Sermon # 1 - A People Set Apart For God Series

We read in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”(ESV)

Jesus Christ said that He will build His church on the rock. Often people perceive that church is a building, and hence the first picture that comes to mind when we talk about going to church is that of people meeting in a certain kind of structure that we have called ‘church.’

The first point to note is that Jesus mentioned that it was ‘His Church’, which means that Jesus is the head of the church.

Secondly, Jesus is the one who also builds the church. To build the church is not about raising a building, but is about people being added to the church. This is what happened in the early church as thousands were added daily to the church. What this meant was that the multitudes that were going along with the ways of the world, those who were in darkness, in ignorance and in sin, came to the knowledge that Jesus as the Way, believed that there was no other way except Jesus, and surrendered their lives to Him. When such people join the church, wanting to see change and transformation in their lives, that’s when the church is being built up. Notice that this building up of the church, or adding souls into the Kingdom of God, is not done by any human beings, but by the Lord Himself. All of us therefore have been united in the church, by listening to the voice of God, and obeying Him.

Thirdly, the Lord said that ‘the gates of hell can never prevail against the church.’ Many imagine that there is a huge war going on between God in heaven, and Satan in hell. This is not so, for it is God’s who builds the church, and no one can stand against it. However, Satan strives hard to scatter God’s children who gather in the name of the Lord, as this goes against his evil plan to destroy everyone, and take them to hell. While God gathers His children, the devil’s goal is to scatter them.

Satan’s strategy against the church

Right here in our country, there is so much of opposition to the churches in various parts of our country. In many places church buildings, and property have been attacked and destroyed. Remember there are two ways in which Satan will work against the church. The first one is a direct attack on the church, with the thought that once the building is destroyed the church will also be destroyed. This is not so, for God dwells in the hearts of His people, and the bible clearly says that God does not dwell in temples made by hands. The second weapon in the hands of Satan is to make those of us who have separated themselves from the world, to compromise and become one with the world. While one is open attack the second one is subtle, and not so obvious.

For example there are many who engage in social drinking, and justify it as being harmless and causing no harm to anyone. Recently, in a survey done in our locality there was a shocking revelation that the percentage of children still in school who were addicted to drugs was quite high. This is not something to be taken lightly or be ignored, but something we should pray about as our children too are prone to these attacks. Therefore, as parents, and as a church we should be watchful and prayerful for the safety of our children. The enemy is constantly at work hoping to get God’s people to compromise in their beliefs, and become one with the world.

What is church?

The word church has its root in the Greek word ‘Ekklesia’ which means ‘those separated unto God and for God.’ This means that God chose us who were just ordinary people in this world, and called us out to be a special people for Himself. We are called to be with God, and to be used for His service. At one time we were one with the world, one with its traditions, and the Lord separated us from this, and united us to Himself.

Observe the twelve disciples of Jesus. All of them were called out from the world to be those in close communion with Jesus. Peter left his fishing profession, Matthew left his tax collector’s job and all other disciples left their professions to follow Jesus. What happened here was that there was a severing from the things of this world, and an attachment to Christ.

The same happened to Judas Iscariot too who broke away from the world, and made a commitment to be a disciple of Jesus. However, Judas Iscariot chose to get back into the world, and when he got attached to the world, he got detached from the Lord Jesus. Though Judas was with Jesus, he was unable to hold on to the anointing that was his because of his nearness to Jesus. Judas began to compromise when he decided that he wanted the Lord and the world, he wanted the Lord and the religious leaders, he wanted the Lord and money as well. As this process began Judas lost his closeness to Jesus, and became caught up with the world.