Who is Peter Writing To?

 "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you."  1 Peter 1:1,2

"But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They’ll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They’ve put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can’t tell right from wrong."2 Peter2:1,2

Peter gets credit for 2 letters in the Messianic Writings.  The question for today is, "Who is he writing to?"

He is writing to those who are scattered?  Scattered from where?  What physical place on this planet is he referring to?  If you answered the land of Israel and specifically Jerusalem you are correct.   This is the home of the Messianic Kingdom, this is where the Messiah will sit on His throne.  We gentiles get to be born again, which makes us born in Zion, (Psalm 87) and we get to call it our home too, but it becomes our home by being grafted into their vine.  That is the key that keeps us humble and prevents us from giving into destructive divisions that pit us against each other.  

We are not against the Jewish people we are grateful to be grafted into their vine.  

This is not a new dispensation, this is not plan B, this is not a new thing called the "church" which God had to start up, because the Jewish people failed Him so miserably.  

Peter was very clearly writing to the predominantly Jewish believers who had to flee Jerusalem because of persecution.  That does not invalidate the two books he wrote.  It simply makes clear we gentiles were born into a story much bigger than us!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiAn7t7iXcU

The Attitude of a Learner

 Talk to people wiser than you, and do more listening than talking.

I practiced this today.

And this gem was dropped into my lap.

God said to me, "Don't teach him, learn him."

In reference to a situation where the person was caring for someone with special needs

that they did not know and just as they were getting ready to use some techniques that

they had learned, God stopped them with that sentence.

What a difference it makes when you approach a person as a learner and not a teacher.

Humbly listen and see them and join them on their level.  This will eliminate the stress of trying 

to control the situation or educate them.

The Perfect Sacrifice

 

"With one perfect offering, Jesus has perfected forever those who are being made holy,"  Hebrews 10:14 Voice translation

Today during a worship song, the absolute perfection of the blood of the sacrificed Lamb was revealed to me. It hit me in a way I can't really describe, but there is NOTHING that remains to be done. The sacrifice is PERFECT. The way is CLEAR. All is PAID.

A perfect sacrifice is a complete payment, with no further anything needed added to it ever.

His perfect blood, the blood of the God/man, the sacrificed Lamb of God.

When you receive the sacrifice of the Lamb, you are free, free, totally free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MQxucF53VY

You, Yes You, Have an Adversary

 

"Stay alert! Watch out! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, searching for someone to devour."  1 Peter 5:8

That is present tense, and that is an opponent, an adversary, someone working against you.

My tendency is to go to discouragement.

This must not be.

You are being opposed.  Expect opposition.

"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2,3

It should be joy to us, because we should value and deeply pursue the perseverance that it produces.

God help us.  Give us new eyes, new desires.  YOU!

Create Communities

 "The focus of God's people is not to create explanations for suffering, but to create communities around suffering, co-suffering communities to absorb suffering and see it transform into cruciform grace."  Ann Voskamp page 238 "The Broken Way"

"Hopelessness is what flings one into the presence of evil."  "Evil is always a function of distractions, a turning away from God." page 239

"A Broken Way" is turning out to be one of the most practical books I have ever read.

Shameless Audacity

 "I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs." Luke 11:8 CSB  The NIV uses the words "shameless audacity".

The Lord is describing the type of prayer that moves mountains.  This prayer is being offered for the comfort of another, because the "asker" realizes he does not have what it takes to provide for his guest.  He goes to the one he knows does have the means to provide for his guest and even though it looks bad, he keeps on knocking.

May God truly show us and give us this type of prayer.

Forgiven MUCH

 “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”  Luke 7:47

Extravagant love and extravagant gratitude and extravagant humility had just been shown to Yeshua, and the self-satisfied were getting very, very, very uncomfortable.

A beautiful but terrifying revelation is when we see the truth of our condition., the depth of our depravity if not for the grace of God.

This revelation has power to break arrogance and replace it with pure compassion.

For that I am most grateful.

May I always be the one in the room who has been forgiven MUCH and loves much.

Israel and the Grafted in, Ever Grateful, Ever Humble Gentile Brethren

 

"I believe the great purpose of Israel's election is to show the nature and character of redeeming love" Reggie Kelly  Which is the nature and character of God, which is being worked into those who follow the Lamb.

 

 "...you have come to a condition of being a bride adorned for the Bridegroom having the glory of God, and this is that glory, His nature, His compassion, His mercy. He is waiting for a bride who is like Him and not just some American plastic counterfeit." Art Katz "Becoming a Prophetic Church Part 5 Psalm 102" 

 

The wisdom of God displayed on the cross is that willing, sacrificial love is the one force in the universe that is the ring that rules them all.  

 

Satan has a counterfeit, he always does.  With the promise of a heavenly reward, he lures people to willingly blow themselves up.  They do not know what they are doing.  It is being done from a selfish motivation and with violent intent to take the lives of others.  It is nearly impossible to fight against an enemy who is willing to die in the act of killing you.  

 

But the wisdom from above seeks for a way to save you, even if it is at the cost of their life.  This kind of love is what the followers of the Lamb who was slain are learning in the day to day, moment by moment opportunities that come to die to self.  The flesh has a kingdom and a brick is removed from that kingdom every time you choose to go lower.  This is the release of the love of God through you.

The light shines, the salt preserves, Yeshua becomes the firstborn of many sons.

There is no higher call.

There is no greater purpose.

 

 

 

 

The Terrifying Power of Not Forgiving

 “But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions.” Mark 11:26

This has to be one of the most frightening, terrifying verses in all of scripture.

Our choosing not to forgive, puts us outside of the grace and forgiveness purchased by Yeshua the Messiah on the cross.

"I can't forgive ...." is a statement that has the power to block the only remedy for sin and separation from God.

By the grace of God, if this ever comes up in conversation, and the weight of it truly lands a follower of the Messiah hearing these words would be driven to their knees in prayer for the destiny of the soul is said it is at stake. 

Choosing not to forgive is choosing death and separation from the Messiah and we need to be very clear about this, because God is very clear about this.