This is my Church

Matthew 16:18-19 (NKJV) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

“Upon this rock”

The “ROCK” speaks about Peter’s confession:Matthew 16:15-17 (NIV)15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

“Upon this rock”

The church can only be built with people who has received that revelation personally; that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. This is not an academic function only, but it is a revelation from the “Father in heaven” – a personal encounter with God!

“I will build my church”

“I will” – God Himself will do it“build” – The first thing God does with His people whom have received the personal revelation of His Lordship is to build them up.“My Church” – God claims ownership of the Church; it is His, not ours, to serve His purpose, not our desires.

“I will build my church”

How does He want to build the Church?“I will make you into a great nation … I will make your name great” (Gen 12:2,3)He wants us to bear His greatness in our livesHe does that through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us; resulting in the fruit of the Spirit

“I will build my church”

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

“I will build my church”

“I will bless you;…I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3 (NKJV) He wants to build us by blessing us and protecting us! This includes a build up of blessings in wisdom, riches, family, stature.

“the gates of hades will not prevail against it”

There is a sense of warfare; a struggle in the spiritual realm.“Gates” are not offensive war instruments; they are defensive.So it is implied that the Church is the one initiating the attacks against the Kingdom of darkness.

“the gates of hades will not prevail against it”

Lives in darkness must be brought into His marvelous light (1 Pet 2:9) The Gospel must be preached to all nations!Souls in bondage must be set freeThe sick must be healedThe deeds of darkness must be exposedWe must plunder hell and populate heaven!

“I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”

We have been authorized to open or close the Kingdom of Heaven for people.If we preach the Gospel to people; we opened the kingdom of heaven to them. If we don’t, we closed the Kingdom of Heaven to them.

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Sowing and growing in blessing

Galatians 6:7, 9 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.