Satan's Invitation To Hell

“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” [Luke 21.34-36] 

Carousing and drunkenness make a person's heart dull. This dullness has an adverse effect upon a person's readiness for the Lord's return. This dullness adversely affects a person's ability to "watch" for Jesus. This dullness is directly related to a person's inability to "see" Jesus' return. This dullness is likened to a trap preventing a person from standing before Jesus. Carousing and drunkenness prevent a person from entering heaven.

Carousing and drunkenness however are not the only things that prevent a person from entering heaven. The worries of this life do everything carousing and drunkenness do.

Jesus spoke emphatically to this issue earlier in His ministry:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. [Matthew 6.19-34]

"Seeing" is as much a spiritual word as it is a physical word in the Bible, and certainly so in the two scripture passages referenced heretofore in this article. It should be noted that "seeing" is also very much affected by idolatry.

Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 115.4-8 bold added]

The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and mouths but cannot breathe. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them. [Psalm 135.15-18 bold added] 

Idols and idolatry prevent a person from "seeing." They prevent a person from "watching out." It is just as much an affront to God to be "blinded" by carousing and drunkenness as it is to be "blinded" by the worries of this life (food, clothing, etc.). God's desire is that His people very soberly and intentionally look to and trust in Him ALONE. It is God's desire that His people "watch out" for Jesus. Carousing and drunkenness foolheartedly ignores the issue, and worrying about the cares of this life foolheartedly thinks the issue can be fixed by human means. Both are dulling distractions from "watching out" for Jesus.

The faith Jesus repeatedly demanded of His followers is not optional. If we can "see" it, the consequences of not "watching out" for Jesus was demonstrated when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the wind and waves (worries of this life) instead...

But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. [Matthew 14.30]

The carnal, imposter, false church today, while to some degree discouraging carousing and drunkenness, unashamedly excuses and even defends the worries of this life (after all, a person has to have food and clothes, right? ...and God knows our hearts, right?). If the church today is not so much blinded by carousing and drunkenness, it is very much blinded by the worries of this life. Saying it isn't so is just a lie. There is little, if any, distinction between those who are God's and those who are not when it comes to the worries of this life.

It is not possible to "watch out" for Jesus while "watching out" for the worries of this life.

How important is this matter, really? It is important enough that Jesus addressed it at length as His earthly ministry drew near its end (profoundly discussed in today's One Year Chronological Bible reading).

"Watching out" for the worries of this life screams, "I do not trust God!" The only remedy for this is to "watch out" for Jesus Who said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

What is my "own way" if it is not my own idolatrous solutions to the worries of this life? And, in amazingly preemptive forethought, Jesus addressed what we all ultimately fear if we do not tend to the worries of this life - that we might die - when He said we must take up our cross... Following Jesus is "watching out" for Him with no concern whatsoever for the worries of this life (even unto death).

So, just real quick, let's go ahead and address the "where's the grace?" question. The grace is found in faith: grace is not found where there is no faith.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [Ephesians 2.8 underline added]

In other words, "if there is no faith, then there is no grace." Grace is not mandatory, but faith is. Faith is "watching out" for Jesus while the wind-and-waves-worries-of-this-life are Satan's invitation to hell.

Father, I find no Biblical excuse for my worries of this life. May I be found watching out for Jesus - giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Him. So be it.

Enduring Is Intentional

But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [Matthew 24.13] 

First off, there is no way a person who is ignorant of God's Word can understand Jesus' description of the last days...

We can be sure that those "who endure to the end" are one and the same as God's "chosen ones."

In fact, unless that time of calamity is shortened, not a single person will survive. But it will be shortened for the sake of God’s chosen ones. [Matthew 24.22]

No matter what our understanding of the last days is, two things are certain: 1) we must prepare to endure, and 2) we must be chosen.

How do we prepare to endure? We learn and know God's Word more than we learn and know anything else. In a day where there is no lack for materials to occupy God's people otherwise (even "Christian" materials - yes, and even this author's writings), God's people are spending less and less time directly in God's Word for themselves. They read books, watch videos, and hear every imaginable opinion-laced sermon and teaching, but they do so with only a minimal diet of reading the Bible for themselves. The most complete library of Christian books and media in the world does nothing to prepare a person to endure the last days. Only the direct truth of God's Word - an intentional diet of the Bible - can prepare a person to endure what lies ahead.

Furthermore, it must be understood that non-Christian books and media - no matter how much intelligence (or entertainment) they impart - are absolutely useless for the time Jesus describes in Matthew 24.

How then are we God's chosen ones? We simply live by faith in God alone. God does not (never has, never will) "choose" idolaters - He instead blatantly rejects them. When we prepare to endure, making God's Word the priority of our lives, we come to the understanding that God fully intends to be God ALONE to us. The Bible is clear that God's provision (in whatever form) is unavailable to all except those who singularly trust God ALONE. When we learn God's Word directly from the Bible, we will "see and hear" the truth about the timeless role of idolatry in man's demise that started in the Garden of Eden and continues right up to this day. The knowledge of God found in His Word illuminates the damning nature of idolatry thus inspiring intentional faith in God ALONE in all who heed it. God "chooses" those with this undivided faith. God preserves those with this undivided faith. To make this intentional act simpler for man, God sent His Son, Jesus, Who preemptively and exhaustively disallowed idolatry in His demand:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Enduring is intentional. If God's people do not intentionally "feed" on God's Word and subsequently reject every idol so that they might be "chosen," they will be woefully unprepared for the last days and Jesus' return. Any person who gives up his own way, takes up his cross, and follows Jesus has intentionally and specifically prioritized God's Living Word and has rejected every form of self-preservation in so doing.

Father in heaven, may Your Word occupy our lives and may we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. In this, may we be found watching and waiting for His return. So be it.

The Definition Of A Fanatic

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” [Mark 12.41-44] 

It's not the measure of what is given, but the measure of what it costs us that counts in Kingdom terms.

Why?

The more (percentage-wise) we give to God and His Kingdom, the more we trust Him. To give God everything is to trust God implicitly. To give to God sparingly is to trust Him sparingly... and that is where the problem lies because God is unapologetically all-or-nothing in regard to where we place our faith:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

Jesus did not come to relieve mankind of the demands of Exodus 20.2-7, but rather to "flesh them out:" 

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

In a world full of "solutions," we must decide today if we trust God implicitly or sparingly. As harsh as it may sound, to trust in man's solutions to any degree is idolatry. Every degree that we trust man's idols is a degree that we do not trust God. It seems though that God (as revealed by Jesus) consistently requires one hundred percent or nothing.

The only thing that proves my devotion to God more than my willingness to give one hundred percent, is to give up my own way, take up my cross and follow Jesus - to actually lay down my life for His Kingdom.

Following His time on earth, Jesus, Who rose from the dead, went back to heaven to be seated at the Father's right hand. So significant is it when a person lays down their life for the Kingdom that Jesus would stand to His feet from His sitting position:

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. [Acts 7.55]

So, we'd better believe Jesus noticed the widow giving all she had... nothing more clearly declares undivided, unreserved, unadulterated, idol-free faith in God ALONE than to give Him everything. 

In conclusion of Jesus' parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18, Jesus asked a pertinent question:

But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” [Luke 18.8]

Could Jesus have already answered this question elsewhere?

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14] 

Anyone who takes the Bible seriously (as opposed to religiously) meets all the criteria of a fanatic. It was pure fanaticism for the woman to give her last two coins away. It was pure fanaticism for Stephen to give his life. But, at the end of the day, and, if the Bible is indeed true, there is no question, according to the one hundred percent faith demands of the Bible, about whether or not these two are in heaven with God at this moment. 

Do we dare live to a degree any less than that of a fanatic?

The sad truth is, most people determine for themselves that their faith is sufficient for God's grace. Even among those who profess to be Christ followers, few even give ten percent of their income to God, and even fewer (if any at all) give away all. Any reason however that a person holds back anything from God is an idol.

Of course, religion comes to our rescue with explanations why we should not be fanatics... or, to be more Biblically accurate... religion comes to our damnation...

The ENTIRE story of the Bible is God's desire for fellowship with man. That undeserved gracious call to fellowship with God, defined throughout the Bible, is answered only with pure, undivided, unreserved, unadulterated, idol-free faith in God ALONE by "Way" of Jesus Christ. God said it unapologetically. Jesus said it unapologetically. A fanatic believes it unapologetically. 

Religion however misleadingly says, "God knows your heart" as if that makes adulterous, idolatrous, faithlessness okay, while religious but Bible-ignorant people self-determine that their heart-intentions are "good."

But here is what God says about that:

This is what the LORD says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, in an uninhabited salty land. “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due  rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” [Jeremiah 17.5-10]

All this fuss over two small coins... that has to be the definition of a fanatic. 

Father, Your Word is no lie. May we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. May we see the widow's example in Mark 12.41-44 as our model. So be it.

Grace And Holiness (Parable Of The Wedding Feast)

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Matthew 22.1-14] 

This story is about grace and holiness.

It is the grace of God that calls all men to the wedding feast.

It is holiness that gives them the right to be there.

Giving up our own way and taking up our cross is the attire required for the wedding feast of the Kingdom of God.

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

That's it.

Father, Your Word is really quite clear on the topic of Your undeserved invitation (grace) that requires proper attire (holiness). Help us to see how this story not only indicts the people of Jesus' day, but also us today. May we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

Everyone Wants To Believe Their Faith Is Okay

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things. [Matthew 21.23-27] 

Religion is no different now than religion was in Jesus' day: it sidesteps God's Word to "save face." Everyone wants to believe their faith is okay - including religious leaders.

The leading priests and elders mentioned in Matthew 21 above were not so concerned with what God's Word had said about the voice of one crying in the wilderness (Isaiah 40.3) and his call to a baptism of repentance. Instead, they were more concerned that they did not speak against John for fear of losing control of the people. They would not admit their own need for repentance and yet they would not decry John either. Religion, in this way, "rides the fence."

Modern religion is no different than what Jesus faced in this account from Matthew 21.

There are two basic schools of thought that make up the religious world today: 1) those who claim miracles are for today, and 2) those who claim miracles are not for today. Both sides of this issue are as ridiculously hypocritical as the leading priests and elders Jesus encountered.

First, those who claim miracles are for today make a huge fuss about "standing in faith." But when it comes down to circumstances that are not solved miraculously, they eventually line up at the doors of the industries of man (finance, insurance, medicine and technology) just like everyone else. When hardship, suffering, or death are on the line, faith goes out the window.

Secondly, those who claim miracles are not for today insist that God allows circumstances of sickness, disease, poverty and the likes as a way for those experiencing them to "grow." But, what do those who experience these circumstances do? They immediately go to the same doors of the industries of man... again, just like everyone else, to remedy that which "their faith" insists is an opportunity for spiritual growth. And again, when hardship, suffering, or death are on the line, faith goes out the window.

Of these two basic schools of thought, neither stands by their "faith" when it comes down to it. Both eventually or immediately bow to man-made idol industries having neither a testimony of faith to live or a testimony of faith to die (Hebrews 11 - all of it). And then they wonder why people become so disillusioned with "the Church." When they are finally questioned (as Jesus questioned the religious leaders in Matthew 21.23-27) they all eventually reply, "we don't know."

The religious leaders Jesus encountered didn't know the answer to His question because they did not know God - they had His Word, but they did not apply it. When it came down to putting God's Word to practice, they deceptively said, "we don't know." Instead of repenting (as John demanded - and as was prophesied) they resisted. However, they refused to go on record against John because they didn't want to lose their power over the people. "We don't know" they said, because they just needed people to keep coming to church. It's no wonder Jesus called them hypocrites and a brood of snakes.

The same religious, hypocritical, brood of snakes today (directly or indirectly) sends people to the idol industries of man because they do not want to commit to the faith they claim to have (whether faith to live or faith to die) - ultimately, neither stands by the "faith" they promote.

The Word of God gives every believer the right (the authority) to live by their faith or to die by their faith. But God's Word NEVER authorizes man to "take care of himself" by turning to idols he made for himself. When faced with the truth of God's Word, the religious leaders Jesus faced off with sheepishly lied, "We don't know." When faced with the truth of God's Word, the religious leaders of our day sheepishly lie, "We don't know" because "to know" would indict their so-called faith (whether to live or to die).

Everything Jesus' life and ministry teaches us is concisely stated in the following:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

Yes, everyone wants to believe their faith is okay, but is it?

Father, the truth of Your Word is that You demand that we trust in You without aid of idols. May we be found giving up our own way, taking up our cross, and following Jesus. So be it.

To Her, Jesus Was Already Dead

Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head. The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” [Matthew 26.6-13] 

This woman (Lazarus' sister Mary according to John's Gospel) acted upon the profound faith that Jesus would indeed die just as He said He would.

What this woman did not do was plead with Jesus to avoid Jerusalem. Nor did she try in any way to prepare Him for a fight. We have no record that she even spoke a single word to Him. Her act of anointing Jesus with expensive perfume, what people did to a deceased person after they died, indicated that, to her, Jesus was already dead.

Because however, the woman's actions were indicative of her belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, her belief that He was already dead also carried with it her profoundly timeless faith that He was already resurrected. The realization of this in any person would surely render them speechless and change their actions too.

Although faith certainly "speaks" in certain circumstances, profound faith doesn't need to speak - it merely "acts." And, when profound faith acts, it will be remembered.

Jesus said:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

No need for fanfare - no need for explanation...

Father, may my life be found in profound faith that conveys at a greater level than words - it conveys only by actions. May I be found giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus. So be it. 

Jesus Said "Go" - Not "Stay And Grow"

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” [Matthew 20.24-28]

Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.” Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” [Luke 10.30-37]

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them. [John 13.12-17]

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.” [Acts 6.1-4] 

Let's be honest. The apostles did not really follow Jesus' example and teaching (first three passages above) regardless how we suppose Acts 6.1-4 was the model beginning of Church government. 

But what about Acts 6.5?

Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). [Acts 6.5]

"Everyone liking the idea" is NOT confirmation of the Holy Spirit (it can be, but, more times than not, it is not) no matter how upstanding the men they chose were.

Yes, the local Church grew, but at what price? Jesus' most profound instructions prior to His crucifixion had nothing to do with growing a local body of believers. Instead, Jesus was very specific that His followers should "go."

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28.18-20]

It should not surprise us that upon Stephen's being martyred (Acts 6.8 - 7.60), great persecution ensued and the local body of believers was ironically dispersed. If Stephen was a "deacon," (elected to serve tables), why was he preaching and performing miracles in the first place?

Although good things eventually came of the Church's early beginnings, we should not be so quick to interpret everything they did (just because it is in the Bible) as the perfect will of God (again, Jesus said, "go" - not "stay and grow."

What Jesus said would be of no consequence if He was not the manifestation of "Immanuel - God With Us." But, as we realize that seeing Jesus is seeing the Father (John 14.9), we should understand that anything we set out to believe should FIRST pass the test of Jesus' words. We should NEVER allow ourselves to "interpret" Jesus' words to fit any other narrative. Why? Because HE is the only Living Word of God!

How much more important then is it to understand Jesus' words in Matthew 16?

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24]

One cannot "follow" another who is not moving. Jesus said, "Go!" 

What is said here gives good reason to question everything the local institutional Church is today... How does it match up to Jesus' words? Do we fear where this conversation will take us?

Father in heaven, may we see the truth of Your Word as it is written, but understand its clarity as it was lived and spoken by Jesus. May we give up our own way, take up our cross, and follow Him. So be it.