“GOD IS BIGGER than any problem you and I can ever face, and when we fix our eyes on Him and hope in Him, we cannot go wrong.
“The thing is for us to believe that He is able and that He will keep His promises to us. We must believe He has all the power we need.”
Preaching a message last Sunday entitled From Little Faith To Victorious Faith, Pastor Samuel Taylor of The People’s Baptist Church, Rock Hall, St Philip, read primarily from Matthew 14:22-33 where it is written that Peter first walked on water at Jesus’ beckoning but started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the boisterous waves.
Taylor sought to show his congregation, which included members of the St Philip South District Emergency Organization, that when the various storms of life present themselves, we are to stand on the promises of God.
Above all, he advised his listeners that just as they prepare for natural disasters each year, they should prepare to meet God one day.
The 10 a.m. service was ablaze with praise and worship, dancing, singing, tambourine-playing, hand-clapping and voices giving glory and honour to God.
The unassuming church leader pointed out that Peter, who walked on water before Jesus’ death and seemingly displayed little faith, was not the same after Pentecost – his baptism in the Holy Spirit.
“Faith is like a school. You go from one level to another until you have mountain-moving faith,” Taylor reasoned.
He said the same Peter who doubted when he was walking on water was the same Peter who was present when the disciples faced a storm at sea and Jesus rebuked the winds, causing them to cease.
“Peter’s mistake was that he took his eyes off Jesus. Any time you are in a situation and look to Jesus asking Him to help you, you’ve got to keep your eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Taylor affirmed, however, that Peter did the right thing when he started to sink; he called out to Jesus.
“We too can call on Jesus when the various storms of life present themselves, knowing full well that He is able and always in control.
“There are spiritual, physical and emotional storms which come without warning – such as sickness and death. When they come, we should have our eyes fixed on Jesus – the one who walked on water and stilled the storm.
“The storms of life will howl around us, but we can be still and calm in the centre of the storm as we hold onto Jesus,” Taylor preached.
He told the story of the spies who were sent out to view the land (Numbers 13) and returned with a negative report. He noted that the negative report did not matter to Joshua and Caleb who, unlike the spies, magnified God and not the problem.
Taylor added, “Without faith it is impossible to please God and the first step to receiving from God is believing He can do whatever we ask or desire of Him.”
“The one who walked on water is able. Look to Him and trust Him,” Taylor said before praying for the congregation.
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