Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church!  By James Lantz

       The heavenly Father revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ, meaning that He is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Savior of the world!  Mt. 16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  Mt. 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  Jesus immediately told Peter how blessed he was to receive this revelation that He is the Christ sent from God! Jesus revealed further that He was going to build His church upon this rock and that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This revealed knowledge that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the one whom God sent to save and deliver us is what emboldened Simon Peter to preach that historic message when the Holy Spirit came.  Acts 2:36  Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.  Acts 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  This revelation that Jesus is the Christ is also what emboldened Peter to leave his fishing career and serve the Master in taking the good news that the kingdom of God had come to men and eventually to give his life for the sake of the gospel. This revelation that Jesus is the Messiah is what caused all of the apostles, including Saul of Tarsus who became Paul, to forsake their own agenda and take on the heavenly Father’s purpose. The Messiah is the Son of God, the Word become flesh, the Creator of all things, and the One whom everything was created for, and the One by whom all things consist! This foundational truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of the world, is what each member of the body of Christ has become persuaded of.

Flesh And Blood Hath Not Revealed This Unto You!

       God doesn’t do anything in the earth without first speaking it through His prophets!  Amos 3:7  Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. God revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel through a dream the time when the Messiah would come to set up His ever increasing eternal kingdom in the earth. In his dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a stone being cut from the mountain without hands. This stone smote the great kingdoms of the earth breaking them into small pieces which were blown away like the chaff from wheat at threshing time.

This stone, which is Christ, continued to increase becoming a great mountain filling the whole earth! Daniel 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.  The Psalmist refers to our God as a rock!  Ps. 62:6  He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.  The prophet Isaiah admonishes those who follow after righteousness to look at the one we are to model our life after.  Isaiah 51:1  Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.  Paul refers to Jesus as being a spiritual Rock.  1 Cor. 10:4  And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.  Peter writes that our Lord Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the church, elect, and precious, and none who believe on Him will be ashamed or disgraced!  1 Pet. 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Jesus is precious to those of us who believe, but a rock of offense and a stumbling stone to those who are disobedient, who stumble at the word.  John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

       This same truth that has enlightened us of our need for salvation has also empowered us to act on the word of the Lord just like those three thousand souls responded on the day of Pentecost. God expects us to respond favorably to His gracious offer of forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ. God has placed our sins on the Lord Jesus, who suffered for us, and has given us right standing with Himself through Jesus righteousness.  1 Pet. 2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.  It is easy to get our eyes on those who were mightily used of God like Peter and Mary the mother of Jesus and think, how blessed they are, but revelation is given to all who will receive it. Jesus corrected the woman who had her attention on how blessed His mother was that bore Him and nursed Him, to the fact that God’s blessing is on everyone who hears God’s word and 

Blessed Are They Who Hear The Word Of God And Do It!

does it.  Luke 11:28  But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.  Jesus is still the same today as He was when He spoke those words, Blessed is everyone who hears the word of God and keeps it. Jesus wants each of us to recognize and obtain this great salvation that He purchased for us and become a co-laborer with Him. Christ’ salvation is by grace through faith so don’t try to earn it like many in Israel.  Romans 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  Romans 9:33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

       Jesus reveals further that only those who adhere to His words and do them will be able to stand! Jesus said, why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things that I say. Whoever comes to Me and hears My sayings, and does them will be building upon a rock!  Luke 6:48  He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

       Mary said yes to the Father’s assignment and fulfilled her mission in bringing the Savior into the world. Peter acted on the revelation from the Father becoming a pillar in the church and making his mark in his generation and will be forever honored as an Apostle of the Lamb. Jesus is still building His church and is now looking to you and I to do our part in the great commission for our generation! Jesus expects us to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. If you have been wasting your time like a foolish son who sleeps in the time of harvest you can repent and seek God for your assignment. God has a place for you in His harvest field and you will receive great reward if you get to work and serve the Master. Everything we do for the kingdom of God is important no matter how menial or small.  Ps. 84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.  I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  Mt. 10:42  And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.   Remember, we don’t serve God to try to earn our salvation but rather we serve Him because its a privilege to be a part of His family.