Upon this Rock I build my church and the Gates of Hell Shall not prevail against it!
Even if hell gets in you!!
Prophetess Tamiko Stewart – Sunday, March 26, 2006 – Living Word
Matthew 16:13-19
• God’s purpose will get accomplished!
• Peter had revelation knowledge!
• Peter means “Rock”
• Hades means “Hell”
• Over come it means “not prove stronger than it!”
• Keys to the kingdom of Heaven means “access!” Ex: If you have the pin number to your bank account you have ACCESS!
"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘you are 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. And I tell you that you are Peter (Peter means rock) And On This Rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades (hell) will not overcome it (not prove stronger than it). I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be (have been) bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be (have been) loosed in heaven.’" [Matthew 16:13-19, NIV (parenthesis contain footnoted interpretations from NIV text)]
+ "Christ" means "anointed one." At the time of Jesus, the term "anointed one" had become synonymous with "king." By declaring Jesus to be the "Son of the living God," Simon has directed attention away from kingship (who would lead the people to victory on earth and liberate them from the Romans) to his divine relationship with God. This is the revelation to which Jesus refers when he says "this was not revealed to you by man . . . " Peter had just shown that God the Father is using him as an instrument of His revelation.
+ Only in this place in the four gospels is Simon identified as "son of Jonah"; in the two other occurrences where his father is identified, he is identified as John (John 1:42 and 21:15-17). Jesus has just used the title "Son of Man" for himself, which means "one like a man"; could it be that Jesus is saying that Simon is to be "one like Jonah?" Jonah was the one who preached the impending destruction of Nineveh and effected the repentance of the people. This was an early type of the role which Peter was to play in the Church, leading people to reconciliation with God.
It is clear that it is Jesus who was promising to establish a visible Church on earth with Peter, the Rock, as its visible earthly anchor. The Church was not to be established on Peter’s faith, which we know faltered when he denied Jesus 3 times, but upon Peter the individual who was leader of the Apostles and an instrument of the Father’s revelation. As it says in Ephesians 2:20:
"Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone" (NIV).
This means the church is not built on modern ideas, but rather on the spiritual heritage given to us by the early apostles and prophets of the Christian Church.
The rock on which Jesus would build his church has been identified as (1) Jesus himself (his work of salvation by dying for us on the cross); (2) Peter (the first great leader in the church at Jerusalem); (3) the confession of faith that Peter gave and that all subsequent true believers would give. It seems most likely that the rock refers to Peter as the leader of the church (for his function, not necessarily his character.) Just as Peter had revealed the true identity of Christ , so Jesus revealed Peter’s identity and role.
Later, Peter reminds Christians that they are the church built on the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets, with Jesus Christ ad the chief cornerstone. You can read about that in 1 Peter 2:4-6). All believers are joined into this church by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, the same faith that Peter expressed here. You can read Ephesians 2:20-21. Jesus praised Peter for his confession of faith. It is faith like Peter’s that is the foundation of Christ kingdom.
+ "the gates of Hades will not overcome it" means, very simply, that death will not overtake the Church. Hades, translated in the footnote as "Hell" was the abode of the dead, Abraham’s bosom. It was the place where all departed souls went after their earthly life because heaven was not yet open (this event happened with Jesus’ death on the cross). When Peter died, the role of leader would be taken by another; the office would not cease when the occupant died. This means that there will always be a visible head who, like Peter, will be an instrument of the Father’s revelation and guidance; Satan will not be able to expropriate the office because it is divinely protected.
The gates of hell will not prevail against the church, even if hell gets in us. Some times we can be in a state of spiritual death. We can’t hear from God, ain’t got no power or authority. We are walking around as if we are sleep and are not aware of the tactics and schemes of the enemy. The enemy is trying to reek havoc in the church. People have a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof. Positions and roles are being handled by aint’s pretending to be saints. Then we wonder how a spirit of death can attack the church.
We are letting Satan’s instruments, his vessels, come in a trying to rule the church. We wonder how, how did the enemy get in. We let the enemy in. We let them serve as Deacons, we let them serve as ushers, we let them sing, we let them just run wild. All for the sake of having a member. If every ain’t walked out the church God will replace them with saints.
We play Patti cake with the enemy. We have fun with the enemy. We want to have one foot in and one foot out.
If you let the devil ride, he will want to drive. If you entertain his thoughts, he will want to speak. If you open up a window, he will come in the front door. We need to stop compromising with the enemy for the sake of people feelings being hurt. I don’t can’t if your feelings are hurt, I am going to speak with thus says the Lord. I am not trying to make friends or buddies. If it’s white, I am going to call it white! If it is purple, I am going to call it purple. I ain’t gonna call purple black and pink green. I don’t care who you are and what position you hold. I am declaring war on the enemy treading and trespassing where he has no authority.
The enemy will use whom ever is available to reek havoc in the church. He will start rumor and began to make accusations. We know that the enemy’s is an accuser of the brethren.
I know the enemy’s tactics. So I give no place to the enemy. I hear people say, that what people say are think about me doesn’t matter. I am here to tell you that it does matter. If you are a man of woman of God. You should live an upstanding life. We should not let our good be evil spoken of. So what if it is innocent. So what if you are not doing nothing and your intentions are pure. We are the light of the world. We are the Salt of the earth. What’s going to happen if your light begins to dim because you are leaving on the edge.
I can only speak for me. I know that I have a high calling on my life. I know that the enemy is looking for a crack to get in. If he gets to me it is going to hurt the church. I should be an example. That’s why some things, it just don’t do, some places I just don’t go.
We are going to be the only God that some people are going to see. Call me religious if you want to. I am holy.
So, I am not going to always be having one on one meetings with the Bishop when I am a woman. When I am a single attractive woman. I give no place to the enemy. The devil don’t care who he uses as his instrument. Women you should carry yourself as respectable women and men carry your self as respectable men.
The devil is after the church! But he will not destroy the church. I don’t care if hell gets in us! The Jesus declared to Peter, upon this Rock, I build my church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
+ The "keys of the kingdom of heaven" are the symbol of authority given only to the most trusted servant. Again, this is not an image which is foreign to Holy Scripture: It is used in Isaiah 22:22 where Eliakim is given the key to the house of David (a perpetual office since David has been dead for several hundred years), and in Revelation 1:18 where Jesus, who will judge us, is depicted as holding the keys of death and Hades. Some say the keys represent the authority to carry out church discipline, legislation, and administration. You can read on that in Matthew 18:15-18. While others say the keys represent the authority to announce forgiveness of sins. You can read that in John 20:23. Still others say the keys may be the opportunity to bring people to the kingdom of heaven by presenting them with the message of salvation found in God’s word. Read Acts 15:7-9. Some religious leaders thought they held the keys of the kingdom and have tried to shut some people out. We cannot decide to open or close the kingdom of heaven for others, but God uses us to help others find the way inside. To all who believe in Christ and obey his words, the kingdom doors are swung wide open.
Bind – Action Word!
1 a : to make secure by tying b : to confine, restrain, or restrict as if with bonds c : to put under an obligation
Bound – It has happened!
Loose – An Action Word!
1 a : not rigidly fastened or securely attached b (1) : having worked partly free from attachments (2) : having relative freedom of movement c : produced freely and accompanied by raising of mucus d : not tight-fitting
2 a : free from a state of confinement, restraint, or obligation
Loosed – It has happened!
+ Finally, the "binding" and "loosing." Very simply put, he who has the ability to bind and loose, has the ability to make the rules. As the visible head of the Church on earth, Peter is given the ability to make the earthly rules for the operation of this Church. This doesn’t mean that he can change the rules that we have received from God (such as the ten commandments and all the others contained in Holy Scripture) but he can make such determinations as the length of the fast before receiving communion and whether priests should be allowed to marry. This binding and loosing also has an Old Testament parallel in Isaiah 22:22 where Eliakim, having received the keys, has the power of the keys explained "what he opens, no one can shut, and what he shuts, no one can open." This means that Eliakim alone among the servants has the ability to determine who is admitted and who is excluded from the house (kingdom) of David. The authority to "bind and loose" is also given to the Apostles in Matthew 18:18, with one significant difference: Only Peter has been given the "keys," the symbol of ultimate authority.
Jesus first’s words to Simon Peter were “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17). His last words to him were “You must follow me” (John 21:22). Every step of the way between these two challenges, Peter never failed to follow – even though he often stumbled.
When Jesus entered Peter’s life , this plain fisherman became a new person with new goals and new priorities. He did not become a perfect person, however, and he never stopped being Simon Peter. We may wonder what Jesus saw in Simon that made him greet this potential disciple with a new name, Peter-the “Rock”. Impulsive Peter certainly didn’t act like a “rock much of the time. But when Jesus choose his followers, he wasn’t looking for a models; he was looking for real people. He choose people who could be changed by his love, and then sent them out to communicate that his acceptance was available to anyone-even those who often fail.
We may wonder what Jesus sees in us when he calls us to follow him. But we know Jesus accepted Peter, and, in spite of his failures. Peter went on doing great things for God. Are you willing to follow Jesus, even when you fail?
