Matthew 16:13-16 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.”
Matthew 16:17-18 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. 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.
1. The Great Confession was Personal.
Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, is seeking to get people to confess Him as LORD.
He asks.
He does not force, manipulate, coerce, threaten. He asks.
He asks simply, directly, awaiting for an answer.
Peter, the first to do so.
Romans 10.9-10
Acts 2:21 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.
During Jesus' ministry: Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Jesus and Peter had more personal recorded conversations than any of the other disciples. Peter was the spokesman, John was the writer.
Confessing Christ as LORD, the Son of God is what life is all about. You are not living until yo do that. You may be seeking or getting close but you are not living until you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is LORD. When you do you are saved. Christ comes into your heart and you are made alive in Him.
People you know may be a thousand miles away from Christ today but they are really are only one step. If they turn, look and live!
We arrived back in Haiti on Thursday. Kevin told me it seems like we have been here for a long time. It is because of all that the LORD is doing. Serving Jesus you become alive. How good it was to see your pastor on Friday! How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.
2. The Great Confession was in the backdrop of comparison.
Greek gods, Roman Government
Who do men say I am?
What do they say today?
Liar
Lunatic
Legend
LORD
Great Teacher
C.S. Lewis's quote
In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg--or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call him LORD and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us"
We need to ask people the question today, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
No one has had more influence on the human race than Jesus Christ.
No one even comes close.
The Fulfillment of the Ages. I Corinthians 10.11
I will build my church- build means grow a family
all the persons forming one family, a household
the family of God, of the Christian Church
We are family! You are my brothers and sisters!
What a blessing to be part of it! Prayer, giving, loving and eating together!
Nijet met us on a walk last evening. We hugged each other like family does when they haven't seen each other for a while! Praise the LORD!
3. I Will Build My Church And The Gates of Hell Will Not Prevail Against It
When the earthquake came 5 years ago it destroyed the building but it did not destroy the church! You have been faithful in meeting here and now God is beginning to reward that faithfulness by giving you your building back and much more. If He told you what He was going to do you wouldn't believe it!
God brought us together because of the earthquake. He is the LORD Almighty! He works all things together for good for those who are the called according to His Purpose.
It had affected people in America! People have seen the pictures I took and the ones sent to me and have responded with tears and giving. Your faithfulness is being used by God to touch people's hearts in New York and around the world!
We will bring video back and pictures. Next Sunday my church will see them. Then we will pass them onto others. Some things have already been seen by them on the internet this week and later today around the world people are going to hear this message!
We have this promise today. We rest in it. We work in it. We celebrate it
It enabled Paul to say this to the Philippians:
Philippians 1:4-6 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus.
To the Ephesians:
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The is a lot of work to do but we are off to a wonderful start, a blessed beginning. I can hardly wait to see what God is going to do!
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