
Who Do You Say That I Am? Lordship of Jesus
1. People want to give Jesus a position of honor and respect, but they don’t want to give Him the position of LORD.
13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Matthew 16:13-14
• There are many voices within our culture that want to honor Jesus, but they don’t want to acknowledge or surrender to His LORDSHIP. What voices are you listening to concerning Jesus?
2. Jesus is still asking us individually…“Who do YOU say that I am? The answer is Spirit revealed.
15Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. *Matthew 16:15-17 *
• You can’t rely on someone else’s revelation of Jesus as LORD as yours revelation. It must be yours and…it’s Spirit revealed.
• All of us must come face to face with this question in our walk with Jesus. You can see the miracles and hear of his fame, BUT in the end, we are all faced with this simple question from Jesus… “Who do YOU say that I am?”
3. When we identify Jesus as LORD, Jesus gives us a new identity…we become living stones!
18Now 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. Matthew 16:18
• When Simon identified Jesus as Lord, Jesus identified Simon as Peter (rock). Jesus prophetically declared a new identity over him.
• Our identity is not in who we were before we met Jesus as Lord. Our identity is now in HIM, and He gives us a new identity…living stones!
o 19So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22
o “As you come to him, the living Stone-rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him-you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5
• The power of hell cannot defeat the Church…why? Because Jesus has defeated the powers and authorities of Hell.
o Colossians 2:15 “And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
4. Through the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the Church now walks in authority.
19And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” Matthew 16:19
• The keys of the Kingdom of Heaven represent authority.
o 15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.[a] 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:15-18
• The Church is a global Church commissioned by God to walk in His authority. We are a Force empowered by the Holy Spirit and the gates of Hell will not prevail over us!
Reflections:
1) What are the voices around you saying about Jesus?
2) Who do YOU say Jesus is? How have you seen Him at work in your life?
3) How does your life reflect the Lordship of Jesus? What has changed about your life before you met Jesus until now?
4) As a member of the global Church, how might you walk in the authority of Jesus in your everyday life?