(Read Matthew 16:21-23 & 2 Cor 5:16,17)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Yesterday we saw how Peter was rebuked just a few minutes after he was applauded. In one moment he was commended for seeing Jesus the way the Father saw Jesus. Peter’s perception of Jesus was influenced by God. It was a spiritual perception and the revelation he received from the Father led to public validation from the Son. But a few moments later Peter told Jesus that he did not have to die. It was clear that Peter was no longer hearing from God. Peter was speaking out of his flesh. Peter was seeing things the way the world does. Peter was operating solely based on his humanity. This led Jesus to say, “Out of my way, Satan! … you stand right in my path, Peter, when you look at things from man’s point of view and not from God’s.”
Peter’s mistake reminds me of something Paul said in his second letter to the church in Corinth. The Apostle said, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh.” A more modern translation, the J. B. Phillips New Testament, reads, “This means that our knowledge of men can no longer be based on their outward lives (indeed, even though we knew Christ as a man we do not know him like that any longer). For if a man is in Christ he becomes a new person altogether—the past is finished and gone, everything has become fresh and new.” Paul’s point goes back to Jesus’ point, and that is: Our perception of men should be based what God tells us about them. Had Peter been listening to God he would have never said what he said to Jesus.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. For a moment Simon’s perception of Jesus was influenced by God. He saw Jesus the way the the Father saw Him and he was blessed because of it. Simon the fisherman became Peter the Apostle and his moment of validation came when he stepped out of the flesh long enough to see Jesus after the Spirit. We too will be blessed when we learn to see people the way God sees them.
2. A few minutes after Peter was commended for being influenced by God, he was rebuked for going back to the flesh. Anyone can dibble and dabble in the Spirit, but we are called to be led of the Spirit (Gal 5:16) every moment of every day.
3. The way you see things has a lot to do with your actions. Since God sent us into the world to perform His will, He needs us to perceive things His way. Our spiritual perception impacts us in three directions:
a) Upward. It’s hard to receive from God what we cannot perceive of Him. When we allow the Holy Spirit to influence our perception of God and we see Him for who He is and we remove every barrier/limit, we are then able to open our heart to receive from God the way He wants us to. We see Him as a limitless, all powerful, all knowing, ever present help. Don’t know God after the flesh. But if you continue to see God from a human point of view, you won’t ever be able to receive from Him the way He wants you to. Know God after the Spirit.
b) Outward. We won’t be able to receive from God through others if we don’t perceive them the way God wants us to. If you don’t see your Pastors through the Spirit, it will be hard for them to speak into your life. If you don’t see the men and women God has placed in your life to be a blessing to you IN the Spirit, you will miss the blessing God sent you through them. Don’t walk in the flesh. Don’t look at people with your natural eyes only. You won’t be able to receive from someone you can’t perceive to be anointed.
c) Inward. God does not even want you to see yourself in the flesh. If you only perceive yourself to be the person the world says you are, you will never give yourself entirely over to God to be used of Him supernaturally. God wants you to see yourself the way He does. God wants you to honor the person He called you to be. He wants you to discern yourself and the your own calling with such a respect that you never speak against the assignment God gave you before the world began. If you don’t perceive yourself in the spirit, you will forfeit your divine assignment when you make mistakes. But if you see yourself the way God sees you, you will maintain God’s opinion of you, even after you mess up. Know NO man after the flesh – and yes, this even includes yourself!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You called me from the foundations of the world. You made plans for me before I was born. You then sent me into the world to complete my divine assignment. In order to do so, I must be led of Your Spirit. My perception of You must be Spirit-based. I will never receive what I cannot perceive. So I must see You as the God of no limits. I must see You as capable to doing what You called me to do. My perception of others must also be Spirit-based. I will never receive from those I do not honor. Therefore, I base my perception and opinion of others on You and what You called them to be. I know no man after the flesh. And this includes me. I refuse to see myself after the flesh. If I look at myself from purely a human point of view, I see a person who is flawed and who has failed more times than I want to remember. But if I see myself the way You see me, allowing my perception of me to be Spirit-based, I will then give myself wholly over to Your assignment. So I see me the way You see me. I am who You say I am and I will do what You birthed me to do. I live in the Spirit and I know no man after the flesh. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
