TITLE: “A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus”
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
SUB TOPIC: “The Lord’s House”
Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: Psalm 127:1a
Introduction: “A church built on the foundation of Jesus” makes a very profound and distinct difference in a church just being one in many that are built.
If one would peruse the neighbor-hood you will find a church just about on every other corner. That’s not a bad thing; who can question it? Maybe that many churches are in need, everyone can be their own judge of that.
At least everyone should be concerned about what is needed in the neighbor-hood.
Some churches are impressionable in size, structure, and design and are known for their longevity as a symbol or landmark for the presence of the religious community.
In stating the obvious we see that many churches have been built leading one to a natural inquisition of who may have founded and or built the church.
In viewing the theme from a practical perspective and in physical context, we consider the house, the building as the church. We don’t have to be contractors, architects, or carpenters to know that to build cost money.
Luke 14:28-30 states that if you intend to build, first count the cost that you have sufficient funds to finish: lest after he hath laid the foundation and is not able to finish it and all that behold it begin to mock him, saying this man began to build and was not able to finish it.
I’ve heard it said that a house divided against its self cannot stand, but even more-so a house without a foundation cannot be built.
A house has to be built on a strong, solid, firm, sure foundation.
The foundation has to be able to support the size, structure, and weight of the building.
I’ve noticed even when the strong winds of a tornado blows the house away the foundation is the only thing left.
I’m reminded of the story of the 3 little pigs that tried to shelter and protect themselves from the big bad wolf.
One built his house of hay and straw and the wolf blew it away, another built his house of wood and the wolf huffed and puffed and blew it down, the third built his house of rock and brick and lived to tell the story.
In the gospel of Matthew 7:24-29 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will likened him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. (house means one’s life)
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
The characteristics of a rock, is that it is hard, sturdy, strong, firm, and unbreakable; this also lends it to be trustworthy, and dependable.
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
Right here I will segue back to the text of your theme Matthew 16:18.
Historical (Exegesis):
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The setting of the text is during the Galilean ministry of Jesus.
He left Galilee after the beheading of John the Baptist, and traveled North, to Tyre, Sidon, and Caesarea Philippi.
Jesus ministry was only three years, therefore his disciples was on a crash course to learn and be trained in the knowledge of God and the kingdom; and the authority and power of the word and the acts and workings of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus turned the water to wine at the wedding in Canaa of Galilee.
Jesus fed the 5,000 with 2 fish and 5 loaves.
Near Tyre Jesus cast out a demon from the daughter of a Syro-Phoenician woman; also in the gospel of Matthew it is recorded when Jesus left Galilee a great multitude followed having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and he healed them all after-which he fed 4,000 with seven loaves and a few fish.
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?”
Here Jesus asked a question, so he could ask a question. 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 Hell (Hades) shall not prevail against it.”
Peter was impulsive, quick, bold, courageous, opinionated, and vibrant; he was always the first to speak or to act. (right or wrong)
Peter didn’t realize exactly what he said, but it was exactly what Jesus wanted and needed to hear.
Jesus needed to know that the disciples knew who he really was/is. Jesus said to Peter, “for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my father which is in heaven.”
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
Let Us Transition to The Present (Here and Now):
We know that when we speak in terms of the church we are not talking about the building; we speak of the people, members, baptized believers, chosen or calledâout assembly (Gr. Ekklesia) group of believers in Christ.
I Peter 2:9 states,
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
I Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
You/We are the church; the church is the body of Christ, one body but many members.
Romans 12:5 So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
The body has a head if not it would be a freak of nature; Christ is the head of the Church,
Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
(not the Pastor, deacon, trustee, clerk, secretary, choir director, pianist, usher) The Pastor is the under-shepherd, the angel of the church (title and position) we all have a calling, the Pastor can’t do it by himself, we are workers together with God.
I Corinthians 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
Now let us get personal, you are the church and the church is in you.
Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. (I John 4:4)
What know ye not, that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (ICorinthians 6:19)
In fact we have Trinity power within us, the eternal spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, God our father and creator, and his only begotten son our savior Jesus the Christ. There truly is hidden treasure in earthen vessels. You might say,” how can that be?” I’m glad you asked, in the gospel of
John 14:21-23 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (the love of God/word, the mind of Christ, manifest/indwelling by the Holy Spirit)
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
Point # 1 Upon this rock
a. foundation âtruth of Jesus deity revealed by divine revelation through Peter. Peter is not the foundation. First occurrence of the operation of faith by divine revelation; sets precedence for The New Testament church.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)
b. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The Old Testament church was sometimes referred to as the way. Jesus is the rock, truth, way, the foundation of the church.
I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me. (John 14:6)
c. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
Point #2 I Build
Jesus adamantly proclaims that he builds his church. He is sometimes referred to as the son of a Jewish carpenter, Joseph his earthly father was a carpenter.
Jesus is not talking about getting his carpenter’s utility belt and hammer and building a physical church, a building. Jesus is talking about building the spiritual house.
Psalm 127:1a–Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it:
Ephesians 2:20 and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In whom ye also are builded through the Spirit.
I Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master-builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon.11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House“
Point #3 My Church
There should be no confusion here; this is plain as the nose on your face.
Jesus stakes claim and proclaims ownership of the church.
Jesus says it is his church; does anyone want to argue with that?
I hear Pastors make this mistake all the time, the claim of “My” church.
No, it is your Pastoral-ship, it is your ministry, it is your appointment, and assignment.
Jesus said, “Upon this rock, I build, My church.”
The gospel, God’s plan of salvation is Jesus.
The gospel is the prophecy of the messiah(Old Testament), birth, life, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, and second coming of Jesus the Christ our Lord and savior.(New Testament)
Jesus is the great head of the church. The church is the body of Christ. The church is the bride of Christ.
Conclusion:
I need to close and wrap this up, now we get down to the good part.
Jesus said, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.”
The phrase shall not prevail should be understood as meaning “shall not stand against.”
The imagery would then picture the church as being on the offensive against the gates of hell.
The Greek word for hell (haides) represents the kingdom of Satan, not just death and the grave.
Jesus’ resurrection was victory over the sting of death and the grave.
Jesus took the keys to death and hell away from Satan.
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
Matthew 11:12 states, And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
The church is on the offensive here and hell is on the defensive.
His (Jesus) church is empowered to aggressively and offensively attack the gates of hell (Satan’s kingdom) by snatching out victims from darkness into His glorious kingdom of light.
Jesus declared all power in heaven and earth is in my hands.
In these last and evil days it appears that the church is on the defensive.
These gates of hell shall not prevail against the church –
- Gays are out of the closet:
- Christians are running in the closet:
- Same sex marriages are the new normal:
- Divorce amongst heterosexuals, are at an all time high:
- Families are breaking up and being destroyed:
- Husbands are killing their wives:
- Fathers are killing their children:
- Children are killing their parents:
- Pedophiles and rapist are everywhere:
What’s wrong with this world we live in?
We’re living in perilous and peerless times.
The whole world has gone crazy.
If you kill a human/teenager (T. M.), the courts will allow you to walk free.
If a group of teenagers kill a dog, they get sentence to five years in prison.
The gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
The middle East is a powder keg, warships are lined up in the great sea; this is the exact same location as the backdrop of this sermon text.
The mother-land is shaken; there’s turmoil and unrest in Syria, Cairo, and Egypt.
Psalm 82:5 states, They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
Jesus said in Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.
And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.
When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus /The Lord’s House”
What about your house, are you slipping, confused, shaken?
How’s your faith, are you committed, consecrated, and saintified?
Are you a doer of the word and not a hearer only? Are you rooted and grounded in the Lord?
When the storms of life are raging, will you be able to stand? When the rains of depression come down; or the winds of oppression, and the flood of opposition and rejection try to dislodged, displace, and move you off your foundation.
In times like these you need a savior.
In times like these you need an anchor.
Be very sure your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.
This rock is Jesus the only one.
I’m reminded of the story of an old beautiful tree; that was planted by the banks of the river.
Season after season and year after year, storm after storm, come rain or high winds, or flood, the old tree continued to stand.
Out of curiosity the landowner decided to investigate.
So he dug a deep hole next to the tree and discovered that the roots of the tree had grown very deep and also wrapped around a large rock. You need Jesus.
Jesus is the rock, the truth, the sure foundation. Rock of ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
Jesus is a rock in a weary land. Jesus knew that his departure was at hand so he needed his disciples to know who he was to prepare them for his death.
I’m closing now, Jesus had to go to the rock, he had an appointment with Golgotha, known as skull-mountain a rocky hill known as Calvary.
The stone that builders rejected has now become the chief corner stone.
The cornerstone has to be put in place to square the house, the spiritual house.
He who knew no sin, became sin; he took my sin, your sin, and the sin of the world and hung on a tree. Cursed is anyone that hangeth on a tree.
He died our death for us; so we could live his life. He pardon us and paid the sin debt; the penalty of sin was demanded by a just God to be paid.
Jesus was our propitiation our substitute the only substitute God would accept, we were not worthy.
Jesus acquitted us and dropped the charges and took away the guilt.(expiation) He imputed his righteousness toward us and died for us. He paid the ransom with his blood,(justification) he laid down his life.
This is the rock, this is the truth, this is the foundation. Jesus is asking you the same questions today that he ask his disciples.
Have I been so long time with you, and you’ve not known who I am? Who do you say that I am?
- Am I your redeemer I AM:
- Am I your Savior I AM:
- Am I your Lord I AM:
- Am I your Shepherd Jehovah Rohr I AM:
- Am I your provider Jehovah Jireh I AM:
- Am I your healer Jehovah Roph I AM:
- Am I your righteousness Jehovah Tsidkenu I AM:
- Am I your banner, victory Jehovah Nissi I AM:
- Am I your peace Jehovah Shalom I AM:
“A Church Built on the Foundation of Jesus”
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.