(Read Matthew 16:21-23)
This morning continue our overarching series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. We have been studying the life of the Apostle Peter and our study brought us to Matthew chapter 16. We spent a couple of weeks studying verses 13-20 where Simon received revelation from heaven, he revealed Jesus’ true identity as the Messiah, and Jesus turned around revealed Simon’s true identity as Peter. Simon went from Simon the Fisherman to Peter the Apostle because he received revelation from a higher reality, he accepted the revelation, he believed it, and he openly verbalized it. He was rewarded for tapping into divine insight from above and in today’s passage we will see him scolded for dropping back down to living off of the realities of this world.
The Bible says,
“From that time Jesus began telling his followers that he must go to Jerusalem. He explained that the older Jewish leaders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law would make him suffer many things. And he told his followers that he must be killed. Then, on the third day, he would be raised from death. Peter took Jesus away from the other followers to talk to him alone. He began to criticize him. He said, “God save you from those sufferings, Lord! That will never happen to you!” Then Jesus said to Peter, “Get away from me, Satan! You are not helping me! You don’t care about the same things God does. You care only about things that people think are important.”
After Simon properly identified Jesus as the Christ by revelation from the Father, Jesus thought it appropriate to use that moment to also reveal to His disciples that He would be killed and then raised from the dead on the third day. This was an intimate moment. Jesus was sharing His heart and revelation from the Father. This was revelation direct from heaven and Jesus openly shared it with the men who had followed Him for years. And then, the only one of the 12 who had also received revelation from the Father, the man who had just been commended for tapping into a higher reality, the newly appointed “Peter” pulled Jesus to the side and spoke against the things the Messiah said. Peter loved Jesus and he thought he was doing the right thing, but in actuality what he was doing was operating in his humanity and not divinity. Jesus was speaking from above, Peter was speaking from beneath, and it led to him being chastised. Jesus looked right at Peter and chastised satan!
We have a lot to learn from this passage and it will take me a few days.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things as we seek to start the week strong.
- Revelation is when God lifts the veil so you can see divine truth.
- God provides revelation into divine truth so mere humans can have access to a higher reality.
- When you live by the revelation you receive from heaven you are living in-sync with a higher reality and you will flow in the supernatural.
- You forfeit the supernatural when you choose to live ONLY by what you can see in the natural; living ONLY by the realities of this world.
- In order for you to accomplish what God has called you to accomplish you must operate outside the limits of humanity.
- It is too easy to live your life within the limits of human ability, but that is NOT what you are called to.
- In one moment Peter tapped into a higher reality and in the next moment he dropped back down to seeing things from this world’s perspective. In the former moment Jesus commended Peter, in the latter moment Jesus rebuked him. When Jesus looks down on you today will He commend you or rebuke you? The answer to this question rests on whether or not you will choose to live by revelation (faith) or natural sight.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You have called me to live an amazing life. Your plans for me are supernatural. In order for me to accomplish what I was born to accomplish I must live off a higher reality. I cannot live by what I see in the natural. I must live by revelation – by what I receive in the Spirit. I declare that I do. I open my heart to receive all You have called me to do, and all You want to release into me today. I don’t live by sight, I live by faith, and that means I live by a higher reality. I am not moved by what I see with my natural eyes. I am only moved by what I see in the Spirit. You speak to me, You reveal Your truth to me, and the revelation You give me positions me to walk in divine victory in this world. As I enter this day I declare that every meeting, conversation and activity I engage in today is blessed. I shall experience divine success today because I have an advantage over this world. I get to hear from heaven, I say what I hear, I do what I see. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
