Do you ever get confused about who you are? Do you ever do things that are the opposite of each other? I’ll tell you a couple of things about myself that confuse me and make me ask this question – Will the real Ben Pilgreen please stand up? Some days I’m really good when it comes to what I eat and how much I exercise. On those days, I might have Greek yogurt for 2 of my meals, walk 5 miles and run another 2 ½ miles. And at the end of those days, I’m like, “I’m going to have to get new clothes.” And then there are other days. I don’t feel like exercising and I don’t feel like Greek yogurt. And at the end of those days, I’m like, “I’m going to have to get new clothes.” Which one of these is the real me?

Unfortunately, this same thing happens in more serious moments of my life. I have days when I am joyful, kind, loving, and patient with my wife, our kids and our staff team. And I also have days where these aren’t the adjectives that would best describe my interactions with others. Is there a way we can know who we really are? Or should we just say, “Who I am depends on the day”?

Today we’re in week 2 of The Maturity Project series and I’m calling this message “Growing Into Who You Are”. I want to talk about how we live in the gap of who God says we are and what we show that we are. And I want to use the life of Peter to help us see the gap, as well as discover how we can close the gap.

Matthew 16:13-23 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 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. 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. 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 loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 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. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 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.”

Surely this was a moment Peter had to be seriously confused about his own identity. Am I the rock that Jesus will build the church on? Or am I a stumbling block to Jesus? Am I really Satan? Before we get clear on who we are, we want to get clear on this:

It really matters who you think Jesus is.

Who is Jesus to you? If we’re on a mission to orient our entire lives around Jesus, we really need to get clear on who Jesus is. Peter answers Jesus – “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus essentially says back to Peter, “Yes I am. You are right.” And Jesus tells Him, “And you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” One commentator said this about their exchange on why Jesus gave this declaration to Peter: Since you can tell me who I am, I will tell you who you are.

Jesus tells Peter and the other disciples, “Do not tell anyone that I’m the Messiah – yet.” He explains that He must go to Jersualem and suffer and be killed. And Peter gives a two-word response. He actually places two words together that can never really go together – NEVER, LORD!

Because Jesus was so committed to His mission, he recognized that Peter was trying to take him away from it…regardless of how well-intentioned Peter was. And Jesus addresses Peter based on who he’s being in this moment. Well, who is Peter – a rock or an instrument of the devil? Great question. Jesus tells Peter his identity and his calling whenever he uses this word “rock”. And when he calls him “Satan” or “a stumbling block”, he’s letting Peter know that his life must become a maturity project if he’s going to be who God made him to be and fulfill what God has called him to do.

Let’s chat about the identity and calling part first.

“Jesus knows who we are. But he also knows who we are becoming. He has a vested interest in seeing us flourish in the future.” -Ken Costa, Know Your Why

Our identity, just like Peter’s, is given to us the moment that we recognize that Jesus is the Messiah.

John 1:12 Yet to all who did RECEIVE him, to those who BELIEVED in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

When you trust in Jesus – that He’s the Messiah who lived a perfect life, died for your sins, and rose again to overcome sin, death and the grave – at that very moment, you are a son or daughter to God. There’s nothing else you have to do for the sake of your identity. But you need to engage in a maturation process to grow fully into who Jesus says you are.

Peter wants Jesus to conform to Peter’s will and Jesus will not ever do that for Peter or for you or for me. Jesus came to earth to do the Father’s will, and we’re called to pursue the same. Peter says to Jesus, “Never, Lord!” I wonder what areas in our lives we’re telling Jesus the same thing.

The rate of your spiritual growth will be determined by how quickly and how often you say “yes” to Jesus.

Jesus confronts the “no” he received from Peter. And listen to me, Jesus wants to confront us over any “no” he’s received from us. You know what some of us might have said to Jesus? I hear this all the time, even in the church. “This is just who I am.” If you’re saying that to Jesus and you genuinely belong to Him, here is what He wants to say to you. “No this is not who you are. I have given you a new identity and I want you to grow into it.”

Jesus rebuked Peter. The Anointing is a book I recommend for every person in this room who wants to live the life Jesus is calling you to.

“If God gives us a word of rebuke, we should welcome it.” -R.T. Kendall

Hebrews 12:7-11 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined – and everyone undergoes discipline – then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Jesus knew Peter’s lack of spiritual maturity would hold Peter back from the life and calling he was meant for.

“Character is a word that describes the default ‘me.’ The person I am over the long haul in life. The person who emerges in the most difficult, challenging moments. Character identifies the attitudes, convictions, and resulting behaviors that distinguish my life.” -Gordon MacDonald, A Resilient Life

What is present in your life that will not end well if changes aren’t made?

Here are some things that held Peter back: his pride, his anxiety, his lack of understanding the schemes of the devil and how spiritual warfare works, and his lack of deep love for all people. Did Peter ever mature? Did he ever become the man of character Jesus intended for him to become? Thankfully we have his own words that were written some 30 years after this encounter with Jesus. Pay attention to his words.

1 Peter 5:6-8 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 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.

You can see his spiritual maturity in so many specific ways. He says “humble yourselves under God.” In our main text today, he tried to go above Jesus. He’s now saying “come under Him – He’s Lord.” Cast all your anxiety on Him. Peter used to cast his anxiety on everyone else. Remember the time he cut off someone’s ear?! He says that you need to know you have an enemy in the devil. He wants to destroy you, so be prepared to resist him by standing firm in the faith.

And then you remember how Peter denied knowing Jesus and had to be forgiven and restored by Jesus. Listen to what he says that is so powerful and let’s us know how he has matured.

1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.

How do you think he learned this? Because the love of Jesus covered his multitude of sins. How did he go on this maturity journey?

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Responses:

-Do you know who Jesus is?

-Have you put your faith in Him?

-Are you letting Jesus tell you who you are?

-How might God be disciplining and correcting you in this season? Remember, as a Good Father.

-Any place you’re saying “no” to Jesus?