THE INDESTRUCTIBLE FORTRESS
Matthew 16:13-18
Rev. Todd G. Leupold, Lifepointe Fellowship, Hutto, TX 6/26/11 AM
INTRO: A DEFINING CHALLENGE
Through twenty years of active and broad ministry, I think I have a pretty good understanding of what is happening in the American Church overall. Perhaps, Lifepointe has some similar experiences, fears, questions and struggles.
Whether or not we recognize it, we live in a time and place of tremendous and unavoidable war. As Christians, we are under attack from innumerable enemies. We are in hiding, wounded, scarred, and in some cases immobilized by battle stress and fatigue. Some of us may even be in denial. ALL of us, however, can easily see and feel the terrible carnage – shattered dreams, unfulfilled hopes, exposed weakness, heroes who have become zeros, sheep who have turned out to be wolves, failed and fallen leaders, cowardice, apathy and timidness under the assault of rejection, mocking and isolation. I,myself, have painfully experienced it all.
Christianity in general and our churches in particular are being pounded from without and within into facades of irrelevancy. We have buildings, but not shelter. We have numbers, but not strength. We have vast technology, but no voice. We impress, but we do not impact. We talk of heaven, but are molded by the world. We proclaim an image of Christ, but are conformed to our culture. And, still, the war is just getting started. Our Enemies are yet gathering and building their arsenal.
In this sin-corrupted world that is progressively spiraling ever further into decay and decadence, it seems we spend most of our time defending and repairing. This can be terribly frustrating and exhausting. Yet, for those who believe, there IS “good news of great joy”:
There is a Church that is indestructible! It's not Lifepointe Fellowship, although perhaps it could be - at least in part.
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 16:13-18
PRAYER
Focusing on verse 18, I pray we may better understand Five Essential Truths about our hope and security in this dangerous world:
(1) A Fortress: “My Church”
This is the first mention in the NT of the word 'church' (ecclesia). But how are we to understand this?
We need to notice what Jesus simply, clearly does and does not declare as the subject of this astounding promise. Jesus does not say your, our, the, or a church; but His Church. Similarly, he does not say churches (plural) but church (singular).
Further, notice that He does not refer to the Temple, a Tabernacle or any other material building. Rather, He establishes the ecclesia – a formal gathering and uniting of people as a singular, purposeful group.
Therefore, Jesus' astounding declaration and promise is not to each or any individual, visible, or physical local church on earth. Rather, He is speaking here of the 'invisible' capital 'C' Church that is the company of all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ – converted and holy people by His sacrifice and grace.
All such people at Lifepointe Fellowship are a part of this Church, but this Church is not Lifepointe Fellowship.
This fortress is not one built of stones, brick, wood or metal. It is instead a fortress comprised of the 'living stones' of God's redeemed people.
(2) A Master Builder: “I will build” - Jesus Christ
This Fortress is not anything that is or could be built by human hands or minds. It is built by a Perfect Architect who has no limits to His abilities or accomplishment. While He graciously includes many others in the process, it is Jesus alone who designs, superintends, perfects and completes this Fortress.
Because He is the Great Master Builder, this Fortress is built in perfect wisdom. Everything is done at precisely the right time and in the right way; God's and not those of men and women. Further, He exercises perfect skill. There is no 'living stone' (person), no matter how rough, chipped, or flawed, that Jesus cannot shape and seamlessly use.
Our buildings, even our local churches, may (despite our best intentions and efforts) prove to include gaps, leaks, defects, and stones that don't quite fit. They may (physically or otherwise) shake, crumble, and buckle under the onslaughts of time, storms, attack or even misuse. We may discover that what seemed best for one time proves otherwise in another. Eventually, all flaws will be exposed. Constant maintenance and repair are inevitable facts of life.
But NOT so the Church that Christ, the Master Builder, is constructing!
(3) A Perfect Foundation: “Upon this rock”
Most important in any construction, is the foundation. No matter how perfectly all else is built, if the foundation is not perfect the structure will eventually suffer and fall. This is no less true of that which Christ builds, as He Himself attests.
What, then, is this 'rock' that He has chosen for His foundation?
Yes, Jesus uses a play on words to indicate a connection between this foundation rock and the apostle Peter. But in what respect? Is He really, as some have insisted, referring to the individual, physical person of Peter OR something else?
First, let us look through the lens of necessity within God's revealed Plan.
The sure and eternal foundation rock that never fails must be perfectly formed, without the slightest flaw or defect, and strong enough to bear the weight of all Sin.
Does this sound like the apostle Peter? The same man who would later deny Christ three times at His time of greatest trial? It cannot be.
Second, let us look through the lens of the greater context of Scripture.
Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
1 Corinthians 3:11 because no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid--that is, Jesus Christ.
Or how about these inspired words, transcribed by Peter's own hand:
1Peter 2:4-7 Coming to Him, a living stone--rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God-- you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and valuable cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame! So the honor is for you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected--this One has become the cornerstone. . .
“The Rock” is that which is represented by Peter's confession: the Messiah and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who was ultimately rejected by human builders then laid as the foundation at an incredible cost (that paid on the cross)!
This is the Foundation to which all other living stones of The Church must be vitally connected to and dependent upon: the confession & reality of Christ and His work.
(4) Hellish Assaults: “The gates of hell”
The Church of Jesus Christ is constantly under assault by the forces of hell, forces that seek only to destroy and to devour. Make no mistake, this is not a possible or occasional occupational hazard! It is a constant, unending and unavoidable reality! It is not always seen, heard or felt by our dull and limited senses, but it is always present and true.
Revelation 12:12-17 . . . Woe to the earth and the sea, for the Devil has come down to you with great fury, because he knows he has a short time. When the dragon saw that he had been thrown to earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male . . . From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river after the woman, to sweep her away in a torrent. But the earth helped the woman: the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth. So the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war against the rest of her offspring--those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony about Jesus.
John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you.”
Luke 14:27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
So long as this present sin-corrupted world exists, so long as the time remains in which the Devil is permitted to prowl to and fro, there WILL be war between true believers and all else. It is up to each of us to choose whether we will meet this reality as soldiers of Christ, helpless sheep at the slaughterhouse, or traitors.
If there is not such war and conflict in our lives and local church, it is only because we are either blind or not properly on the Lord's side.
(5) Secure Victory: “shall not prevail”
All earthly, visible churches are imperfect and have limited life cycles. Though at varying rates and for varying reasons, all will eventually decay and perish. But the 'true church,' Jesus' Church, will never wither, crack or fail! All of the combined forces of the world and the devil may continue to assail her, and yet she will stand un-breached!
Stones that have been put there by other hands will become exposed and fall, but not one of His living stones. All else in creation will one day or another pass away but never His True Church!
The 'living stones' of His Church (that is, true believers) may be beaten, spit upon, surrounded, and burned. But, joined to the Rock, they cannot be destroyed. Our earthly bodies can be taunted can imprisoned, tortured or even killed, but nobody and nothing can hurt the soul of the redeemed in Christ Jesus!
RESPONSE/APPLICATION
1.) Are you a member of the one True Church?
Notice, I didn't ask if you're a member of Lifepointe Fellowship or any other earthly church. I'm not asking if you know the Bible, do good, regularly attend church services, or generally feel positive about your own image or understanding of Jesus. Are you indeed vitally connected to and dependent upon Christ in all ways and for all things? Does the Spirit of God witness with your spirit that you are one with Christ, and He with you?
If not, if you are unsure, beware unless you find that you dwell in the wrong fortress and the hordes of hell prevail against you and take you hostage for eternity.
Though raised in a local church with knowledge of Jesus and goodness, there was a time 21 years ago that I had to realize this distinction and recognize my own peril and opportunity. Perhaps this morning is your time?
2.) If not, will you join yourself today?
Why hesitate or wait any longer?
Why live in this war-torn world another minute uncertain and unprotected?
3.) If you are, to what extent are you living like it?
Are you indeed living daily as an engaged and absolutely loyal soldier of Christ?
Over one hundred years ago, the evangelical champion J.C. Ryle wrote:
“If you would make it clear that you have any title to Christ's precious promises, you must fight the good fight in Christ's cause, and in that fight you must conquer. . . You must either rule or serve sin, and the devil and the world. There is no middle course. You must either conquer or be lost . . . There may be short roads to heaven invented by man; but ancient Christianity – the good old way – is the way of the cross, the way of conflict . . . I fear much for many professing Christians. I see no sign of fighting in them, much less of victory. They never strike one stroke on the side of Christ. They are at peace with His enemies. They have no quarrel with sin. I warn you, this is not Christianity. This is not the way to heaven.” (Holiness, pp. 282-283)
Are you living for Christ, fighting His good fight, and living in the fullness of His character without compromise, accommodation or retreat before that which resists and defies His rule?
Are you producing a bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit?
No matter how much you've been wounded, how many others have fallen, or how unsturdy our earthly dwellings, do you continue to fight with a victorious spirit or retreat with a defeated one?
Jesus said the gates of hell will not prevail against HIS Church, but He did not say 'any church.' Are you actively protecting and defending God's witness and mission through Lifepointe Fellowship, or are you wrongly assuming that Jesus will do it for you no matter what you do or don't do?
