Sunday, August 11, 2013

Re Rock

Re Rock
August 12, 2013
Matthew 16:18  "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

The Apostle Peter is referred to as a rock.  This isn't because he was thick headed, it was due to his steadfastness in the Lord, as his life was built on a strong foundation.  The Lord intended to capitalize on this, using Peter as the basis for growing His church here on earth.  Peter is credited for being the first official leader of the church (the Catholics consider him the first Pope).  But despite Peter being a founding father of the Christian church, he still had a rocky start.  Jesus declared that Peter was a rock for the Lord BEFORE Peter had the opportunity to deny Him three times.  Jesus even knew Peter would falter and deny Him, but He still called him a Rock.  Just a few days later, Peter did just as predicted.  He denied Jesus and cursed the Lord.  What a rough start to a fantastic ministry.

More than a thousand years before Peter, there was another founding father of the Lord's church.  Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first priest anointed by the Lord to be the spiritual leader of the Jewish nation.  But like Peter, Aaron had a huge failure before he started leading the Lord's sheep.  Remember it was right before Aaron was anointed priest when he fashioned a golden calf for the Children of Israel to worship.  Yet despite this moral failure, the Lord still installed Him as leader of the church.  This gives tremendous argument for the Lord's ability to use the imperfect, even those who have failed spiritually, to lead His church.

Aaron very publicly broke the first and second commandment and Peter very publicly broke the third commandment, yet the Lord still used them as the foundation for His church.  Everyone was aware of their spiritual failures, but the Lord was able to use them for the basis of His leading His people.  It wasn't about being perfect, coming from a flawless past.  It wasn't about being free from scandal or public humiliation.  It wasn't about living an amazing life and building up to the ministry.  It was about the Lord's ability to use those whom He chose.  The Lord chose Aaron and the Lord chose Peter and the Lord chose you!

You may have some past failures in your life but the Lord is still able to use you.  Your spiritual failures do not disqualify you for the Lord's service.  Do not be insecure about your past or what sins the public has seen in your life.  If the Lord wants to use you as a rock then He will.  You do need to be able to move forward, however.  The Lord is not hindered by your mistakes but you may think it is blocking your success.  The Lord would say that He no longer sees your past mistakes; He only sees the person you have become today.  Start seeing what the Lord sees in you, a rock for His church.

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Ex 32, Lev 8, Matt 16

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