Thou Hath Petros And Upon this Petra…

The Church of Jesus is built on Petra, a Divine Revelation given to Petros (the Apostolic).

Petra is the Divine Revelation of Christ Jesus as the Son of God (a revelation given to Petros) as the Head and foundation of the Body of Christ (the Church, with Petros involvement as a vital Apostolic joint).

And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros –a large piece of rock],
and on this rock [Greek, petra –a huge rock like Gibraltar]
I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. [Isa. 22:22.]
Matthew 16:18‭-‬19 AMPC

A true Church setting by Divine mandate is birthed from the Apostolic and a church formed that did not proceed from the Apostolic will be a flawed church.

Acts 2:1‭-‬14 AMPC
AND WHEN the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place, When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them. And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words]. Now there were then residing in Jerusalem Jews, devout and God-fearing men from every country under heaven. And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together and they were astonished and bewildered, because each one heard them [the apostles] speaking in his own [particular] dialect. And they were beside themselves with amazement, saying, Are not all these who are talking Galileans? Then how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own (particular) dialect to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [the province of] Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the transient residents from Rome, both Jews and the proselytes [to Judaism from other religions], Cretans and Arabians too–we all hear them speaking in our own native tongues [and telling of] the mighty works of God! And all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, What can this mean? But others made a joke of it and derisively said, They are simply drunk and full of sweet [intoxicating] wine. But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: You Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let this be [explained] to you so that you will know and understand; listen closely to what I have to say.

There was no Church formed until after the Pentecost. And interestingly the same Peter whom Jesus called Petros was the first Apostle to trigger the formation process of the first Church.
The revelation that he recieved of Christ Jesus as the Son of the Living God, also came with the prophecy-fulfilled, a peculiar Grace and an Anointing to establish (plant) Churches that have Jesus Christ as the critical, vital and active Head and solid foundation.

Acts 2:21‭, ‬37‭-‬41 AMPC
And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord–Christ] shall be saved. [Joel 2:28-32.] Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself. [Isa. 57:19; Joel 2:32.] And [Peter] solemnly and earnestly witnessed (testified) and admonished (exhorted) with much more continuous speaking and warned (reproved, advised, encouraged) them, saying, Be saved from this crooked (perverse, wicked, unjust) generation. Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.

An Apostle is sent by God to a group of people whom God have a portion for in His will and eternal purposes. He gives that Apostle a unique voice of the shepherd, that when he calls to the sheep under his watch and charge they willingly respond.

John 10:5‭, ‬27 AMPC
They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call. The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

The Apostolic gathers and plants a Church…and what God uses the Apostolic to start, God is very much obliged to continue.

Acts 2:42‭-‬47 AMPC
And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers. And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers). And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common; And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need. And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts, Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].

“And the Lord kept adding”: it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church that adds whomever He has chosen to the Church. Evangelism is a Divine mandate but it is Jesus Christ the Saviour and Lord that will add the person saved to the Church He has chosen for him or her.

Psalm 65:4 (AMPC) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You choose and cause to come near, that he may dwell in Your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple.

Psalm 68:6 AMPC
God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Anyone who is not saved is a desolate (has no good heritage) and a prisoner of the devil. After salvation has come to such, God actively works in cooperation with him or her to join him/her to a Church family…to a Church-home. The joining of a person to an authentic Church will never cause a reduction but a building up (a leading out into prosperity).

1 Corinthians 3:6‭-‬11 AMPC
I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase. So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater. He who plants and he who waters are equal (one in aim, of the same importance and esteem), yet each shall receive his own reward (wages), according to his own labor. For we are fellow workmen (joint promoters, laborers together) with and for God; you are God’s garden and vineyard and field under cultivation, [you are] God’s building. [Isa. 61:3.] According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation, and now another [man] is building upon it. But let each [man] be careful how he builds upon it, For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is [already] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

The Apostolic carrys the grace and have the Divine backing to plant a Church of which Jesus is the Head and the Revelation of Jesus Christ is the foundation. The Pastoral nurtures (waters).
The Apostolic starts the Divine assignment of planting a Church and the Pastoral continues the nurturing in alignment with Divine structure. Yet it must be settled and unquestionable that God makes the labours of the Apostolic and Pastoral fruitful (God causes it to grow and [He] gives the increase). “So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes their labours grow and become greater”.

A church without an Apostolic origin is misaligned with the Head and the foundation of the Church. It is not God that adds to such a church and it is not God that will cause such a church to grow or become great. Addition, growth and increase happening in such a church can be traced to men or the demonic or both. However, a temporary Divine allowance of flourishing may be given for a later move of God to set the captives free into the Church He has prepared for them.

The Apostolic calling that plants a Church is also the standard setter in the Divine for that Church. He bears the genetic coding that would be needed to programme, train and mentor those who God is adding to that Church to become all God has made them to be in life, calling and destiny. The genetic coding for Correct sonship, seed and service (Correct-Churching) is in the Apostolic.

The Apostolic and Pastoral synergy is essential in bringing into physical manifest what Graces, Gifts and Spirits God takes and distributes (impartations) to the Church body by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And I will come down and talk with you there; and I will take of the Spirit which is upon you and will put It upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not have to bear it yourself alone.
Numbers 11:17 AMPC

Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].
1 Timothy 4:14 AMPC

The Apostolic (Petros) is fundamental to the building of a Church. However the Petros must have the Petra and the Grace and the Prophecy-fulfilled and the anointing that comes with this office as a confirmation that he is indeed an authorised Petros.

Indeed, the signs that indicate a [genuine] apostle were performed among you fully and most patiently in miracles and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:12 AMPC

So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be employed, however] for building [you] up and not for tearing [you] down.
2 Corinthians 13:10 AMPC

There is Divine Working Power in the Church planted by the Apostolic. An authentic Church has Jesus Christ as the Head and the revelation of Jesus Christ as the son of God as it’s firm foundation. It is such a Church that the gates of hell will not prevail against. This is the Church that can bind and loose on earth and Heaven would concur: saying So be it!.

Matthew 16:18‭-‬19 AMPC
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros –a large piece of rock],
and on this rock [Greek, petra –a huge rock like Gibraltar]
I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. [Isa. 22:22.]

Think about it:

1. Does the Church you attend have an Apostolic origin or can it be traced to it being planted by one with an authentic Apostolic calling?

2. Are you becoming what God wants you to be and do you have the evidence of individual and corporate growth that is Divine?

3. Is the Holy Spirit convicting your heart after reading this to review your church membership?

My prayer is that whatever God has for you to do after now the Holy Spirit will instruct, direct and help you to do it in the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!

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I need Jesus and you need Jesus. I have asked Jesus into my heart and He has transformed my life for the better. I am experiencing my God given dreams becoming a reality daily. I am existing in the realm of divine possibilities.

Jesus can usher you like He did me into same existence of eternal possibilities and a life of dreams becoming a reality.
It is very true that…there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
(ACTS 4:12 AMP)

Salvation through Christ Jesus is free but you must make the decision to receive it.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16 NLT)

…If you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
(ROMANS 10:9‭-‬10 AMP)

Now pray this prayer meaningfully if you are willing: “Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept You out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear You knocking. By faith I gratefully receive Your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe You are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe Your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Saviour. Amen”.

Congratulations if you’ve just said that prayer and I joyously welcome you to the higher life in Christ Jesus. You are now on the path of your divine destiny and your God given dreams are very possible.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV)

If you do not have a bible believing Church that you know God brought you into, and that you are faithfully attending then please join us today at http://www.lifeoasisinternationalchurch.org Do well to complete the first-timers form on the pop-up screen and an ordained minister will get in touch with you ASAP.

There is so much more about life for a child of God, there is so much more that the Spirit of God will yet reveal to you.
Glory be to God!

The Message Bearer
Cornelius Bella