I Will Build My Church - The Work Of The Holy Spirit Series

November 5, 2017

Morning Worship

Text: Matthew 16: 13-19

Subject: The Foundation Series Part 4

Title: I Will Build My Church – The Work of the Holy Spirit

We’ve been talking for a few weeks now about how important it is to know what you believe and how to articulate those beliefs with conviction and authority. It is also so very important for us to go beyond knowledge and begin to experience God’s word in a very personal way. You see, it is your experience with God that will make the difference in your life.

This morning we want to carry on with what we believe and we will do so by seeing what God has called us to be and how He has given us everything that we need to do so.

We are called to be His church, His Body, His Bride… How much more intimate can you get? Doesn’t that really explain how the Lord wants us to have a real experience with Him throughout this life?

So today let’s begin with communion, because through communion we confess our faith in the finished work of the cross.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (NKJV)

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

First let’s consider the bread… John 6:32-33 (NKJV)

32 Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."

1 Corinthians 11:23-24 (NKJV)

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."

This is not just about going through some church ritual by which we remember what Jesus has done for us. It is a time to truly experience the love of God as seen through His giving of His only begotten Son as the payment for your sin. Let’s just begin to thanks Him for that sacrifice…

Secondly, let’s consider the cup. Hebrews 9:12 (NKJV)

12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Matthew 26:27-28 (NKJV)

27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.

28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NKJV)

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

Somebody say Hallelujah!

We have just celebrated one of the God ordained ordinances of the church… it’s part of what the church does. But in reality this is just a very small pat of church life…

Matthew 16:13-19 (NIV2011)

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

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

17 Jesus 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.

18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

19 I 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.”

I will focus on verse 18 but we have to build up to it…

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

Here is an area that creates a problem for many in the church. They focus on what their denomination says about Jesus or what the world says…

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

And if we listen to people we can come up with all kinds of answers. … “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets…

If we listen to what people say we can get a very inaccurate and inconclusive picture of Jesus.