Israel Day 3 (Turning points)
Matthew 16:13–17 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Life presents us with turning points. A point when everything changes! When was your turning point? When did Jesus go from being a distant myth to being your Lord and Savior? When I experienced the love & compassion of my Father, He got my heart! I was dead to my old man and made alive in Christ. My turning point was the day I received the love of God, which has a name, Jesus! He is a good Man, He is the Prophet, He is full of compassion but He is much more, He is God! He was in the beginning, with the Father, as the 2nd person of the trinity, actively creating all things, holding every tiny molecule together by the word of His power! Jesus is God, the Spirit leading us to Himself, Jesus pointing us to the Father!
So, today, we traveled up to northern Israel, to Caeserea Phillipi, ancient spot known as panias, the worship place of many idols, but mainly pan. We also visited the remains of Dan, the actual temple erected by Jeroboam I, to keep the rebellious 10 northern tribes from going to Jerusalem to worship. A place of great sin. It actually took on elements of the true temple of God. They also formed a golden calf. These sites are real and these lessons we would be wise to heed. Israel didnt get farther than Dan, and since Dan was so far away, they drifted far from God! You will never convince me I dont need to meet in Gods house, with Gods people, in Gods prescribed manner because I saw visually what that resulted in!