Matthew 16:13-19 recounts Jesus and His disciples trek to Caesarea Philippi, a place known for sin, excesses and idolatry in biblical times.  After a difficult 3 day walk, He chose this sinful place to teach about faith.  Simon Peter responded to Jesus’ direct question, “… Who do you say I am?” with “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God.”   Jesus answers Peter with a blessing and acknowledges that this was not revealed to Peter by flesh and blood but by his Father in Heaven.  He continues that He will build His church on this rock.  I believe that Jesus was referring to Peter’s confession of faith as that rock.

That is, Jesus’ church will be built on faith in Jesus, as the Son of God and thus on faith in the Triune God.  That is a good thing for us at LTCC to think about and follow.  I am struck that Jesus does not require diligence, hard work, or more contacts to build His church but encourages His disciples in their faith, just as we should be faithful followers.

Last Sunday, Darcey Simmons presented the Pastor Search Team update.  She emphasized how prayer and faith and the Holy Spirit’s leading are the team’s underpinning and has led them in developing a description of the church and our view or hopes for our next pastor.  They will be contacting organizations to put them in touch with searching pastors.  But most of all she emphasized how difficult it is to wait on God.  We may want this search to go faster, but she also talked about dealing with the aftermath of consequences for not waiting on God.

We at LTCC are experiencing God’s blessings in so many ways.  We have made so many God-led decisions and have a godly group of Elders, an active Church Council, a Family Ministry Elder, with Senior’s, Men’s, Women’s and Children’s ministries flourishing.  With faith, waiting on God, and following His leading, we will continue to flourish as a church.

So, let’s wait faithfully, knowing we do not want to go ahead of God’s leading and timing.