Built to Last

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

18 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.

The Church was God's Idea

From the beginning God has been calling things into order.

His orders would declare

++His purpose

++His Power

++His Provision

When God speaks it brings

++Divine alignment

++Divine assignment

Genesis 1:1–3 NKJV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

God spoke into chaos

++And brought order

++He said let there be....and it was so

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

18 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.

In this text Jesus declares

++A new reality

++Who you are

++Peter (the rock)

Why did he speak this?

What makes the church different?

The Church in the Old Testament

The OT Church was connected

++To people

Genesis 17:7 NKJV

7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

Exodus 6:7 NKJV

7 I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Ezekiel 34:23–24 NKJV

23 I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

The OT Church was connected

To people

++To places

2 Chronicles 5:11 NKJV

11 And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions),

2 Chronicles 5:13–14 NKJV

13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

Lord, Fill the House Again

Until the Lord come in

++It is just another building

++It is just the work of men’s hands

Haggai 2:3 NKJV

3 ‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?

The temple

++Was made by God’s Design

++Was to be a reflection of his Glory

++Had been destroyed

++Was temporary

Haggai 2:6–9 NKJV

6 “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts. 8 ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts. 9 ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

To be Built to Last-_The Builder Matters_

The House that God Built

Psalm 127:1 NKJV

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

It is the Lord’s work

The Lord

++Builds the House

++Keeps the City

This speaks of the Lord’s

++Capacity

++Care

Somebody believed

Romans 4:19–21 NKJV

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

God’s Promises

++Are True

++Can be trusted

++Declares the Activity of God

Matthew 16:15–18 NKJV

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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. 18 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.

To be Built to Last-_There must be a firm foundation_

1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

The Church must know who Jesus Is

He is more

++A prophet

++A good teacher

Hebrews 1:3 NKJV

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

To be Built to Last-_Trust the Builder_

Peter received a revelation from God

He had a choice

++To listen to Heaven

++Except what others have said

John 7:37–39 NKJV

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

A revelation of Jesus brought clarity

Jesus declared

++The Source of the revelation

++Who Peter was

++The Significance of what was revealed

Matthew 16:18 NKJV

18 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.