FREE!

Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
Matthew 16:17-18

This is an interesting passage. Jesus renamed the disciple Simon, "Peter", which means a rock. I have a few thoughts about these verses. Jesus said to this before the first church was born. How could Jesus call peter something that didn't exist? This tells me that what north america sees as the church isn't reality. This tells me that The church isn't an institution, or a gathering. The church is inside of us. The church is the body of Christ doing what God intends for this earth. The church isn't singing songs on sunday morning, or listening to a speaker. That stuff is great, but that's not it.
I look at this passage and i say to myself "So, where is this church?" Because to be honest, it's kind of hard to see. Isn't it interesting how Jesus used to word "Energy"? I mean, of all the words Jesus could describe the church as, compassionate, loving, wise, obedient. He chose energy. If we are so filled wtih energy, not even the gates of hell will be able to withstand us. did you catch that?

Energy will break down the gates of hell.

The first "Church" was born in the book of acts, and this is when the church was labeled as a Sunday morning gathering. I personally think we're missing it! The church is in the gathering, but it's not the gathering itself! The church is the body of Christ taking a stand and saying "Jesus is my life! And i will worship him, no matter who sees"

here's something to think about.. People in china are risking their lives, just to go underground and worship God together. Christians in china are being shot day by day, because they refuse to deny that Jesus is real. There's something going on. why would all these people risking their lives for a God they've never seen the face of? Because there's something real about Him. There's something real about Jesus. We live in a spiritually dry country. I look in church and i see people standing there; people who love God. REJOICE! I know it's a step, but raise your hands! You're Free? Is this not something to make a scene about? Why is it that it's so hard for everyone to make a stand? JESUS HAS COME FREE US ALL! WE'RE FREE!! AND NOTHING ELSE MATTERS!

We need to get over ourselves, and we need to remember that in the end, we will be on our knees infront of Jesus, and he will say "What did you do with the time I gave you?" Here's my question..

How do you want that conversation to go?