Much
is said about the church in today’s world.
Jesus declared in Matthew chapter 16, "I will build my church and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The church is both inclusive and inclusive. It includes everyone who places their faith
and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and excludes everyone who does
not. Whosoever will call on the name of
the Lord will be saved. With all of its
challenges and victories, shortcomings and accomplishments, strengths and
weaknesses, etc., I am glad to be part of Christ’s Church. The Church will neither be destroyed by outside
forces nor self-destruct from within.
Christ will always have a Church.
Here are The Top 10 Reasons Why I Believe the Church Will Prevail.
10. The Church belongs to God.
Acts
20:28 teaches that Christ purchased the church with his own blood. We who are saved are the ecclesia, the called
out ones. He has separated us unto
himself. We are his and only his.
9. The foundation of The Church is Jesus Christ.
In
1 Corinthians 3:11, the Apostle Paul writes to say there is no other foundation
than Jesus. The stone that was rejected
by the builders is now the chief cornerstone.
8. The Church is not of this world.
Jesus
speaks to the Jews in John 8:23 saying, “I am from above. I am not of this world.” Elsewhere we read that this world will pass
away but, Jesus tells Pontius Pilate in John 18:36 that his kingdom is not of
this world.
7. Christ is interceding for The Church.
According
to Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25, Christ is “at the right hand of God” and “ever
liveth to make intercession” for us.
6. The Holy Spirit is working in The Church.
He
bears witness to our spiritual adoption.
He leads us into truth. He
empowers us to witness about Jesus. He
directs our leadership. He anoints our
ministries.
5. God has a plan for The Church.
Jeremiah
speaks for God in chapter 29, verse 11 saying, “I know the plans I have for you…plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
4. The world needs to hear the message entrusted
to The Church.
Jesus
instructs his followers to go into the whole world and preach the gospel to
everyone. From the platform of our
changed lives, we must tell the world that Jesus saves and his blood washes
whiter than snow. We must proclaim the
whole counsel of God.
3. Saints, past and present, have prayed for The
Church.
Whether
in corporate gatherings in church facilities, smaller meetings in people’s
homes, or in secluded places scattered around the globe, the people who are
called by His name spend time in intercession for the work of God around the
world to prosper. Old and young,
educated and unlearned, male and female, light skinned and dark skinned, people
bathe the work of the Lord in prayer that it will spread to every group of
people and bring to bear Christ’s gospel upon every culture in every place.
2. The Church has tremendous resources.
Our
human resources include people with various passions, skills, and desires to
make a difference in others’ lives and bring the blessings of God to them. Our financial resources are without limit
because God will supply all our need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.
1.
Christians believe in The Church.
The
Church is the body of Christ. Believers
are committed to Christ and to each other.
To adapt the words of a young African pastor: We are part of the fellowship of the
unashamed. We have Holy Spirit power. The die is cast. We have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. We are disciples of Christ. We won’t look back, let up, slow down back
away or be still. Our past is
redeemed. Our present makes sense. Our future is secure. We are finished with low living. Sight walking,
small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking,
cheap living, and dwarfed goals. We no
longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, plaudits, or popularity. We don’t have to be right, first, top,
recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded.
We live by faith, lean on his presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer
and labor by love. Our face is set, our
gait is fast, our goal is Heaven, our road is narrow, our way is rough, our
companions are few, our guide is reliable, our mission is clear. We cannot be bought, compromised, detoured,
lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.
We will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of
the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity,
or meander in the maze of mediocrity. We
won’t give up, shut up, or let up, until we have stayed up, stored up, prayed
up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.
We are disciples of Jesus. We
must go ‘til he comes, give ‘til we drop, preach ‘til all know, and work ‘til
he stops us. And, when he comes for his
own, he will have no problem recognizing us.
We are his Church!
