I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH
Matt. 16:17
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A woman locked her keys in her car. She looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger and was tried to get into her car but couldn’t. Finally, she bowed her head and asked God to send some help. Within five minutes a dirty, greasy, bearded man wearing stopped and asked if she needed help. She thought, “Is this the best You could send me?”
2. In less than a minute the man had the car opened. She hugged the man and said, “Thank you so much! You are a very nice man.”
3. The man replied, “Lady, I’m not a nice man. I just got out of prison today for car theft and have only been out for about an hour.” The woman hugged the man again and said loudly, “Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!”
B. TEXT: Mt. 16:15-18
15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And 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.
C. THESIS
1. Jesus said, “I will build my church…” From that day, He’s never stopped building it…In spite of persecution,
In spite of politicians, in spite of communism, in spite of wars, disease, great depressions, and invasions. Jesus is still building His Church!
2. He started with 3 guys, then 12. It came close to annihilation a number of times. Herod killed James and arrested Peter. God knew Peter was key to the church’s survival, so an angel rescued him. Paul also was necessary.
3. The Romans persecuted the church for 3 centuries, but it survived and then flourished. It started as a Jewish church and expanded to N. Africa and Arabia for 600 years. Then the center of the church moved the Greece & Italy. Next it centered in Europe, then spread to the Pacific Islands and N. & S. America.
4. For the last 200 years the center of Christianity has been in N. America. But now it’s moved to Africa, which is the most Christian continent on the planet. But there are indications of an expanding Church in the far East. In the future, the church will likely be centered in South East Asia.
5. Jesus said, “I will build My Church.” Despite all the devil’s efforts it has grown from 12 men to 2 billion strong & Jesus is STILL building His Church. Jesus 2020. Regardless of who wins the election, Jesus IS winning! “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there…” Phip. 3:20.
I. THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH
A. IMPORTANCE OF THE CHURCH
1. Is Christianity just the invention of religious men, and fairly irrelevant compared to the power structures of government and media? No! THE CHURCH IS NO SIDESHOW, BUT THE MAIN PROGRAM OF GOD FOR THE AGES. The Church is so important that Jesus “purchased it with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Who is going in the rapture? The Church!
2. The Church is called “Ecclesia” – the called out ones; the “Body” of Christ, of which He is the head; the “Household of faith”; “God’s Building”; the “Bride of Christ”; “Army/Soldiers.”
B. USAGE OF THE WORD “ CHURCH”
1. How does Jesus picture His Church in Mt. 16:18?
a. A Church… trying to “hold on” until He Comes?
b. A Church… which is intimidated?
c. A Church… struggling to overcome worldliness?
d. A Church… struggling to stay alive?
2. NO! Rather, a Victorious Conquering Church! His statement outlines the Mission of the Church.
II. MEANING OF “THE GATES OF HELL?”
A. PLACE OF COUNSEL/ STRATEGIES
1. Some scholars believe that since cities’ gates were the place where the judges and wise men gave counsel, that “Gates of hell shall not prevail” represents the evil plans of the powers of hell to overthrow the Church.
2. It’s NO QUESTION Satan is out to destroy us! He has definite plans. (John 10:10)
a. Might be drugs, alcohol, illicit sex.
b. It might be fear, turmoil, depression.
c. It might be unforgiveness or pride, or jealousy.
3. If the devil can’t destroy you, he’ll try to make you ineffective for God: to fall into temptation, have a poor self image, fear what people will think.
4. But, “Praise God,” The Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail against the Church! a. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. Isa. 54:17. b. Greater is He that is within you….c. Not by might, Nor by power, but by my Spirit…
B. HOW THE CHURCH IS STORMING THE GATES OF HELL [Literal Interpretation]
a). If Matthew 16:18 is taken literally, it says that Not only did Christ assault hell, but He prophesies that the Church would assault hell too [Hades is described as having gates (Job 38:17, Isaiah 38:10, Psalm 107:18)].
b). In 1910 there were 600 million Christians worldwide. A Pew Research study published in 2011 identified 2.3 billion Christians worldwide (4X in 100 years!). Listen to 7 outstanding stories of growth.
1. BRAZIL. The evangelical population of Brazil has exploded to 44 million. They had a march for Jesus in Soa Paulo with 3 million people! Over 100 mission agencies have emerged, sending more than 2000 Brazilian missionaries to 85 countries. Latin America in the Americas is said to have 601 million Christians!
2. CHINA. In 1950, when China closed to missionaries, there were about one million Chinese believers. Today there are an estimated 114 million believers and 28,000 new Christians in China every day. (100X in 70 years)
3. INDIA. India’s Christian population has increased to 27.8 million as of Census, 2011. 95% of Nagaland’s 3 million people confess Jesus as Lord and are sending 10,000 new missionaries to greater India.
4. IRAN. Despite an Islamic government that systematically harasses and imprisons Christian converts, Christianity is growing at unprecedented rates in Iran. Iranian Christians claim that more than 50% of the population is now Christian.
5. KOREA. Once deemed “impossible to penetrate” by missionaries, Korea has experienced dramatic church growth in the last century. Today Korea is 30% Christian with more than 3,000 churches in Seoul alone. Several of these churches have more than one million members each!
6. SOUTHERN AFRICA. Africa is now home to 631 million Christians, the most of any continent. The church in Africa is growing four times faster than the general population.
7. SOUTHERN SUDAN. In 1960 only about 5% of Southern Sudan was Christian. Today, after decades of terrible warfare and persecution, South Sudan is now 60% Christian.
III. YOUR PART IN BREAKING DOWN THE GATES
A. GET AGGRESSIVE!
Quit playing defense and start playing offense! Don’t be a lukewarm Christian, be an on-fire Christian. Read your Bible daily, pray daily, serve the Lord and support your church in attendance & financially
B. 4 WAYS TO BREAK DOWN THE GATES:
1. SOUL WINNING. “To turn them from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:17).
2. INTERCESSION. Ephesians 6:10-12. Do spiritual warfare; overthrow a stronghold; bind and loose.
3. SPEAK UP FOR JESUS IN PUBLIC. Do not tire of representing your King; you’re an ambassador. Speak out on issues relative to the Bible and morality.
4. DO SOMETHING TO ADVANCE THE KINGDOM. God needs you. Get busy in God’s work somehow.
C. THE PROMISE WILL PREVAIL!
1. Both sides will attempt to prevail, but Christ promises that Hell WON’T prevail. Not even its last defenses will be able to stop the Church.
2. You are an Overcomer/ Conqueror. Act like it! Satan is under your feet! Don’t you love it when the devil panics? He trembles at the church. He thought he had killed Christ. Then came the Resurrection and then the Church!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Mike Hollifield was traveling with a friend to Sweden to teach at a Bible School. As they left Nashville, the airline agent looked at their tickets with concern. "There's a mistake here," she said. "I'll correct it or you may have trouble getting back." After a few minutes at the computer, she handed us new tickets, smiled, and wished us a good trip.
2. But when they tried to return home two weeks later, they were told that she had inadvertently cancelled their west bound flights. Their names were nowhere in the computers, and our tickets were worthless.
3. After hours of negotiation and anxious waiting, they were finally squeezed onto an oversold flight and given the least desirable seats in the plane. But as it happened, Mike was beside a Danish businessman who was open to hearing the gospel.
4. For six long, transatlantic hours, Mike quietly talked with him about his life and about the wonderful difference Jesus Christ could make. The man was receptive.
5. It wasn't an example of airline incompetence; it was an instance of divine appointment. [Robert J. Morgan, The Red Sea Rules]
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Accept Christ.
2. Commit yourself to winning souls.
