The Power of Jesus’ Church
Matthew 16:13-20
February 18, 2007
When I was a guy about Lance’s age (10 years old, I was in Little League baseball in Eagle Butte.
I’d love to tell you that I was the best player on the team, and that my hitting and fielding were just awesome.
But the fact of the matter is that I was pretty lousy at baseball. I was so small I couldn’t swing the bat with any sort of authority whatsoever.
I was the easy out.
And I have a feeling that when my teammates saw me go into the game, they were less than thrilled.
I honestly don’t know if we won any games at all or if we won most. All I remember was striking out most of the time and hearing my teammates chew me out.
My point here is that I didn’t feel like I was part of a winning cause.
I think that a lot of people have either been part of something that had little or no effect in life or knew someone who has.
Part of a service club that spent most of its time talking and precious little time actually doing anything.
Or maybe a sports team like mine or worse yet, Charlie Brown’s baseball team that lost every single game.
It’s hard to motivated when you know you’re part of a losing cause, isn’t it.
But on the other hand, when you know you’re part of something big, something good, something special, then motivation comes easy, and you find yourself ready to work hard and do whatever it takes to make it happen.
Maybe YOUR service club actually puts feet to its words about making a difference, and so they really do.
Or your sports team is one that is generally successful.
Or your organization or business continues to grow to a point where it can have a positive impact in the community or industry.
When you can grasp those sorts of things, you can get excited about them.
In today’s Scripture passage, Jesus gives us some words about something worth getting excited about – His Church.
And His words about the Church should motivate us to get involved in a way that’s tangible and effective.
Matthew 16:13-20 (p. 694) –
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 Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, 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." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
We began looking at this passage a few weeks ago, but I want us to continue through it.
Three weeks ago we looked at how dangerous it is to listen to the world’s ideas about Jesus ideas, and I said that to get the truth about Jesus, you go to the Word, not the world.
Two weeks ago we discussed just what is meant that Jesus is the Christ. That Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, divine and not just human. The Savior who is the only access to God the Father.
And my point in that message was that Jesus doesn’t bend to our ideas about Him – we bend to His ideas about Him.
Next week we’re going to look at this whole issue of “binding and loosing” because without properly understanding that stuff, it can be taken and used improperly.
Today I want us to look at the fact that the church of Jesus Christ will prevail.
There is a lot of debate among conservative evangelical scholars about just what Jesus meant when He said, “Upon this rock I will build My church.”
Some feel that the “rock” is Peter himself as the main spokesman for the Church after Pentecost. And that he would be the leader through which Jesus would lay the foundation of the Church.
Others feel that Peter is not the rock, but that his testimony of Jesus as the Christ is the rock or foundation.
I grew up hearting that this meant that Peter was made the first Pope.
But in my opinion, that’s not the thrust of the passage. The thrust of the passage is Jesus words that He would build His church and the gates of Hades won’t overcome it.
No matter what happens, His Church will prevail. That means that Jesus and the Church win. Now let’s think about that for a second.
No matter who’s in the White House or Congress, Jesus’ Church will prevail.
No matter who’s at war and where, Jesus’ Church will prevail.
No matter who persecutes the Church in whatever way and whatever form, Jesus’ Church will prevail.
No matter what the petty squabbles among the followers of Jesus are, His Church will prevail.
Folks, you’ve got to get hold of the fact that nothing will stop the Church of Christ from advancing and winning.
And I hope it fills you with a sense of excitement to be part of something that absolutely nothing can crush, because God Himself is the One doing it.
So what can we do to really get on board with that? What can we do to be really intentional about doing our part to see Jesus’ Church built? Let me suggest three things to help:
1. Understand that “Big C” church is more important than “little c” church.
Who does the “Big C” Church belong to? Jesus, right? Pretty easy answer, and I hope you all got that.
But here’s one that’s not so obvious to a lot of people: who does the “little c” church belong to?
The people? The pastor? The denomination?
None of these. The fact of the matter is that “little c” church belongs to Jesus just like the “Big C” Church does.
I think just about everyone of us can lay some sort of “claim” to this church:
For some, it’s the congregation you grew up in, even if it wasn’t always on this property.
Others have a financial stake, so to speak, because you’ve given over and above your tithe for one reason or another – to improve the property or support one of the ministries.
Some have a generational stake. Not only did you grow up in this church, but it was where your parents went, and maybe even your grandparents.
Even those of us who haven’t been here as long as all that have a bit of a stake here.
This is the first church I’ve pastored. Two of my children have been baptized here. At least two of my children gave their lives to Christ here.
For others it’s just the fact that they’ve found a church home where they can feel welcome and find encouragement and help in their walk with God.
But in spite of all that, not a single person here can claim to “own” the church. Not even a single group of people or congregation.
Because no matter what names are on the land deed, and no matter who have been the key components here, the “little c” church – Aberdeen Wesleyan Church – belongs not to people, but to the Lord Jesus Christ.
WE are the Church. This building and this property is where the Church gathers.
Why are we even considering letting the Christian school move that building here? Is it because we’re looking for an excuse to add something to the property?
Not hardly. I don’t know how much it will benefit the “little c” Aberdeen Wesleyan Church. But your leadership and I agree that it will benefit the “Big C” Church of Jesus Christ.
And “Big C” Church priorities take precedence over “little c” church priorities, at least as far as the Scriptures are concerned.
Getting this difference will go a long way to helping you with the second step to getting on board with the building of Jesus’ Church, and that is to...
2. Let go of your kingdoms for the sake of God’s kingdom.
This is closely related to the first point, but it merits a bit of clarification.
Just like there’s a “Big C” Church and a “little c” church, there is also a “Big K” Kingdom and lots of “little k” kingdoms. And in the church, that can spell the stagnation or death of a church.
One of my favorite series of books to read is the “Harmony” series by Phillip Gulley. He’s a Quaker pastor and the books are about a fictional congregation.
I don’t necessarily agree with all of his theology, but he paints a picture of his church that is reflected in just about every congregation in America.
There are two or three people who feel the need to run everything, and if they don’t approve of it, then it doesn’t happen.
They have unscriptural attitudes and an ungodly possessiveness of that church which hampers the Holy Spirit from really working in that congregation, in spite of the efforts of the pastor and some of the more committed believers.
Don’t get on Dale Henshaw’s bad side regarding the furnace or who should shovel the sidewalk in front of the church. You’ll get a stern talking too filled with lots of Scripture ripped out its context and original meaning.
And whatever you do, don’t suggest a change in the annual Chicken Noodle Dinner or Fern Hampton will be down your throat in a heartbeat!
And as I mentioned, it’s happening in churches all over the country.
Some “rule” the property – they dictate just who can mow the lawn or change the light bulbs, and if you cross them, better that a large millstone be hung around your neck and you be thrown into the depths of the sea!
Some “rule” the nursery or the kitchen or even the bathrooms.
But when it comes right down to it, nobody has any right to “rule” any part of a church and its ministries.
That means that nothing involving this physical property or the ministries of the church belong to anyone in a way that gives them the right to “rule” in that area.
Does that make sense?
When we focus on our kingdoms, we’re not building the Church, we’re tearing it down. And obviously, that’s not what Jesus wants.
When it comes to building the Church of Jesus and the kingdom of God, there is no room for “little k” kingdoms in the church.
If we refuse to set aside our little kingdoms for the sake of the big Kingdom, God will simply raise up someone else to do it.
God doesn’t need me. He doesn’t need you. He doesn’t need Aberdeen Wesleyan Church. If we refuse to do our part, then He will find someone else to do what He has called us to do.
Because He won’t allow our refusal to do our part stop Him from building His church and keep it from prevailing.
The third way we can be people who are intentionally involved is to…
3. Become available and usable for Jesus to use in building His Church.
Folks, kingdom building doesn’t happen from the sidelines. If you want to be actively involved in the building of Jesus’ Church, you need to get into the game.
You need to be willing to get your uniform dirty and get bloody from the contact with people who aren’t perfect and who need a touch from Jesus for salvation and He transforming work in their lives.
It starts by you yielding yourself to Christ and saying, “Okay, Jesus. I’m ready. Help me shed my complacency or my tendency to want everything my own way, and help me be the person you can use to build your Church.”
Have I ever told you what my favorite baseball team is? That’s right, the Minnesota Twins.
Have you ever heard me talk about the Yankees? No way! They’ve done too much damage to my Twins, especially in the playoffs. But let me tell you about the Yankees for a minute.
They’ve won 39 American League Pennants. That means they’ve been to the World Series 39 times. They’ve won the World Series 26 times. More than any other baseball team. When the season begins each year, it’s expected that they’ll be in the playoffs.
There are lots of reasons for that, but here’s what I think is the bottom line for them:
They expect to win, they act like they’re going to win, and they work to win. And so they do win, most of the time.
Have you ever been part of a sports team that you knew was going to lose just about every game?
Talk about no fun! “Our main purpose for existing is to give other teams an easy win…”
I’ve been on teams like that, and let me tell you, there’s not a lot of motivation to play well in those situations.
But let me tell you something: if the people in the “little c” church would get excited about Jesus and His “Big C” Church, then I think God would raise up people in those churches that can have a huge impact on each individual church and the people it’s meant to impact.
So the question is this: are you ready to get in the game?
Are you ready to set aside your convenience for the sake of Christ and His Church?
Are you ready to set aside your “little k” kingdoms to help advance the Kingdom of Christ?
Are you ready to get involved in the one endeavor that will actually last to the end?
Are you ready to do whatever it takes to become available and useful for Jesus?
That’s my hope for every single person here. It’s my hope that you’ll decide to be actively involved in something where you can expect to win, so you get serious about working to win.
Let me tell you something real quick: I honestly believe with everything in me that our greatest days as a church are yet to come.
I know pastors are supposed to say that kind of thing, but I really mean it.
I’m convinced that if we’ll let Jesus have His way, then in the not too distant future we’ll be one of the churches in this area that’s having the biggest impact for the kingdom.
When I think about what this church could be capable of in reaching people for Christ and helping live for Jesus, I get excited!
And I find myself literally crying out to God to make it happen, asking Him to make me the kind of person He can use, and asking Him to do the same in each of you.
I wish I could convince everyone here that it’s not only worth it, but that it brings the kind of significance that most people only dream of.
Knowing you’re involved in something greater than yourself is extremely gratifying, and God blesses those who take their eyes of themselves and put them on Christ for the sake of His Church and His Kingdom.
Let that be said of you. And of me.
Let’s pray.
