******SERMON OUTLINE*******
I Will Build My Church – Part 1
I. Christ Will Build His Church...
Praise the Lord!
Turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew 16:18-19.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven.
How many remember a couple of Sundays ago
when I preached a message called "Ain’t No
Stoppin’ Us Now’?
We read from the same text that we’re reading
from tonight,
But the focus of that message was on the promise
that the gates of Hell would not prevail against the
church. Amen?
But tonight I want to focus on something different.
I want to ask two questions..."What is the
Church?" & "What should the Church be doing?"
See, this scripture is the first distinct mention of
the church in the New Testament,
and it was given by Jesus who is the Builder of the
Church. Amen?
You say well Pastor I thought Christ commissioned
us to build the church.
No. He commissioned us to preach the gospel.
He purposed for us to be the tools or the laborers
in this building process,
But Christ is the builder of His church. Amen?
The very first time that Jesus mentions the church
in the New Testament He gets right to the point
and says "upon this rock I will build my church".
We may be laborers in the harvest, but we do not
build the church on our own; we simply cooperate
with the Master Builder! Amen?
But what is the church that we’re talking about
building?
II. What The Church Is Not...
In order for us to answer our question tonight,
I want to dispel some common myths about the
church.
Simply put, In order for us to understand what the
church is,
We must first realize what the church is not!
1. The Church Is Not A Material Building...
The word church is never used in Scripture to refer
to a material building!
It’s mentioned 140 times in the New Testament,
and not once does it refer to a building with four
walls.
Yet that’s the experience of many!
I know minister’s who preach the gospel with
power and authority on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s
But when they leave the church house church time
is over.
They’ve placed God in a box by only demonstrating
His love, and power, and gifts, and fruits inside the
church house.
Because of this the lost and even some Christians
see God as someone who dwells inside of a building
that is empty for the better part of a week.
If they want to get saved they go to a building.
If they want a healing they go to a building.
If they want hear preaching they go to a building.
But that shouldn’t be the case. Amen?
The language used of the Church in scripture could
not be applied to a building.
The Bible says "The Lord added to the church
daily"
"Herod vexed the church" Vexed - Teased;
provoked; irritated; troubled; agitated; disquieted;
afflicted.
"The church was persecuted"
"Paul saluted the church"
"The churches had rest."
Only in the traditions of men can people “go to
church.”
The church is not somewhere that you go, It’s
something that you are. Amen?
2. The Church Is Not A Denomination...
As a matter of fact denominationalism is contrary
to Scripture,
Denominationalism is evidence of carnality and
divisions and schisms in the church. Amen?
Denominations are usually formed around a form
of church government,
a doctrinal emphasis or truth, a personality that
God used in some revival, or an experience.
The tragedy is that each revival of truth finds its
bitterest enemies in the previous group that had
light from heaven, but stopped somewhere along
the way!
History repeats itself in each generation.
The only thing we learn from history is that we
never learn from history!
We need to learn that God is constantly growing
and changing His church to be more like Him,
But we get to a certain spot in the building process
and get comfortable,
And we quit growing we quit seeking revival, and
unity, and all of the aspects of the early church,
And we separate ourselves from those who are
continually growing and experiencing revival.
And schism is born!
I solely believe that what happened on Azuza Street
in 1906 was purposed by God,
Not only to empower His Church for service, but to
bring unity back to the church.
There were so many denominations even then.
There were Baptists, Holiness, Methodists,
Catholics, Presbyterians, Episcopalians,
Wesleyans, and so forth and so on,
Who went to that revival and recieved a powerful
gift from God.
And they all went back to their respective
denominations to share this experience with
others.
But the devil reared his ugly head and these
denominations pushed these spirit filled believers
away.
They drove them out of town.
There were only a handful of churches who
actually accepted the change that God was
bringing about.
For that cause the Pentecostal denomination was
born.
And through that denomination came the
charismatic movement,
and they were somewhat pushed out on their own
because they weren’t as attached to tongues as the
Pentecostals.
And the cycle keeps on going. Amen?
But notice in our text tonight that Jesus doesn’t
say He will build His CHURCHES,
He say I will build my CHURCH.
There is only one church! and that’s His church.
All of these denominations might be a part of His
church,
But not one has the monopoly on it because
Christ’s church is not a denomination!
3. The Church Is Not "Plan B" In The Mind of God.
The church was not merely instituted after the
Jewish rejection of Christ, but rather was
prophesied through the entire Old Testament.
• All nations were to be blessed by the seed of
Abraham (Genesis 22:18)
• All the families of the earth were to be blessed by
Abraham’s seed (Genesis 26:4)
• All kindreds of the nations would worship the
Lord (Psalms 22:27-28)
• In the last days all nations would flow to the
house of God (Isaiah 2:2-3)
• The Gentiles would seek the Root of Jesse (Isaiah
11:10)
• Many nations would be sprinkled with the blood
of the Messiah (Isaiah 52:15)
• Many nations would be joined to the Lord in that
day (Zechariah 2:11)
• The Name of the Lord would be great among the
Gentiles (Malachi 1:11)
• In His Name the Gentiles would trust (Matthew
12:21)
The Church was never plan "B" it was always the
plan for God to draw all nations back to Him
through Christ and His church! Amen?
III. What The Church Is...
So now that we see what the church is not,
Let’s see what scripture tells us that the church is!
1. The Church Is The Centerpiece of the Kingdom of God...
See, the kingdom of God is much larger than the
church, because it includes more than the church.
It includes the whole universe, all the angelic
hosts, and all the Old Testament saints.
But, the New Testament church is the
CENTERPIECE of God’s Kingdom and its the most
important part.
See if you live between the Day of Pentecost and
the Rapture, YOU MUST BE IN THE CHURCH TO
BE SAVED!
The word says the prophets who gave these
prophecies, the old testament saints, and even the
angels would love to participate in the things
happening in our age.
a) The Prophets...
Mat 13:16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
b) The Angels...
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
c) Old Testament Saints...
• Moses would love to have seen the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5-9)
• Isaiah would love to have seen Pentecost (Isaiah 28:10-12)
• Joel would love to have been in the Upper Room (Acts 1-2)
The church is the centerpiece in the kingdom, and
even these highly esteemed prophets, and saints,
and angels would have loved to have been able to
be a part of it. Amen?
2. The Church Is The Only Thing God Had To Buy.
God created the heavens and the earth and all that
is in them. Amen?
God created everything, but out of everything
created the church is the only thing that cost Him
dearly!
We are privileged beyond measure to be part of the
Church of the Living God!
Act 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
God spoke everything that’s ever been into
existence.
And because of His power and Might I’m
convinced that He did it with ease.
But the church cost Him!
There wasn’t no easy button to push! Amen?
He had to wrap Himself in human flesh,
and endure all of the hardships of life.
He left His throne and all His glory to be ridiculed,
And rejected, and spit upon, and ultimately
crucified for the sins of this world.
The church cost God the blood of His Son on
calvary.
And since Christ’s coming no man can now enter
into the Kingdom of Heaven without being blood
bought!
3. The Church Is The Only Thing That Cannot Be Shaken...
Individual saints and local assemblies may have
problems,
but the church is as solid as the rock of revelation
that it’s built upon.
• The earth is to be shaken (Isaiah 2:19-21)
• The nation of Israel is to be shaken (Ezekiel
38:19-20)
• The heavens and the nations are to be shaken
(Haggai 2:6-7)
• Everything that can be shaken will be shaken
(Hebrews 12:26-29
But the church cannot be shaken!
The gates of hell cannot prevail against it, because
JESUS IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH!
Matthew 16:18-19 (AMP) And I tell you, you are Peter [Petros, masculine, a large piece of rock], and on this rock [petra, feminine, a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it – or be strong to its detriment, or hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind – that is, declare to be improper and unlawful – on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth – declare lawful – must be what is already loosed in heaven.
Notice two principles in this passage
1. The church is built on a MESSAGE, not a MAN.
Men come and go, succeed and fail, but the true
revelation of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the
church (“thou art the Christ” – Matthew 16:16).
2. We must build the church according
to God’s BLUEPRINT if we want to have
His BLESSING.
The words “bind” and “loose” are perfect passive
participles in the Greek language,
indicating things that have already been forbidden
or permitted.
We can’t just do whatever we want and expect God
to bless it;
we must do what He wants, and the blessing will
come automatically.
If a contractor builds a house for someone, he
sticks to the blueprint,
which is the will of the purchaser.
If we want to build a church,
we need to stick to the blueprint (Bible),
which is the will of the purchaser (God).
Otherwise, we are not really building a church!
THAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS SERIES.
We need to discover God’s blueprint for building
His church!
He said I will build my church, and we are
commissioned laborers,
And we have the tools of the Spirit, but if we don’t
know the master plan of the designer,
We’re not going to be much help. Amen?
So over the next 10 to 12 weeks I want to look at
the Godly Principles laid out in scripture for us to
follow in order to help with the building of Christ’s
Church.
To make a long story short, over the next 10 to 12
weeks we will be reviewing God’s Master plan for
His Church. Amen?
PRINCIPLE #1: DO AND TEACH (Acts 1:1)
Act 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Jesus’ ministry was all about DOING and
TEACHING.
Doing refers to His miracle-working power,
while teaching refers to His doctrine.
Jesus did not work miracles just for miracles’ sake,
but He used them to teach doctrine.
For example when He healed the blind man He
taught that He was the light of the world.
When He fed the 5,ooo He taught that He was the
bread of life.
He also didn’t teach just for teaching’s sake, but
Matthew 7:29 says “he taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes.”
DOING without TEACHING is wrong!
It is wrong to have “spirit” without “truth” because
that leads to APOSTASY.
It is obedience to sound biblical doctrine that saves
us, not just a “move of the Spirit.”
It is not your FEELING of being drawn by the
Spirit but your OBEDIENCE to that drawing that
makes you a Christian.
1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Doing without teaching is wrong. Amen?
Getting all tangled up in the manifestations of the
spiritual gifts,
without also getting wrapped up tied up and
tangled up in the word is wrong.
The Bible says to worship in spirit and in truth.
But TEACHING without DOING is also wrong!
It is wrong to have “truth” without “spirit” because
that leads to APATHY.
God holds us responsible for what we DO with
what we KNOW.
How many knows that Talking about revival
doesn’t bring revival?
Revival is spelled W-O-R-K!
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
OUR CHURCH MUST BOTH DO AND TEACH IF
WE WANT TO BE BLESSED BY GOD!
There are preachers out there today preaching and
not practicing!
That’s wrong!!!
There are seminary graduates that can break down
the word like you ain’t never seen before,
But they know and don’t do!!!
There are cults out there going out two by two.
They’re doing but the truth is absent from them.
John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We have to do and teach, Church?
PRINCIPLE #2: WITNESS AND WAIT (Acts 1:7-8)
Acts 1:7-8 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Look back at verse 7 where it’s talking about the
times and seasons.
God has two words for time: CHRONOS, which
means “time governed by the clock” (QUANTITY
time) and KAIROS, which means “time measured
by special moments, a time of opportunity”
(QUALITY TIME).
The key is that you have to take advantage of
KAIROS time at the moment it happens, or you
lose it forever.
You have to take advantage of quality time when it
presents itself. Amen?
When the disciples asked when Jesus was going to
“restore the kingdom” (send revival),
He told them that it was not for them to
distinguish between the “times” (CHRONOS) and
the “seasons” (KAIROS),
because only God has power over times of
supernatural visitation!
His power in this passage is the Greek word
EXOUSIA = AUTHORITY.
Only God has authority over the times and seasons
of His working,
But mean while He has given us power to be
witnesses.
Our power is the greek word dunamis which is
basically supernatural ability.
The key to revival is for the church to exercise its
ABILITY until God exercises His AUTHORITY.
We must work with our abilities in the Chronos,
or the quantity of time here in the Church age,
While we wait upon Him to excercise his authority
in the Kairos,
Or quality time in which He works in.
We must WITNESS and WAIT on God to move!
PRINCIPLE #3: RISE ABOVE AND GO BEYOND (Acts 1:25)
Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
Sometimes we mistakenly think that the early
church was somehow more “spiritual” than we are
today.
But the book of Acts tells us plainly that they had
problems and setbacks too.
Outside of the crucifixion of Jesus,
probably no other situation was harder for the
disciples to deal with than the fall of Judas.
He had been ordained to be an Apostle,
ordained to preach the Gospel,
and given power over devils and disease.
And yet he backslid and betrayed the Lord into the
hands of the Sanhedrin.
What a setback for the church!
But we do not see the disciples giving up or getting
discouraged!
Instead, they resolutely rise above their heartache
and move beyond a terrible trial to embrace their
future in God.
With God, FAILURE IS NEVER FATAL!
Micah 7:8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
Let’s rise above our past, our problems and our
perplexities, and go beyond to a place that we have
never been before!
