Fact Of Overwhelming Truth

We have been told that we will be led to observe more of the Almighty Power of Sovereign, Father God, above the mighty power of evil in our midst. We have also been reminded and brought to face some unmistakable truths about the foot, or feet, in our daily following of Jesus. We now spend some precious time on the heading for today, which mirrors the headings for the remainder of this week. Each of which spells out the word, FOOT.

Today’s heading speaks of the Fact Of Overwhelming Truth. Embedded in this title, is the word ‘FOOT’. Foot, in the walk with Jesus is necessary and important, for how can we follow Him victoriously, triumphantly and most assuredly, if we have unclean feet? Unclean, dirty feet are disobedient feet, distracted feet, devious feet, and demonic feet. Many a believer flatly refuses to believe that his or her feet are demonic feet. We will accept the fact that our walk is perhaps a bit distracted; maybe somewhat deviant; a tad bit defiant, sometimes disobedient even, but not this one. We cancel forthwith and totally refuse to accept that we have demonic feet; that our walk is of the devil and not of God.

Nevertheless, it is especially in this Season of Lent that the conversation between Jesus and Peter, is brightly lit and lifted high, like neon lights on a billboard. This conversation between Lord and servant, is preached from many a pulpit, wherever the pulpit may be and however it is. This conversation is meditated upon and discussed in many different forums. Even now, what we are being shown is that Jesus saw how Peter’s walk, the way he was thinking, speaking and moving, as a servant-follower, was not of God the Father, but of Satan, the father of lies. 

Let’s listen again to what is taking place in this precise moment. Peter, being  most respectful, not wanting to tell his Master off for all to hear, asks for an excuse to go apart so that he, the servant; he, the learner; he, the ignorant, can tell the Master, the Teacher, the One Wise, how He should be walking. Did you get that? O how ignorant and deceived are human feet!

God, save us from ourselves, please. Amen! 

Jesus turns directly to Peter and says to him, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16: 23 b KJV.  Carefully note that the person who calls Jesus aside, the person who sincerely believes that he is helping his beloved Master, is Peter, not a demon or devil. Yet, as soon as Simon speaks, Jesus hears and sees the walk and way of Satan. Peter is treading with Satan’s feet, as it were, not the feet of the Holy Spirit. Look, listen and see the FOOT: the Fact Of Overwhelming Truth.

Jesus Himself has said to the people listening. I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14: 6b. It is most evident, from Jesus’ response that Peter is not basing his words on truth. Jesus reveals facts in His response, which prove nothing but truth, overwhelming truth, that can’t be argued or dismissed. Let’s check the facts Jesus exposes, as we are held in the undimmed illumination of Jesus, who is the Truth and Light.     

Get thee behind me, Satan: Is not Jesus Himself stating the fact of Satan being in Peter? When He spoke His words of dismissal, when He chased away the mind and thoughts being offered to Him, He never called Simon’s name. It was the person of Simon Peter and the mouth of Peter opening, but the overwhelming fact was that the words belonged to Satan.

Thou art an offence unto me: Is not Jesus Himself stating a fact of truth here also? The unmistaken fact is that Satan and everything he says and does is an offence to Him. Jesus speaks quite plainly, without sugarcoating any words, when He says categorically that it is all an offence to Him. Jesus is the Son of God and when something is an offence to Him, it is an offence to God the Father and God the Holy Ghost also. Jesus does not say that it is hurtful to Him, nor does He say that it is causing Him some discomfort and all such kinds of euphemistic jargon. He is straightforward and open with His speaking.

What has me totally on my knees, is that Jesus is not saying that what He is hearing is an offence to Him. Jesus specifically says, Thou art an offence unto me. You are an offence to Me. He tells Satan in Peter, that he is an offence to Him. When someone is an offence to you, it means that whatever it is, is offensive in every way. To Jesus, it is putrid, disgusting, stink, unpleasant and downright evil.  

For thou savourest not the things of God, but those that be of men. Anything that is not of God is of Satan. When Jesus tells Peter that he savours the things of human beings, but not the things of God, He lets Peter know truth. Peter’s words bear the fruit of one who savours the things of human beings above the things of God. If to savour means to be happy in; to be comfortable with; to delight in; to bask in; to perpetuate in; to hold it as dear and precious to oneself, then how can one delight oneself in God? You cannot take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37: 4. O No! The unarguable Fact Of Overwhelming Truth, as brought before us by the Spirit Himself, is that any foot which does not walk in or delight in the Lord, delights in the things that are not of God. It means that we are finding satisfaction, pleasure and comforts in the things of man, of the earth, of Satan.  Think about that!