Rhema Ehiemere - It's Time to Get Out

On your way to your seat, look at your neighbor and tell them, «I’m getting out.» If they did not smile, then that’s the wrong neighbor. You have to say, «I’m getting out; it’s time to get out.» Thank you. Sir Peter was no doubt one of the most prominent disciples of Jesus. It’s almost like wherever Jesus was, Peter was, and wherever Peter was, Jesus was. Peter eventually rose to become one of the pillars of the church in Jerusalem. This is the Peter we’re talking about today. Jesus had an inner circle: Peter, James, and John. When it came to James and John, Jesus gave them nicknames; he called them the sons of thunder, but those were just nicknames that we don’t see replicated throughout scripture. However, when it came to Peter, he actually changed his name from Simon to Peter, Petrus, which means «the Rock,» and we see that name replicated through scripture to show you that Peter was practically the only disciple whose name Jesus changed. «Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.» There’s something about Peter in scripture. Peter in scripture was the excited, extroverted, vocal disciple—the leader of the pack. It was Peter whom Jesus asked, «Can I use your boat for a second?» Once Jesus was done, he told him, «Launch out into the deep for a catch.» It was Peter who saw Jesus walking on water and told Jesus, «If you can do it, I can do it,» and Jesus said, «Come on.» Literally, Peter began to walk on water, and this is the Peter we’re talking about. It was Peter who cut off the ear of Malchus when they tried to arrest Jesus. Peter said no. The next moment, you see Peter denying Jesus; he was so ashamed that when Jesus resurrected and appeared to the disciples, he specifically said, «Go and tell my brethren and Peter,» because he knew that Peter would have been disappointed in himself. This was the same Peter we’re talking about. Jesus said to Peter, «Feed my lambs; feed my sheep.» Peter was the same person on the day of Pentecost when they thought the disciples were crazy. Peter was the one who stood up and said, «No, we’re not crazy,» and he spoke and preached at Pentecost. Peter was the only one who spoke at the Mount of Transfiguration. Yes, we had the three, the inner circle—Jesus would always take them to heal Jairus’s daughter and say, «You know what, just the three,» and he took them to the Mount of Transfiguration, and the only person who spoke was Peter. It’s this Peter who finds himself in prison. This is the Peter that was handpicked by God; this is the Peter we’re having a conversation about. It’s important to understand that Peter was not in prison because of something he did wrong; Peter was in prison because of something he did right. What this lets us know is that just because you have been handpicked by God, it doesn’t mean you will not go through adversity in life. Some of you go through the fire because you are on fire for God. I have to repeat that: the reason why you go through the fire of life is that you are on fire for God. Peter was called, but he was still in chains. Peter was anointed, but he was still arrested. Peter was handpicked by God, but he was still in handcuffs by man. This is the Peter that we are talking about. What this lets me know is that it means you can be in your season, and it still feels like you’re in prison. What this means is that sometimes your environment doesn’t match your assignment. Do you know who Peter was? Peter was the pillar of the church. Do you know who Peter was? He’s the only one that walked on water, and here you find Peter stuck in a jail cell, about to be stoned or killed in the next couple of hours. This is the Peter that was stuck, and yet Peter was not perturbed; he was not bothered at all because Peter understood that my assignment sometimes is different from my environment. Peter understood that where I am is not who I am. We need to grasp this concept, this revelation, that where you are is not who you are. Just because you’re dealing with failure doesn’t mean you are a failure. Just because you are dealing with sin doesn’t mean you are a sinner; you are the righteousness of God in Christ. Just because you are sick or dealing with sickness doesn’t mean you are sick. Just because you’re dealing with money issues doesn’t mean you are broke. You are who God says you are. Don’t judge me based on my past; don’t judge me based on my appearance, for the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 5:17, «If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away.» Look at somebody and say, «It’s passed away!» So my condition doesn’t determine my calling, and my position where I am doesn’t determine my purpose. I am not where I am. I know it’s simple, but it’s powerful. Look at somebody and tell them, «My calling is not determined by my condition.» Wow, you are sitting beside the wrong neighbor today! If you got a good neighbor, say, «I got a good neighbor.» Turn to your neighbor and tell them, «My calling does not determine my condition, and my condition doesn’t determine my calling.» Jesus, the Savior of the world, was a carpenter, but carpentry was the cover-up before he went up. Some of you have defined yourselves as what you…