The-unbeatable-church.docx

March 3, 2019 Topic: The Unbeatable Church Text: Matt: 16:18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Church (Wikipedia)– is a building use for public Christian worship Church (Bible) – is an assembly of Christian people, meeting and living together for a common purpose. Churches in history way back in the book of acts are persecuted. In Acts Chaper 5 verse 17 to 42 how many times the Sadducees arrested the believers and apostles. They are told not speak again or preach the name of Jesus or else they will put them into jail. During the Protestant revolt in 16th century, the Catholic church ignors, oppose, burns, and chain the bible in their churches so that the people could not take them home to read. Because during the the split of Catholicism it is the Protestants that are newly creating from the other congregation that rebelled the Catholicsm. In fear that the belief would spread and many will discover what had been discovered by these protestants, they burned the bible and locked up. They are preventing to spread and building the real church. And in 2019 survey, the following countries are in the rank of most persecuted Christian Churches. 1. 2. 3. 4.

North Korea China Pakistan Afghanistan

5. India 6. Myanmar 7. Vietnam

8. Bhutan 9. Indonesia 10. Malaysia The governor of Jakarta Indonesia was a Christian and smeared by Islamic extremist and put to jail and sentenced within 2 years. In North Korea, once you are Christian meaning you are destined to jail. Christian=Jail. In China, once you are captured spreading the Gospel or even mention of the Name Jesus, you will be bitten until your last breath, an your family will be put to jail. What they do? They build underground churches. But not so many, because it may lead the government to discover and give hint that there are underground churches existing. They gather themselves in cell groups during midnights and together they pray, and those houses are they called CHURCH. Bible in China for the Christians are like diamonds. They hide it, or else they will die if the government will discover it. They left their bible in the underground churches and wait until next Sunday to meet their bible again. There was a Christian in Laos that was captured because of preaching the word of God. The authority charges him as American spy just to put him in prison. He was forced to confess about his activity being a spy, he was beaten, starved for several day but he firmly resist. Years goes by and the police men get tired of interrogating him, but the man is eager to have a bible. He was assigned to get firewood to the Jungle nearby and to sustain for 2 days and that became an opportunity. He came to their home getting many bibles. He buried it in the jungle and daily he brought one to his cell. The jail guards discovers it, and they beat him again. But the man did not stop, they burn the bible when they discovered it, but he get another one on the jungle, and again the jailgaurd find it in his cell and beats him again. But the Christian never surrender just to have words of God daily until such time of his death. In Matthew 10:22 Jesus said “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he endureth to the end shall be saved”. But Jesus also added: In John 16: 33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace, in the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

We have no right to fear that someday might happen, that this church will vanish, that this church will no longer exist, the church that I am pertaining to in the building, but you yourself. Because in Matthew 16:18 says And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Gates of hell is powerful that you could ever think or imagine. Gates of hell has its own authority of destruction of dominion, great foundations, bricks or stones, hell has the power to burn even into the depths of our soul. Hell has enough armies to destroy every believers and they are very serious about this thing. But I tell you now brethren, even the gates of Hell shall not prevail against the church. Even how many time we are beaten, just close your eyes and bend your knees, Jesus is our strength, he will renew our strength everytime we fall because of him. The church will remain, until the end. The church is the bride, and Jesus is the groom. Jesus will never allow that his bride is harmed before the wedding. He will keep up untouched until that day comes. THINGS THAT WE MUST HOLD TO SUSTAIN THE CHURCH 1. Keep the faith. 2. Endure the pain. It is temporary. 3. Stay together, do not slay one another. “Together we stand, divided we fall” 4. Be a member of the family (church) not a visitor. 5. Always remember the reward after this hardship. The life eternal and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whatever situation we are in now, Wherever destination we are heading, No matter how big our visions are, Or how bright star you are,

No matter how good or bad is your reputation, Or how sweet your name in the ears of congregation, Or no matter how deep the pain brought from the past, And even you declare now its the last,

You fill your brain the intelligence of this world, You have proven yourself best of them all, Or even you climb already the highest mountain, And at the peak you saw everything,

You even testify the prettiest coral of the deep sea, You can even name the stars of the sky, Even the wavelength of light you can calculate, And every atomic composition of matter you can comprehend,

But something in your heart is missing, When you lay on your bed thinking, What will happen after this life? Where Am I going?

#JESUSalreadywins #JESUSneverbeendefited #TaraLetsTalkAbout HIM