When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

The Word Identity, has the following meaning;

-Individuality

-Uniqueness

-Distinctiveness

-Characteristics

-Self

-Character

-Personality

We all have seen the Commercials on TV where someone’s Identity has been Stolen and used by someone else.

Each one of us has a Uniqueness about us that distinguishes us from everyone else.

It is said that, “ No Two Snowflakes are Identical.

Each and everyone has a Different Fingerprint.

We can ask the Question “Why would someone want to Steal someone else’s Identity?”.

This can be answered in the fact, that someone wants to use someone else’s Identity for the purpose of fulfilling a desire to have something that they themselves do not have.

Rather that establishing their own Identity, they would rather pray on someone else, and use their Identity.

The purpose of their behavior is simply... Get something for nothing.

These Individuals operate on everyone else’s Ideals and achievements.

This is the way, that most today in the Religious World, want to have famous people as their Role Model.

Most Individuals are taking what they hear, grasp onto it for their own selfish reasons, rather than find for themselves that which is known to be the absolute facts.

Jesus was asking his disciples the question, and wanted to know if what they believed... did it come from Man, or, did they get it from God themselves?.

First he said to those thee with him, “Whom do Men say that I am?”...Matthew 16:13 (KJV)

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

Mark 8:27 (KJV)

And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

They replied... “ Men say that you are someone else, Elijah, Isaiah, or one of the Other Prophets

Matthew 16:14 (KJV)

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

Why would Jesus ask this question to those that are present with him?

What Jesus is doing here is... Establishing the Foundation of his Church, which is very important for each of us to realize and to know.

This reveals to the reader the fact that Men and Women today...that come into the presence of the Spirit of God...many...or most...don’t have any idea what Jesus is saying to Individuals that are following Jesus in establishing churches.

Jesus asked them the most important question...upon this question...he was... laying down in the hearts of those there...a real foundation of the Church...it’s Identity.

Let’s look and read what Jesus said after that question was answered

Matthew 16:15-16 (KJV)

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus then Replied

Matthew 16:17 (KJV)

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

My Father which Is In Heaven

HEAVEN:

»Strong's Help ouranos, Greek 3772, Strong's ouranos, oo-ran-os'; perhaps from the same as Greek 3735 (oros) (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension heaven (as the abode of God); by implication happiness, power, eternity; specially the Gospel (Christianity) :- air, heaven ([-ly]), sky.

(through the idea of elevation)

This implies that God, sits in the position of the Establishment of the Church.

The Church is not made up of Flesh and Blood, or anything the pertains to the Carnality of mankind.

The Church is not made of that which Peter was in the Flesh, as most think.

This is what Jesus is saying to all of us

Matthew 16:17 (KJV)

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus is saying to Peter and to all of us.

That what Peter has come to the Knowledge of is; “Not what Man Thinks or Does...but it is...God the Father that hath given him the Knowledge...

The Father...is able to operate...and Establish His Church on, This Alone.

Matthew 16:18-19 (KJV)

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. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

That thou art Peter.

Peter you are just a man...but more than that Peter...what you have just said.

This did not come from all the learning and experiences of this world.

This come from high Above.

What Jesus is saying is...“I will build my Church upon the Faith and Knowledge of what Lies down in your Spirit.

Jesus was saying...“ I cannot and will not build upon Carnal Things and Carnal Minds.

The Church is built upon...

“What God Is...that alone is the Rock...the Foundation of the Church”.

Many credit this to Peter Himself.

Peter is very much a Part of this Church...as...all of those that are Led by the Spirit.

Romans 8:14 (KJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Paul is saying that the Church is that Spirit...that lies in the Believer...whom God the Father is in.

To put it more Plain, the Spirit is the Church...not what we think or do as...Carnal Man. The building...has nothing to do whatsoever with the Establishing the Identity of the Church.

The church is not the Building...that is made of Wood and Stone...or what-so-ever it is made up of.

The Church is not seen by the Natural Eye...but can only be seen with...through Faith.

Matthew 16:20 (KJV)

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Why does Jesus make this Command to those there, not to tell any Man?

We must realize that the Church is...has been in Christ Jesus...was there in Jesus from the foundations of the World.

God wanted to...placed the Church in the Presence of Mankind.

This is why that when the World was in Ciaos...after the darkness came upon the world...because of that Angel called Lucifer...left his Habitation

Jude 1:6 (KJV)

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

These chains of Darkness...these are the Chains of Unbelief...Self Will ...self motivated individual...who go about to establish their own ways.

In one sense...Lucifer Pulled all of us from the Habitation of God the Father...Pulled us down into the Carnal state...along with him...and...his fallen Angels.

Just think for a moment.

Jesus was saying to those Disciples.

Don’t Tell This To Just Anyone.

The reason is

“I, Jesus, I am the Church, I am the Chief Corner Stone

1 Peter 2:6 (KJV)

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Behold, I lay in Sion

»Strong's Help Sion, Greek 4622, Strong's Sion, see-own'; of Hebrew origin [Hebrew 6726 (Tsiyown)]; Sion (i.e. Tsijon), a hill of Jerusalem; figurative the Church (militant or triumphant) :- Sion.

a hill of Jerusalem; figurative the Church

»Strong's Help Tsiyown, Hebrew 6726, Strong's Tsiyown, tsee-yone'; the same (regular) as Hebrew 6725 (tsiyuwn); Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jeruselem :- Zion.

»Strong's Help tsiyuwn, Hebrew 6725, Strong's tsiyuwn, tsee-yoon'; from the same as Hebrew 6723 (tsiyah) in the sense of conspicuousness [compare Hebrew 5329 (natsach)]; a monumental or guiding pillar :- sign, title, waymark.

This is the Pillar of Faith.

Genesis 28:18 (KJV)

And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

Do you suppose that Jacob had any Ideal that this...STONE... AND THIS PILLOW WAS A REVELATION OF THAT OF THE BUILDING OF THE CHURCH?

Genesis 28:22 (KJV)

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

Here with the passage of Scripture, we can See the Church Coming through, and was present there with this man of God.

This Man Jacob...had been in the presence of God...as a Man...yet he knew that this Pillow...Stone...he had his head upon...using them to raise...or elevate his head...is the REVELATION...the act...of establishing...that...in his presence...would be the Spirit of God the Father...working to bring Jesus Christ...the Chief Corner Stone... into the World...in the Flesh...to reveal to mankind...Not as a Whole...but to those like Peter and the Disciples that followed...that the Church is real...exists only in the Faith of Individuals...that Choose to Know...to Follow after God...not after Man.

and of all that thou shalt give me

John 17:7 (KJV)

Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

Here is the Real Tithes.

Jesus is Giving and Establishing the Identity of the Church In these that God has Given Him.

This is the Sole Purpose of the Church.

The Church is for to Give.

Take back that Which Satan has Stolen and present it to the Father.

1 Cor. 15:24-28 (KJV)

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. [27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. [28] And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

I will surely give the tenth unto thee

»Strong's Help `asar, Hebrew 6237, Strong's `asar, aw-sar'; a primitive root (identicle with Hebrew 6238 (`ashar)); to accumulate; but used only as denominative from Hebrew 6235 (`eser); to tithe, i.e. take or give a tenth :- x surely, give (take) the tenth, (have, take) tithe (-ing, -s), x truly.

As Jacob took the stones and made a pillar, these Stones were used to raise his Head and elevate it so that the head would not be lower than the rest of the body, this signified that the Head of the Church is to be elevated to a greater height, this is what the father did when he said.

John 12:28 (KJV)

Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

I will raise you up from the earth and give you the Bride, the church...this is what Jesus was saying...when he said what he did to Peter.

The army’s fought and have fought from the beginning of the fall of mankind...yet when victory comes...it only comes by those that are used by the Power and the weapons of the Spirit.

2 Samuel 23:10

He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.

The victory is the Lords doing and only through him do we have access to the Throne of Glory.

If the Disciples had listen to the others...there would most likely been an Identity Problem with their Faith.

There is many today, that is in caught up in this same Identity Crises.

The Apostle Paul, when he was on the road to Damascus...was taking the Identity of great leaders of that day.

Paul was using this Stolen Identity to bring great harm to individuals that had achieved great success in the real Spiritual realm.

When the Identity of Personalities comes into the picture...many are swayed into thinking that their way of thinking is the way that it should be for all mankind.

In Most cases when someone is threatened by something greater than that which they believe themselves to be, these will react in such a way to protect the Identity that they have acquired for themselves.

Jesus then asked the question.

“Whom Do You Say that I Am?”

They responded with this Answer.

“Thou are the Christ”.

Then Jesus said this to them.

Matthew 16:17 (KJV)

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

We notice that after he told Peter and those there that this Identity that they had...came not from Flesh and Blood...Came From the Father.

Then he said the following

Matthew 16:18-19 (KJV)

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. [19] And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Most say that Jesus was going to build his Church upon Peter...in ones sense this is true...but we need to go into the Sprit to understand what exactly he is talking about here.

Jesus is saying to Peter that.

Peter what God has Revealed to you...he has not revealed to those that have built an Identity upon what Man thinks.

Peter was chosen by God from the foundations of the World.

Psalm 18:15 (KJV)

Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.

Here is one that has been discovered as the Breath of God...the Holy Ghost...which has brought to Peter and others that were there...was then the opening of the Understanding.... of the Minds... the Hearts of believers.

This is the Seed that was promised by God from the beginning... from the foundations of the world.

What Jesus is saying... is....“I am going to build my Church upon these Promises of The Father”.

I guess we could say that Jesus...being in the same Body...in the likeness of those there with him...wanted to reveal to those there... that...God was building his Church...with the Seed of Faith.

God is making it known that he is...Through his Voice...Same Voice that was walking in the Garden with Adam and Eve.

That Voice is still Speaking...the results is...if we would listen to that Voice...not listen to the Voice of that of the Wisdom of the Flesh...God can...will build his Church upon the fact...that he is Still Speaking...his promises are steadfast as they have always been.

Jesus was saying to Peter.

You are a example of what God the Father is...have been doing from the very beginning of the creation.

Jesus was building upon the fact that Peter did not drum up this Faith in God himself.

Peter did not get it from those men in that day.

Peter got if directly from God himself. Peter did not deny the fact that God was his choice.

God can and will build only upon the real Identity of that which is given...not from that of man...only that Identity...that can only come from God.

This Identity cannot be bought with money, or as Paul said.

1 Cor. 13:3 (KJV)

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

This is A Gift...we cannot earn it by good deeds...or anything that we have...or...will do.

This comes Free of Charge.

The only Payment that we can make for this is to Give Thanks and Praise to the Giver.

That payment...that deposit can be only made by having Love...Charity...to those around us.

You and I can stand very tall at different points of our lives...yet we stand no taller or approved no more...than that ...which is...bestowed upon us through...by the Mercy of God the Father.

The only True Church is not a building made of manmade materials.

This church is made up of those that are filled with Faith Given by the Father.

Those that have been given this Faith...this Love...these are the Rock...this is the real Identity...that is needed...what God the Father builds upon.