KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:23 KJV” But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men”.

In our key scripture, Apostle Peter took the Lord aside and started rebuking Him that He should never to talk about dying on the cross. The Lord saw it was not just Peter speaking but Satan speaking through him. The Lord rebuked satan to get behind him. He added you do not promote the things of God but the things of men. Any man of God who just follow what men may like to promote may be honoring Satan unknowingly. Men love their flesh and would do everything to secure it. Job 2:4 KJV “And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life”.

What are some of the things, that, men like which the servant of God, must be very careful, not to allow to control him or her

1. Men shy away from suffering and therefore would not sacrifice even towards the advancement for God’s glory. The following are some of the sacrifice men may shy away from. You, the man of God must insist on practicing and the members also doing same;

a. Praying for hours

b. Evangelizing remote areas

c. Fasting

d. Giving money for the work of God

e. Going on missions

f. Suffering persecutions

g. Forsaking worldly pleasures for the course of Christ

h. Loving those who despitefully treat you.

2. Men would not easily believe in the supernatural dealings of God. 1Co 1:23 KJV ” But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” The man of God must be careful not to think like an ordinary man in matters relating to the supernatural power of God.

3. Men may provoke you to anger and make you act accordingly, but be careful you do not allow yourself to go that way. Moses was provoked by the actions of the Jews to anger, so he acted against the instruction of God. He hit the rock twice, instead of speaking to the rock to give out water. Numbers 20:10–12

God would use the man who would carefully consider God’s way and follow it.

CONFESSION

I am God’s man and live to please Him alone. I do not follow the ways of men that appeals to the flesh and its comfort that oppose the ways of God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Number 20:10 KJV” And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?  And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them”.

1 Corinth 1:21 KJV” For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe”.