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APOSTLE PETER - A MAN JUST LIKE US

INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER AND THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

MARK 3:16 - "PETER - FISHERMAN, DISCIPLE, NEW TESTAMENT WRITER"

“And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter”. (Mark 3:16)

Peter is the best known of all the disciples, of the Lord Jesus Christ. In a sense, we admire the dynamic personality that he was, because, in a sense, there is a lot of Peter in us.

Born in the small fishing village (about 100 people) next to the Galilee sea, Peter is as bold, brash and salt of the earth as you can get. His hometown – Bethsaida – means “house of fish”. Peter and his brother, Andrew, may not have been as educated in the Torah (the first five books of our regular Bible) as the priests, scribes, and Pharisees, but they were just like every Jewish man. They knew the Law of God. This would be their foundation as Disciples of the One Who gave the Law to Moses.

Among many other noteworthy things done by Peter, his bold character speaks loudly through his statements and actions:

• “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (to the question by Jesus as to ‘who do men say I am’). Peter is the first to make the clearest statement of the Messiah. Jesus said this was a divinely-inspired statement (Matthew 16:16-17)
• Peter jumped out of the boat in the rough stormy waters of the Galilee and started walking on it when He saw Jesus walking in the water towards the boat. When Peter took his eyes of  Jesus, he began to sink (Matthew 14:28-29)
• Peter boasted to the Lord that he would never forsake him “even if everyone else did (Matthew 26:33). Yet Peter denied he even knew Jesus, with cussing and swearing, to strangers, not once but thrice.
• The impetuous Peter took his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the Temple guard after they came to arrest Jesus (John 18-10-11). This led Jesus to teach a truth that His followers will not live by the sword.

Peter, as hot-headed and shoot-from-the-lip, as he was, also did some wonderful things. After the Resurrection, he ran to the open, empty tomb and was the first man there.  After Jesus appeared on the banks of the sea and was seen cooking fish and bread for them, Peter did not wait for the boat to come ashore. He jumped into the water and swam to the Savior. It was here that Jesus officially forgave Peter and appointed him the foundation on which the Church will be built.

• It was Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit after Jesus went back Home, and sent the Counselor, who preached the first evangelistic sermon of the Christian Church. Three thousand were saved (Acts 2:14-41).
• It was Peter who healed a lame beggar. He was arrested and brought before the 
• Jewish High Court and told to stop preaching Jesus. He kept on. The man who denied, lied and cried ignorance about and of Jesus, was now shouting His Name out, loud and clear (Acts 4).
• Peter was there when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8).
• Peter was there when God sent him to witness to the Roman soldier Cornelius In these two actions, he was a living example of exhibiting the Foundations of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that it included EVERYBODY (Acts 10)!
• Peter stood up for non-Jewish Christians and told them they did not have to follow Jewish Religious Law in order to become followers of Christ, thereby, literally expanding the church to all tribes and tongues (Acts 15:7-11).
• Peter dictated the Gospel of Mark, to Mark, who wrote down the first-hand eye-witness account of Jesus by the Great Disciple. It was the first book of the New Testament ever written (around 45 AD) and used as Scripture by the Apostle Paul in his travels. 
• Peter wrote the two amazing Epistles of 1 and 2 Peter, which clearly gave us the Keys to Godly living. In 2 Peter 3:  Peter revealed for the first time, that the writings, letters, and exhortations of the Apostle Paul, are Scriptures.

316 APPLIED:

Today, we are very much like Peter. We are quick to speak. We make promises we sometimes are unable to keep, as we oversell and under-deliver. This is a serious one because sometimes our families get short-changed as we run around trying to put out fires everywhere. So now it is time for soul-searching.

• If we find ourselves full of pride by thinking “how could Peter do …..(fill in the blank offense against God),  then let’s pull out that same Prayer Journal I recommended in the application steps of Matthew 3:16, and start documenting our prideful thoughts.
•  Let us then, approach the Lord in the spirit of humility and seek His forgiveness from these shortcomings. Denying we fall short, while thinking with a false secret of superiority over another human being, is a transgression against God. It is best if ever never let things get this far, for our own good. 
• As a sign of our growing maturity, as a Christian and just a basic human being, let us be very careful about rash decision making, then projecting the Name of God unto it. 
• Sometimes in life, we must make a snap decision about a matter. In such a case, pray hard first and discern any potential fallout from this decision. Then, think biblically as to evaluating any consequences. Wherever possible, consider the end from the beginning, just like our Heavenly Father would. He sees all sides of the question and its consequences.  After all of this, then make the decision trusting God, in complete dependence on Him.
• Be willing to go the extra mile, to show someone of a different background, race or status as us, the love and salvation of God, in Jesus Christ. Peter showed us how to build the church: reach out to all, from all nations and neighborhoods.
• Be willing to give it all. Peter, like all of the Apostles/Disciples of Christ, gave his life for the cause of Christ when the time came. Only John, who wrote the Books which bear his name (John, Revelation etc.)lived to be a ripe old 95 years of age.  Peter, according to legend, was crucified upside down, because he did not think it worthy to be executed like His Savior and mine - the Lord Jesus Christ. Ask yourself this question - are there things I will consider giving up for Jesus Christ? If so, what could those things be? Pray for this question to resonate, within.

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THIRTY ONE DAYS OF BIBLE TRUTHS - DAY 26 (GOLDEN FAITH)

BIBLE VERSE: "So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" 1 Peter 1:7

TRUTH: True gold is tested by fire. The gold is cooked and cooked and cooked until ALL impurities are removed, in the form of the sludge and dross which rises to the top. What is left behind is a solid 24 karat precious metal, shiny and beautiful. This is how it was back in the bazaars and shops when Peter and Jesus' other disciples walked the earth, spreading the good news of the gospel. To be sure, only the very wealthy could have afforded this precious metal at the time. But in Jesus' economy, the poorest widow is richer than all the billionaires of the world combined, if she has Faith that is just pure golden!

The possessor of  "Golden Faith" is one who has been through the ringer of life, yet comes out shining because the Spirit of God reflects the deep praise and commitment to the Father, that lives in such a one. Golden Faith is not something which is attained overnight, but one which refined in the fires of tribulation, tears, fears and even cares. Golden Faith is also one which has been refine of all impurities, just like gold metal, to bring it to as close to 100% pure as is possible in this life. Golden Faith never wavers, wanders away or waffles in the face of adversity. Golden Faith stands up for Jesus when everyone else is diluting His Name on earth, with the systems of this dying age. Golden Faith is authentic, undefiled and uncompromising. Is our faith like 24 Carat Gold which reflects the Image and Power of the Savior? Let us so hope.

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KEYS TO A GODLY LIFE PART 2/12 - HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

THE DAWN OF GLORY SERIES:

PLEASE READ THE PASSAGE, THEN - WATCH THE BRIEF EXPOSITION FROM THE PLUMBLINE VIDEO:

1 Peter 1:3-12

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

THIRTY DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE - DAY 25

PRAY THE NAMES OF GOD

DAY 25
GOD IS COMFORTER


A comforter is a person or thing which provides consolation. A comforter is also an encourager or even, a counselor! A comforter is one who runs to our side and picks us up when we are down. 


In this life, you and I may have such a person in our lives - a spouse; a mentor; a brother or sister in the Lord; a sibling and more. You can call that person in the middle of the night, when things are down....when tears are in your eyes...and you need a friend...you can count on them to be your friend, your sounding board, your bridge over troubled waters!


Do you have such a friend? Do you have someone who would fight for you...and advocate, if you will? Every man or woman should have a trusted friend of a mature age, on whom we can count. If you do not, I pray the Lord sends you one!

Jesus is such a friend. When He went back to heaven, Hebrews 7:25b says "He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf (our behalf...we who are saved)" It says Jesus "intercedes" for us. That means He is our Advocate! He stands up for us and pleads our case in Heaven before Father God...even now!


However, He did something more and this is the mystery of our Faith which no other cult or religion can come close to matching...because those other things do not exist! Jesus sent His Personal Representative be His Liaison from us, to Him!


The Holy Spirit - the actual Spirit of God - when He comes to reside in the live and spirit of the Believer, is in us for several reasons...and number one is Comforter.


In John 16:7, Jesus says "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you".


Jesus knew His saints, His true saints, will face persecution and hard times all through Christian history. Being God Who became man, He also knew the human condition and our tendency to drift away or say and do stupid things. The Apostle Peter is a prime example! Peter was bombastic and boastful. He walked on water with Jesus....then sank when he took his eyes off him. Peter boasted he will not allow Jesus to go to the Cross. Jesus told him "Get thee behind me Satan". Peter cursed and denied Jesus three times. Yet Jesus chose Peter to be the Rock and the Head of His church!


So we have not been through things which others have not endured before. This is why the Holy Spirit - the Comforter - was sent to us. Jesus called Him our "Helper" because Jesus knew, man, these people are going to need so much help that only God Himself could help them!

Jesus said the Holy Spirit is our Counselor. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke Aramaic and this verse from Jesus in John 14:26 is from the Aramaic Bible itself as it perfectly translate what the Lord actually said....as opposed to our modern English Bibles "But He, The Redeemer of the accursed, The Spirit of Holiness, whom my Father sends in My name, He will teach you all things and He will remind you of everything whatsoever I have told you.”


That is powerful, my friends! When we don't know where to turn - Holy Spirit knows. When we don't know what to do - Holy Spirit knows. When we don't know whom to trust - Holy Spirit knows. When we don't know what His Will is - Holy Spirit does. When we don't know how to pray - Holy Spirit does. He just does...this and more.


You can have His revelation. You can also stifle and quench and shove Him in the background. Because He is a gentleman, He will not force Himself on you. However, if you wish to have the best life possible, free from chains, bondage and confusion, it is my joy to tell you -LET HOLY SPIRIT do it! Let Him have full reign of your life, because He knows you better than you know yourself and He knows what Father God has in mind for you. He knows as Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope". Amen


So let us pray:
Father, in the Name of Jesus, I come to You now in all sincerity and truth to express my wonder, amazement and complete gratitude that You, the Eternal God of Heaven, would even consider to allow Your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Holiness and Truth, to descend from Heaven after Christ saved me, to live inside of me.


Father, we know all believers have the same Spirit of all Excellence, of all Truth, of all Majesty and of all Holiness. 


We know You sent Him to be our Counselor when we doubt. Our Comforter when we are without and our Advocate when useless prayers we spout.


We know we can shove Him aside so we can enjoy, no matter how temporary, the fleeting things of this world.


We know that many of Your people are not taught the true Attributes and Power of the Spirit because modern religion has become another business or means to empower a few.


We know because of that, many cannot access that dunamis, that Dynamic Power which You have given us in all Your Wisdom, Father.

So now, this day, in the Name of Jesus, I ask You activate my Spiritual Heart for Truth! By activating it, my spirit will be lined up with the Person and Power and Presence of Holy Spirit Who lives RIGHT NOW in me! By activating it, I can see the ways and wonders You have in store for me. By activating it, I can grow into the person YOU designed me to be. 


Lord and not just activate it, but set my spiritual heart on fire! Set it on fire for You! Let me burn with the Fire of Your Holiness to shine the Light of Christ all around me in a dark and evil world. Set it on fire that many may see and want to know the same God You sent to live in me Who represents You!

I am ready, Lord God. I am ready to be set on fire for You. I am ready to fight the good fight. I am ready to finish the race and bring glory to You, in Jesus' Name amen!

TOMORROW: GOD IS EL-SHADDAI