Delay Is Not Denial

“Delay is Not Denial”

By Dr. Sandy Kulkin

August 22, 2021

Jesus Walks on the Water

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. 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. 30 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. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:22-33 (NIV)

Delay is not denial. Jesus experienced this. One of the stories is the story of Lazarus. Jesus waited and waited until Lazarus had been dead for four days. So, Jesus told him to come on out, and out he came. So, delay in that instance was not denial. God had another plan, and He controls time. God had another thought in mind, a thought that man does not have. We have seen the great miracles of God. Jesus is too great to deny. He is too great to miss.

Then, there was a time when Jesus fed five thousand people. Unlike the book of Mark, the book of Matthew gives all of the details. He talks about how a couple of fish and loaves of bread were divided and how it fed twelve thousand people that day. It was an amazing miracle that was too big to deny.

Then, Jesus tells the disciples to go out on a boat. The disciples had just experienced an amazing miracle. But, once on the boat, they head right into a storm. The boat is being tossed to and fro. The disciples are afraid that they are going to die. So, here are the disciples in fear, and Jesus comes to them walking on the water. He waited for them to get into the storm. He waited for them to be afraid. He waited for them to be concerned about their situation. He waited for all of that to happen, and then he came to them because delay is not denial.

All of us are in a boat of some sort. However, our belief in Jesus Christ is a powerful way of life. We often talk about giving. We cannot give without receiving. We cannot do without getting done. It is truly what goes around comes around. It is truly karma. Be not deceived for God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sows so shall he reap. We cannot give without it being given back to you in our culture. There is no way because the rules don’t deny it, they affirm it.

We’re going to deal with what we deal with. It’s what’s going on in our heads. Is it only our truth? Or, are we able to listen to somebody else’s truth? We should listen to other’s truth so long as it does not come between us and our walk with Christ.

We are in a culture that believes in the supernatural. The supernatural is all around us. The supernatural is in us. The supernatural is moving us. The supernatural can change the environment. It can change things, open doors, close doors, change thinking, and heal. It is an amazing force. Remember, delay is not denial.

The things that we have experienced are supernatural. The way to get into the mix is through Jesus. We need to have a personal relationship with Him and allow Him to guide our lives. We need to let Jesus be a part of where we are going and let him close and open doors. That’s the way to get into the kingdom and to get connected to the real supernatural. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. What are you waiting on that seems to have been denied, but it may just be delayed?

2. What miracle has God performed in your life that was too big to deny?

3. Similar to the disciples, have you ever been in a dangerous situation where God intervened?