The Church Triumphant Matthew 16:13-20

13 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?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 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.

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.

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

I. Jesus says the Church will be triumphant! Matthew 16:13-20

A. It is not important what the world says about Jesus! Matthew 16:13-14

B. It is important what you think about Jesus! Matthew 16:15-17

C. Jesus will build His Church! Matthew 16:18

Isaiah 51:1-2 Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.

2Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”

C. Jesus will build His Church! Matthew 16:18

D. The Church will prevail! Matthew 16:18

E. You have been given authority! Matthew 16:19

Matthew 18:18-19 “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. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

I. The Church is triumphant! A look at the world.

Christianity Today reports that Christianity is the world’s faster growing faith. In 1900 there were 9 million Christians in the world. Today there are 541 million Christians, with a 51% increase in the last 15 years.

33,000 people are becoming Christians each day in Africa alone.

In Mongolia in 1989 there were only 4 Christians; today there are over 20,000.  

In China in 1949 there were only 1 In China in 1949 there were only 1.2 million Christians; today estimates are there are over 100 million Christians in China. China is on track to be the world’s most Christian nation in 15 years

In South Korea the first church was planted in 1884 In South Korea the first church was planted in 1884. Today there are over 30,000 churches in South Korea and 10 of the world’s mega churches are there.

In East Asia in 1990 there were 22 million Christians; Today there are over 300 million believers.

In Africa in 2000 there were 360 million Christians; By 2025 it is estimated if current growth rates continue there will be 633 million believers.

The same growth is seen in Latin America where it is estimated there will be 640 million believers in 2025.

News you won’t hear on CNN: On June 15, 2006 Sao Paolo Brazil had a March for Jesus parade with 3 million marchers.

News you won’t hear on CNN: The Bible will be translated into every language by 2042 according to Wycliffe.

News you won’t hear on CNN: The Jesus film is now shown in 1000 languages and has brought over 200 million to faith.

News you won’t hear on CNN: There were no Churches allowed in Nepal in 1960; today there are Churches in every district.

News you won’t hear on CNN: 25% of India’s lower cast, the Dalits, are now Christians according to C. Peter Wagner.

News you won’t hear on CNN: The HIV/AIDS rates have dropped in Africa due to Christian abstinence programs.

News you won’t hear on CNN: A Southern Baptist Hispanic Church in the Puget Sound area baptized 1500 a month ago.

III. Why doesn’t the Church triumph here!

A. Don’t believe all you hear.

1. There are more Christians now in the US than there were 50 years ago.

2. The US still sends out more missionaries than any other nation – 127,000.

3. The US still gives more to missions than any other nation.

4. God still is moving here; we just don’t hear about it.

B. 3 reasons God doesn’t move as we would like.

1. Faithlessness.

Matthew 17:4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Matthew 17:14-20 14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.

16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.”

18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

1. Faithlessness.

2. Prayerlessness.

Matthew 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

2. Prayerlessness.

2. Laziness.

We need to prayer as if it all depends on God; and we need to work as if it all depends on us.

Winning souls takes wearing out soles!