WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Many people acknowledge Jesus as a great prophet, teacher, good man, etc. Someone I talk to occasionally said to me one day that she thought Jesus was “cool.” This person acted like she had no problem whatsoever with Jesus, yet her life demonstrates otherwise.

Jesus asked his disciples one day, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13. The responses ranged from, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the Prophets to the right answer given by Peter which was… “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” Matthew 16:16.

I believe every one of the disciples, including Judas heard this response that day. From that point on, there was no excuse as to who Jesus was and is. However, it’s not enough just to know who Jesus is. There must come a time when we all must make a choice as to who Jesus is to us personally. Even Joshua, before leading the Israelites into the promised land said to the people, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15. If we make that choice for Christ, Jesus will become more than a great teacher, prophet, cool guy, and becomes your Lord.

Earlier I referred to Judas, who we all know betrayed Jesus. People have often wondered how he could have done such a thing after spending three years with the Son of God who healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, etc.

Perhaps that last meal with Jesus revealed Judas’ true heart. Jesus told the disciples that one would betray him. “They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” But later, “Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Notice that the disciples referred to Jesus as “Lord,” Lord is Kyrios in the Greek meaning “He to whom a person or thing belongs; the possessor and disposer of a thing, one who has control of a person.”

Judas referred to Jesus as “Rabbi,” Rhabbi is the Greek word meaning “my great one, my honorable sir, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers…”

So you see, Judas never came to a place in his life where he saw Jesus as possessor of him. Judas still controlled his own life and John 13:27 says that satan entered Judas as he took the bread that day out of the hands of Jesus. Judas may have been a follower of Jesus, but never a lover!

There are “Judas’s” among us today. Judas is in the Church, bible study, in the choir and worship team. Jesus was aware all along that Judas would betray him, yet he gave him every opportunity to share in an intimate walk with him.

Jesus continues to extend that invitation to us all. He knows right now where your heart is. You may be fooling people around you, but you will never fool God. You may even believe you’re okay because you know about Jesus.

But, Jesus wants to be more to you than a cool guy. He desires to be more to you than a teacher or a prophet who did good things and said wise sayings. Jesus longs to be your Lord. He wants to be the possessor of your heart. He wants to give you life and be the love of your life and give you eternal life!

Think about it…. Who is Jesus to you? Lord or Rabbi?

DO WE HAVE IN MIND THE THINGS OF GOD OR THE THINGS OF MEN?

One day as the disciples were walking with Jesus, He began to talk about a matter of His own death and this topic did not sit well with one of the disciples, namely Peter. Peter loved the Lord and had recently experienced a revelation about Jesus that came from the Father, but this day, Peter was not commended by Jesus, but rather rebuked (Matthew 16:23).


“…Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” Matthew 16:21).


“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Matthew 16:22.


Can you imagine, first of all, rebuking the Lord? Well, before we all throw stones at Peter, let’s look a little deeper.


Right then, Jesus gave His own rebuke. He said to Peter… “Get behind me, Satan!” “You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” Matthew 16:23. This last comment by Jesus should strike all of our hearts because Jesus never stops at a symptom, but always goes to the root. The root of Peter’s words toward Jesus was that he didn’t have in mind the things of God - but rather the things of men.


Let’s stop there and ask ourselves… How many times have we too been earthly minded? We launched into our ways because we didn’t understand the plan and purpose of God in that situation.


Six days later, Peter, James and John were invited by Jesus to come along with Him to a high mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. These three disciples were given a rare opportunity to see Jesus as he really was. If you study the book of Revelation, you will see the majesty of Jesus. John records that Jesus’ head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance (Revelation 1:12-16). The disciples, this day on the mountain saw what John would later see on the island of Patmos. What an awesome sight that must have been.


In addition to seeing Jesus glorified before them, Moses and Elijah also appeared and they were talking with Jesus. What a holy moment to observe quietly, yet Peter had something to say, rather, something he wanted to DO.


“Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters --- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” Matthew 17:4.Peter wanted to DO SOMETHING. Isn’t that the way we are? We don’t know how to be silent and meditate for awhile on the holy things God wants to impart to us. The first thing we want is to "DO SOMETHING."


While Peter is still speaking, the voice of God Almighty breaks in…. while a cloud envelops them all. “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5.

Peter is no longer talking! He’s on his face along with James and John terrified! The Father identified Jesus as His Son whom He loved and was pleased with, but He also said, "LISTEN TO HIM!"


We've all heard it said that there’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Most likely, it's because we should listen more (twice as much) and talk less. That’s a tough one for people like me who can really relate to Peter. I have been guilty of opening mouth - inserting foot sooo many times in my life. Yet, like Peter, I know that the Lord will finish the good work He has begun in me until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:3).


The reason I’ve connected these two passages of scripture is because I believe “listening to the Lord” will produce “having in mind the things of God.” Remember when Jesus told Peter, you are a stumbling block to me because you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men? Peter demonstrated once again at the transfiguration someone who still did not have in mind the things of God.


The mountaintop experience that Peter, James and John had was not to be a building project for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. It was a holy experience that did not need WORDS & DEEDS.


Remember, Jesus did nothing of himself, instead He only did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19). This is an example for us. God is more interested in how we are transformed by what’s been revealed. You might recall a time when Jesus revealed Himself to you as a faithful unconditional loving friend or perhaps as your healer. How ever the Father reveals His Son to you and me is not so that we run and do something. It’s that we immerse deeper in our relationship with Jesus. Our doing His will comes only out of our knowing Him.


Ephesians 1:17, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” (Prayed by the Apostle Paul)


The point of it all is that we may know HIM better. The way to get to know Jesus is by listening to Him as we spend time with Him everyday. As a friend of God, He will reveal his secrets to you, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know“ Jeremiah 33:3. As we listen, we will learn His ways and He then will be able to order our steps. We will have in mind the things of God!


When we do not have in mind the things of God, we can be more of a hindrance and a stumbling block just as Peter would have been had he been in charge of Jesus’ future. His protection of Jesus would have kept Jesus from going to the cross! We know that it was God’s divine plan, from the beginning of time to send Jesus to die once for the sins of all. Isaiah 50:10, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause him to suffer….” He was sent as a guilt offering for you and me.


Well, Praise God there came a time for Peter when he did have in mind… the things of God and that should give us all hope. Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), Peter stood up with his fellow disciples and raised his voice to speak to the crowd (Acts 2:14). He began by saying to the people… “LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.” Hmm… I believe Peter had learned to listen and now God gave him a platform!


Peter told the people that Jesus was handed over to them by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge…. (Acts 2:23). So, you see, Peter did finally have in mind the … things of God!

This has given me hope and I pray the same for you. We all have fallen short in our knowledge of God and His ways. That is why we must ask the Father for wisdom and knowledge that we may know him better. We do not want to be a stumbling block to his purposes coming forth in the earth today. We do not want to hinder His work. In fact, we should long to join Him in fulfilling His dream for us and for the lost.


We must desire to be in alignment with Him at all times that we may share in God’s purposes and plans being fulfilled in the earth. From the words of the Father…. LISTEN TO HIM! I pray that this burns in your heart today so that we have in mind… THE THINGS OF GOD!

DIVINE DELAY...

Have you ever heard the saying, “hurry up and wait?” I have found it to be true in my walk of faith with Jesus. The other night the Lord began to talk to me about waiting after you’ve been called. I thought of how Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world, yet in the same breath told them to stay in the city until they were clothed with power from on high.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:19.

“You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” Luke 24:48-49.

After Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, he spent 40 days among the disciples continuing to teach them, but after He ascended into heaven, the disciples were to wait for the gift the Father promised… “On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” Acts 1:4-5.

So the disciples had been commissioned to go, yet Jesus told them to wait. It’s as if He pushes the pause button. Have you ever felt like God has pushed the pause button on your life? When you’re told to go, but yet you’re to stay… seems to send a mixed message. Notice Jesus said… in a few days you’ll be baptized with the Holy Spirit. He didn’t say how many days, what they should do while they waited or what time of day this gift was coming. We are able to read the Word and see that it was ten days later, but the disciples did not have that information.

Do you ever wonder what they discussed after Jesus was taken up in the clouds? What we do know is that they began to worship him ~ yes worship. I do believe this is the first time we see the disciples worship Jesus and after that they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Luke 24:53 says they “stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

I believe much can be learned from their example. They knew first-hand how true Jesus was to his word. They spent days and nights with Him for three years. So, they never had a doubt that He would keep his word to them. Do we know him that well?

And, Jesus actually opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45) right before he left them because they would reflect the rest of their lives upon what He told them.

What they didn’t know was that the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was soon to come to them would remind and reveal all that they had learned from Jesus. They must have been on fire with anticipation before they were filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

When God shows you something that is to come.. it’s easy to become like a child waiting for Christmas. I remember my children when they were little would ask…. “How many days mom till Christmas?” I believe the Lord wants us to be filled with anticipation of not only the most important date on a calendar which is His return to receive us, but also for the divine appointments along our journey towards him.

So, if you’re in a “pregnant pause” as some say… just know, you can’t carry that baby forever. The pause will end and the new shall come forth in my life and in yours. But, while we are in the “pause” mode, let’s worship Him and carry joy in our hearts for that day when we shall experience the commission the Lord has placed upon us.

HUNGERING & THIRSTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).


Have you ever been beyond hungry? Most of us in America have rarely known extreme hunger, not to say that it doesn’t exist, but is less common here. The times when I felt I was about to starve were also the times I felt most satisfied when food finally reached my stomach. It’s as if we appreciate food most when we’ve experienced the greatest hunger.


Recently, I had the privilege of watching a dvd of several testimonials of people who were searching for God throughout their life. Most gave their life to serving dead gods and in all their attempts to please this god, they felt unloved, purposeless and unfulfilled ---- still hungry. As they journeyed through their lives hungering and thirsting for RIGHTEOUSNESS (the state of being right with God), each one encountered the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth who revealed himself to each person, just as he promised he would do (Isaiah 65:1).


You see, God doesn’t hide from us - quite the contrary. He longs to reveal himself to us by filling our aching hearts with Himself. God is looking for people who are hungering and thirsting for Him. There are many people in the world; you may be one, who really wants to live a godly life. You may say, “I’ve tried to live righteous my entire life, yet I feel empty.” If that’s you - please know that God sees you and your attempts to be RIGHTEOUS. But, Righteousness is not "achieved," it's "received." God loves to see a hungry heart and it‘s his promise that he will fill you (Matthew 5:6).


Open up your heart today to Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He has already chosen you to receive His RIGHTEOUSNESS. Ephesians 1:4, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…” (RIGHTEOUS).


Come, all you who are thirsty! Today - may your hunger and thirst be satisfied as you cry out to God…… “Fill me Lord Jesus with RIGHTEOUSNESS.”