I Will Build My Church
Today’s Verse:
And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: ~Zechariah 6:12
Zechariah 6 speaks of the temple of the Lord during the millennium. It will be a literal temple where the people of the earth will worship the Lord. Waters will flow out from under that great temple and give life to barren or lifeless things. The future temple will be a glorious place of worship. However, Zechariah 6:12 is a reminder of God’s church today. Just as Jesus will build the future temple, He is building His church today.
We see the exaltation of the church.
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of every local, New Testament church. He is the centerpiece of church worship. He is the centrality of the preaching. He is the significance for its existence. Paul said, “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21). Everything about the church should praise and honor Christ. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Jesus is lifted up in the church.
We see the exercise of the church.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). The church is to win souls, baptize converts, make disciples of Jesus Christ, and reproduce more churches. There is no geographic limit to the gospel influence of the church. There is to be no ethnic or language hindrance. Jesus said that we are to make disciples of all nations, or ethnic groups. We should not be afraid to go as far as the end of the world. Jesus builds His church through the members of the local church.
We see the exponential of the church.
Jesus said, “I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus is pushing back the gates of hell through the building of His church. Satan gives us resistance, but we just keep pushing forward. Jesus promised that through faith, prayer, and vision, “greater works than these shall he do.” Dr. Rick Martin in Iloilo, Philippines is a prime example of how the exponential growth of a church occurs. There is a new church or extension ministry of his original church being started every six days. Church growth can be exponential if men will surrender to preach and elders can be ordained in every city.
We see the expectation of the church.
The will of God and the holy desire of our Lord Jesus Christ is that His church is fruitful and growing. The idea of a branch is something living and giving forth much fruit. John 15:16 tells us that we have been ordained to bring forth much fruit, and that our fruit should remain, or continue. God is glorified through the product of much fruit. Our Lord is against churches that lose their passion, get sidetracked, become complacent, tolerate evil and false doctrine, let things die, and do not go through doors that He opens for them.
Jesus is building His church through His Word, His methods, and His members. Let Him build His church through you.
Have a church-centric God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Jeremiah 23-25