Really Peter (Matthew 16:23)

 Peter shows us a full spectrum of consciousness, reflecting all the different points along our journey, this love journey, this wholeness path, this kingdom voyage. Peter had a revelation when Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do people say I am?" To get the scuttlebutt, the gossip, the word on the street, the disciples responded, "Some say you are Jeremiah, Elijah, John the Baptist, or one of the prophets." But Jesus took the conversation deeper. He asked, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "Thou art the Christ." That's what Peter said.

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Peter declared. Peter had a revelation. Jesus said, "Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." Peter had a revelation, but when the anointing lifted, we saw a different side of Peter. We have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, but who are you when the anointing leaves? We are bishops, overseers, spiritual leaders, elders, deacons, ministers, mothers, missionaries, saints, and friends, but who are you when the anointing leaves?

When the anointing lifted, Peter started talking sideways. He began saying crazy things. When Jesus said that He was going to be crucified, that He would go through persecution, die, be buried, and rise again on the third day, Peter rebuked Jesus. So, Jesus had to turn around and rebuke Peter. Peter said, "Lord, you are not going to die." But Jesus replied, "Yes, I am. This is my purpose. This is why I came to the earth. I have to die."

And so, Peter got rebuked, even though he was the same one who had received revelation. He was the same one who was rebuked because he went off course. There are people who are prophetic but are not always on point. There are people who are gifted but are not always in the flow. So even though Peter had a revelation, he still had to be rebuked. Sometimes, we need to rebuke ourselves because we are not functioning in Christ's consciousness. Jesus said to Peter, "You are thinking and speaking the things of human beings; you are not speaking spiritual things."

Peter was coming from his flesh as opposed to coming from his spirit. When you see that you are operating in your ego, rebuke yourself. When you see that you are operating in your flesh the lower level of consciousness rebuke yourself. Set yourself in order and be open to correction. Be open to instruction and rebuke if you are not in the right place. You have your spiritual leaders, those who hold you accountable, to rebuke you.

There is nothing wrong with some rebuke. Jesus said, "Those whom I love, I rebuke and chasten." So, Peter had to be rebuked. But the rebuke was not the end of the story for Peter. He was also restored. He was restored as the head and leader of the church. Jesus said, "Upon this rock, upon this truth that you have given, Peter, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail." Jesus said, "I am going to restore you. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. I am going to restore you. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. I am going to restore you, Peter. Do you love me? Feed my sheep. Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord, I love you. Feed my lambs."

He restored Peter to his rightful place. I came to tell somebody that restoration is coming, that the bones that have been broken will be restored. Peter, you are going to be restored. The broken is going to be restored. He said, "Renew a right spirit within me, that the bones you have broken may rejoice." You are going to be restored. God will restore the years that the cankerworm and the palmerworm have eaten. The Bible says, "You who are spiritual, if you see a brother, sister, sibling, or offspring of God overtaken in a fault, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted."

When you are rebuked, it is not to kill you. When you are rebuked, it is not to destroy you. When you are being corrected, chastised, and facing the consequences of your actions, it is ultimately to restore you, to bring you back to your rightful place. Peter, who had a revelation, was the same Peter who had been rebuked. Peter, the Peter who was rebuked was also restored. On the day of Pentecost, he preached, he brought forth the word, and thousands of people came to Christ. Really, Peter.