The Rock of Revelation

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 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. 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. (Matthew 16:15-18)

It wasn't enough to know what others were saying or what revelation they had received. Jesus explained that He needed to know what the revelation was that they had caught. Your faith cannot rely on second-hand opinions and hand-me-down revelations. You must answer the same question Simon Peter was asked: "Who is Jesus to me?"

Peter responded with a revelation that would serve as the foundation of the church. Jesus is the Christ—the Son of the Living God.

Jesus explained that this revelation could only have come from the Father revealing it to him, not from Peter's own intellect. Revelation is God pulling back the cover and shining light into our situation so we can see clearly and understand.

Jesus explained that once we have that revelation, nothing hell can do can keep us out. The gates of hell can't hold you back. Hell cannot overpower a believer who knows who Jesus is and who they are in Him as they walk in authority.

Practical Application

When you read the Word, don't just settle for information. Before and after you read, pray for revelation knowledge. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you through Scripture and give you a deeper understanding.

Matthew 11:25; John 1:42