(Read Matthew 16:13-16 and 2 Cor 5:14-17)
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’ve looked at this passage for weeks. Let’s go 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 answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus’ question was one of identity. He knew who He was and His true identity was not connected to Mary or Joseph. Jesus wanted to know if His disciples knew who He was. When Simon received the revelation that Jesus was actually the Son of God, and not just the son of His parents, Jesus provided the same revelation back to Simon. I am sure Simon never expected the revelation to boomerang on him. Jesus said, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah. No one taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am. So I tell you, you are Peter.” Did you catch that? Simon identified Jesus as the Son of God, and not just the son of a man (his parents). This was Jesus’ true identity. So Jesus turned around and revealed to Simon his true identity. Jesus acknowledged how people knew Simon as “the son of Jonah”. But Jesus revealed to the fisherman his true identity, “Peter”. The disciple went from Simon, the son of Jonah, the fisherman, to Peter, the Apostle, a fisher of men.
This reminds me of something Paul said in his first letter to the church in Corinth. The Apostle Paul wrote, “From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people. It is true that in the past we thought of Christ as the world thinks. But we don’t think that way now. When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!” This quote is from the Easy to Read Version and I want to focus in on the words, “From this time on we don’t think of anyone as the world thinks of people.” In the traditional King James Version this line reads, “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh.” The New International Version reads, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” The New Living Translation reads, “So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. You have a divine identity.
a) The people who only knew Jesus as the son of His parents and the ones who knew Peter as Simon the son of Jonah, knew these men from a strictly human point of view. These people knew Jesus and Simon “after the flesh”, but their true identities were hidden in the spirit realm.
b) It takes God’s spirit to know people for who He called them to be. The Spirit of God enabled Simon to see Jesus as the Son of God and not just the son of his parents. The same Spirit enabled Jesus to see Simon as Peter the Apostle and not just Simon, the son of Jonah.
c) Like Jesus and Peter, you have a true identity and it is not limited to your natural parents.
d) God made plans for you before the world began and your true identity is connected to those plans.
e) You were born the son of a man, but you will never maximize your purpose and potential until you start living as the son of your God.
2. God does not want you to see people from a strictly human point of view.
a) God made plans for each and every one of us. Just like God wants you to honor the plans He made for you, He also wants you to honor the plans He made for others.
b) When you honor people for whom God has called them to be, your level of honor helps you to get past the faults, flaws and failures connected to their humanity.
c) Every Born-Again person is both human and divine. God wants you to honor the divine in yourself and in others, to the point where you can see past humanity.
d) If you only see others from strictly a human point of view you will never acknowledge or respect what God wants to do in their lives. The same actually goes for yourself. You must learn to see yourself from God’s point of view, so you can get past the flaws associated with your own humanity.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. In order to effectively live by faith I must accept the plans You made for me by grace. You looked past my faults, flaws and failures. You factored out the limitations of my humanity when You factored in the limitless power of Your divinity. I must now see myself as both human and divine, and I choose to identify with the divine. I am who You say I am. I can and will do what You birthed me to do. I operate in the supernatural. Human limits do not confine me. I can say all of this with confidence, because I am not the one doing the work. It is You Father, living in me, You give me the words and You perform the work. I don’t see myself or others from strictly a human point of view. I see myself and others in the Spirit. This perspective enables me to honor others and to honor the call on my own life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
