St Matthew, Chapter 16, verse:16, The Rock: What Simon says.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Peter's confession) Part 4.   

He asked what the people thought and they answered, a great man, a great prophet.  He asked what the disciples thought and there were no answers.  Not James, not John,  not Mathew, not Bartholomew, not one of the disciples had an answer to his question as to who they thought that he was.  Not one, except Simon Peter.  For Simon spoke what was feared to be spoken.  Simon spoke what was feared to be blasphemy.  Simon spoke where the others would not speak.  But they did not know.

They questioned what type of man he was.  They questioned how he was able to do miracles.  They questioned the power that he had over demons and spirits.  They questioned his knowledge of spiritual matters.  But they did not dare speak who he was.  They did not dare proclaim who he was because of the fear of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.  For it was punishable by death from stoning to commit blasphemy.  And they were fearful of what might happen to them if they proclaimed that Christ was the Messiah.  Yet Simon Peter made the statement.  Simon Peter overcame the fear.  Simon Peter spoke what was feared by the others and called Christ the Son of the Living God.  Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 

And the truth was spoken.  Was Simon right?  Who do we say that he is, today?  In these modern times, most would say that he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  But do we believe that, do we know that there is a Living God?  We know that we have to or should go to church each Sunday.  We know that we should prey.  We know that we should not commit sin, but do we not?  For what we know is of the world and what we do not know is of the spirit and of the truth. 

How do you know for sure who you are.  You are flesh and blood.  You are emotions, desires, wants, needs, you are you.  And the you that is you is provided for in the world.  But the you that is you outside of the world is not known.  The you that is you in the spirit is not seen.  The you that is you of the truth of the light of Christ is hidden for you to find.  Will you seek it.  You can find it if you desire to know.  Christ came to give life that we may have it more abundantly.  Yet most, only have life in the physical and not life in the spiritual. 

We see the physical.  We believe in the world.  We know the world is where we live, sleep, eat, play, pray, and die.  And we are consumed of the world that keeps us occupied with the things of the world.  Yet we are spiritual beings in a physical body, a knowledge that most do not believe or know.  And we were created in the image and likeness of our father, the Living God. And Christ came that the life that was given us before the fall of Adam could be restored to those who believe, to those who wanted, to those who sought, to those who know.  Simon says he was the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Does he live in you?

Read the sign of the times!  Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ.  Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.  Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding.  Read it for knowledge.  Read it for faith.  Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ.  The Holy Spirit awaits you.  Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in!

ST Matthew, Chapter 13, verse: 17, The Desire of Prophets and Just men.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The disciples ask why He speaks in parables) Part 5. 

Opportunities knock at our door each day.  The opportunity to speak a kind word, the opportunity to lend a helping hand, the opportunity to give to the needy, the opportunity to share with others less fortunate, seek us daily only to be turned away.  Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy, is our daily opportunity.   Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, is our opportunity to give to others, our opportunity to share our blessings with those less fortunate.  Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted, is our opportunity to lend a helping hand to those who weep in sorrow and pain.  Opportunity to have the Spirit of God knocking at our door, is the choice of what we have and yet we do not receive him.  

Our Christian beliefs brings us to salvation.  It cleanses us of our old dead spiritual self and gives us new life in Christ.  We are born again.  But new life in Christ requires renewal.  It requires preservation.  It requires feeding, nurturing, and exercising lest it dies from starvation and 
malnutrition.  Opportunity comes and sits at your door to renew your new life and it waits.  Opportunity comes and waits at your door for you to open it and welcome him in and you go out the back door, thinking it is the front.  Christ came to give new life to man.  But he left the feeding and the nutrition of the spiritual body for us find in the Bible.  He left the nurturing of the new life to be received in the coming of the Holy Spirit. 

We Christians are millions today and still growing.  Christians from all walks of life, all nationalities, all races, creeds, and colors call Christ their savior.  Millions and still growing.  Yet how many have seen or truly know the Holy Spirit.  How many of the millions can say that they have received him?  How many know within themselves that they have the Holy Spirit within them?  Yet Christ said that he would send Him.  Christ said that the Holy Spirit would teach all things.  Christ said that he would be our advocate.  Yet few know him.  Few have him.  Few receive him.  There should be a holy cry among the people that that they have the Holy Spirit.  There should be millions walking in the light of the Holy Spirit by his guidance.  Yet to speak of the Holy Spirit is to speak of ignorance, for few speak with certainty of knowing him.

Christ told his disciples that they were blessed for their eyes have seen and their ears have heard the words of the teaching of the Living God through Christ.  He said,  For amen I say to you, many prophets and just men have longed to see what you see, and they have not seen it; and to hear what you hear, and they have not heard it.    And yet the opportunity is there for all to see and to hear each day.  All we have to do is to pick up the book, turn on the radio, change the channel to tune into God.  Yet our ears are blocked and our eyes are blind and we do not see.  We are programed to like what the world has given us.  We are compelled to watch drama.  We are driven to see action.  We are drawn to see lust and passion.  And the spirit calls to us daily.  Some have the opportunity to respond.  Some do not.  For their lives are cut short before they have the opportunity to change.  And judgment at death is final. 

Those who knew, longed for the day when it would happen.  Those who listened, waited for the opportunity to hear the words.  They knew that the opportunity would come.  There was no doubt within them.  They watched daily and listened by the hour.  Those who were faithful were so until the ends of their lives.  Many longed to see but did not see.  Many longed to hear but did not hear.  Yet the opportunity is still hear today.  Do you long to hear the words of Christ?  Do you long to see the coming of Christ?  Are you watchful and patiently waiting.  Seek the Holy Spirit and know.  Ask for his coming and there will be no doubt.  Know within yourself that you can know and you can see, and you can hear the words of Christ as he dwells within you.  He sits at the door.  Open it, invite him in, and you will know.