Posted by: pastorapbell | November 10, 2010

as we live as servants of God

One of the most important things that a follower of Jesus can do is to reflect his image. When we consider Peter and his journey from being a harsh aggressive fisherman to being a writer of two books to be included in the bible, we must conclude that everyone who follows Jesus sincerely can be transformed.

forgiveness allows restoration to occur

For all of us, the transformation will not occur overnight and there will be periods when we get it wrong. Peter got it wrong over and over again.  Like Peter, many of us fail to get it and live our lives always thinking and acting for ourselves. The attribute that underpins our ability to reflect the image of Christ, is our ability to forgive. Jesus says this, ‘if someone sins against you, point out their faults alone, just the two of you and if the individual listens, you have regained your friendship and the matter is resolved’ (Matt 18:15).  However, if they won’t listen then take two others along with you so that every word may be confirmed. This process is one where all efforts are made to bring healing and restoration. In the same passage Peter asked Jesus the question, how many times should I forgive someone who sins against me? Here he was asking, when do I end this forgiveness lark? Or do I just keep on forgiving!

Jesus’ response is a lesson for all of us his followers. Not seven times, but seventy times seven, meaning that our acts of forgiveness should be on-going. Our Christianity must be a faith where we are always prepared to forgive. This means that our lives then are governed by our ability to repent, forgive and be restored. Note forgiveness is not equal to forgetting.

Today let us think about the famous passage in 2Chronicles 7:14, which states that ‘if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves…. for us to reflect the image of Christ, we should not go past the humbling in this often quoted scripture and learn to give and receive forgiveness.

Read 1Peter 2:11-17 and live as free people but do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil, Peter, AD 60.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 9, 2010

as we understand that spending time with Jesus affects how we operate

Spending time in the presence of someone affects your character and your characteristics. For Peter this was certainly the case. Having spent three and a half years on a preaching/teaching tour with Jesus certainly impacted his life profoundly.  So much so that he actually began to reflect the image of Jesus. Peter began to talk like Jesus, walk like Jesus and also physically look like Jesus. It was Jesus’ intention that his followers would also behave like him, but this would come later.

Throughout his ministry Jesus went on his circuit with his final destination as Jerusalem. He prophesied this to his disciples and told them that he would be betrayed by one of his followers (John 13:21) and that he would be killed. But like us sometimes, we either forget the prophetic words spoken to us or we ignore them. Rather than reflecting on what Jesus had told them the disciples spent their time arguing about who would sit where in the kingdom.

When Jesus’ prophetic utterances occurred, Peter was in denial, so much so that he cut off one of the palace soldiers ear (John 18:10) and eventually denied that he ever knew Jesus not once but three times.

Today as we spend time in the presence of Jesus, let us remember that we will start to look like him. However, because of our falleness, there is a propensity to revert to our previous mode of operation. Remember that Jesus knows we are human and that we fail. So don’t beat yourself up, repent, forgive yourself and start all over again.

Read John 18 and sympathise with Peter!

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 8, 2010

as we contrast the development of character against ability

The apostle Peter exemplifies the need to balance the development of our character against our ability. Having the right attitude is far more important than having the charismatic gifting. Although Peter became a gifted spokesperson for the disciples he often ‘put his foot’ in it by either being too hasty or speaking out of turn. His progression for a rough and ready fisherman to a considered reflective practitioner had many peaks and troughs and bumps along the way.

Because of his humble beginnings, I believe that every day Peter spent with Jesus was like celebrating Christmas. Jesus came to his house for a coffee and some cakes and healed his mother-in-law and many more people who were demon possessed or had other diseases (Matt 8:14-17). Then when they went across the Sea of Galilee in his boat and a great storm threatened to capsize the boat. Jesus woke up spoke to the storm and everything was back to normal.

This was by far the most exciting time of Peter’s life, but there are more peaks and troughs to come.

So today spend time developing your character. You can do this by ensuring that:

  1.  What you say match up with what you do.
  2. You develop a spirit of moral excellence and
  3. You cultivate emotional intelligence! 

Read Matthew 8 and try to see it through the eyes of Peter

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 7, 2010

as we accept the kingdom provision that comes from following Jesus!

Throughout his life Peter would see and later experience things that were off the pages of any books he was taught from. Having left his business to follow Jesus, he was unable to underwrite the ministry of Jesus but he was confident that going around with Jesus all his needs would be met.  Peter was probably the oldest among the apostles and so it was right for him to be the spokesperson. Saying that Peter was the first among the apostles and therefore the rock on which the church is built on is a misrepresentation of Jesus’ intention. Not only was Peter the oldest, like Jesus who we know was thirty, he was subject to paying his dues.

God's provision comes from all sources

Peter became convinced that whilst walking with Jesus in his kingdom all his physical needs would be met. They were still subject the taxes imposed by local governmental system. However, Peter and the other disciples of Jesus did not carry money around except for the cash that Judas kept. So when it came to paying the temple taxes and so on, Jesus ask Peter a question; who do kings ask for taxes, is it from their children or from others? From others of course, Peter answered (Matt 17:24-27). 

So the children are free then, however in order not to cause offense go and catch a fish and when you have caught it look inside it mouth, there you will see the money to pay for our taxes.

Today like Peter we need to find the Tilapia fish that has our resources in his mouth and remove it. In the kingdom, we have all the resources we need to do what God has called us to do, so let us listen to the Holy Spirit, implement kingdom principles and fulfil the purposes for which God has called us.

Please read 1Peter 3:8-22.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 6, 2010

as we make the choice for the kingdom

In Jesus’ time there prophets and sages, however when he went around demonstrating the kingdom, people did not know what to make of him or could not determine where he was from.  These were the very people who read about the miracles in Egypt, Moses’ rod turning into a snake, the river Nile turning to blood and the mysterious death of the first born of every family in Egypt including the heir to the throne of Egypt who was not covered by the blood of the lamb. So when Jesus came along turning water into wine, driving our evil spirits and demons from people in their locality, they did not know what to make of him.

Those who were religious and new their scripture, thought he must be another prophet, or a Rabbi with special powers or Elijah re-incarnated. So Jesus being intrigued by the disciples’ perception of him, openly asked them the question, who do you say that I am? (Mark 8:27).

Acces to the Kingdom is ours

Some of his disciples said he was John the Baptist or Elijah whilst others said he might even be one of the prophets who had come back. This was an amazing statement from his followers because in the scriptures that they were taught on a daily basis, it categorically states that when a man dies his body goes to the grave and his spirit goes back to God (Eccl. 12:7). So there was a disconnect between what they were taught and what they believed. This is similar to a lot people today. They believe a lot of lies because the culture has convinced them that these lies are truth. So it was left to our man of the moment, Peter, to clarify the situation for us. He jumps to his feet and declares boldly, you are the Messiah, which is the Jewish word for the Greek Christ, the son of the living God.

Today, can we be like Peter and make this declaration? In spite of all the issues he had, he still was able to be used by God to let his fellow disciples know who Jesus was.  So whatever your issue is, ask the Holy Spirit to use you to tell others who the real Jesus is!

 Meditate on Matthew 16:13-20 & Mark 8:27-30.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 5, 2010

as we face the dichotomy of living in two worlds!

Having made the decision to follow Jesus Peter faced a huge problem. This problem is not dissimilar to one that every believer and follower of Jesus faces every day. How do we live in this world and practise the kingdom principles that we are learning from Jesus?

you'll never know until you know

Peter exemplifies this problem. He was completely committed to Jesus but at several crucial points he totally forgot himself. So when Jesus brought James and John and Peter to a mountain and revealed his resurrection body to them, Peter’s response was “boy, this is good, let me build  three dwelling places and we can stay up here, one for you Jesus, one for Elijah and the other for Moses”, (Matthew 17:1-8 paraphrased).

In his excitement he missed the point and continued to do so until he had his upper-room experience.

Today unless we have an upper-room experience, that is, we are baptised in or with the Holy Spirit by Jesus, we like Nicodemus will never see the kingdom let alone enter it!

Have a look at Matthew 17:1-21; 16:13-20 for more nuggets about this man Peter.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 4, 2010

as we learn the ‘Nike’ principle, Just Do it!

Peter is usually described as a rough and ready Galilean. He had little or no airs and graces but whatever he did he did it with his whole heart. So when he was introduced to Jesus he decided to leave his thriving family business and take time out to sit at the feet of the charismatic teacher.

Throughout his three and a half years of

OMG

studying, Peter saw some amazing things. The first thing he saw was so amazing that he

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 could not believe his eyes. Not long after joining up with Andrew, John and Philip, they went to a wedding. And to Peter’s amazement the wine ran out to the embarrassment of the host. Mary, Jesus’ mother said to the servers or ushers, ‘just do what Jesus tells you to do and everything will be alright’!  Jesus tells them to fill these purification jars with clean water and then all they had to do was draw from the jars and serve the guests.

 After this Peter became convinced that all he had to do whilst following Jesus was exactly what he told him to do.

Today, we want to analyse, dissect and evaluate and re-evaluate everything that Jesus tells us to do. Jesus tells us, seek first the kingdom of God and everything will follow after that (Matt 6:33). This mean that we should enter his kingdom first by renouncing the kingdom of satan, leaving the things we used to do, and the way we used to behave behind and accept Jesus as our new king. Once we do this, the point of our departure from our previous operations is that we are now in a different world where anything is possible.

Following this king is exciting, because he does everything he says he will do and more, if you don’t believe ask Peter! Check out Acts 2:14-44.

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 3, 2010

as we recognise who the true foundation is

When Jesus called Peter, the first thing he did was to give him a new name. Jesus said you will be called Cephas which means the rock (St. John 1:42). Now throughout the ages many churches have taken this to mean that Peter is the corner stone on which the church was built. Although he became the spokesperson for the disciples, in his writings, Peter himself tells us that the chief corner stone was in fact Jesus, who was rejected at first but became the head of the corner and upon who the whole of the body [the church] is built (1Peter 2:4-8).

In essence Peter is very much like a typical human being. He works hard, enjoys life and wants the best for his family. His life and ambitions are transformed by his introduction to Jesus by his younger brother Andrew. After this introduction we hear very little about the life and times of Andrew, but the pages of scripture are replete with reference to Peter and his faith and failings.

All of us want to be like Peter. We want to walk on water, speak the word of faith to a physically challenged man and see his life transformed. Preach to a crowd and see thousands come to faith. But we seldom remember that this same Peter was the one who, when confronted about his teacher, lied and swore and then ran away. This was the same guy who went back to doing what he knew best when his world came crashing down with the death of Jesus (St John 21). However we shall see as we dig deeper that this great man of faith had to overcome his fears to fulfil the purposes for which God had called him.

Today you too can overcome your fears and live above your failings so that you can do what God has called you to do.

Read 1Peter 2

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Posted by: pastorapbell | November 2, 2010

as we focus on the life of Peter the son of John

This month we will be looking at some of the traits of Peter the apostle and seeing how we can learn from his journey of faith in our modern world.

The life of Peter is an interesting one. He lived in Galilee where he plied his trade as a fisherman. He was a businessman and worked in the family business with his brother Andrew. The fishing business was messy, labour intensive, but very lucrative. From this Peter was able to build a house by the sea, purchase several boats and run a small consortium in Galilee among the local businessmen, possibly in Capernaum(see Matt 4:12-18).

At the start of Jesus’ ministry he needed people who he could train and pour himself into for three years. Having waited for thirty years to fulfil the legality of manhood [the legal age to become a man and speak in public according to Judaism was 30 years old], the time had come to start the proclamation that the ‘kingdom of God’ had arrived. And that this kingdom was already here on earth but was only visible to those who could ‘see’ it. At first neither Peter or his brother Andrew understood what Jesus was about but they sensed that something out of the ordinary was happening and put their business on hold to find out what was going on.

So our first encounter with Peter is one where he leaves his business and his personal interests to follow a man who spoke about a parallel kingdom, told people about their past and prepared them for a great future (John1:48) .

Today a real encounter with the Jesus of scripture will turn your world upside down. Like Peter, however, we have to ‘see’ Jesus for who he is [the son of God, who is God the son] lay aside our businesses and follow him.

Read St John 1:19-51

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Posted by: pastorapbell | October 31, 2010

as we earth our faith by undergoing heart surgery

Having faith is one thing but having the right attitude and acting in the right manner is a completely different matter. As we have been discussing how we reposition ourselves this month, it is quite evident that for us to truly get in line with what God is doing at this time in our localities requires a total re-evaluation of what we do and how we do it.  This re-evaluation may require us to take drastic decisions about how we operate and with whom we associate in the future. 

For Joshua and the Israelite, their drastic decision was evidenced by all the fighting men agreeing to be circumcised. This indicated that they were willing to be a part of the original covenant that God made with their forefathers and were willing to re-consecrate themselves to be active participants of this covenant again.

Today we have a better covenant but we still need to be active participants of this covenant. We do this not by being physically circumcised but by circumcising our hearts. This is where the confusion arises, namely how do I circumcise my heart?

We are reminded in scripture that the heart of humanity is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). This wickedness is not according to today’s jargon but that as a general rule humanity tends to be in rebellion against God. The question is how do we avert this rebellion?

According to what we have been saying this month, it can only be done when we have a Gilgal experience. That is, we undergo ‘heart’ surgery and pour in the ‘oil’ and ‘wine’ of the word to bring about healing and restoration. We will actually develop a ‘spirit’ of hope and start to see things from a completely different perspective.

So let us ask the Lord to perform heart surgery on us and replace our hearts of stone with one of flesh that is sensitive to his touch.

Read 1Sam 16:6-13; Jeremiah 17:5-13 and Ezekiel 36:26.

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