What are You Looking At?. ..

Sometimes you can say something, and it can mean something entirely different when said by someone else, even though, they are using the same words. .. What are you looking at as in what do you see?. .. what are you looking at as in are you looking at me? When exploring God's word, this question can be answered a number of ways simply based upon understanding what the person or situation in God's word is presenting that makes you ask the question, what are you looking at? Now this question is usually directed to the character you are learning about in God's word, it becomes an interactive experience with God's word, that allows you to imagine that you are there with the opportunity to ask this question.

Look at Peter. .. (Matthew 16:16-18) Verse eighteen, and Jesus says unto Peter "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". He knew who he was looking at, he knew who it was,

Whom say ye that I am?, was the question from Jesus. .. and Peter was quick to answer, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God". And Jesus let's Peter know just how blessed he was, stating that, "flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And yet .. depending on what Peter was looking at. .. his actions told a different story. ..

(Matthew 14:20-28) Read it. .. Jesus had just performed a mathematical problem that man has yet to duplicate. .. He feed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish. .. He simply looked to the heavens and blessed it, and broke it and gave the loaves to his disciples to give to the multitude. .. Now math was never my strength, but I can't tell you how many times in college I looked to the heavens for some help with math, Lord help me. .., I need that miracle math you performed for the five thousand, You might need that miracle math for your rent, for your bills, for food on your table. .. do you know what kind of math I am talking about? But I have digressed. .. Thank you Lord for that C, Amen. ..

So Peter was there, he saw this miracle, so we know what he was looking at, he could turn to his fellow disciples and say did you see that?. .. in case he needed some affirmation as to what he was looking at, what he was witnessing, what he was seeing. So Peter has some experiences. .. you can ask him what are you looking at and he can tell you, he was a witness, he was there. ..

But watch this. .. remember, Jesus told Peter flesh and blood did not reveal who he was, but the Father which is in heaven. So who does Peter really need to be getting his affirmation from if he really believes what he sees? And he does. ..

After feeding the five thousand, Jesus tells the disciples to get on a ship and go across to the other side, while he sent the multitude away. ..and once Jesus had done this he went "up into a mountain apart to pray".

Meanwhile. .. the waters around the ship got a little rough, the word says the wind was contrary. .. opposite in nature, direction or meaning. .. in other words it was getting really rough, there was a storm approaching, like those storms you deal with daily in your walk for Christ. ..

(Matthew 14: 25-27). .. "And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them. .. walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried for fear".

Now you can take this anyway you want. .. I love to fish, and Jesus would have had me at let's go fishing, but I am a bank fisherman, and when he would have asked me to go to the other side, I am going to be honest. .. I would have said, hey look Jesus. .. now you know I have a fear of boats and water. .. how bout I stay over here with you and help disperse the people. .. I am just saying, we always saying what we would have done if we were there. ..I am not on the boat. .. but come on with me. .. come on now, get in the boat, if you not scared. .. I am telling you, I am already scared if I am in the boat, so say what you want, but to then see Jesus, walking on water. .. and the word says in verse 25, and in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea, the fourth watch according to Bible scholars is somewhere around 3 to 6 am. .. so it was dark . .. But Jesus . .. what is He looking at. .. He knows they scared and says (Matthew 14: 27) . ..Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. .. And Peter. ..looking for that affirmation says. .. "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

Now Jesus. .. I love the Lord. .. the brother dost not waste His words here. .. He says Come. That's it. Come. end of sentence, no more instruction, no extra encouragement. .. just Come. First of all. .. you know I am not on that boat, and if by chance He talked me into it. .. now He just going to say come? Jesus, you gotta give me a little more, please Lord, I don't know why I let you talk me into this boat, and now all you going to say is come?. .. I love Peter, So, on one word from Jesus. .. "Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ..

But watch this. ..Peter! What are you looking at?. (Matthew 14: 30) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, "Lord, save me". Peter, you watched him heal the afflicted, you saw him feed the five thousand with five loaves and two fish, you watching Him walk upon the sea, and yet. ..Peter. .. you are human. .. you probably did what I would have done. .. Got out the boat walking on the water. ..

Watch this. . got cocky, turned to look at the other disciples . .. so he could see the look on their faces. .. It ain't real unless you can talk about it, you gotta brag to somebody. ... Here comes Peter. .. moon walking to Jesus looking at the other disciples. .. but Peter! what are you looking at? He looked at his situation, and it didn't look good, he looked all around him and there was nothing but water. .. nothing but trouble. ... Have you been in a situation in life and you found yourself looking at the situation and not looking at God. ... When the troubles of life distract you because it looks bad, it look hopeless, it like there is no way out. .. my question is what are you looking at? And Peter being distracted from who in his presence, did the only thing he knew to do. ..

And Peter said. .. " Lord save me" And Immediately, not after awhile, not after Peter had gone down a couple of time, (Matthew 14: 31) and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

If you keeping your eyes on the prize, if you watching the sparrow, if you calling on the name of Jesus, the word says, and immediately, Jesus stretched forth his hand. ...What are you looking at. ..If you want to be saved from the storms in your life .. if you need that Jesus math in your life, that makes a way out of no way, that opens doors that have been shut, that heals the afflicted, makes the blind see, and raises the dead. ..

His name is Jesus, look no further than our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. .. Amen. May God's Grace and Mercy be with you always.