The Message

Last week we talked about the calming of the seas. Jesus Christ was in a boat with his disciples and the boat was sinking. The apostles came and woke Jesus up. Jesus stood up in the boat and He said "Peace be still" and the winds died down and the seas calmed and the apostils were absolutely amazed. They asked this question,"Who is this man? That even the wind and the waves obey him."

Some time later Jesus Christ was in a region called Caesarea Philippi. It is there that Jesus turns the tide on them and asks them the question. Jesus said to them, "Who, do people say I am?" The apostles replied, "Some people think you're Jeremiah, some people think you're Elijah, some people think you're John the Baptist, and others think you are a prophet."

Then Jesus really put the question to them because it doesn't matter what others think about Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what others think about you. Then Jesus said again to them, "Who do you say that I am?" Pretty significant difference isn't it? From what others think, to what you think. Jesus said, "Who do you say that I am?"

Peter, always the impulsive one, popped up and he said immediately "you are the Christ. The son of the living God."  Jesus looked at Peter and he said "Simon Barjona" (That is his proper name. His proper name was Simon, son of Jonah.) Jesus continued, "You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it."

Today Jesus Christ is asking every single one of us that exact same question. In response to the question, "Who is Jesus," some people in this day and age would say he was a teacher. Most people recognize the fact that he was a historical figure, but there are some who think he is mythological. Even though there is more evidence for the existence of the life of Jesus Christ then there is of Caesar Augustus. Some people feel, still think he's just a myth. Who was he? A teacher? A prophet? A good spiritual leader like Buddha? Who was he?  The facts are  Jesus doesn't care what others think. Interesting thought, isn't it? It's a lesson for us, isn't it? Do we need to care about what others think about us? Jesus didn't. Jesus doesn't. What Jesus cares about is this: "Who do you say that I am?" Jesus cares about you. He cares about the relationship he has with you. He cares about the relationship he has with each individual person. "Who is this man? Who is this man that even the wind and the seas obey him?" When we answer that question like St. Peter did, significance and significant things take place in our lives.

About six weeks ago my wife, Donna, and I received a jar of apricot jam in the mail. We periodically receive this jam from a friend who Donna has been writing to for quite some time. We actually have not ever met her; however we correspond and she will send us a jar of homemade apricot jam.  Recently, my wife wrote our friend a letter thanking her for the new jam we had received. Then we received a letter in the mail from her husband which read, "Dear Reverend Robert A., and Donna Schuller, it is with great sadness and sense of loss I must tell you my beloved wife of 30 years passed away suddenly at home on September 2^nd. She died in my arms." Donna and I both just started crying. Here's this woman who gives us such a sweet treat so often for us to enjoy and we think of her and we have never even met her. His letter continued, "With all good things we can no longer enjoy her apricot jam and her upbeat spirit. The Lord has called her home and granted her relief from pain. I am counting on Jesus to sustain me in this ordeal until I join her in the great unknown of heaven. May the Lord bless her soul."

Donna and I cried because we realize and understand the fragility of life. The day comes when we all must face Jesus Christ, who is the last judge. It is not Peter who holds the keys to heaven but he is the one who proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ so that anyone can have the key and come and stand before Jesus Christ.

Today, we can proclaim the message of Jesus, that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When we can proclaim that message, first to ourselves, putting aside what others have said, what others say, what others think, and internalizing this message to ourselves and proclaiming it loud and clear that everyone might know that He truly is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is the extension of God into human flesh. Through Him we can experience the peace and the joy and the salvation of everlasting life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him will never perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

So it is our opportunity today to make this declaration. To make this pronouncement, that Jesus Christ is the Christ, the Son of the living God. So I ask you now to make a profession of your faith. Say these words, "You are the Christ, Son of the living God." When you make that profession of faith, as you have just done, the response from Jesus Christ is this: "You are rock, you are solid, and you have been built on a sure foundation."

Having said that, here are the promises we have in the scripture explaining: Who I am in Christ.[1]

"You become God's child" (John 1:12)

"You are Christ's friend" (John 15:15)

"You are bought with a price; and

"You belong to God" (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

"You are a member of Christ's body" (1 Cor. 12:27)

"You are a saint" (Ephesians 1:1)

"You have been redeemed and forgiven" (Col. 1:14)

"You have been completed in Christ" (Col. 2:10)

"You are assured that all things work for good" (Rom. 8:28)

"You cannot be separated from

the love of Christ" (Rom. 8:35-39)

"You're established, anointed and

sealed by God" 2Cor. 1:21-22)

"You're confident that the good work God has

begun in you will be perfected" (Phil. 1:6)

"You have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7)

That is what you become. That is the rock of God. Based upon the profession of faith that you have made today, Jesus Christ builds His church. If you are not a member of the Crystal Cathedral you can join the Crystal Cathedral. It doesn't matter where you live. The Crystal Cathedral doesn't have any walls, did you notice that? There are 10 thousand windows, and there are doors. Big doors. 90 feet tall, the biggest doors of any church in the world. So that nobody is too bad to come in, and nobody is too good to stay away. Our doors are open to anyone who wants to join this church. All you have to do it make the same profession of faith and say "Jesus Christ is Lord."

We invite you to join this church. You can go to our website, www.hourofpower.org, and you can sign up and participate and experiencing the significance that we have through Jesus Christ. Here are some more scriptures from the bible:

"You are the salt and light of the earth" (Matt. 5:13-14)

"You are a branch of a true vine,

a channel of Christ's life" (John 15:1,5)

"You have been chosen and appointed

to bear fruit" (John 15:16)

"You are a personal witness of Christ" (Acts 1:8)

"You are God's temple" (1 Cor. 3:16)

"You are a minister of reconciliation

for God" (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

"You are God's co worker" (1 Cor. 3:9)

"You are God's workmanship" (Ephesians 2:10)

"You can do all things through Christ

who strengthens you" (Phil. 4:13)

Significance is born, our lives are renewed.  It all begins right here. Not looking at what others say. Not looking at what our feelings might be. But by simply making the profession of faith, the declaration that Peter made 2000 years ago. Christ asks the question of each of us, "Who do you say that I am?" We respond, "You are the Christ; the Son of the living God." Amen.

Pray with me:

God, you are good. You are real. You are true. You are calling us. You are gathering your sheep together. You are building your church. We stand before You, Lord, professing our faith in You and in your divinity. We recognize You have the power to instill within us the conviction, the understanding, the self esteem and the self worth to be the person You have called us to be. So fill our hearts and our minds with the knowledge, the wisdom, the assurance of Your love for us. Truly You are the Christ; the Son of the living God. We love You. Amen.

[1] "Who I Am In Christ" ¡V Freedom in Christ Ministries; 9051 Executive Park Drive, Suite 503; Knoxville, TN  37923  http://www.ficm.org/