Make a Stand

Matthew 16:13-19 NRSV

“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 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.”

The church has power and authority to stand against anything not of God. The church on earth carries out heaven’s decisions; not heaven consenting to earth’s decisions. Can you see how messed up we would be if we controlled heaven? What is forbidden on earth is already forbidden in heaven. What is permitted on earth is already permitted in heaven. We have power and authority, but we must speak up, as Peter. We must know what we believe. We must stand with that power and on that authority from God. We can make a difference. We will make a difference.