Do you believe in ghosts? I’ve always thought of them as silly and foolishness and I certainly do not dabble in the paranormal. But in recent years I have come to terms with this even though I don’t comprehend it entirely: if I believe in the Holy Spirit and that there is divine warfare happening in our midst as scripture puts it (Ephesians 6), then I have to believe that there are some mysterious forces beyond my limited understanding presently!
Now, in our series, we’re looking at things that are NOT as they appear and this is certainly most fitting!
(Matt 11-14:33) Jesus and his disciples have had quite an emotionally wrecking week. First, Jesus had been teaching in small country villages and towns including his hometown and was not very welcome. Next, they find out that John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod. He’s the one who baptized Jesus and also was his cousin. One hit and then another so Jesus and his gang leave town and head for some solitude. They need to recover.
Just as they are preparing to relax, a massive crowd shows up Jesus sees and has compassion on them, healing their sick. His disciples think it best to send them away at the end of the day, but Jesus has a different idea. Feed them. And we’re talking THOUSANDS!!!!
So, Jesus feeds this record breaking crowd by multiplying a small lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. And they have leftovers!!! Talk about a boost in one’s spirit. Can you imagine being a part of that?
After the devastating week and then the miraculous turnaround experience, Jesus sends the disciples in a boat and he heads off for some alone time. The boat was a ways from land and was getting beaten hard by waves when the disciples see Jesus walking on the water to them, only they don’t know it’s Jesus. Since they are in the middle of the lake and nothing in their history has taught them that Jesus was capable of such a thing (despite what all they had witnessed so far, including the more than 5000 people who were just fed from a single lunch box), they think it’s a ghost!!!
I can hear them screaming and shouting, cowering and hiding but also pointing and straining to see. Amidst the chaos of the storm, this must have absolutely blown their minds.
In this moment, Jesus speaks up and says, “Take courage! It is I; don’t be afraid!” Can you imagine the shock, the thoughts, the feelings, the angst, the awe, the doubt, the questions, the amazement, the confusion!!!???
Peter pipes up and hollers, “Jesus, if it’s you, TELL me to come to you on the water.”
“COME ON!” Jesus tells him. So, Peter gets out of the boat and goes toward him. He walked on the water, just like Jesus!!! How cool and crazy is that!?
The story says, however, that he began to sink when he saw the wind and became scared. (Well, I don’t blame him!) We also read, however, that Jesus caught him and pulled him up and both got in the boat.
When it comes to following Jesus, here’s what I know:
- It doesn’t make sense and things are NOT what they seem!
- God exceeds all expectation and surpasses all knowledge.
- Although God never leaves us, God makes provisions and reveals Himself in the least expected places, ways, and times.
- God is a ghost – the most powerful Spirit; because when he left, Jesus tagged-in the Holy Spirit.
So, tonight, consider these questions and let the Holy Spirit speak to you:
Do you need healing from something? Come to Jesus.
Do you need to be reminded of something powerful God HAS already done in your life? Believe in Jesus.
Do you need to TAKE COURAGE, and overcome fear because Jesus is present? Hold onto Jesus.
Do you need to GET OUT OF THE BOAT because Jesus is calling? Trust in Jesus.
Do you need to stop looking at the WIND and get your eyes BACK on Jesus? Look to Jesus.
#GhostRecon
#ObjectsInMirror
#RestoringWholenessOfLife
Brett
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