A Glorious Revelation – The Presidential Prayer Team

You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. – Matthew 16:18

Today’s verse follows Jesus’ question to Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter’s definitive, bold, and unquestioning answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus’ response confirms it when He says that the only way Peter could have known that was if God the Father had revealed it to him (Matthew 16:15-17).

When you meditate on Peter’s proclamation, the absolute wonder of it happening at that time and in that place, his conclusion was pretty astounding. Could it really be that the Messiah prophesied for hundreds of years could now be in their presence? The answer was an emphatic “Yes!”

It is on this very truth that Peter and other disciples would later base their faith and the boldness with which they would proclaim the Messiah on and after Pentecost. This Jesus, crucified and killed, poured out His blood for the sins of all people, paying the price for their salvation. Christ was raised by God, having power over death, to sit on the throne of God interceding before the Father for all who believe (Acts 2:22-36). What a glorious revelation, what a glorious comfort for you as a follower of Jesus!

Meditate on the life and ministry of the Son of the Living God as you pray today. Ask the Lord to enable you to share His life-giving message the way His disciples did, turning the whole world on its head as they spread the news. Intercede for everyone in government office, that those who do not know Him would seek and accept Him today. Stand boldly for Christ, and pray!

Today’s Verse: Matthew 16:18

¹⁸And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock  I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 1 Peter 2:4-12

⁴As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

⁷So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

⁸and

“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

⁹But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹²Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.