Empowered Unity: The Church as Heaven's Levee
Summary
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, primarily due to the failure of the levees meant to protect the city. This tragedy serves as a metaphor for the church's role in society. The church is meant to act as a spiritual levee, holding back the tide of evil and sin. When the church fails in its mission, the consequences are dire, affecting individuals, families, and entire societies. The church's purpose is not merely to hold weekly services but to function as a legislative body for God's kingdom, reflecting and enacting the values of heaven on earth.
Matthew 16 is pivotal in understanding the church's role. Jesus introduces the concept of the church, or "ekklesia," as a gathering of individuals unified to form a spiritual house. This unity is crucial for the church to act as a powerful force against the gates of hell. The church is not just a collection of individuals but a unified body meant to legislate God's will on earth, much like an embassy represents its home country in a foreign land. The church should be a little bit of heaven on earth, where God's laws and values are paramount.
However, the church has often become too much like the culture it is meant to transform. This has led to divisions and a lack of impact, as seen in the persistent racial divides within the church. The church's purpose is to promote the kingdom of God, not itself. Jesus has given the church the keys to the kingdom, granting it access to heavenly authority. These keys are meant to unlock divine power and influence, but they are often unused or misused, leading to a lack of spiritual authority and societal impact.
The church must embrace its role as a unified body, using the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose on earth as it is in heaven. This unity is not just for internal harmony but is essential for the salvation and transformation of society. By embracing oneness and using the keys granted by God, the church can effectively counter the gates of hell and bring about meaningful change in the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. The church is meant to act as a spiritual levee, holding back the tide of evil and sin. When it fails, the consequences are dire, affecting individuals, families, and societies. The church's purpose is not just to hold services but to legislate God's kingdom on earth. [01:21]
2. Jesus introduced the church as a unified body of believers, a spiritual house built on the rock of faith. This unity is crucial for the church to act as a powerful force against the gates of hell, reflecting and enacting the values of heaven on earth. [03:47]
3. The church should be a little bit of heaven on earth, where God's laws and values are paramount. However, it has often become too much like the culture it is meant to transform, leading to divisions and a lack of impact. [05:17]
4. Jesus has given the church the keys to the kingdom, granting it access to heavenly authority. These keys are meant to unlock divine power and influence, but they are often unused or misused, leading to a lack of spiritual authority and societal impact. [07:29]
5. The church must embrace its role as a unified body, using the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose on earth as it is in heaven. This unity is essential for the salvation and transformation of society, countering the gates of hell and bringing about meaningful change. [11:21]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Hurricane Katrina and the Levees
- [01:01] - The Church as a Spiritual Levee
- [01:42] - Misunderstanding the Church's Role
- [02:12] - Jesus' Question and Peter's Answer
- [02:50] - The Foundation of the Church
- [03:08] - Ekklesia: The Called-Out Ones
- [04:23] - The Church as a Legislative Body
- [05:05] - The Church as an Embassy of Heaven
- [05:30] - The Problem of Cultural Conformity
- [06:12] - The Church on the Offense
- [06:50] - The Purpose of the Church
- [07:29] - The Keys to the Kingdom
- [08:11] - The Gates of Hell
- [09:13] - Binding and Loosing
- [10:27] - Using the Right Keys
- [11:21] - Embracing Unity and Authority
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Matthew 16:18-19: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
#### Observation Questions
1. What metaphor does the sermon use to describe the church's role in society, and what are the consequences when it fails in this role? [01:01]
2. How does Jesus describe the church in Matthew 16, and what is the significance of the term "ekklesia"? [03:08]
3. According to the sermon, what is the purpose of the church beyond holding weekly services? [04:36]
4. What are the "keys to the kingdom" mentioned in the sermon, and what is their intended use? [07:29]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the metaphor of the church as a "spiritual levee" help us understand its role in combating evil and sin in society? [01:01]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest the church has become too much like the culture it is meant to transform? [05:17]
3. What does it mean for the church to act as a "legislative body" for God's kingdom, and how does this relate to the concept of an embassy? [04:23]
4. How can the church effectively use the "keys to the kingdom" to bring about societal transformation? [07:29]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the metaphor of the church as a spiritual levee. In what ways can your small group act as a barrier against the tide of sin and evil in your community? [01:01]
2. The sermon highlights the importance of unity within the church. What steps can your small group take to foster greater unity among its members? [03:47]
3. Consider the idea that the church should be a "little bit of heaven on earth." How can your small group embody this concept in its interactions and activities? [05:05]
4. The sermon mentions the misuse or non-use of the "keys to the kingdom." What are some practical ways your small group can ensure it is using these keys effectively? [07:29]
5. How can your small group address and overcome cultural conformity within the church to better reflect God's kingdom values? [05:17]
6. Discuss the concept of binding and loosing as mentioned in the sermon. How can your small group apply this principle in its prayer life and decision-making processes? [09:13]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s call for the church to embrace oneness. What specific actions can your small group take to promote unity and collaboration with other groups or churches in your area? [11:21]
Devotional
Day 1: The Church as a Spiritual Levee
The church is called to act as a spiritual levee, holding back the tide of evil and sin in the world. This role is not just about conducting weekly services but about actively legislating God's kingdom on earth. When the church fails in this mission, the consequences are severe, impacting individuals, families, and entire societies. The church must recognize its responsibility to be a barrier against moral decay and to promote the values of heaven in every aspect of life. This requires a commitment to living out God's principles and being a transformative force in the world. [01:21]
Isaiah 59:19 (ESV): "So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the Lord drives."
Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in your church's mission to hold back the tide of evil in your community today?
Day 2: Unity as the Foundation of the Church
Jesus introduced the church as a unified body of believers, a spiritual house built on the rock of faith. This unity is essential for the church to act as a powerful force against the gates of hell, reflecting and enacting the values of heaven on earth. The church is not merely a collection of individuals but a cohesive entity meant to legislate God's will on earth. This unity is crucial for the church to fulfill its purpose and to stand strong against the challenges it faces. By embracing oneness, the church can effectively counter the forces of darkness and bring about meaningful change. [03:47]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity of your church community this week, and what steps can you take to strengthen your relationships with fellow believers?
Day 3: The Church as Heaven's Embassy
The church should be a little bit of heaven on earth, where God's laws and values are paramount. However, it has often become too much like the culture it is meant to transform, leading to divisions and a lack of impact. The church is called to be distinct, representing the kingdom of God in a world that often opposes its values. By maintaining its distinctiveness and focusing on God's principles, the church can effectively influence society and bring about positive change. This requires a commitment to living out the values of heaven and resisting the temptation to conform to worldly standards. [05:17]
2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
Reflection: In what ways have you conformed to the culture around you, and how can you realign your life to reflect the values of heaven more accurately?
Day 4: Unlocking the Keys to the Kingdom
Jesus has given the church the keys to the kingdom, granting it access to heavenly authority. These keys are meant to unlock divine power and influence, but they are often unused or misused, leading to a lack of spiritual authority and societal impact. The church must recognize the power it has been given and use it wisely to bring about God's will on earth. This involves understanding the authority that comes with these keys and using them to bind and loose according to God's purposes. By doing so, the church can effectively counter the gates of hell and bring about transformation in the world. [07:29]
Matthew 18:18 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to exercise the authority given to you by Christ, and how can you begin to do so today?
Day 5: Embracing Unity and Authority for Transformation
The church must embrace its role as a unified body, using the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose on earth as it is in heaven. This unity is essential for the salvation and transformation of society, countering the gates of hell and bringing about meaningful change. By working together and using the authority granted by God, the church can effectively influence the world and promote the kingdom of God. This requires a commitment to unity, a willingness to use the keys of the kingdom, and a focus on God's purposes. By doing so, the church can fulfill its mission and bring about lasting change. [11:21]
Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."
Reflection: How can you actively promote unity and use the authority given to you by God to bring about transformation in your community this week?
Quotes
God has a levee in history called the church. The job of the church is to hold back the proliferation of evil so that the damaged evil desires to do it's restricted from doing because the church's presence limits it. But when the levees break, when the church fails, and the damage that sin and evil and unrighteousness can do is devastating to individuals, to families, to whole societies. [00:00:55]
The issue today to salvage our culture, to reverse our direction, is the church. But it's unfortunate people have reduced the definition of church to minutes of meeting on a weekly basis for a song and a sermon without fully understanding what the church is for and how the churches ought to function. [00:01:23]
The church is the coming together of individual stones unified to make something bigger. That's what Jesus meant. That's why he asked the disciples, not just Peter, who do y'all say the son of man is. The church is made up of individuals linked whose job it is to reflect and to legislate the values of the kingdom of God. [00:03:55]
The job of the church is not just to have weekly services on Sundays or maybe in the midweek, although that plays a part. It is to be God's legislative agency from heaven to history. Look at it like an embassy. America has embassies all around the world. An American Embassy is really a little bit of America a long way from home in a foreign country. [00:04:36]
The problem of the day is that the church has become like the culture rather than representing the laws of the homeland. That's why you can have racial division in the church existing worse and longer than racial divisions in society because we're not legislating from heaven earth, we're legislating from earth to the church. [00:05:24]
The purpose of the church is not the church. The purpose of the church is the kingdom. That's why verse 19 of Matthew 16 says I will give you the keys to the kingdom because the church exists to promote the kingdom and the Kingdom is the visible demonstration of a comprehensive rule of God over every area of life. [00:06:41]
God says he's given the church the Keith it's the only group that's been given the keys by the way to access heavens Authority. I will give you the keys to the kingdom. You ever been in a hurry to go somewhere not been able to find your keys you're not going anywhere because you can't access anything. [00:07:34]
Notice what the keys are for to access another realm the kingdom of heaven. God has given the church access to heaven so heaven can act on behalf of the church that's unified cross racially cost culturally cross-class to be this monster Levy to keep Satan in hell the gates of hell from prevailing. [00:07:57]
The church is using the wrong keys and that's why the doors aren't opening and the society is flooding. We're using political Keys and social keys and racial keys not Kingdom Keys so we're not getting Kingdom Authority and in spite of the prayer meeting than the church meeting than the conference's and the books and the tapes and all the things we do the authority is missing. [00:10:25]
Our unity is critical not only for ourselves so that we can all get along our unity is critical for the salvation of a nation because God has only given the church access to him to overrule what the enemy is doing in society. It's time that we embrace one another and use the keys he's granted. [00:11:05]
The church must embrace its role as a unified body, using the keys of the kingdom to bind and loose on earth as it is in heaven. This unity is essential for the salvation and transformation of society, countering the gates of hell and bringing about meaningful change. [00:09:13]
To bind and the loose is to restrict or permit it means God's gonna back your play he's gonna let you share his authority in history. [00:09:24]
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