The Strength of Relationships
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[a] the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[b] 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’),[c] and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell[d] will not conquer it. – Matthew 16:16-18 NLT
16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and [a]to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are [b]Peter [Greek, Petros—a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra—a [c]huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the [d]infernal region) shall [e]not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. – Matthew 16:16-18 AMPC
The local church is God’s visible working model of the universal church. Past, present and future.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22 NKJV
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 2:4-5 NKJV
God didn’t call you to be a spectator and sit on the sidelines.
Jesus wants you to participate and be effective in the body of Christ.
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matthew 16:13-18 KJV
Greek word means “those who are called out.” – CALLED OUT OF PLACE, TIME OR CAUSE.
The local church is the strength of the body of Christ.
“My Life’s Function is ALWAYS MORE than WHERE I AM TODAY!”
God is working in YOUR LIFE for a PURPOSE.
All hardships have the potential to produce good in us!
“God is OBLIGATED to FULFILL all of HIS PROMISES… but He is NOT OBLIGATED to FULFILL all of OUR POTENTIAL!”
NEHEMIAH
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- 1:11 – Asked God to Prosper them…
- 2:10 – sought the Welfare of Children of Israel
- 2:17-18 – The People grasped the VISION
- Chapter 3 – describes the various people and THEIR PORTION TO REPAIR
- Close to 40 times… “Next to Him”, etc
- 2.5 miles / 40ft tall / ave 8ft thick (330 ft each section)
- Goldsmiths, merchants, leaders, priests, daughters, etc.
- 4:6 – “The people had a mind to work…” (Unity)
- 6:10-11 – tried to scare Nehemiah… “…should such a man as me flee?… I will not go in!”
- 6:15 – finished in 52 days and the exiles returned.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. – Nehemiah 4:14 KJV
The only way to have a STRONG FOUNDATION is through STRONG RELATIONSHIPS!
There is strength in relationships that holds everything together.
