Intimate Secrets Revealed

Scripture: Matthew 16:18

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Commentary:
Jesus was speaking with his disciples about their understanding about who He was. He asked them who they thought and/or said that He was. Peter answered and said that He was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter could not have understood who Christ was without it being revealed to him by God, However, Peter could not have known who he was personally, without an intimate relationship with Christ.

Through the relationship that Peter had with Jesus, the essence of Peter was revealed through the name, and the purpose assigned to his name. The name Peter means, rock or stone. Jesus reminded Peter who he was in Him. He let Peter know that Peter's dependence would be upon Him to fulfill his purpose in the kingdom of God. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and he received authority from the Lord Jesus Christ to do what he was called to do.

Reflection:
When we have a personal relationship with Christ, He reveals intimate secrets to us, that will give us understanding into who He is; and why we are. Spending time with Him daily in His word, and in prayer, will bring us closer and closer to the essence of Him; which in turn, will reveal the true essence of who we are created to be in Him. Through an intimate relationship with Christ, we will understand the authority that He has given us, to be colaborers together with Christ in building the Kingdom of God. 

Strong's Concordance Definitions:

To you, that you are Peter: 4074
Peter = "a rock or a stone"
1) one of the twelve disciples of Jesus

Rock: 4073
1) a rock, cliff or ledge
a) a projecting rock, crag, rocky ground
b) a rock, a large stone
c) metaph. a man like a rock, by reason of his firmness and strength of soul

I will build: 3618
1) to build a house, erect a building
a) to build (up from the foundation)
b) to restore by building, to rebuild, repair
2) metaph.
a) to found, establish
b) to promote growth in Christian wisdom, affection, grace, virtue, holiness, blessedness
c) to grow in wisdom and piety

My church: 1577
1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating
b) the assembly of the Israelites
c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously
d) in a Christian sense
1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting
2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake
3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body
4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth
5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

and the gates: 4439
1) a gate
a) of the larger sort
1) in the wall of either a city
2) a palace
3) a town
4) the temple
5) a prison
2) the gates of hell (likened to a vast prison)
3) metaph. the access or entrance into any state

of Hades: 86
1) name Hades or Pluto, the god of the lower regions
2) Orcus, the nether world, the realm of the dead
3) later use of this word: the grave, death, hell
In Biblical Greek it is associated with Orcus, the infernal regions, a dark and dismal place in the very depths of the earth, the common receptacle of disembodied spirits. Usually Hades is just the abode of the wicked, Luk 16:23, Rev 20:13, 14; a very uncomfortable place. (TDNT)

Will not overpower it: 2729
1) to be strong to another's detriment, to prevail against
2) to be superior in strength
3) to overcome
4) to prevail

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Gospel of Matthew 16 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 25 Jan 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=16&t=NASB

Higgins, S. (2010). Intimate Secrets Revealed. Devotions for Thought. Http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com