Peter Was NOT the 1st Pope

Peggy shared Illuminati Puppets Exposed's photo. 

Seriously, it's not THAT hard!

Keen April 22 at 12:25am

Vatican is Latin for Divine....

Peggy April 22 at 1:15am

If it's so "divine" then why is there an upside down cross right there behind the pope? If it's so "divine" then why are they preforming satanic rituals in the catacombs under the "Divine" / Vatican? This is an EVIL and ABOMINABLE, false religion.

Sarah April 22 at 2:18am

It used to not be a reference to Satanic ritual. It was a reference to how Peter was supposedly crucified upside down because he felt he was honorable to die the way Christ did. Peter is considered to be the first Pope because Christ said to him "Upon this rock I shall build my church".

Peggy April 22 at 12:01pm

They may tell people that the upside down cross refers to Peter being crucified upside down but that is a lie, it came straight out of the church of satan.

And the scripture that you quoted has been taken out of context and twisted. Here is the scripture in it’s context where you will clearly see that Jesus was talking about the truth of the revelation that Peter had that He, Jesus, was the Son of God. 

Matthew 16:13-20  (KJV)

13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15) HE SAITH UNTO THEM, BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?

16) AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST (Messiah), THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: FOR FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, AND UPON THIS ROCK (this rock of truth) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Simon – Definition

A. Peter = "a rock or stone"

B. Peter was one of the apostles

Barjona – Definition

1. Barjona = "son of Jonah"

A. the surname of the apostle Peter

Revealed – Definition

I. to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up

A. disclose, make bare

II. to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown

Rock - Definition
Strong's G4073 - petra

I. a rock, cliff or ledge

A. a projecting rock, crag, rocky ground

B. a rock, a large stone

C. metaph. a man like a rock, BY REASON OF HIS FIRMNESS AND                  STRENGTH OF SOUL

False Prophet (In Reference To The Pope)

Revelation 16:13 (KJV)

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Revelation 19:20 (KJV)

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 20:10 (KJV)

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

False Prophets & Empty Oracles

Jeremiah 23:9-40 (KJV)

9) Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.

10) For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

11) For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.

12) Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

13) And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

14) I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

15) Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

16) Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

17) They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

18) For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

19) Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

20) The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

21) I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

22) But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

23) Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

24) Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

25) I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

26) How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

27) Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

28) The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.

29) Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

30) Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

31) Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

32) Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

33) And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.

34) And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.

35) Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

36) And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man's word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.

37) Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

38) But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;

39) Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:

40) And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

Additional information:

If you TRULY want to learn more then I can’t do the work for you but here are two links to resources that can teach you. Don’t just accept the twisted traditions of man that were founded on a lie, learn for yourself.

https://www.chick.com/information/religions/catholicism/

https://www.chick.com/catalog/tractByKeyword.asp?Subject=Catholicism

1 Corinthians 15:33 – Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Be – g4105

I. to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way

A. to go astray, wander, roam about

II. metaph.

A. to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive

B. to be led into error

C. to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin

D. to sever or fall away from the truth

1. of heretics

E. to be led away into error and sin

not – g3361  

I. no, not lest

deceived: – g4105

I. to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way

A. to go astray, wander, roam about

II. metaph.

A. to lead away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive

B. to be led into error

C. to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray, sin

D. to sever or fall away from the truth

1. of heretics

E. to be led away into error and sin

 evil – g2556 

I. of a bad nature

A. not such as it ought to be

II. of a mode of thinking, feeling, acting

A. base, wrong, wicked

III. troublesome, injurious, pernicious, destructive, baneful

communications – g3657  

I. companionship, intercourse, communion

corrupt – g5351  

I. to corrupt, to destroy

A. in the opinion of the Jews, the temple was corrupted or "destroyed" when anyone defiled or in the slightest degree damaged anything in it, or if its guardians neglected their duties

B. to lead away a Christian church from that state of knowledge and holiness in which it ought to abide

C. to be destroyed, to perish

D. in an ethical sense, to corrupt, deprave

good – g5543  

I. fit, fit for use, useful

A. virtuous, good

II. manageable

A. mild, pleasant (as opp. to harsh, hard sharp, bitter)

B. of things: more pleasant, of people, kind, benevolent

manners. – g2239  

I. a customary abode, dwelling place, haunt, customary state

II. custom, usage, morals, character

Ephesians 5:11 – Reprove the unfruitful works of darkness.

What does it mean to “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE THEM”? Find out in this word by word study of this scripture. 


Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE THEM.

And – g2532
I. and, also, even, indeed, but


have – g4790
I. to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing


no – g3361   
I. no, not lest


fellowship – g4790 
I . to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing


with the unfruitful – g175   
I. metaph. without fruit, barren, not yielding what it ought to yield


works - g2041   
I. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
    A. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking

II. any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind

III. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opp. to that which is less than work


of darkness, – g4655   
I. darkness
    A. of night darkness
    B. of darkened eyesight or blindness

II. metaph.
    A. of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying       ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell

    B. persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway


but - g1161
I. but, moreover, and, etc.


rather - g3123   
I. more, to a greater degree, rather
    A. much, by far
    B. rather, sooner
    C. more willingly, more readily, sooner


reprove them – g1651  
I. to convict, refute, confute (deny/disapprove)
    A. generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted
    B. by conviction to bring to the light, to expose

II. to find fault with, correct 
    A. by word 
          1) to reprehend severely, chide (scold/rebuke), admonish, reprove 
          2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation  

    B. to deed A. to chasten, to punish

Righteous Judgment

The Church, the Body of Christ, has a very warped understanding of the real meaning of judging righteously which is why the world is in the shape that it is in. The Christians, indeed the very people who have the power that raised Christ from the dead living inside of them, are commanded in scripture to “reprove sin” (Ephesians 5:11*) yet they refuse to do so. *See outline below.

            “Know ye not that we shall judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3-5) If we have the right to judge angels then what gives us the idea that we are not allowed to call out the wolves that have so obviously invaded the church?!

            But sadly the “modern Christians” would rather accept their false teachings because they either have no understanding of what righteous judgment is, and they like having their ears tickled. On top of that they do not have the discernment needed to see past their slick words and smooth personalities. The church is so worried that it will offend someone that they refuse to speak out against sin and call sin sin! Apparently they have never heard the term “tough love!”

JUDGING AS CHRISTIANS

Matthew 7:15-20

15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Matthew 12:33-37

33) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35) A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Luke 6:43-45

43) For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

44) For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

45) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

John 7:24

Judge not according to the appearance, BUT JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)

1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

–        Mark Them – You have to name them and let me people know what their false doctrine is.

–        You have to avoid that person and their teaching.

1 Corinthians 2:15

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

11) But now I have written unto you not to keep company, IF ANY MAN THAT IS CALLED A BROTHER (someone who claims to be a Christian) be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12) For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

13) But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

1 Corinthians 6:1-4

1) Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2) Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3) Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4) If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

2 Corinthians 7:1 – mind and body

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Ephesians 5:3-9

3) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Philippians 1:9

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; (discernment)

Philippians 3:17-19

17) Brethren, be followers together of me, and Mark Them Which Walk So As Ye Have Us For An Ensample.

18) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

19) Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

1 Thessalonians 4:1-4

1) Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

2) For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

3) For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

4) That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

1 Thessalonians 5:22 – Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

7) For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

8) Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

9) Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

11) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

12) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

13) But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

14) And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

15) Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

1 Timothy 6:3-5

3) If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4) He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5) Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

2 John 8-11

8) Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

9) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

10) IF THERE COME ANY UNTO YOU, AND BRING NOT THIS DOCTRINE, RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE, NEITHER BID HIM GOD SPEED:

11) FOR HE THAT BIDDETH HIM GOD SPEED IS PARTAKER OF HIS EVIL DEEDS.

Ephesians 5:11 – Word Study

 Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE THEM.

And – g2532

I. and, also, even, indeed, but

have – g4790

I. to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing

no – g3361  

I. no, not lest

fellowship – g4790

I . to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing

with the unfruitful – g175  

I. metaph. without fruit, barren, not yielding what it ought to yield

works - g2041  

I. business, employment, that which any one is occupied

A. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking

II. any product whatever, anything accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind

III. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasized in opp. to that which is less than work

of darkness, – g4655  

I. darkness

A. of night darkness

B. of darkened eyesight or blindness

II. metaph.

A. of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell

B. persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway

but - g1161

I. but, moreover, and, etc.

rather - g3123  

I. more, to a greater degree, rather

A. much, by far

B. rather, sooner

C. more willingly, more readily, sooner

reprove them – g1651 

I. to convict, refute, confute (deny/disapprove)

            A. generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted

            B. by conviction to bring to the light, to expose

II. to find fault with, correct

A. by word

1) to reprehend severely, chide (scold/rebuke), admonish, reprove

2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation 

B. to deed

C. to chasten, to punish

Isaiah 54:17 Word Study

Isaiah 54:17

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, “And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the Lord.

No weapon – h3627  

I. article, vessel, implement, utensil

A. article, object (general)

B. utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel

1. implement (of hunting or war)

2. implement (of music)

3. implement, tool (of labour)

4, equipment, yoke (of oxen)

5. utensils, furniture

C. vessel, receptacle (general)

D. vessels (boats) of paper-reed

that is formed – h3335    

I. to form, fashion, frame

A. (Qal) to form, fashion

1. of human activity

2. of divine activity

a. of creation

i. of original creation

ii. of individuals at conception

iii. of Israel as a people

b. to frame, pre-ordain, plan (fig. of divine) purpose of a situation)

B. (Niphal) to be formed, be created

C. (Pual) to be predetermined, be pre-ordained

D. (Hophal) to be formed

against thee shall prosper; – h6743  

I. (Qal) to rush

II. to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable

A. (Qal) to prosper

B. (Hiphil)

1. to make prosperous, bring to successful issue, cause to prosper

2. to show or experience prosperity, prosper

and every tongue – h3956

I. tongue

A. tongue (of men)

1. tongue (literal)

2. tongue (organ of speech)

B. language

C. tongue (of animals)

D. tongue (of fire)

E. wedge, bay of sea (tongue-shaped)

that shall rise – h6965  

I. to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up

A. (Qal)

1. to arise

2. to arise (hostile sense)

3. to arise, become powerful

4. to arise, come on the scene

5. to stand

a. to maintain oneself

b. to be established, be confirmed

c. to stand, endure

d. to be fixed

e. to be valid

f. to be proven

g. to be fulfilled

h. to persist

i. to be set, be fixed

B. (Piel)

1. to fulfil

2. to confirm, ratify, establish, impose

C. (Polel) to raise up

D. (Hithpael) to raise oneself, rise up

E. (Hiphil)

1. to cause to arise, raise

2. to raise, set up, erect, build

3. to raise up, bring on the scene

4. to raise up, rouse, stir up, investigate

5. to raise up, constitute

6. to cause to stand, set, station, establish

7. to make binding

8. to carry out, give effect to

F. (Hophal) to be raised up

against thee in judgment – h4941 

I. judgment, justice, ordinance

A. judgment

1. act of deciding a case

2. place, court, seat of judgment

3. process, procedure, litigation (before judges)

4. case, cause (presented for judgment)

5. sentence, decision (of judgment)

6. execution (of judgment)

7. time (of judgment)

B.  justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)

ordinance

C. decision (in law)

D. right, privilege, due (legal)

E. proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

thou shalt condemn. – h7561  

I. to be wicked, act wickedly

A. (Qal)

1. to be wicked, act wickedly

2. to be guilty, be condemned

B. (Hiphil)

1. to condemn as guilty (in civil relations)

2. to condemn as guilty (in ethical or religious relations)

3. to act wickedly (in ethics and religion)

This is the heritage – h5159  

I. possession, property, inheritance, heritage

A. property

B. portion, share

C. inheritance, portion

of the servants – h5650  

I. slave, servant

A. slave, servant, man-servant

B. subjects

C. servants, worshippers (of God)

D. servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)

E. servant (of Israel)

F. servant (as form of address between equals)

of the LORD, – h3068 

I. Jehovah = "the existing One"

A. the proper name of the one true God

1. unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136

and their righteousness – h6666 

I. justice, righteousness

A. righteousness (in government)

1. of judge, ruler, king

2. of law

3. of Davidic king Messiah

B. righteousness (of God's attribute)

C. righteousness (in a case or cause)

D. righteousness, truthfulness

E. righteousness (as ethically right)

F. righteousness (as vindicated), justification, salvation

1. of God

2. prosperity (of people)

G. righteous acts

is of me, saith – h5002  

I. (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet)

A. utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state)

B. utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name)

the LORD. – h3068

I. Jehovah = "the existing One"

A. the proper name of the one true God

1. unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136

“THE SIFTING OF OUR FAITH"

6/2/2015: “THE SIFTING OF OUR FAITH"

From: The Official Rebecca Brown Page

Jesus said: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. and when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

But Peter replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." From Luke 22:31-34

My Brothers and Sisters, I believe this is a message you need from God if you feel your faith is slipping away. It seems to say: "You can be a winner, but you will fail." Is this not the message that Jesus spoke to Peter here? Does it not discourage and smother the enthusiasm to make yourself available for God's ministry, if Satan can ask to sift your faith? Towards Peter, Jesus said: "You will deny that you know me." But, does this not also pertain to those who are already serving in the various ministry fields around the world right now? Yes, I have to speak even to myself as the writer of this article! Do we even know what we are letting ourselves in for, if we can be sifted?

We need to look deeper. This Bible message radiates the love and concern Jesus has for His disciples, His followers and for us today. A love that does not hide the truth of the reality of temptation and failure. It radiates a concern that is prepared to intercede before God for a fallen friend. Let us look at two aspects.

THE OVERESTIMATION OF OUR OWN ABILITIES!.

Jesus says: "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat." Jesus uses the analogy of wheat harvesting to highlight a very important truth. Wheat was cut with a sickle, bundled in sheaves and then later threshed on a floor. It was then thrown into the air so that the light chaff would be blown away by the wind while the grain would land on the ground. The last stage consisted of throwing the wheat that fell onto the soil into a sieve. This was then shaken vigorously so that the dirty parts would fall through and leave the wheat kernels in the sieve. It was a vigorous process.

Jesus said that Satan has asked, even demanded to have you, to sift you. Satan is a reality, but a reality that is not on the same level as God. He has to ask for permission, he cannot just do what he wants. Satan is the prosecutor in court. He is the one who makes the wrong doings known before the judge. He is the one who accuses us before God" "Look at these people who call themselves Christians and yet they cheat and covet, they gossip, backbite, sell slander as a ministry, and are greedy. If it comes to the crunch, they will try to save their own skin. In essence, they are unreliable. Let go of them. Throw them out, they are not real Christians" is what he accuses the Brethren of.

Jesus says the time will come when you will be severally shaken. You will feel as if everything is out of control, as if you are thrown to and fro, when things will seem upside down. Heart wrenching times of testing where your faith in God is stretched to the limit. Times when you ask yourself whether the message of a God who is supposed to be all loving and in control is real. Times when thing that happen don't seem to make any sense.

Peter was prepared to suffer and even die with Jesus. How many of us are prepared to commit our whole lives, even to the point of suffering and death for the cause of Jesus? I believe Peter was sincere, since he experienced many amazing things with Jesus.

Maybe we have also experienced many things with Jesus. How He has helped us, guided us and blessed us. How he gave us joy and freed us from sin. But maybe along the line we also started to rely on our own gifts and mental abilities, our skills and capabilities, our possessions and health, our power and ability to prevail. And yet, it can happen that you find yourself poor and naked, when you fell into temptation. It can happen when you made wrong moral judgement, through the abuse of power, the temptation of an extramarital relationship, or when you become addicted to something, or start resisting God's call on your life. Faith can also be rattled through suffering. It does not have to be your own suffering, which makes you doubt, but the suffering of others. That was the case with Peter. The suffering of Jesus shook him severely. Does our faith have the strength to persevere in such cases? Do we overestimate our own abilities?

We ask ourselves, even cry out to God WHY, WHY, WHY? My child died, my spouse has cancer. God I have a broken clavicle bone, why won't You touch me and heal it? WHY? My finances are in the pits, my family is not saved, yet I have prayed and prayed to you, WHY? LORD WHY? You have prayed for a job, for healing in yours or a family member's life yet nothing is happening. Now most of your Christian friends blame you for not having enough faith. But we can and always will be asking these questions of WHY to God!

Often these situations make us realize, if we are honest enough with ourselves, that our power over things and the control over life is less than we are ready to admit. We overestimate our own abilities and experience how we are severely shaken, and sometimes even shattered. Then our faith becomes weaker and weaker.

THE UNDERESTIMATION OF THE INTERSESSION POWER OF JESUS!

Our faith is sometimes like the fireworks on New Year's Eve; lovely to see at a celebration, but short lived. It flares up for a short time, but is burnt our quickly. Yet, there is someone who remains faithful to us, even when we are unfaithful to Him. Jesus said: "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail."

In this intercession and promise of Jesus. The point is not that Peter will not have to face temptation, or the fear of death. He still had to undergo the shattering incident where he denied knowing Jesus; where he had to face the dark side in his life. The point is that Jesus remains faithful to Peter even when he goes astray and even intercedes for him during such turbulent times. Jesus knows the fallibility of Peter and knows that he will deny Him three times. Jesus, in effect is saying: "Not only Satan, the accuser, is presenting your case before God, but I myself am defending you before My Father. My intercession limits the accusations of the devil." Jesus intercedes so that the faith of Peter, the relationship with God will continue and not fail. Therefore Jesus says: "Do not look at your own abilities, or at y our own failures, since I hold onto you in spite of them. The faith you have in yourself you will lose, but I intercede to the Father, that your trust in HIM will remain and continue."

Peter did experience this crisis. He feared for his life and said: "I do not know this Jesus." But when the cock crowed, he was shocked back to reality and had to cry bitterly, since he realized that he deserted his Master.

Even we Christians experience crises in faith; through giving in to temptation, or when we are too scared to admit that we are Christians. And yet, there is someone who does not believe in separation. There is someone who doesn't give up on us but proclaims: "I do not leave you when you take leave from me. I know you even when you say that you do no longer know me. I even intercede for you. You and I belong together." Can you imagine, or even fathom that Jesus intercedes for you and me before His Father? Maybe you have given up on your faith life deep down inside a long time ago, and yet Jesus hasn't given up on you. He prays for you continuously. Can you imagine that Jesus says to you personally: "I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail!" Jesus Himself is the guarantor that this faith will not fail, that the relationship will last forever. The reason why we can repent; and can return to God is this calling, this intercession and this promise of Jesus

Jesus' intercession is like a net, like a sieve that holds us so that we will not fall through. The sieve allows the dirt to fall through -- our sins, but holds onto the kernels -- us. His intercessions shows Satan's limitations. He may shake us, but no-one can snatch us out of Jesus' hands except ourselves through continued living with unconfessed and unforgiven sin. Do you trust Jesus? Do we really trust Jesus? Since we got disillusioned by our own abilities we often underestimate Jesus' abilities and strength. We take on an attitude of: no-one can help me, not even God. Satan wants us to believe that, but that is not true. Jesus, as we have read in God's Word, can sympathize with our weakness, with our temptations because He was human Himself. Yet, He is now our High Priest, the one who intercedes for us and who even gave up Himself on the cross so that the penalty for sin is paid in full. He has reconciled us to God. Ass we need to do is to turn back, hand ourselves over and accept His grace, make it our own, time and again.

Could it be that you first have to experience some sort of doubt before you even know what deep faith really means? Could that experience be an enrichment? Could the faith after the doubt be that much stronger? When and as your faith started returning and maturing again, did you not experience something which can benefit others? We read that Jesus said that Peter must strengthen his brothers when he turned back to God. Isn't it amazing that God can bring about something good from our failures? THE BIGGEST MUCK IN YOUR LIFE, JESUS CAN USE AS FERTILIZER. The grace experienced by Peter should strengthen and encourage others to turn back to God and to entrust themselves to Jesus once again.

Our failures are not to become an excuse or an alibi -- this is just how we as humans are, it is what we use to cover up our failures. And no, this is not what is meant by this message. But it should encourage us not to rely on our own abilities, but on Him who in spite of our failures takes us back into His service. "I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL," Jesus says to you and me. Let us trust and keep this promise an serve Him where ever He has called us to serve. Through this we may know for sure that the Lord who has called us, will carry us, pick us up when we fall, and see us through.

In the life of a Christian you will experience trials and temptations and even failures. Especially when we overestimate our own abilities. Maybe you are in that crisis right now. Maybe you experience the future as a trial; you do not know what to do anymore. Maybe you have failed God more than once in another area of your life and you try to hide it. How do you deal with such a situation? "THE MORE YOU WRESTLE WITH THE CHIMNEY SWEEPER, THE DIRTIER YOU GET." When we hide it, I find it is another one of the reasons why Satan is allowed to sift us. But Jesus steers our hearts towards Himself and promises us that we will not fall out of the sieve. He Himself intercedes for us before His Father: "I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL." Let us not underestimate this promise of Jesus. This promise given us security, gives us courage, gives us hope and liberates us to live our lives with and for Him. May we trust these words during time of trials and temptations? Are you going to rely on your own abilities or are you going to entrust yourself fully to Jesus and His promises? Maybe for the first time, maybe for the second time, maybe even for the next 100 times. Are you willing to heed His call?

Are you prepared to proclaim this promise of Jesus, as being a true and reliable word of God to those who are experiencing doubt, loss of faith and are being shaken by events and suffering in their lives as they are being sifted by Satan to destroy what little faith they still might have? Remember what Jesus said, "AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED BACK, STRENGTHEN YOUR BROTHERS." It is time to finally strengthen the FAMILY OF GOD!

Again, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, just like Peter, Satan is petitioning God at this very moment to sift your faith and the faith of every living Christian. Now you can take the same promise of Jesus as He spoke it in Peter's life, "I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU, THAT YOUR FAITH MAY NOT FAIL!" Jesus is not saying it won't fail, He is saying "THAT IT MAY NOT FAIL" or shouldn't fail, but we are human and at times our faith will fail us when we need it the most. Don't let Satan sift your FAITH, or the other Christians in your life, to the place where he has stolen it forever! Start asking Jesus to intercede on your behalf, as He has promised He would do! Also start sharing and teaching other Christians this principle!

A RIGHTEOUS WARRIOR FOR THE MOST HIGH GOD!

Daniel Yoder.