Building His Church One Rock at a Time

Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. I also tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” Matthew 16:13-19 (WEB)

“…You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church…”. I believe this proclamation of Christ has a direct connection to Jesus’ later command to “Go…and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). It was God’s plan that His Church be built on the ‘rocks’ of His disciples (which includes me and you) with Himself as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-20). As I grow in my relationship with Christ and the other ‘rocks’ the Holy Spirit becomes the mortar that connects us together with unity that makes it that refuge for all who will come. Hell with all its violence and fear will not overcome it.

Many of you who are reading this are Christians who desire to grow in your relationship with God. You belong to a fellowship of Believers. Some may not belong to a group of Believers because you are struggling to ‘fit’ and haven’t found a place. Maybe you are even just ‘tired’ of ‘fed up’ with everything that you have seen in an organized church and so you watch TV church. I just want to encourage you and tell you that there is ‘good stuff’ happening in churches of many denominations and non-denominations. I know because I have been in many different churches from Florida to Texas to New York to Costa Rica and Hungary and places between. There are many groups of Believers that I ‘see’ as white hot coals. They are faithfully and prayerfully fanning and adding fuel and tinder to keep those coals hot. They want so much for the coals to leap into flames! Is it possible that God is creating a ‘network’ of these fellowships that are each doing the task that God has asked them to do and doing it the best they know? Is it possible that one day when God allows a terrible ‘something’ to happen that produces such fear in the world that many will frantically look for truth – look for a place of refuge – and these white hot coals, these faithful Believers – will burst into the fires of revival that have been called in prayer? Will we be ready? Will we be the ‘rocks’ that Jesus wants us to be? We have to be ready.

…if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.                        2 Chronicles 7:14 (WEB)

I am Jody. Use me, Lord, as You see fit, to build Your Church. I am one of Your rocks.