Join Rabbi Schneider as he delves into the profound biblical lessons from the Sea of Galilee where Jesus performed miracles, including walking on water. Through this narrative, we explore how faith can transform fear and uncertainty into courage and action, taking inspiration from the disciples’ experiences and Peter’s brave yet faltering step onto the waves.
If you’re struggling with a fear in your life, whether you’re just dealing maybe with some mental challenges, how do you overcome that fear? You overcome the fear, beloved, in the same way that Peter was able to walk on water. I’m gonna take you into Israel to the Sea of Galilee. It’s also called the Lake of Kinneret. The Jordan River flows into it. So many important biblical events happened here. Jesus calmed the sea supernaturally. He walked on water. He called his disciple from this place. Beloved, we were on the sea in a boat. I began to minister the word of God. There was an overwhelming peace of God’s love that fell upon everybody on that boat. And the spirit of God himself was released. Beloved, you’re going to feel inspired today, I believe, by the Holy Spirit as I speak today from the Sea of Galilee on over God. coming doubt. Stay with me today. And Father God, I pray for each and every one under the sound of my voice right now, that you might strengthen them by your Holy Spirit as I preach and teach your word, Father. Glorify your word and bless your people, I ask, Abba, in Jesus’ name and for Jesus’ fame. God bless you, beloved ones. I’m in Israel on the Sea of Galilee. Behind me is where Jesus fed the 5,000. And I’m gonna begin reading today from the book of Matthew chapter 13, then into Matthew chapter 14. And we’re gonna look at the incident after Yeshua got done feeding the 5,000, how he sent the disciples out on the boat in the Sea of Galilee, because he had just heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded. when he had heard that john the baptist had been beheaded he was so grieved he just wanted to be alone so he went to a lonely place to pray and he sent his disciples out ahead of him onto the sea of galilee so let me just read to put it in context a little bit after jesus had heard that john the baptist was beheaded he withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place to pray by himself and And so Jesus, again, he’s just alone with the Lord as he always did. He spent time alone with God. And it’s a great example, obviously, beloved ones, for us, for you and I to break away from all the friendships that we have in the natural realm to just be with God so that he can give to us what we need to walk with him and to be united with him as we’re in the world. And he sent the disciples again ahead of him in the boat. They were on the Sea of Galilee. And I’m going to pick up now reading in Matthew chapter number 14, verse number 22. Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. After he had sent the crowds away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves, for the wind was contrary. In the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the sea. So let’s put it in context. Jesus is by himself praying. He sent the disciples ahead of him. They’re on the Sea of Galilee. It’s in the middle of the night. The scriptures tell us that it was in the fourth watch of the day. Now the fourth watch, beloved, translates to between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the morning. And while it was in this fourth watch between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the morning, the disciples on the boat, the sea has begun to pick up. In other words, the Sea of Galilee is notorious that when things shift here and the winds began to blow, this sea becomes very unstable. And it was so unstable that water was coming in over the boat. It’s also interesting here at what time this happened. Again, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the morning is when this incident happens. They begin to get terrified. And in the midst of this, Jesus, beloved, comes to them walking on the water. Now the thing that I think is so interesting about this is I think about my own testimony. Back in 1978, Jesus appeared to me in the middle of the night. It was 3.30 in the morning. So what was it? It was the fourth watch of the day. And when I read of people that have had a supernatural visitation from Jesus or talk with people that have had supernatural visitations from Jesus, It almost always happens in this fourth watch of the day between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the morning. I just think that’s really interesting. Let’s continue on here. When in the fourth watch of the night, get this now, he came to them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. It’s interesting that they didn’t recognize it was him. And the point, beloved ones, is this, that sometimes Jesus will come to us in circumstances and in supernatural means that we don’t recognize that it’s him and we get afraid. That’s what happened here. Listen again. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, it is a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying, take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid. Many of us, we put Jesus in a box and we can only accept his supernatural activity in our life. when he comes to us in the box that we’ve placed him in. But God is so far outside of our box. He’s so much bigger than our own paradigms. And if we’re going to grow in grace and grow in our experience with God and grow in our experience of experiencing his supernatural activity in our life, we’re going to have to be willing to recognize him, beloved ones, when he comes to us in ways that are outside of our boxes. In other words, let me give you an example. I hear oftentimes people say, God would never do that. He would never act like that because they say the Holy Spirit is always a gentleman. And they think anything that does not create immediate peace couldn’t be God because many of us have heard the statement before, the Holy Spirit’s always a gentleman. And so people then that come from that persuasion, they can only accept a movement of God or an activity of God when it doesn’t create any disruption or doesn’t create any disorder because they say, God’s always a gentleman. He’ll only be a gentleman. But beloved, that’s just not who God always is. That’s a paradigm that people have locked them in that sometimes prevent them from recognizing a supernatural move of God. For example, remember Paul. Paul, when he was on his way to Damascus, what happened? He was blinded by a supernatural light. God knocked him off his horse. And he said, who are you? And he said, the voice said from the light, I am Jesus whom you’re persecuting. Now get up and it will be told what you must do for me. And Paul was left blind until God healed him. Let me ask, when Paul got… converted to Jesus. When he came to Jesus by faith, he was still a Jew, but he became converted to knowing that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. Did Jesus come to him as a gentleman? No. Jesus blinded him, knocked him off his horse. Paul was on his back. He said, who are you? So Jesus came to Paul and really shook him up. And so we see the same thing here. Jesus came to them in a way that wasn’t as a gentleman. It really shook them up. They didn’t know who it was. They were terrified. So be careful that you don’t write something off in your life just because it doesn’t seem peaceful at first because God is so much bigger, beloved, than our paradigm. And we want to be willing to be stretched. And to do that requires that we’re open and trusting him to work in our life how he wants to because he’s God. Like Daniel said, he quoted Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar says he does what he will with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. And no one can say to him, what are you doing? So let’s let God be God. Let’s continue on. Jesus said, take courage, it is I. When they thought it was a ghost, Jesus said, no, it’s me. Take courage. Look at what’s going on in your life right now. Is there something going on in your life right now that seems unique? It seems supernatural, but you’re afraid? Maybe it’s Jesus. Ask him, Lord, if this is you, help me to perceive you in the situation.
SPEAKER 01 :
This is Discovering the Jewish Jesus, and Rabbi Schneider will be right back. But first, we have a free gift for you. If you’re battling heaviness or patterns that you just can’t shake, it may be spiritual oppression. Don’t wait for others to deliver you. Rabbi’s free self-deliverance bundle, it includes a step-by-step PDF with Scripture and an MP3 guide. to help you close every door to the enemy and live free in Jesus. Get yours at myfreegift.com forward slash freedom. All around the world, people are searching for truth and hope. That’s why Rabbi has traveled to places like Haiti, Nigeria, and beyond, sharing the gospel and strengthening believers everywhere. Through powerful outreach events, lives are being transformed. But We can’t do this without your prayers and without your financial support. So pray and donate today, discoveringthejewishjesus.com. And now here’s Rabbi Schneider.
SPEAKER 03 :
We continue on in verse 28. Peter said to him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. And he said, come. So Jesus spoke the living word, the word made flesh, spoke to Peter and said, come. And when Peter heard that there was such authority in it, such fullness in it, Peter knew he was hearing God’s word. And so what did Peter do? Listen, he sees God’s word. When Jesus said, come, Peter sees that word and listen to what happened. And he said, come. And then Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. You know, one of the most supernatural encounters, beloved ones, I ever had in my life is when I heard the audible voice of the Lord speak to my soul in the middle of the night. And it was like fire. I literally felt the fire of the living spirit of God moving in my soul, coming from God the Father, rolling through my soul, and then going back to God the Father, and then rolling around through my soul, back to God, in my soul, back to God, like a holy circle of fire. And this is what I heard the Lord say, audibly and distinctly, clearer than I’m speaking to you with my own voice right now through my lips. I heard his voice. And he said to me, beloved, this, he said, “‘Seize my word,’ the Lord said, “‘and don’t let anything else in.'” I want you to hear that again. I’m telling you, this is the word of the Lord. The Lord said to me this. He said, “‘Seize my word and don’t let anything else in.'” So notice what happened. When Peter sees the word that Jesus spoke, because when Jesus speaks a word to us, whether it’s in the scriptures or whether it’s by the Spirit, Jesus said, he that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Jesus is still speaking today. That’s why in Acts chapter 2, we read that those whom the Holy Spirit has been poured out on would operate in the realm of prophecy, dreams, and visions. Read Acts chapter 2. What happens? The experience of those that receive the Spirit. So God’s still speaking today. Peter heard his voice. Jesus said, come. Again, Jesus is still speaking to you, so I’ll be listening. And when Peter sees the living word that Jesus spoke to him, what happened? Peter was able to get out of the boat. Listen to me now, beloved ones, and supernaturally walk on the water. Seize my word, the Lord said to me, and don’t let anything else in. When Peter seized the word and didn’t let anything else in, he walked on the water. And when you seize God’s word in your life, beloved one, and step out and act on it, supernatural things will happen in your life and you operate at a supernatural level. But notice what happened next. When Peter did let something else in, When he looked at the ways and he got terrified with the wind, no longer seizing God’s supernatural word, but instead being overcome by the circumstances, letting something else in, he sunk. So listen to what happened. Jesus said, take courage in his eye, do not be afraid. Peter said to him, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. And he said, come. And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But listen now, Peter then let something else in. But seeing the wind, he became frightened. Beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me. Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hands. I love that. The merciful Jesus. The Jesus that’s so tender towards us, so tender towards our frailness in humanity. When Peter began to doubt, What did Jesus do? He reached out and pulled him back up and saved him. You know, the psalmist said, even though I fall, I will not fail completely. I’ll not fall completely. Even if I slip, I will not fall because his right hand upholds me. And the same is true for you and I, beloved ones. When we really love Jesus, we do our best to believe. We’re growing. We’re stepping out in faith. We’re seizing his word. We’re practicing, not letting anything else in. But Father, so patient with us that when we’re growing on the journey and we trip, and stumble, you know what? He saves us. He’s there for us, beloved. Don’t be afraid of failure. He’ll lift you back up just like he did Peter. Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand and took hold of him and said to him, you of little faith, why did you doubt? You see, beloved ones, The root of fear is doubt because what happened? At the beginning of the story, we read that Peter got afraid. He looked at the waves and became terrified of the wind. And then Jesus said, you have little faith, Jesus said in verse 31. Why did you doubt? I’m speaking to you right now. If you’re struggling with a fear in your life, The remedy to that fear, beloved one, is a faith in God’s word. And when you take God’s word and apply it to your fear, whatever your fear is, if it’s the fear of growing old, you use God’s word. God’s word says, even when I am old and my hairs are gray, he will not forsake me. Jesus said, I will never leave you or forsake you. I’m with you even to the end. So if you’re struggling with the fear of aging or growing old, how do you overcome that fear? You overcome the fear, beloved, in the same way that Peter was able to walk on water. You put your faith in God’s word, just as Peter put his faith in Jesus’ word when Jesus said, come. If you’re struggling with faith because of your finances, what do you do? You take your eyes off of your fear and you begin to put your faith in God’s word. God’s word says what? He shall supply all our needs for according to his riches in glory. Whatever your fear is, find a portion in God’s word that combats that fear and keep that portion of God’s word out in front of you. Quote it, memorize it, speak it. Listen, you have to resist the devil. You see, the Lord has assigned us, hear me now church, to be overcomers. And so seven times in the book of Revelation, Jesus said, he that overcomes will inherit these things. At the end of Paul’s life, Paul said, I have fought the fight of faith. And so the overcoming life, beloved, is overcoming, get this now, through the faith of God’s word. We’ve been given faith and we now need to apply that faith to God’s word. And when we do that, we overcome. And every single one of us, beloved, has been assigned to overcome, and so God is gonna strategically even place challenges in your life, whether they’re circumstantial, whether you’re just dealing maybe with some mental challenges, maybe you’re just dealing with irrational fears. You know, how many of the things that we’re afraid of in life actually happen? So many of the things that we fear, they’re all in the realm of the spirit and the mind. What do we do to break these fears, beloved? through our faith in the word of God. We overcome by the blood of the lamb, get this now, and the word of our testimony. And what’s the word of our testimony? It’s, beloved, testifying God’s word. We’re speaking God’s word. So I challenge you today, Live the life of an overcomer, live the life of faith. Listen, all of us have to fight the fight of faith, every single one of us. God is strategically causing us to have to overcome by facing mountains, beloved, and the only way to overcome these mountains are our faith. I want to pray with you right now. Father God, wherever your people are at right now, I know that each one is in a really unique place. And Father, even as I’m sitting here on this boat on the Sea of Galilee, and Father, you’ve located me and I’ve located you right now in your spirit. I know that you want each one, King Jesus, to locate themselves in you right where they’re at in your circumstance. Even as you, Jesus, were with your disciples on the Sea of Galilee, and as soon as you got into the boat, the storm ceased, the waves stopped. I know that right now, for each one of your people, regardless of what their circumstances, when they recognize your presence in their life with them and put their faith in you, I know, Lord, that the mental anguish will cease. Listen to what happens at the conclusion of the story. It says, immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and took hold of him and said to him, you have little faith. Why did you doubt? Listen to this. When they got into the boat, who’s they? Peter and Jesus got into the boat. What boat? The boat that was assailed with the waves. So now what happens is Peter’s not in the boat alone anymore, but he brings Jesus into the boat with him. When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, you are certainly God’s son. Father, right now, I just release, Father, a supernatural peace and a supernatural faith in your word to each one of your people. Father God, right now, I just speak an opening of hearts that they would locate you in their boat, that whatever their circumstances are, Father, whether it’s in the realm of the material world, whether it’s just in the realm of the mind or the spirit, that, Father God, they would locate you with them right now and that locating you with them in the midst of their challenge father god that the winds would stop father god that the ways would die down and that they would experience your super natural peace Beloved ones, I love you in Jesus’ name, in Yeshua’s name, from the land of Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Schneider is saying to you, peace and love. I love you. Father and Jesus are with you right where you’re at, right now, and they will be for the rest of your life by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reigns, and he reigns in you and for you, in your life and over your circumstances. Yeshua taught us to pray to the Father in this way. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Many of us have prayed that prayer, but have we really allowed the truth of it to affect the way that we live? If we really wanted to see God’s perfect will done on earth, the place we would start is in our own lives. Have you appropriately put God first and honored Him with your finances? As we’ve come to the end of this calendar year, we have an opportunity to make things right with our Maker. Beloved, from the beginning of scripture, the Lord told us, honor me with the first fruits of your wealth. He commanded us to bring the tithe into the storehouse unto him. I want to encourage you, beloved, end the year with a good conscience. If you haven’t fully honored the Lord with your finances the way that you want, beloved, you can still make things right. I want to encourage you to do that. I know you’ll be blessed.
SPEAKER 01 :
Amen. And if the Lord is calling you to give to Discovering the Jewish Jesus a special end of your gift of any amount, then would you please call us today? You can reach us at 800-777-7835. You can also give online. You’ll find us at discoveringthejewishjesus.com. And if you’d like, you can send in your financial donation in the mail. Our address is discoveringthejewishjesus.com. PO Box 777, Blissfield, Michigan 49228. And we know that we couldn’t reach people all over the world who are exploring the depths of scripture with us each and every day without you. Your partnership is what truly makes this possible. And it’s making an incredible impact. For example, the Lord has granted us the opportunity to share Rabbi’s Bible-based teachings with more than a million inmates through a special app that inmates can access right there in prison. And then those who are incarcerated, when they contact us, they receive Rabbi’s book, Awakening to Messiah. And we also provide prison chaplains with Rabbi’s books and audio messages. And Rabbi’s heart is to reach those who are broken and who are in pain, not only in our prison institutions, but all over the world. And thank you for helping us reach the broken and hurting with Messiah. Give or connect with us at discoveringthejewishjesus.com. And now here’s Rabbi to wrap up today’s message with God’s special blessing.
SPEAKER 03 :
The words from the Aaronic blessing in the book of Numbers chapter 6, verses 22 through 27, helps us to realize how good God is to you and I personally. So receive his blessing into your life, and then beloved one, go bless somebody else in Jesus’ name today.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift you up with his countenance. And the Lord give you, beloved one, his peace. God bless you and shalom.
SPEAKER 01 :
This program is produced and sponsored by Discovering the Jewish Jesus. And I’m Dustin Roberts. Dedicate time to listen next week when Rabbi Schneider presents a special Hanukkah message, the Feast of Dedication. That’s Monday on Discovering the Jewish Jesus.
