Matthew 16:13-18
What is your focus for this year in church, in ministry, in
your personal walk with the Lord? How you answer one question can set the stage
for your focus. Who do you say that Jesus is?
I. Jesus Is the
Priority of His Church. Matt. 16:13a
“Where” Jesus taught his
disciples is often as telling as “what” Jesus taught his disciples
The
disciples gave Jesus the low down on all the conspiracy theories
that were floating around Israel.
·
John the Baptist preached
repentance.
·
Elijah was a prophet of miracles
·
Jeremiah was known as the “weeping prophet” because he cared so
much for people.
The sad truth is, what people say
about who Jesus is becomes the foundation for what their church is built
upon.
The Church is the place where Jesus
is glorified.
The
Place Where Jesus Builds His Church…
· Will be
drawn to living in holiness, abiding in His Word.
· Will experience
His power.
· Will love and honor
Him.
The disciple’s acknowledgements of
Jesus’ deity had been emotional responses to physical miracles.
People make decisions based upon circumstance.
True conversion is not based on
some emotion or event.
II. Jesus Prevails Through His Church. Matt. 16:18
The forces
of death and darkness cannot prevail against or conquer the
Church.
We are part of the same tribe
called the Church.
· We are dedicated to the least of these.
· We worship with abandon and go
after a relationship with Jesus.
· We refuse to see the lost as
unworthy of grace.
The person who is rock-solid and not
shaken in this life and on into eternity will be the one who says, “Jesus, it’s You.”
