Sermon on 27 August 2023 by Pastor Justin Chia
Matthew 16:18 - “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:13-17 - “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
The forces of evil will not be able to conquer the triumphant church. When the Bible says that we are on a victory ground, we need to have a humble heart and believe that. Some of us don’t realise how close we are to heaven.
Ephesians 2:20 - “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,”
Observations of a triumphant church:
A triumphant church is a church filled with divine revelation
No matter how much knowledge you gain, it will never be enough for you to have a true revival unless you have divine revelation. Only the Holy Spirit will reveal to you the truth. Knowledge will not transform you. Revelation will transform you. Pray that we have fresh revelation everyday. Without revelation, the study of the Bible or hearing about Christ alone is not sufficient to truly know Christ. You must be gentle, lowly and humble. When you are humble, the grace of God is upon you. All things have been given to Jesus. The church is his body. Christ will reveal himself to those who love God and obey Him. God will destroy the wisdom of the wise. God called those who are foolish like a child to shame those who are wise. God called those who are weak and are not strong in their own flesh.
Matthew 16:16-17 - “Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 11:25 - “At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”
Matthew 11:27 - “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
Psalms 8:2 - “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.”
John 14:21 - “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.””
2. A triumphant church is a church over Satan
The triumphant church overcomes the world and walks on earth as Jesus walked. God has already granted us victory so we stand on victory. A triumphant church is a church above satan. We overcome him by the authority God has given us.
Revelation 3:21 - “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 - “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 John 2:6 - “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
Matthew 16:18 - “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 18:17-20 - “And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Satan attacks the church through evil spirits and corrupts the church indirectly through believers. We must exercise this authority in the church with all boldness over the power of Satan.
2 Timothy 2:26 - “and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
Luke 10:19 - “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Ephesians 1:21-23 - “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
3. A triumphant church is a church not ignorant of Satan’s schemes
The devil is here to kill, steal and destroy. The devil will tempt us with the legitimate desires of our bodies. A Christian infected by the spirit of Satan will be ineffective in spiritual warfare. Live in a constant self examination, not in pride and arrogance. Satan perpetually seeks to destroy the church and the church will be totally destroyed if it is ignorant of it.
John 10:10 - “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
1 Peter 5:8 - “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Hosea 4:6 - “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Genesis 4:7 - “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.””
James 1:15 - “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”
4. A triumphant church is a church that triumphs over trials
We can respond in joy because God is sovereign. By relying on God’s wisdom, Christians can triumph over trials.
James 1:2-4 - “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
A triumphant church is a church filled with divine revelation, a church over Satan, not ignorant of Satan’s schemes and triumph over trials. A triumphant church is quick to forgive and stands on victories.
Matthew 6:14-15 - ““For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
2 Corinthians 2:11 - “lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
John 6:33 - “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.””
Amen.
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