Author: Lori Casto

A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”  “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

“If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:17-24

***Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear, but Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

We wrestle with believing or having faith and moments of getting our eyes off Jesus

Our Unbelief is caused by wind and waves

What is the “Wind & Waves” in our lives?

1. The Waiting
2. The Words – words of doubt you say to yourself and what others say to you
3. The Wounds

It only takes a quick second to get your eyes off Jesus and begin to sink when “unbelief” creeps in

After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” Mark 9:28-29

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The (fervent- passionate, intense, conviction, without quitting) prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (avails-benefits, gains, rewards much) James 5:16

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:17

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

• Give God
• Give First
• Give Up

God’s a giver. His gifts are good, perfect, and abundant. When we give with the best of intentions, I believe He multiplies His giving. That means that the “good, perfect, and abundant” giving from God can be received by us over and over and over again. Our motive isn’t to receive. It’s to surrender. Receiving is just a by-product.