The message was brought by Bro Jack Sprinkle on Tuesday night.
We tie God’s hands when we won’t allow him to have his way. I want to show you that we can put the Lord under obligation. Why did he go to the cross? He was obligated to us. Why does he intercede for us? He obligates himself to us. We are his most privileged creation. He’s anxious to come to us. He’ll go out of his way.
Matthew 14:22And 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. 23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God.
The way to get something from God is to reach further than you can. If you don’t go further, you won’t get very far. In order to obligate God, you have to go beyond what you can do.
Look at the situation of the disciples. They had just come out of the feeding of the 5,000. They fed the people with five biscuits and two fish. Jesus pushed them out to sea with instructions to go to the other side. He went to the mountain to pray. They may have needed to learn a lesson after their participation in the feeding of the multitude. Maybe they got a little puffed up in what they did. Whatever the reason, a storm came. At the right time Jesus came down from the mountain. Jesus was making their way of escape as he does ours.
The disciples were not beyond their limit yet. They got scared when they saw a figure on the water. They thought it was a ghost. They should have recognized Jesus, but they didn’t. With the wind blowing and the waves crashing Jesus spoke to them. He said “be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
Peter obligated himself by calling out to Jesus. The book of Mark says that Jesus would have passed them by. Peter said “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” When Jesus answered Peter, he obligated himself by saying “come.” When we obligate ourselves to the Lord, he obligates himself to us. Peter obeyed Jesus. It would be all right. Peter started walking on the water. He was within reach of Jesus when he started to sink. Peter probably thought he had it made being so close. He still had a battle, but he looked around. When we start looking around and take our eyes off Jesus, we’ll get into trouble too.
Peter began to sink. Jesus didn’t back out on his obligation. He can be counted on. Peter reached out to him and said “Lord, save me.” Jesus reached out to him. The way to get something from him is to reach beyond what you can do.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 