Scripture:
Matthew 16:13-28 NKJV
[13] When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” [14] So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [15] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. [18] And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. [19] And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” [20] Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. [21] From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. [22] Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” [23] But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” [24] Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. [25] For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. [26] For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. [28] “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”
Observation:
I love this portion of scripture. It’s honestly so empowering. Especially if you just take bits and pieces of it and don’t look at the context in which it’s written. As I was reading it I thought about what really being said, and wanted to take a deeper dive into it. Now I have written about part of this scripture before and was left feeling like I was ready to storm hell with a water pistol… and I’m going to be honest. I’m left feeling no different this morning. Looking at what is being said however, may make some of us think a little bit about the commitment we have made to Jesus Christ. So let’s dive in. Jesus is walking with HIS disciples, after a confrontation with the religious leaders of that time who, despite all their knowledge could not see who Jesus truly is. By this point in HIS powerful 3-year ministry HE had turned water into wine, fed thousands of people, made the lame walk, the blind see, and performed many other miraculous signs, yet just before these scriptures the religious leaders are still left to wonder if HE really is the SON of GOD. All their knowledge of GOD had no wisdom behind it. As they entered the region of Caesarea Philippi HE passed a question to HIS disciples, “Whom do they say that I am?” The question had a purpose. It was very pointed. It’s not that HE did not already know. HE is the SON of GOD, HE knew they had no idea who HE was. Otherwise why would they be asking HIM to perform another sign. If they had not seen what HE had done they had heard about it, that should have been more than enough. The knowledge they had and the things that had been done had been spoken about in all that they had memorized over the last several thousand years. But the question that was asked honestly pertained very little to them. It had more to do with the men standing right there with HIM,”Who do you say that I am.” HE had just made it personal, HE had taken that decision away from the religious leaders and put it into the hands of the individual. The question wasn’t for those who thought they knew, it was for those whom had not been educated on the matter. The fisherman, tax collectors, and prostitutes. Those who had walked with HIM and seen HIS heart. Those who had watched the lame man rise to his feet, had tasted the wine and been a part of the grace that HE had shown. “Who do you say that I am?” As Peter spoke the only answer that could be given, I can see a smile coming to the face of Jesus, “Yes, I knew he would be the one, even his name proclaims it, I knew he would be solid, and that’s the truth that is needed.” The response that was given is where the empowerment that I had spoken of at the beginning of this SOAP comes from, “blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” If that does not prepare you for the battle I’m not sure what will. The truth of who was standing right there in their midst was profound. The SON of GOD had stepped out of glory to walk with men here on earth and train them to carry on HIS work long after HE had finished it, HE was building soldiers. Men and women who would not be afraid to do whatever it takes to kick down the gates even if it cost them their lives. As HE continues in this moment, HE gives them instructions not to tell who HE is. Again this brings it to a personal decision. Who HE is to you doesn’t come from anyone but you. Revealing an even deeper part of the plan comes from the next few verses where HE predicts HIS death and the things in which HE would suffer, and honestly, the rock that HE had just praised seemingly crumbled. He understood that Jesus was the SON of GOD, but rising from the dead after a brutal crucifixion, that was beyond his understanding. As the praise turns into a rebuke. In a sense what Jesus said is you don’t understand the victory that comes from what is about to happen. It’s the key to kingdom life. The death of the flesh brings the spirit of all truth. The invitation to follow HIM is proclaimed. At this point it’s not a follow me and I will make you fishers of men, now it’s a little different. HE says if you want to come after Me you have to lay down your life. Denying the things that you want, picking up the instrument of death. Killing the desires of your flesh. Not chasing after the world. Verses 26 through 28 are powerful. They open up what is being said, “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what would he give in exchange for his soul? For the SON of man will come in all the glory of the Father with all HIS angels, and then HE will reward each according to his works.” That’s not me saying it, that’s the word of GOD. The last verse is hard for some to figure out. What I believe is being said is that the disciples will see Jesus ascend to the Father after being raised from the dead. That is the glory of HIS kingdom.
Application:
What if it cost you everything? What if you gave up everything? Who is HE to you? Are you willing to lay down your freshly desires to follow HIM. I read most of a book several years ago that gave me a new perspective. Now I never finished it but I did get most of the way through it. It was titled, “Not a fan.” It was written by a guy named Kyle Idelmen. I might have spelled the last name wrong, so if you look it up to read search for the title. Anyway my point is, it was written from the perspective of getting in the game. His perspective was that most Christians just sit on the sidelines cheering on the pastor and never really laying down their worldly desires. I don’t want to be that kind of Christian. One who just goes to church and never has a dent or scratch in their armor. I’m not a fan of Jesus. I am a follower. I have taken a lot of blows and still know HIM to be my LORD and SAVIOR. My walk with HIM has cost me friends and family members, made me feel isolated and separate, but I still put on my armor every day and get in the battle. Maybe some day it may cost me my life, but you can’t take something I have already laid down. We don’t play church. We are the church. Our job is to put ourselves aside. This world and life does not matter. What matters is the kingdom and what you do with what HE gave you, that’s it. The keys to the kingdom begin where you end. The harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. The gates can’t hold us out, but it may cost us our comfortable life. The disciples left the comfort of their homes, their families and their worldly desires to be boiled in oil fed to lions hung upside down on crosses and become Roman candles. The question is who is HE to you. Is HE worth your everything? Or are you just in it for what HE can do for you. Most of us will never get in the game. I want to be the one who has to be drug off the field because I just won’t quit. There are people dying because we won’t “GO” our fear keeps us inside the sanctity of the church… but the harvest is supposed to be outside the church. Take a risk step out of the boat. Come on, let’s lock shields and kick down the gates even if it costs us our lives. Fans sit in church, followers kick down gates. Yes it may cost you your comfort. Your shiny armor may get a scratch in it, but if it never faces a battle. It’s just a decoration. GOD is rising up spiritual warriors. People who are not afraid of hell because they have been there. Get in the battle, and see the victory HE died for us to have.
Prayer:
Father, we are yours. This is our war cry. We know it’s not time to sit in church. You are calling your last hour workers. The ones who have no fear of hell. The ones who will get down in the pit to pull others out. Father, you tell us that whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, so we bind the demonic activity that is so prevalent. We bind the spirit of addiction, selfishness, depression, fear, anxiety, fornication, adultery, gossip, division, and everything else that is not of you. We pray right now for the release of your Holy Spirit. That it would sweep over the entire world setting captives free and moving through heart in the way that only you can. We proclaim your victory over every bit of demonic activity in and outside the church in the mighty name of Jesus; we bind the spirit of lies and deception, and pray that truth would be revealed. That your word would go forth and break down anything that is said that is in contradiction to your truth. Father reveal yourself to all, come LORD Jesus. We lay it all down right now. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and fire. Give us boldness that can not be stopped no matter the cost. We are your followers not your fans we are in the game, not on the sideline. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.