Our text today is from Mathew 16:18-19.Jesus says, "upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 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."

Apostle Peter says "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." The word praises here is also translated "virtue" in 2 Peter 1:5. The word aręte in the Greek is used in classical Greek to describe any quality that elicited pre-eminent estimation for a person. In biblical times it is used to refer to manifestations of God’s miracle power. We are to show His Excellencies and goodness.

Anyhow we look at the church, this supernatural organism or corporate entity has tremendous purposes and powers at her disposal. The expression may be on the earth, the scope of influence and potential operations are beyond the earth. The church was to police the heavenlies. In the book of Ephesians the church is described as His Body, the New Man, the household of God, the dwelling place of God amongst other things.

The word of God says except the Lord builds the house they labor in vain that builds it. (Psalms 127:1). God is building His house with lively stones. We are the stones who are crying out to Him when He said if the people would stop shouting Hosanna as He entered Jerusalem; God was able to raise stones to praise Him. He is building Himself a holy habitation in the spirit with these tried and tested stones. He is using His gifts to build His body. He has a pattern in mind to build us with. He distributes the accuracy of His pattern to the Ministry-gifts of Ephesians 4, especially the prophets and the apostles. Many in different parts of the Body are not being built properly as they reject His pattern for them. We qualify for inclusion into the Body through the new birth-being born again. As he builds His nature into us and sharpens His gifts in us through service and using other irons, we take our rightful place in His scheme of things and His construction work continues in us and through us as His Body.

As His Body we are the fullness of Him that fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22 and chapter 4:13 says we have to come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. When we digest all of the riches of Christ into our being and these riches become part of us, we become the fullness of Christ. The church is the body of Christ, the fullness of a universally great Person who fills all in all. We are members of this Body. 1 Cor. 12:12-27 is a great discussion on the unity and diversity of the Body. As His Body we require His life to keep the Body functioning. The world does not recognize Him partly because His body is not truly expressing Him to them.

The church is also the New Man in Ephesians 2:15. This is a corporate new man having both the life and the person of Christ. The Jews and the Gentiles are created into one New Man-Christ. The church is also the Kingdom of God. This talks about our rights as citizens of the Kingdom. We have rights and responsibilities as citizens. We are also the household of God. Here we enjoy the life of the Father as His household. We are His family as well as Kingdom citizens. We have responsibilities as well as rights and we enjoy the Father. Eph.2:19. We are also His dwelling place. He dwells in our spirits, as well as in a corporate sense His Church is His dwelling place in the Spirit.

We have been called out to be these things and more. This demands local as well as global expressions. We need to agree with God the builder of His church as to who we are, who we are meant to serve and what we are to do. We have a new IDENTITY carry a new AUTHORITY and should serve the purposes of God on the earth. We should operate with a new MENTALITY so we position ourselves for the release of His ABILITY in and through us. We are to walk in perfect harmony with Him who is the Head of the BODY-THE CHURCH. His Name is JESUS CHRIST.

Rev Kola Ewuosho