August 28, 2011 "Become: Have in Mind the things of God!"

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Well we are back from the Lake Charlevoix and looking forward to Worship and Praise with our Church family tomorrow. Thanks to Paul and so many others who helped this week, so that we could take Bruce up on his invitation to visit Boyne City again! It was AWESOME!

This Sunday we continue our journey through Matthew 16 as we hear Jesus explain things to his disciples; after St. Peter confessed the truth of who Jesus is: "the Christ, the Son of the living God!" St. Peter was praised by Jesus and told that "upon this confession" Christ would build his church and not even the gates of hell would prevail against it! Jesus said Peter was blessed and that this "confession" came from His father in heaven.

Peter is definitely more confident as we hear him disagree with Jesus, as Jesus lays out the truth of what is going to happen to him in the near future:

 ²¹ 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. ²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” ²³ 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.”
As a matter of fact Peter is so confident that he rebukes Jesus, his friend and rabbi? Jesus then calls Peter "SATAN?" Why? While he just said he was blessed for his confession given to him by His Father in heaven. Peter is now being told that his worldly desire and his "will" is satanic and a stumbling block. This had to be really hard to hear from the person you love and respect but listen to why he is a "stumbling block" akin to "satan." It is because he does not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. Wow! How many times have we done extremely good and nice things because we feel that they are the right things to do or say, yet have we asked the question: "is it God's will?" In order for us to ask this question we will prepare to look at becoming more in tune with the Word of God and what the Holy Spirit wishes us to say and do. As we continue our relationship UP (Belong), IN (Believe) and OUT (Become) we will learn to be sensitive to discerning the things of God and the WILL of God. We will look at the remaining verses of Romans 12 that explain how we can be transformed and by the renewing of our minds, have in mind the things of God. Our challenge is to let the Holy Spirit help us to be living sacrifices, motivated by love and living as R12 (Romans 12) Christians! So that we are a blessing, following the will of our Father in heaven and not a stumbling block! Isn't that our petition in the Lord's Prayer when we pray "thy will be done"?

Please continue to pray for what the Lord wants you to share during the worship time, after the distribution of the Lord's Supper. This is the time to pray and to share what the Lord is putting on our hearts for us and HIS church!

Remember this is "move in" weekend at EMU so let's make a great first impression for the new students.

See you all tomorrow.

Love in Christ Jesus our Risen Lord and Savior,

Pastor