When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I the Son of man am?”  And they said, “Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  He said unto them, “But who say you that I am?” (Matt. 16:13-15).

Quick stop: this whole question-and-answer session came after Jesus had warned His disciples against the leaven (false indoctrination) of the Pharisees and Sadducees—subtly spreading narratives of Jesus not being HIM, the Christ. Remember, the kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened (Matt. 13:33). These boys ought to be my leaven; are they aware of the Truth, or have they also been indoctrinated? Jesus questioned.

And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. And Jesus answered and said unto him, “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven.  And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock (revelation) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:16-18).

“Peter! Did you Google it? That response was too accurate to have come from your mental faculty; it must be a download”. The church (you and I) is built on this revelation (not Peter, Ephesians 2:20)—Jesus, the Christ. Therefore, seeing that the knowledge of Jesus cannot be comprehended by the natural mind but by the revelation of the Word. It’s not about how much we study, yes! Important, but how much of Himself He reveals to us. After His resurrection, He revealed Himself to over 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:6). Our prayers therefore, should be “Reveal Yourself to me, Jesus”. When we study, when we worship, when we fellowship, “Reveal Yourself to me, Jesus”, it’s a personal encounter; it’s all about Him.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matt. 16:19).

One of these keys is in Philippians 2:10: the Name! “At the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth”. But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12). We have ONE NAME, ONE WAY, ONE GOD (Phil. 2:10/Jn. 14:6/Eph. 4:5). Until He is revealed to us, He cannot be formed in us.