Matthew 16:13-18
“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”   So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”   He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”   Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Who do men say that I the son of man am?  What people say about Jesus is the key point here and it is an important one.  Some say he is a prophet, a good man, a teacher of good things.  Some say he is a leader of religion like Budda or Mohammed.  Some say he is just another man in history – no more, no less.  Did you notice how Jesus phrased the questions:  ‘Who do men say that I am?’ and ‘But who do you say that I am?’

Peter’s answer is important because it reveals that this revelation was not given to him by flesh and blood, but it was given to him by the Father in heaven.  Peter understands that  Jesus is THE Christ, the Son of the living God.  And it is upon Jesus, the rock [petra] that the church is to be built.  We are a “chip off this large immovable rock!”  (I Peter 2:4-5)

We are not called to be a “standard evangelical church with out power.”   We are not to just to good deeds or run a soup kitchen or do some nice outreaches.  That is NOT the purpose of this church.  We are called to what they had in Acts 4:33:  And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. This is what we are all about. The path to the power of God is not paved with good intentions, rather it is challenging and can be rocky at times with many obstacles along the way.  I Cor 16:9: [Amp] For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.

God called this church to proclaim the Good News with signs, wonders and miracles following.  We have seen and experienced the devil kicking up dust trying to scare us off.  Why?  Because he is afraid of what might happen if we get all excited about Jesus and the power of God is poured out.  As long as we remain a nice, mind our own business church we are no threat to him.  But when we get serious and show that we mean business – look out!

I got a real taste of the power of God when I was in Africa.  We saw the lame walk, the blind see and the deaf hear.  I want to see all that and so much more right here in Princeton.   And we will if we continue to persist and not grow weary and faint.  When God’s Spirit gets poured out, God’s power is like a juggernaut that crushes all of satan’s opposition. (Rom 16:20)

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