“But you—who do you say that I am?”
Jesus asked this of His disciples and it was Peter who discerned and received the right answer from God.
That single act made what followed achievable. The releasing of the indestructible church and the keys of heaven to be on earth.
The honouring and recognising the identity of Jesus creates the foundation of God’s house and family and pushes hell and demons back.
Honour, value and love for one another as we see and speak out each other’s identity will be what identifies the value of the church and it will be robust in culture.
“by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”
We then will be those who discern the reflection of Christ within one another and speak it out as the others identity endorsing that in their lives and being thankful for it as Paul modelled in Philippi.
“My prayers for you are full of praise to God as I give him thanks for you with great joy! I’m so grateful for our union”
Everyone has a value and no one is disposable in the kingdom.
Our love for one another should be genuinely extravagant in value as a united family in Christ.
While we have been isolating God has been revealing to us our need for each other.
No one is meant to be an island. God has expanded our capacity to value and love.
We all have need of each other and are of value to each other. We must not squander the lessons of this time of reset.
The treasures of the kingdom are within us.
Some great trees like the Red Woods have seeds that need fire to germinate them.
We may right now feel the fire in our belly as we sense a born again moment.
Or now may be the time to dig up our buried talents to sow. God never sends a word for it to return empty. He is not one who lies.
Equally God on the move has been ploughing up rich fertile soil for planting and has made ready.
We never view losses as a shrinking but with an eye for a new beginning and growth. Increase.
We may have walked along a valley but by waiting at wisdoms door and lingering to seek the Lord we will witness the revival season, harvest and new Life.
The illustration shows us with the fire in the belly, the Holy Spirit, as we initiate the ‘y’ in ‘yes’ to God’s answer to who we are. Our focus and identity in Him as the light pressing back the darkness.
Five Scriptures that come to mind:
““But you—who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked. Simon Peter spoke up and said, “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!” Jesus replied, “You are favored and privileged Simeon, son of Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but my Father in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you.”Matthew 16:15-17 TPT
“Jesus replied, “You are favored and privileged Simeon, son of Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but my Father in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you. I give you the name Peter, a stone. And this rock will be the bedrock foundation on which I will build my church— my legislative assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower it! I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to release on earth that which is released in heaven.””Matthew 16:17-19 TPT
“For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.””John 13:35 TPT
“My prayers for you are full of praise to God as I give him thanks for you with great joy! I’m so grateful for our union”Philippians 1:3-4 TPT
““And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.””Proverbs 8:32-36 ESV
The song. We Do Not Labour in Vain Christa Wells
https://youtu.be/9fM1-aE7OTc
Lessisgreater 