The Church

Something's wrong.

If the New Testament is true, and it is, each Christian is one Spirit with the Lord, rooted and grounded in love and filled up to all the fullness of God.

Jesus said that the least one in the Kingdom would be greater than the greatest prophet of the Old Covenant, and that we would do greater works than He did.

The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, Peter and Luke, has declared that all things have been given to us and we are partakers of the Divine nature, the Word multiplied.

The Word also teaches us that Satan is defeated and we have been given authority over ALL his power...Jesus came specifically to destroy his works, which are killing, stealing and destroying.

These are all direct quotes from the Word, people! I didn't make this up, it's all in the Word!

When you look at it from this point of view, each local church should be a powerhouse in it's own area, a collection of born-again sons and daughters of God, reigning in life.

But is that power being harnessed for the Kingdom? I think not.

In most cases—even in so-called Full Gospel or Charismatic churches—you've got one guy up in front, making half-hour speeches on what people are doing wrong, how the Bible doesn't really mean what it says, why God might not heal you, why God took your child, why you shouldn't want too much and sometimes the answer is no.

Hmmm...

I've got news for you. The people in the pews are just as much full of God as the guy in the front! God didn't dole out His power in teaspoons, with some getting more than others!

Are they perfect, from a natural point of view? No...but neither is the guy at the front! In the Spirit, they all look just like Jesus!

Colossians 1:11 says we're strengthened with ALL POWER, according to HIS GLORIOUS MIGHT! It doesn't say the star at the front has more power than the teenager sitting in the last row!

Yes, the local church organizes 'ministries' to 'do good' in the community. We've got clothing drives, food drives, feeding the homeless at Thanksgiving, giving gifts to poor kids at Christmas and bake sales. Bible studies that reinforce why the Bible isn't really true for all of us today.

These things should not be the main focus of the local body! Yes, good works are important, Love with human hands, as Jesus taught and demonstrated. But the main focus should be the harnessing of the power of the corporate Body of Christ in the earth!

So What Should We Be Doing?
I'm glad you asked. How about the guy at the front building up the Body by telling them who they are in Christ? By telling them that the Father has gladly given them the kingdom, that the Father has rested from His works and that they are already healed, rich and delivered from all things?

How about leading them in corporate prayer to pull down wicked strongholds from their community? How about laying hands on the sick and actually believing that what God said is true?

How about taking corporate authority over evil spirits in the neighborhood, in the local schools, in the local government? How about using the great power in that one place to run drug dealers and child abusers out of town?

How about harnessing all that power to send each member out into the community with the anointing to bring lost souls into the kingdom? To teach each one how to walk in love and power and to find their place of gifting for ministry...

Do these things—put His Kingdom first—and the good works will not only take care of themselves, they will produce fruit mightily!

Tell Christians who they really are, over and over, and watch sin fall away. Tell them week after week what's wrong with them, why God probably didn't mean what He said, and see what happens...oh, yeah, that's what we've got now...

And Another Thing
Tell me this...why isn't the guy in the front decreeing the Word over his congregation? The Word of healing, of release from bondage, of prosperity, of angelic protection? That they've been made THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST, that there is NOW NO CONDEMNATION for those who are IN CHRIST JESUS.

Sadly, the local church—even big, dynamic congregations—are little more than religious clubs where people go to feel good, or bad, depending on the sermon, once or twice a week.

Think about the untapped power of 100 or 1000 or 5000 God-in-earthen vessels, using their power to reign in life. Acting in one accord to accomplish the will of God in the earth.

No, I mean really think about it.

I don't intend to be critical. But really, what are we doing? Does anyone stop and think about who we really are, this mystery called the Body of Christ? And what we should be doing in the earth?

Maybe it's time to lay down 'church' and become The Church! Maybe it's finally time to be who we are called to be, not just one or two of us, but all of us! It's all the same Spirit...

Think about it. Dare to imagine what it could be like in your church. And pray.