Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 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. Matthew 16: 16, 17, NKJV.
Dear God, we are grateful to You for Your Word. Please bless us as we study. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Yesterday we made mention of the different “revelations” that are found in chapter 16, of the Gospel according to Matthew. Today we will talk about the first of these revelations – that of Jesus, as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus knew that people everywhere were talking about Him. Different people had different opinions of who He was. If we go a few verses earlier in the chapter, we find the following: “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?” ‘ So they said, ‘ “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” ‘ ” (14, 15).
Then the Lord asked His disciples what was their opinion, and Peter received a revelation from God the Father: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This was a conclusion that Peter could not have arrived at on his own – and Jesus told him so.
Yesterday we studied how the Adversary can use our minds, and mouths, if we do not guard well the entrance to our souls. Today, I would like us to meditate on the fact that, it is also our privilege to be used by God, to transmit His messages of love, hope, and peace, to those who need to hear such a message.
There is quite a difference between the way the Adversary uses us as his mediums, and the way the Lord uses men, women, and even children, as His messengers. One master uses the method of coercion, the other Master, the method of conviction. One works by force, the other employs the force of love. And the entire human race is being used by one master or the other – there is no middle ground!
The demoniac of Gadara was once a medium of the Adversary. The Adversary invaded him and used him. When he saw Jesus and came and bowed before Him to worship Him; the Adversary spoke through him: ” ‘ “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me” ‘ ” (Mark 5: 7). The Adversary possesses!
Then Jesus set him free. Now it was he who requested to be with Jesus. “And when He [Christ] got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him” (18, emphasis provided). Instead, Jesus invited him to be His messenger, ” ‘ “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” ‘ ” The Savior liberates!
It is imperative that we protect the entrance to our beings. Whenever a revelation is given, be sure to ask the Lord to reveal the source of the revelation. Remember, God respects your privacy and your right to accept or not, His invitation (Revelation 3: 20) to be His messenger. The Adversary does not. He goes in and takes control of people, oftentimes, against their will:
” ‘ “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first” (Luke 11: 24-26).
Even though God had just revealed to Peter that Jesus was His Son, the Christ, and Peter’s mouth had declared it, the next instance, the devil took control of Peter’s mouth and used him to speak his words. Scripture informs us that he took Jesus aside and “began to rebuke Him” (22).
Remember, receiving a revelation is no guarantee that the Adversary is not going to try to use you for his purposes. Therefore, “caveat lector” (Eugene Peterson)!