But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! he said. You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.

Mark 8:33

In Colossians 3:1-2, in the light of the finished works, having both died and been raised with Christ, Paul exhorts his disciples to set their hearts on things above, where Christ is seated, and to set their minds on things above, and not on Earthly things.

Remembering of course that is only the man that is born again, living by the Spirit, that can do this (John 3:3-5, John 3:12), we must be gracious to those who are yet weak in the faith, while exhorting each other with correct language and not overly simplifying it to the point where it has no meaning, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Therefore, we are reminded of the words of Jesus, where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:21.

Peter was only part-way along.  Part of his mind and his heart still looked at the things of the Earth.  Part of him still wanted things his way up to this point.

Jesus struggled with people who wanted things their way in some measure.  People liked it when things were going their way.  They liked it when Jesus did the miracles, when He performed signs in Cana at a wedding, and when He multiplied bread, but His response was to get their eyes off of their own bellies.

Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.

John 6:27

This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.  John 6:58.

Where our treasure is, there our heart is also.

Treasure is essential.  Everyone has treasure of some form or another.  We always have something in our hearts that we apprise higher than others, even if it is an idea or a person.  Yet, when our treasure is with the Lord, and when our every desire is met in Him (although He will use many other means), it is then that we are at rest within Him.

For His is our provider, and on the mountain of the Lord it will be provided (He is our “Jehovah Jireh”).

When that is our treasure, we can work together in ministry, instead of in factions.  When our goal is truly to see heaven increased, and to see the Kingdom of God advanced, we no longer need to fear competition from each other.  Because we no longer live by the principles of this world, we no longer have to be subject to its wisdom such as all achievement springing from a man’s envying of another (Ecclesiastes 4:4).

When we have our minds on the things of man and of this Earth, we will always subject to being pulled off track.  The narrower the focus, the more singular the vision, the greater impact and success that anyone will have.  The same that is true in the carnal, natural realms, such as finding one business idea and so intentionally focusing on it until it succeeds is the same principle, only increased, in the Kingdom.

Peter, in his efforts, had not surrendered a part of his own natural desires.  Even after His resurrection, the disciples asked Jesus when the Kingdom would be restored to Israel (Acts 1:6).  As I understand it, when will this realm and domain of the Kingdom that you have demonstrated (and that they would soon be witness of), be given back to the national Israel as a complete state.  Jesus again deferred them, and told them that it was not for them to know.

They still had their vision of what things ought to be.  But, what they were preparing to learn, to be baptized into, was a new realm, a new way, a Kingdom and a dispensation that had not been on the Earth prior.  It had been in there in seed form in the life of Jesus, and as He fell into the ground, it was multiplied over and over, a thousand times a thousand.  This Kingdom that we preach, this realm of the heavens, this domain of our King, Jesus.

The greatest effort ever for God to do, figuratively, for it cost Him His Only Son, was to lift up the heads of man, to lift them from the earthly realm to the heavenly realm, to see into the domain of the King, to see the heavens, and no longer simply see the Earth.

For, if you seek the things of the flesh, you will die, but if the things of the Spirit, you will live!

In the Kingdom, through faith, we are pure.  In the Kingdom, through faith, we are one with Him.  In the Kingdom, through the eyes of love, we know His heart, His will, His mind, and can be like him.

Let it be done unto me, according to your will, Oh Lord!

He is the glory and the lifter up of our heads!

But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Psalm 3:3

Father, let me see the Eternal, the invisible.  Let me measure my days aright.

Let me not count this life for anything, for it is already taken, taken, taken.

Open my eyes, my heart’s eyes, to see the things that matter.

Open up my Spirit, that I might live clean.

Let me, with purified soul, glorify your name.

And, let all the strivings, all the fears, and all the pressures,

fall away, fall away, fall away.

For yours is the Kingdom.

Yours is the Glory.

And, Yours is the power.

Forever, and ever, and ever.

I love you, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.

He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalm 18:1-3 NIV