Day 16: Make or Build?
Today’s Reading: Matthew 16:13–20
Welcome to Day 16 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2023. This is Week 3, The Church Multiplied.
The Focus: “Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ . . . ‘And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.’” (Matthew 16:16, 18, ESV)
The Meditation: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The Question That Matters Most
At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples what people were saying about Him. They gave the popular answers. Then He made it personal and asked who they said He was (Matthew 16:13–15).
Peter answered that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus told him that he had not worked this out for himself. The Father in heaven had revealed it to him (Matthew 16:17). Nobody comes to know who Jesus is unless God opens their eyes.
Who Builds the Church
Then Jesus made a promise: “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He is the builder, and the church is His. It rests on the truth that Peter had just confessed, that Jesus is the Christ. Paul says that nobody can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).
That takes a weight off our shoulders. The growth of the church does not finally depend on our programmes or our personalities.
What Jesus Asked Us to Make
He gave us a different task. Yesterday we heard Him tell us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19). He builds the church, and we make disciples. When we do our part, we can trust Him to do His.
Gates Cannot Advance
Jesus said that the gates of hell will not overcome His church (Matthew 16:18). Gates do not attack. They are there to keep people in. The picture is of a church that moves forward and sets captives free, while the defences of darkness give way.
He also gave His people the keys of the Kingdom (Matthew 16:19). Through the gospel we have authority to open the door for others to come in.
Pray It Through
Answer the question. Tell Jesus in your own words who He is to you.
Give the church back to Him. Thank Jesus that He is the builder. Pray for our leaders by name.
Pray for someone held captive. Ask God to open the eyes of one person and to set them free.
Prayer for Today
Lord Jesus, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Thank You that the church is Yours and that You are building it. Forgive us for trying to do Your work in our own strength. Help us to do ours, and make us a church that makes disciples. Let the gates of hell give way as Your Kingdom advances. Amen.
Listen and Watch
Pastor Ras shares a short message for Day 16 in the audio and video below.
Keep going
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