KEY VERSES: Matthew 16:13-20
    (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."  Then he sternly
    ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the
    Messiah.

	
KEY VERSE: Matthew 16:17
    (NRSV) 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.  

     
PROMISE: Real blessing is given to those who receive 
revelation from God; who hear the voice of God; who know who 
Jesus is.

  
RESPONSE: Willingness to listen and hear what God is 
saying to me personally.
	
									
CREATIVE CLOSING
Jesus kept his identity as the Messiah a secret. He told his 
disciples not to tell.

It took a special revelation for Peter to know who Jesus was and 
to confess it with confidence.  Peter heard and understood something 
that only his heart could know and only if the heavenly Father 
revealed it to him.

Jesus knew that Peter was blessed; that Peter had received significant
insight from heaven.  Jesus listened to His Father with his heart and
now Peter did the same. Jesus was excited because he knew the kingdom
was built on this type of listening.

Let us take a moment to listen. Listen with your heart to what God is
saying to you. What “spoke to you” from today’s message?  What stirred
your heart? What new insight came to you? What scripture seemed
especially important to you. In our time of silence listen to what God
is saying to your heart. Write it down. Meditate upon how God is
speaking to you. Give him time to speak to you.


copyright - George Hartwell, 2002, 2005
            page - Rev. Richard J. Fairchild 2002 - 2005
            please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these sermons.