CHURCH
FAILURE vs
KINGDOM
POWER
Church
failure is
directly
related to
congregations
isolating
themselves
from the
Kingdom of
God and
re-organizing
according to
their own
ideologies.
Failure is
unknown in
the Kingdom.
Jesus
promised the
church that
the "gates
of Hell
shall not
prevail
against it".
Matthew
16:18. The
New
Testament
acknowledges
the reality
of the
church's
persecution
and pain but
not her
failure. She
can expect
tyranny and
trial but
not defeat;
demonic
attack will
come but she
need never
surrender.
Jesus
preached
about "The
gospel of
the
Kingdom,"
Matthew
24:14, "The
mysteries of
the
Kingdom,"
Matthew
13:11, "The
keys of the
Kingdom,"
Matthew
16:19, "The
word of the
Kingdom,"
Matthew
13:19, "The
heirs of the
Kingdom,"
James 2:5.
Jesus "loved
the church,
gave Himself
for it,"
Ephesians
5:25, all
the while He
pointed
men's hearts
to the
heavenly
Kingdom. We
are to love
the church
as Jesus did
but our
emphasizing
segregated
parts of the
church
independently
of the
Kingdom is a
contradiction
of His
message.
Denominationalism
is an
illusion, a
phantom in
the desert.
In the
gospels,
Jesus spoke
of the
Kingdom more
than 130
times but
made only 3
references
to the
church.
Matthew
16:18;
18:17. The
modern
church, in
contrast,
has reversed
the Divine
order,
ignoring her
Kingdom-identity
and relating
only with
select,
visible
congregations.
Do I need
proof?
World-wide,
there are
more than
30,000
different
registered
Christian
denominations.
Each makes
the claim
that it is
the correct
one, has
more truth
than the
rest, and is
God's
guardian of
Scripture.
To be
spiritually
correct, you
must belong
to it. Such
bigotry
guarantees
the loss of
Kingdom
identity and
power. To
whatever
degree
churches
promote
self-centeredness
and
sectarianism,
they cut
themselves
off from
Kingdom
authority."The
eye cannot
say to the
hand, 'I
have no need
of you.'" I
Corinthians
14:21. Yet,
that is
precisely
what
congregations
have done.
The result
is
dysfunctional
churches and
impotent
ministries.
Scripture
speaks of
the church
in two
distinct
capacities:
The church
as the Bride
of Christ,
empowered,
undefeated,
eternally
joined with
the Redeemer
in Glory,
and the
"church" as
visible
earth-bound
congregations
that are
provided
with
miraculous
power–but
most of
which is
refused. In
this
writing, I
speak
primarily of
the
latter–the
visible
church.
Today, this
local church
is far
removed from
what God
intended her
to be. In
His offer of
Kingdom
authority,
Jesus
explained to
the
disciples,
"You shall
receive
power when
the Holy
Spirit has
come upon
you." Acts
1:8.
Pentecost
was the Holy
Spirit's act
of replacing
the
disciples’
earthly-inferiority
with
Kingdom-of-Heaven
super iority.
In that
wonderful
moment, God
infused the
120
believers
with
heaven-sent
power, Acts
2. At that
time, a
conception
took place
much like
one
occurring in
the womb.
With the
impregnation
of the first
disciples by
the Holy
Spirit, the
church was
formed.
Though the
church in
the earth
was new, the
Kingdom was
not; it was
as old as
Heaven
itself. In a
progressive
way, the
Kingdom has
come, is
coming, and
will yet
come. It is
my personal
opinion that
in Heaven we
will witness
an
ever-expanding,
never-climaxing,
endless
progression
of the
Kingdom into
a Glory that
is never
fully
attained.
There is a
parallel of
this
endlessness
in the
visible
Universe as
it continues
expanding
outward at
the speed of
light.
A gospel
without the
Kingdom is a
powerless
gospel.
Apart from
the Kingdom,
the church
has no
message, no
mission, no
purpose, and
no future.
Once
identified
with the
Kingdom, the
church has
an
astonishing
timelessness
that
connects her
both to the
future and
to the era
before time
began. My
heart-cry is
for others
to see the
Kingdom in
all its
Glory. It is
awesome! The
mission of
the church
is to reveal
the Kingdom
and its
heavenly
King. At
Pentecost,
the Kingdom
of Heaven
invaded
earth with
glory. The
invisible
Kingdom with
all its
mightiness
was placed
within reach
of ordinary
men.
This
segregated
condition
exists
solely in
the
earth-bound
church; no
trace of
division,
lovelessness,
and absence
of power,
can be found
in the
Kingdom of
God.
Most
failures in
the Western
Church exist
because of
competitive,
sectarian
groups, who
treat each
other
spitefully
and grieve
the Holy
Spirit. I
need to be
very plain:
Churches who
emphasize
membership
with the
church more
than union
with the
Kingdom are
betraying
the people.
Not only so,
but churches
who do not
acknowledge
the
Kingdom’s
superiority
and the
church’s
inferiority
are
betraying
Christ. He
persistently
preached the
"Kingdom"
message. For
that reason,
church
members who
are
Kingdom-minded
make better
supporters
than do
people who
are
church-minded.
Doctrines
and
denominations
do not
create
godliness or
right-standing
with Jesus.
Relationship
with God is
the only
source. In
spite of
theological
differences,
a godly
Baptist is
just as pure
of heart as
a godly Pe
ntecostal,
Presbyterian,
Methodist,
or something
else.
Grace–not
human
titles–produces
holiness.
Sectarianism
produces
loneliness.
Count
Zinzindorf
expressed
truth when
he advised
Christians
who held
different
views, "In
essentials,
unity; in
nonessentials,
liberty; in
all things
charity."
Jesus said,
"All power
has been
given to Me
in heaven
and on
earth. Go
therefore,
make
disciples
..." Matthew
28:18,19.
The Kingdom
is as
invincible
as the King
who reigns
over it. God
wills for
that same
invincibility
to be
duplicated
in the
church. But,
many
Christians
are
convinced
that being
born-again
identifies
them fully
with the
Kingdom;
this is not
so. The
Kingdom of
God is much
greater than
church
doctrine can
ever
comprehend.
It totally
encompasses
all the
known
dimensional
realms in
which we
live plus
the other
dimensions
which remain
unidentified.
The
Kingdom–as
the
Government
of
God--transcends
all there
is, the
seen,
unseen,
physical,
nonphysical,
discovered,
undiscovered.
Relationship
with this
incredible
Kingdom is
what is
offered to
us in the
gospel.
Our
interaction
with the
Kingdom is
the real
issue. Jesus
illustrated
how the
Kingdom
coalesces
with other
dimensions
when He
said, "If I
cast out
demons by
the Spirit
of God no
doubt the
Kingdom of
God has come
unto you."
Matthew
12:28. The
demonic
realm, the
Kingdom, and
our earthly
sphere, are
dimensions
distinct
from each
other but
Jesus
brought them
together
every time
He cast out
a demon. Not
only so, but
He expects
the modern
church to do
the same; we
are to
invade the
demonic
realm and
exorcize
demons with
Kingdom
power. Is
that
happening?
Only in a
few
churches.
Liberalism
has gutted
the
main-line
denominational
churches and
left them in
hellish
unbelief. In
many
evangelical,
"fundamental"
churches,
denominational
interpretation
has produced
the same
results.
Though it is
not usually
recognized,
the effects
of
liberalism
and
fundamentalism
are similar.
The first
denies the
inspiration
of all
Scripture;
the second
denies only
selected
parts. Both
are deadly.
One produces
rebellion,
the other
creates
religious
legalism.
Churches
from each gr
oup will
continue to
die–as will
some
full-gospel
congregations.
In 1517,
Martin
Luther
changed the
course of
history by
nailing an
inconspicuous-looking
protest on
his church
door in
Wittenberg,
Germany.
That day,
the
Reformation
was born. By
1991, more
than 30,000
different
Christian
sects
existed
worldwide as
the result
of his
hammer. In
other words,
every year
for nearly
500 years an
average of
60 new
divisions
have
occurred
within the
church.
While Luther
wanted
change, his
results in
part were
catastrophic.
Within a
short time
Protestants
burned other
Protestants
at the stake
with the
same
intolerance
that Rome
had used
earlier to
victimize
them. The
fact is:
Centuries
after
Luther,
Protestants
are still
protesting–this
time,
against
themselves.
The question
arises: What
went wrong?
How can so
many
different
Christian
bodies make
the same
claim to
"orthodoxy"?
I appreciate
Luther and
the
tremendous
blessing
brought by
the
Reformation.
In spite of
obvious
failings,
God used him
to bring a
genuine
spirit of
reform to
the church.
The problem
is that
while
thousands
welcomed the
spirit of
Reformation,
another
spirit
entered the
movement
undetected.
That was the
spirit of
rebellion.
Rebellion
and
Reformation
seem so much
alike that
the
intrusion of
this dark
power caused
no alarm.
But we must
not let its’
quiet
entrance
deceive us
about its'
violent
nature:
"Rebellion
is as the
sin of
witchcraft,"
I Samuel
15:23. As an
aspect of
witchcraft,
rebellion is
dominating,
totally
unrelenting
in its'
demand to
have
control.
Once
established
in the
Reformation,
it worked as
an abortive,
counter-revolt
against the
movement. In
the language
of warfare,
it was the
"Fifth
Column".
Through it,
Satan
confused
issues,
lessened the
Reformation's
power and
devastated
fellowships.
In many
parts of
Europe,
Reformed
Christianity
became as
inseparably
wed to
government
as had
Catholicism.
Within a
short time,
many
denominations
established
themselves
along
dangerous–political–national
boundaries.
If you were
German or
Scandinavian,
you were
Lutheran. If
you were
Scottish,
you were
Pres
byterian;
Dutch, you
were
Reformed,
English, you
were
Anglican.
Spanish,
Italian,
Polish,
French,
etc., you
were
Catholic. To
differ from
the State
Church often
brought
political
wrath. In
effect,
Kingdom-identity
was also
burned at
the stake.
Religiously
and
secularly,
it was not
the Holy
Spirit and
the Kingdom
that
controlled
the church
but the
spirit of
rebellion.
Long after
the fires of
Zwingli,
Calvin,
Knox, and
others,
became
embers, t
his alien
spirit
continued to
enforce its'
will over
the people.
Jesus was
obscured in
fierce
theological
battles and
good men
were
sentenced to
death at the
hands of
other
Christians
who claimed
to be more
theologically
"correct".
At this
point, the
legitimacy
of the
Reformation
was lost to
the damnable
spirit of
rebellion.
For nearly
five
centuries
this ghost
has
continued
its' menace
against the
movement it
pretended to
promote.
Its' most
effective
tool in
fostering
schism i n
the Church
has been
this
legitimate
sounding
claim:
Christian
unity must
be based on
doctrinal
agreement.
This claim
seems
reasonable.
Doctrinal
agreement is
needed.–But
doctrinal
agreement is
the wagon,
not the
horse. By
its' very
nature,
doctrine is
not a
leader.
Religious
systems that
use their
creeds to
determine
their
fellowship
produce
run-away
wagon
trains.
Christian
history and
current
reality
consistently
proves this
to be so.
Only love is
qualified to
lead.
Christians
must accept
each other
on the basis
of Jesus'
redemption;
all other
considerations–no
matter how
important–are
secondary.
The only in
strument
that can
safely bring
Christians
into unity
is the Holy
Spirit; He
does that by
drawing us
first into
mutual love
for Jesus.
There is no
exception to
this truth.
Without the
foundation
of a
mutually-acknowledged
redemption
there can be
no agreement
on theology
or anything
else.
Freedom to
correct each
other's
errors
depends on a
secure
relationship.
Even the
original
Apostles
disagreed on
key issues
but
maintained
unity
through the
commonality
of their
redemption
in Christ
and their
determination
to "preach
the Kingdom
of God". So
must we.
Satan does
not fear us;
he fears the
power of the
Holy Spirit
in us. Far
better than
we, he knows
that unity
in the
saints
releases
that power
against
himself.
Fragmenting
the Body is
therefore
his major
objective.
He does that
by isolating
believers
from each
other,
denominationalizing
their view
of
Scripture,
and
convincing
them that
the Holy
Spirit's
power is no
longer
available.
He not only
assures each
Christian
group that
their
faction is
superior to
others but
simultaneously
deafens them
to truths
which would
bring them
closer to
each other
and to
correctness.
He allows a
sect to=2
0see itself
favorably,
through its'
own eyes
only--never
objectively
through the
eyes of
others.
Having
achieved
that goal,
he then
proceeds to
frustrate
each
separated
group from
within.
Without
exception,
he
tirelessly
presses
issues that
cause more
disintegration.
It is
important
that you
hear me
carefully:
This spirit
is not only
rebellious
but
religious.
As an "angel
of light",
it will wear
any
godly-looking
garb that
deceives the
saints.
It is
impossible
for
Christians
who have
been
overtaken by
this spirit
to have an
unbiased
understanding
of
Scripture.
Instead,
each group
persistently
searches for
reasons to
maintain
its' present
course.
Self-approval
becomes the
goal. I
know. I
spent years
of ministry
in that kind
of system.
But! Having
seen the
"Kingdom" I
can never go
back!
The fact
that
Christians
accept
division in
the Body of
Christ as
normal is
proof they
already have
a distorted
view of
Scripture ..
Division is
disease. It
is'
disorder.
Abnormality.
It is in
direct
opposition
to the unity
for which
Jesus
prayed. John
17:21. Is
there hope
for
restoration?
Yes! "A
little
cloud, as
small as a
man's hand,
is rising
out of the
sea." I
Kings
18:41-45.
With it
comes the
sound of
"abundance
of rain".
Rebellion
has been
discovered
and will be
cast out. Be
encouraged,
better days
are ahead
for Kingdom
unity!
What can I
do to hasten
the day of
change?
Avoid
rebellion,
be in
faithful
submission
to God. As
He directs,
stay in
whichever
church or
denomination
you
presently
are. At the
same time,
become a
"Kingdom"
believer.
Ask the Holy
Spirit for
Kingdom
power, to
give you a
Kingdom
identity,
fill you
with Kingdom
courage, and
to lavish
upon you
Kingdom
love. Pray,
"Thy Kingdom
come, Thy
will be
done, on
earth as it
is in
Heaven,"
then watch
Kingdom-authority
transform
your life
and
ministry.
You will
crawl out of
your
denominational
tent to see
the mountain
ranges of
God's
Kingdom
surrounding
you. The
sight is
breath-taking.
Indescribable.
Glorious.
You will
like the new
Kingdom-person
you have
become. In a
new way you
can sing,
"All hail
the power of
Jesus’ Name,
Let angels
prostrate
fall! Bring
forth the
royal diadem
and crown
Him Lord of
all!"
Your church
failure will
give way to
Kingdom
Power. CC
SONS IN
MINISTRY!
May 21, 22,
23, 2009
Christ The
Rock Church,
Boca Raton,
Florida.
Nights at
Hampton Inn,
Deerfield
Beach,
Florida, $99
per night,
double
occupancy,
954-481-1221.
Hotel
accommodations
www.greenparkmgmt.com
are limited
and must be
made
directly
with the
hotel. The
cost of
meals and
snacks,
$45.00 must
be paid to
our office
by May 10,
2009.
Continuing
theme: The
Kingdom of
God And My
Place In It!
Daytime
sessions are
for men
endorsed by
Charles
Carrin;
evening
sessions are
open to all.
Come! Expect
the Holy
Spirit’s
empowering!
Return to
your work
renewed and
enlightened.
FEBRUARY 6,
2009. In
recognition
of my 60
years of
ministry and
contributions
to Christian
work, the
Evangelical
Bible
Seminary,
West Palm
Beach,
Florida,
conferred on
me their
highest
degree,
Doctorate of
Divinity. –
Charles
In 2009 I
will speak
monthly at
Christ The
Rock, Boca
Raton,
Florida and
Living
Waters,
Tequesta,
Florida.
Quarterly I
will speak
at the
Healing
Rooms, Coral
Springs,
Florida.
