Be A Builder

Marc and Casie Neppl, missionaries to Suffolk, VA, visited with us tonight. They will be working with David Sexton to build CrossPointe Free Will Baptist Church in Suffolk. There is no FWB church in the city. It is a fast growing city; businesses and people are moving there at a rapid pace. They want to reach them with the gospel. The recent tornado in Suffolk gave them the opportunity to be a
witness. They handed out many meals to those who lost everything they
had while the established churches did nothing. They are building ground to plant and build a church. Visit their website at http://crosspointesuffolk.com/

His message was from Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man
am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some,

Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of
the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon
Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Are we a church builder? God hasn't called us all to be church planters, but He has called us to be church builders. He promised He would build His church, not just plant it. This building is not church; church is souls. The building may not stand, but church never ends.

Jesus asked the disciples two questions. Who do men say I am and who do you say I am. Peter declared Him to be the Son of God. At this time, Jesus said "I will build my church."

This is the promise of God. Jesus told Peter He would build His church. FOR 2,000 YEARS JESUS HAS BEEN BUILDING HIS CHURCH. The principle is Jesus is the Son of God. This fact is under attack. People are willing to say He was a prophet; they are willing to say He was a teacher. But many have trouble saying HE IS THE SON OF GOD. If Jesus is not the Son, then we are lost. If Jesus is not the Son, then church is just a social club. This principle is slipping across the whole world.

The purpose of the church is not for gorgeous buildings with high steeples and stain glass windows. It's not about being famous. The disciples knew this. They understood exactly what Jesus meant. They gave their lives building the church reaching one soul at a time. When we lose our purpose, we lose the promise. The purpose is not on buildings; it's not on preachers. It is about the Son of God.

The promise is still powerful today. We think that it can't happen like it did in the Bible when thousands were saved at a time, so we do nothing. There is no use. Remember, we are on the winning side. Are we willing to get behind HIM and be a builder? We are placed where we are to reach people. Are we building our own life or building the church? Are we working to build our career or our houses? These things will pass; there is one thing that will never end. We can't take our home or our car to heaven with us. We can take only souls.