Dear Pray-er,
This is Part 6 of a study of Matthew 16:13-20. Part 1-5 are below. Just scroll down.
To you, dear one, it has been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things come in parables. May the Lord open your understanding to see and to know those things that are hidden from the world.
Speak and declare your agreement with that prayer.
Read Matthew 16:13-20.
Recap
Knowledge from Heaven is opened up as Father reveals Who Jesus is.
When we receive and confess Him, we are born again.
Christ is building His Church on this foundation.
The gates of Hades shall never prevail over The Church. Never!
Keys of Heaven have been given to The Church to loose and to bind.
The Building Being Built
What I thought would be a one week study is in now week 6. I sense from the Lord, almost with urgency, that we, the Body of Christ, must seek after and grab hold of the Kingdom truths written in this passage.
As we studied last week, if we go to God as a beggar wrapped in fear, we won’t be able to lift the mighty Sword of the Spirit against the enemy. Gideon was transformed when words from Heaven were declared: “God is with you, you mighty man of valor. Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel….Have I not sent you?” And then, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” See Judges Chapter 6. Remember when Jesus gave us a similar instruction?
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
What a glorious account of the faith-change in one’s identity when God’s word is received to replace man’s inward fallen nature of deficiency and loneliness.
Several times we have studied how important it is for every born again Christian to know who they are in Christ. Not who they are in their first birth, or who they are in the world, but who they are as Ambassadors of another Kingdom. Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? When Jesus asked that question, He already knew who He was. His identity was totally consumed with His Father.
“And suddenly a voice came from Heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
“Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ “See Matthew Chapter 4.
How did Jesus defeat this lie, a challenge to His identity?
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’“
Jesus never swayed from His position in God. All that He thought, all that He spoke, all that He did, came forth from who He was in Father.
He said, “I and the Father are one.”
Can’t you say the same thing?
“I Will Build My Church”
How Lord? “One brick at a time.”
There’s no one else like you! You are wonderfully made! Your identity, your uniqueness, personality, perspective, and actions should all be rooted in Him.
“…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“For you died, and your very life is hidden with Christ, in God.” Colossians 3:3
It is “in Him and through Him that we live and have our being.” Acts 17:28
Why is acknowledgement of our identity in Christ so important?
The days are upon us, dear ones, that we must know who we are, Who is with us, and what we have been given to accomplish our assignments. Jesus shed His precious Blood for your new birth, but if you don’t know or act on your inheritance, you will not fully complete your ministry.
Those keys that Jesus gave you are located in God’s Word. As you daily deposit the word, through hearing, reading and speaking, your reborn spirit is recharged, rejuvenated, and re-fired by the Holy Spirit.
The Church Transformed…A Living Building
Just like Gideon was transformed, the Holy Spirit is seeking to transform our “old self” to our “true self” as one in Jesus. Old beggarly ways and lies from the enemy are being replaced as we see ourselves through Father’s eyes, soaring high with authority to do the greater works. And when you soar, I soar.
Where is The Church headed?
We were born of an incorruptible seed, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:9-12
Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, and The Church…we…one with the Father, “in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:21-22
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23
“…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19
This is where you and I are headed, dear one.
Closing Comments
The “BIG” picture…
Let’s “zoom out” like we do with Map Quest to get a different perspective of our study in Matthew 16.
Jesus is teaching His disciples Kingdom truths in this passage.
Two questions are asked.
Peter sees: Jesus, the Christ!
What follows this revelation knowledge?
The revealing of The Church!
What’s next? Jesus unveils a kingdom that will oppose The Church.
What’s next? The promise.
What’s next? Provision, tools, weapons to overcome…KEYS… from the ruling Kingdom of Heaven to enforce order and victory on earth!
“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” Psalm 110:1-2
________________________________________________________________
Question
Matthew 16:16
Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Why wasn’t Peter born again at that instant?
This is Part 6 of a study of Matthew 16:13-20. Part 1-5 are below. Just scroll down.
To you, dear one, it has been given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things come in parables. May the Lord open your understanding to see and to know those things that are hidden from the world.
Speak and declare your agreement with that prayer.
Read Matthew 16:13-20.
Recap
Knowledge from Heaven is opened up as Father reveals Who Jesus is.
When we receive and confess Him, we are born again.
Christ is building His Church on this foundation.
The gates of Hades shall never prevail over The Church. Never!
Keys of Heaven have been given to The Church to loose and to bind.
- Without using a commentary, make a list of what you think the keys of Heaven are.
- Why do you think Jesus commanded His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ? Mt. 16:20.
The Building Being Built
What I thought would be a one week study is in now week 6. I sense from the Lord, almost with urgency, that we, the Body of Christ, must seek after and grab hold of the Kingdom truths written in this passage.
As we studied last week, if we go to God as a beggar wrapped in fear, we won’t be able to lift the mighty Sword of the Spirit against the enemy. Gideon was transformed when words from Heaven were declared: “God is with you, you mighty man of valor. Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel….Have I not sent you?” And then, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” See Judges Chapter 6. Remember when Jesus gave us a similar instruction?
"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27.
What a glorious account of the faith-change in one’s identity when God’s word is received to replace man’s inward fallen nature of deficiency and loneliness.
Several times we have studied how important it is for every born again Christian to know who they are in Christ. Not who they are in their first birth, or who they are in the world, but who they are as Ambassadors of another Kingdom. Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? When Jesus asked that question, He already knew who He was. His identity was totally consumed with His Father.
“And suddenly a voice came from Heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’”
“Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ “See Matthew Chapter 4.
How did Jesus defeat this lie, a challenge to His identity?
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’“
Jesus never swayed from His position in God. All that He thought, all that He spoke, all that He did, came forth from who He was in Father.
He said, “I and the Father are one.”
Can’t you say the same thing?
“I Will Build My Church”
How Lord? “One brick at a time.”
There’s no one else like you! You are wonderfully made! Your identity, your uniqueness, personality, perspective, and actions should all be rooted in Him.
“…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“For you died, and your very life is hidden with Christ, in God.” Colossians 3:3
It is “in Him and through Him that we live and have our being.” Acts 17:28
Why is acknowledgement of our identity in Christ so important?
- Because we can actually become what the Word has declared us to be.
- Because the accuser of the brethren is against us.
The days are upon us, dear ones, that we must know who we are, Who is with us, and what we have been given to accomplish our assignments. Jesus shed His precious Blood for your new birth, but if you don’t know or act on your inheritance, you will not fully complete your ministry.
Those keys that Jesus gave you are located in God’s Word. As you daily deposit the word, through hearing, reading and speaking, your reborn spirit is recharged, rejuvenated, and re-fired by the Holy Spirit.
The Church Transformed…A Living Building
Just like Gideon was transformed, the Holy Spirit is seeking to transform our “old self” to our “true self” as one in Jesus. Old beggarly ways and lies from the enemy are being replaced as we see ourselves through Father’s eyes, soaring high with authority to do the greater works. And when you soar, I soar.
Where is The Church headed?
We were born of an incorruptible seed, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:9-12
Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, and The Church…we…one with the Father, “in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:21-22
“And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:22-23
“…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19
This is where you and I are headed, dear one.
Closing Comments
The “BIG” picture…
Let’s “zoom out” like we do with Map Quest to get a different perspective of our study in Matthew 16.
Jesus is teaching His disciples Kingdom truths in this passage.
Two questions are asked.
Peter sees: Jesus, the Christ!
What follows this revelation knowledge?
The revealing of The Church!
What’s next? Jesus unveils a kingdom that will oppose The Church.
What’s next? The promise.
What’s next? Provision, tools, weapons to overcome…KEYS… from the ruling Kingdom of Heaven to enforce order and victory on earth!
“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” Psalm 110:1-2
________________________________________________________________
Question
Matthew 16:16
Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Why wasn’t Peter born again at that instant?