Building the Church on Revelation and Redemption

May 21, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: The Church Is Built on the Revelation of Who Jesus Is

The foundation of the church is not tradition, personality, or programs, but the unshakable revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This truth is not merely historical but a living, divine reality that continues to empower and shape the church today. When believers truly grasp who Jesus is, their love and devotion are transformed, and the church becomes a place of passionate pursuit of God’s presence. The revelation of Jesus’ identity is the rock upon which the church stands, making it indestructible against any opposition. [24:13]

Matthew 16:13-19 (ESV)
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 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 Bar-Jonah! 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. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Reflection: In what ways does your daily life reflect the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and how might a deeper revelation of who He is change your priorities this week?

Day 2: Revelation Plus Redemption Equals Power

Knowing who Jesus is must be joined with experiencing His redemptive work—His death, burial, and resurrection—for true spiritual power to be released in the church and in your life. Revelation alone, even correct theology, is powerless without the cross; it is only when the gospel is embraced that lives are transformed and empowered by God’s Spirit. This partnership of revelation and redemption is what enables believers to move from mere atonement to sanctification, and to walk in the fullness of God’s purpose. [36:10]

Luke 24:44-49 (ESV)
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have knowledge about Jesus but have not yet experienced His redeeming power? What step can you take today to invite both revelation and redemption into that area?

Day 3: The Church’s Authority to Bind and Loose

The church is entrusted with the responsibility to enforce heaven’s decisions on earth, binding what God has bound and loosing what God has loosed. This means standing against sin, rebellion, and false doctrine, while also releasing healing, deliverance, and the Holy Spirit as God has already decreed. The church does not create truth but is called to faithfully represent and enact God’s will, operating not in its own opinion but in heaven’s authority. [41:11]

Matthew 16:19 (ESV)
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Reflection: Who in your life needs you to stand in agreement with heaven—either by praying for their deliverance or by lovingly confronting sin? How can you step into your God-given authority today?

Day 4: Empowered to Be Witnesses—Dunamis Power

God has given His people the Holy Spirit, filling them with dunamis—miraculous, dynamic power—to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. This power is not for personal gain but for bold, sacrificial testimony, even to the point of laying down comfort, reputation, or life itself for the sake of the gospel. True witnessing is not just moral living but vocal, visible, and vibrant proclamation that delivers souls from darkness to light, fueled by the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. [01:03:53]

Acts 1:8 (ESV)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Reflection: What is one bold step you can take this week to be a vocal and visible witness for Jesus, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone?

Day 5: Building According to God’s Blueprint

The church belongs to Jesus, purchased with His own blood, and must be built according to His plan—not according to human tradition, culture, or preference. God’s blueprint is found in the book of Acts, and following it brings blessing, power, and the presence of God. Each believer is a vital part of this living body, called to prayer, obedience, and Spirit-empowered action, so that the church remains a dynamic, expanding force in the world. [48:37]

Acts 20:28 (ESV)
Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Reflection: Are there areas where you have tried to build your spiritual life or ministry according to your own preferences rather than God’s blueprint? What is one adjustment you can make this week to align more closely with His plan?

Sermon Summary

The journey of the church does not begin in the book of Acts, but with the bold declaration of Jesus in Matthew 16, where Peter receives the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This revelation is not just a historical insight, but the very foundation upon which the church is built—a truth that remains unshakable and indestructible. The church is not built on personalities, programs, or preferences, but on the unchanging reality of who Jesus is. When this truth is grasped, it compels a response that goes beyond mere attendance or tradition; it draws people into the very presence of God, who is still building His church today.

Understanding who Jesus is must be paired with the redemptive work of the cross. Revelation without redemption is powerless. Jesus instructed His disciples not to proclaim His identity until after His death, burial, and resurrection, because only then would the full power of the gospel be released. The church’s authority to bind and loose is not about creating truth, but about enforcing what heaven has already established. We are called to bind sin, rebellion, and false doctrine, and to loose healing, deliverance, and the Holy Spirit, always with the love and fruit of the Spirit.

The blueprint for the church is found in the book of Acts, which serves as a hinge between the Gospels and the Epistles. Acts is not merely the acts of the apostles, but the acts of the Holy Spirit through them. The church must be built according to God’s plan, not human tradition or cultural trends. The power given to the church—dunamis, the miraculous ability of the Holy Spirit—is not for personal gain, but for witnessing, for being willing to lay down our lives, our comfort, and our reputation for the sake of the gospel.

The structure of Acts shows the expansion of the church from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, demonstrating that Jesus is still building His church through us. We are called not just to be hearers, but doers—empowered by the Spirit, proclaiming the gospel, and building according to the blueprint purchased by the blood of Christ. Let us pray for boldness, clarity, and faith to follow this blueprint, allowing the dynamite power of God to work in and through us, making us true witnesses and vital parts of His living body.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Church Is Built on Revelation, Not Tradition The foundation of the church is the revelation of who Jesus truly is—the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is not a matter of opinion or tradition, but a divine truth that shapes everything about the church’s identity and mission. When we lose sight of this, we risk building on shifting sands rather than the unshakable rock. [24:13]
2. Revelation Must Be Paired with Redemption for True Power Knowing who Jesus is cannot be separated from what He accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection. Revelation alone, without the redemptive work of the cross, is powerless to save or transform. Only when revelation and redemption are united does the church receive the power to fulfill its calling. [36:10]
3. The Church Enforces Heaven’s Decisions, Not Its Own The authority to bind and loose is not about inventing new doctrines or wielding power for personal agendas. The church’s role is to enforce what has already been settled in heaven—binding sin and falsehood, and loosing healing and deliverance. This requires discernment, humility, and a deep alignment with God’s heart and Word. [41:11]
4. Dunamis Power Is Given for Witnessing, Not Comfort The Holy Spirit empowers believers with dunamis—miraculous, dynamic power—not for self-indulgence, but to be witnesses, even to the point of laying down our lives. True witness means more than moral living; it is a bold, vocal, and visible proclamation of the gospel, often at great personal cost. [67:41]
5. God’s Blueprint Must Guide the Church’s Mission The book of Acts provides the divine blueprint for the church’s life, growth, and mission. We cannot substitute programs, traditions, or cultural trends for the pattern set by Jesus and the apostles. To experience God’s power and blessing, we must build according to His plan, continually returning to the foundation of truth, Spirit, and sacrificial witness. [50:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:04] - Greeting and Introduction
[22:41] - Foundations: The Revelation of Jesus
[23:39] - Peter’s Confession and the Church’s Foundation
[24:50] - The Keys of the Kingdom
[26:19] - The Unshakable Truth of Jesus
[28:44] - The Church’s True Foundation
[29:43] - The Presence of God vs. Human Indifference
[32:19] - Access to Jesus: No Barriers
[34:33] - Compelled by the Truth of Jesus
[36:10] - Revelation Plus Redemption Equals Power
[39:44] - The Church’s Authority to Bind and Loose
[42:47] - Transformation in the Presence of Jesus
[48:16] - The Cost and Blueprint of the Church
[52:23] - Acts: The Blueprint for the Spirit-Filled Church
[56:42] - Action and Truth: Doing and Teaching
[58:21] - The Promise of Power
[64:09] - Dunamis Power and Our Witness
[67:41] - The Call to Be True Witnesses
[71:30] - The Structure and Expansion of Acts
[72:58] - Our Responsibility and Prayer for Boldness
[74:13] - Praying for Dunamis Power
[75:36] - Invitation to Respond and Be Rebuilt

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading

- Matthew 16:13-20
(Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, and Jesus’ declaration about building His church)
- Acts 1:6-8
(“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”)
- Luke 24:44-49
(Jesus explains the necessity of His suffering, resurrection, and the coming promise of the Father)

Observation Questions

In Matthew 16:13-20, what is the significance of Peter’s answer to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” How does Jesus respond to Peter’s confession?
According to Acts 1:8, what is the purpose of the power (dunamis) that Jesus promises to His followers?
In Luke 24:44-49, what does Jesus say must happen before the disciples are sent out as witnesses?
The sermon says, “The church is not built on personalities, programs, or preferences, but on the unchanging reality of who Jesus is.” What examples did the pastor give to show how we sometimes lose sight of this foundation? [[28:44]]

Interpretation Questions

Why did Jesus tell His disciples not to reveal His identity as the Christ until after His death and resurrection? What does this teach about the relationship between revelation and redemption? [[36:10]]
The sermon says, “The church’s authority to bind and loose is not about creating truth, but about enforcing what heaven has already established.” What does it mean for the church to “enforce” heaven’s decisions, and how might this look in practice? [[41:11]]
The pastor described the power given to the church as “dunamis”—miraculous, dynamic power—not for self-indulgence, but for witnessing, even to the point of laying down our lives. How does this understanding of power challenge common ideas about what it means to be a Christian? [[01:07:41]]
The book of Acts is described as the “blueprint” for the church. What are some ways churches today might drift from this blueprint, and what are the consequences? [[50:39]]

Application Questions

The foundation of the church is the revelation of who Jesus is. Is there anything in your life—tradition, preference, or personality—that you sometimes put ahead of this foundation? How can you realign your focus this week? [[28:44]]
The sermon emphasized that revelation without redemption is powerless. Have you ever tried to share your faith or serve in the church without remembering the power of the cross? What difference does it make when you keep redemption at the center? [[36:10]]
The church is called to “bind” sin and falsehood and “loose” healing and deliverance. Is there an area in your life or in your relationships where you need to take a stand for truth or pray for God’s freedom? What would that look like practically? [[41:44]]
The pastor said, “Being a witness isn’t just living morally. It’s proclaiming truth.” When was the last time you shared your faith with someone? What holds you back from being a vocal and visible witness? [[01:08:15]]
The power of the Holy Spirit (dunamis) is given for witnessing, not for comfort. Are there ways you have used your faith mainly for personal comfort or blessing? How can you step out in faith to be a witness, even if it costs you something? [[01:07:41]]
The blueprint for the church is found in Acts, not in cultural trends or personal preferences. What is one tradition or program in your church experience that might need to be re-examined in light of the biblical blueprint? [[50:39]]
The pastor encouraged the church to pray for boldness, clarity, and faith. What is one specific area where you need God’s boldness this week? How can the group pray for you? [[01:13:54]]

Sermon Clips

“We see that before we can truly understand the book of acts, we first have to grasp the revelation upon which the church is built. That is the revelation that this isn't just merely a historical insight but a divine truth and it continues to empower and shape the church today.”

“This was not head knowledge. This was divine revelation. He knew that by calling him the Christ, it meant he was the Messiah. By calling him the Christ, he was the anointed one. Peter acknowledges Jesus as anointed and boldly expresses the fact that he is the bodily expression of the living God.”

“It therefore is not built on personality, programs, or preferences. It's built on the unshakable truth of who Jesus is. That's what it's about. That's what this is about. That's why we mess up church is because we forget who he is.”

“If people loved God, they would be here tonight. If people loved God and believed he was coming back, they would make every way, shape, and form to be there.”

“But here we are in the church. We are serving the living God. And we have to fight and beg and plead and hand out cards saying, "Would you like to meet him?" Maybe that's not your opening line.”

“When we were worshiping, when we were praising, he was here. And you know what some people do on Wednesdays? They stay at home, lay in bed, and watch Netflix. And guess what? They watch Netflix as their body and soul are just going to hell when they could have this not a pew experience, not coming to listen to this guy, but walking into the presence of God.”

“No matter the opposition, be it culture, government, or spiritual warfare. Hell cannot prevail against a church built on this truth. What is the truth? It's the revelation of who God is. Revelation plus redemption equal power. 1 plus 1 is two. Revelation plus redemption equal power.”

“Without Calvary, even correct theology cannot save. Doesn't matter if you go back to Old Testament and do all the things that it says to do. If you get even the extra laws and covenants that have been explated out of scripture and you follow the 600 and I forget how many laws, you cannot be saved without the cross.”

“The church doesn't create truth. Let me say that again just in case anybody's listening online. The church doesn't create truth. We we don't make it up. We don't institute it. We cannot do that. He does that. We enforce the church. I should say the church, it enforces heaven's decisions.”

“I'll tell you to come to him as you are, but I'll remind you that everyone that ever came to Jesus left changed. I'm sorry. The prostitute had to she had to find another job. Okay. The demoniac. No, he was no longer legion. He had a title change. He got a name.”

“If you were laying next to a pool for x amount of decades, he could look at you and you could look at him and there could be a conversation that took and you would leave changed. Aren't you glad that if your soul is in a paralyzed state, you don't just have to come as you are and stay as you were, but you can leave different.”

“It just means that we have same power that rose him from the dead and that it can be activated in us. The church functions with heaven's authority, not its own opinion. We are heaven's representatives, not cultures reflection. And the blueprint matters.”

“The book of Acts hinges between the Gospels, what Jesus began to do and teach, and the epistles, a m a maturing church. In Acts, we see how the church started, what it taught, how people entered, and how it spread. That's why we tell people that you can't just you don't get your salvation, your I'm going to use a big word, but it makes a lot more sense.”

“Luke emphasizes that Jesus began both to do and to teach. Jesus didn't perform miracles to entertain. He did them to reveal truth. Like I said, it wasn't just a, "Hey, see that guy over by the water? Watch this." No, he did it with a purpose. He did it to reveal truth. He didn't teach truth without action. He modeled what he preached.”

“You shall receive dunamis. How is it the Holy Ghost gets loosed? How is it sickness gets healed? How is it lives get forever changed? Because boom, dunamis. Romans 8:11 says, "But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you."”

“We may not face martyrdom today, physical martyrdom, but we are called to lay down our lives to we have to put down our will, everything, our comfort, reputation for the sake of the gospel. Being a witness isn't just living morally. It's proclaiming truth.”

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