“Built like a ROCK”
Matthew 16:13&19
There was and old song that we use to sing that said, “I am the church, you are church, we are the church together all who follow Jesus all around the world we are the church together.” How great of definition of what the church is and what the church should be all in that little song. But the question today is, are we the church? The church of old, the church our fore-fathers and mothers stood to be? Are there any significant differences in what we are doing today than the saints that came before us? What packed the church then that is struggling to pack the church today? If God is still the same yesterday, today and forever more then what has changed? If I had one answer for all these questions, it would be the heart of man has changed.
The bible teaches us that the just shall live by faith: and not draw back.
*Read Hebrews 10:38&39* the heart of man is in backsliding conditions. Hearts have slid from God being their first love, Slid from reverence to God to reverence of Man. Slid from sound doctrine to having itching hears. So many have mocked God by doing all matter of evil and yet call themselves saints of God. Man has drawn back from where they use to be. And when man fall into this, the bible say’s “My soul shall have no pleasure in him.” “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;” Meaning: utter destruction or eternal damnation. “But of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
And how do we know this? In the 16 chapter of Matthew the Pharisees and Sadducees where seeking a sign from heaven. And Jesus told them that they could understand signs of weather but they could not discern the signs of the time. In that 4th verse Jesus makes the statement that supports the draw back of man. He says “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and no sign shall be given unto it, but the sign of the Prophet Jonas. What was Jonas sign?
Forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown.
He proclaimed their wickedness and the coming destruction. He preached repentance or damnation. He didn’t preach a feel good gospel. He didn’t preach get rich religion. He preached truth.
What the world needs to look for - The Truth. “The truth, you can’t handle the truth!” Truth hurts, but truth saves.
The world is tired of empty religion.
The world is tired of false doctrine.
The world is tired of wishy-washy worship.
The world wants and needs is the truth!!!!!!
And no matter what we think are feel we have to give it to them. Not only were the Pharisees and Sadducees mixed up but the disciples were mixed up to. In verse 6 Jesus says “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
The disciples thought he was talking about bread but what Jesus was talking about was the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The bible tells us that in the last days there will be wolves in sheep clothing teaching false doctrine. But in the 13th verse Jesus asked a question, “Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?” *Read 14&15* Jesus makes it personal, “Who do you say Iam?” Peter said Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
*Read 17&18* He wasn’t talking about building the church upon Peter but upon Peter’s belief that was revealed to him by God the Father which is the foundation of the Church. Our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and His righteousness. If we keep our belief in Jesus the gates of hell can not prevail against it.
We are built like a rock, we are invincible. Jesus said I will give you the keys to the kingdom of Heaven. What you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven. What you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. He gave us authority to overcome the enemy. You can lock the doors to this building. You can destroy this building that we worship in but you can’t destroy the church.
I am the church, you are church, we are the church together all who follow Jesus all around the world we are the church together. Tell your neighbor, “I am built like a Rock, because Jesus reigns in my life.” “Built like a ROCK!”
