Get behind me Satan!

Now, you may think that this title comes directly out of the temptation of Jesus...and you would be wrong.  Jesus is talking to the man that He decides to build His church on.  He is talking to the man who, years later would be considered by some people to be the very first Pope.  He is talking to the Apostle Peter.

Let me set the scene here.  Jesus is preaching and telling the people straight up that they are going to be receiving persecution if they decide to follow Him.  He is being extremely blunt with these people (something that pastors get criticized HEAVILY for doing to this day).  Peter doesn't think this is the very best way to "win friends and influence people" so he pulls Jesus aside and the Bible uses the word REBUKE!  He REBUKES JESUS!  Now, I don't know about you, but if I were standing with JESUS...I think I would just go along with whatever He says.  Something of Satan HAD to be working through that boy for him to have the balls to look all mighty God in the face and REBUKE Him! So Jesus says, "Get behind my, Satan!"

Now the point that I am really wanting to make here is that there is a point where we need to be repentant of the wrong that we have done in our lives and then there is the time where we move on to the new day and new life that God offers us.  Just here in this instance you see that Jesus had to SERIOUSLY reprimand one of the disciples.  We see all throughout the Gospels that they were doubtful, ignorant, and hot headed men.  Jesus says to the them multiple times, "Oh you of little faith" and reprimands them in a variety of other ways.  When we screw up or have a messed up past, the enemy tries to get us to beat ourselves up about it.  He wants us to believe that God would never work through us.

BUT THAT JUST ISN'T TRUE

Jesus chose some of the most uneducated and flawed men of society in order to give the following generations an example.  If He could work through them, then He can work through you!  Never let your past or a feeling that you have little faith or a felt inferiority stop you from fulfilling all God has planned for you.  We do need to constantly be growing in our faith, there does have to be progressive sanctification (a growing closer to God and more in line with His word), and a desire to draw near to Him.  But we do not have to be theological giants to accomplish what God has for us. I mean come on!  Jesus called the man that He built the church on Satan!  God often uses people who are flawed and falling apart to do something astounding just so that people can see how awesome He is.