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“And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” (Acts 10:13-14 RSV)

 

Peter was undoubtedly one of the closest disciples of Jesus Christ. He was undoubtedly the most zealous and outspoken among the twelve chosen disciples who followed Jesus Christ everywhere during His earthly ministry.

When the Lord Jesus called Peter to follow Him, he promptly left all his fishing boats and nets to follow Jesus.

Matthew 4:18-20 – NKJV

 18 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Moreover, when the band of soldiers and the officers of the Jews came to arrest Jesus, it was Peter who rose to defend the Lord Jesus by drawing out his sword to strike and cut off the right ear of the high priest’s servant (John 18:10-11). Peter’s love for Jesus was genuine and earnest. He was indeed willing to risk his life for Jesus’ sake.

On the day of Pentecost, having been filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter boldly testified to the multitude who had gathered at the instance of the miraculous descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in the upper room, saying, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36 NKJV).

As a result of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, three thousand souls were saved, baptized, and added to the Church.

After Peter miraculously healed the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful, he was arrested alongside John. When the rulers and elders of the Jews queried Peter, asking, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly replied, “Let it be known to you all, and all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.” (Acts 4:10 NKJV).

Even when Peter and John were sternly threatened, warned, and commanded by the rulers and elders of Israel that they should never again speak nor teach in the name of Jesus, Peter with John sharply responded, saying, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20 NKJV).

Surprisingly, there came a time when Peter refused to obey a clear command and instruction of the Lord Jesus, whom he loved dearly and had boldly declared and preached to the multitude as the Lord and Christ.

What could have come upon Peter?

What could have hardened Peter’s mind against his Lord?

It is indeed wisdom for us today to find out why Peter would not gladly want to obey the Lord Jesus, for whose sake he had endured much persecution.

After raising Tabitha from the dead, Peter stayed in Joppa for many days with Simon, a tanner. One day, while Peter was praying on the housetop, he fell into a trance.

Acts 10:9-16 – RSV

 9 The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray about the sixth hour.

 10 And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance

 11 and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth.

 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.

 13 And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 14 But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.”

 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

Peter knew the Lord Jesus was saying to him in a trance, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” Nevertheless, he refused to obey the Lord’s clear command and instruction.

Even though Peter was given the opportunity three times to repent and obey the Lord’s voice, his constant response to the Lord’s voice was, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

What a shocking surprise!

Peter’s blunt refusal to obey the Lord’s voice in a trance resulted from his allegiance or adherence to the Mosaic law, which forbids the Jews from eating any common or unclean animal (Lev. 11:4, 20:25).

Although Peter was rebuked in a trance for calling common or unclean what God has cleansed, he chose to cling to his former religious beliefs, rules, and rites.

Peter’s unwillingness to stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made him free from the bondage of the law was the cause of his disobedience to the Lord three times on the same issue.

Even though the Lord Jesus had taught Peter that it is not what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him but the things that proceed out of a man’s mouth, Peter chose to remain under the yoke of the law (Matt. 15:17-20, Gal. 5:1).

When it was the appointed time for God’s Kingdom to advance to the Gentiles, the Lord offered Peter a prominent role in His new plan, but his allegiance to the Mosaic laws caused him to reject the Lord’s offer.

Similarly, many believers today do not walk in God’s purposes for their lives because of their allegiance to or adherence to some religious laws, rules, rites, traditions, or culture.

As seen in the life of Peter, it is impossible to fully embrace the gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ without renouncing your allegiance or adherence to vain religion, human philosophy, culture, or tradition that is contrary to the doctrine or teaching of Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

The Mosaic Law teaches that eating an unclean or common animal defiles a man. On the contrary, the Lord Jesus teaches, “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matt. 15:11 NKJV).

Sadly, Peter chose to submit to the law rather than walk in the liberty of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Like Peter, many born-again believers today still ignorantly yield their necks under the yokes of religious rules, rituals, and human traditions rather than walking in the liberty by which Jesus Christ has set them free from the Old Testament rules, rituals, or sacrifices.

Paul warns the Galatian Christians of the danger of yielding themselves again under the yoke of the Mosaic Law.

Galatians 5:1-4 – NKJV

 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.

 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

All the Old Testament rules, offerings, rituals, or ceremonies are a copy or shadow of the good things to come. They are not the real things God intended for the New Testament believers.

Jesus Christ is the substance or the reality!

Hebrews 10:1 – NKJV

 1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Colossians 2:17 – NLT

17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ Himself is that reality.

Therefore, your adherence or allegiance to them is baseless, useless, or profitless. It is like someone chasing after a shadow; it is simply a waste of time and effort.

Faith in the grace of the Lord Jesus (the finished work of Jesus) alone brings God’s salvation and blessings.

Romans 10:4 – NKJV

4 Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of all the Old Testament rules, rituals, and sacrifices. Therefore, the born-again believers are not expected to subject themselves to the Old Testament rites (Col. 2:20-23).

Beloved, you have become dead to the law of sin and death through the body of Christ. Therefore, don’t put your neck under the yoke of the Mosaic law or any religious rule, human tradition, or culture contrary to Christ’s teaching (Romans. 7:1-6, 8:1-4).

Therefore, arise today to walk in the complete liberty of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, serving the Lord in the newness of the Spirit.

 

Prayer:

Today, I renounce my allegiance to every religious rule, ritual, or tradition that will hinder me from walking in the complete liberty of the gospel of the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

AWH, Blogs.

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GOD’S ULTIMATE PLAN

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 “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.” (Eph. 1:10 NLT)

 

All things in heaven and on earth, visible or invisible, were created by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God.

John 1:1-3 – NKJV

 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 2 He was in the beginning with God.

 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Not only were all things created by the Lord Jesus, but all things were created for Him, and he is also holding all things together.

Paul attests to this truth.

Colossians 1:15-17 – NLT

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see – such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

When God created Adam in His image, He gave him dominion over all the works of His hand. But when Adam yielded himself to obey the voice of Satan, he relinquished man’s right to rule on earth to Satan, thereby making all men and all things under man’s authority submissive and subservient to Satan.

Hence, Satan’s boasting to Jesus.

Luke 4:5-7 – NKJV

 5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

 7 “Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

Yielding to sin is yielding to Satan, the author of sin. So, by yielding to sin, Adam submitted himself to Satan and thus led all creations into slavery under Satan.

Romans 6:16 – RSV

16 Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Just as all things were separated from God through the disobedience of the first Adam, all things have now been reconciled or restored to God through the obedience and sacrifice of the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-19, Col. 1:19-22).

Having defeated and spoiled Satan and his cohorts through His death on the cross, the Lord Jesus Christ has received all authority in heaven and on earth.

Just before His Ascension, Jesus boldly said to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18 NKJV).  

Satan and his demons have no more legal right, power, or authority to rule on earth. Jesus has disarmed them and taken all authority from them through the cross.

Paul testifies, “He rid himself of all the Powers of Evil, and held them up to open contempt, when he celebrated his triumph over them on the cross!” (Col. 2:15 TCNT).  

All things in heaven and on earth are now under the dominion and authority of the victorious Lord Jesus Christ. The Scripture teaches and emphasizes the preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus undoubtedly has received all authority in heaven and on earth. God, the Father, has highly exalted Jesus and gave Him the name above every name (Philip. 2:8-11).

The Lord Jesus is seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.” (Eph. 1:20-22 NKJV).

While it is true that all things have been put in subjection under the feet of the Lord Jesus, we do not yet see all things in subjection to Him.

Hebrews 2:8 – NKJV

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

Many peoples, nations, rulers, authorities, or governments still don’t recognize or surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. Many still disbelieve, disdain, or discard the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, or divinity of Jesus. In history, many people have even claimed to be Jesus the Messiah.

Although Christ has received all authority over all things, not all things are now seen under His feet because Christ has not exerted His authority to bring all things into subjection under His feet forcefully.

However, God’s ultimate plan is to bring everything together in heaven and on earth under the headship, Lordship, or authority of the Lord Jesus Christ so “that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Col. 1:18 NKJV).  

Paul states, “And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth.” (Ephesians. 1:10 NLT).

That is God’s final, supreme, or greatest plan and purpose for all things. All other things are secondary to this plan. This is the ultimate end of all things that God has created. God is working all things together towards achieving His ultimate end or plan.

Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, whether you want it or not, God will forcefully bring everything together under the authority of Christ at the end of this dispensation of grace.

For it is written, “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Romans. 14:11 NKJV).

The ultimate end of all rule, authority, dominion, and power is near!

Revelation 11:15 – NKJV

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!

1 Corinthians 15:24 – NKJV

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

Beloved, what is your role in this ultimate plan of God?

God expects you to embrace, proclaim, and demonstrate the preeminence of Jesus Christ in all things! How?

First, by you willingly, deliberately, joyfully, unreservedly, and continuously submitting or surrendering your life and all that you have under the Lordship of Jesus Christ!

Second, by teaching, preaching, and proclaiming the preeminence or Lordship of Jesus Christ over all things!

Lastly, we will demonstrate and manifest the preeminence or Lordship of Jesus Christ by healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and casting out demons in the name of Jesus.

Jesus said, “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matt. 10:7-8 NKJV).

Friend, arise today to embrace, proclaim, and demonstrate the preeminence or Lordship of Christ over all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.

This is your role in God’s ultimate plan and purpose!

 

Prayer:

My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing your ultimate plan for everything to me today. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me play and fulfill my active role in God’s supreme plan and purpose, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.

Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.

AWH, Blogs.

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THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD

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"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

 

God forbids us to use different measures or standards in our dealings with people. God strictly commanded the children of Israel to have and use perfect and just measures in all their transactions.

Deuteronomy 25:14-15 – NKJV

14 You shall not have differing measures in your house, a large and a small.

15 You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

Proverbs 20:10 – NKJV

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, they are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

The Scripture also warns against partiality.

James 2:1-4 – NKJV

 1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,”

 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Since God forbids partiality and abhors the use of different standards or measures in our dealings with others, we can be sure there is no partiality with God and that God will never use different standards or measures in His dealings with us.

Our religious mindset makes us think that God loves, favors, or blesses some believers more or less than others in Christ. Paul clearly states that there is no partiality with God.

Romans 2:11-12 – NKJV

 11 For there is no partiality with God.

 12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law.

Paul also reveals that God has given every believer the same amount or measure of faith.

Romans 12:3 – KJV

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according to God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith .

God does not use different measures to allot faith to us. God does not give one believer a small faith and then give a great faith to another.

God gives every believer the same measure or equal amount of faith at the New Birth. The differences in the level of faith we may observe among believers are based on the usage or exercise of the measure of faith that God has given.

That is a pivotal truth!

The early apostles of Christ, who walked steadily in the supernatural power of God and did great exploits for Christ, did not receive a greater measure of faith from God than any believer today.

Apostle Peter testified to this great truth in His epistle.

2 Peter 1:1 – WNT

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and Apostle of Jesus Christ: To those to whom there has been allotted the same precious faith as that which is ours through the righteousness of our God and of our Savior Jesus Christ.

What is Peter saying in this scripture?

Peter says God gives all Christians the same measure of precious faith as a gift!

The faith in you is the same that made Peter walk on water before doubting. It is the same faith that made the shadow of Peter heal the sick. It is the same faith that caused Peter to raise the dead. Your faith is not inferior or smaller than that of Peter or any of the early apostles of Christ.

Before salvation, you were so bankrupt spiritually that you did not even have the faith to receive the gift of everlasting life that God's grace offered you. You were entirely bound by your physical senses (what you can see, hear, touch, taste, or smell).

How did you get the faith to receive the gift of salvation?

God imparted to you His faith!

How did God impart to you His faith?

Through the gospel message about Christ that you heard!

Romans 10:17 – RSV

 17 So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.

Romans 10:17 – MNT

 17 So faith comes from a message heard, and the message comes from the teaching of Christ.

All that you did to be saved was to acknowledge your sinfulness, wretchedness, and bankruptcy and exercise the faith of God imparted to you through the gospel of the grace of God you heard to receive the gift of salvation that God's grace has provided for you through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Based on our physical senses, our human faith cannot receive the salvation grace has provided us. Have you ever wondered how you could believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and that you could be saved by grace alone and through faith in Christ alone?

Have you ever considered how you could surrender your life to the Lordship of Jesus, whom you have never seen physically?

It was simply because the supernatural faith of God was imparted to you through the gospel of Jesus Christ that was preached to you!

The truth is this: you still have in your spirit the same kind and measure of faith that God imparted to you at the New Birth, which enabled you to receive the gift of salvation.

Paul refers to this faith as “the faith of the Son of God” in Gal. 2:20.

Galatians 2:20 – KJV

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Every born-again Christian has the same measure of the faith of the Son of God in them!

If it is true that all the believers have received the exact measure of the faith of the Son of God at salvation, how come we read in the Scripture about some people having great faith (Matt. 8:10) and some people having a little faith (Matt. 8:26) ?   

It is based on their usage or exercise of the faith they have received!

Faith is like your muscles; the more you use or exercise them, the stronger and bigger they become. However, you cannot increase or multiply your muscles.

Some believers manifest great faith because they constantly use or exercise the measure of faith they have received from God at the New Birth. If you fail to use or exercise the measure of faith God gave you at the New Birth, your faith will not become stronger .

Beloved, God has imparted to you His faith that calls those things that do not exist as though they did. The faith of the Son of God is always present in your born-again spirit. The faith in you is not smaller or inferior to what the Lord Jesus had while He was on earth.

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12 NKJV). 

You, like Paul, can also live a triumphant, overcoming, righteous, prosperous, and fulfilled life in this present evil world by the faith of the Son of God.

Therefore, quit begging God to give you more faith; instead, arise today and begin to use or exercise the supernatural faith you have received from God. You will be amazed at the supernatural exploits it will produce.

 

Prayer:

My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for imparting Your supernatural faith to me at the New Birth. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to live by the faith of the Son of God's ever-present faith in my born-again spirit every day of my life, in Jesus' name. Amen.

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