Matthew 16:15-20 (KJV) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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. 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. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
(What is the Church? Why is it so important to attend? Can God use me if I just stay home?...)
I. A Very Coveted Relationship with the Father
Understand that in vs. 20 Jesus “charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ”
There are some things God makes His children privy to
that the world does not need to hear us talk about
because they will not understand
It’s not that anything secretive is going on
It all has to do with relationships
You don’t tell everyone you know what is happening at your home do you?
(oh yeah, I forgot about Facebook)…
We have a Father-Child relationship with God
He loves to spend time with us
And that does not make sense to the world
So, God uses the Church to promote His unique relationship with us.
With that in mind,
Vs. 15, Jesus is concerned what we think, “But whom say ye that I am?”
Again, do you see how God is concerned with our relationship with Him?
He loves to know what you think
Because what you think, determines how you act.
And how you act determines what kind of relationship you have with the Father
And what you think, determines how God uses you in the Kingdom of God
Jesus told Peter in Vs. 17, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
This is how Prophets, Teachers and Preachers are formed in God’s Kingdom
If you want to be great in the Kingdom you need to train you spirit to hear the voice of God
John 10:27 (KJV) My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
This is accomplished through the Holy Spirit, by reading the Word, Prayer and being “Part of the Flock”…
I know that the Kingdom of God is more than our congregation.
We are a “Flock” spread throughout the world by God’s direction:
Matthew 28:19 (KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Acts 1:8 (KJV) 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.
II. A Very Coveted Relationship with Each Other
When Jesus saved you,
He knew something that you were about to find out:
“You cannot live this new life in isolation.
You need the family of God.”
They hold onto you,
you hold onto them.
They instruct and nurture you;
you turn around and do the same.
This cooperation between you and God has been God’s plan from early on.
Vs. 18, “and upon this rock I will build my church”
It’s His, and He builds it.
In other words, It’s a God thing…not a YOU-thing
God is doing the building
God is bringing us together in order to make us strong
God is uniquely teaching us in order to make us think
God is speaking to us in order for us to prophecy & operate in the spirit
God has given us spiritual insights that the “gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. (i.e., The Church)
God does all this because we need His leadership and direction
The church-leader who would run the Lord’s church “for Him” is asking for big trouble.
God needs your obedience not your talent.
He gave us talent to do things and what God gives He can also take away.
But obedience is something YOU give to God
And it’s something that God blesses
In the same understanding
The follower of Christ who claims to be able to live for Christ better,
without the church is insulting to God.
God established the Church!
Are you saying that God did something wrong?
Are you saying that you don’t need what God has ordained?
Are you too Holy that you don’t want to mess with a bunch of sinners saved by Grace?
-a bunch of hurt people trying to find their way.
-a bunch of losers who fail, fall into sin and then find their way by to God
What hypocrites you say!
These people are too good for the likes of you!
You think it would be hypocritical for you to show up at church and identify with such confused souls
It would be a waste of your time to try to help them much less be in the same room with them
It’s so much better to just stay at home and read your bible and pontificate on how much better you are than these low life’s
Stay home and watch TV evangelists.
They are so much more talented that your local Pastor
And the music! It’s so much better.
I just gaze into the screen and dream of a church that’s so perfect
I could watch people worship all day!
I’m sorry to tell you this,
but I believe the devil has got you right where he wants you
Obviously, some people are shut-ins and can’t get out.
But I guarantee you, that if they could,
they would be in a pew somewhere worshiping God and loving his people
Serving God is a privilege
And serving God is serving people
And serving people is;
bringing them to Jesus,
“Laying hands on the sick”,
extending an encouraging smile
Blessing them with a gift of love
Looking into their eyes and sharing the love of Jesus
All this Is very difficult to do on your couch.
III. A Very Coveted Promise to you
Vs. 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.
“I will give unto thee”
I don’t know about you, but I need God’s blessing in my life
He said that it is through:
the vehicle of the operations of the Church
the vehicle of the operations of the Holy Spirit
the vehicle of the operations of the Revelation the Father gives you
that we access the “Kingdom of Heaven”.
All of this is through a proper Relationship with Him and His Kingdom
A kingdom is only as good as it’s ruler,
and I believe we have an awesome King!
But what is seriously so wonderful about this is the promise of losing and binding
God has promised us that when we have this right relationship with Him
That we can bind on this earth and God will ordain it
We can Loose on the earth and God will ordain it
But here is the thing,
this losing in binding is only because you are doing the will of the father.
And you can’t do the will of the father if you are picking and choosing what you think is best,
instead of what God has commanded you to do
John 15:14 (KJV) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Commandments Like:
Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Assemble & Exhort!
And Like:
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
No only seeking the Kingdom, but also HIS Righteousness!
And Like:
Matthew 16:24 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
“deny himself” Deny self, & living to please self
“take up his cross” killing self interests, nailing it to the cross!
“and follow me” that’s following Jesus
All this is knowing His will, both individually and collectively as the church!
There are so many more commandments, but you get the picture.
We have to stop thinking that these direct Commandments to Christians are mere suggestions
If you get this, If you understand this,
then you can lose anything here
because it’s God’s will and it will be done.
You can bind any devil or any sickness here,
and it will be done, because it’s God’s will.
God operates in you…
not you operating in God!
Don’t put the cart before the horse here.
It’s God and His will operating in you.
It’s up to you to find what His will is and go do it!
So, go out and Bind and Loose!
This is your commission in Christ Jesus!
