Jesus In the Marketplace

JESUS IN THE MARKETPLACEJULY 9, 2023 | STEVE PIXLERMatthew 16:13–20 (NRSV): 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi…”Jesus came into…”Three realms of Caesarea Philippi:Mt. Hermon (principalities)The earthly city (humans)The Gates of Hades (demons) Three cultural streams of Caesarea Philippi:Jewish culture (dead religion)Roman culture (corrupt politics) Greek culture (perverse culture) Jesus “came into” the region of Caesarea Philippi. He did not evacuate his people out of the arena of conflict. Jesus is not an escapist!  Jesus led his disciples into three things:The revelation of KINGDOM IDENTITYThe revelation of KINGDOM COMMUNITYThe revelation of KINGDOM AUTHORITY Jesus wanted his disciples to know their identity so they could be empowered within community to carry their authority into their own “Caesarea Philippi.” This is how we co-labor with Jesus in the marketplace. BEACHHEAD EKKLESIAS The replication and multiplication of ekklesia in the earth is Jesus’ divine strategy for bringing his salvation to the nations.Every believer is baptized into this mandate. We are called to “go therefore and disciple the nations…” (Matthew 28:19). We are called to assemble with Jesus in the marketplace. Where does “your kingdom come, your will be done in earth as it is in heaven” happen? It happens precisely where “give us this day our daily bread” happens—in the marketplace!