Devotions
Reading: NLT Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 14 "Well," they replied, "some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets." 15 Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Meditation
When Herod the Great died in 4 B.C., his kingdom was divided, with his son Archelaeus inheriting Judea and Samaria, Herod Antipas receiving Galilee and Perea (Transjordan), and Philip taking over Gaulanitis, the territory on the Golan, east of the Jordan River and north of the Sea of Galilee. Following the example of his father, Philip built the first city at Panias, naming it Caesarea Philippi to honor the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus and to distinguish it from Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast.
Caesarea Philippi became a center of Greek-Roman culture, a city known for its pagan worship, its prestigious status as the capital city of Herod Philip’s domain, and its significant Gentile population. References to "the district of Caesarea Philippi" (Matt 16:13) and "the villages of Caesarea Philippi" (Mark 8:27) reflect the city’s status as the power center of Philip’s territory.
These factors, together with the sheer rock cliff at the worship site, made this an ideal place for Jesus to make His historic announcements. Peter’s declaration, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God," challenged the gods in the niches of the cliff and their devotees who worshiped these gods as though they actually existed. I was impressed when I was in Israel that it was here that Jesus declared that the “gates of hell” would not prevail against His church.
If Jesus were standing with His disciples in front of this sheer cliff, it would explain His use of the metaphor "rock" used in His conversation with Peter. The word He used was petra, a term that would be used to describe such a bluff. (Cf. Matt 7:24,25, ". . .who built his house upon the rock petra.") It was Jesus’ practice to teach in metaphors and parables that related to the physical context in which He was ministering, for example, "fishers of men" and "a sower went out to sow" spoken on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where fishing and sowing could readily be observed. It is likely, therefore, that on this occasion, as they stood before this rock bluff, Jesus’ choice of the metaphor, petra, reflected this practice.[1]
What is this passage teaching. First that there will be many view of concerning the identity of Jesus. Perhaps a prophet, a resurrected spirit from another time, or the second coming of Elijah. We should not be surprised when people try to make Jesus fit into their world views.
Second, that the true understanding of Jesus is that He is the promised Messiah, the anointed prophet, priest, and king and promised divine Son of God found in Psalm 2 who is worshipped by the kings of the earth. Only when we see Jesus in this light do we really understand Him.
The third teaching is that this true understanding of Jesus comes only thru divine revelation. It is the Father who must reveal this to us thru the work of the Holy Spirit in our heart. We cannot see this without divine help.
The fourth teaching is that Peter’s profession of faith will be used like a rock catapulted against the walls of a fortress and smash the “gates of hell” and lay the foundation for Christ’s Church. We see this as Peter is used to preach the gospel to the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles.
The fifth teaching is that Christ has promised His Church that they will be victorious in their struggle with unbelief in the world. The commission to make disciples of all nations will be a success. The Church is asked to minister in a very optimistic attitude.
We should be encouraged by this passage to see Jesus as the true Messiah, thank God for being able to see Him in that light, and have courage to press on in discipling the nations due to the promise of ultimate success.
Christocentric: This who passage screams at us that Jesus is the promised Messiah and assures us that though His coming did not bring in world peace and harmony as expected that the real plan of discipling the nations and overcoming the spiritual strong holds of the enemy is being accomplished. The first step towards world peace and harmony is to build the Church.
Moral: Have faith in Christ and in His plan!
Eternal: In eternity we will fully understand the greatness of how Christ planned to build His Church and overcome spiritual strongholds through the preaching of the gospel. We will see the grand design and be awed and inspired by the Wisdom of our God.
Prayer: Lord, let me see you more clearly, that I might love you more dearly, and follow you more dearly this day.
Contemplation: Take courage: I have won!
Action: What can I do to join the Christ in building His Church? Do it now!
[1] http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/caesarea_philippi.htm
Showing posts with label victory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label victory. Show all posts
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Psalm 67 - God will win in our lives!
Reading
NLT Psalm 67:1 For the choir director: A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. A song. May God be merciful and bless us. May his face shine with favor upon us. Interlude 2 May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. 3 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 4 How glad the nations will be, singing for joy, because you govern them with justice and direct the actions of the whole world. Interlude 5 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 6 Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. 7 Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.
Meditation:
Literal - This is a royal psalm. Scholars often refer to a number of the psalms as royal psalms. These psalms are not all of one literary type, such as prayers of petition and songs of thanksgiving, but they are linked thematically by their emphasis on how God works through the office of king.
Like Psalms 65, 118 and 124, this is a Psalm of national thanksgiving, possibly used at the Hebrew New Year. At this time, Israel were exhorted to be joyful (Deut. 16:15; Lev. 23:40) The opening verse recalls the Aaronic Blessing that we frequently use in Christian worship (Num. 6:24-26). The Psalm first attends not to human experience but to God and to God’s grace.
The Psalm asks for God to have mercy on his people and favor them with His embrace. It then prays for all the nations that they may learn the ways of God and be touched by His Holy Spirit so that they may be delivered from the worship of idols and darkness into the light of worship in spirit and truth. This desire for global revival is because the psalmist desires global praise and worship of the true God. God’s kingdom coming to the earth will bring about harmony, peace, and gladness. To be under the rule of God is to be blessed. Here is clear proof that the Old Testament desired and saw a day when every nation would be called to faith. Here we have a prayer for true and substantial revival for all the earth.
Christocentric - Christ echoed this prayer when He taught us to pray; Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. He also called upon us to put feet to this prayer when He said to us, “Go into the whole world and make disciple, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Christ in His death has destroyed the work of the devil and in His resurrection has been given universal authority and power. Christ is the means by which God’s kingdom will come to earth. God will exult the people of the Lord and all nations will come to learn of His ways so that every culture and people will be transformed by His amazing Grace (Isaiah 2:1-5). Jesus Christ is the answer to this psalm.
Moral: We must desire to see God’s will done on earth as in heaven. We must bow the knee to Christ Jesus and have Him practically govern over us. We must learn His ways and not just have Him as our Savior but really have Him as our Lord. The kingdom of God must start in our heart, then our homes, and then it can reach out to govern the entire world. Personal piety is the beginning of global dominion for God’s kingdom. We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in a sincere and real way in our own private worlds before we will see cultures consistently change to become Christ like.
Eternal: There is no doubt this prayer will be answered. When Jesus the Christ returns there will be much gladness, joy, and rejoicing among all nations, peoples, and tribes for His perfect rule will have come. The creation itself groans in deep desire to see the perfect peace the Prince of Peace will bring to all the earth. We should rejoice today in the knowledge that God’s will is going to be done on the earth and righteousness will dominate every nation. God’s kingdom will come and God’s will be done – Halleluiah!
Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 10 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 'Give us this day our daily bread. 12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.'
Contemplation: Why do you call me “Lord, Lord” and not do the things that I say? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Action: I will pray for global revival. I will seek to promote and support missions more than I do. I will seek to make disciples in my daily life more that God may be praised.
NLT Psalm 67:1 For the choir director: A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. A song. May God be merciful and bless us. May his face shine with favor upon us. Interlude 2 May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. 3 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 4 How glad the nations will be, singing for joy, because you govern them with justice and direct the actions of the whole world. Interlude 5 May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. 6 Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. 7 Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.
Meditation:
Literal - This is a royal psalm. Scholars often refer to a number of the psalms as royal psalms. These psalms are not all of one literary type, such as prayers of petition and songs of thanksgiving, but they are linked thematically by their emphasis on how God works through the office of king.
Like Psalms 65, 118 and 124, this is a Psalm of national thanksgiving, possibly used at the Hebrew New Year. At this time, Israel were exhorted to be joyful (Deut. 16:15; Lev. 23:40) The opening verse recalls the Aaronic Blessing that we frequently use in Christian worship (Num. 6:24-26). The Psalm first attends not to human experience but to God and to God’s grace.
The Psalm asks for God to have mercy on his people and favor them with His embrace. It then prays for all the nations that they may learn the ways of God and be touched by His Holy Spirit so that they may be delivered from the worship of idols and darkness into the light of worship in spirit and truth. This desire for global revival is because the psalmist desires global praise and worship of the true God. God’s kingdom coming to the earth will bring about harmony, peace, and gladness. To be under the rule of God is to be blessed. Here is clear proof that the Old Testament desired and saw a day when every nation would be called to faith. Here we have a prayer for true and substantial revival for all the earth.
Christocentric - Christ echoed this prayer when He taught us to pray; Our Father who are in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. He also called upon us to put feet to this prayer when He said to us, “Go into the whole world and make disciple, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Christ in His death has destroyed the work of the devil and in His resurrection has been given universal authority and power. Christ is the means by which God’s kingdom will come to earth. God will exult the people of the Lord and all nations will come to learn of His ways so that every culture and people will be transformed by His amazing Grace (Isaiah 2:1-5). Jesus Christ is the answer to this psalm.
Moral: We must desire to see God’s will done on earth as in heaven. We must bow the knee to Christ Jesus and have Him practically govern over us. We must learn His ways and not just have Him as our Savior but really have Him as our Lord. The kingdom of God must start in our heart, then our homes, and then it can reach out to govern the entire world. Personal piety is the beginning of global dominion for God’s kingdom. We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness in a sincere and real way in our own private worlds before we will see cultures consistently change to become Christ like.
Eternal: There is no doubt this prayer will be answered. When Jesus the Christ returns there will be much gladness, joy, and rejoicing among all nations, peoples, and tribes for His perfect rule will have come. The creation itself groans in deep desire to see the perfect peace the Prince of Peace will bring to all the earth. We should rejoice today in the knowledge that God’s will is going to be done on the earth and righteousness will dominate every nation. God’s kingdom will come and God’s will be done – Halleluiah!
Prayer: Matthew 6:9-13 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. 10 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 'Give us this day our daily bread. 12 'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.'
Contemplation: Why do you call me “Lord, Lord” and not do the things that I say? Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
Action: I will pray for global revival. I will seek to promote and support missions more than I do. I will seek to make disciples in my daily life more that God may be praised.
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