In the following scriptures, Jesus is asking a simple question, but a powerful one. Who am I? They are at Caesarea Philippi,which was in the extreme north of Galilee, near Mt. Hermon, and was a stronghold of the ancient demon-gods of Syria, Greece, and Rome. Let's read it together and think about the question in our lives.

Matthew 16:16-19 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus is telling Peter that he has heard from God. And because he is able to hear the voice of God, he will be a great leader and disciple. When we are also able to hear God's voice then we will not have trouble sharing the Gospel of Christ with others. It is when we do not hear (know) the voice of God personally, that we cannot share what we do not know. Again, I ask, do you have head knowledge of God only, are do you have a heart knowledge of Him? A godly leader "hears" God, that is, his or her spirit is tuned to the promptings and lessons of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus deliberately set Himself against the background of the world's religions' error and confusion, and here He inquired of His disciples about His identity. Peter's answer is set apart from and beyond human reason, as Jesus commended his having heard from God. Then Jesus emphasized that leadership in His church would always lead and be based not on man's or woman's ability to reason things out as much as on his or her readiness and receptivity to hear God through "revelation knowledge," the things that God unfolds by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:17-19. "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power."

I know that if you are a child of God, you can hear His voice. Just take the time, to tarry in His presence and you will be surprised as what you have been missing all these years.

Joyfully, In The Master's Service
   Blessings, Prayers and Love,
   Pastor Pat

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