1.25.10 "The Danger of Being Human"

"The Danger of Being Human"

Genesis 50:1 - Exodus 2:10
Matthew 16:13-17:9
Psalm 21:1-13
Proverbs 5:1-6

"Jesus turned to Peter and said, 'Get away from me, you Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me.'" Matt. 16:23a

Wow! How would you like to be Peter at that point in time? The Son of the Most High calling you Satan! A mere 5 verses before Jesus was saying to Peter, "You are Peter, a stone; and upon this rock I will build my church; and all the powers of hell shall not prevail against it." (16:18) So, why the big change?

What was it that caused Jesus to react so strongly to Peter? The rest of verse 23 says, "You are thinking merely from a human point of view, and not from God's."

The danger of being human is thinking in human terms. We so often get trapped in the confines of our human senses and understanding that we begin to lay out "God's plan" on our terms rather than on His. We react to difficulties and challenges in the flesh and not in the Spirit.

I think every one of us would have wanted to say what Peter said in verse 22. Jesus had been talking about how he would be crucified. Peter said, "Heaven forbid, sir, This is not going to happen to you!" What's wrong with that? Here's what's wrong. It's reacting in human terms with human logic, and not in Godly understanding.

"Then Jesus said to the disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who keeps his life for himself shall lose it; and anyone who loses his life for me shall find it again. What profit is there if you gain the whole world - and lose eternal life? What can be compared with the value of eternal life?" Matt 16:24-26

As long as our flesh lives, we are in danger of gaining the whole world and losing eternal life. When we take up our cross, we are giving our flesh the death sentence. I must become a "Dead Man Walking"! (see DEVO 1.9)

True worship is a dagger in the heart of the flesh. The Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is not singing the songs we like so we can "get something out of" a worship service. True worship is unhindered communion with God marked by Love, Fear, and Obedience. When trials come, I must discipline myself to not react in human terms and human understanding. I must turn to God and surrender all I have to him. I must lay myself bare before him. THEN, as a Dead Man Walking, I am in a position to allow him to complete his work in me and through me.

This state of humanness is far more dangerous than I realize. The seduction of my comfort and my opinion and my desires is constantly working to give flesh "time off for good behavior". I need to fear God with the intensity to constrain myself to carry my cross. Proverbs 5:1-6 says, "My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel. Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you've learned. For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave."

I get a kick out of Peter. In the next section of scripture, Peter, James & John go up the mountain with Jesus. Jesus becomes transfigured so that his face "shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. Peter blurted out, 'Sir, it's wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I'll make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.'" Matt 17:2-4

Again, not what one would consider sin, but definitely thinking in human terms. The presence of God is revealed to them, and brings them to the place they need to be. "... a bright cloud came over them, and a voice form the cloud said, 'This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.' At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. Jesus came over and touched them. 'Get up,' he said, 'don't be afraid.'" (17:5-7)

To be where we need to be, we must experience the presence of the Lord. We must worship him in spirit and in truth. We must set aside all that hinders. We must take up our cross, die to the flesh, and obey him!


Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


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