(Read Matthew 16:13-16)
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, a passage we have looked at for weeks. Let’s get back to it today:
The Bible says, “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The key I am focusing in on is how the common man knew Jesus only as the son of His parents. But Jesus’ true identity could only be discovered by knowing Him as the Son of God. Likewise, you and I have an identity established by God before the world began. That identity must be discovered. Once we discover it, our task is to walk in it. But like Jesus, we will run into people who can’t get past the person we used to be, while we are attempting to live as the person we were called to be.
With this in mind let’s go back to something I shared with you yesterday. In Luke 4 Jesus was asked to read scripture in the Temple. What Jesus read was actually something Isaiah prophesied about Him 700 years before He walked into that Temple. This is what Jesus read, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and freedom to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1,2). Jesus then sat down and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus was saying, “Hey, that’s me! What Isaiah wrote 700 years ago, He was writing about me! I am the Messiah. I am the Son of God. I am the Savior of the world. This is my divine assignment.” But do you know what the people present said? They said, “How can this be, since this is Mary’s boy? This is Joseph’s son, he can’t be the Messiah. This is the guy who fixed my roof last year, there is no way He could be the Savior of the world.” The people of Jesus’ hometown knew Him as the son of a man and they could not accept Him as the Son of God. They could not get past His humanity. Jesus responded, “The truth is, a prophet is not accepted in his own hometown.” Another translation reads, “A prophet is not honored in his own hometown.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- You are the son of a man (your parents), but you are also the son of our God. Your true identity is actually connected to the latter.
- Your parents made plans for you. They prepared for your arrival. They invested in your future. But unless they were led of God, they may have led you in a direction that does not line up with God. See, God, as your heavenly Father, also made plans for you. He also prepared for your arrival. He also invested into your future. When you are Born-Again you begin to learn about the plans God made for you and about the true identity He wants you to accept and walk in.
- This world cannot define you because this world did not design you. Your parents can’t even define you. They gave birth to you, but they did not design you.
- You are actually God’s son. God designed you before the world began. Your true identity is connected to God’s plans for you.
- When you discover your true identity and start walking in it, the people who knew you before — like the people of Jesus’ hometown — may not be able to get past your humanity long enough to accept your divine assignment. Pray for them, but don’t let them stop you. You don’t need the approval of men to accept your divine purpose.
- You must get to the point where you accept the assignment God gave you before the world began and you get comfortable walking in your calling.
- Whether the people close to you honor your divine assignment or not, you must. You must accept, embrace and honor the assignment God gave you before the world began. This is the only way to walk in divine purpose. Once you do, God will open doors for you no man can close and close doors for you no man can open. Even if the people who knew you in the past are struggling to accept your divine assignment, God will raise up new people to use their power, their ability, their influence, and even their money, to help you in ways you cannot help yourself. That’s favor and it flows freely when you walk in divine 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 from the foundations of the world. You designed me before I was in my mother’s womb. I am not a mistake. I am here for a reason. That reason is Your divine purpose. This world cannot define me because this world did not design me. I establish my identity in You and in the purpose You established for me. I walk in my calling. I embrace my divine purpose. As I do, there may be people who knew me before who can’t get past my past. But I can. I refuse to allow anything or anyone to keep me from walking in my calling. I embrace the grace to be the person You called, destined, designed and desire for me to be. And as I do, You give me favor with You and man. Favor can do more in a minute, than labor can do in a lifetime. I accept Your assignment and the favor to complete it. By doing so I experience grace based success in the earth! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
