When things go wrong, come the worst John 18:26 - One of the servants of the high priest, being the kinsman of him whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? We all know about Peters 3 denials which Jesus prophesied beforehand and which happened later exactly as Jesus stated. The Gospel of John records the later 2 denials not the denial to the young maid, but connects and continues from there. It starts with people hearing Peter deny to the maid and hence question him and he denies them too. Next, we read in John after the maid and the group of people, a man who was servant of the High Priest questioned Peter, he was also related to the person whose ear Peter had chopped in the garden. If one goes by a Bible commentary it states there was a fine for plucking a mans ear and that fine was about four hundred zuzim or pence; which, as they answer to Roman pence, which amounts to about twelve pounds ten shillings; a sum of money Peter perhaps could not have raised, without great difficulty: and therefore Peter must have denied the third time in a profane manner. Todays scripture shows us as we fall away from God just bad things do not happen but they worsen and the most unexpected and unthinkable will show up. It was only because of Jesus prayer that Peter was not a victim of these events and that he managed to slip away safely. We need to understand Satan hates us for he does not want us to receive what God has planned for us; he hated more those who know God and have relationship with God for they are greater threat to him. When they are spiritually mature he cannot touch them for a fence of protection surrounds them. In the case of Peter and the other 11 Apostles at this time Jesus protected them even though they were not yet mature in spirit since they had yet not received the Holy Spirit nor were immersed (baptized) in Him. So when Peter denied Jesus he fell off the protection hedge and Satan could try to get him but the prayer of Jesus did not let Satan fully get him. Today when we call someone brother or sister in the Lord we do not understand what really happens. If we are calling a spiritually mature person a brother then the hedge of protection on that persons life is extended over our lives and viscera if we are more grown in the Lord than that person then our hedge of protection is extended to that person. We read Paul states in his letter to the Church of Corinth, when a person goes out of hand doing things against the principles of the Kingdom of God then such a person should be handed over to Satan, this handing over does not mean calling on Satan to take over that person, it simply meant disconnecting the hedge of protection extended over the life of that person by breaking the brethren relationship. We see Paul confesses to have done this to Hymenaeus and Alexander in his letter to Timothy. There are 2 things one need to remember one is the purpose it is done is not out of hatred but to save the soul of that person, like Jesus prayer for Peter to be saved so also even though we disconnected our hedge of protection we should out of love and mercy of God pray that the person comes to ones senses, repents and gets saved. Another very important factor is one should not jump and start to disconnect relationship for any reason. To do this that person needs to be among the unbelievers that means deny God, like Peter denied Jesus to fall. Jesus gives us the 3 step process in such an event. First we are to engage the person privately and make the person understand, if that fails second stage is to engage that person before 2 or 3 elders (spiritually mature persons) and lastly if they both fail we are to engage that person before the congregation. It is only after that we are to disconnect the hedge of protection over that person. But like I stated before the first point should not be forgotten that this is done to save that person through the suffering of the flesh. [Prayer Starter] Lord You are a Merciful God full of Love. Lord, we pray that we do not come to a state that we deny You and fall before You so as to lose the hedge of protection over our lives. Lord, let our faith never fall us. Give us wisdom to understand what the consequence of breaking brethren relationship with others can lead to... We make this prayer in Jesus Name, Amen. [Reference Scriptures] Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Luke 22:32-34 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. John 17:12 - While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his fathers wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Timothy 1:20 - Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Matthew 18:15-17 15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Posted on: Mon, 06 Oct 2014 02:38:30 +0000
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