(Read Matthew 16:13-16 and 2 Cor 5:17)
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. Peter was a man who started out as a fisherman and ended up as the leader of the New Testament church. He made plenty of mistakes, he sometimes allowed his emotions to get the best of him, and he spoke out-of-turn on multiple occasions. So basically, Peter was just like most of us. He was a passionate guy who lived his life in one direction and everything changed when he met Jesus.
Today I want us to consider 2 Corinthians 5:17. I memorized this verse as a young believer. The traditional King James Version reads, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The Easy to Read Version reads, “When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new!” As a young minister, about 15 years ago, I remember discussing this verse with my Pastor (at the time) and a group of ministers. Paul said all things were new once we were in Christ, but we debated why everything did not suddenly become new for us. Looking back, I can laugh now at some of the things I thought back then. It is clear to me today why Paul said what He said and that’s what this message will be focused on.
Going back to Matthew 16, after Simon openly declared that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus looked at him and 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.” The moment Jesus looked at Simon and called him “Peter” was an “all things are new” moment. Jesus was revealing to Peter his true identity and his life would never be the same. Sure, he still made plenty of mistakes after this encounter with Jesus, but Peter’s mistakes never disqualified him from God’s assignment. God knew the mistakes Peter would make before He made them and He called Peter anyway. He does the same with us.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The day you were Born-Again you gained access to a whole new world. From the moment the Holy Spirit took up residence inside of you, you were positioned to learn of the plans God made for you before the world began.
2. Peter lived all of his life as Simon, the fisherman, the son of Jonah. When Jesus called him “Peter”, a whole new world opened up for him. It’s was God’s world. God’s plans. The life he was destined to live.
3. Some people use the word “destiny” loosely. Others reject the concept altogether. But if you read the Bible, the concept is clear. God made plans for you before you were born. He outlined a life for you before your mother met your father. God’s plans for you is your destiny. However, you get a vote. Simon could have rejected the concept of living his life as “Peter”. Simon could not rejected God altogether. Some people do. But if you are reading this, chances are you want to be the person God called you to be. So for you, the message is simple: open your heart to the things of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you who He planned for you to be. And once He starts revealing the real “You” to you, accept it, embrace it, and start walking in it.
4. It takes humility to accept God’s’ plans over your own.
a) While we can all agree that God’s plans for Simon the fisherman were much greater than anything he could have come up with on his own, Simon still had to make the choice. He had to give up “Simon” in order to accept and embrace “Peter” and this is not always an easy decision.
b) God will show you things about your future, things He planned for you to have and to do, but in order to experience what God is revealing to you, you are going to have to give up the plans you already had. Sometimes that’s not easy. This is why you must die to self.
c) God requires you to give up your life for the life He planned for your to have. This is easier said than done. But if you do it, you will be glad you did.
d) There have been many occasions in my own life where I had plans for something and God redirected me. I can think of a major decision that Isabella and I prayed and planned for, for years. When God shifted and redirected us, it was not easy. I remember crying (real tears) before the Lord on one occasion. But now we are very glad we accepted God’s plans. We are now experiencing things we would have forfeited had we refused to ‘die to self’ in that area.
e) God has a “whole new world” waiting for you. But in order to experience it you must be willing to give up the “world” you are currently in. Are you?
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. The day I was Born-Again I was in position to learn of those plans. As You reveal Your plans to me I am posed with a decision. You give me the right to choose between the life You planned for me and the life I have developed on my own. You lead me, but You don’t force me. Since I want to be the person You called me to be, I declare by faith that I die to self. I yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I willingly give up the life I came up with for the life You planned for me to have. I die so I can truly live, and as I do, I get to experience A WHOLE NEW WORLD! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
