A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of March 27-31, 2023
MONDAY
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
Matthew 16:13
Jesus the Rabbi is speaking to his disciples. They are accustomed to the Master’s questions. This is how the rabbi of that day taught the student. If the disciple was going to learn all that Jesus wanted him to know, he would have to answer the question, and have his knowledge either confirmed or corrected. They are hoping to give the right answer. You know how it is to be a student. You are more concerned about getting a good grade than acquiring knowledge that will give you life. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Every time He interacts with His disciples they receive new life.
Jesus wants to know what the general population is saying about Him. He’s not in a popularity contest. He’s not insecure. He doesn’t mind that people malign Him, misunderstand Him, or even avoid Him. He is concerned about the final conclusion that every human should come to in life, and that is, “What have you done with Jesus? What do you say about Him? Who do you think He is? Have you had a real revelation of Him?”
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Psalm 105:37 ~ He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
March 27: Exodus 38, John 17, Proverbs 14, Philippians 1
March 28: Exodus 39, John 18, Proverbs 15, Philippians 2
March 29: Exodus 40, John 19, Proverbs 16, Philippians 3
March 30: Leviticus 1, John 20, Proverbs 17, Philippians 4
March 31: Leviticus 2-3, John 21, Proverbs 18, Colossians 1
April 1: Leviticus 4, Psalms1-2, Proverbs 19, Colossians 2
April 2: Leviticus 5, Psalms 3-4, Proverbs 20, Colossians 3
TUESDAY
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Matthew 16:14-15
So the disciples give Jesus the answers that they have heard. There is always two opinions. There is truth and error. There is public opinion and there is personal revelation. Jesus is asking about public opinion. Why? Because public opinion shapes our thinking. We are influenced by the society at large. We all adopt opinions that are based on the “group consensus,” whether it be denominational teaching, televised opinions, family or cultural attitudes that form common perceptions. Jesus wants us to know that group opinion about Him will not do. In the final analysis, you will stand before God to be accountable for what you did about Jesus. Did you seek to find His true identity?
Jesus wants to know if we have sought to know Him with all our hearts. The bible says that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our hearts. His early disciples are no exception. Which of the disciples would qualify as one who had a personal revelation of Him?
WEDNESDAY
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:16-17
Peter, of course. Peter volunteers the correct answer. I’m sure he is expecting the customary “Atta boy.” He knows that Jesus approves of His answer. When the Master approves, He goes further with you. Somehow the right answers give an invitation to us for the Master to give us more. How wonderful to be taught by God. He allows us to know that we are on the right road, and as a reward, He goes further with us. Usually, the disciples received some extra information from Jesus. After all, these little private discussions were always the format He used to share insider information. Think about the time the disciples could not cast the devil out of the boy. Jesus let them know what it would take for them to be able to get victory in this area. They always learned more about the ministry when they had these discussions.
This situation, however, is very different. The right answer this time causes Peter to tap into the biggie. Jesus tells Him that he is blessed for giving the right answer. Not beatitude blessed, but he has received the Father’s blessing, for the Father has imparted this revelation truth to him. The Father’s blessing is the blessing that Abraham gave Isaac, gave Jacob, gave the twelve tribes. This is the mother lode. The day of the Father’s blessing has come…to not only Peter, but to the church.
THURSDAY
[Jesus said], “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18
This revelation earns Peter his new covenant name. Remember Abram, when he came into covenant with God, God changed his name to Abraham, the father of a multitude. Jesus initially addressed Peter as Simon the son of Jona. Now He is speaking to Peter. Peter the rock. Peter the new covenant man. Peter, the man with the Father’s blessing. Jesus has to give him a special blessing, for he has a new identity, a new purpose. He is God’s covenant man. He has entered into a new dimension of relationship with God the Father. He now is entitled to everything that the Father possesses.
Peter is one of a new breed of covenant person. He is the first of a family of heirs of God’s Kingdom who will have this same identity. Jesus tells Peter that He will build His body on this understanding: the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God. Romans 10:9-10 explains the way to salvation as just that. We must believe Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised him from the dead in order to have eternal life. Jesus says that all the devices of hell will not prevail against a person who believes this.
FRIDAY
[Jesus said], “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 16:19
This is the Father’s blessing: the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. In Old Testament times, the Hebrew father conferred certain blessings upon his children. The blessing of the firstborn was always the greatest. Each child received something from his father. The father gave to each child as he decided in his heart to give to him. Children received the inheritance that their father had laid up for them. A good father always had something to give to each of his children according to what the child was able to receive and manage. Jesus has given the Keys to the Kingdom to His church because He knows that we can manage His inheritance well for Him. Why? Because He lives within the church. We are joint-heirs with Him. He is the Head of the church. When we know Him personally, He works through us to accomplish His purposes on earth. This is why He can guarantee that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
The Father’s blessing is real and it is for all of us. All of us who put our faith and trust in this blessed revelation of Christ will have victory as we use the Keys to the Kingdom. We have authority to loose the Father’s blessing upon the whole earth. In preaching the gospel to all creatures, we invite more sons of God to receive the blessing of the Father. What an inheritance!