It's Time The Church Gets To Know God

Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall; don’t be happy when they stumble. [Proverbs 24.17]

Why not be happy when your enemies fall?

I am glad you asked! The reason we should not be happy when our enemies fall is because God is not happy when His enemies fall! It is that simple - it is a picture into God's character. God loves people!

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

This was also revealed without concealment in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. On the Cross Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them..." These words were no mistake! They were indicative of God's character! They not only serve to remind us of Jesus' ministry on earth, but ours as well! Jesus' life and ministry was the manifest revelation of God Himself on earth. Our life and ministry is to be the manifest revelation of God Himself (as demonstrated in Jesus) on earth.

What?

Yes, Jesus revealed this in His prayer to God:

Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. [John 17.18]

And what was the greatest revelation of Who Jesus represented on earth?

But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. [John 5.36]

That is why Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]

...which makes perfect sense then in light of Jesus' instruction about forgiveness:

If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” [John 20.23]

And Jesus specifically demonstrated this:

Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority. [Matthew 9.1-8]

The problem with the Church today (evidenced in all the confusing doctrines and theology) is that the Church does not know God! The Church has swallowed a camel while straining at a gnat. The Church has failed miserably to grasp the simple gracious miraculous love of God and therefore, has failed to understand all the rest of the Bible in that light. This gross failure has consequently resulted in the Church opening wide its spiritual mouth and swallowing convoluted and confusing doctrines that, at best, are contradictory, and at worst, are blasphemous to the very character and nature of God.

It's time the Church gets to know God.

Father, help me to be a messenger of Your love to the world. Let my life demonstrate Your love for mankind as Jesus' life demonstrated that love - whether it be healing the sick or laying down my life for a friend...