Comments by Joan Boney: When I was a new Christian, God explained this scripture to me:
Matthew 16
14 And they said, Some say that THOU art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 HE saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, THOU art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 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.
18 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.
God opened my eyes to see that the "rock" upon which Jesus builds the church is that word which is revealed to us by God by the Holy Spirit.
Peter was blessed because God revealed Jesus to be the son of God. No man showed Peter this. God revealed Jesus, The Word, to Peter.
The Holy Spirit of God reveals the Word of God to us also and causes us to be born again by giving each of us a new heart and a new Spirit which God gives to us by HIS own will.
Ezekiel, the prophet, prophesied of the giving by God of this new heart and new spirit.
Ezekiel 36
God says:
23 And I will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.
23 And I will sanctify MY great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put MY spirit within you, and cause you to walk in MY statutes, and ye shall keep MY judgments, and do them.
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