The Transformative Power of Recognizing Jesus

They don't know who they are in the kingdom and they don't know who Christ is in their life and the purpose of their existence on this earth . So Matthew , chapter 16 versus . I believe this here , or have it right here Matthew chapter 16 , 13 through 16 .

Let's read together when Jesus came into the coast of Syria , philippi , he asked his disciples saying who do men say that I the Son of man am ? And they said some say that thou are John the Baptist , some say Elijah , others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets . And he said to you but whom say ye that I am ?

Then Simon Peter , speaking out , answering , said thou our Christ , the Son of living God . And Jesus answered and said unto him bless our thou Simon . Barren Jonas , for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto thee , but my Father , which is in heaven .

Now I say also unto thee that thou our Peter , and upon this rock I will build my church , and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it , and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven , and whatsoever thou shall bound on earth shall be bound in heaven , and whatever thou shall loosen earth shall be loose in heaven . These are speaking .

What a profound prophecy to Simon Peter . He asked his disciples , so let's go over that . I have a few notes here . Jesus asked them right after feeding multitudes , meeting the needs with the two fishes and five burlars .

Now we fast forward to the next part of their ministry , and that scenes of what they're doing , and Jesus is asking a question Now , number one did Jesus ask this question to test his disciples ? Very good question . Did he do this ? Ask them ? Who do men say that I am to test their faith ? What was Jesus looking for in the life of the disciples ?

Well , first and foremost , he would allow them to see that who is among you is greater than the report that in the town saying . Some say that you are Elias , you're Elijah , some say you are Jeremiah the prophet . Those that are in the city spread this that he is Jeremiah or he's one of the prophets in the Old Testament .

He had to teach the disciples a lesson , a faith . In a middle of confusion , middle of turmoil . They had to get repertory insight . In other words , cause until you see them for yourself . You're gonna have a testimony from a known one . But then you left question yourself do I believe him ? Do I trust him ? Do I wanna walk with him ?

And what is my purpose of serving him ? What is my destination ? Because you're surrounded with identity crisis and many people do not know who they are in the kingdom . So when you get to that place , I'm not knowing who you are in the kingdom . Ladies and gentlemen , you have to understand , first and foremost , what God's desire to do in your life .

You need to realize , okay , this is a time like never before where God wants to be glorified in your life . So he told the disciples after they just got through , seeing the miraculous multiplication of two fishing and five barlers . I'm thousands , my thousand were fed , thousands were healed by his power , by his special touch .

And now he's walking with the disciples and there's rumors in the vicinity where Jesus sat in the village and said he's asking his disciples who do men say that I am , and , one by one , of the disciples have no inclination of who he was , although they were seeing miracles , although they were seeing healings , the death rays , unstocked , deaf ears , mute speak ,

blinded eyes , see leprosy , cleans . But now they're in a place where Jesus confronting what do you believe and what do you not believe ? He asked the disciple and stopped me and said who do the men in Jerusalem say I am ? Who did they say I am in Galilee and Capernaum ? Who did they say I am ?

Then , one by one , until you get revelation of him , you're gonna know him by someone else's experience , someone else's encounter . But when you have your own personal encounter with him , oh my God , that's when God changes your life . That's when your life changes , when you understand first and foremost who he is . What is he saying ?

Cause this is a time like never before . God wants you to draw closer to him , nudging on your heartstrings . Why ? Because he's teaching the disciples a lesson . Until you know me , you're gonna believe what everyone else is saying . You have to have your own relationship with Jesus .

Thank God for other people's experience and that encounter with the glory of God and their row of Damascus experience , but you have to have your own personal encounter with Jesus so you can know who he really is . In a time of your greatest needs , when everything is pounding up against you , when it's hard to believe or take him at his word .

When you know him , you can trust him and stand on his word . And when I done all I know what to do , I must stand , put on the whole armor of God . So he told us , the disciples . He said , first of all , he asked them a question was he testing their faith ? Was he testing their faith ?

When he said , oh right , you have been with me , you have seen the miracles , you have seen the supernatural power of heaven . You sing Father God display his glory in the lives of healing , deliverance , supernatural miracles , he said no , I wanna ask each and every one of you that I've chosen to be my disciples . I'm gonna ask you a question .

So number one was Jesus testing their faith ? Yes , he was , and at the time of his response he was testing them , their knowledge of him , testing their faith and believing him , taking this opportunity that was spread throughout the city that he's Jeremiah or he's Elijah or one of the prophets . Now he's asked his own disciples whom he had chosen .

All right , the men in the city are saying that they're called down fire upon the false prophets of Baal . Others are saying and then a part of their city he's Jeremiah the weeping prophet , but who do you say that I am ? You have been around me longer than nothing and seen great exploits . Who do you see that I am ? And one by one .

None of the disciples can ask that question . I mean they can answer that question . So , yes , jesus was testing their faith . He was testing their knowledge . Have you learned anything from what you see ? Have you learned anything from what you have experienced ? Have you learned the God of motivation ?

Have you learned the God that still heals , the God that cancels out disappointments , the God that sees you in the lowest value of life ? Who do you say that I am ? And many times , the circumstances of life can blind us to the place where we don't know who he is .

We're desiring to know him , but we're blinded by our circumstances , or our circumstances prophesying our defeat and our demise , because we're looking out around this and everything seem to be a giant around us . That's enforcing doubt and disbelief .

He asked the disciples and tested them by this question their knowledge and their faith ? Who do you say that I am ? I not only want to hear what others are saying . I want to hear what you got to say , because you are in the inward circle , you're the closest ones to me . They say I'm Jeremiah .

They say I'm Elijah , I'm one of the Old Testament prophets Malachi , micah but who do you as my disciples ? Who my chosen to carry on the work and loud ? In other words , he's reproducing himself and his life as a disciples . He wants them to carry on the ministry .

That's why he has the twelve disciples , but he cannot bring them to the next part of that ministry in their life , even though they just saw . They got a multiplication , two fish and five burrows . Now he's questioned the identity of who he is . He's questioned , Do you know ? And one by one they had identity crisis , their perplex with such a question .

That's testing them at the very essence . They're very cool , they're very being , and one by one is said you're Jeremiah , you're Elias . Then , finally , the most outspoken disciple spoke up and said thou art Christ , thou art Christ . He asked them the first one . He tested their faith . Who do men say that ? I am John , debath of Jeremiah , elijah .

Then he asked him a second question All right , who am I to you ?

He told Moses , I am that I am , go back to the highest month of each and tell him I am , that I am sent you back to deliver my people by the Egypt bondage out of the control of the Nippon Lady principality there in Egypt , and set my people free so they can worship me and throw me with glory . Listen , he said , moses , I am that I am .

I am whatever you need me to be , I am that I am . Identity crisis can blind you to see who Christ is in your life . Your circumstances , your surroundings can blind you to it . But you've got to know who God is for the glory of God .

The disciples are asked the first question that he tested their faith and their knowledge what are the people saying about me ? Who do they think I am ? Jeremiah , elijah , john DeBath is one of the prophets . And then , finally , the most outspoken disciple , simon Peter , stood upon in his feet and said thou are Christ .

Thou are Christ , the son of the living God . You are the son of the most high God . And Jesus answered and said unto him bless our thou , simon Bargeron , for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto you , but my Father in heaven . Peter began to understand . I know who he is . I got a revelation of him .

I saw a revelation who Jesus is he's the living son of God . And then it released prophecy . You see , when you know who he is , you get out of identity crisis and you get I am what God says I am . I could do what God says I can do . I could be what God says I'd be . Everything in my life is going to be line by line , precept by precept .

Did you know what it does when you get revelation from him ? It releases prophecy , unlocks your destiny . Look what he says . He said also unto thee that thou art Peter . And upon this rock , he said you are Peter . He didn't address him by his first name , Simon . He said you are Peter .

I pump this rock , I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it , and I will give you the keys to the kingdom . Whatever you bound in heaven is bound in earth . What you loosing in heaven , loosing there .

This is such a dynamic prophecy released out of Revelation , the moment that Peter recognized , first and foremost , he's not Elijah . He's greater than the fairy that came down from heaven and smocked the false prophets . He's not Jeremiah . He goes beyond the weeping , he goes all the way to the cross . God , he loved me , buried him , he rose .

He saved me , carried my sins so far away . Give me the right to live a life of success in this earth . Give me the right to live in the peace , the serenity of God . Give me the right and the covenant , god's guarantee , to heal me of all my afflictions . God's guarantee is in this world .

When you come to a revelation , who do you say that he is to you today ? I'm asking you a question . Only you can answer that who is he to you today ? You see , I am that I am . Do you know who he is ? Because until you have a personal encounter with him , you won't go based upon what someone else is saying and their experience and their will .

But you have a God's guarantee to know him with all your might , with all your ability , with all your heart and spirit , soul , body , mind . Oh my God , what a powerful program . Today we're talking about number one . Who do men say that I am ? We're talking about identity . Why is it important ? Every one of you have a physical address .

You have a thumbprint that identifies you . Over six billion people on this planet . You have your own thumbprint that identifies who you are . That leads you to the physical address the house , the presence of God . Wow , who do men say that I am ? He's more powerful than Jeremiah , more powerful than John the Baptist . He's the son of the living God .

Peter got this revelation , saying he's just not a prophet , a teacher , a priest he's the son of the living God . He's the one all heaven praises . He's the one that all demons and devil fear and tremble . He is the one when you feel like you're in a hopeless situation . He becomes your hope .

He is the one when you're lying in the bed of affliction and grief and sorrow has surrounded you . Depression has become your garment . Your cyclone has become darkened by depression . The moment that you're trying to hold on to what you don't know , what you're holding on to , that moment he becomes I am , that I am Identity , moving out of identity crisis .

Who do you say is ? I'm asking you a question today ? Who is he to you ? Who do you say that he is ? Because until you have your own relationship with Him , you're gonna basically live your whole entire life off of someone else's test of mind . Let God prove Himself to you . Let God become real to you .

Open your heart to God and allow God to speak to you from heaven . Allow God to demonstrate His presence and His power to you , because there's nothing that God cannot do . He said "'Blessed are you , peter'" . He didn't dress him as Simon . Simon was his reef name . Peter is a rock . Petrons it's a rock .

So Simon means he was tossing back and forth like the reef in the bottom of the ocean . When the current is moving different directions , you may not can see it , but you can see it . When you see that reef begins to move , you know that's the direction that the current is coming , that direction . So Simon was like a reef in his walk .

Many times he was so unsure . Many times he doubted , many times he questioned it . Many times he gave up . You say , where did he give up ? He washed their nets after they were fishing all night and caught nothing . So he hung up the nets , he gave up .

But then Jesus spoke to the situation where he was giving up opportunities there , that knock at the door , and said your heart rising to the occasion , seeing the God , the splendor of heaven . Blessed are you , peter . You are now in a metamorphous change , a transformation taking place .

You are now no longer a reef shaking about with every winds of doctrine , every winds of opposition , not toss it to him , for not unstable , a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways . He said you are Peter and upon you I'm gonna build my church . You are rock and the gates of hell shot my , prevailed against you .

Oh , what a powerful prophecy he released , prophecy in Peter's life , opened up who he was . He let Peter see himself , brought into identity , his own identity , so Peter can see himself like Christ , sees him , cause he saw Christ as the son of the living God , not as a married man , saw him as a supreme God , a sovereign to find him .

And therefore it unlocked prophecy back into his life and his ministry . Upon you . The gates of hell shall not prevail , shall not prevail . I will build my church that R Peter and upon this rock talk about him . I will build my church , and the gates of hell shall not prevail .

Oh , my God , god's guarantee that no matter what you encounter , what you may face in life , what is thrown at you , what comes in your pathway , is God's guarantee . Ladies and gentlemen , I'm here telling you today , in a night in faith TV program , you're moving away from identity crisis into knowing who he is . Is he your Lord today ?

Do you know him as your Lord . Have you repented of your sins ? Turn your face towards him . Ask him to come into your heart and write your name in the Lamb's Book of Life . I hope you have . We'd love to see you some free literature and for information email . We'd love to get something out to you .

If you're just now coming to the faith of the Lord , jesus Christ cause , it's not enough to be saved . You gotta get yourself rooted ground , disciple and develop for the kingdom that when the Emmy comes in like a flood , the Lord will raise up a standard against him every single time . What we're coming to a close of this broadcast today .

But before we do , I wanna remind you again download our free app . All the information at the bottom of the screen . You can download that total free number . Prayer boards are standing by to take your prayer requests , monday through Friday . Listen , god is a God of miracles .

Whatever you believe in God , for , we're standing here in Kuchwa Revival as an international ministry , praying with you and praying for you , telling you that the best is yet to come . Just like Peter the God of revelation . Personally , he said no , you're not Jeremiah the Weeping Prophet . It goes beyond the weeping . You're not a prophet .

Call down Fire and the false prophet . It goes beyond that . He's the tears in everybody's eyes . He's the fire that burns in everybody's heart , but he's your Lord . If you're loud and misspelling today , well , my friend , who do you say that he is ? Only you can answer that today . But for me , in my house , we will serve the Lord . I know who he is .

I walk in in a favor of God . I walk in in a miracles of God . So I wanna pray that favor of you today , father , we thank you for all this watching us around the world . I release favor , faith in their lives , revelation , encounter with you so they'll know who you are . Lord , reveal yourself to them whatever they're going through .

Make yourself real to them . Let them know you'll never forsake them . Know when you turn your face from them . You know they're down setting . You know they're uprising . Thank you today for revelation . I impart revelation so they can know who you are . This is just a test you're about to pass .

God is just testing your faith and your knowledge so you can discover for your own self . I know who he is , I know whom I serve , I know whom I trust , I know whom I believe . Father , we thank you so much . And again , we thank you for tuning in , taking your time and listening to us .

Listen , go to our YouTube page and if you're not a subscriber , go ahead and subscribe . And also , too , share our Facebook programs with your family or friends . Hit that like button , share it . Share it . Share it . Hit the likes . Let us know how we can minister to you .

Also , too , email us what subject that you would love for us to teach on a night in faith . I'd love to hear back from you . So email our office today and let me know what subject you would love for us to discuss and teach you how to help you grow and develop you . And again , thank you for your financial support .

If you're not a monthly partner , will you pray about it ? Close your eyes right now and ask the Lord how can you support this ministry ? Well , a love gift of any size . We love you . We appreciate you . Thank you for coming on board . Until the next time , you don't got new troubles . All you need is faith in God . God bless you .