Jesus is building His church, And Nothing Can Stop its Advance | Matthew 16 | Dr. David Love

Uh, this morning, as part of that missions conference, we have a guest speaker, actually two guest speakers.

Um, the 9 a.m.

service is gonna be Dr.

David Love.

And then if you want to come back for the 11 a.m.

service, Dr.

Jeff Denlinger uh will be speaking at that service.

Two different messages.

Uh, David, for this service, is the vice president for global initiatives at World Venture.

Uh, he's uh been a missionary for many, many years.

Um, he's from Oregon, uh, as he'll tell you, which is the only other state in the country that uh makes you pump or make pumps the gas for you.

Uh so we have a we were kindred spiritists this weekend, but David loves Jesus.

His wife Catherine is with us as well, and they they do good work at World Venture.

So I'm gonna invite him up to share God's word with us this morning.

Can you please welcome David Love?

Thank you, Pastor Bob.

Good morning, folks.

It's great to be with you.

It feels like fall, finally, doesn't it?

Catherine and I live in Colorado now, and it just feels like that in Colorado we miss out on all these seasons that you get to experience and we used to experience in Oregon.

And in Colorado, it's like 90 degrees, and then all of a sudden it's fall for a week, and then it turns into winter.

And so uh so it's been really nice being here this week with for some beautiful weather.

It's also been great to be here because uh we love your church.

And just in the last few days of being able to interact with folks from your missions team, being here Friday night and Saturday morning and Saturday night for the different missions events, you have a really welcoming church.

Catherine and I and our ministry have visited a lot of churches over the years, and I just want to encourage you that uh this is a great place to be.

And we are really delighted in the fact that you guys have been serving here in this area for 175 years.

Now, not you personally, but but this church.

And that that's really significant.

It really is a significant thing for there to be long-term ministry in a location, and it's something that World Venture really values as a mission organization as well.

And I think that makes us really great partners in ministry.

Now, my wife Catherine and I, we've been with World Venture for about 25 years now.

It was broken up a little bit because when we were 25 years old, just little kids practically, we went to Jordan in the Middle East for a year and we studied Arabic and we were involved in local church ministry there.

And we really just felt God that laying on our hearts to be involved in in full-time ministry.

We didn't know if that was going to be youth ministry like we were doing at our church in Oregon or if he was going to lead us overseas, but he did eventually lead us overseas.

And so uh we ended up serving over in Germany for 10 years, and uh where I was the short-term coordinator, and we did evangelistic English camps throughout Western, Central, and Eastern Europe.

And it was a really great way to be able to have an intense week together with European youth, being able to help them improve their English language skills, but also on a daily basis, sharing the gospel in word and deed through having short-term team members come over from the States.

And so that's a lot of what we did during our time in Germany.

And then as our youngest daughter was graduating from Black Forest Academy, which is a missionary kids' school, we were thinking, you know, the Lord's leading us into a different ministry.

And so we were trying to explore what God had for us around the world.

And at that time, we were asked to come back 12 years ago to serve in our headquarters.

And honestly, asking a missionary to leave the field and come back to the headquarters is like one of the hardest things that you can ask somebody to do, right?

And but we just really felt like that.

That's where God was leading us.

And so we've had the privilege of mentoring and training and mobilizing and leading workers over the last 12 years.

And we really know that we're in the right place right now, and we're grateful for that.

I now serve in a leadership role at the home office, and so I oversee our global initiatives around the world, strategy and things like that, but also overseeing our global workers around the world as well.

And so, on behalf of World Venture, I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for your partnership in ministry.

Your church is a significant ministry partner with World Venture, not just financially, but the fact that you pray for your people, that you really care about people, that you're sending out missionaries and supporting them well, that you're sending short-term teams, that you have a long-term connection with Senegal and other places in the world.

And that is really valuable to us at World Venture, and it's valuable for the kingdom as well.

So as we get started, let me just open in a word of prayer.

Gracious God, thank you so much for the opportunity to be together.

Thank you, Lord, for this church.

Lord, you have been working in and through the people of this church community for a long, long time.

And Lord, they have not grown cold, but in fact, Lord, the church is hot for your gospel.

Lord, I just thank you so much for their passion, not only for the nations, but for their community.

And we pray for your blessing upon them.

Lord, may your word speak to each of us today.

May be we may we be encouraged at what you are doing in the world.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

So one of the joys of our ministry is that we actually get to travel significantly around the world, interact with a lot of our missionaries, be involved in strategic conversations about ministry in different diverse parts of the world with our World Venture missionaries and our national partners.

Yet if we're honest, though, I don't know about you, but if you listen to the news, if you talk to other people, a lot of what we hear about in the world doesn't sound so great, does it?

War in Ukraine, war in Iran, war in Lebanon, you know, just economic pressures.

It just seems like the world has so many problems.

And yet, although those concerns are real, the reality is that's not the whole story.

The good news is that despite everything that is happening in the world, Jesus, my friends, is still building his church.

Now, many of you may be familiar with the fable of a traveler in Europe who came upon a town in Europe and he found people building a building.

And so he went up to these bricklayers and he said to the first bricklayer, uh, hey sir, what are you doing?

And he said, I'm laying bricks.

Okay.

So he went to the second bricklayer.

And the he said, Sir, what are you doing?

And the bricklayer said, I'm building a wall.

And he went to the third bricklayer and he said, What are you doing?

And he said, I am building a cathedral.

My friends, that can be us sometimes.

We can be so focused on what is happening in the world, what the world is telling us, the agenda of the world, that we forget to see the bigger picture, the bigger picture of what's actually happening in the world.

And I think that in Matthew chapter 16, verses 13 through 18, Jesus emphasizes this to us.

Matthew 16:13–18

So if you want to turn with me, it'll also be up here on the screen to Matthew 16, 13 through 18.

Jesus, it says, 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, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

He, Jesus, said to them, But who do you say that I am?

Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Friends, this passage contains a fundamental reality that Christ is the foundation of the church.

And we can take great comfort in knowing that.

Jesus asked his disciples, Who do you say that I am?

This is a central question for every single one of us.

If we're believers in Jesus Christ, we have sought to answer that question.

Who do I say that Jesus is?

Peter responded, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

I believe that everything begins with that confession here.

Now, this passage has generated a considerable amount of debate over the years.

The Catholic Church, for example, believes that Jesus was referring to Peter as the rock, and that Peter then became the first pope of the Catholic Church.

Now, while Peter certainly played a foundational role in the early church, most evangelicals understand Jesus' words differently.

One commentary, Dan Doriani points out, just Jesus uses a play on words, and he quotes here.

You are petros, and on this petra I will build.

This creates space between Peter and the church's rock.

Jesus does not say, On you I will build my church, but on this rock.

This rock is distinct from Peter, although it's connected to him.

This reality that Jesus is the foundation of the church is seen throughout the New Testament.

And so let's look at a few supporting scriptures here that demonstrate this.

For example, in 1 Corinthians 3.11, we read, For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

And in Ephesians 2.20, we are members of God's household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.

And lastly, in 1 Peter 2, verses 4 through 6, as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men, but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, for it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.

1 Peter 2:4–6

Even Peter himself refers to Jesus as the cornerstone.

So, church, every building must have a foundation, and the foundation of the church, the global church, the universal church, is Jesus.

Furthermore, this passage teaches us that Jesus is the head and builder of the church.

Now, notice a key part of Jesus' promise in this passage.

He says, I will build my church.

This may be one of the most important phrases in this entire passage.

And notice what Jesus doesn't say, though.

He doesn't say Peter will build my church.

He doesn't say the apostles will build my church, or that pastors and missionaries will build his church.

Friends, Jesus says, I will build my church.

And in my role, where I get to see what God is doing all around the world, I can attest to you, friends, that Jesus is indeed building his church around the world.

This reminds me of a story of one of my friends who is also a colleague in ministry.

He and his wife moved to one of the poorest and most spiritually dark countries in Africa a number of years ago, a couple decades ago actually.

They started ministry off in the capital city and they learned the language and ended up starting a business as mission farm.

And the concept that they had was that they would invite young men to serve with them, work with them in the farm, provide a living for them, but also to disciple them on a day-to-day basis in the midst of the work that they were doing together.

And although there were ups and downs in that ministry, those young men, some of them came to know Christ, some of them became leaders in the church, and they were really satisfied to see what God was doing in their missionary endeavor there.

However, during this time, they also heard about an unreached people group that was further north in the country.

And so they started taking exploratory trips up there and they started developing relationships with some of the Muslim leaders that were in this part of the country up north.

And as they were continuing to administer down in the capital, God just started to burn in their hearts that they needed to move up and start working with this unreached people group.

Now, Catherine and I have actually visited this place.

It is a very difficult place.

They have to travel like two hours just to go to a grocery store.

And that is just some of the most basic challenges that they faced.

When they got there, they battled theft, betrayal, illness, spiritual attacks, and more.

But in the midst of this, they had settled on an island.

And this island used to be a jumping-off point where the Portuguese would collect slaves and then take them off to the Western world.

And so the people there felt like that they were cursed because of what they had done to participate in the slave trade hundreds of years ago.

And so these people really didn't have hope.

They lived very pagan lives, they were nominally Muslim, and they were desperate for some kind of hope.

And so our friends started another businesses mission project.

They started a boutique hotel with the hopes of European tourists and others from across Africa coming to this boutique hotel.

And it was very successful for a period of time.

And these young men, many of them came to know Christ.

And through this process, there were several small churches that were started.

And these young men who were completely pagan unbelievers years before became leaders in these churches.

And they started to have hope that they could provide for their families and that they could marry and that they could actually live godly lives in this context.

Now, years later, due to a near-death experience and then two typhoons in a year that destroyed their businesses mission project, our friends finally had to leave this place and return to the states.

However, Jesus was building his church, my friends.

During this the last few years, God laid it on the hearts of some Brazilian people who, a couple and family, who were tied to World Venture.

And so they actually moved to this country and started working with our friends.

And so even though our friends had to leave and return to the U.S., Jesus was still building his church.

They joined them in ministry, and they to this day are continuing, and the church is growing, and other businesses, mission, projects are growing so that people can have food and a way to make a living.

And so, although our friends left, there is still a vibrant church, growing church, where none existed a few years ago.

So, as you can see, Jesus is building his church in spiritually dark parts of the world, and the gates of hell cannot stop the advancement of the gospel.

The missionaries left, but Jesus remained because Jesus is the builder of the church.

Now, this brings us to our third point this morning.

Christ is the source of the church's growth and victory.

You know, I think a lot of times we who are missionaries or pastors, we try to take a lot of credit ourselves for the growth of the church.

But we really need to be reminded that Jesus is the builder.

He is the one who is growing the church, he is the one who ensures victory for the church.

So in this passage, Jesus continued, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Now many people interpret this that the church can't be defeated.

That's certainly true, but there's even more here.

Commentator Dan Doriani pointed out that the gates are defensive structures.

Cities defended themselves with gates.

Prisons confined people behind their walls with gates.

Fortresses were protected with gates.

That is not the picture, though, of the church.

It is not a picture of hell attacking the church here.

The picture is the church advancing against the kingdom of darkness.

The gates of hell are trying to hold.

Satan, the evil one, is trying to hold people in spiritual darkness.

But the gospel of Jesus Christ is advancing.

Jesus is saying, the gates are trying to hold, but they will not succeed.

Now, we've actually seen the long-term impact of this in a country in Southeast Asia.

There's a place in Southeast Asia where World Venture has a growing ministry even today, even though we entered nearly 70 years ago.

And 70 years ago, our first few people who went to this country, they some of them started a medical clinic and eventually a hospital in a remote part of the country on one of the islands.

But there were other workers who went out into the villages, into the jungle to reach people who, some of which had been headhunters back in the day.

And over many, many years of faithful ministry, people came to know Christ.

Leaders of those villages came to know Jesus, and entire villages came to know him.

In fact, this people group that we started working with nearly 70 years ago, today it's just assumed if you meet somebody from that people group that they are believers in Jesus Christ.

Seventy years later, they are considered Christian people.

That's an amazing transformation, my friends, when we think about it.

But there's even more of what God has been doing in this country.

From those humble beginnings, there is now a church association of CB churches where over 40,000 people in this country attend churches.

Can you imagine that?

70 years of gospel impact.

There are over 15 seminaries that are all run by the people of this country.

No foreign missionaries running or teaching at the seminaries anymore.

And there's a national mission agency that is now started that is partnering with our World Venture missionaries to go out and work in frontier areas of this country.

And so, in 70 years, my friend, Jesus built his church from nothing on this one island to this huge movement.

And this is just one movement in this country that World Venture had the privilege of being part of.

The evil one held people in darkness, my friends, but the gospel prevailed.

This example is what it looks like when the gates of hell do not prevail.

So we can choose to either listen to the news, to think about how bad things are in the world, or we can focus on what Jesus is doing in the world.

So I want to illustrate this a little further by showing a video to you.

Now, this video, it's called The Blessing.

Many of you will recognize this song, but this is kind of a unique video.

One of our world venture missionaries in Japan actually worked on the production of this.

And this video, it it really touches me every time I watch it.

And I've shared it with many different audiences because I just feel like that it really demonstrates what Jesus is doing in the world, especially in Asia.

So let's go ahead and watch this, and I want you to pay attention to the diversity of people that are coming to follow Jesus.

So, church, what does this mean for us?

What can we do in response?

Number one, I want to encourage you, pray for your missionaries.

Pray for those serving on the front lines.

Many are working in places marked by spiritual darkness and opposition.

It is difficult.

Daily living can be difficult, but the oppression weighs heavy on our friends.

Pray that God would strengthen them, protect them, and encourage them and make them faithful bearers of the gospel.

Number two, I encourage you, pray for your leaders here at this church.

This sermon is not just about our missions, endeavors.

It's about your pastors and their families.

Ministry, my friends, is spiritual warfare and ask God to strengthen them as they shepherd you, God's people.

And finally, the third thing I want to leave with you is take courage and take action.

The traveler saw three workers, one only saw bricks, one at least saw a wall, one saw a cathedral.

Church, what do you see?

Do you see only the problems around us?

Or do you see what Jesus sees?

Do you see what Jesus is doing?

God's reality tells us that Jesus is building his church.

He's been doing this for over 2,000 years, and he's not thwarted by the evil one's schemes or defenses.

Friends, take courage.

Jesus is the foundation, the rock, the cornerstone on which the church is built.

Jesus is the builder and head of the church.

Jesus is the source of the church's growth and victory.

Church, do not be dismayed.

Do not lose hope.

Do not take your eyes off of Jesus.

Instead, be courageous.

Take hope.

Take action.

Jesus is with you.

I can guarantee you, Jesus is building his church not only in Africa, not only in Asia.

He is building his church right here in New Jersey.

He is building his church right here in Basking Ridge.

My friends, do not retreat from the world.

Encourage your neighbors.

Love your community.

Share the gospel.

The same Christ who is working overseas as we've seen this morning is working right here in your midst, in your community.

Jesus is building his church and he is using each and every one of us to do that.

Let's pray.

Thank you for your word that you have given to us so that we do not have to be dismayed at how the world seems to be coming apart, how the wheels seem to be coming off at times.

Lord, we can look at economic uncertainty, we can look at political troubles, we can look at challenges in life and communities, the challenges of drug addiction that people face in our world.

And yet, Lord, you understand all of these things.

God, thank you that you are a great God.

You are not sitting in heaven wringing your hands, wondering what you're going to do, but instead, your plan is unfolding according to your purposes.

Lord, help us to lean into your word and the truth of Scripture so that we are reminded of the truth of what is happening in the world.

And Lord, help us to be faithful servants and stewards of what you've entrusted to us.

Lord, you've placed each of us in unique places to be able to share the testimony of Jesus Christ with others.

Whether it's with our family members who don't know you, our family members who are struggling, our neighbors, our co-workers, Lord, there are so many opportunities for us to be faithful.

Help us to do that.

Help us to be the salt and light in the world that you have called us to be.

And Lord Jesus, we pray for the workers that this church supports and all of our workers around the world with World Venture.

God, would you give them grace today?

Encourage them, lift them up, give them powerful conversations with people.

And Lord, help us each one to remember that you, Lord Jesus, are building your church in Jesus' name.

Amen.