LET THE CHURCH DIE

 On the surface, words like these can seem a bit harsh and offensive. I felt a spirit of offense rise when I spoke this word that night. I think for the most part it’s perfectly normal for people to react in such a way. Immediately you think, ‘God loves the church! Why would He try to kill it?’ I don’t think this is an unreasonable question to ask. I pondered this word over the course of a few days. As I did, I gained more insight as to it true meaning.  When Jesus was in the earth introducing His Father and His kingdom to the people, there were those who were constantly trying to fashion Him according to their expectations of what or who they thought He should be. Some wanted to build a temple for Him, while others wanted to make Him a king. There were others who even wanted to own his unique gifts of healing and understanding. Their ideologies, philosophies, eschatology’s, and unbelief, prevented them from seeing His intended purpose for coming to the earth. Jesus knew that He had been commissioned by His Father to die. He knew this was the only way for an ancient veil to be ripped away from the hearts and minds of the people. Jesus knew there had to be a death before there could be a resurrection; before there could be a new beginning. Paul reminds us in his writings that before something becomes new, old things have to pass away. (2Cor 5:16-17) The symbols of “old things” are often referred to as works of the flesh. Whenever Jesus spoke about His death, I imagined some of His disciples covering their ears, making loud noises as if to say, ‘I can’t hear you.’ 

 The time came when Jesus began to telling His disciples that He would suffer many things from the religious system of the church. He told them that He would be killed and that He would be raised again on the third day. When Peter heard this He pulled Jesus aside and rebuked Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This will never happen to you.”Peter obviously had difficulty processing the death and life of Jesus, especially His resurrection. Evidently the only thing that registered in Peter’s mind was that Jesus was going to be killed. Jesus in turn says to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." (Matt 16:21-23) I remember reading this for the first time thinking, “That sure is a harsh thing to say to someone you love and who loves you.”I have since learned that God is less tolerable than we might think toward those who stand in His way.The response of Peter toward Jesus is very similar to many leaders in the church today. It’s so easy to become blinded by our own interests that we fail to recognize the necessary death that must occur before the new church is born. Like some of the earlier disciples I think many have covered their ears refusing to hear about the necessary death that lies ahead; a death that must take place before another glorious church appears in the earth. Just as the death of Jesus was necessary for the advancement of the kingdom of God, so the death of a church that is more conscience of itself than its relevance to the kingdom of God, must die.

 In the word of prophecy the Lord said, “If you will let it die, I will raise it up.” Apparently the Lord is looking for some cooperation from church leadership. Now make no mistake about this request, one way or another, its death is unavoidable. I thank it would be fair to assume the last thing any of us want to be is a stumbling block toward the intentions of God. It is just as apparent that we are facing the same circumstances within the government of our own nation. There are many ancient systems from within that need to die. There are ideologies at work that once had life, but they don’t have life no more. Such were the days of Moses, the rule and government of God in his day had glory, but it has no glory today. It has no glory today because of a greater glory that has exceeded it. ( 2Cor 3:7-11)  I’m not sure what would sadden the forefathers of this nation more, those who are trying to take God out of the center of this nation, or those who are refusing to conform to a greater glory; a greater government that is destined to replace the ancient tutors of yester years. Obviouly both are reckless and very self motivated. We need to be reminded that a king, a queen, a president, or prime minister was not the initial intentions of God. In the days of Samuel the people looked around at other lands being governed by something other than the priests of God. So they said, “We want a king like they have.” (1Samuel 8:19-22) Such is the reason for our kind of government today; men and women wanting to rule over the people of this nation as dictators, serving their own interests. Yet God is looking for those who have a priestly anointing, whose hearts are set on serving His interests. So, hear the word of the Lord, “Let the self motivated relgion of church die. Let the portion of the church that has been built by the works of the flesh die. Stop trying to keep it alive. Let it die and He will raise up a much more glorious church; a glorious government, unlike anything this world has ever known.”  

08/10/2010

Michael