This phrase Jesus spoke to Peter. The rest of that statement is, “You are not thinking how God thinks. You are thinking how man thinks” [NLB].

When we reduce the mind [word] of God to the mind [ideas] of man we become susceptible to demonic influence. That is an offense to God. Jesus said to Peter [satan], “you are an offense to Me.”

My last blog took a huge swipe at seeker sensitive Christianity. In this one I hope to cut its heart out. If that offends you I do not apologize. We do not have the time to play Mickey Mouse spiritual games. As I said in the last blog, one of Jesus’ names is the rock of offense.

What I am saying is true and I am trying my best to say it in love. But love is not mambie pambie or milk toast blah. It is passionate and purposeful and persistent. The Prince of Peace said in Matthew 10 not to think He came to bring peace. He said He came to bring a sword. Hebrews 4 tells us His word is sharper than a two-edged sword. In the OT His word is likened to fire and a hammer.

Remember, He is a Carpenter!

Peter, along with James and John were considered by the early church to be “pillars”.

Pillars are important to the stability of structures. Pillars must be sturdy and dependable as they provide essential support. Pillars must also be sunk deep into something sturdier so that they can hold up under the constant weight of the structure they support and all the forces that come against that structure.

The structure we are talking about is God’s church. Christ is the foundation and Chief Cornerstone.

Jesus rebuked all three of these “pillars”. He addressed satan in Peter and He said to James and to John, “you do not know what spirit [it was satanic] is motivating you.”

Jesus was not afraid to confront demonically inspired human mindsets that were contrary to His purposes. Bad doctrines become doctrines of demons when we stray from the core values of Christ. Jesus said on the first resurrection day encounter with His followers that were cowering in a locked room, “Peace . . . . As the Father has sent Me I send you” [John 20].

How did God send Jesus? Luke writes that Peter said this [Acts 10:38], “You know Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and POWER, and how He went about doing good and HEALING ALL who were OPPRESSED by the devil” [All caps for my emphasis].

Jesus said this in John 14, “Most assuredly I say to you, ‘he who believes in Me [adheres to My core values], the works [of power] that I do he will also do, and greater works than these will he do, because I go to My Father.”

That statement and the one He made later in chapter 16 gives us a clear mandate for walking in power, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you, but if I depart I will send Him to you.” Jesus said it was to our ADVANTAGE that He was leaving. Why? So that WE COULD DO WHAT HE HAD BEEN DOING by the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus was saying, “NOW IT’S YOUR TURN to destroy darkness.”

Keep in mind God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with Power. God is wanting to anoint us with the Holy Spirit and with Power. Jesus did not “go about doing good” or “healing ALL those oppressed by the devil” UNTIL He was “anointed with the Holy Spirit and Power.”

Jesus said to His followers in Luke 24 before He ascended into heaven, “Do NOT [emphasis mine] leave Jerusalem until you are clothed in Power.” If the initial followers of Jesus had to be anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power before Jesus would release them into the world how do we “modern” Christians think that we can accomplish His work without the same anointing?

Seeker sensitive Christianity only works where the powers of darkness are not operating. Go to the deep jungles of the Amazon region, or in the Philippines and try your seeker sensitive doctrines there. You would not last long friend!

The powers of darkness do not manifest in seeker sensitive environments because they are not threatened by it. Those who ascribe to the watered down Gospel think they are winning the war against darkness. They are so deceived they do not realize the enemy has not yet engaged them.

The fastest growing “religion” on the planet is Spirit filled, Spirit led, Holy Ghost powered Christianity. Those who know me know I do not believe Christianity is a religion but a relationship. But the label makers who come up with the statistics include it in with all the religions in the world.

American Christianity would not be recognized by Peter, James, John and Paul. They would say something like this ~ “who has bewitched you and led you into another Gospel, which is not really a Gospel at all.” Jude, the half brother of Jesus our Lord said this ~ “Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”

What faith is Jude referring to?

I believe we can find the answer in Hebrews 2:1-4, “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we NEGLECT so great a salvation, which at the FIRST began to be spoken by THE LORD, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, GOD ALSO BEARING WITNESS BOTH WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS, with various MIRACLES and GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ACCORDING TO HIS WILL” [emphasis mine]?

Jesus is the Author and the Perfecter of our faith. The faith that He began was a faith that had at its core a demonstration of God’s power. Jesus is not the author of seeker sensitive people or services. Everywhere Jesus and the early Church went there was revival and sometimes there were riots. Does that seem seeker sensitive to you? Not to me!

Jesus and the early church were murdered for this faith. And we have so called Christian’s not willing to step up to the standard of Scripture so as not to offend people. WOW!

I could go on an on and on.

I feel like Paul the apostle when he was making a defense for his beliefs.

He said, “I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness; but indeed you are bearing with me. For I am jealous for you [saints] with a godly jealousy [fatherly protection]. For I betrothed you to one husband [Christ] so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin [not contaminated with false beliefs]. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve [the first covenant wife] by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ [all that He is, says and does]. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus [watered down version] whom we have not preached [see above references to Paul], or if you receive a different spirit [one that reduces the message and ministry of Christ] which you have not received [Jesus did not give you a watered down model of the Holy Spirit], or a different Gospel which you have not accepted [unless you have compromised what He gave you], you bear this beautifully [you are to be commended for not compromising the original message and faith].”

I say with my Lord, who did not shrink from criticism, satanic assaults, people’s weak constitutions [inner core values] or low expectations, Get thee behind me satan!

Our enemy does not have an original thought. He can only use the mindsets and thought processes of men who do not have a renewed mind. He is the god of this world who has blinded the minds of those who do not believe.

Jesus said our enemy thinks like man thinks. We must cast away every thought that God does not have in His head. We cannot afford to waste our time agreeing with the word of our enemy.

It is time to rise up saints and cast off a watered down version of the original Gospel and faith that our Lord modeled and died for.

What are you willing to die for? Until you are willing to die for your faith you will never truly live it.

For HIS Glory!
Dr. Kevin M. Drury
A Hisstorymaker