27/11/2011 - STRONG AND NECESSARY REBUKE

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But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.

Matthew 16:23

It is almost impossible to accept that the Lord would ever turn back, but when it comes to helping someone or His work, then He will do so. The fact that Jesus returned to rebuke Peter teaches us that there are occasions when it is necessary to go back and fix what is wrong. The Word says that the righteous should not turn back, unless they do so to exercise their faith. If you realize that one day you went a little overboard and gave your word or issued an improper authorization, or even became surety for someone, do not hesitate to turn back and fix your mistake. It will always be better off to get cold feet for half hour than being in the red for life.

Peter had been illuminated but now he was reprimanded. He had been greatly used by God in a unique revelation because nobody knew who Jesus was. By questioning the disciples as to what people said about Him, the Lord heard from Peter that He was Christ, the Son of the living God (verse16). Jesus promptly told him that it was neither flesh nor blood that had revealed that to him, and that he was Peter, the fisherman (see 17 and 18).

The lesson taught here is that the Lord\’s servants can also be used by the devil. As a matter of fact, despite of having been taken out of the kingdom of darkness where we were dominated by the enemy at his will, and in spite of being filled with the Holy Spirit, if we are not mindful of the source of our inspiration, we may end up saying what the enemy wants. Peter began to give advice to the Lord and to rebuke him for talking about what would happen to Him.

Jesus rebuked the apostle because he was an offense to Him. So we can infer that all the offenses caused to the work of God have the participation of the devil. Lies, infidelity, wrongdoings, it all comes from the enemy. The only way to prevent the enemy from using us is to do God’s will according to what is revealed in His Word.

One of the signs that and individual is being used by the devil is when he/she authorizes or recommends something against God\’s plan. The Church experienced such a thing after the edict of Constantine. The church’s direction ended up in the hands of people who had not received the divine call and had not been born again. To avenge the evil that God\’s people had suffered, they acceded to temporal power, came up with many different doctrines and made preposterous decisions, which shamed the Lord and His holiness.

In short, everything men do in disagreement with the Lord\’s work comes from the devil. Whatever comes from the enemy, no matter how much it seems to be helpful, will actually be highly harmful. Only what is generated from God should be accepted when it comes to the affairs of His Kingdom. 

In Christ with love, 

R. R. Soares