Seeking First the Kingdom,
and His Righteousness
Matt
6:33
In this issue:
* REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE! Bro
Robert
* RWANDA – INTRODUCING BRO JEAN BOSCO
* CONFLICT STARTS UP AGAIN IN E DR
CONGO
* TANZANIA – BRO MICHAEL – OUR FAITHFUL
LORD
* E INDIA – BRO PRASANNA – REVIVAL FIRES
STIR
* UGANDA – DR
LUMALA – KAMPALA REGIONAL UPDATES
* S AFRICA – FBF TRAIN PREACHING REPORT
* MATT 16 – EXPOSITION CONTINUES
My Beloved Brethren... be
ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, for as much
as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.
1 Cor.
15:58
REMEMBER
LOT’S WIFE! HEART AFFECTIONS
BELOVED IN CHRIST, we greet you with all the mercy and grace that our Lord Jesus extends to us this day. As we are seeing more and more of God's judgment unfold upon our nations, we must stay fast upon our True Hope and love unto our Saviour and King... for, HE is calling up His Bride to 'STAND!'
Jesus said: 'REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE!' What was Jesus saying to His disciples? He was teaching that just as it was in the day of Lot, so it will be in these Last Days! Men and women will allow other affections in their hearts, and CROWD JESUS OUT from His deserved first position!! Take a survey of your own heart sometime, and ask yourself in judgment day honesty: Are there heart affections that are interfering with the progress of our own spiritual development in Christ Jesus?
It is entirely possible to allow other heart desires and affections to rise up without really noticing! They can silently TAKE ROOT in some portion of the heart. Like finding great satisfaction in getting a good job somewhere! Or getting a new house or farm with new furniture, paintings, antiques, gadgets, clothes, a new car, a new wife, new live-stock or a good business, a nice family or even a GREAT MINISTRY! My friend, let us recall that at a very wrong moment, Lot's wife could not believe that she was going to LOSE something that had grown up in her heart... something that she was unwilling to let go of!!
Could it be that in a time 'such as this' that the Holy Spirit is touching something that will have to go sooner or later, and we have not been listening? My beloved Brethren, let us find our peace in PRAYER WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD and be HONEST with the TRUTH!
Consider... Mr and Mrs LOT had to be DRAGGED OUT OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH BY THE HAND OF 2 ANGELS! They were not very willing to submit to the drawings of God in their time of Judgment! Can we be so sure that Jesus or our heavenly Father will be sending Angels to rescure you at the last hour?
The bible says: It's IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD WITHOUT FAITH!
May the Lord Jesus bless and keep your hearts... for His Kingdom. Amen.
Bro Robert FBF Staff
FBF would like to Thank you again for your prayers and encouragements as the Teams in East, Central, South and Western Africa are experiencing many advances and serious revival that continues in the East and Central sections... all Glory to God! East India continues to open up new territories with the Gospel, and the Open Air preach continues in the US. All teams are training new recruits at this time. We thank the LORD for the good work of participating with His Kingdom advance... and with all His Church Bride who is eagerly awaiting His soon return. This is the hour for all of God’s children to ‘rise up’ for the gospel of Jesus Christ! It’s TIME to do all we can in Christ. His return is more certain than ever before! Amen.
The focus of
the Pastoral Letter (PL) is along the lines of generally edifying and
encouraging Preachers to establish more of Christ in our lives, promoting the
Kingdom of God where ever we go, Establishing God fearing Churches, mission
updates (Africa, India, US), missions reports, focus points, teaching,
exposition, a short list of mail-ins (with some excerpts). We are committed to
the Great Co-Mission for all, as being salt and light are not an option in the
church of Jesus Christ. Matt 5:13-16 ... We continue to bless all those who are at
work in the advancement of the Kingdom of God... for Jesus sake. We continue to
call all men to Jesus, and to the simplicity of Christ that we find in the Book
of Acts Church... to His Glory and Praise!
Acts 2:42, 46-47, Mark
16:15-16
May the LORD
leave His richest blessings upon each one of you as you Press On with
Jesus!
"'Not called!'
did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say.
Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of
the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity,
and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear
the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and
sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face
— whose mercy you have professed to obey — and tell Him whether you will join
heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to
the world.
~William Booth, founder of the Salvation
Army
Burundi FBF IS GROWING!
Introducing Brother Jean Bosco
Joining FBF , 2nd year bible
college
A PRAYING CHURCH BODY
Dear sir.
how are you?
I am greeting you through the mighty
Jesus's name.
thank you somunch about your prayers
,for us to our programmes of january and february.next week I will senf for you
other ,requesting prayers of match and april program.
so,on friday were the teaching of the
women up 300 that pictures were not taken because Iwas for from that
place.
in the morning saturday were baptism
they were Baptised 50 peoples also there no pictures about them because I didn't
arrive early.
but afternoon were revival crasude the
many people attend that revival crusade about 800 peoples and on sunday were
maybe 1200 people attend that revival crusade that were good times of blessing
also the 30 gave their lives to Jesus one of them was Muslim girl.so on that
time we make the holly communion 600 Christians attend that
service.
we dedicated the Chridrens 37
.
after we the small meeting with students
of school bible and also I gave them the bible study and I thank the heavenly
father who help us in all working.
may the Lord bless
you
yours in Burundi
J.Bosco
|
-------
A CHURCH PLANTING BODY
(SOME 48 CHURCHES)
NEW GROUND FOR A NEW WORK
MEN TAKING COUNSEL & MAKING A PLAN
Please... we ask your prays for these devoted Brethren with all their church planting, faithfulness and the Bible College. Our Lord is blessing the work.
RENEWED VIOLENCE in DRC
Prayer needed PLEASE!
CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING IN THESE CONDITIONS?!
OF COURSE NOT... HOWEVER, WHEN THE 'MELT DOWN' OCCURS
THERE ARE FEW OPTIONS!
EITHER IN DRC OR SYRIA OR KENYA...
... LET US PRAY FOR OUR FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHO LIVE BY FAITH... AND NO DOUBT...
TO THE GLORY OF GOD!
TANZANIA
Update Bro Michael
 My beloved Daddy and an apostle Robert,
I am always
happy and proud of you because God who chose you to begot me He knew exactly how
you were going to become a lovely and blessing father to me and to my ministry
here in Tanznaia, praise the Lord.
Daddy below
here is a short report of what have been taking place in FBF ministry here in
Geita and Tanzania as a whole.
Daddy, those is
what have been done and hope before you come in May I will also send you the
2013 calendar of the plans I have for the ministry in Tanzania. Don’t forget me
for the request of the rent payment I requested earlier from you.
Your beloved
son,
Pastor
Michael.
FBF
|
+-.png)
E India - Revival
Bro Jeevan
Dear beloved MAN OF GOD REV. ROBERT EPHRATA and
near beloved AND FAMILY,
Greetings to you in the holy name of our lord Jesus
Christ. Jesus is same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you vary much for your
holy prayers , loving family and ministry. YOU ARE IN OUR HEARTS AND DAILY
PRAYERS. How are you dear family in Jesus? We daily praying for you, your
family, your church your good health and your country.
Thank you very much
for your holy prayers for ministry India to reach with the Love and Good News to
this pagan people. We see the mind of Jesus in you, and your family. we had
wonderful services in all our churches. We hope and pray that this letter will
bring you safe and sound to you under His loving wings of Jesus. By the Grace of
God and your daily holy prayers God had been using us in different places to
bring Glory and Honor to Him by bringing Hindus and idol worshippers towards of
Him
We had 3 day OPEN AIR meetings and we shared word of
God many are healed physically and spiritually and cast out the demons and among
are came to know about living lord Jesus Christ and 7 of them are going to
baptized in coming Sunday.
And we had prisoner ministry in this week and
shared love of Jesus and give tracts and John Gospel booklet and some Holy
Bibles to them.
Please pray that God may speak to them. Please send your
encouraging letter and your holy prayers. IN OUR HEARTS AND DAILY
PRAYERS.
Looking forward for your prayerful letter.
In His
Vineyard.
PASTOR.PRASANNA
JEEVAN
|
NEW DISTRICT IN THE MAKING?
BRO WACHANA
E UGANDA REGIONAL
BRO WACHANA
E UGANDA REGIONAL
Greetings to you
Brother Robert in Jesus’ name.
Concerning the issue of the Orphanage as indicated in your letter, it
is a good and welcome idea. So far in our area there are orphans and
helpless old folks, but there is no such ministry as an orphanage or
any home or other kind of caring ministry toward them. I believe it
can be a very helpful ministry in our area.
You asked me whether I know any politicians in Uganda. I know some of
the Local Area Leaders within the village, the Sub County and the
District. It is possible to connect with them to send our voice to
higher government authorities whenever we need any help in the area.
However, they may not have any free land to donate to us for our
projects as everyone in our area owns their personal land. We can only
buy.
There is another issue from the brothers from Western Kenya i.e. Busia
border, Malaba border, Amagoro and Amukura areas: They are suggesting
and requesting that they work with us in Uganda (so that their area
can be called Western Kenya Region) since they are closer to us in
Uganda than to Kisumu in Kenya. They had even suggested that the 2nd
quarter conference be organized in their area in Kenya. But I told
them we will take there the 3rd quarter instead. What is your opinion
on this? And what is the opinion of Brother James Samo. If it is
possible Brother James would come over so that we sit together and
hear from these brethren concerning this issue.
Thanks and I will hear from you again.
Pastor Wachana.
Concerning the issue of the Orphanage as indicated in your letter, it
is a good and welcome idea. So far in our area there are orphans and
helpless old folks, but there is no such ministry as an orphanage or
any home or other kind of caring ministry toward them. I believe it
can be a very helpful ministry in our area.
You asked me whether I know any politicians in Uganda. I know some of
the Local Area Leaders within the village, the Sub County and the
District. It is possible to connect with them to send our voice to
higher government authorities whenever we need any help in the area.
However, they may not have any free land to donate to us for our
projects as everyone in our area owns their personal land. We can only
buy.
There is another issue from the brothers from Western Kenya i.e. Busia
border, Malaba border, Amagoro and Amukura areas: They are suggesting
and requesting that they work with us in Uganda (so that their area
can be called Western Kenya Region) since they are closer to us in
Uganda than to Kisumu in Kenya. They had even suggested that the 2nd
quarter conference be organized in their area in Kenya. But I told
them we will take there the 3rd quarter instead. What is your opinion
on this? And what is the opinion of Brother James Samo. If it is
possible Brother James would come over so that we sit together and
hear from these brethren concerning this issue.
Thanks and I will hear from you again.
Pastor Wachana.
KENYA ELECTIONS
PRAYER IS REQUIRED
BRO JAMES - EAST AFRICA REGIONAL
Please be assured that the money is
going to lift the name of the lord and encourage the sons of thunder around
Nyanza as little as they could share.
Please we are having some prayers for
the families and the Kenyan election which is going to birth the fourth
president of Kenya.
Please join us in prayer we really
appreciate your prayer for the stability in Kenya which was being interfered
with during incursion into terrorists territory in
Somalia.
Please concerning our mission with you
in April/ May will be able to communicate more details in my next mail but was
suggesting that we have a full itinerary early May as thing could settle and
work well for us. Brother James/ EAR – FBF
Hindu converts in E India
BAPTISM
BAPTISM
Bro Jeevan
.jpg)
PASTOR. ROBERT EPHRATA AND CHURCH FAMILY.
Your brother in Jesus. Pastor.P. Prasanna jeevan
 |
FBF Film Project
COMPLETED at NO COST!
COMPLETED at NO COST!
Train Preaching FBF style
An excellent opportunity came to us a couple of months ago as a
Travel Film company out of France saw our web site, and was particularly
interested in our preaching on the
trains. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J6itAyWzcY
After some discussion with the producer, Bro Robert assigned Bro
Renier and Bro Ivan in South Africa to coordinate directly for a shoot time...
and the film was made. We are very thankful to the entire Film crew and the
people on the trains for helping to make this possible. That the Lord Jesus
will be Glorified in it’s showing in differing parts of the world is our earnest
desire.
REPORT FROM BRO RENIER AND
BRO IVAN
I would just like to encourage all my
brothers all over the world to consider the following words of Jesus:
“Go into ALL THE WORLD and preach the gospel
to every creature.” (Mark
16:15). Jesus is saying here that we can preach the Gospel ANYWHERE in the
world … not only in the streets, markets, beaches, cities, towns, neighborhoods
but also in UNUSUAL PLACES like trains and buses! Just this past Wednesday (23
January) a film-crew from France National Television flew in from Paris to Cape
Town to do a documentary of our preaching on the trains in Cape Town! I
preached the following message on the train: “You all know that this train is
going to Cape Town, but do you know where you are going to the day you die?
Where will you spend eternity? Where will you go when you pass on? Is it going
to be Heaven or is it going to be Hell? Where will you be a 100 years from
now? Think about it! A 100 years from now it is not going to matter how much
money you made in this life or in what type of home you lived. The only thing
that is going to matter a 100 years from now is who is in Heaven and who is in
hell! So repent while you are able! Details in the Bible!” After the
shooting the Director told me: “We’ve done documentaries on activities in and
around the trains for the past 20 YEARS in 14 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE
WORLD, but this is the FIRST TIME that I’ve ever seen someone PREACHING on the
trains!” I was shocked when I’ve heard this as I really thought that there
would be lots of bold brothers in other countries who would see this wonderful
opportunity to reach people on the trains/buses. You see, when people are
taking a train or a bus somewhere then you have a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE right there
in front of you! They can’t go anywhere if they do not like your preaching.
They have to stay in the train/bus if they want to reach their destination which
makes trains/buses a perfect location to preach a good Gospel-message to a
captive audience! Unlike open-air preaching where you have people walking by
you all the time … you are able on a train or a bus to take the audience through
the whole Ten Commandments and develop a sermon like that from beginning to
end. It is such a pity that most Christian men are not bold enough to make use
of this wonderful opportunity. The winters in South Africa make it sometimes
difficult for us to preach in the open-air due to the bad weather (rains and
winds, etc), but the trains are always available! Thanks to the trains we are
able to preach all year long and thereby keeping our voices strong and our
wheels oiled for action! I’ve seen a lot of things happening on the trains as a
result of our preaching. I’ve seen other brothers so encouraged by our example
that they’ve started to preach on the trains themselves for the first time in
their lives! We are such a regular sight on the trains that I’ve even heard
some say: “Oh no! Not these people again!” when we got into the train.
Just as the apostle Paul was considered to be “a plague” among his
contemporaries (Acts 24:5) so likewise we consider it an honour to be called “a
plague” or a nuisance by the unbelievers of our day. We usually take a lot of
tracts with us when we preach on the train. When we give one person a tract
after our preaching, usually the other people on the train see that person
getting a tract and then they would ask us to give them tracts as well! From
time to time we would see a “ticket-checker” on the train who would walk through
the train to check whether people have their tickets. When I see that I would
preach: “Tickets! Tickets! Do you have a ticket to Heaven? Jesus Christ is
your Ticket to Heaven! You cannot take a journey on a train without a ticket …
You cannot go to Heaven without Jesus Christ! No ticket … no journey! You know
how that goes!” The people usually smile when I hear that. I’ve learned
that humor goes a long way to ensure a captive audience. J When I got on the train the other day the train did not
leave the station immediately but stood in the station for about 10 minutes.
Trains usually leaves the train within one minute after arriving at a station.
I’ve already began to preach, but I’ve stopped for a moment and looked outside
the window of the train to see what the hold-up is. I shouted: “Come on!
Blow the whistle!” Immediately, as I said this, the whistle blew and the
train-doors closed and we were in motion! I turned around and said to my
audience: “See, they were just waiting for me to tell them to!” The
people laughed at my remark and I continued my preach. As I was preaching to
the people on the train a man interrupted me and said: “May I ask you a
question?” I said: “Sure!” I like it when people interrupt me when
I’m preaching to ask me a question as that is a sign that they’ve paid
attention! This man asked me: “Where is Jesus right now?” I replied:
“He is in Heaven sitting at the right hand of the God.” He then said:
“Show me!” I said: “All right!” and opened up my Bible to Mark 16
and read verses 19-20 out loud for all to hear. He asked again: “Where is
Heaven?” I replied: “According to the Bible (2 Cor 12:2) there are 3
heavens … the 1st heaven is the blue sky that you see outside where all the
clouds are. The 2nd heaven is outer space where you get the sun, the moon and
the stars. The 3rd heaven is the place where God lives … it is way
beyond space … outside the universe.” The man responded: “The Bible says
that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth… if God is in heaven
… where was He before He created the heavens and the earth?” The man smiled
as he asked me this question as he thought he got me in a corner. I replied:
“Genesis 1:1 says that in the beginning God created the heaven-s and the
earth. The word ‘heavens’ is in the plural. In other words, Genesis 1:1 talks
only about the 1st and 2nd heavens as God Himself always existed in the 3rd
heaven since that is and was His dwelling place from all eternity.” The man
was satisfied with my answer and said: “Ah, I believe you now!” I replied
to him: “Thank you for asking such intelligent questions! I really appreciate
that! I can see that you are thinking!” I could see that he liked what was
said as he shook my hand, smiling. Everyone in the train heard our discussion
as I spoke out loud for all to hear. You see, people are more willing and eager
to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ than we think! It is our duty as
Christians to take the message to them! Be encourage my brothers in Christ to be
bold in the witness for Jesus Christ in preaching the Gospel EVERYWHERE …
including trains and buses! Use every opportunity to preach the Gospel to every
creature and live your life in such a way that you have no regrets when you
stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Amen.
~ Renier South
Africa
MATTHEW 16: AN
EXPOSITION
(Matthew
16:1) The Pharisees also with
the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from
heaven.
The
Pharisees and Sadducees, traditional enemies in
religious matters, represented two doctrinal extremes. But their opposition to
each other gave way to cooperation as they united in a common aim to trip up the
Savior. To test Him they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. In some
way not clear to us, they were trying to trick Him into a compromising
position. In asking for a sign from heaven, perhaps they were implying an
opposite source for His previous miracles. Or perhaps they wanted some
supernatural sign in the sky. All Jesus' miracles had been performed on the
earth. Could He do heavenly miracles as well?
(Matthew
16:2-3) He answered and said
unto them, When it is evening, ye say,
It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It
will be foul weather to day: for the
sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can
discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of
the times?
He
answered by
continuing the theme of the sky. When they saw a red sky in the evening, they
forecast good weather for the next day. They also knew that a red, threatening
sky in the morning meant storms for that day. They know how to interpret the
appearance of the sky, but they could not interpret the signs of the times.
What were these signs? The prophet who heralded the arrival of the Messiah had
appeared in the person of John the Baptist. The miracles prophesied of the
Messiah—things no other man had ever done—had been performed in their presence.
Another sign of the times was the obvious rejection of the Messiah by the Jews
and the movement of the gospel to the Gentiles, all in fulfilment of prophecy.
Yet in spite of this undisputable evidence, they had no sense of history being
made or of prophecy being fulfilled.
(Matthew
16:4) A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there
shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.
And he left them, and departed.
In seeking
for a sign when He Himself stood in their midst, the Pharisees and Sadducees
exposed themselves as an evil, spiritually adulterous generation. No sign would
now be given to them except the sign of the prophet Jonah. This sign would be
the resurrection of Christ on the third day (Mat
12:39). A wicked and adulterous generation would crucify its
Messiah, but God would raise Him from the dead. This would be a sign of the
doom of all who refuse to bow to Him as rightful Ruler. The paragraph closes
with the ill-omened words, “And He left them and departed.” The
spiritual consequences of the words should be obvious to
all.
(Matthew
16:5-6) And when his disciples
were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of
the Sadducees.
When His
disciples re-joined the Lord on the east side of the lake, they had forgotten to
take food with them. Therefore when Jesus greeted them with a warning to beware
of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they thought He was saying,
“Don't go to those Jewish leaders for food supplies!” Their obsession
with food caused them to look for a literal, natural explanation where a
spiritual lesson was meant.
(Matthew
16:7-8) And they reasoned
among themselves, saying, It is
because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them,
O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves,
because ye have brought no bread?
Jesus realizes that they are
misunderstanding the whole thing.
(Matthew
16:9-10) Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves
of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven loaves
of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took
up?
They were
still worrying about a food shortage in spite of the fact that He who fed the
5,000 and the 4,000 was with them. So He reviewed the two miraculous feedings
with them. The lesson that arose concerned divine resourcefulness, for the
less Jesus had to work with, the more He fed, and the more food there was left
over. When there were only five loaves and two fish, He fed 5,000 plus and
had twelve baskets of food left. With more loaves and fish, He fed only 4,000
plus and had left over only seven basketfuls. If we put our limited resources
at His disposal, He can multiply them in reverse proportion to their amount.
“Little is much if God is in it.” A different word is used for baskets
here than in the feeding of the 5,000. The seven baskets in this incident are
considered to have been larger than the twelve on the previous occasion. But the
basic lesson remains: Why worry about hunger and want when we are linked with
One who has infinite power and resources?
(Matthew
16:11-12) How is it that ye do not understand that I spake
it not
to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees
and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade
them not beware of the leaven of
bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees.
In
speaking of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the Lord had not referred
to bread but to evil doctrine and conduct. In Luke
12:1 the leaven of the Pharisees is defined as hypocrisy. They
professed to obey the Word of God in the smallest details, yet their obedience
was external and shallow. Inwardly they were evil and corrupt. The leaven of
the Sadducees was rationalism. The freethinkers of their day, they, like the
liberals of today, had built a system of doubts and denials. They denied the
existence of angels and spirits, the resurrection of the body, the immortality
of the soul, and eternal punishment. This leaven of scepticism, if tolerated,
will spread and infiltrate like yeast in meal.
(Matthew
16:13-14) When Jesus came into
the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias;
and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
Caesarea
Philippi was
about twenty-five miles north of the Sea of Galilee and five miles east of the
Jordan. When Jesus came to the surrounding villages (Mark 8:27), an incident generally recognized as the
peak of His teaching ministry occurred. Up to this time He had been leading His
disciples to a true apprehension of His Person. Having succeeded in this, He
now turns His face determinedly to go to the cross. He began by asking His
disciples what men were saying as to His identity. The replies ran the range
from John the Baptist, to Elijah, to Jeremiah, to one of the other prophets. To
the average person He was one among many. Good but not the Best. Great but not
the Greatest. A prophet but not the Prophet. This view would never do.
It condemned Him with weak praise. If He were only another man He was a fraud
because He claimed to be equal with God the Father.
(Matthew
16:15-16) He saith unto them,
But whom say ye that I am? And Simon
Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living
God.
He asked
the disciples who they believed He was. This brought from Simon Peter the
famous confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In
other words, He was Israel's Messiah and God the Son. In Him are fulfilled all the promises of God to the
nation. And as the Old Testament made clear, the Messiah is more than a human
being; He is God (Isa 9:6; Jer 23:5-6; Mic
5:2). Peter thus acknowledged Jesus’ deity as the Son of the
living God. The disciples had come to this conclusion as they observed the Lord
Jesus over a period of time, witnessed His miracles, and heard His
words.
(Matthew
16:17) And Jesus answered and
said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven.
Our Lord
pronounced a blessing on Simon, son of Jonah. The fisherman had not arrived at
this concept of the Lord Jesus through intellect or natural wisdom; it had been
supernaturally revealed to him by God the Father. Likewise, we do not need to
see it as our job to convince a Muslim,
Mormon, or other unbeliever that Jesus is God. That’s the Father’s job. Our
part is simply to preach the message of the gospel.
(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.
We all
know that more arguments have swirled around this verse than almost any other
verse in the Gospel. Roman Catholics use
this passage to support their belief in the primacy of Peter, that is, that he
is the rock on which the church is built. There are different ways to
understand this passage, but none of them support the Roman Catholic view that
the church is built on St. Peter, who became the first Pope—infallible in all
his official pronouncements on faith and doctrine. This is evident for many
reasons. First of all, Peter was married (Matt. 8:14), and Popes do not
marry. If the first Pope could marry, why later pronounce that no priest (or
Pope) can marry? Second, Peter was not infallible in his views on the Christian
life. Even Paul had to rebuke him for his hypocrisy, because he was not
“straightforward about the truth of the Gospel” (Gal. 2:14). Third, the Bible
clearly declares that Christ is the foundation of the Christian church,
insisting that “no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid,
which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11). Fourth, the only sense in which Peter
had a foundational role in the church, all the other apostles shared in the same
way. Peter was not unique in this respect. For Paul declared that in this
sense the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). Indeed, the
early church continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine [not just Peter’s]”
(Acts 2:42). Even “keys of the kingdom” given to Peter (Matt. 16:19) were also
given to all the apostles (cf. Matt. 18:18). Fifth, there is no indication that
Peter was the head of the early church. When the first council was held at
Jerusalem, Peter played only an introductory role (Acts 15:6–11). James seems to
have a more significant position, summing up the conference and making the final
pronouncement (cf. Acts 15:13–21). In any event, Peter is never referred to as
the “pillar” in the church. Rather, Paul speaks of “pillars” (plural), such as,
“James, Cephas, and John” (Gal. 2:9). Peter (Cephas) is not even listed
first among the pillars. Sixth, many Protestant interpreters believe that
Jesus’ reference to “this rock” (Matt. 16:18) upon which His church would be
built was to Peter’s solid (rock-like) testimony that Jesus was “the Christ,
the son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). But even if this rock has
reference to Peter ( Petros, rock), which is certainly a possible
interpretation, he was only a rock in the apostolic foundation of the church
(Matt. 16:18), not the rock. Nor is he the only apostolic rock. Even
Peter himself admitted that Christ is the chief rock (“cornerstone,” 1 Peter
2:7). And Paul notes that the other apostles are all part of the “foundation”
(Eph. 2:20). To summarize, what Jesus really said in Matthew 16:18 was
“... you are
Peter
(stone), and on this rock I will build My church.” Remember, He was talking to
Jews. If we trace the figurative use of the word rock through Hebrew
Scriptures, we find that it is never used symbolically of man, but always of
God. So here at Caesarea Philippi, it is not upon Peter that the Church is
built. Jesus did not trifle with figures of speech. He took up their old
Hebrew illustration—rock, always the symbol of Deity—and said, “Upon God
Himself —Christ, the Son of the living God—I will build my church.” Here in
Matthew 16:18 we have also have the first mention of the church in the Bible.
It did not exist in the Old Testament. The church, still future when Jesus
spoke these words, was formed on the Day of Pentecost and is composed of all
true believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile. A separate society known as the
body and bride of Christ, it has a unique heavenly calling and destiny. The
phrase “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it” may be understood
in two ways. First the gates of hell are pictured in an unsuccessful offensive
against the church—the church will survive all attacks upon it. Or the church
itself may be pictured as taking the offensive and coming off the victor. This
reminds us of what John Wesley said: “Give
me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God,
and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will
shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon
earth.”
(Matthew
16:19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven.
“I will
give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” does not mean that Peter was
given authority to admit men to heaven. This has to do with the kingdom of
heaven on earth—the sphere containing all who profess allegiance to the
King, all who claim to be Christians. Keys speak of access or entrance. The
keys which open the door to the sphere of profession are suggested in the Great
Commission (Mat 28:19)—discipling,
baptizing, and teaching. (Baptism is not necessary for salvation but is the
initiatory rite by which men publicly profess allegiance to the King.) Peter
first used the keys on the Day of Pentecost. They were not given to him
exclusively, but as a representative of all the disciples. (See Matthew 18:18 where the same promise is given to
them all.) “Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This and a companion passage
in John 20:23 are sometimes used to
teach that Peter and his supposed successors were given the authority to forgive
sins. We know that this cannot be so; only God can forgive sins. There are two
ways of understanding the verse. First, it may mean that the apostles had power
to bind and to loose that we do not have today. For example, Peter bound their
sins on Ananias and Sapphira so that they were punished with instant death
(Acts 5:1-10), while Paul loosed the
disciplined man in Corinth from the consequences of his sin because the man had
repented (2 Cor 2:10). Or the verse may
mean that whatever the apostles bound or loosed on earth must have
already been bound or loosed in heaven. In other words, it can be
understood that Heaven, not the apostles, initiates all binding and loosing,
while the apostles announce these things. The only way in which the verse is
true today is in a declarative sense. When a sinner truly repents of his
sins and receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, a Christian can
declare that person's sins to be forgiven. When a sinner rejects the
Saviour, a Christian can declare his sins to be retained. Whenever the
Church acts in the name of the Lord and really does His will, the stamp of God
is upon their deeds.
(Matthew
16:20) Then charged he his
disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the
Christ.
Again we
find the Lord Jesus commanding His disciples to tell no one that He was the
Messiah. Because of Israel's unbelief, no good could come from such a
confession. And positive harm might come from a popular movement to crown Him
King; such an ill-timed move would be ruthlessly crushed by the Romans. This
section in Matthew 16 is the turning point of Jesus' ministry. The day at
Caesarea Philippi marks the watershed of the Gospels. From this point onward
the streams begin to flow in another direction. The current of popularity which
seemed likely in the earlier days of Jesus' ministry to carry him to a throne
has now been left behind. The tide sets toward the Cross. ... At Caesarea,
Jesus stood, as it were on a dividing line. It was like a hilltop from which he
could see behind him the entire road he had travelled and in front of him the
dark, forbidding way awaiting him. One look he cast back to where the afterglow
of happy days still lingered and then faced round and marched forward toward the
shadows. His course was now set to Calvary.
(Matthew
16:21) From that time forth
began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and
suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed,
and be raised again the third day.
Now that
the disciples had realized that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God,
they were ready to hear His first direct prediction of His death and
resurrection. They now knew that His cause could never fail; that they were on
the winning side; that no matter what happened, triumph was assured. So the
Lord broke the news to prepared hearts. He must go to Jerusalem, must suffer
many things from the religious leaders, must be killed, and be raised the third
day. The news was enough to spell the doom of any movement—all except that last
imperative—must ... be raised the third day. That made the
difference!
(Matthew
16:22) Then Peter took him,
and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be
unto thee.
Peter was
outraged at the thought of his Master's enduring such treatment. Catching hold
of Him as if to block His path, he protested, “Far be it from You, Lord; this
shall not happen to You!”
(Matthew
16:23) But he turned, and said
unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an
offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those
that be of men.
This drew
a rebuke from the Lord Jesus. He had come into the world to die for sinners.
Anything or anyone who hindered Him from this purpose was out of tune with God's
will. So He said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me,
for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” In
calling Peter Satan, Jesus did not imply that the apostle was demon-possessed or
Satan-controlled. He simply meant that Peter's actions and words were what
could be expected of Satan (whose name means adversary). By protesting
against Calvary, Peter became a hindrance to the Saviour. Every Christian is
called to take up his cross and follow the Lord Jesus, but when the cross looms
in the pathway ahead, a voice within says, “Far be it from you! Save
yourself.” Or perhaps the voices of loved ones seek to deflect us from the
path of obedience. At such times, we too must say, “Get behind me, Satan!
You are a hindrance to me.” If you are
going to do something in the area of evangelism, be sure you set your face like
a “flint” to do so (Isaiah 50:7). A flint is a very hard stone that produces
sparks when struck. That’s what Peter found when he tried to discourage Jesus
from doing God’s will. The enemy will try to discourage you, and where you
least expect it.
(Matthew
16:24) Then said Jesus unto
his disciples, If any man will come after
me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow
me.
Now the
Lord Jesus plainly states what is involved in being His disciple: denial of
self, cross-bearing, and following Him. To deny self is not the same as
self-denial; it means to yield to His control so completely that self has no
rights whatever. To take up the cross means the willingness to endure shame,
suffering, and perhaps martyrdom for His sake; to die to sin, self, and the
world. In the Roman Empire a convicted
criminal, when taken to be crucified, was forced to carry his own cross. This
showed publicly that he was then under and submissive to the rule he had been
opposing. Likewise Jesus’ disciples must demonstrate their submission to the
One against whom they had rebelled. To follow Him means to live
as He lived with all that involves of humility, poverty, compassion, love,
grace, and every other godly virtue.
(Matthew
16:25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and
whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find
it.
The Lord
anticipates two hindrances to discipleship. The first is the natural temptation
to save oneself from discomfort, pain, loneliness, or loss. The other is to
become wealthy. As to the first, Jesus warned that those who hug their lives
for selfish purposes would never find fulfilment; those who recklessly abandon
their lives to Him, not counting the cost, would find the reason for their
existence.
(Matthew
16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole
world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?
The second
temptation—that of getting rich—is irrational. “Suppose,” said Jesus,
“that a man became so successful in business that he owned the whole world.
This mad quest would absorb so much of his time and energy that he would miss
the central purpose of his life. What good would it do to make all that money,
then die, leave it all behind, and spend eternity empty-handed?” Man is
here for bigger business than to make money. He is called to represent the
interests of his King. If he misses that, he misses
everything.
(Matthew
16:27) For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father
with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his
works.
Now the
Lord reminds His own of the glory that follows the suffering. He points forward
to His Second Coming when He will return to earth with His angels in the great
glory of His Father. Then He will reward those who live for Him. The only way
to have a successful life is to project oneself forward to that glorious time,
decide what will really be important then, and then go after that with all one's
strength. Live your life in such a way so that you have no regrets when you
leave this temporary life for the eternals.
(Matthew
16:28) Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which
shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his
kingdom.
Jesus made
the surprising statement that there were some standing there with Him who would
not taste death before they saw Him coming in His kingdom. The problem, of
course, is that those disciples have all died, yet Christ has not come in power
and glory to set up His kingdom. The problem is solved if we disregard the
chapter break and consider the first eight verses of the next chapter as an
explanation of His puzzling statement. These verses describe the incident on
the Mount of Transfiguration. There Peter, James, and John saw Christ
transformed. They were actually privileged to have a preview of Christ in the
glory of His kingdom. We are right in viewing Christ's transformation as a
pre-picture of His coming kingdom. Peter describes the event as “the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet
1:16). The power and coming of the Lord Jesus refer to His Second
Coming. And John speaks of the Mount experience as the time when “... we
beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father”
(John 1:14). Christ's First Coming
was in humiliation; it is His Second Coming that will be in glory. Thus, the
prediction of verse 28 was fulfilled on the Mount; Peter, James, and John saw
the Son of Man, no longer as the humble Nazarene, but as the glorified
King.
FBF Staff - Renier {Ref sources: The Holy Spirit, W
McDonalds, Walvrood & Zuck, Evidence Bible}
Much emphasis is given by our LORD and the
Apostles in their teaching on the importance of the PREACHING or DECLARING the
Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is the POWER of God on earth as given to men (Rom
1.16)... as it provides the most coverage in every area.
The words used for PREACH, PREACHING carry
with it the Open Air Proclamation just as a TOWN CRIER! It is never a 2 way
conversation... but a DECLARATION TO ALL! The Church Bride of Christ is to be
the VOICE of the Bride and the Bridegroom in this untoward
generation.
It has been, and remains the privilege of
this ministry to expose men to this dimension of the Gospel as prescribed by our
LORD JESUS CHRIST! May we present the Truth in Love... as Jesus did.
Amen.
Mark 16:15-16, 1:14, Matt 9:35, 24:12-14,
Luke 4:18, 4:43, 24:47,
Acts 5:42, 10:42, 1 Cor
1:18
FBF Admin Staff, Bro Robert
edit
FBF - Sons of thunder -
Time for Christ
________ * ________
~ we welcome
all your comments and inquires ~
|
