Overpowering Strongholds

Matthew 16:13-20 

            Jesus, knowing that the time of His death was at hand, led the disciples away from the Sea of Galilee.  It was time for His followers to learn His plans for building the Church.

            To prepare the disciples for the lesson He would teach, Jesus first asked them a question, “Who do people think I am?”  Their responses varied from John the Baptist to Elijah or one of the other prophets.  Then Jesus asked Who they thought Him to be.  Peter answered for them all when he declared Jesus to be the Messiah and Son of God!  Jesus acknowledged this statement as having come from God.

            Some have attempted to raise controversy over this passage.  They believe that Jesus declared Peter to be the rock upon which He would build the Church.  Others insist that Jesus would build the Church upon His own works and not upon those of Peter.  This is easily resolved if you approach the issue without any preconceived prejudice.  The word used for Peter is Petros (rock) and the word Jesus used for the Church’s foundation is Petras (rock).  One is a person the other is the belief of that person.  Jesus is the Messiah, Son of the Living God and it is upon Him and Him alone that the Church is built. 

            It is not my intention to focus on this particular statement concerning foundations but upon the mandate given the Church.  Jesus declared that the “…gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.”  For many years I misunderstood this to mean that the Church would always stand strong against the onslaughts of the enemy.  I now understand it to mean that the Church is to be the aggressor in assaulting strongholds of evil and corruption.  We are soldiers of the Lord with a mandate to bring an end to Satan’s tenure on the earth.  We must not be content to simply hold the line, but must advance and conquer.  As David told Goliath, “The battle is the Lord’s.” 

I.                   We Are To Be Aggressive*

A.    We have waited in the wings too long

1.      Rattling our swords while Satan has taken city after city

2.      Good soldiers adequately prepare for and do battle against the enemy

3.      Jesus’ resurrection guarantees us ultimate victory but our effort alone can contend for every soul and every city

B.     Our objective is to put Jesus on the throne of every human heart

1.      We are to restore the earth to the rightful Owner

2.      Compromise is not acceptable

II.                How Can We Hope To Win?

A.    We are greatly outnumbered

1.      But, “We can do all things through Christ!”

2.      We are given the promise of power, “Wherever two or more are gathered in My name, I am there!”

B.     We have weapons against which no enemy can stand:  Love, faith, fellowship, and prayer!

III.             Where Do We Begin?

A.    Not where but when – right now!

1.      Determining ourselves to be immovable objects of God’s grace

2.      Volunteering to start and promising never to stop

B.     At this altar

1.      “Lay aside the sin that so easily besets us….”

2.      Draw a line in the sand and never back up