The Gates of Hell Message 1

Chris Sielbeck

Upon this Rock: The first days of the church • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Matthew 16:13–17

Prayer

Church Nature

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Upon this Rock

The first days of the church

Message One

The Gates of Hell

Me:

The Temple of Pan

a. Caesarea Philippi (Map)

i. I found this to one of the most exciting parts of my trip to Israel

ii. It’s out in the middle of nowhere

Pagan worship

i. Show images of the place

This will please the gods

ii. Dancing goats

iii. A very deep spring that was called the “gates of hell”

c. Jesus visits the area

i. There is some discussion about this

ii. However, is seems to fit that Jesus would say these words.

Matthew 16:18 ESV

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We:

Do churches ever close their doors?

a. Sadly yes

i. Why?

b. Some statistics

i. Every year more than 4000 churches close their doors compared to just over 1000 new church starts!

ii. Every year, 2.7 million church members fall into inactivity.

iii. They go on and on. Post Christian

c. Here’s the reason

i. Churches fail because we place our needs and desires over the Lord's.

ii. It is His Church, and we are His people.

God:

The Gates of Hell

a. Who do people say that I am?

Matthew 16:13–20 ESV

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

b. Thought One

Jesus said “My Church” - The church is Christ’s not man’s.

ii. We are called to a higher purpose

iii. We are not called to ourselves.

iv. A dying church would rather die than change

c. Thought Two

Jesus said, “I will build” – Christ builds the church

ii. A church needs to focus on the right target not our desires

iii. Did you know you are the “living stones” of the church?

1. See 1 Peter 2:4-6

d. Thought Three

Jesus said, “the gates of hell will not prevail.” Christ himself protects the church

ii. There are some key ingredients in this happening. We will explore these in this series

You:

The Church is Under Siege

a. Ask yourself this:

Grace is our church all God intends for it to be?

If not, what would you be willing to do to see God transform it?

What price would you pay?

What adjustments would you make?

What pain would you endure?

What cross would you take up?

How fervently do you want God to do a mighty work in our church?

We:

5. Key ingredient

Prayer

i. I want us to be a praying church.

ii. A church that prays for the mighty work of God to take place in its midst.

iii. It's the first sacrifice and adjustment that we need to make.

Pray for your pastor.

i. The Demons of Hell want to see us fail.

ii. There are demonic forces that want to see me fail

Pray for each other

i. The devil will lie to you

Pray for the lost

i. They are dying and going to hell

ii. Start to have a burden for them

iii. Invite board

Pray now

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