The Church Is Born

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church ---Matthew 16:18

Peter had just gotten the revelation that his friend, companion and mentor, Jesus, was the Son of the Living God! Jesus commended him for accepting that revelation and confessing it back to Him. Then, Jesus rewarded him by re-naming him as “Peter.” In the original language, Peter not only means stone, but also means a part of a larger rock. It was like Peter was the seed that would grow into something much larger. Jesus was waiting for someone to “get it!” With that seed of faith, the Kingdom would then be perpetuated into what God intended it to be.

Jesus then goes on to say that “…on this rock I will build My church.” In my research, I find this is the very first time the word “church” is used. Jesus has to be blowing the minds of the disciples! First He has pointed at the Pharisees and Sadducees and called them the leaven which is what contaminates the flat bread. (Matt. 16:11,12) Then, Simon (Peter) has a sudden revelation that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Now, Jesus is releasing another element of revelation in this “outside-the-box” thinking and that is something called the “church.”

As a result of this moment in time over 2,000 years ago, we come to know that Peter went on to experience the supernatural element that is involved as being a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. We also know that throughout the generations since then, Peter is known as a representative of “the Church.” That is why Jesus cryptically said that “…upon this Rock (Peter) I will build My Church.” Jesus found a human being that had a revelation of the importance of the knowledge of Jesus’ deity. Through Peter’s coming experiences and growing knowledge of who Jesus is and what it meant, we could look at what we are to experience as participants in the Kingdom.

Hold on to your hats, for in the next few days, you are going to find out some incredible truths about what Jesus intended for Peter, the Church and YOU to do with your knowledge of the purpose of the Church.

Confession: Jesus was not just a teacher, a prophet, or a good man. He was the Son of God who was sent to this earth to restore the Kingdom of God on this earth. I desire to have a revelation of the importance of this and to know what my role is in God’s Kingdom.