(11-28-04)

Mat.16:15-19

Jesus said – “…I will build my church…”  and He is! On what did Jesus say He would build His Church? When Jesus asked His disciples who the people were saying He was and then asking  them pointedly; “who do you say I am?” Peter was the bold answerer – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” 

I wish we could hear the tone and inflection in the voice and see the facial expression on Jesus’ face when he answers back – “you are a rock! And it is upon this rock that I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not stand against it.” The question still stands, what did Jesus say He would build His Church on? Although the text does not give us a cut and dry answer I do believe one can be had.

I believe the raw material for building the Church is hearts enlightened by God and motivated by faith. Peter was enlightened by the voice of God and was willing to stand up and speak boldly the conviction of His heart because He believed what his heart had heard. “Jesus, you are the Christ, the son of the Living God!” 

Jesus spoke about God’s voice enlightening Hearts – “It is written in the Prophets: `They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.” (Jn.6:45) Peter demonstrated for us the right response to hearing God’s voice – belief in motion. The stones (rocks) that Jesus is using to build His Church are people who have learned from God and then act upon that learning.

Peter, years after the live changing events that literally changed the face of the nations, spoke of Jesus’ building project – “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1Pet.2:5; 1-10)  The raw material for building the Church is human hearts touched and transformed by the voice and hand of God.

The foundation for the church was laid and that foundation, once and for all time will never needs re-laying. Jesus is that foundation. (1Cor.3:11) Paul brings some up for us to take to heart – as living stones we house the Spirit of God. “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?”  (1Cor.3:16)

You are the construction material that has a premium price tag attached – Jesus. The price paid for each stone used in the building of the church is Jesus. With His blood he has bought and is still buying. (Rev.5:9-10) It is God who makes you a quality stone out of the raw lump of a rock you were before He laid His hammer and chisel to its work.

The first great work of God is making dead rocks living stones. This He does even yet. (Eph.2:1-22) It is all about what God is doing and our willingness to let Him have His way with us and that for our own good and benefit. “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (verse 22)

As living stones we have a life to live out with purpose, His purpose.   “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”. (Eph.2:11)  LIVE!