(Read Matthew 16:13-20)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Yesterday we looked at a passage in Matthew 16 where the Lord revealed to Simon the Fisherman that Jesus was the Messiah. Based upon this revelation Jesus changed his name from Simon, which means “unstable”, to Peter, which means “rock”. Jesus said, “I tell you, you are Peter. And I will build my church on this rock. The power of death will not be able to defeat my church. I will give you the keys to God’s kingdom.” Then Jesus told His disciples not to tell anyone he was the Messiah.
This event changed Simon the Fisherman’s life forever. From this day forward he would be known as Peter, and he would later be known as the Apostle Peter.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- The only way to know Jesus is the Messiah is by revelation from the Father. Jesus acknowledged the fact that God the Father revealed to Simon Jesus’ true identity. As for us, Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me” (John 6:44). The Father opens up people heart’s to be able to see Jesus as the Savior of the world!
- When you come to know Jesus as the Messiah, as Your Lord and Savior, you are then in position to come to know yourself.
- You will never find yourself (your true self), until you find Jesus.
- When Simon the Fisherman learned who Jesus really was — and this came to him by revelation of the Father — he was then in position to learn who he really was.
- Once Simon received revelation and openly declared Jesus’ true identity, Jesus turned around and declared his true identity. The same will happen for you.
- You will never find yourself until you find Jesus.
- You will never walk in your divine purpose until you find Jesus.
- You will never experience true success in life until you find yourself in Jesus.
Tomorrow I will talk about how your prosperity is connected to your purpose.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made plans for me before the world began. You made those plans by grace and You require me to access the plans with my faith. But I will never release my faith for something I am not aware of. I will never believe You for something I am oblivious to. I must know my purpose before I can pray for the things required to complete it. I must know who I am in order to succeed in life. The key to knowing who I am is discovering who Jesus is. I have made that discovery. I know Jesus, Your Son, is the Messiah. I know He came to save the world of our sin. I accepted Jesus as my Lord. I found Jesus, and in finding Him I have found myself. Once I discovered Jesus, Jesus helped me discover myself. By faith I declare that I know who I am. I am who You say I am. I can do what you say I can do. I will be the person You called me to be. I will leave a mark in this world that will never be erased, because I know who I am, and I walk in Your grace to fulfill my purpose. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
