What Peter believed

 What Peter believed

In Mark’s gospel we read,

"Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.'"Mark 8:27-29.

The disciples knew Jesus better than anyone. And here you see Peter stating that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Messiah.

If what Peter said is false then he and the other disciples are responsible for perpetuating potentially one of the most monumental lies in human history. Causing literally billions of people in the world today to believe that lie.

Causing tens of millions of people throughout the centuries to die in vain.

The truth however is Peter was speaking the truth.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

You must be willing

  You must be willing

Jesus said,

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.  

But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  

For I have come to turn " ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.' 

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39.

This I believe is a statement everyone considering becoming a Christian should read and take to heart.

Simply put Jesus is saying if you are going to follow me you need to realize that it’s all or nothing. I must be first in your life. And you must be willing to give up everything for me. Not that, that will necessarily happen. But never the less you must be willing to give everything up for the cause of Christ.

The reward for doing so is eternal life in heaven with God.

Thus my question for you;

Are you willing to give up everything for the cause of Christ?

Please think about it.

Are you lukewarm?

 Are you lukewarm

       "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.  

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.  

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Revelations 3:14-22.

Here Jesus notes that the Laodicean church are neither cold or hot and that God wishes that they’d be one or the other.

They thought they needed nothing. Yet the truth was just the opposite. 

Spiritually they were lukewarm and such people are hard to reach. 

Jesus tells them to turn to Him and buy riches from Him. To buy salve for their eyes, that their eyes would be opened spiritually to their needs.

He calls them to repent. That He is there knocking on their hearts door waiting to be asked into their life.

For those who do open that door and repent of their sins they will get to sit with Him on His throne.

Question:

Are you lukewarm?

Do you believe you have all you need to be a follower of Christ Jesus?

Please think about it.

"Do you live up to Philadelphia's standard?

  Do you live up to Philadelphia’s standard?

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.  

I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.  

I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.  

Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 3:7-13.

Here is the church Jesus praises. Finding nothing wrong. It’s a church many falsely think they are.

However to those who truly are following God the way the Church at Philadelphia was following God will be rewarded by living in Gods temple. Never having to leave it.

God will even make their enemies fall down at their feet.

They will also be kept from the hour of trial.

Take a few minutes to evaluate your life for Christ. Do you honestly think your spiritual life lives up to the standard of those in Philadelphia?

Please think about it.

On Life Support?

 On life support?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.  

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  

Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.  

He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.  

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Revelations 3:1-6.

Here Jesus called to the church at Sardis to wake up. One commentary I read said they were in a deep “spiritual coma”

Jesus notes that they have a reputation for being alive, when in reality they are dead.

He notes their deeds there service to God is incomplete. Therefor they must repent and do God’s work.

At the same time there are people within Sardis who have not stopped working for God. They have not soiled their clothing. As a result they will receive a conquers reward.

Do you have a reputation for being alive when in fact you know you are spiritually dead?

Is the Church you attend truly alive or on life support?

Please think about it. 

False teacher and the wicked

 False Teachers and the Wicked

    In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.  

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.  

I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.  

So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.  

I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.  

Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you):  

Only hold on to what you have until I come. 

To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— Revelations 2:18-26

Here Jesus notes that He knows of the church at Thyatira’s love, faith and perseverance. But he notes that there is a woman, a self proclaimed prophetess referred to as Jezebel. Someone who is misleading people into sexual immorality and other things, that God disapproves of.

Jesus states He has given her time to repent but she was unwilling therefor she will pay the price for her misdeeds and sins. 

Jesus notes that He searches the hearts and minds of all people. And that He will repay each person according to their deeds.

Jesus finally calls the church to hold onto their faith until His return.

Question do you know of any false teachers? Men and women who are misleading those in the church congregation or denomination you attend?

The apostle Paul writes,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Is the church congregation or denomination doing this with false teachers and the wicked?

Please think about it.

Who are you following?

  Who are you following?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.  

I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.  

Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelations 2:12-17.

Here the church at Pergamum is commended by Jesus for staying true even though a member of their church Antipas was put to death for his beliefs.

Jesus goes on however to note that the church a Pergamum is mixing the teachings of Balaam with their faith in Christ and holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans both heretical teachings.

He warns that if they do not repent from teaching these false teachings, Jesus himself will fight against them.

Those who turn from these teachings however will be given a reward for doing so.

Question:

Are you following false teachers?

Are the pastors, evangelist, and teachers you follow truly teaching The Word of God?

Please think about it.

To the point of death

  To the point of death

To the Church in Smyrna

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 

These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Revelations 2:8-11.

The church at Smyrna is not rebuked by Christ.

Here Jesus states He knows what is happening to them and tells them that their persecution time will be brief.

He states asks the church to be faithful to death and they will be given a crown of life.

There are many Christians today who are undergoing persecution. The estimates are in the hundreds of thousands. Yet despite it all they keep their faith in Jesus.

You may never suffer persecution for your belief in Christ Jesus. But ask yourself this question,

“If I were to be persecuted for what I believe. Would I be faithful to the point of death?

Please think about it.

Return

  Return

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: 

These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:  

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.  

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.  

Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.  

But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Revelations 2:1-7 

I was taught that the churches mentioned in Revelations can apply to not only a church congregation but to individuals as well.

Here we see that the church at Ephesus has persevered. 

That they cannot tolerate wicked men, 

That they have tested those who claim to be apostles who are not.

That they have endured hardship for the sake of Christ and not grown weary.

Yet it is pointed out that they have forsaken their first love.

This means they have forsaken Christ who should always be our first love.

There are many reasons Christians forsake their first love. They become lured by the ways of the world, money, possessions even the mixing of non-Christian philosophes.

Combining with Christian teaching, when this was never meant to be.

As believers in Christ Jesus we must look at what we believe and why we believe it. We must ask God to show us the error of our ways. Then repent and turn back to God.

Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?

Are you mixing other things with your Christian faith, things that are not of God?

Please think about it.

Pursue what promotes peace

 Pursue what promotes peace

The apostle Paul writes,

"So then, let us pursue what promotes peace

 and what builds up one another "

                                                                  Romans 14:19

As believers we are called to pursue the way of peace. The apostle Peter writing,

The apostle Peter writes,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Dear friends,

 I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12.

We as believers in Christ Jesus are called to live so good even the pagans will one day see our good deeds and glorify God.

Question...

When people see your life. Do they see a life pursuing peace?

By His Mercy

  By His Mercy

The apostle Paul writes,

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:4,5.

Here is a Christian distinctive. Christians do not believe we can be good enough to enter Gods heaven. And God knew this was true. Therefore God reached down from heaven in the form of His one and Only Son Christ Jesus.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans states,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Paul also wrote,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9,10.

Question have you done this?

Please think about it.

Can never perish spoil or fade

  Can never perish spoil or fade

The apostle Peter wrote,

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1Peter 1:3-5.

This is the hope all who believe in Christ Jesus have. So the question becomes;

1/ do you truly have this hope that only comes from Christ Jesus?

2/ If you have this hope are your sharing it with those around you?

Please think about it