Hope for today: Look at FEAR, ANXIETY, and ANGER… and how to overcome.

Matthew 16:13-23

¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[d] loosed in heaven.” ²⁰ Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

²¹ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

²² Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

²³ Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Synopsis 1: Peter makes a powerful CONFESSION. Jesus blesses him MOST

2. Jesus makes a POWERFUL confession; Peter rebukes him!

Why the Anger?

“You are the Messiah, the son of the living God”. Peter has a preconceived notion of its MEANING.

FEAR is one of our most basic human emotions.

ANXIETY flows from fear.

ANGER flows from either when an individual realizes they cannot control the stimulus of fear or anxiety.

Peter’s fears were probably a mix of both: REAL and IMAGINED.

Ephesians 6:12

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1) LIES are LIES

2) The STRUGGLE to sustain FAITH over FEAR – lies is HUGE and is SPIRITUAL

3) The struggle of FAITH over FEAR – lies is always the HARDEST in the DARKNESS

4) FAITH always shines brightest in the MORNING!

1 Peter 5

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

John 10:10

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.