Jesus Is Building His Church!

Matthew 16:18

The church is the body of Christ.
The church is the bride of Christ.
Jesus is building His church in the world.
He is building something that is indestructible.
He is building something that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against."
What man builds is temporal and will perish.
That which Christ builds is permanent and eternal.

This is what Richard C. Halverson says in his book, Wisdom on the Church:
"Man builds institutions... God is growing a body!
Institutions are temporal... the body of Christ is eternal!
Institutions divide and alienate... the body of Christ unites!
Institutions glorify man... the body of Christ glorifies God!
Institutions are monuments to man's achievements...
the body of Christ is a witness to God's grace!"

The body of Christ is administered by God!
The body of Christ shall live forever!

Here is the big question?
Where is our priority?

Is it what man is doing?
Or is it what God is doing?

"Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him Who is the Head,
that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work." Ephesians 4: 15-16

"I will build my church... and the gates of hell will not overcome it!" Matthew 16:18
That statement is too plain to misunderstand it.
Jesus is building His church.

One version says, "All the powers of hell shall not prevail against it."
Nothing is more certain than that!
So – why all the anxiety?
Why all the frustration?
Could it be that we equate our ecclesiastical organization with what Christ is building?
Could it be that we equate our way of doing things with His?

It may be that much of what we innovate and plan and build in our churches must be destroyed
in order that Christ may build His church!
It may be that much of what we do in our religious zeal only hinders what He wants
to do in our churches!

Let us take the time and pray that the Holy Spirit would examine us and our activities to discover
how close they are to His plans and His purposes.
He is the Author of history.
He is working His purpose.
He is in charge of His church!
We're not!

We will serve more effectively in our churches if we rest in that guarantee.
"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8: 28

This article has been prepared by Dr. Harold L. White.