Dear Reader,

Consider the following as it has been revealed to me in recent weeks.

Jesus said evil cannot prevail against the Church He is building in Matthew 16. The “gates of Hell” from my understanding, are the decision-makers and the gate keepers of the kingdom of darkness. Because Jesus does not just proclaim things to be "hopeful" but rather as a matter of fact, than we know the evil decision-makers and gate keepers (what is let in and what is let out) do NOT win against a united and faithful Church Christ was talking about.

Would you agree?

It stands to reason, then that the Church He is building should be  effective in Him to proclaim the Good News and administrate the Truth. So why isn't it?

This question was asked recently and it has had me thinking...

From my study of the book of Acts and the birth of the Church Jesus is building under the authority of Apostles and Elders who are united,  the church IS strong as they are rightly aligned, united with one voice, one gospel and one baptism. In the face of this unity, evil is overcome as light overcomes the darkness and the things produced by the deeds of darkness will scatter. We will look for them, but they will no longer exist. The church in Acts did not need to go looking for evil to vanquish. It simply became illuminated by the Light of His Love in the  presence of and proclamation of the truth by as those who believed. They walked in obedience with His Spirit, the Truth of Christ, with Righteousness, Peace, and Joy and they manifested the Kingdom of God among the people. And God backed up His Word with signs, wonders and miracles. In this way, they were BEING the LIGHT Jesus spoke about in Matthew 5. And naturally speaking, light dispels darkness and things of the darkness scatter. In the Light of His Love shining through His people, evil is exposed and brought into right alignment with Truth. 

When I see the news headlines and notice the encroachment of evil reports and doings, this is the exposing pf evil. They are skirmishes, local battles of a war already won. The seemingly constant rebellion against authority, accountability and boundaries has always been going on, we are just now seeing it because the prayers of the saints have called for it to be revealed. The really sad thing is, that the prayers of the people of God asked for it to be revealed so God could do something  about it. But God has always worked through His people to deal with evil. Have you noticed that? So while so many are waiting for God to rescue them, He is waiting for His church to employ the tools and authority to deal with what is exposed.

 Humanity was created to live an abundant life in Him (John 10), that includes free will to choose whether or not to comply with the truth and how He set His Kingdom up to operate. This is our choice. God is not mad at sinners who do not want to be a part of what He is doing. He has no desire to punish them. He is patient, as He was patient with Israel.  He is angry at sin, however and the evil and the twisting of truth because it hurts His Creation. It doesn’t hurt Him. He is all powerful, all knowing, everywhere.  His mercies are new every morning. His grace is boundless and empowering, NOT JUST forgiving.

Can we agree that  it is not enough to simply expose the corruption and evil among us? If we do nothing about it, it remains. Right? But so often we wait for someone else to "fix it."

Because the church Jesus is building has no lack (from my understanding of what I read and God is not a liar and Jesus is not a false teacher, prophet, king), than we have all we need to do the job he has laid before us to do, correct?  Isn't our toolbox of righteousness and justice is FULL of His wisdom and instruction if we will simply ask and receive what He is saying? The problem is being aware of what He has given us and be obedient and do our part. Our provision and protection, our wisdom and Truth are found in Him. And God does not despise those who ask for His wisdom. The wisdom of a fool will be their undoing just as Haman’s plots to kill Mordecai brought about his own end (Esther 7). The wisdom of God is not just for individual justice, but justice for all. Consider Esther and her obedience according to the instruction of the Lord. She was instrumental for that time in saving an entire people.

Scripture says that our focus is to be properly set:
 
Colossians 3
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

 
As we remain active, not passively waiting for some "end" to come and "save us," I have a problem with this philosophy. I bring it up because it is part of the problem. I used to believe that some mysterious rescue was surely on the horizon for us. I'd much rather be rescued than have to solve a problem. "Calgon, take me away!" LOL Right?!

But, seriously,  as I studied, much of what I was reading and understanding flew in the face of my carefully crafted understanding of a  rapture and soon to be end time. And I couldn't call all those people back and correct my error. A lot was at stake if I changed my thinking. But I did.

Dear reader, I mean not to criticize anyone personally . Nor do I seek dash anyone's hope of rescue and thus plunging them into a state of anxiety or fear. However, I would like to offer another perspective.

Consider this:

The Church Jesus is Building is His body upon the earth. Yes? The church is not a building made by human hands. It is the people. We are the church.

And Jesus said he came to defeat the works of the devil and he did! Didn't He?

Didn't He Go to hell, suffer a penalty that was ours, for three days?  Afterward wasn't He proclaimed innocent? (thus turning the tables on the devil)

 Did He not take from the devil the keys of hell, death and the grave meaning that Jesus took away the devil's  ability to accuse God's people.  He could no longer hold anyone hostage with the threat of hell, death and the grave.

 1 Corinthians 15
" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord"

 Didn't Jesus triumphantly raise from the dead, and in doing so usher the people waiting in Abraham's bosom up to the courts of heaven? Scripture says those saints were seen in the street (See Matthew 27)! 

 Hebrews then said He cleansed the courts of heaven and the devil could no longer have access to God to accuse God's people. (My summary).

In doing this,  He set everything in motion for His Church to be his hands and feet vanquishing evil and fulfilling John 10, and 12:31).

And we want Him to DO MORE????!!! REALLY!

This is why I believe the devil has no power over God’s people other than what we LET HIM HAVE. To my understanding, Jesus did "pay it all." As His body (The Church He is building) we CANNOT come into a ‘woe is me” agreement with evil or evil “times”. 

Therefore, how can a believer passively wait for some theoretical rescue to make everything "right" for us?  I believe the reason we do not yet see what God has ordained through “His Kingdom Come, His will be done,”(Matthew 6) is because the Church currently, does not know who she is, nor is she aware of all the tools given to her, through Christ, to do the work prepared in advance for her to complete. God is not going to swoop in and do our job for us. When has He ever done that?!

And here was the final straw, the "kicker truth" that made me cringe the most when it was dropped into my mind.....

What makes us so special that NOW He would bypass His decrees regarding His Church (Matthew 16) because WE are negatively affected by foolish leaders? Are we forgetting the holocausts, diseases, and death of the past? Do we not know our history? Why didn't He "take the Church then?" 

This is typically a contextual error (understanding of end times that Paul spoke of) There is a context in Scripture, there are authors, there are audiences and while we CAN find valuable truth and examples by which to live (in this way the Scripture are for us as well), we must not assume that WE are the audience to which Paul wrote his letters (for example), any more than we can assume an old dusty letter found in an attic somewhere written 50 years ago was intended for us. Truth contained? And we must guard against reading Scripture with our understanding alone rather than consider what the original audience understood. End time for Paul was the end of the Old Covenant. In Matthew 24, this too is regarding the end of the Old Covenant, the Temple sacrifices etc)

OUCH! Truly I did feel a bit "kicked" when I considered this perspective for the first time.

We do have wonderful timeless truth to freely enjoy and be encouraged by that is found in Scripture and we are wholly forgiven and can embrace that reality. It's okay to change our thinking.

God Loves You immensely

You (we) are His creation with wonderful works created in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10)

 You (we) are His.

We have a seal upon our hearts, Holy Spirit, is our counselor, friend, teacher, a blessing to us. (2 Corinthians 1:22)

Our Father "owns the cattle on a thousand hills" (Ps 50)

We have no lack (Ps 23,31,Matthew 6, Luke 12, Romans 8)

Jesus died and rose again, seated at the right hand of the Father. (Mark 16:19)

The Father in Him, and He in us, are there (spiritually speaking), in a decision-making place, a place of authority through His faith in Us.  (Colossians 3, Hebrews 4)

I could go on, but you get the idea.

I believe God chooses to work through His body, the Church, to manifest the Kingdom of God upon the earth. It is done through His people who stand for truth and righteousness not being cowed or swayed by the world system and its "wisdom." It is not God who delays His return,  rather it is the Church that delays the Matthew 6 prayer being fulfilled.

How? Because from my experience, we have failed  in being the Church Jesus is building.  The church has yet to be of one mind and purpose. Man’s church that he builds is no substitute for the one Jesus is building, Man's church is filled with conflicting agendas and an incomplete message. As the CREATION (and not the Creator) our ideas have limits because our perspective has limits. Humanity will always resort to their own ideas and strategies and then succumb to temptations when left on their own. We need Him. We need each other.
 

Philippians 3:13-15
"Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect (mature), have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; "

 
The proper focus  gives no foothold (advantage) to evil. It closes the gates by which temptation and sin (ours or others)enter our lives with with the purpose to manipulate and accuse. The proper focus, (Christ and His Kingdom, our identity in Him and as part of the Body of Christ) frees us from the Kingdom of darkness which seeks to only steal, kill (body and relationships) and destroy. Proper focus and allegiance to Him dispels the darkness of death, doubt and unbelief and exchanges it all for Love, Life, Faith, Family, and Hope eternal.

This Christian life is not for wimps to remain wimps. We were created to be winners in the Faith.

 
Dear Reader, thank you for taking the time to consider what I am saying. And may you boldly speak the truth in Love and His Word and Spirit reveals it to you. And with His compassion at the root of every decision and action, may any wimpy or passive stance against lies and deception become and aggressive grace that removes that which corrupts and kills (figuratively and literally) that which God has created to be good and whole. May boldness, like a lion, rise up among us to reclaim what the enemy has stolen, do the will of the Father, proclaim the Word of truth and love, and transform His Church into the unified Light of Grace that empowers and administrates Who He is among us…the Kingdom of God.
 
Psalm 37:23-34
"The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 
When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the Lord is the One [f]who holds his hand.
25 
I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his [g]descendants begging bread.
26 
All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his [h]descendants are a blessing.
 
27 
Depart from evil and do good,
[i]So you will abide forever.
28 
For the Lord loves justice
And does not forsake His godly ones;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.
29 
The righteous will inherit the land
And dwell in it forever.
30 
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
And his tongue speaks justice.
31 
The law of his God is in his heart;
His steps do not slip.
32 
The wicked spies upon the righteous
And seeks to kill him.
33 
The Lord will not leave him in his hand
Or let him be condemned when he is judged.
34 
Wait for the Lord and keep His way,
And He will exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you will see it."