What is Wrong with God's House?

Whenever you are considering diagnosing a problem with anything, it is important that you first understand how it is supposed to operate. For instance, if you have a problem on you car, one of your appliances in your home, or even something as simple as your a drawer on your dresser, before you can figure out what is wrong with it, you have to understand how it is supposed to work and what aspect is not working properly, then you can better understand how to repair the problem.

Today, we are going to look at a passage that C.J. Bordeaux preached during our revival, but from a slightly different emphasis.

Matthew 16:13–18 HCSB

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” 17 And Jesus responded, “Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.

Matt. 16:13-

Background

This passage is one in which Jesus revealed to His disciples the foundation for His Church, but also the potential of the Church. This is a passage that many of you may know by heart, but I doubt many of you have ever considered the geographical or cultural context that is essential when examining this passage.

This encounter takes place in the Region of Caesarea Philippi, which has been known by many names throughout history, as well as in the Bible.

This area is located 30 miles north, about a 14hr. walk form Jesus’ normal place of ministry. It was literally on the border of the area that was first conquered by Joshua when the Israelites first entered the Promised Land.

Jesus was not here by chance, and it was not on the way to any particular place they might be heading.

Jesus intentionally chose this location for a reason.

Jesus intentionally chose this location for a reason.

This is the location where it was revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

It is the location where Jesus confirmed tis declaration and shortly afterwards, revealed His true nature to His closest three disciples.

This is the location that Jesus chose to reveal to His disciples about His future plans.

Building an assembly of followers who would be unconquerable.

The question that we should be asking as we consider this passage is why?

Why did Jesus chose THIS particular location to make this incredible revelation?

The answer is in the geography and the culture of the region, and its a reason that is just as important to us today as it was for them in their time.

Caesarea Philippi was near a group of mountains, which have an ancient history in the pagan culture.

Even before the Israelites came into the land, it was an area known for its pagan importance; however, during the 4th century B.C., there was a shrine built at a cave at the base of the mountain where a stream emerged to feed the Jordan River. The Shrine that was built was a shrine to the Greek God Pan. Later, in 2 B.C., the area was given to King Herod who built a great marble temple there in honor of Caesar Augustus, and under his son Philip, this area of pagan worship expanded to a surrounding town that he renamed Caesarea Philippi.

Although it had been attributed as a place of worship for many gods through the years, the its change to a place of worshiping the Greek gods was significant. Those who worshiped there, and made many sacrifices there, believed that this cave shrine was the doorway that Pan and other gods used when entering and leaving the underworld. It was literally called the Gates of Hades, where many of the beings form the underworld came forth to cause havock in tis world.

So, it is in this setting, that Jesus, knowing the significance of the place, asks His disciples who He is, and then confirms that He is the Son of the one true God.

When Jesus told His disciples that on this rock )likely referring to the foundation of belief in Him as the Son of God) I will build my Church, and the Gates of Hell will not stand against it, He and His disciples were likely literally standing on the rocks that made up what the people in the area considered to be the literal Gate of Hell.

What Jesus was telling them is that nothing that comes forth form those gates would be able to overcome His Church: not demons, false gods, nor the false teachings and evil subterfuge that Satan puts forth. The Church is impervious to Satan’s tactics and attempts to undermine or destroy it.

So, the first point we need to consider in determining what is wrong with the Church, is that: ...

Jesus gave us an Eternal Promise from God.

Prevailing

No Church

Jesus chose that area because it was a stronghold for pagan worship. It was a source for the teaching that was contrary to the Word of God.

In reality, it was just a cave, not a literal entrance to Hell, but the worshipers there, and the people of the surrounding area believed it was an entrance that allowed passage between a world of darkness and one of light.

But, with the teachings that went forth from there, it was analogously the mouth of a spiritual river of darkness that ushered forth to spread Satan’s lies across the world.

What Jesus was telling them is that nothing that comes forth from those gates would be able to overcome His Church: not demons, false gods, nor the false teachings and evil subterfuge that Satan puts forth. The Church is impervious to Satan’s tactics and attempts to undermine or destroy it.

For them, it was a promise that the pagan worshipers they would encounter, as well as the forces of Satan himself, was not something that would ever stop them in the mission He was preparing to give them.

Jesus was telling them is that nothing that comes forth form those gates would be able to overcome His Church: not demons, false gods, nor the false teachings and evil subterfuge that Satan puts forth. The Church is impervious to Satan’s tactics and attempts to undermine or destroy it.

For us, Jesus’ words a similar promise to convey to us.

Today, we live in a culture that is becoming less and less Christian. It seems that every day, we see our country move further and further away from a knowledge of God, or any desire to know Him.

Prior to 1980, most Americans knew the basic story about Christ. They may not have had all the information, but they could tell you the basic gist of the Gospel. Today, the majority knows nothing about the Gospel, about what the Bible teaches, or about God Himself.

Most people today do not believe in any objective truth whatsoever. Most people, even many who claim to be Christians, hold some mixture of biblical and pagan beliefs, and to many, it seems that Christianity will soon die out.

No Church that God Builds will ever be Overcome by Evil

However, Jesus promises us that No Church that God Builds will ever be Overcome by Evil.

We can be assured, because God’s Church will grow, because God is doing the building. He is the one who will ultimately assure the Church of victory in the face of all that it faces.

Not us.

God will ensure that people will still hear the Good News, that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, so they could have a means of being reconciled to God, even when there is no one to spread the Word.

In NC, they were down 1,500 from 2015-2016, and down 9,000 from 1997-2016.

Even today, there are numerous cases of people in what we call closed nations who have visions of Jesus, much like Paul did, who come to saving faith in Christ, and then go out and spread the Word. Even in heavily persecuted countries, Christ’s Church is growing faster even than in free nations.

Today, the nation with the fastest growing Church is in Iran, which has been under an Islamic Oligarchy for several 40 years.

So, we can be assured that no matter how bad things get here for Christians, it will not be so bad as to overcome the Church of Jesus Christ. It will prevail before the forces of Satan and the teachings of Satan, because we have an eternal promise from Christ.

God’s Church is Spiritually Strong Church

The second point we need to consider in determining what is wrong with the Church, is that: ...

In NC, they were down 1,500 from 2015-2016, and down 9,000 from 1997-2016

We have an Enormous Elephant in the Room

If Christ gave us an eternal promise, that He would grow His Church, and no Church that Christ grows will ever be overcome by evil, we have to ask ourselves:

What is happening to the Church?

Prior to 1980, most Americans knew the basic story about Christ. They may not have had all the information, but they could tell you the basic gist of the Gospel.

Today, the majority knows nothing about the Gospel, about what the Bible teaches, or about God Himself.

In 2016, SBC baptisms were at the lowest number since 1946.

In NC, they were down 1,500 from 2015-2016, and down 9,000 from 1997-2016.

Across the SBC, we are loosing 3-4 times as many churches each year as we are planting.

Fewer and fewer Christians have a biblical understanding of the Word of God.

The number of Christians, even those who regularly attend Church, who are biblically illiterate is going up every year.

The number of Christians who can speak knowledgeably about biblical doctrine is decreasing every year.

The number of Christians who are actively supporting and participating in the ministry of their Church is readily decreasing.

Even, the number of people going into or staying in the ministry is rapidly dropping. In the next decade or two, it will be very difficult for a Bible believing Church to find a pastor who has a biblical perspective and education, because the vast majority of pastors are over the age of 65.

Many Churches are being Overcome by the Forces of Evil.

Many Churches are being Overcome by the Forces of Evil.

Worldly Perspectives

Many churches, even in our own county are teaching unbiblical ideas, preferring to tell people what they want to hear, rather than preach what God has said.

Worldly Practices

Too many Christians, and even church leaders have gotten wrapped up in unbiblical practices in their life. Whether it is sexual immorality, financial fraud of some sort, or other forms of lifestyles that are not only not condoned, but are expressly forbidden in God’s Word.

Too few Churches and individual Christians consult the Bible prior to making decisions in their life or the Church.

Worldly Pursuits

One major reason the the Church is where we currently see it is that way too man Christians have set their eyes on worldly pursuits, rather than God’s agenda.

Chasing financial success

Chasing public prestige

Chasing dreams of power or control

Chasing a life of luxury and ease

This is the Great Elephant in the Room, and one we cannot ignore. If Jesus promised that the forces of evil will never overcome the Church that He is building, why is it that so many Churches have been overcome by exactly that?

Why does the Church seem to be floundering on the brink of a cliff, ready to plunge over the side to its doom at any moment?

There is a simple answer to this problem....

There is a Definable Answer to the Problem

*Many Churches that Exist Today are Not God’s Churches*

Jesus told His disciples that not everyone who calls Him Lord belong to Him…the same thing can be said about Churches that claim to be His.

Not every Church is a Christian Church, even when:

it has the same book,

observes the same traditions

confesses the same Jesus

How do we know if our Church is God’s Church?

Who are we most trying to please when making decisions?

Who are we more afraid of upsetting?

Who’s mission are we trying to fulfill?

How do the areas of greatest resource consumption measure up with the goals Great Commission?

Is it an afterthought or an area of first importance?

How many people are personally invested in the Great Commission?

What are the relationships like in the Church?

What are you expectations for the Church’s long-term survival?

Each one of these things are directly addressed in the Bible. We will not take the time to expound on them today, but I encourage you to be praying about these questions, and try to honestly answer them.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to be looking at several areas essential to the spiritual and numerical growth of the Church in a series called, God’s House, a DIY Make-over. Jesus says that He will grow His Church, but God will not do anything through miracles that He expects us to do through muscle. And, in all reality, the problems in most Churches are not because God isn’t doing His job, it’s because we are not doing ours.

Therefore, we are going to take a look at certain areas that are essential aspects of our job in the mission of the Church.

However, none are more important than the decision we must make today. Each and every one of us needs to decide if this is God’s Church or ours.

What are the ways in which God expects us to live if we are His Church?

Invitation

Come to the altar and pray...

Decide today if you want God to be in charge in this

Give God the deed to this Church, and to your life.

Give Him control of our programs, our services, and our individual involvement

that this Church will be God’s Church,

that God will show us the areas we need to change individually and corporately,

that He will motivate each of us to be passionate about His mission for the Church,

that He will remove any excuses from our life for serving Him,

and that He will help us to be strong enough to focus on His will rather than our will or the will of those around us.