It's Dark Out There | Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer

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Matthew 16:13
Caesarea Philippi was 25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee; center for the worship of the Greek god = Pan
Jesus is asking, "Who do people say that I am?"
Jesus was VERy popular among the people; not religious leaders but the people
He was viewed as God's spokesperson
One of the most important and powerful passages in the Bible
Upon the declaration of Peter Jesus will build His church
What was Peter's declaration - "You are the Christ the Son of the Living God"
The Church is built upon that declaration
Will talk more about the declaration here in a moment
I want to talk to this morning about the Church
The Church
Church is important word
Ecclesia in Greek
Borrowed word
EK - Out
KELISO - Called
EKKLESIA - Called Out or Called Out Ones
Ecclesia was a political word
1st church or ecclesia was in Athens
Ecclesia was 6000 elected citizens who gathered on a hill to hear a preacher
The elected citizens made decisions for the community and passed laws
Ecclesia was the ruling voice in Athens
Reason Jesus chose this word to describe his body
The church is not a country club for sipping saints
The Church is powerful
The Church is the only Hope for the United States of America
It is time we start to bind and loose some things
Time to bind the LBTQxyz movement
Time to loose righteousness & justice
We have been given supernatural authority and the gates of hell cannot prevail
We all have a role to play because we all make up the church
The church is not a building
1st Corinthians 12:12-27
Each of us have a role to play within the body
We must get planted in a local church
The destiny that God has for you is attached to the local church where He has called you
FAQ: "Do I have to go to church to be a Christian?"
No, but if you are a Christian you'll go to church
Fish out of water analogy
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Assembly required
Unity
Serve
Connect
Get planted
Joke about 4 churches and issues with squirrels
Get planted
Deep roots produce much fruit
Tree illustration
Psalm 1:1-3 says, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers."
These things happen in the context of the body of Christ
You need the church & the church needs you

Revelation 1:11 says, "which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis,Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Why these 7 churches?
These 7 churches are chosen because they probably represent the struggles that all churches face from time to time
Christ says to all 7 churches in chapter 2-3 = "I know your works"
Know = Oida
OIDA - to see; personal observation
works = erga
ERGA - all activities
Christ observes all activities in His church
Revelation 1:12-13 says, "I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man"
What are the 7 golden lampstands?
Jesus tells us in Revelation 1:20 which says, "The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[e] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."
7 Lampstands = 7 churches
KJV = candlesticks
LUCHNIA - oil burning lamp
Show picture of oil burning lamp
Each lamp was handmade; no two the same (no two churches are the same)
Lamp was full of oil that kept the light going
We as a church are to full of the oil of the HS so our light continues to shine in darkness
Lamps of that day were made of clay
These lamps that represent the church are gold
Gold = most valuable item in the Roman world
The Church is beyond valuable to Christ
Some Christians don't like the church; Christ loves and values his church flaws and all (5 of 7 have BIG issues) they are still gold
Lampstands are golden because Christ places tremendous value on His church; He died for the Church
Among the lamps was someone like the son of man
Among = Mesos
MESOS - in the very center
Christ is at the center of His church
His Church is built upon Peters declaration

Peter's Declaration

You are the Christ the Son of the Living God
2 Relevant takeaways for us
1. Declaration of Faith
What is Faith? Hearing, Believing, Speaking, and Acting
2. Declaration of Worship
Saying Jesus is God is worship