HIS CHURCH – PART 4
MATHEW 16:18 - And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (NIV)
One of the beauties of walking with God is that He never thinks the way man thinks. This is why in a lot of cases men often look at God’s ways as unsearchable; and for those who work by sight some of His ways may appear seemingly ‘foolish’. That is why the word of the Lord in Isaiah 55: 8 – 9 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (NIV). That is why Jesus would decide to build His Church not upon the learned, the richest, the talented, the tallest, or based on any earthly accomplishment, but rather based on the state of the heart of men. As you all know, fishermen are one of the lowest group of persons at the time of our Lord Jesus Christ and they command little respect from the Society because of their lack of refinement or education. In Acts 4:13, the bible says “ .
This is why I am confident that there are some of you reading me now who would soon become mighty men of valour in the hand of the Almighty notwithstanding what men may think of you (Acts 4:13) or you may think of yourself (LK. 5:8). It does not matter how far you have walked away from God, His plan concerning you in the building of His Church would be fulfilled in Jesus name. All you need is to be with Him. He said in Jn. 15: 5 that “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (NIV).
Beloved, the Church of the Lord is not built on sand but on rock. This is because a rock is a pillar. Rock represents something that is strong; that is not easily destroyed; that can withstand shakings and challenges; a tower of strength; and, that is dependable. This tells us that God wants people who are faithful, strong, reliable and dependable; who would not be blown away by the care of this world or the challenges of this world or disagreement with fellow brethren. The parable of the wise and foolish builders in Matt. 7:24- 27 aptly describes the difference between rock and sand. In the parable, we are told 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash (NIV).”
Because the Lord is the master builder Himself that is why He turned Peter into a rock upon which His Church was built. I pray that the Lord would transform you into a rock in Jesus name. Our Lord Jesus Christ has been described by the Psalmist as the rock. In Psalm 18: 2 the Psalmist says “the LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (NIV). Peter also described Him in Acts 4: 11 as the Cornerstone. This means that when He says He will build His church on Peter whom He described as rock, He was actually confirming the fact that Peter is in Him. He was affirming that Peter would stand unto the end. As a result, no matter how much the devil may try to derail Peter and would want Peter to abandon his commission, and by implication stop the spread of the gospel, the devil failed. That was why when Peter and John were arrested in Acts 4 and asked to stop speaking or preaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4: 18), they answered in Acts 4:19 “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (NIV). My dear brethren, how many of us can confidently declare likewise that we are sold into the great commission and so cannot help speaking about what we have seen, heard and believed.
I pray that the Lord would transform you into a rock and a pillar as He builds His Church in Jesus name.
Shalom
Dr. Yinka Okude
Parish Pastor
RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Northampto
Hymn: My Hope is built on nothing less