Of all the disciples, there are only two that are more commonly referred to: Judas and Peter. They were nothing alike but both are much more common through the lens of an archetypal illustration. If I were on the court of destiny, for the BIG game, I'd be sure to add Judas to my team! Peter is the disciple I've always thought I would need the most, but after some deep thought recently, I've discovered a revelation of Judas' integral role in Jesus' destiny! 

Peter is the disciple most people want in their corner. He's the rough and tumble ride or die friend. In fact, his carnality earned him numerous rebukes from the Lord, Himself. Still, he remains a fan-favorite, of sorts. 

In Gethsemane, Peter removes his sword from its sheath and severs the ear of a soldier (Matthew 26:51). Jesus miraculously healed the soldier's ear and was led away, captive. I'm from the hood and what Peter did was beyond noble! That's the kind of stuff you want to see from the homies, right?!? It is. Problem with it was that Peter had acted upon what he had already been rebuked against doing (Matthew 16:23). Jesus even called him a stumbling block, in that rebuke. 

Why is this important? Well, Peter was bent on stopping Jesus from laying down His life (Matthew 16:22). But in reality, that's why Jesus had even come to earth. The same Peter to whom flesh and blood had not revealed Jesus status as "son of the living God" was later rebuked as an offence to the Savior's purpose. 

What about Judas, though? We don't like him! He's the bad guy in the midst of the real brothers, right? Until last weekend, I thought the same. Then I was gifted this revelation: Judas made sure that Jesus fulfilled His life's purpose. He walked with Jesus, he knew Jesus' plans and apparently His whereabouts well enough to lead the soldiers to Gethsemane to apprehend him. 

While most of us would clamor for Peter, I want to introduce an appreciation for Judas. Peter could have interrupted the plan for salvation (Matthew 26:56), but Judas was key to making it happen. Ruminate on that for a minute...

Think about this, what if Peter by attacking the soldier had been apprehended with Jesus also? He would have thrown off the course of history! Jesus was tried alone, as He should have been. And He was, thanks to His miraculous re-attachment of the soldier's ear. 

Let's face it, some of us have been delivered from some dastardly deeds! There is a somewhat viral video going around of a woman testifying. Her testimony seemed to reach into the bowels of her past but before she could continue, she was cut off. Here are my thoughts on that:
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About that testimony gone wrong…
Originally, I agreed to end her time at the mic. Then I thought about it...because we’re testifying we want people to know the real goodness of the Lord...even the ugly truth.
 
Still, there’s a tactful way to say even the most salacious things. So I would have taken the mic and asked her to sum it up if she could. I would’ve interviewed her at the mic (though her responses probably wouldn’t have changed).
 
Also, this is a great time to teach exactly how to tell a testimony in church. It’s easy to do away with it altogether, but when it’s done right it serves a great purpose whether told in church, on social media or person to person.
 
Pastor Robert Thibodeau has written a pamphlet about testifying in church. These are his pointers bout properly testifying in public.
 
To be frank, the church did the right thing. In a mixed audience, the church bears the responsibility of protecting the innocence and integrity of everyone in attendance. Ending the testimony was the right thing to do.
 
As stated above, This is the perfect opportunity for that church and the church at large to refine the art of the testimony. It’s not just a service time filler or devotional, but it is the final report of the Lord as mentioned in Isaiah 53. It is our way of doing as Jesus commanded Peter to “strengthen the brethren”. 

In fact, Jesus commanded testimony in the case of the demoniac (Luke 8:39) and upon encountering Jesus, the woman at the well evangelized the city of Samaria (John 4:29) telling them about her encounter with Jesus. She was a woman with a "history", but the people listened and were converted. 
 
Some churches utilize testimonies online, some are in bulletins or as part of the on-screen presentation, and others are shared randomly as the leader is led.
 
One of the elements of discipleship that is often mishandled is the admonition Jesus gave to: “learn of me” in Matthew 11:29. We are commissioned to go and make disciples, but disciples don’t make themselves. The element of instruction is just as vital as preaching. In fact if don’t take time to “teach” (Matthew 28:20), how can we be sure that the "listeners" ever learn?
 
This is not the time to stop testifying, but definitely time to be sure that we are teaching!  

I've recently encountered an onslaught of thought groups and religious systems that want to challenge my belief in Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. Most surprisingly, it has come from other black people. Whether they are Hebrew Israelites or whatever this new branch of blacks who choose the Hebrew lifestyle are, they're out there. 

I've been perplexed by the idea of taking on the law, Torah as they call it. Jesus came to fulfill the law and eliminate the penalty of sin, so why are we observing days and moons, again?!? Some of them believe that black people are the Chosen People of Israel. To that I say, that's interesting and if we are...at what point do we feel shame about killing the Savior of the world. God's son we're talking about, here! I mean, read the bible, those were the same people that said "Free Barrabas". 

I don't think I'd wear that as a badge of honor, friends! Also, from reading the bible, I also understand that Christ made a relationship with God possible with everyone-to provoke "us" to jealousy! Not to worry, because these gentiles would turn away from the Lord just like "we" did and He'll be ours again, right?! (Romans 7,8)/ 

The other group of people seem to be works based believers who believe that under grace, we are failing God. They observe feasts, the diet, holy days and moons like the people in the Old Testament. But why?And don't even get me started on the folks that won't even write out the name of God. G-D???? What does that mean? In essence, we aren't worthy to call him God or write out His name. But, the bible tells me about the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father (Romans 8:15). So, miss me with the dry, no relationship having spiritual junk, ok! 

These people miss the very essence of Christ's sacrifice. It's to restore us unto God, Himself. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3)! He wanted us back, so He sent us a sacrifice in the form of His son, Jesus. 

To that I say emphatically: YES, I'm a believer!