Matthew 16
Jesus is asking you a question…Who do you say I am?
Illustration: Black dot on the white sheet …until you see it or it’s pointed out it doesn’t
mean much but then all your focus is on the dot and not the rest of the blessing.
Peter missed the point. All he wanted to do was protect Jesus.
Illustration: Jesus has become popular again. His name pops up in the news all the
time. In 2004 Mel Gibson did what Billy Graham could not do. Through his movie The
The passion of the Christ, he took the cross of Jesus and planted it squarely in the middle
of American public life.
For a few fleeting weeks, everyone was talking about Jesus. I remember turning on the TV
the morning the movie opened across America.
On CBS they were talking about Jesus.
On the Today show, Katie Couric was talking about Jesus.
On Good Morning America Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson were talking about Jesus.
It was the same on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC.
That afternoon I turned on Fox Business, a financial channel, and they weren’t talking
about the latest news from Wall Street. They were talking about Jesus.
That night on Hardball, Chris Matthews was talking about Jesus.
Although he lived 2,000 years ago, for a brief moment, Jesus took center stage not
only in American public life but globally and no one could ignore him.
Only God’s power can deepen our dedication as we storm the gates of hell.
Only God’s power can increase our faithfulness as we spread His word abroad.
Only God’s power can bear our burdens as we’re persecuted for Christ’s sake.
Only God’s power can renew our determination as we carry the banner of God’s grace
and mercy.
Only God’s power can help us shoulder our responsibilities to witness to every nation…
in every tongue…until every soul is reached with the message of Salvation.
Storming the gates of hell is not for wimps.
That’s why God gave us access to His power source.
The Holy Spirit must be the heavenly air for our spiritual lungs.
The Holy Spirit must be the assurance for our spiritual anxieties.
The Holy Spirit must be the strength for our spiritual weakness.
The Holy Spirit must be the water for our spiritual thirst.
The Holy Spirit must be the Joy for our spiritual journey.
The Holy Spirit must be the thrust for our spiritual feebleness.
It must be the anointing for our spiritual accomplishments,
The comfort for our spiritual crisis,
The glory for our gloom,
The very breath for our life!
It is not for us to battle Satan alone, but “The spirit itself beareth witness WITH our
spirit, that we are the children of God…” (Romans 8:16)
Zechariah carried the message that it is, “…not by might, nor by power, but by my
spirit, saith the Lord of host.”
If we’re going to go against Satan and his hosts, we’d better take the Lord of
Hosts with us!
The Holy Spirit will assure us of our salvation as we storm the gates of hell.
It will relieve us of our own suffering as we call others to Christ.
It will refresh our spirits as we offer the fountain of refreshing to the world.
It will replenish our strength as we conquer Satan’s army.
Let’s put on the whole armor of God and storm the gates of hell.
Let’s let the world know that God is a righteous remedy for the ruined.
Let them know that God is justification for the judged.
Let them know that God is redemption for the rebellious.
Let them know that He is the solution for their shame,
The triumph for their trouble, and the blessed bliss for their burdens.
Acts 27-28 Gods Protection
1. Storm
2. Shipwreck
3. Snake Bite
There is a revival in Malta!! On the way to Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh,
Asheville.
Who do you say that I am!!
