Matthew 16:13-19

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. 

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

    The church of the Son of the living God was never meant to be a country club, a motorcycle club, a fisherman’s club, a rodeo arena, a sanctuary for a bunch of goats, a soap opera, a bunch of people jockeying for position (church politicians), a place for party people, a frat house, a good ole boys club, a sheshed, a hang out for parasites and leaches, a buzzard roost, a hideout for demonic inspired infiltrators such as lodges, self appointed hierarchies, or church runners that run it into the ground. Once I attended a church where a group of senior men set on the front and second rows of the church. Immediately I knew who and what the problem of that church was. Another time I attended a church which had the names of six men on a coat hanger in the foyer. Immediately I knew the names of the church problems there. They were the old timers who thought that they were privileged characters. I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. Church is for those who love the living God, respect truth, and know how to behave themselves.

The CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD” 

    It is the church of the Son of the living God, not the church of John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, Constantine, Luther, Calvin, Knox, Moody, nor some self taught cowboy. It is the church of the Son of the Living God – the CHRIST — GOD in the Flesh. Jesus personally started it in the first century; thus eliminating all man made religious organizations (so called churches) through out the following centuries.

    It is CHRIST’s Church I will build my church... It’s not my church nor your church nor our church. It belongs exclusively and solely to the Lord Jesus Christ alone. She is His bride. John 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

    God save us from possessive church members who choke the spiritual life out of a church. You don’t mess with someone else’s bride; especially the Bride of Christ, which is His body. There are some things in my life that others don’t mess with. You don’t mess in my personal business, you don’t mess with my preaching, and when my wife was living you didn’t mess with her. Before I got married, Mother told me, “You know how are. If some of the church people mistreat your wife you will kill them.” I replied, “Ain’t that what I am supposed to do.” You certainly don’t mess with the church of the Son of the living God or He will deal with you.

    Jesus brought His bride with His life’s blood. Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. I didn’t buy the church neither did you; therefore we cannot claim ownership nor authority over her. Only Christ can do that. Behave yourself for the sake of the church and let the creator run it. Don’t mess with Jesus nor His Bride. GET OUT OF GOD’S BUSINESS AND STAY OUT! 

The CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD” was not FOUNDED upon the MAN PETER ...thou art Peter...

    Peter is translated from the Greek word Petrous which means a small stone or a pebble. Peter was only a human being with a human sinful nature. He was not a rock but a small stone; more of a rolling stone. There were times when he was fickle and unreliable. God never trusted an ordinary man to be the foundation of His church. No man, not even John the Baptist was capable of being the foundation of the church of the Son of the Living God, much less Peter with his weaknesses.

The FOUNDATION of the CHURCH is “the SON of the LIVING GOD “ ...upon this rock...

    Men come and go and are here for a short while. Constantine died and is still in the grave. Martin Luther died and is still in the grave. John Knox died and is still in the grave. Calvin died and he is still dead. Jesus Christ, the eternal foundation of the church died, arose from the grave after three days, and He is alive for ever more. The foundation of the church continues forever solid and alive. He is the ROCK OF AGES. He is the rock that the Israelites drank water from in the dry desert and followed them. He is the rock that crushed the statue that symbolized all the great world empires of the ages. Above all the Son of the Living God is the solid eternal foundation of His church. He is the Ancient of days and He is still alive! Years ago a great man of God passed away. While many preachers were morning his death, one of the friends of the man who had died got up and preached that God is still alive.

The BUILDER of the CHURCH is the “SON of the LIVING GOD” I will build my church...

    In an associational year book I once saw this contradictory statement to the words of the Son of the living God, “We build churches.” Who do they think they are. I’ll tell you who they are, they are a bunch of little men who are too big for their britches. It takes saved souls as building material for a spiritual habitation for the LORD. Only the LORD can save and bind His children together for an habitation of God...

The CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD “is the DWELLING PLACE of GOD Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

    He doesn’t just dwell with His people He dwells in the church body wholly. Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

    Jesus is present in His church when she meets in His fullness, in His entirety. He’s all there! If He is not there, He is knocking at the door trying to get in. Whether we humans comprehend it or not, the truth is that the entire eternal Godhead dwells in the church body in the very same way and in the same capacity He indwells the literal body of Christ. Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

    A true church is fully loaded with the power that raised Jesus from the grave far above all things, that put all things under His authority, and that made Him head of the church. What a great church truth! What an organization or should we say a living organism!

The CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD” is the FOUNDATION of TRUTH ...which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth...

    This means that each church of the Son of the Living God is responsible to uphold the truth, present the truth, and preserve the truth until Jesus returns. Too many modern Baptists think that church is a place for socializing and a place to go to receive favors from God. It’s a place of service; not a place to find a free ride through life. It is a place where the truth is to be adorned. Titus 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. We are to make the truth look good. We as Baptist are to be soldiers of the cross and fight for truth and even die for it if necessary. Proverbs 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. Don’t worry about the cost of it, just buy it!

The REVELATION of the CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD” ...for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven...

     Many have problems understanding, learning, and accepting church truth. Some even get upset with it. The problem is that they don’t allow the LORD to reveal all the scriptures to them. John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Some who were raised in an old time Baptist church have problems remembering where they come from and some have even forsaken the church of the Son of the Living God for man made organizations.

The BLESSING of KNOWING THE FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH of the CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

    All Bible truth is important. This includes the truth of the church of the Son of the Living God. The majority of the New Testament is directly addressed to a local church. Acts 20:27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Many don’t want truth when it does away with their humanitarianism which is we ought to forget our differences and be one big church. Church truth must be preserved from generation to generation in order to save people from religious globalism over which the antichrist will rule. Church truth is rich and it will enrich and bless your heart as well as your entire life. It will make you feel good on the inside.

The DURABILITY of the CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD” ...the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Revelation 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

    No one has been persecuted through the ages as much as true churches. The Catholic inquisition during the Dark Ages was the bloodiest time in the history of mankind. Its purpose was to wipe Baptist churches off the face of the earth. Today, religion, especially the non-denominational movement’s purpose is to put Baptist churches out of business. The LORD knows they have stolen enough of them. Today we are facing the non-denominational inquisition which is the most dangerous serpent of our time. This popular movement needs to be stopped immediately. I once told one of their preachers that we wanted the church back which they had stolen.

    Also the modern political movement, which some call secular religion, has one real goal and that is to do away with religious freedom in America. The new age movement which includes reincarnation and worship of the creation instead of worship of the creator is a vicious movement against the church of the Son of the living God. Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

    Neither Catholicism, government, the new age movement, the one world church movement, globalism in general, demonic infiltrators, lodges, nor secularism will be able to prevail against the church that Jesus built. No, not even the devil and the hounds of hell will prevail against her. The LORD will not allow it to ever happen. He will take care of His future wife. So don’t be discouraged by the going down of Baptists, today. We will overcome as we always have!

     True churches endured centuries of shedding blood. They will survive modern persecution and the new age movement and will be here when Jesus comes again. We will be here because God will keep His promise to His church and fulfill His divine plan. He is coming to yank His bride out of this mess! Behold, the bridegroom cometh!

The RESPONSIBILITIES of the CHURCH of “the SON of the LIVING GOD” (She is to carry out her God given orders, not make new rules nor do as she pleases.) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

     In Matthew 28:18 we find direct orders to the church. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

    You say that the church has the keys to the kingdom of heaven. But keys do not always signify authority. When you have the keys to something that belongs to someone else that means you have responsibility instead of authority. I have the keys to my car, that means authority. But if I hand you the keys to my car that means that you can use my car but you have no right to let someone else drive my car. In a factory who has the keys to the building? It’s usually the maintenance men instead of the CEO. But they use the keys to carry out the CEO’s orders.

      O’s orders.  The LORD never ever gave His bride authority. He gave her the responsibility of carrying out His orders. Neither did He give His church the right to subcontract her responsibility out to others. This is what some call re-delegated authority. How would you feel if you handed me the keys to your car and asked me to go get something for you and later you saw someone you didn’t know driving your car. How do you think Jesus feels when He sees conventions, associations, Bible schools, seminaries, deacons, clans, families, clicks, bossy preachers and lodges running His kingdom business. The Lord left His church and church alone to execute His business His way and His way alone.

     The keys to the kingdom give the church of the LORD the greatest responsibility of all. When I was a teenager and was given the keys to the family car I could only go where I was told to go and there was an understanding that I was to drive in a safe manner and obey all the traffic laws. Today one of the biggest church problems is that many believe they can vote to do anything they want to do. One of the worst statements I ever heard out of the mouth of a deacon was that open communion was alright if the church voted to observe it that way. I quickly replied, do you mean a church has the right to go against the Bible? One of the most important things we need to realize is that the Head of the local church has the final say over any church vote. Take for instance the time that the church voted to replace Judas with Matthias. Acts 1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. This is the only time we see Matthias in the Bible. Latter on Jesus personally appointed Paul as the twelfth apostle, thus vetoing church action. Brother, Jesus always has the final say.

    Once a church was in the process of calling a pastor. One of the men whispered to his wife did you hear that whistle? She replied, what whistle? He said, that train whistle, watch’em railroad this thing over on us. Well, they got the pastor that they had got their heads together on. Two months latter, the man CRIPPLED BY THE FALL BUT SAVED BY GRACE II Samuel 9:1-13  Mephibosheth was lame in both feet through the fault of another. His nurse had dropped him when he was five years old. Because of the fall Mephibosheth lived in the foreign country of Lodebar. King David was looking for him. Mephibosheth then went humbly to the king at his invitation. David graciously received him for Jonathan's sake and gave him more than he lost in the fall. I. AS MEPHIBOSHETH WAS CRIPPLED IN BOTH FEET THROUGH THE FAULT OF ANOTHER SO IS ALL OF ADAM'S RACE CRIPPLED BY SIN THROUGH THE FAULT OF ANOTHER.  Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned." Adam's disobedience made him a sinner and it also crippled the entire human race with sin. Adam did not fall from grace. For there was no need for grace until he had sinned. Had Adam not sinned then we would not be sinners. Neither would we need the grace of God. Where there is no sin there is no grace. But Adam sinned and we have sinned. Man is born a sinner. Man does not become a sinner by sinning. He is already a sinner and he sins because he is a sinner. David said, "In sin did my mother conceive me." David received his sinful nature in conception. Every person has this crippling disease. "For all have sinned..." There is not, there never has been, and there never will be any man with the one exception of Jesus Christ who has not been crippled with the dreadful disease of sin.  Mephibosheth was crippled in both legs. He wasn't as cripple as he could have been nevertheless he was a total cripple. His condition affected his entire body and life. This illustrates total hereditary depravity. Every man is totally cripthey called for pastor died. Brother, GOD vetoed the church vote. When will Baptists ever learn that it ain’t their business, it is God’s business. Baptist’s rejection of Christ as head of the church has to be the main reason Baptists are about to go out of business in America. There are far too many hierarchies in the Baptist world. God help’em! Or maybe He should help’em get out!

     Missionary Baptists have the bad habit of saying that they believe in church authority and the bride of Christ. This is contradictory. Yes, the church is the bride of Christ; therefore she is to be subjected to the authority of Christ. The vast majority of Baptist churches need to learn this lesson. When Jesus comes for His bride the organ will not be playing “Here Comes the Bride.” But the shout will be heard– “Behold, the bridegroom cometh.” We are to vote according to the scriptures which are our final authority. Pastors need to learn this lesson as well and teach the church that they pastor to vote according to the scripture. II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

     Women’s lib is a bad thing, but liberated churches are worse. Has the church you are a member of joined the religious liberation movement? God help you if it has. Come back to the truth and be free. Accept the truth, continue in the truth and be liberated from religious error. John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. True freedom is found only in submission to His word.