THE ROCK

THE ROCK 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.

To begin with brothers and sisters, Christian Friends, Well Wishers and Saints of God It give me a plum , pleasing, privilege, and pleasure to come and teach and preach the word of God on your blesseth Church Anniversary.

I’m appreciative and adroit enough to know that Rev. Dr. Ronald Dorsey our Elder Statesmen could have called 100 preacher who could have done this task efficiently effective and with more effort than I could. So Greater Israel B.C. Thank you.

Brothers and sisters we do well to emulate a Christ Centered Church because the bible says that Jesus said Upon this Rock, I’ll build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church. And Jesus said these profound, prolific, and prophetic words to Peter. Y’all got a minute for me to teach this lesson ?

The bible says in Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

First of all Jesus didn’t live in Caesarea Philippi so the question seems irrelevant Because Jesus grew up in Nazareth and then Jesus lived in Capernaum.If you were going to ask what people think about you’d ask in the town you live in right? And the region Caesarea Philippi is a roman occupied territory that beared Caesar's name so even more so why ask what people think in that city. Jesus and His disciples are 120 miles away from Jerusalem. Way out there in the Gentile territory of Caesarea Philippi. And This northern Palestinian region was full of idol worship.

And what does that have do with me in 2024 Rev Allen? Statistics are showing that less people are going to Church and even less are believing in God. Too many people got they mind on they money and they money on they mind. Too many people worry about cars houses and land and forget that God gave it to them. And we made things idol gods to us. Then we cut up and carry on if anybody tell us about it. The children of Israel oftentimes forgot God and then went right back to cutting up and carrying on.

Tell your neighbor: Don’t cut up and carry on.

2. For some odd reason Jesus is engaging in a popularity contest. This seems unusual for Jesus. Let’s examine what Jesus says to His disciples.In verse 13 Jesus asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

1. Jesus already knows who He is and as popular as he was Jesus knew what the people of His day thought of Him. Yeah He knew

2. Church could it be that Jesus is moving into mindset and school of thought of Messiah ship? And the answer is Yes Sir because it’s Messianic statement. “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?

3. Jesus gives us an opportunity in 2024 to be a powerful witness of the Goodness of God. Because every time I think about who Jesus is to me!! I just lose it. What you mean Pastor? First of all Jesus is the prophet, priest, and King. In fact Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

And then the disciples began their theological discourse about who they thought Jesus was, is, and ever shall be.

Look at verse 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

The disciples of Jesus engaged in theology. They began to say Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

As a Pastor it makes you feel good when you folk are actually learning the God’s word, getting stronger and acting better under your teaching and preaching.

Jesus must have felt good when they began to say Master they say you’re like Isaiah, Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, or Malachi or Moses or Elijah or somebody big like that.

Jesus said that’s good fellows 3x Then Jesus said but that’s what public opinion says about Me.

In verse 15 Jesus says But whom say ye that I am? It’s getting personal now.Jesus has to be personal to you, It’s no longer that my grandmother went to Greater Israel or my papa was a great deacon in Greater Israel Now It’s your turn.

Tell your neighbor: Now it’s your turn to tell who Jesus is.

Who is Jesus to you? I can’t talk for you but I can tell you who is to me. When the Dr told me that I had Cancer. I prayed to the Lord and Jehovah Rapha Healed my body and now I’m 9 years cancer free. Everybody in here have a story to tell about who Jesus is to you. And I can hear somebody in here saying you can’t tell it like I can tell it what the Lord have done for me. When I look back over my life and I think about all that the Lord have done for me My soul cry out and say thank You Jesus you brought me from a mighty mighty mighty long ways. Simon Peter’s made a profound, prophetic, and prolific statement, He said in Matthew 16:16 Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Brothers and sisters, christian friends, well wishers, and saints of God when you know Jesus for yourself you can talk about it to anybody anywhere and under any conditions, circumstances, or situations. And the church said Amen

Peter said thous art the Christ. Give me a minute. In the Greek vernacular He’s Iēsous Christos. Grandma called Him her burden bearer and grandpa called Him his heavy load sharer. The bible call Him the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, The Beginning and the End, The Ancient of Days,The High priest after the order of Melchizedek,The Captain of our Salvation,The NT He’s Propitiation,The OT He’s our Kinsman Redeemer. Peter said “Thou Art the Christ”!!! The Son of the Living God.

The proof of that is in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

And then Jesus said to Peter, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And verse 17 teaches talks and tells us that if you stay close to God, the Holy Ghost will talk to you. I was at my cancer Dr.( I’m still cancer free). He said Rev. when I jog out in open spaces I clear my mind and have a little talk with the Lord. He said I was running and running trying figure out a solution to one of my patients problem.He said Rev after praying God and spending time with the Lord He gave me the answer. Long story short my Dr said Rev. I know that there’s a God and if you stay close to Him He’ll talk to you. Church won’t He talk to you sometimes. Yeah talk to you and tell you that you are His own.

Tell your neighbor: I’m A Child of God.

And so Jesus says to Peter 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. Okay this is our theme verse. and I see several things in the text.

1. Jesus said that you are Peter. His kin folk and his wife called his Simon, that’s the natural man side of him. But Jesus called him Peter symbolizing that Peter being the chief Apostle represented Christ’s KINGDOM. Teach me Pastor.

2. The word Peter in the Greek vernacular is the word Petros it means it’s a large Rock that unbreakable.

Tell your neighbor: You can’t break that!!!

Here’s what I’m talking about It’s got some people that think that they can control God’s church and if things don’t go their way, If they can’t run it they’ll wreck it. But The Rock The Petros The very foundation of the Church can not be broken by any demon from hell.

3. The text says that Jesus said I’ll build my church! And what that means to me is Pastor Allen this ain’t none of your church. And Ain’t no church got no President of the church either. It’s God’s Church. The Church is the Ekklesia the called out And the pastor is the Ekklesian and most God fearing men that recognize that God is the Owner of His Church. Come on say Amen ya’ll.

4. Jesus said I’ll build my church. If we abide in His He’ll abide in us. Why you said that Rev? Ask me why. Because when you got God in you you’ll come in this church with righteous reverence for God, righteous reverence for His Pastor, His First Lady, His Deacons His Deaconesses, His Choir and musicians and His ushers. We ought to come into God’s House with respect for the leadership and respect for the members in the pews. Good decent Christian folk know to act when they come to the house of God. And the church said Amen

Tell your neighbor: You got to act right when you come to God’s House.

Then the last thing Jesus says in the text in verse 18 is “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”. And as I studied the text, I had a few significant, important and pertinent questions about the statement “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against God’s Church.”

1. Why did Jesus declare this Holy, Pious, and powerful statement in Caesarea Philippi seeing that is was a gentile territory?

2. Why is the world of common sense would Jesus propose such a profound statement around all of that idol worship?

3. Why not in Jerusalem where there is a know presence of the Monotheistic God. Jehovah Adonai the Almighty God is the center of worship prayer and praise? Can I answer these questions for you?

1. Jesus was in the center territory of idol worship and he looked at the massive rocks surrounding Caesarea Philippi . And Jesus knowing the History about that place spoken directly against their false security. Here’s what I’m talking about. Jesus knew that there was an ancient city by the name of Dedan. And Dedan had a natural defense system against enemy attacks. The ancient city of Dedan had natural rock walls over a hundred feet tall on both sides of a narrow narrow narrow pathway. And I don’t care how many enemy soldiers you had Only one or two could pass through this narrow narrow narrow pathway at a time. And so as soon as the city of Dedan had enemies, they could pick off the enemies one by one with their archers who specializes in precise kill shots. They guarded the rock wall day and night. And nobody could sneak in wiggle in worm in wobble in or slip in. Preach Rev Allen.Jesus knew that history.

And number #2 The reason Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church in the midst of the idol worshipping people of Caesarea Philippi was because Caesarea Philippi was the center for Baal worship; also for the Greek idol god Pan They built shrines there for these idol gods. Then lastly Herod the Great had built a temple there to honor Augustus Caesar. So Jesus was in the center of Heathenville. let me put it in your lap where you can get it. Jesus was in the center of Heathenville, Not labadeville, Not Napolenville, Not Bertrandville, Not Plattenville, Not Paincourtville, Not Herryville, Not Peterville, Not Bell Rose, and Not Donaldsonville, But Jesus was in the center of Heathenville.

And Jesus is making a declaration and a hard stance that the Christian Religion is stronger than all of those weak idol gods the people of Caesarea Philippi worshipped.

In other words our God is All Powerful Our God is Awesome. Our God is Great. Our God is Superior to any God on the face of this earth and The Jesus is our All Sufficient Savior who Hold His Church in the Hollow of His Hand and no man can Pluck us out.

And then the last question #3. Why didn’t Jesus declare this statement in Jerusalem? Why not in the capital city of the Jews. Well for one thing the Religious Jews of the Sanhedrin Council hated Jesus. They hated Jesus. The Pharisees hated Jesus, the Sadducees hated Jesus, and the Scribes hated Jesus. The final reason was because the Gospel had to become universalized not just localized.

I’m out of here but tah the last thing Jesus said to His disciples in the book of Matthews was “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Why ah I’m so glad that I belong to the Great Community of Christians. And we may not be all that we ought to be

Oh Lord but tah the songwriter said Please be patient with me because God is not through with me yet. Oh Lord.

And I heard yes that One Friday um um um Jesus was led up too Calvary. Um And they stretched Him wide and Nailed His hands and riveted His Feet Yes They Hung Him Up High and for me He died. Anybody Here know He died? Didn’t He die. They put Him down In Joseph’s new tomb. He stayed there All night Friday night stay there All day Saturday, stayed there All night Saturday night But 5th Early, 7th Early, 8th Early Sunday Morning he Got Up from the grave with ALL POWER in His Hands.

Ain’t He Alright!