Upon This Rock
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 57 viewsTo teach God’s people how the church is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and will stand when the forces of evil fight against it.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
UPON THIS ROCK
UPON THIS ROCK
Matthew 16:13-20
17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
AIM
Matthew 16:17-
AIM
To teach God’s people how the church is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and will stand when the forces of evil fight against it.
To teach God’s people how the church is built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ and will stand when the forces of evil fight against it.
INTRODUCTION
INTERROGTION
Sometimes we must be drawn away from the distractions, interruptions, and hypocritical questions in order to settle the critical question of who Jesus really is in light of what we hear the world telling us about Him. Nothing beats a quiet place to in the mountains or near a lake, river or stream to help us answer questions and resolve the conflicts going on in our minds. This is what Jesus did with His disciples many times. Places and moments like this help us to learn things about Jesus we can never learn in the rat race of life.
Every Christian needs to realize Jesus is the Rock on which the church is built, therefore she will stand when the enemy attacks and assaults her people.
PUBLIC PERCEPTION
13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Matthew
Jesus led His disciples to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi which was about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. This is where He began to question them concerning the things people were saying about Him. Perhaps Jesus asked the same question to each of His disciples. The name “Son of Man” was our Lord's favorite title for Himself because it identified Him with humanity. Perhaps the Lord’s question should encourage us to listen to the things others are saying about our Lord Jesus.
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”
Jesus led His disciples to the coasts of Caesarea Philippi which was about 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. It was there that He began to question them concerning the things that people were saying about Him. The name “Son of Man” was our Lord's favorite title for Himself because it identified Him with humanity. Perhaps the question should encourage us to listen to the things that others are saying about our Lord Jesus.
The disciples had heard many rumors and speculations about Jesus and offered several names they had heard circulating among men. John the Baptist who was the expected forerunner of Jesus.
1 Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’ ”
Matthew
The disciples offered several names that were circulating among men. John the Baptist who was the expected forerunner of Jesus.
Others were saying Jesus was Elijah whom God had promised to send before the coming of the Lord.
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. 6 “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
Others were saying that Jesus was Elijah whom God had promised to send before the coming of the Lord.
Some were saying Jesus was Jeremiah who was expected to appear and restore the ark he had supposedly hidden.
Maccabees 2
Some were saying that Jesus was Jeremiah who was expected to appear and restore the ark he had supposedly hidden.
7 Which when Jeremy perceived, he blamed them, saying, As for that place, it shall be unknown until the time that God gathers his people again together, and receive them unto mercy.
8 Then shall the Lord shew them these things, and the glory of the Lord shall appear, and the cloud also, as it was shewed under Moses, and as when Solomon desired that the place might be honourably sanctified. (KJV Apocrypha)
Others were saying Jesus was one of the prophets who had been raised from the dead. All of the disciples’ answers teach us there were a lot of people with some mistaken opinions about the character, purpose and person of Jesus needing to be removed. This also helps us to know we will never learn the truth of Jesus by polling the minds of carnal men.
PROFOUND PROCLAMATION
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:
Jesus asked this same question to those who had spent time with Him and knew Him both intimately and personally. He wanted to know how the disciples would answer this same question. Amazingly enough, God's divine revelation of Jesus to Peter gave us one of the most profound proclamations ever made among men. Jesus was“the Christ” which means the anointed one, the Messiah. Jesus rarely allowed this title to be used of Him because of its political meanings. It was really unfortunate to know most people thought of the Messiah as a political deliverer rather than a spiritual redeemer.
Jesus asked this same question to those who had spent time with Him and knew Him both intimately and personally. He wanted to know how the disciples would answer this same question. Amazingly enough, God's divine revelation of Jesus to Peter gave us one of the most profound statements ever made among men. “The Christ” means the anointed one, the Messiah. Jesus rarely allowed this title to be used of Him because of its political meanings. It was really unfortunate that most of the people saw the Messiah as a political deliverer rather than a spiritual redeemer.
Peter believed Jesus is “the Son of the living God.” The Son of man was also the Son of God. Jesus was the Son of One who was and is alive and will give life to everyone who will come to Him in repentance and faith.
17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
Jesus commended Peter as He explained the source of his statement. “Blessed” means to be happy, to be fortunate or to be envied. Spiritual truth can be comprehended only by those whose spiritual senses have been made alive by God. The Holy Spirit teaches us the natural man does not understand the things of God.
Jesus commended Peter as He explained the source of his statement. “Blessed” means to be happy, to be fortunate or to be envied. Spiritual truth can be comprehended only by those whose spiritual senses have been made alive by God. The Holy Spirit teaches us that that natural man does not understand the things of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1 Corinthians 2:12-14
Through divine revelation God helped Peter to understand this truth and recorded it in his heart. Listen to Paul’s testimony about God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to him.
Through divine revelation God helped Peter to understand this truth and recorded it in his heart. Listen to Paul’s testimony about God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to him.
15 But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
The Lord’s disciples finally began to understand the revelation of Jesus and His work after following Him for three years.
The Lord’s disciples had followed Him for three years and finally had begun to understand the revelation of Jesus and His work.
PURPOSE PROMISED
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
The statement Jesus made has confused men for hundreds of years. This statement has been used by the Catholic Church to prove Peter was their first pope. They also believe Peter passed on his authority to his successors in each generation. “I also say to you” was not putting an importance of Peter in comparison to Jesus. God had revealed one truth and Jesus would reveal another.
Jesus made a statement that has confused men for hundreds of years. The Catholic Church uses this to prove that Peter was the first pope and passed his authority to his successors in each generation. “And I tell you” was not putting an importance of Peter in comparison to Jesus. God had revealed one truth and Jesus would reveal another.
The Bible offers us two definitions about the statement of our Lord. The definition of the name Peter (petros) means a stone of little rock. Some of us have heard the expression of a son being “a chip off the old block” when being compared to his father. This is a similar expression when thinking about Peter being a child of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The word that Jesus used for “rock” (petra) means a ledge of a foundation rock. This is a reference to Jesus instead of Peter. There is only one foundation to the church that Jesus built. Listen to some words the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to the Corinthian church.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The word that Jesus used for “rock” (petra) means a ledge of a foundation rock. This is a reference to Jesus instead of Peter. There is only one foundation to the church that Jesus built. Listen to some words that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to the Corinthian church.
The church Jesus built continues to grow through the testimony of those whom He has cleansed and forgiven. Each born again believer becomes a living stone laid on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
Ephesians 2:
The church that Jesus built continues to grow through the testimony of those whom He has cleansed and forgiven. Each born again believer becomes a living stone that is laid on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
The church is built upon the solid rock or foundation of Jesus Christ. Those who are wise will always do building construction on a solid foundation; likewise those who are wise will build the church on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
The church is built upon the solid rock or foundation of Jesus Christ. Those who are wise will always do building construction on a solid foundation; likewise those who are wise will build the church on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
Matthew
Jesus said “the gates of Hades will not overpower” His church. A gate offers protection and represents the power and authority of its owner. It is comforting to know Jesus holds the keys to death and hell. Listen to John’s testimony.
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Jesus said that the “gates of hell shall not prevail against” His church. A gate offers protection and represents the power and authority of its owner. It is comforting to know that Jesus holds the keys to death and hell. Listen to John’s testimony.
Hell is the realm of the dead which has been defeated through the resurrection of Jesus.
Hell is the realm of the dead which has been defeated through the resurrection of Jesus.
:54-57
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Matthew
Every believer has the responsibility to share the gospel. The keys represent authority and responsibility which has been given to the church by Jesus, the Founder and the Owner. Keys are used to lock closed doors or unlock and open doors. To “bind” something on earth means to forbid. To “loose” something on earth means to permit. Every person inside the church can either help or hinder the ministry of the gospel of Christ. We need to often be reminded the church does not exist to get man’s will done in heaven; the church exists to get God's will done on earth.
15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 “Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. 19 “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
Jesus gave His disciples more information on this truth after His resurrection.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
Because of the political misunderstandings of the name Messiah, Jesus did not want it publicized.
CONCLUSION
Who is the Son of God to you? I hope He is your Savior. If not, I would like to introduce you to Him and His wonderful plan of salvation. Christian, who is the Son of God to you? I hope Jesus is someone you love so much you want to tell everyone about Him.
Who is the Son of God to you? I hope He is your Savior. If not, I would like to introduce you to Him and His wonderful plan of salvation. Christian, who is the Son of God to you? I hope that He is someone that you love so much that you want to tell everyone about Him.
Prepared for Walnut Hill Baptist Church – April 14, 1991
Revised for Eureka Baptist Church – January 16, 2001
Revised for Eureka Baptist Church – October 24, 2010
Revised for Eureka Baptist Church – October 31, 2010
Revised for First Baptist Church Oakdale - October 1, 2017
Revised for First Baptist Church Oakdale - October 1, 2017