A Church Jesus Wants to Be In, Pt.3
ByNow I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. (Mat 16:18 NLT)
Number Three: I [JESUS] will build my Church
Jesus wants to build His Church more than I do. Jesus wants to build His church more than any pastor, preacher, spiritual leader, and Christ-follower that has ever walked the face of the earth. And there have been some amazingly passionate church leaders, but none of them love the church more than Jesus, none of them have sacrificed more than Jesus, and none of them have given as much for the church as Jesus.
Sometimes I get down (boo-hoo) on myself for slower growth or even “reverse growth” (that is when people leave the church:) – and I think man, “What do I HAVE TO DO for this church to grow more?” But the answer is never about what I HAVE TO DO; the answer is in what JESUS HAS ALREADY DONE. Jesus has already laid the foundation for the church, we just need to build on top of that. JESUS HAD ALREADY DIED FOR THE CHURCH; He has already shared His dream for the church (to be an unstoppable force of love and oneness); and He has already given the direction of the church (to reach the entire world with the message of salvation).
So, if Jesus wants to build the church more than we do, then a lack of growth in any church is never Jesus’ fault or Jesus desire (unless that church is so totally screwed up, Jesus may want to shut it down). So, the question we should ask is NOT, “What do I HAVE TO DO TO GROW THE CHURCH?” but rather, “WHAT HAS JESUS ALREADY DONE TO BUILD HIS CHURCH?” And am I willing to do the same, AM I WILLING TO DIE TO SELF FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHURCH? Am I ready to follow the dream Jesus has for the church (to be an unstoppable force of love)? Am I ready to embrace the direction that Jesus has already given to the church (to reach the whole world)?
Seriously, what do you have to die to in order to let the dream of Jesus come alive within you? Are you in the way of Jesus clear vision to reach this world through the local church? Are you helping to push the vision forward or are you content to simply let it pass you by while everyone else does the work? Jesus asked us to die to self in order to promote the gospel, in order to build His Church, nothing else matters!
