ESOCS Devotional 16 September 2022
TEXT: MATTHEW 16: 13-23
MEMORY VERSE: “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.” Matthew 16:18 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
At a stage in the earthly life of Jesus, it became necessary to inquire of His disciples who men really thought He was. This was a turning point in His ministry. Moreover, from this time His attention would be focused more on Jerusalem and the cross (Vs. 21). As His focus on the disciples was reducing, He thus asked them this question. This would eventually move them toward their own confession of who the Master was (vs. 15). This confession finally came through Peter, who answered and said: “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” (vs. 16).
This revelation became an eye opener to all, that Jesus really is the Son of God. He is Christ the rock. Following the clear understanding that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God, it made it clear that upon such foundation the Church will be built. The church would exist and subsist, therefore, because people believed that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of God.
As Christ, He fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies in reference to the Messiah (Luke 24:44). As Son of God, He was God on earth with the power and authority of God. The Messianic mission of Christ would be pursued and achieved within the framework of the Church. This church must be built on a solid foundation, which is Christ. What then is the Church? The Church is an assembly of called out people. In other words, the church is an assembly of believers, who have been called out of the world, following their belief that Jesus is the Messiah – the Christ – the Son of the Living God.
The Church was publicly established when the first official announcement of the Kingdom reign of Jesus was made. This was made on the day of the Pentecost in Acts 2, by Peter. This also followed the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of God. Without doubt, the Church on earth is the manifestation of the Kingdom reign of Jesus in heaven. This Spiritual stronghold called the church, is founded on Christ, the Rock of Ages, so the gates of hades shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).
CHALLENGES: Would you rather think that Peter was the rock referred to in Matthew 18:18?PRAYER POINTS: Lord Jesus, grant us the unshaken faith to believe strongly in you, as the Solid Rock, on which the Church stands.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Judges 7: 1-23; Nehemiah 2: 1-20; Acts 3: 1-10.
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 16 September 2022
