“I Will Build My Church”

Christ’s Program for the Church

Text: Matthew 16:13-20

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (03/16/03)

Introduction:   

As an interesting bit of information this was what the temple of Solomon cost:

The talents of gold, silver, and brass, expended and used in the construction of the temple, amounted to an estimated $34,399, 112,500. The jewels reckoned to have exceeded that amount, may be estimated as, or at least equal to it. The vessels of silver consecrated to the uses of the temple were equal to $2,446, 720,000; the vessels of gold, $2,726, 481,015; the silk vestments of the priests, $50,000; the purple vestments of the singers, $1,000,000; trumpets, $1,000,000; other musical instruments, $2,000,000.

Ten thousand men were engaged in hewing timber on Lebanon, 70,000 were bearers of burdens, 20,900 men were overseers, all of whom were employed seven years. Solomon bestowed on them $33,669,885. Food and wages, estimated at $1.12½ per day totaled $469,385,440; the cost of the stone and timber in the temple, $12,726, 480,000.

—Selected

Acts 7:47-48   But Solomon built him an house.

48  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Matthew 12:42  ....... and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Christ is greater than Solomon, and He has built a superior structure...... The Church!!

Men have their own ideas of what the church should be.

They design programs, and employ new methods to get the work of the church moving forward.

These may be good and not wrong desires, programs or methods....

But the question we should be asking is “How does all of this fit into Christ’s program for the church?”

NOT – “What is the church on Main St. doing?” Or “What are the latest trends in the church growth movement?”  But......

“What is His plan?”

This passage of Scripture reveals some key elements that are part of Christ’s program for the church:

I. The Church must have a Foundation

GROUND

“Upon this Rock”

Differing Views of vs. 18...

1. Peter is the rock (Catholic/first Pope)

2. Peter’s confession is the rock (Reasons for this?)

A great confession of Christ’s person, but still incomplete (EXPLAIN)

3. Christ is the Rock – Inescapable

Well, obviously it was not, because there is a play upon words here. In the original Greek it is, "Thou art petros [a little piece of rock], and upon this petra [bedrock] I will build my church."

1 Corinthians 10:44And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:1111For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:1818And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

A. Without Christ the Church is Shifting/Changing

Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

He is etrnally the same!!!

B. Without Christ the Church is Silent

He is our Message!!!

Galatians 6:14  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

C. Without Christ the Church is Starving

He is the BREAD from Heaven – John 6

He is the Living WATER – John 7

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

II. The Church must be Built

GROWTH

“I will build my church;”

BUILD - 3618 οἰκοδομέω , οἰκοδόμος 1 to build a house, erect a building. 1a to build (up from the foundation). 1b to restore by building, to rebuild, repair. 2 metaph. 2a to found, establish. 2b to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness. 2c to grow in wisdom and piety.

A. Not All Growth is Good Growth

EXAMPLE (Parables of Matt. 13) – Wheat & Tares

B. God Gives the Increase

LOOK UP & READ I Cor. 3:6-9

C. God’s People are to Facilitate Growth

HOW? By planting and watering (I Cor. 3)

How does God want us (MIBC) to grow?  Spiritually / Numerically

III. The Church must be Victorious

GAIN

“The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it”

GATES OF HELL - “Gates” represent, in the Bible, authority and power. The city gate was to a Jew what city hall is to people in the Western world. Important business was transacted at the city gate ( Deut. 16:18 ; 17:8 ; Ruth 4:11 ). “The gates of hades” then would symbolize the organized power of death and Satan. By His death and resurrection, Jesus Christ would conquer death, so that death would not be able to hold any of His people. Christ would “storm the gates” and deliver the captives!

1 Corinthians 15:55 & 57  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church on the Offense

The church must be proactive in regard to evangelism not passive.

Soulwinning / Discipling / Building God’s People / Equipping the Saints!!

Some want to live within the sound Of church or chapel bell.

I want to run a rescue shop Within a yard of hell.

C. T Studd

IV. The Church must have Authority

GOSPEL

“Keys of the Kingdom”

These are not the Keys of the Church

They are not the Keys to death or eternity – those belong only to Christ.

Revelation 1:1818 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death .

Keys have to do with Authority or Stewardship (Not Lordship!!)

That is reflected in Peter’s words of....

1 Peter 5:2-4  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

So these Keys have to do with Peter and the apostle’s stewardship in the Kingdom in relationship to the Truths of God’s Word – Most specifically the Gospel.

Here is one example...

Acts 14:2727And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Then in....

1 Timothy 3:1515But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

A. Gospel Truth...to be Defended

Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

B. Gospel Truth...to be Declared

1 Corinthians 9:16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

C. Gospel Truth...to be Defined

I Cor. 15:1-4 (Death – Burial – Resurrection of Christ)

V. The Church must have Agreement

GOODWILL / UNITY

“Binding and Loosing”

This is not Heaven in agreement with the Church, - but the Church in agreement with Heaven.

What a happy state!!

One application of this specifically mentioned in Scripture is in regard to church discipline.

Matthew 18:18 (READ verses 15-17) Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven .

Conclusion:     (Review)

The Church must be FOUNDED right!

It must be BUILT right – and BATTLE right!!

The Church of Jesus Christ must never surrender it’s source of AUTHORITY – nor it’s source of AGREEMENT!!!!

That is Christ’s program for the Church.