Matthew 16:13–20 NLT

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 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Mat 16:13-

Who Do You Say I AM

Labor of Love

I. Labor of Love - Intro

we often use the text from … where it says God will not forget your labor of love.. and nine time out of 10 when we are quoting it .. we are trying to encourage someone that maybe tired… discouraged.. or even suffering from burn out.. because they have been going and going...

they

they have been sacrificing there time.. doing for others or even for ministries sake..

hearing this word.. or receiving this word from is good.. but sometimes .. you may want to hear how other people feel about you.. not necessarily because you wan to stick your chest out.. but sometimes you simply want to know because you have begun questioning yourself on whether or not this is all worth it..

is my sacrifice worth it… is my giving those extra five dollars worth it.. is me getting off work and going to feed the homeless.. is giving up my Saturday to go help pass out tracks.. walking my neighborhood to envite people to church ..

working with the youth.. going over to the jail.. fasting.. all this praying.. trying not to cuss folk out.. ..

all the time im taking away from my family...my friends.. my body is going down.. my feet hurt..

so at the end of the day.. im left wondering … is it worth it...

can anyone hear .. relate.. have you every went out of your way… for someone else… and they didnt even have enough gratitude to say .. Thank you…

in a day when everybody is saying.. yea.. and naw… instead of yes maam…sir… no maam ..no sir..

in a day when you give somebody something.. and they just look like… is this it.. thats all you got..

they dont even have enough home training to look you in the eye.. and say thank you..

how many times have you seen a solider .. in their uniform and told them… Thank you for your service.... For those who serve .. how many times has someone came to you and said thank you fro your service...

there are times.. when.. we just get to place where we just need some positive reeinforemcet.. we just wan to know.. that everything thing we doing .. is appreciated...

but the sad part is.. being a doer.. is just in you…

dont you know.. that its even good.. just to take a day… simply to tell God thank you… im not alking about on sunday moring during the prayer...... or praise and worship.. Im talking about a day where you dont ask God to do anything for you.. or nobody else..

because last I check .. God already knows about all your issues anyway.. so from the time you get up.. to the time you lay down.. we should be able to tel God thank you…

or the next minute… somebody just begin to tell God Thank You..

Thank you Jesus!

God

thank you for .. who you are.. thank you for what you have already done…

II. Text- sign

in our text .. Jesus had jsut got done with having to deal with the Pharisees and Sadducees .. and other leaders demanding to see a sign .. demanding to see not just any sign.... they were not tlaking a a sign that said will for food..

but they were demanding a miraculous sign from heaven .. proving that Jesus was who he said he was… proving he was a man or authority..

jesus was like some of us… he was trying to prepare fro pentecost sunday.. coming up ina couple of weeks.. he was dealing with the fact .. im getting ready to die… them folks finna come get me..

but in midst of all that he had to deal with some folk that had no faith… or had more faith in their rituals and traditions.. .. in their own might and abilities rather than.. the one that sent him..

now is a good time to ask yourself.. do you believe God.. or are you waiting..for a sign....

do you believe the dr that created the dr… or do you need to see some paperwork...

when you go to the drs.. office.. they may ask .. do you need a work excuse… they ask you that .. because the people on your job .. may not belive your report.. that you went to the dr.. so the dr office gives you an excuse.. to show that your word was true...

so again i ask you.. do you believe God.. or are you waiting for some sign...

Isaiah 53:1 KJV 1900

1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

starts it..but then down in the the 5th verse..the bible says

starts

Isaiah 53:5 KJV 1900

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.

ask your neighbor .. are you going to beleive God.. or wait for a sign..

God said in the matt 16:4 that only a adulterous generation would demand a sign…but miracles signs and wonders come from .. walking by faith and not by sight.. so if have to tell yourself.. am healed.. everyday .. do it.. everyday.. until your body lines up with the Word of God..

dont get laxed and miss a day.. but do it every day.. the bible say the effectual virvent prayers of the riightous.. meaning… consistant.. prayers..

III. text- who do you say i am

in our text we find jesus in an area know as Philippi… and he asks a question.. that on the surface seems so simple.. but in reality its much bigger..

bigger because he just had to deal with the leaders of the people and their lack of faith.. and wickedness.. and knowing how they felt about him..

bigger because …just like the members are not going to tell the Pastor everything.. they will just go get one the phone and say ab and c.. but he knew the deciples.. would know whats really going on..

they answered and said.. some say your john the baptist..some say elijah ..some say jermaiah or one of the other prophets...

but then .. he flips the script . because by the answers that were being giving… Jesus knew he had the peoples attention.. he knew that they we all talking and trying to figure out who he really was and what he is all about...

this was like … when the saints of old would start praying Lord stir there minds.. and then all of a sudden your playlist would go from all rap and r and b … to a little mix of Gospel..

you would go from .. aint nothing but a g thang.. or I like it to … change me oh lord.. make me more like you..

Jesus knew that the minds of the poeple were being stirred.. but then he flipped it and asked.. his disciples.... the ones that were supposed to have his back.. the ones that he had charged to go into the hedges and highways and compel men..

the ones that for the past several years had traveled with him…seen the miracles take place..

he asked them.. WHO DO YOU SAY I AM..

and then this group of minsiters.. got quite…the room with silent… and then one person… one out of 12 .. said…

peter said… you are the the Christ… Christ = the anointed one…the son of the living God...

and jesus said bless art thou.. simon Peter.. because.. flesh and blood didnt reveal that to you.. but it was my father…

and jesus said thou art peter… in other words .. your name peter means rock.. and you have lived up to your name....

and becasue of that.. im going to build my church with you… im going to anoint you.. use you to build my church...

and the gates of hell will not prevail…against it.. im going to give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven...

what ever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven… what ever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven..

IV. close

God sent me to ask somebody today.. who do you who say i am...

you have been walking with God for a while … and God has been preparing you .. and now its time..

somebody shout.. its time..

its time for you to higher.. its time for you to build the Lords church.. its time for you to be used by God .... but before you go…before God can give you the keys.. before for God can give you the power.. the authority..

you must answer the question.. who do you say God is..... this can be something.. that you heard… this cant be from someone elses testimony…

but this answer has to Come from what God has revealed to you..

how can you preach and teach on things you dont know.. how can you talk about something you dont understand..

...

today God wants to use you… today God wants to do a new thing in you.... toady God wants to do a new thing in us… we are on the way to pentecost sunday ..

pentecost happen over 2000 years ago.. but even in 2019 God needs someone that will buid his church..God needs someone that he can give the keys to heaven too..

that want be afraid to bind a devil… that want be afraid of spiritual warfare.. in even 2019 we still need the Holy Ghost…

but as much as we need to be spreading the gospel of Jesus.. we need to know You God really is..

Jesus is not just someone they hung on a cross… he is not just some mediator .. someone who is just petitioning his father on your behalf..

but in order for us to fully understnad who Jesus is.. God the father must reveal it.. in order for us to fully realize and understnad the price that jesus paid.. we must be in realationship with God..

and in order to be in realtionship .. we must first be dedicated .. in in rorder to be dedicated we must first have a desire..

today i want pray for those who might not truely undstrand this whole church thing..

i want to pray for those that have been saved for a while.. but you have lost the joy.. your joy.. your excitement .. of living for God… seeking his face..