Answering Life's Ultimate Question, Part 1

Today from Chuck Swindoll. Never allow any church to revolve around anyone not only anyone voice anyone authority Christ is good every creature. Hearing my words right now.

Let us never forget.

We are not the head or servant leader.

We serve the head was Christ and his church never ever when you look across the crowded landscape tonality begin the religious issue. Sometimes were prone to gravitate toward articulate leaders rather than God himself. But here's the point unraveling the tangled mysteries of life boils down to one very simple question. Who was this man named Jesus a prophet of madman a good teacher or God in flesh today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll describes how the answer to this singular question will change the course of your life.

Check title. Today's message answering life's ultimate question Jean is where we find ourselves in our study of the gospel by Matthew right in the center. The core of the 16th chapter with Peter's greatest moment at least thus far in his life. You'll see why I say that I'll be reading verses 13 through 20 from the new living translation perhaps different from the one you have this one is a little bit easier to understand for the many who, who may not be familiar with your Bible, you may have a version that differs but basically were reading the same words Matthew 16 beginning at verse 13 when Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, people say that the Son of Man is well.

They replied some say John the Baptist. Some say Elijah and other say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.

Then he asked them who do you say I Simon Peter answered.

You are the Messiah, the son of the living God. Jesus replied you are blessed Simon son of John because my father in heaven has revealed this to you. You do not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter which means rock. And upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you from then on earth would be forbidden in heaven. Whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. Study the book of Matthew with Chuck Swindoll.

Be sure to download his searching the scripture studies by going to inside world.org/study another message from Chuck but he titled answering life's ultimate question when time is short. You cut to the chase, there's a sense of urgency when you know that you have a long, so you must say it say it clearly, and if necessary quickly which explains the passion of the book of Deuteronomy, Moses didn't have long led the people all the way to the edge of the promised land. And there they stood just about to go in under another leader. Moses knew he was not the one to lead the man God made that clear to them and so he took the time, though he did so with a sense of urgency to deliver one message after another that we know today as the book of Deuteronomy, a big word that means second wall or repeating of the law are rehearsal of the law keyword in Deuteronomy is remember as a Deuteronomy 82 you shall remember all the way with the Lord your God led you these 40 years in the wilderness humbled you to prove you to know what was in your heart for that you would keep his word or not.

Time is short.

There is a passionate sense of urgency. Same as found in the seventh chapter of acts reread the testimony of Stephen verses 1 to 53 and in the chapter we read the words of a man who was courageous because those who hated him and plan to kill him were standing in front of when he delivered his soul. In fact, they interrupted him before he was through, and they took up stones and they stoned him to death. The garments of Stephen replace the hands of a Manning Saul who agreed with their murder but would later have his heart transformed and he would become who we know today's the apostle Paul speaking of him when he wrote to Timothy's second letter.

There's a sense of urgency because Timothy will be receiving Paul's final words anymore when he would hear the rubber boots above the member timing dungeon they would come to take him and behead him so he writes with passion. I fought the good fight not finish the course.

I've kept the faith. It's fourth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will did not to be only but to all those who love his appearing and there is that personal word to Timothy come before winter.

Why would he write that because Nicole is the fall were blowing the leaves were sweeping across the streets of Rome which would soon come.

Paul was alone.

Nicole dark dungeon when time is short.

There's a sense of urgency that accompanies your words, you can't see it but Matthew 16 is like a massive hinge on a large gate. The book of Matthew pivots at the 16th chapter. Up until that 16th chapter, Jesus is ministering openly, widely and in various ways. All the while his disciples are watching. Hopefully learning, listening, discovering what he's like who he is, because this time is short.

The cross looms larger and larger. As each day and we will pass. So now he cuts to the chase is time to fish or cut bait. So he puts the question to them. That is the crucial question that would prepare them for the days yet to come has to do with his identity. Do you really know who I am, but he doesn't jump into the question he leads into it very wisely.

As you notice in the 13th verse they came to the region of Caesarea Philippi where they were and where they went, is about a 25 mile walk to walk into a bit of anonymity is an area where there are fewer Jews, so there will be less you know him or know about him is an area where there are God's. The goddess of idolaters, some of the massive God's standing there at Caesarea Philippi huge cave that still there when you visit the site, but he's away from the crowds is a bit of privacy either some quiet time to look directly into the faces of his 12 and asked the question, who do people say that the Son of Man, what's the word on the street what you hear when I'm at a distance or when I'm not around. One of the saying about me wealthy Mitch in the baptizer. Some think your you're the one who baptized some say you're Elijah. Other say Jeremiah 1 of the prophets we read and then he asked them a smile because I have a spinner number. My earlier years of the classroom, trying to put my head behind the head of the one in front of me knowing the teacher was about to ask a very direct question for I would need to give an answer. I would hopefully get on the site but nobody could hide the day you say that I am a can't see it in our English translation is plural so y'all all y'all. Y'all say I am, there's applause here that I think we need to recognize it's in between the verses. When you read your Bible, let your imagination take flight.

There is a quick answer from anyone except one. You got to admire them for this. I do because often when he opened his mouth and was preparing it for his foot, but in this case we have something different to your Peter really gets it right, Peter says you are the Messiah. Some of the living God at this moment. I wish all of you could read it as it was originally written by Matthew it's it's beautiful. Matthew renders the word Messiah Chris DOS which is the Greek word for obviously Christ meaning anointed Messiah is, he's a Hebrew word meaning the same thing anointed. You're the anointed one. You, the one God anointed, that is, you are the son of the God, the living one.

I like that part is called in the Greek restrictive attributed.

Doesn't that change your life to know that is just meaningful to ship what if you could understand it, you appreciate the adjective is always emphasized the living line. I am the vine, the true one. I love those little innuendos on occasion, those little moments in syntactical delight. As you read through it is one of those you are the one, the son of God does everyone not like these other gods around us.

Not like massive God standing there that I don't know know know the one true God, the creator God.

He's the one who anointed you. You're the one you're the promised Messiah. Nice answer, Peter admire him. First of all because he risked nobody else said anything he's willing to get out there and the limb and he does it with such accuracy is words are way above his fisherman's pedigree.

He steps into this with a profound statement.

The most profound of Peter's life thus far.

The one the one we will heard about since we were little boys; you're the one we have witnessed over these months of working with you clearly, you're this you're the anointed one, you are he you're in Jesus doesn't waste time as he responds. Simon, you are blessed son of John, so he offers this blessing. Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah bargaining son Jonah is the name of his father, because flesh and blood did not reveal this. You learn this from your mother and dad good morning from a friend on the street God gave you this became as a revelation to you from heaven from this father you just identified as the living God, the one who anointed me reveal this to you.

I again have to control my imagination or I'll take you with all kinds tributaries that would get us on the subject, but please for a moment.

Put yourself in Simon's sentence has a feeling right now.

Banta like a teacher in the classroom say to you that is the best answer I've ever heard. Not ever heard words like that but maybe maybe you heard words like that that is the finest dancer I could've heard that by the way, I got is a way of reducing the size of one's head, because it isn't too many breasts from here, but Peter was rebuking Jesus were talking about going to a cross and dying will get that next time. And Jesus looks at this same man has to say to him you get behind me Satan. So life is that yo-yo were up-and-down being for: hot and cold. We sometimes get it right. We sometimes miss it by miles. Here he gets it right. God gave you that realization just a pause and add this I don't want to get spooky about it but I will say that there were times you will be just the right answer and God will give it to just the right answer needed and what you know out of your mouth comes the answer for which God gets all the credit is one of those moments profound statement falling from the lips of a man who certainly was not in himself very profound.

But God is the Lord doesn't finish with that. He goes on to the name. Look for yourself. Now I say to you now I see you you are Peter stay with me here Petross PT ROS Petross means rock.

Not a massive lot size of his room, but a strong, not necessarily a tiny stone but not a massive rock, your name will be rock, and upon this Petross PT RA feminine same route, but now a different ending in this means massive rock like Gibraltar, like the Areopagus, when you go to Athens and you climb up that massive deposit of granite and you stand were Paul once stood in deliver his message. That's given to us in acts 17 where he speaks to the Athenian eggheads who have gathered to listen to this. C. Picker, they picked up on the street who talked of a the identity of the unknown God wound up on Mars Hill mass rock when you go there. Always, always take time to climb up that rock on this rock I will build my church, was it me with some are quick to jump from rock to rock and think it's Peter on you but is changed from Petross which is the name he gave them to Petra. I want to suggest this rock like declaration this rock like revelation this truth, this profession of faith that will be the foundation of my church but I will build the verse again. Now I say to you that you are Petross and upon this Petra. I will build my church. Five words you can preach an entire sermon on observed edits in the future I will is not yet started when we move ahead in time and we get to the day of Pentecost for the spirit of God comes and ignites the lives of those in the upper room, Peter, among them the church begins the flooding to the streets.

Peter delivers his message, 3000 believe the church has taken its first breath from the crew, it's begun.

But at this point it still future, I will build and please observe it's his church never ever forget that.

Never allow any church to revolve around anyone personality anyone voice anyone authority Christ is head every preacher, hearing my words right now. Let us never forget.

We are not the head were servant leader. We serve the head, who is Christ. It's his church, I will build my church and look at this double promise not only I will build my church.

The gates of hell will not prevail against it.

I love that part you will never stop its growth. It'll never be interrupted because of the power of the evil one. No adversary will ever interrupt what I am building and I'm still building going on right now if you love music. It's like a Lorenz crescendo marked in the score that gets larger and larger day of Pentecost starting it and that it begins to grow, build and expand our rule along the way. Imagine what it was like for Peter to receive this mental rock. He was the fickle one God entrusted Peter with a key role in growing his church.

You're listening to Insight for living and we're midway through a message from Chuck Swindoll. He titled his presentation answering life's ultimate question to discover what resources we have available for you want today's topic, please visit us online@insightworld.org and then just before we move ahead. Let me remind you that we've hand selected one of Chuck's Hallmark books to complement your study in the book of Matthew today I'm directing your attention to the grace awakening. If you begun to question whether or not you're qualified to serve God in any capacity. This book will restore your Outlook.

If Peter can be redeemed so can you and I in the grace awakening Chuck assures us that none of us can attain God's standard of perfection and we need to stop trying. Our only hope is found in submitting to the gift of God's amazing grace, Chuck will help you understand how to rest in God's gift to you and is Hallmark classic called the grace awakening could purchase a copy right now by calling us if you're listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to Insight.org/offer is a close let me say a special word of thanks to our monthly companions who understand the importance of their monthly give your generosity means so much as God leads you to support Insight for living either with a one time donation or to become a monthly companions. We invite you to join their ranks. If it's easiest for you. Please feel free to speak with one of our ministry representative by calling us listening in the US dial 1-800-772-8888 number again 1-800-772-8888 or you also give a contribution signing up online is go to Insight.org/monthly companions and to give a one time donation, please visit Insight.org in March 2022 Insight for living ministries is hosting an unforgettable journey to Israel carefully planned to deepen your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to God. Chuck Swindoll for thousands of years. No place is been more meaning to God's children in the land of Israel. The rugged landscape reminds us to find refuge in God alone. The fertile valleys invite us to follow our shepherd. Jerusalem's position at the very center of the world announces the good news of Christ's every nation and now you can see Israel with Chuck Swindoll, Insight for living ministries March 6-17, 2022. Every time I visited the holy land of returned home with a refreshed heart for God and a renewed vision for the world. Really, I mean it every time. So I want you to have the same life changing experience to learn more, go to Insight.org/events call this number 1-888-447-0444 Insight for living ministries tour to Israel is paid for and made possible by only those who choose to attend. Join us when Chuck Swindoll continues his message about answering life's ultimate question Thursday Insight for living. The preceding message answering life's ultimate question was copyrighted in 2016 and 2021 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2021 by Charles R.

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