Title: Who do you say that I am?
Text: Matthew 16:13-19
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."
Matthew 16:13-19
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples 2 questions.
First of all he asked them the question "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."
Notice they did not reply “Jesus we don’t know who other people say you are”.Instead they told Jesus what they had heard.
They had heard that some say you are John the Baptist; others say you are Elijah; and still others, say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Now let’s fast forward to our time.
Who do people say the Son of God is?
Would it be fair to say that most people living around us have no idea who Jesus really is?
So why did Jesus even ask his disciples this question?
Doesn’t he know that asking a question like that might make some of his disciples want to give up?
Knowing that most people think differently about who Jesus really is could have a negative affect on us.It can discourage us into thinking that since most people think differently about Jesus then God can’t do anything big around here.
Central Ma has an estimated population of 1,078,971 people.
On an average Sunday morning 2,884 people attend an Assembly of God church in central MA.
That is just .0027% of the population!
By now you kind of wish Jesus never asked the question “who do people say I am!
Why did he ask that question anyway?
He may have asked the question in order to lead into his second question. Who do you say I am?"
Now what real difference does it make who I say Jesus is” …especially when we are so outnumbered by those who think wrongly about Jesus?
Well it turns out that knowing who Jesus really is makes a bigger difference than we might think.
Who do you say I am?" Jesus asked his disciples
Peter replied “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And 2000 years later Jesus asks us the same question; “who do you say and believe I am?
Like Peter do I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God also!
Well it turns out from what Jesus is about to say to Peter that I am really blessed if I know and believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
This is what Jesus said to Peter and to everyone else who believes Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God.
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."
Now just how really blessed am I if I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God?
1. If I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God –then God revealed it to me.
Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (v18)
If I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God then I can say I have actually heard from God!
If I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God, then I have heard God speak to me!
I actually share something in common with Abraham, Moses, Joshua…Isaiah, Daniel…Peter, Paul and every other great man and woman of the faith!
Like them I too have heard from God!
“Nobody can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him and I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:43)
“Nobody can say “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Cor. 12:3
“You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit –fruit that will last. (John 15:16)
If I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God then I have been specially chosen by God to receive the revelation of who Jesus really is.
But doesn’t everyone believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God?
No they don’t. I am literally one in a million! I am in the top 1%. I’m blessed beyond belief!
2. If I believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God then it shows Jesus is still building his church today.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,
Jesus is building his church entirely of those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Only does who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God are part of Jesus’ church.
According to our text the first member of the church was Peter- because he was the first person to recognize who Jesus really is.
Peter was not perfect! At one point he denied even knowing Jesus!
But on the day of Pentecost he told everyone who Jesus really was and that day 3000 people were added to the church.
Peter did not add the 3000 people to the church- it was Jesus who added them to the church through Peter!
Jesus has added you and me to the church and he wants to use you and me to add more people to the church.
3. If I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God then the gates of Hell can’t overcome me.
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.
Jesus knows that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God will be targeted by the enemy.
Where was Jesus when he said all this to his disciples?
He was in the region of Caesarea Philippi, when he said all this.
The region of Caesarea Philippi was known for being a major center for emperor worship.
So it’s no surprise that Peter was the first one to be targeted by the enemy.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk. 22:31)
What has Satan asked God’s permission to be allowed to do to you?
Satan can touch us but he can’t triumph over us!
Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God is well able to help us overcome the devil.
4. Finally if I believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God then miracles will happen.
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."
Who holds the keys to seeing the miraculous happen?
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;
Jesus gives the keys of the Kingdom of heaven to every person who really believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
What are we supposed to do with those keys?
With those keys we are to bind things on earth and with those keys we are to loosen things on earth
What kind of things do we need to see bound on earth?
The works of Satan! The effects of sin.
Evil behavior. Addictions, broken homes, broken lives. Indifference to the things of God.
The highest percentage of the population with no Religious affiliation in the entire nation is New England with 22%
Why do we not see these things happening? Often we don’t believe Jesus can do it. We don’t pray about them.
What kind of things do we need to see loosed on earth?
Holiness, spiritual freedom, salvation, The blessings of God
Conclusion
Do I believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God? And what effect does believing this have on my life?
