Are We the Church Jesus Built?
Terry J. Hallock
Matthew 16:13-20
February 2, 1997
Our text for this message is found in Matthew 16:13-20 where Jesus describes the Church He was about to build.
"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, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ."
That's the Church Jesus built, but ARE WE THAT CHURCH? Are we the Church Jesus built and built so strongly that not even the gates of hell would prevail against it? Or are other hands creating the fabric of our fellowship - hands which hell will always defeat? Will the family of faith we envision be the same family of faith Jesus created? Will this family be anointed with the power to loose captives and bind the enemy both in Heaven and on earth? Or will we be empty of that power? Will we stand spiritually potent or spiritually impotent before suffering and injustice? Are we the Church Jesus built yesterday and will we be the Church He'll receive in glory tomorrow?
That is the question of questions. In fact it is the only question that matters and there is one undeniable reasons it is so. Jesus never said the gates of hell wouldn't prevail against Wataga Congregational Church. He never promised that. He never said hell couldn't prevail agai ...
Terry J. Hallock
Matthew 16:13-20
February 2, 1997
Our text for this message is found in Matthew 16:13-20 where Jesus describes the Church He was about to build.
"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, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.' Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ."
That's the Church Jesus built, but ARE WE THAT CHURCH? Are we the Church Jesus built and built so strongly that not even the gates of hell would prevail against it? Or are other hands creating the fabric of our fellowship - hands which hell will always defeat? Will the family of faith we envision be the same family of faith Jesus created? Will this family be anointed with the power to loose captives and bind the enemy both in Heaven and on earth? Or will we be empty of that power? Will we stand spiritually potent or spiritually impotent before suffering and injustice? Are we the Church Jesus built yesterday and will we be the Church He'll receive in glory tomorrow?
That is the question of questions. In fact it is the only question that matters and there is one undeniable reasons it is so. Jesus never said the gates of hell wouldn't prevail against Wataga Congregational Church. He never promised that. He never said hell couldn't prevail agai ...
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