Title: On This Rock / Matthew 16:13-20
Contents
On this rock / Matthew 16:13-20
(13) When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is? (16) Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjonah. (18) And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not overcome it. (19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; And whatever you bind will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (20) Then he warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was a Christian.
Jesus Christ was resurrected and ascended to heaven, and he entrusted his ministry to the church. The church was created to continue doing what our Lord did. For the past two thousand years, the Church has existed to fulfill this very mission. Of course, there were dark times in the church. However, although the external appearance of the church may change, the essence of the church cannot be changed.
How about today's churches? Are you carrying out the mission the Lord has given you? Our youth group is a small youth church in Gwangam Church. So, is our youth group fulfilling this mission well?
If there are many attending members, is it a true church? no.
If the building is large, is it a true church? no.
If the church has a lot of donations, is it a true church? no.
A true church is a church that moves according to the will of Jesus and works according to the will of the Bible. Through the words of today's text, God is speaking to our youth group about the true church.
First, God says that a true church must have a clear vision.
This is verse 18 of the text. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.”
Interpretation / What does this word mean? It means to become a church that cannot be overcome by the power of Hades and the power of death. To paraphrase this statement, it means to become a church that saves the world with the life of Jesus Christ. Saving the world! This should be the purpose of the church.
Those who do not know why I live are the most miserable. So is the church. There is nothing more miserable than a church that doesn't know why it exists. The church must have a clear purpose. One of the common problems the church faces is giving importance to the less important. In this case, the church loses concentration, energy is dispersed and disappears, and it loses strength. Why would this happen? It is because the church has no clear sense of purpose. Proverbs 29:18 says, “A people without a vision perish.”
What is the vision of our youth association? The purpose of our youth association should be to become a youth association that saves the world. Therefore, each ministry team should move towards this very goal. The Praise and Worship team must move toward the goal of 'save the world through praise and worship'. The Barnabas ministry team must also have a goal of 'save the world by serving new believers well'. The same goes for the media ministry team, drama ministry team, community service team, and medical mission team. Also, all future teams must be structured and acted on this purpose.
When our purpose is so clear, we can reduce wastage of energy, time, and material. And our clear purpose will bring you focus and unleash incredible power. You can burn the paper by focusing the rays with a magnifying glass. Furthermore, by focusing light at higher densities, such as laser beams, it can even cut steel. Our youth association must become a youth association that saves the world. This is our vision and purpose.
Second, God says that 'the true church must have its foundations right'.
This is verse 16 of the text. “Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Interpretation / The Lord asked what people call Himself. He answered that he knew John the Baptist as prophets like Elijah and Jeremiah. Then Jesus asked, "Who do you think I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter's confession was truly remarkable. To identify Jesus with Christ was to know precisely that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior. Our Lord said that he would build a church only after hearing this confession.
So, the church is made through people who make this confession. There are three types of believers in the church. Those who confess that Jesus is the Christ and are saved, those who have not yet confessed that Jesus is the Christ because they do not have faith, and finally those who think that they are saved. What happens to the church if there are many second and third people in the church?
A church built on an inadequate or wrong foundation cannot carry out the work God intended it to do.
Dear young people! What do you think of our youth group? Are you a youth group with a strong foundation? Or is it a youth association with a weak foundation? I studied civil engineering at university. So, when building a building, the size of the building is determined by the foundation. A building that rises taller makes the foundation stronger. You cannot build anything bigger than the foundation can handle. The same is true of the foundation of the church. The foundation of the church must be built by those who confess that Jesus is the Christ. These people should be the foundation of the church.
We are currently studying the 'one-on-one discipleship' and '40-day Bible hold' and 'Faith and Life' series Bible study by each ministry team in our youth group. And every Tuesday we are raising our leaders. All of this is to build a strong foundation for our youth association. I have seen many Christians who are too ignorant of the Bible for their doctrines, even though they have been religious for a long time.
Here is an article that satirizes the ignorance of the believer.
Korean Presbyterian Church ㅇㅇ Presbytery Presbytery Examination Interview Center
Interviewers asked the first Naked Butler.
Q: "Who do you admire the most?"
A. “I was Abraham before, but now I am Paul.”
Q: How did Lot's sons-in-law understand Lot's words when the city of Sodom was destroyed?
Answer "I got it as a joke."
Q. "Do you recognize the Maccabees as the Bible?"
Answer: I cannot accept it."
Butler Palpui approached the deacon who took the exam in No. 1 and asked the correct answer for the exam. Palpui, who memorized the correct answer, finally enters the exam hall.
He closed his eyes and sat in holiness, confidently waiting for the question.
Q: "Master, what is your name?"
Answer "Yes, I was Abraham before, but now I am Paul."
The interviewer, bewildered by the wrong answer, smiled and asked another question.
Q: "How do you believe the word of God, deacon?"
Answer "Yes, I believe it as a joke."
Angry Interviewer: "I'm taking you out of building an elder."
Palpui's answer is "I can't accept it."
Dear young people, laying the foundation takes a lot of time. It's hard. You can't do it roughly, though. It takes persistence. Don't miss out on participating in these programs now! Let's encourage each other and work together to build a good foundation for our youth association.
Third, God says that 'the true church must work boldly'.
This is verse 19 of the text. “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind in heaven will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Interpretation / What does this word mean? It is to build a church on the saints who have confessed Jesus as the Christ, and to give the key to the kingdom of heaven. That's why he says that he will be with us when we carry out our ministry on this earth. So, with this authority, you must preach the gospel of the Lord to this earth to save it and to allow the kingdom of Christ to come in every place. I will listen to your prayers, so I am telling you to work boldly.
When our youth group carries out the Lord's work, difficult things will arise and the devil's interference will arise. We believe that by praying to God each time, we will destroy the devil, bind the devil's authority, and make the banner of Christ flutter everywhere we go. What you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. This is the promise of our Lord. That is why the devil is afraid of intercession and afraid of the person of prayer.
Dear young people! Are there any obstacles when trying to carry out the work of the Lord? Pray! Hold on to the promises of the Lord. “What you loose will be loosed in heaven, and what you bind will be bound in heaven.” There is nothing that cannot be solved with prayer. What difficulties are you worried about? Is it a household problem? Is it a work problem? Is it a marriage problem? Is it a career issue? Are you unable to do the Lord's work even though you want to do the Lord's work because of these problems? Let's pray! Write it in the intercessory request form. Let's test it. Whether the Word of God is real or fake.
Today we have tremendous power. There are people who push us. Master of all things! Our Lord, who rules all things, pushes us. Let's move forward boldly. Let's work with confidence. Please don't play frivolously, let's be bold with our chests wide open.
Dear young people! Now, let's boldly save the world through our youth group with the vision God gives us. This is the command of our Lord. This is our Lord's request. God speaks to us. As in today's message, let's build a church that the powers of Hades cannot overcome.
I love this praise. There is power in this praise. Let's all sing the praises of revival to God.
revival
Behold the desolateness of this earth, God of heaven
Merciful Lord, forgive us our iniquities, and heal this land.
Now it's time for all of us to come together and rebuild the broken foundations on this earth.
Holy Spirit to burn our idols
Let the flames of revival burn
Words of truth renew this land
Let the river of grace flow
The wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing now
Oh give me a new day full of Your glory
O Lord, come your kingdom to this land.