes, God will not say no.\u00a0 Therefore, take a step of faith today, God will do the rest.<\/p>\n
Hebrews 10:38 \u2013 \u201cNow the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back my soul have no pleasure in him\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Taking a Step of Faith \u00a0Central Thought: Faith in a believer\u2019s life determines what he becomes. Text: Matthew 14:23-33 At the beckon of Christ, Peter took a step of faith, which was honored as long as his eyes were on Christ Jesus.\u00a0 The Lord expects us to do likewise, for it is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-927","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/927","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=927"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/927\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":928,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/927\/revisions\/928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=927"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=927"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=927"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}