Matthew 16:13-20 Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

The foundation of the church is the doctrinal declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The foundation of the church is a person - Jesus Christ. And to be part of that church is essential that we believe the truth about Jesus. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the fulfillment of the OT prophecies. He is the Son of the living God. He is God in the flesh. He was born of a virgin. He is sinless in nature.

The church is the “called out ones,” the blessed ones who understand and embrace this truth. That’s the foundational rock of the church. The church is people empowered to profess and proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus has committed to build his church upon this truth and upon his person. It is Christ who builds and not us. We are instruments in his hands to perform his task and accomplish his purposes.

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The gates of a city were the means to keep it safe against attacks. It is especially interesting that the picture painted here is that of the church prevailing against the darkness, against death, against sin, against bondage, against evil. How do we know the church is the church? When it prevails against evil.

The truth that I want to emphasize here is the fact that the Church is the agent of the kingdom of God. It is the one who has been appointed to advance the kingdom upon the earth. He promises to give the keys of the kingdom so they can accomplish the task for which they were called.

What are these keys of the kingdom? A key is a symbol of authority. Authority is to have permission and power to do something. The best picture to have is that of a steward who has been given the keys of his master’s property. A key grants the steward permission to the property as well as the power (ability) to enter the property. In the case of the kingdom of God, the keys represent at least two different things:

1. Doctrine - the truth of the Gospel - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God
2. Discipline - curbing sin in the church by keeping our brethren accountable

Kingdom Key#1 - Doctrine (Mat.16)

It is essential that each and every believer understands the truth of the Gospel - that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is imperative that we are able to articulate that truth, engage people in conversation with it, and defend it when necessary. The world in which we live has become so relativistic that there is no place for absolute truth. Yet the Gospel is absolute. Christ claims exclusivity in salvation. The Bible is authoritative for faith and life. If we can’t articulate the truth, we are incapable of opening doors for ourselves to grow and incapable of opening doors for others to escape bondage and sin to become part of God’s kingdom.

The real power of the church is in its legislative authority that Christ has given it. Over every conflict upon this earth, the church has the power and the responsibility to rule to help bring people into conformance to God’s Word under the rule of God’s kingdom.

Kingdom Key#2 - Discipline (Mat.18)

The advancement of God’s kingdom depends on our willingness to use the authority God has given us to keep each other accountable. Church discipline is not a matter of judging anyone to a final condemnation. Church discipline is a judgment unto restoration in the kingdom. Only God can exercise final judgment upon any given person. Our reluctance to get involved in the sin of others is pathetic and renders the church ineffective in the world. We need to get involved!

The proper application of discipline is as follows:

1. call the brother alone
2. call the brother with witnesses
3. call the brother before the church (church leaders)

Why don’t we have the courage to call out our brother by ourselves first? Why do we hesitate to follow up with witnesses when we see no change? Why do we hesitate to bring the issue before the authorities when all the above has been done? Our way is to avoid the person, talk about him behind his back, and hold unforgiveness for as long as possible that develops into resentment and bitterness.

Notice that the keys are meant to bring harmony between the heavens and the earth. Sin came into the world and established a rift, a wall, a separation between God and humanity. When we use the keys we work towards the establishment of the original harmony God intended between the heavens and the earth. That’s why we pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Acts 12 James Killed and Peter Imprisoned

Even though Saul had converted to Christianity, the Church was still experiencing persecution. Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great who attempted to take Jesus' life as a child, killed James, the brother of John, one of the apostles, and imprisoned Peter. Peter was placed in "death row" until after the Passover to bring him out to the people to judge him and very probably, to sentence him to death. "But earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church." The Church was constantly depending on the Spirit for boldness, courage, guidance, and protection.  Am I depending on the Spirit on a daily basis for boldness, guidance, and protection?

The Church was offering "earnest" prayer for Peter. The word has a sense of stretching to the limit; prayers were offered with sincere and intense conviction to the max, fervently! Is my prayer life practiced in earnest? Or is my prayer life boring, lacking intensity, even faith? It is not how long, but how intense. It is not how loud, but how fervent. It is not the form, but the sincerity of heart that defines the conviction behind the prayer. The Church is called to depend on the Holy Spirit and the best declaration of dependence is prayer, earnest prayer.

Peter's escape from prison was a supernatural event thanks to the prayers of the Church. He was guarded heavily, probably due to the report that the Apostles had escaped prison before (Acts 5). But no guard in the world can stop the angels of the Lord from acting on our behalf. As a believer, I have in the angels great allies who minister to me in times of need. They are servants of the Lord whom God sends on missions to accomplish his will, and many of those missions are on my behalf. Do I believe in the angels? Do I believe that God can intervene in time and space on my behalf through his angels? Persecution will bring death to many Christians on this earth and that does not mean that God loves them any less. But if God has plans with my life, no one can take it until he grants permission.

After a miraculous escape, Peter went to Mary's house where many were gathered and praying. When Peter knocked on the door, Rhoda, a servant girl recognized him, but out of joy ran to the people inside and left Peter outside. The believers could not believe her report, but kept saying it was his angel. This is what most people call today a guardian angel. It was believed that the appearance of the angel was that of the person he guarded. There is no Scriptural basis for this belief, but there is basis to believe in guardian angels or angels as messengers on behalf of God's people. Prayer unleashes the angels of God to act on our behalf. Do I pray believing that God will answer? or like these people, I can't believe when God acts? Why am I surprised when God acts on my behalf answering my prayers?

It was not Peter's time, but it was James' time. Only God knows when our time is up. To protect Peter, and the Church, God took care of the soldiers, and even Herod himself and the word of God increased and multiplied. My time will come and God is the only one who knows when. In the meantime, I resolve to do my best to serve my King upon this earth. I want to live every moment to the glory of my King.

Father, teach me to pray. May my prayer life be earnest. Increase my faith to believe that you send your angels to minister on my behalf when needed. Grant me faith to expect your answers and believe them when they happen. May I depend on you for everything every day. Amen.

Acts 11:19-30 The Church in Antioch

Antioch is an exciting church plant and a great model to follow. Most of the believers in those days were preaching to Jews only, but a few began to witness to the Hellenists (Greeks) and they began to trust in the Lord. The word about these conversions came to the ears of the Apostles in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas to check out what was going on. It is important to note the interest that the Apostles have to ensure the integrity of the preaching of the Gospel. Organization is a very important part of the kingdom of God and we would do well to pay attention to it. The movement in Antioch was at the "grass roots," but nonetheless the Apostles intervened to "supervise it." The Church is built on authority and hierarchies and we can't do away with them. Doing away with them produces chaos at most and a lack of doctrinal integrity at the least.

Barnabas was the emissary of choice because he was a good man, full of the Spirit and of faith. He was able to discern what the Spirit was doing among the people ("saw the grace of God") and rejoiced with them. He was also able to exhort or encourage the brethren "to remain faithful with steadfast purpose." Barnabas is an encourager. The work of the kingdom requires people who are able to encourage others to follow Christ with steadfast purpose. I want to be a Barnabas, an encourager of God's people! A man full of the Spirit and faith able to discern God's work among his people and able to celebrate with them. What keeps me down when I know deep down that I am an encourager?

Interestingly enough, encouragement is not enough and Barnabas was well aware of it. The church needs encouragement, but it is not enough to get it through the trials and tribulations of the day. The church needs strong teaching and Barnabas set out to find it in Saul. Saul was gifted to teach and he taught for over a year at Antioch. The Word of God is very essential for the growth of a church. Encouragement combined with solid Teaching is the winning combination to create an environment conducive to growth. Am I encouraging my brothers and sisters? Am I teaching God's Word to them?

The people from Antioch were the first ones to be called Christians. Without a doubt, the name people gave the early believers is evidence that the community was Christ-centered. The encouragement was done in the name of Christ and the teaching was about the life, ministry, death, resurrection, and return of Christ. Is my life Christ-centered? Is my teaching Christ-centered? Is my encouragement done in the name of Christ?

We can't miss the supernatural work of the Spirit through Agabus - a prophet who foretold a famine in those days. And we can't miss the gracious response in giving to aid the believers in distress. Here is the other element that a healthy church needs: belief and practice of the gifts of the Spirit. A supernatural outlook on life through the eyes of the Spirit. The power of the church is in the operation of the spiritual gifts. Am I taking for granted the gifts of the Spirit? Am I using them to the max? Or am I hiding them in the closet? A healthy church will have the elements of encouragement and solid teaching as well as the operation of the gifts of the Spirit.

Father, may Faith Alliance be a church like Antioch, filled with encouragement, strong teaching, and the gifts of the Spirit. Help me be an encourager and teacher open to the supernatural work you desire to do. May our leadership team offer the gifts you have bestowed for the building of your church and the honor of your glory. Amen.

Acts 11:1-18 Peter Reports to the Church

The Church, though a divine institution, has been plagued with problems since its birth. Within the ranks of the faithful there was already a debate concerning how to deal with Gentiles. Some believed, those of the circumcision party, that Gentiles had to go through the Jewish ritual of circumcision to be accepted even as Christians, but others didn't. I have to fight the tendency to think and expect that the Church has to be perfect upon the earth. When sinners gather I can't expect perfection, but imperfection. We strive for it, but we have not attained it. I also have to fight the tendency to withdraw from the Church, labeling it hypocritical, because people in it don't follow the teachings of Christ perfectly. I am the chief of sinners and I can't follow his teachings perfectly, but that's why I need the Church. The Church is a place for teaching, reproofing, correcting, and training. If the Church were a Perfect Club there would be no need for all that.

These brothers criticized Peter for entering into a Gentile home and eating with them, something no Jew would do in those days and some even still to this day. Peter was following the promptings and guidance of the Holy Spirit and yet, he still encountered criticism. I can't expect the work of the ministry to be criticism free. It is part and parcel of what takes place in the dynamics of the Church. I need to grow up and learn to deal with criticism as unpleasant as it may be. There is no such thing as a criticism free ministry. I realize that criticism is not a fruit of the Spirit as some may think, but I have to accept that the Church is a Rehab Center for believers and the Lord is not done with us yet. If I work in the front line of the battle, I will be shot at - guaranteed! And friendly fire is not excluded!

Peter explained the events that transpired with the Gentiles and taught them what the Spirit had been teaching him through a vision. Moreover, the evidence that God was working among the Gentiles just like among the Jews was the pouring of the Spirit after repentance. Peter remembered the preaching of John the Baptist who declared the promise of the pouring of the Spirit upon all who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter declared: ...who was I that I could stand in God's way? When God is doing something new, I have to humble myself and accept his ways. True wisdom does not lean on its own understanding, but trusts in the Lord. The Word of God should always be the lamp and guide of my life. Am I listening to God's Word on a regular basis? I should never allow the status quo, even tradition to stand in the way of what God wants to do.

It is very evident that the Apostles were working together and were stationed in Jerusalem. From there, they monitored the activities of the Church as it expanded. The fact that Peter reported back to the Apostles in Jerusalem speaks clearly of an organization that is working to ensure the spread of the Gospel and also learning from the experiences that are taking place in the field. I should not object to the organizational aspects of the Church and its ministries. It is a practical way to stay in touch with what is happening in the preaching of the Gospel and also a way to ensure the proper teaching of the Gospel is taking place. Peter silenced the brothers of the circumcision because the obvious conclusion was that God was working among them as well.

Father, teach me to see the Church as a Rehab Center and not as a Perfect Club. I need your strength to face criticism even as I work in ministry. Help me to seek your Word and be sensitive to your guidance. Amen.

Matthew 13:24-30,36-43 The Parable of the Weeds

Kingdom business is difficult because I have a king who is righteous and demands righteousness from all his servants (me included), yet I know I am flawed, imperfect due to my sinful nature. Doing business in the kingdom demands that we deal with one another's sins. The disciplines of confession, repentance, and forgiveness are a must in order to succeed in our service. People who have difficulty exercising or refuse to exercise any of these disciplines don't understand the kingdom of God at all.

Now let's add to the personal sinfulness of each servant in the kingdom the fact that we serve in an evil world. There are other people in the world who do not care for the kingdom at all. These are the sons of the evil one. Jesus explains in his Parable of the Weeds that there is a work of the enemy in the world; people who reject and even persecute God's servants.  When asked about uprooting the weeds, Jesus is against it lest the wheat is uprooted along with the weeds. Kingdom business is not about leading a crusade to eliminate infidels. It is about enduring the hatred and persecution of those infidels with the love that God can only give until the end of the age.

Moreover, I can't avoid the thought that if we have weeds in the field (the world), there are some trying to infiltrate the ranks of the faithful in the local church. There is plenty of warning in the Scriptures against false teachers who set themselves against the teaching of the apostles and silently slip into the congregation to spread their teachings. Jesus' teaching to let the wheat and the weeds grow together applies to the world, but not to the church. The counsel of the apostles is that we must keep on eye on these wolves and keep them from harming the flock by whatever means: Membership classes, Supervision of the teachings, especially in Small Groups, and Church Discipline that includes excommunication.

Kingdom business is performed in a hostile environment. I may sit in a neat and tidy office, but spiritually I am in the depths of a battlefield. The battle is being waged on multiple fronts: relationships among brothers and sisters within the church, relationships with the world that surrounds us, and the dealings with wolves that step into the local church to harm it. How can I survive? The hope that Christ offers keeps me going. One day, I will shine like the sun in the kingdom of my Father.

Father, give me strength to stand firm until the end of times. Fill my heart with the hope of your return. Don't let my heart grow weary in the work of the harvest.