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Come and See || Week 4

WEEK 1 – God Always Has a Plan

WEEK 2 – Jesus Came For Messy People

Week 3 – Jesus Came to RECLAIM and PROCLAIM the Kingdom of Heaven

 

Today’s Question:

What Did Jesus Teach

 

Matthew 16

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades (hell) will not overpower it.

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

 

What is happening here?

 

Jesus is with the disciples in a region of Caesarea Philippi

  • A mountainous region containing Mount Hermon and a bad reputation
  • According to the Old Testament, area was called Bashan
  • Bashan was controlled by two kings evil kings Sihon and Og
  • Over time it developed into being believed to be the LITERAL Gate of HELL

 

But the disciples have other reasons for not liking this place

  • The place where fallen angels had descended and had offspring with human women (Gen 6)
  • Caesarea Philippi was build and dedicated to Zeus.
  • A temple of worship for Zeus was at the base of the Mount Hermon

 

So in this story, Jesus takes his disciples on a road trip to what they believed to be the literal gates of Hell. The place of the dead.

 

Jesus asks them a very interesting question:

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Verse 13)

Disciples list several names:

  • John the Baptism
  • Elijah
  • Other OT Prophets

Then asks them, “who do you say that I am?” (Verse 15)

 

Peter Answers:

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

 

Matthew 16

17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades (hell) will not overpower it.

 

The rock which Jesus referred to in this passage was neither Peter nor Himself; it was the rock on which they were standing—the foot of Mount Hermon, the demonic headquarters of the Old Testament and the Greek world.  ~ Michael Heiser

Jesus came to Declare WAR

It is the Church that Jesus sees as the aggressor. He was declaring war on evil and death. Jesus would build His Church atop the gates of hell—He would bury them. ~ Michael Heiser

 

Why am I telling you this story?
Last week we said that:

Week 3 – Jesus Came to RECLAIM and PROCLAIM the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God)

  • That He came to TAKE BACK
  • And He came to PUSH FORWARD

 

Today, we must talk about spiritual warfare

  • We are in a war

 

Now more than ever, it is more evident in our world

  • What we are seeing in other countries
  • Seeing right here at home

 

We can all tell something has gone wrong.

 

Paul knew a great deal about spiritual warfare

 

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 

 

Paul is saying that just as there IS a Kingdom of Heaven, there IS a kingdom of Hell

  • Chaos
  • Death
  • Disappointment
  • Fear

 

This kingdom has:

  1. Strategies
  2. Organization
  3. A Purpose (To destroy and stop the advancement of God’s Kingdom)

 

 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.

 

Must Know

Anytime you step out for the kingdom of God, you step against the kingdom of darkness

At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus gives us His

What his kingdom and what those in it will look like

 

The Beatitudes

 

This is not Jesus giving a new TEN COMMANDMENTS

  • Not “How To Behave”

 

Instead, these are a “HOW TO IDENTIFY” list

 

When in a difficult situation it is important to recognize the right people

  • Paramedic
  • Police Officer
  • Firefighter
  • Doctor

 

Jesus gives us a map of how to find HIS people…
Matthew 5

1 When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

11 “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. 12 Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Do you want to know where the kingdom of Heaven is?

  • Do you want to know where heaven is meeting earth?
  • It’s where Jesus people are living this out

 

Why is this so important for us to know?

 

The way things are accomplished in this world is by:

  • Power (Gains Power)
  • Force (Imposes Force)
  • Control (Takes Control)

 

This IS NOT the way the kingdom of heaven operates

 

Jesus has come and DECLARED WAR on those power structures

  • He has declared war on the kingdom of this world
  • kingdom of  heartbreak, destruction, disappointment, and death

 

The Beatitudes are just a “WAY OF LIVING”

But a WAY OF FIGHTING

  • They are Spiritual warfare

But instead of using power and force, he will use

  • The poor in spirit
  • Those who are mourning
  • The humble
  • Those who hunger of righteousness
  • Merciful
  • Pure in heart
  • Peacemakers
  • Persecuted

 

2 Corinthians 12

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

What did Jesus teach?

1 – That HIS church WILL WIN

It is the Church that Jesus sees as the aggressor. He was declaring war on evil and death. Jesus would build His Church atop the gates of hell—He would bury them. ~ Michael Heiser

2 – That Those whom the world overlooks and takes advantage of will inherited the world in HIS new Kingdom

  • Not the powerful
  • Not the mighty
  • Not the perfectly religious

But those who choose to not take part in the broken power structure of this age

  • Those who love God will all their heart and their neighbor as themselves

 

My question for you is?

Which kingdom have you been living under?

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