Musing – Are We Supposed to be Building Our Church?

 

Hebraic Musing – Are We Supposed to be Building Our Church?

If we are busy building our churches, who is building the Kingdom of God?  Many in the pews of our churches would agree that we “ought to be building Our Church” and they are busy doing just that – decorating the building, designing programs to attract nickels and noses, inviting, supporting the building program, etc.  

Jesus took his disciples on a field trip to the region of Caesarea Philippi where many different gods were being worshipped.  “He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’  So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’”  Matthew 16:13-14  NKJV    Doesn’t that sound like today’s world?   If you ask people who Jesus is, you get a variety of answers!

Then Jesus got in their face and asked the most important question in v.15 - “But who do you say that I am?”    Impetuous Peter answered in v.17 - “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   So Jesus complimented Peter with “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”

Then Jesus explains to them the reason for this field trip to the North-East corner of Israel.  (BTW – I think He is speaking to us also.)  “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt. 16:18-19  NKJV  

What did Jesus reveal to His 12 disciples and to us?

·      Peter, your answer shows your faith and it is solid as a rock.  So on this rock I will build My church, on that Rock of Faith. (Not Our church, HIS CHURCH, built on the faith of believers)

·      Jesus also told Peter that there is a kingdom of heaven and He is giving to Peter, and to you, the keys to HIS Kingdom with access to all the privileges.

Consider that Jesus mentions the word “church” only twice in the Gospels (Mt.16:18 & 18:17); that’s all!  But Jesus refers to the “Kingdom” over 50 times in Matthew alone.   Toward the end of Matthew 6 Jesus describes the things we people desire and need and then in v.33 He concludes - “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”   

The Jews were a lot like us, worrying about politics, nations, kingdoms and rulers.  So in Acts 1:6 the Jews  asked  “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”  Wrong focus!  Shouldn’t we all be working to restore the Kingdom of God here on earth?  In fact, Jesus tells us where we should all put our focus.  “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8 NIV 

Points to ponder

Would you rather have the keys to your church; or the keys to the Kingdom of God?

If we are His witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth, will that grow the Kingdom of God?

What a thrill it is to introduce members to His Church!

What can we unlock with the keys He has given us to His Kingdom?

♫ Seek ye first the Kingdom of God And His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu Alleluia Ask and it shall be given unto you  Seek and ye shall find  Knock and it shall be opened unto you ♫ 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                      May 4, 2021
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”  Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com/