Christ in the Midst
Matthew 16:13-20 – Jesus mentions the “church” for the first time
v.16 You are the Christ, the Son of the living God Built with those who have confessed Christ:
v.17 Flesh and Blood did not reveal this to you
> Church = those who have had revelation of Jesus from the Father: who CAN hear the voice of God
v.18 The gates of Hades will not prevail against it = An aggressive/ offensive company
> Our ekklesia – hearing the decrees of the King of kings and discerning His will for our territory
“THE ROCK” IS THE REVELATION OF WHO JESUS IS. THE ENTIRE CHURCH IS BUILT ON THAT REVELATION. THAT JESUS IS THE ANOINTED ONE, THE VERY SON OF GOD, AND THE HEAD AND LORD OVER HIS CHURCH
> Plans are formed there to topple those gates and rescue those trapped behind
> This is always the primary objective of the church. A local church will have a corresponding anointing/ grace for the particular gates of Hades in that region.
v.19 “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.”
* Bind = forbid. We will not permit this
* Loose = permit. We will permit this behavior/ decision
THE EKKLESIA MUST BE IN AGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT THINGS ARE PERMITTED, AND WHAT THINGS ARE NOT. ELDERS MAY BE THE ONES WHO “SIT” IN THE GATES, BUT ALL WITHIN MUST BE IN AGREEMENT TOGETHER.
Matthew 18 Jesus in the midst…
> Binding and loosing also refer to fellowship. We love but do not have fellowship with those who walk in rebellion against God.
Where two or three are gathered in my name…
God allows us to practice in the family first…the safest place to fail
1 Cor 14:26
> Come to gatherings of the saints ready to GIVE and not just receive
1 Cor 12:7
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