Growth Mindset 2

Post #2

Biblical Examples of Fixed vrs Growth Mindset

Peter’s Limited Understanding

Matthew Chapter 16. Peter correctly identifies Jesus’ Divine nature:

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus 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. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I 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.”

20Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.

21From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

The fixed mindset appears in verse 22:

22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”

23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Is Peter Satan? What does Jesus mean here? Enduring Word commentary helps us to see that is a rebuke for wrong thinking (Satan, human) than divine.

Commentary Insights

“b. Get behind Me, Satan! This was a strong rebuke from Jesus, yet entirely appropriate. Though a moment before, Peter spoke as a messenger of God, he then spoke as a messenger of Satan. Jesus knew there was a satanic purpose in discouraging Him from His ministry on the cross, and Jesus would not allow that purpose to succeed.

We can be sure that Peter was not aware that he spoke for Satan, just as a moment before he was not aware that he spoke for God. It is often much easier to be a tool of God or of the devil than we want to believe.

ii. “Origen suggested that, Jesus was saying to Peter: ‘Peter, your place is behind me, not in front of me. It is your place to follow me in the way I choose, not to try to lead me in the way you would like me to go.’” (Barclay)

c. You are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men: Jesus exposed how Peter came into this satanic way of thinking. He didn’t make a deliberate choice to reject God and embrace Satan; he simply let his mind settle on the things of men instead of the things of God, and Satan took advantage of it.”

Source: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/matthew-16/

Mindset matters!

A helpful commentary explains the background and context. Peter was fixed on a flawed understanding of the Messiah and His Divine Purpose. We observe something similar on the Emmaus Road Encounter in Luke 24 and Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. Each involved has a flawed, incomplete understanding of God and His Ways.

God is gracious to intervene and reveal Himself!

Examples of Growth Mindset: Peter

Consider Peter of the Gospels and Peter in Acts. Peter denies Christ prior to Jesus’ death, but how does Peter respond in Acts 4 before the Sanhedrin?

Acts 4:5-12

5The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and many others from the high priest’s family. 7They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, 10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11This Jesus is

‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’

12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Peter and John boldly proclaim Christ, His Power, and Resurrection! Consider Peter in Acts 10. God challenges Peter’s understanding of how to relate to Cornelius and the Gentiles. As Peter shares the Gospel with Cornelius after God sends a vision he states,

Acts 10:34-36

“34Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, 35but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. 36He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.”

Two Observations

First, when God speaks through vision/leading of Holy Spirit, those with growth mindsets listen and align themselves with God’s direction. Henry Blackaby uses the analogy of a river with current in terms of following God’s will. God is at work moving in our midst, we are wise to go with His current! Blackaby recommends that we discern how God is moving and get into His current.

Secondly, a growth mindset involves personal change in thoughts and actions. God gives Peter a vision to go and move forward from the “unclean vrs clean” legalism to share the Good News. To understand this we must consider 1st Jewish culture and understanding. Jews didn’t associate with Gentiles or especially come into Roman homes! Once again, consider reading commentary on this passage:

https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/acts-10/

The commentary helps us to understand Peter’s hesitation and later obedience. What matters is the obedience. Peter similar to us has doubts and misunderstands God–even as someone God uses in mighty ways. This quote reveals two aspects of growth mindset: emphasis mine

“ii. Peter was saved, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and Peter had been greatly used by God. At the same time, Peter was still Peter. God didn’t use him because he was perfect, but because he was (1.) in the right direction and (2). he was available. We often fall into the trap of thinking that we must be perfected until God can really use us.”

Source: Enduring Word Commentary of Acts 10

Are we moving in the right direction? Are we available and discerning God’s movement? Willing to join in and follow Holy Spirit’s lead? How is your mindset growing concerning faith?