Sermon: Breaking News 2023: God’s Church Will Stand Forever
Scripture: Matthew 16:13-20 “13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[b] the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
Introduction: What is the church according to the Bible? The church is the body of Christ—all the people who accept Christ's gift of salvation and follow Christ's teachings. It is much more than a building. In the Bible, “church” never refers to a building. It always refers to people—the people who follow Jesus Christ. There are many powerful institutions on earth, but one of the most powerful is the body of Christ - the Church. If the body of true believers in Christ can unite as one, there is no institution on earth that can withstand the influence church of Christ. Through the Church, the power and influence of God can invade every government, social status, educational establishment and begin His reign in the hearts of men. The Church will stand forever!
The Body of Christ (not denominations) the fellowship of true believers, the genuine followers of Christ make up the most powerful institution on earth. The church operates in the natural and supernatural realms, empowered by the creator of the universe, with its foundation firmly rooted in Christ, the only begotten Son of God will stand forever. Christ triumph on the cross of Calvary purchased salvation for all and empowered His church forever.
Matt 16:18, "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." Jesus further said in Matt 18:19, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven." The church started as a powerful, Holy Ghost inspired body created to fulfil God’s purpose and there is no institution on earth that the creator has given more power and responsibility, any that can do what the Church does.
There is no doubt the church of Christ is entrusted with enormous powers, but for the power of the church to manifest in its fullest extent, there must be an understanding of who Jesus is, and how to manifest the kingdom influence on earth. The household of faith, the Body of Christ must harness, and manifest kingdom power here on earth. Power belongs to God (Psalms 62:11) and He has handed all power to Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18, Col 2:10); who has bestowed this power upon his church (Luke 10:19, Acts 1:18). The early church displayed the power of God because they knew who Jesus was, embraced the authority given them, and were united in their mission. They had all things in common (Acts 2:44, 4:32). They turned the world upside down for Christ (Acts 17:6).
Today, the church seems to be fragmented with different denominations, doctrines, and agendas. We have leaders who even claim the local church as their own. Church groups are guilty of fighting against one another, twisting doctrines to suit human traditions. The early church was limited financially and politically, but rich in the power of God and influence with men. Many ministries are rich today, but the power of God is hardly visible. In the early church, evil and wicked men dare not step into the church because of the power of the Holy Spirit moving in the church but today, there is less reverence for the Church. In Revelations 3:17Jesus said: "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked". Many churches today are physically rich but spiritually poor.
There seems to be rivalry among ministries, political alignments, moral failures, and compromise that is eating away at the power and influence of the church. There is serious competition for titles, building of gigantic edifices, buying of private jets, issuing of political prophecies, hobnobbing with politicians and celebrities etc. This is not helping the household of faith.
The church of Christ must return to the cross, embrace holiness, humility and surrender to the leading of the Holy Spirit of God and Jesus Christ, the head of the Church. The church is the house of prayer, praise and the word of God, it should not be used as a market place, political campaign ground or occult temple. The Good news is there will always be a remnant that God has kept for himself who keep His word, do His will, walk in love and demonstrate His power.
If the COVID pandemic, political unrest, pandemic of division has taught us anything it is that there are thousands of people in the American Church who were not fully surrendered to Christ and His Church. Those who give more allegiance to a political party than they do to Christ. While others are more comfortable on their sofa than they are in the sanctuary. I believe the recent crisis has exposed a weakness in the spirituality of the church that was there all the time but only came to light in the last three years. We should not be surprised at this Luke warmness. What is the answer you ask? I believe the passage before us has some of the principles concerning the church that we need to hear. First...
1. What we know about Jesus Informs Our Action and Set The Church’s Agenda. Matt. 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”[a] 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[b] the Son of the living God.”
What we know about Jesus should inform our action and the conduct of the church One of the first things we notice in the text that Jesus wanted to know, who do you say I am? If Jesus is the Christ, He is also the founder of the church. It is His church and He knows the plan. If his disciples are unsure of His identity, they can never fulfill his plan and carry out His mission. Men flounder in confusion we they fail to recognize Jesus as the Lord of the their lives and Lord of the church. In Colossians 1:16 says, “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (Col 1:16)
Believers must recognize that Jesus is our savior and the Lord of the church who will one day judge our deeds. Jesus is the Lord of our lives and His church, but also our judge. Bible tells us “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.” 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10. Jesus is more than a good person, more than John the Baptist, greater than Elijah or Jeremiah, and more than other prophets, He is son of God who takes away the sins of the world. His Identity must inform our actions and set our agendas.
2. What Has Been Revealed By God Becomes the Foundation of Our Faith and the Foundation of the Church. Matt 16:17 “Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[d] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[e] will not conquer it.”
The Church is built on the revealed knowledge of who Jesus is and what the church believes about him. Jesus calls Peter especially blessed because God has revealed to him, who I really am, the Messiah. This knowledge was not learned from the schools of that day. The priests, scribes and pharisees did not receive it. The scholars could not search it out, this knowledge must be revealed by God. Scholars debate about whether Peter was the rock or not. I believe the rock, the foundation of life and the church is built upon God’s revelation of himself in Jesus Christ. The revelation of Jesus Christ expressed God’s love, power and his willingness to save, heal and deliver. Jesus said this revelation will be the foundation of the Church. The Church’s Foundation is addressed by Paul in 1 Cor 3:11 which says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” The hymn writer said,
“The church's one foundation, Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is his new creation by water and the Word. From heaven he came and sought her, To be his holy bride; With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.” Knowing who Jesus is inform our action and the revelation of Jesus become the foundation for personal salvation by faith and the foundation of the Church built by Jesus Christ.
3. What we Know and Believe causes the Church to be God’s Agents of Transformation in the World. Matt 16:18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’),[d] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[e] will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid[f] on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit[g] on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The Church is God’s Power for Transformation in this present world. The church is always spoken of in endearing terms in the Scriptures and should be spoken of in that way today. Yes, the church had problems to deal with, but the Biblical writers did not degrade the church because of it. We may look at the church and see all kinds of stains, wrinkles, blemishes, tears, etc. But according to this passage, Jesus sees only a holy and blameless body, one that he has prepared by the washing of water through the word. Let's remember this the next time we down ourselves for our blemishes. Let's see the church as Christ sees it; the next time we trash the church, and remember that even though we are not perfect, we are forgiven. We are God’s agents for good and change in the world.
When Jesus spoke these words, the disciples were probably awestruck. “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
Notice, that when Jesus began His Church, he empowered believers by giving the keys of the kingdom of God. Since the Church is built in a hostile world, believers must learn how to function in the world. It would be nice if there were no enemies, or gate of hell; it would be nice if there were no threats to our unity and peace. It would be nice if Jesus rushed back to solve the problems of the Church. That’s not reality! How does the Church function in this hostile environment? Since Jesus has placed the church in our hands, we function by allowing what we know about Jesus to inform our action and set our agenda; we function by standing on the revealed knowledge God has given us to be the foundation of our lives personally and the foundation of the Church collectively. First, we receive power for personal transformation and then power to transform others.
It’s in him we live and move and have our being. Finally, we take the authority given to us and follow our God. Our words have power. Our words can bind things on that are bound by God in Heaven. We must realize that whatever in going on in the church, believers have allowed. Whatever is not going on, believers have permitted. God’s word should be our standard. If God’s word disallows a thing, the church should too. If God’s words permit a thing, the church should also. We must use our authority to cause the church the transforming salt and light it was designed to be. The church, empowered by the Holy Spirit is God’s disciple making ministry on earth. Jesus promised that the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. Don’t miss understand me, we don’t make demands on heaven that are not in agreement the will of God. When we know his word, we understand his will, we pray and decree accordingly. We must ask ourselves, are we permitting things in God’s church that are not aligned with His will?
Mt 11:27 All things are delivered to Me by My Father. And no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son will reveal Him.
Joh 7:17 If anyone desires to do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it is of God, or I speak from Myself.
Ac 22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you to know His will and to see the Just One, and to hear a voice out of His mouth.
God himself has chosen the Church to know his word, to understand his will, and to use our voice to pray and make declarations accordingly to His will. We must not others to persuade us to walk away from the church or weaken our support for God’s Church. The Church is God’s agent for transformation. It’s God’s defense against the gates of hell. Yes, it would be better if the church were perfect. It would be better if every church was rich and full but don’t allow what you see to cause you to doubt what you know. Here's what I know: “The church's one foundation, Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is his new creation by water and the Word. From heaven he came and sought her, To be his holy bride; With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.” Knowing who Jesus is inform my action and sets my agenda; the revelation of God in Jesus Christ has become the foundation for personal salvation by faith and the foundation of the Church was built by Jesus Christ to be salt and light in the world. Finally, the Church is still God’s agent for the transformation of the world. This power filled body of believers, with all its imperfections will carry the gospel to the end of the world. There are many powerful institutions on earth, but one of the most powerful is the body of Christ - the Church. If the body of true believers in Christ can unite as one, there is no institution on earth that can successfully withstand the influence church of Christ.
