BLACK AND WHITE pt 3

Greetings the Lord's Beloved!  Blessings and prosperity to you and yours in this New Year!

    To continue our study, I would like us to take a look at a verse that the Pharisees and Scribes were familiar with, taken from the Old Testament, spoken by our Lord. It is taken from the Book of Matthew 22:38-39. Jesus declared, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (BSB)

   Did you know that this was not a new concept that the Lord Jesus was introducing to them? Jesus was simply quoting the Law of the Lord or the Law of Moses! It is found in Leviticus 19:17-18. "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." (ESV)

   I would like us to pause right here and think for moment... Isn't it funny how hateful and threatened the Pharisees and Scribes were toward Jesus? They attempted to spread falsehoods about Him to the people, so they'd question what He was teaching them. The thing I find peculiar about this, is that He was only quoting from the same Law that they used to control and intimidate the Lords people.

This same Law can be used against the people of God to bring condemnation or used to set them free. It is important how The Word of God is applied to people, that will determine the outcome. If applied with love, it will bring fruitfulness, peace and deliverance. If applied with hate, fear or anger, it will bring forth bondage, fear and condemnation.

"Now where the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (freedom)." 2 Corinthians 3:17 (NAS)

What I would like us to gain out of this series, is to become aware of just how close we walk to that fine line of liberty or condemnation.  Whether it be in regards to ourselves or others.

Let's read a perfect example of this situation found in Matthew 16:13-23.

"Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, who do men say that the Son of man is?  And they said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, But who do you say that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him. Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: For flesh and blood have not revealed it unto you, but My Father Who is in heaven.
   And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.  I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Then charged He the disciples that they should tell no man that He was the Christ.
   From that time began Jesus to show unto His disciples, that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee.  But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto Me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:13-23  (ASV)

   In the first stanza of the verses we read above, we see that the Lord makes inquiry to His disciples of who men say that He is. They responded. Then He once again makes inquiry. Now to His disciples He asked: "Who do they think He is?"  With this, Peter responds and seems to have just gushed forth without thought. Peter's response is: "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."  Jesus answers and said to him. "Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah: Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven."

   We will find that when it comes to our Brother Peter, He doesn't waste any time sharing his thoughts. He is a zealous personality.  So, as Jesus finished asking, "Who do you say I am?"  It's not surprising that Peter gushes forth with the revelation of Who Jesus is.  Once Jesus hears Peters response He replies, "Blessed are you Peter son of Jonah: Flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven."

   I'd like us to look at this statement and Jesus' response as one of excitement and joy. Jesus has shared His heart, His healing virtue and griefs, on the condition of the Lords creation with hope and without it. He has bound Himself to the will of the Father, Who is in heaven and Who has sent Him.

In John 4:34 the Lord explains to the disciples: "My food is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to do His work."

John 5:30 "I can do nothing by Myself; I judge only as I hear. And My judgement is just, because I do not seek My own,  but the will of Him Who sent Me."

   Let's get back to Peters statement.  I wanted to point out how Peter received revealed truth from the Father, by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. The mind or soul of unregenerate man had not brought this to light. But the Lord God Himself had.

   I have no doubt that this illumination encouraged our Lord. Remember Jesus 100 % man and 100 % God. As a man, not unlike ourselves, encouragement is always welcomed. Especially when it's from above! We can read in Hebrews 4:15 That Jesus was touched with our infirmities or weaknesses. The state that we are in, yet did not sin.

  I'd like us to skip down to the third paragraph. It tells us how Jesus from the point of Peters revelation, began to explain how he was going to go to Jerusalem and suffer at the hands of the pharisees and scribes, and after this be put to death. However, He'd be raised up on the third day.

   With this, we see our brother Peter hastily begin to rebuke Jesus, saying, "Be it far from thee Lord: this shall never be unto Thee."  After speaking this out, we see Jesus turn toward Peter and say: "Get thee behind me Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto Me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men."

   Can you begin to imagine Peters confusion?  Shortly before, he was being blessed by the Lord and now he's being addressed as Satan!  Wow!  If I were Peter, I think I'd probably want to crawl under a rock! Peter was expressing his love and affection for the Master. Not that this was a bad thing. It was just at this time, there was a war taking place in the Heavenlies. The pressure was on.

   The first Adam (man) failed. Jesus was the second Adam. Born to undo and nullify what the first Adam had done (tempted and gave into the temptation. Then sin was conceived).  Jesus was focused and totally absorbed, in fulfilling the perfect and wonderful will of God.  Not the will and desires of men.

   Our brother Peter, did not fully understand at this time the importance, of why Jesus must be delivered into the hands of His enemies and to be put to death. He knew Jesus would suffer death. Jesus knew, understood and obeyed in order to redeem mankind.

   My objective in sharing this story, is for us to see, just how we are able to be lead by the Holy Spirit and the next minute, so quickly, turn around and find we act in the flesh, our natural man. Seeking our own desires, (no matter how sincere) rather than the desires of our Father. Remember, there is no condemnation for those that are in Christ. The Lord understands our human nature and knows our thoughts and intents of our hearts. That's why shortly there after we find that the Lord comes to Peter and tells him to feed His sheep. John 21:16.  Jesus wasn't finished with Peter at all.  Nor will He throw in the towel on us. Praise God for His love!

   We ourselves at any given moment are able to, out in the flesh allow the carnal man to rule, the fruits being unrighteousness and condemnation. Christ has come to set all men free and to liberate the captives from the Law of Sin and Death. Just as He has done for us, as believers in Him.


As we continue to walk with our Lord, I pray that we will have an open ear to hear what His Holy Spirit is speaking to us and a heart sold out to His desire and will for our lives.  Many blessings to you and yours are sent from our hearts to yours.  Much love in Christ Jesus.


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