Who Do You Say That I Am-2

In the conclusion to Who Do You Say That I Am challenges us to study God's Word so we can hear and recognize His voice.

Who Do You Say That I Am-2

2. Comprehension: Vs 17 "this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." Peter didn't know he was hearing from God. Jesus had to tell him. One of my teachers in Bible college said as an example of something, "Maybe Glen will start some huge computer ministry some day." Neither he nor I knew that was from God at the time…yet here we are.

Vs 21-23 "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Peter didn't comprehend Who Jesus was, or he wouldn't have dared correct Him. Ever corrected God? I have! Then He corrected me. If we want to hear from God one of the first things we have to understand is that we're not Him. Let's say we do hear something we know isn't from us, how do we know it's God? Peter didn't know he was hearing from the devil when he corrected Jesus. Like Peter, we can just as easily hear the devil and our own will as we can God. How do we know? Study His Word! Know what He's already said.

We need to study His Word to hear Him and we need to study His Word to comprehend what He says.

3. Test: Vs 15 "Who do you say that I am?" Here's the test. Once we begin to study His Word and listen for His voice, it starts to get exiting. He begins to set up situations where we can use what we've learned. He begins to test us. Some think this is a pass or fail kind of thing, but God already knows if we will fail, so He has no need to test us to find out. No! His tests are to prove to us who we are in Him. Asking the disciples who they thought he was, was one of those tests. In the lesson He revealed to Peter that Peter was someone God spoke to. Can you imagine God telling you that that's how important you are? Vs 24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Another test! All but Judas denied themselves and followed.

There's a reason we hear Him. It isn't something to brag about. It certainly isn't a tool to manipulate people. People who do those things don't really hear Him. They don't even want to hear Him. The point of hearing Him is who He is to us and what he wants. The most important Person anywhere ever spoke to us. He said, "Who do you say that I am?" If we say He's the Christ, then what He says will make a difference in our lives. That's why the next test is 'Will you deny yourself and follow me?'

Like I said earlier, I prayed for 3 months asking to hear God's voice with no answer. Then, suddenly, one morning I finally heard His voice. I said, "God, let me hear your voice. I want to know you're speaking to me. I want you to give me your Word directly." He said six words that changed my life. He said, "Will you do what I say?" I believe that's the question He's asking all of us who want to hear Him.

Dear God. Help us to honor who we say you are. Give us a deep desire for your living Word, the Word you've already written and the one you'll speak to all whom you have called friend. We don't want to be people who saw you once, or who, like groupies at a concert, got some manufactured album cover picture of you. God we want to have You, all of You in us. Forgive us for all the times we've seen your will and ignored it. Speak to us, Lord. We will do what you say.

Who Do You Say That I Am-2

I'm honored that you've allowed me to be a part of your Christian life. Please return often for fellowship, study and prayer. Thank you very much for visiting.

Love & Hugs,
Glen

In the conclusion to Who Do You Say That I Am challenges us to study God's Word so we can hear and recognize His voice.