It’s Friday, April 29th, 2022. I’m beginning to see traces of Springtime! It’s a new season, but not only on our calendar. It’s also a new season for the Bride! This is a defining moment in history for the Church to be restored and once again be … the Church! Read on …
Today's Reading:
2 Samuel 4,5; Psalm 139; Matthew 16
Scripture
“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.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.’” (Matthew 16:15-19)
Observation
Peter’s answer left no doubts, no hesitation, no ambivalence. Belief in this one statement would end all arguments: You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
Based on this one underlying presupposition, His Church would stand firm, and the forces of hell would not prevail. Then, Jesus proceeds to bestow one of the greatest honors of all time upon the Church: “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Application
I wonder if the Church is more important than we will ever realize in God's eternal view of things. We are led to think that governments or the wealthy determine what happens. But here, God intimates that the Church has been given the authority to influence the outcomes of cities, countries, and nations.
Those who don't know the Lord are not threats to the adversary; they are already in his grasp. The only group on this planet with authority over hell is the Church. It's time for the people of God to be righteous and devoted to the ways of God. I recall this truth in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah. It wasn't the amount of evil or homosexuality that caused it to be destroyed. It was the fact that Abraham's nephew, Lot, could not find even ten righteous in the whole city (Genesis 18:32). I bet there were still believers, but they didn't live righteously. They would profess one thing on Sunday, then deny it on Monday.
This is the moment in history where the Church must awaken and be restored to our place in Christ. We are more critical to the outcome of cities than we will ever realize.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to realize the importance of the Church! What is happening in our country and around the world depends much on the people of God. I am open to Your instructions. Speak, Lord. Thy servant is listening.
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