Matthew 16:13-18 (KJV)
Positioned for Revival
Introduction
Jesus and His disciples traveled from the region around the Sea of Galilee and went north about thirty miles to Caesarea Philippi. It was here Jesus questioned His disciples about their faith in Him.
He asked, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matthew 16:13).
Their replies reflected a couple of Old Testament men – Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. Some even thought Jesus was John the Baptist raised from the dead. Continuing the discussion, Jesus then asked the disciples, “But what about you? Who do you say I am?”
• More important than what others are saying, what are you saying?
• More important than what others are thinking, what are you thinking?
• More important than what others are doing, what are you doing?
Peter jumps up and declares: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• While others may have a misconception of who Jesus is, you can know who Jesus is.
• While the world is out of position, the church is positioned perfectly for revival.
The church is positioned in a pivotal place of opportunity, protection, and blessing in this world. Simply summarized, the church is positioned for revival.
The worldly system may not acknowledge our special position, but the church does not need the secular systems to define us or to determine our place. God placed His church in this world to fulfill a specific mission and purpose. God placed His church in this world to turn it upside down and inside out. The church is positioned for revival. The world cannot remove it, define it, or take away. The church has favor with God.
Monotheism
One of the primary and often repeated characteristics of God is His absolute oneness. He is not a multiplicity of persons forming some mystical trinity, but He is numerically one. God has manifested Himself in many ways, but primarily in three ways: (1) Father as the creator of all things, (2) Son as the Redeemer of the human race through Jesus Christ, and (3) Holy Ghodt as the regenerating and empowering presence of God. Understand, with all of the manifestations, the church is monotheistic and God is one.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (KJV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Jesus Christ – Center of Our Lives
Just as the sun is positioned at the center of our solar system and the planets orbit around it, so is Jesus Christ positioned at the center of the church. The magnetic field of the sun keeps the earth in its exact position – orbiting, rotating, and consistently providing a reliable calendar and the four seasons. The energy of the sun provides the fuel for life on earth, just as Jesus Christ gives life to His church through His Holy Spirit. Without Jesus the church does not exist.
He is the focus of our worship and His blood washes away our sins. His Spirit gives us life and hope for a great resurrection. Jesus was not just a prophet or a spiritual man. He was and is the Messiah, King of kings, and Lord of lords.
We are positioned for revival because Jesus is positioned in the center of our lives. As we walk down our streets and work at our jobs, Jesus gives us the anointing to be the light to this world. With outside forces pulling and distracting, Jesus is the constant drawing force that empowers us to remain faithful to Him. With Jesus the center of the church, we are positioned for revival!!!
Great Commision
The great commission in Matthew 28:19-20 has two imperative aspects – to baptize and to teach. In other words, believers are called to win converts to the Jesus and to disciple them in the truth of the gospel. The Christian faith is an aggressive, evangelistic movement. We are a missions-minded people in a position to influence the world – to persuade unbelievers to turn from their sins and follow Jesus.
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
CONCLUSION
The church is committed to God through a relationship of love for Him and faithful obedience to Him. The new-birth experience provides a bonding between God and the believer that will endure inevitable tests and trials. Through the new birth, God lives within the human heart and each believer becomes a member of the church—not a denomination or a local church, but the body of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The church is positioned for revival.