Matthew 16:18 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.
When Jesus spoke these words to Peter there was no doubt as to both ownership and eventuality of the coming Church. Jesus was going to build His Church and He was the Rock. While Peter played a role in preaching the first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the Church belonged to the Lord.
Throughout the coming days, Peter would struggle with the preordained death of Jesus Christ. He had no comprehension of the significance of the Cross until Jesus rose from the grave. The birth of the Church, however, was not contingent upon Peter’s understanding. He was but an instrument in the Hands of the Master.
If time has taught us anything, it has shown us that the Church belongs to the Lord and that we are privileged to be a part of it. The Lord would love to use us for His glory, as He so desired with the Jews in the days of the apostles. However, when the Jewish people rejected Jesus, a new door opened in the house of a Gentile. And why? Because God will have a Church. There will be a Church. With or without us, He has proclaimed that upon the Rock, “I will build my church.”
To think the Kingdom rests on any one person is the height of human arrogance. God will use us if we are obedient, but if not, He will find someone. The troubling thought here is that some believe the church cannot survive without their talents, money, or presence.
Jesus refuted that notion when He said, “if these do not praise me, the rocks will cry out.” He will have praise and there will be a church. His Church is not contingent on my ability, talent, or attendance. He will have a church. He is not waiting on me to join; rather, I am thankful to be a part.
At best, we are the grafted in branch. The parable of Jesus clearly indicated that if the invited guest will not attend, He will find someone to sit at His table. There will be a Church.
I write about The Ordained, Unshakable, Unmovable, Predestined Church of the Most High God. The Church that I speak of is greater than a finite geographical location. It has spanned the ages of time and it shall be the Bride of Christ at the close of this dispensation.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole