I will build my Church!
Matthew 16:18
Here is a little tract the Lord put on my heart to write and distribute
here in Ghana. We have been noticing a lack of understanding and overall
vision for the church here amongst the many Christians and "Christians!"
Hope you are blessed by it and encouraged--and also reminded to pray for
the members of His Body here in Ghana, ;)
____________________________________________
"I will build my Church!" Matthew 16:18
What was in Jesus' mind when he spoke this promise to Peter almost 2,000
years ago? What Church was he talking about; was it the Methodist,
Pentecostal, or the Presbyterian church? Where was he going to build
this Church, was it going to be a very big and beautiful building? Where
was the headquarters going to be? How can one become members of this
church?
These are very important questions that we must think about! There are
many different so-called churches today with many different teachings,
one can easily get confused. If we truly desire to know the mind of
Jesus about his Church then we must go right to the BIBLE for our
answers. The Church is very important in the mind and purpose of God and
if we come to him with a humble and reverent heart he will certainly
reveal his will and plan to us.
In Ephesians 1 we begin to read about the great purpose and plan of God
in the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in verse 20-21 about the power of God:
"Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set
him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all
principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"
Jesus Christ is reigning in heaven right now as Lord. Perhaps many on
earth do not believe he is Lord, or maybe they say and sing with their
mouth "he is Lord" when he is truly not Lord in their heart.
Nevertheless, the bible is clear: HE IS LORD! If we want to begin to
understand even a small part of the Church, we must get this
understanding in our hearts! Collosians 1:18 tells us, "And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." To have the
"preeminence" means to be Superior to or notable above all others. Any
direction, plan or vision for the Church must come from the head, Jesus
Christ. In 3 John 1:9 we hear a warning of a man Diotrephes, "who loves
to have the preeminence." In those early days men were already coming
into the church who denied Christ his rightful place. We must beware:
there are many today who come in the name of Christ but also come
exalting themselves.
Coming back to Ephesians 1:22-23: "And hath put all things under his
feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which
is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."
God has set Jesus Christ as the head of the Church, not a man or an
organization! And "the Church" it says, "which is his Body!" The Church
is clearly not something physical or earthly, but spiritual! When we
call a building that is made out of dead bricks and cement "a church,"
we make a big mistake. Let us think about a body and how it functions. A
healthy body, with all it's many parts and members, must be in perfect
union and contact with the Head. This is exactly how it is to be with
the Body of Christ and it's relationship with it's head, Jesus Christ.
When the head gives direction or a command the body must obey in order
to fulfill it's purpose. When the hand or foot ignore the head and
follow their own plans or someone else besides Jesus, confusion will
come.
Let us be sure to note the end of verse 23: "..the fullness of him that
filleth all in all." The Church and all it's members are not only to
have a small part of God's presence, but to be FULL of his presence!
Sadly, many only enjoy his presence on Sunday morning or at a Friday
prayer meeting. You don't have to be a big Apostle or Pastor to enjoy
this wonderful treasure, it is God's desire and plan to fill every one
of his children with himself! This was his whole purpose in creating
man, that we might be in his image and likeness.
Jump forward in Ephesians to 3:10-11 "To the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the
church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:"
An Eternal Purpose is so great and past our comprehension that we could
never fully understand it all until we reach heaven! But from the little
that God has told us in his word: long before God created the universe
and placed man on this earth he had a purpose! When Adam sinned he did
not go to "plan B" as some think! For as we just read, he wanted to
manifest his wisdom through the Church so that it could be a testimony
of him! And all of this is wrapped up in our Lord Jesus Christ!
In Ephesians 5:26, Paul tells us that we are sanctified and cleaned by
the washing of the Word. What is the goal of this washing? Verse 27
gives us the answer: "That he might present it to himself a glorious
church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish."
Did Jesus die on the cross and raise from the dead only to take you to
heaven? Is that all he wants with you? No, no, no! But maybe that is all
you want.. Maybe you are content to leave all this business about being
sanctified and full of Christ to the Pastors and Elders to worry about.
Well listen to the Word of God: he does not want a dirty or sinful
bride! He loved the Church and he died for it not only to take us to
heaven, but so that we could partake of his death and
resurrection--right now today! My brother or sister, if you claim to be
born again and a member of this church that Jesus is building, but you
do not desire to be pure and set apart for God, then you have a very
serious and terrible problem.
Let us go back to where we started: Jesus told Peter "upon this rock, I
will build my Church." What was that Rock? We know that Jesus is the
chief corner stone of the church! (1 Peter 2:5-8.)
Jesus had just asked his disciples the question in Mathew 16:13, "who do
men say that I the Son of Man am?" They answered, some say John the
Baptist, maybe Elijah or Jeremiah. Jesus did not want to know what
others thought, so he asked them again! This time Peter said "Thou art
the Christ, the Son of the living God!" Did Jesus praise Peter for being
very smart and figuring the answer out? No, no, this did not come from
Peter's great mind, but Jesus tells Peter that he is blessed because:
"Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto you but my Father in Heaven."
(vs 17.) A person can get a simple head knowledge about Jesus through
many ways! But how can one truly come to know him in their heart? This
unique knowledge can only come if the Father reveals his Son to you just
as he did to Peter. You cannot buy this knowledge with money, you cannot
even get it by going to a bible school! Many go to a building they call
a church on Sunday to sing and pay tithes and get many bible truths in
their minds, is that how we can be "born again," by doing religious
activities? We read in John1:12-13, "But as many as received him, to
them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe
on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the
flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Being born again is not a flesh and blood matter! This must and can only
be by the work of God. We cannot enter into the family of God and become
a member of the Church, which is his Body, by our own power and will.
Even after we have entered into Christ, the christian life it not about
our power and effort but by Jesus living his life in us! For this is the
whole purpose in the Church: so that God would have a testimony of his
wisdom and power in the earth by manifest himself through his people,
the Church!
Are you a member of this Church? Does the presence of Christ fill you
everyday by the revelation of God? Are you an empty vessel that God is
able to use to accomplish his will?
---Timothy
Tarkwa, Ghana
January 2010
|