Jesus gives us His RIGHTEOUSNESS and a free gift of Grace, which we receive and cannot earn.
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. CHRIST IN US, our only Hope, given to those who humble themselves and BELIEVE.
"to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27
We are the Greater Works of Jesus Christ, and God is working through us.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;" Ephesians 2:8
We are THE ONE mature man IN CHRIST. Jesus is raising up ONE MATURE MAN, His Body, His Bride, His Church. Jesus has done ALL the work and is doing ALL the work, in us and through us, the MASSES–His Greater Works. Jesus wants our LIGHT TO SHINE.
"for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:12-16
Our Salvation is Jesus’ sole responsibility. His Salvation is FULL, and nothing is missing. We can’t earn His Salvation; we can only receive it through faith as a free gift of His love.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men," Titus 2:11
Jesus’ sole responsibility is to ROOT each of us IN CHRIST. Jesus feeds the masses but trains and disciples the ONE, as He builds up the ONE MATURE MAN, CHRIST.
"so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love," Ephesians 3:17
Jesus fed the masses but Healed individual people. In addition to the 5,000, Jesus fed another 4,000 but healed each one individually. Jesus DID NOT CHARGE MONEY, but He gave HIS ENTIRE LIFE to the Father. Jesus is the only way to the Father. He said, “FOLLOW ME!”
"Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw." Matthew 12:22
Jesus Healed people ONE PERSON AT A TIME.
"Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves;" Mark 11:15
Jesus was very particular and highly personal when He healed people.
"And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;" John 2:14-15
When He healed, Jesus was super focused on THE PERSON.
"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him (Christ) and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude." Colossians 2:7
Jesus did not use a formula, and each healing was different, intimate, and personal to the person. Jesus cared deeply for each person He healed.
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him... There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." 1 John 4:16, 18
At the Temple in Jerusalem, in front of the masses, Jesus overturned and chased out the money changers, profiteers “selling” sacrificial offerings. Jesus was not happy, and He violently disrupted merchants profiting off of God’s House and God’s People.
"And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment." Matthew 8:13
Jesus overturned the money changers twice. Once at the beginning of His public ministry and once again just before His arrest and crucifixion. In part, Jesus was crucified because He upset the religious merchandisers, the people making money off the word of God. Jesus said, FOLLOW ME!
"and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out," Luke 8:2
Jesus overturned and chased out the money changers, those who attempted to profit from the King and His Church.
Jesus healed people one at a time–He still does. Jesus discipled people, one at a time–He still does. Jesus loves us all, no doubt, but HE LOVES US INTIMATELY, each one of us.
"But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses." Luke 5:15
Jesus, through His unconditional love and acceptance, calls us to REPENT through His KINDNESS, not through condemnation. Jesus teaches, “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES!”
"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8
There is no room for condemnation, not even with our enemies. Jesus called us to LOVE and be kind to those who hurt us, betray us, and say all kinds of nasty things against us.
"Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once." Matthew 15:28
Jesus taught that kindness leads to repentance. Being kind, loving, and caring toward those who persecute us can lead to their AWAKENING and SALVATION. We are not to look for demons in other people; we are to show them Jesus' love and let His kindness do its work.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Jesus came to give all of us the FULL RICHES OF HEAVEN, including ETERNAL LIFE, in His Kingdom of Love. Jesus is seeking to GIVE–He is not asking for money or donations; He’s asking us to BELIEVE and RECEIVE His free gift of eternal life by Grace–and then SHINE!
"that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself," Colossians 2:2
Jesus did not ask for or collect money from people—not anyone. Instead, Jesus gave everything of Himself to the masses. Jesus fed the masses, healed them, and delivered them from evil. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again so that He could send His very same Grace (His Life) to abide in us and flow through us–ALL OF US.
"And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
From the beginning, Jesus, as the firstborn among many brothers and sisters, intended to suffer and die and be resurrected so that the power that rested upon Him, and in Him, the very power of God Himself, could rest upon and within all of us, those who believe and receive Jesus life by Faith.
"that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man," Ephesians 3:16
Jesus came to reveal and then share ALL THE RICHES OF HEAVEN. Jesus came to share His RICHES with the Masses.
"For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." 2 Peter 1:4
But unless you and I know Jesus intimately, like a man knowing His wife, we cannot enter the Kingdom of God and receive all that Jesus came to give.
"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24
Jesus said, DENY YOURSELF, PICK UP YOUR CROSS, and FOLLOW ME. Jesus is calling us to be incredibly intimate with each other, sharing the fullness of the RICHES He has granted each of us.
"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23
Jesus has commanded us to love one another, especially our enemies. Jesus has commanded us to disciple one another IN LOVE. Jesus calls us to FEED THE MASSES by loving one another intimately and intentionally.
"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Mark 8:34
Jesus gave us a model to follow. Each one, reach one, teach one–WINNER HELPS ALL.
"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it." Mark 8:35
Jesus Came to Save The One
Jesus came to feed and serve the masses, not take from them. He has chosen to reach them by focusing on THE ONE.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Jesus came to seek the LOST ONE.
"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;" Romans 8:29
Jesus came to build up the ONLY ONE, His Body, His Bride, His Church (they are all the same). Jesus is solely responsible and empowered to build up and keep His Body.
"and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified." Romans 8:30
Jesus, the LIGHT of LIFE was given to all men, the New Humanity, to those who BELIEVE. Jesus wants His LIGHT to SHINE brightly through us to GLORIFY THE FATHER. Why wouldn’t He? Jesus loves to glorify the Father, and the Father loves to be Glorified in and through us.
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6
The masses get to SEE the LIGHT of Jesus SHINING in us and through us. Jesus displayed the LIGHT to the masses as a humble servant footwasher riding a little donkey.
"having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." Colossians 2:12
Jesus was never concerned about Satan or his cronies. Instead, He was concerned about our love for one another. Jesus wants us to forgive and love each other, even to death.
"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life." Romans 6:4
Jesus knew satan and his demons were nothing, and they had nothing, and that the love of God overcame and destroyed all works of the devil. Jesus knew that LOVE, KINDNESS, and INTIMATE SERVICE (foot-washing) destroyed the works of darkness. Jesus gave us GOOD works to do before the foundation of the world.
"Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" Romans 2:4
Jesus washed one foot at a time. Jesus washed Peter’s feet. Jesus washed Judas’ feet.
"with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth," 2 Timothy 2:25
Jesus used Judas's betrayal to set the world free from sin. Jesus, denying Himself and following the will of the Father, loved Judas.
"just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love" Ephesians 1:4
Jesus forgave Judas and washed his feet, KNOWING that Judas would betray Him. Know one knew Judas was the betrayer because Jesus loved them all the same.
"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10
FEAR NOT! LOVE CONQUERS ALL! Forgive everyone like Jesus forgave you.
"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." Colossians 3:13
Only selfless love can defeat the works of the devil. Jesus said, FEAR NOT about a billion times, and He meant it. Satan is no match for the LOVE OF GOD.
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
Focus on LOVE, intimate self-giving love, and you will overcome ALL THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL.
"And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:23
Jesus highly stressed, “FORGIVE EACH OTHER!” Forgiving others is extraordinarily intimate and requires Jesus’ self-sacrifice and self-giving love. Loving our enemies requires radical generosity and self-giving love. We can’t do it on our own, apart from Christ. But IN CHRIST, all things are possible.
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5
The religious “masses” demanded Jesus be crucified. Jesus fed the masses. The religious masses, the people Jesus fed, healed, and delivered, turned their back on Him. They turned their back on HIS GOODNESS.
"And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
The religious leaders of the day turned Jesus over to the Romans to be tortured and crucified. The religious masses demanded Barabas, a rebel and murderer, to be released and demanded Jesus be crucified.
"Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:27
The religious leaders of Jesus Day rallied the religious people, the masses, to deny Christ and to crucify Him. The religious leaders of Jesus Day attempted to block and stop the word of God. They never stopped trying.
"And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36
Jesus will once again use the futile efforts of religion to betray to set the captives free and advance the Kingdom of God. Jesus is about bringing glory to God as His Kingdom is established on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus said, ‘FOLLOW ME!”
"yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him." 1 Corinthians 8:6
How Do We Fix The Broken Centralized Church?
I don’t think the centralized church can be fixed, and I don’t think it will be attempted. I believe it is made of old wineskins, and they are no longer valid for anything. However, we recommend that we always seek God’s Grace to honor and glorify Him in all that we do, including building His new Church, His Body. From this point on, by Grace ask God to help us:
Embrace Spiritual Formation: Prioritize DISCIPLESHIP and SPIRITUAL GROWTH within the body of Christ, ensuring that EVERY BELIEVER is equipped and empowered to mature in their faith.
Foster Accountability: Create a culture of accountability within the BODY of CHRIST, where members hold each other to the standards Jesus set, standards of humility, confession of weaknesses, and seeking HIS righteousness.
Prioritize Prayer and Worship: Shift the focus from consumerism to communion with God, emphasizing the importance of prayer, worship, and seeking God's presence above all else WHENEVER WE GATHER TOGETHER.
Cultivate Servant Leadership: Live the servant leadership modeled after Jesus Christ, where He insists leaders prioritize humility, selflessness, and a heart for serving others.
Promote Biblical Literacy: Invest in teaching and studying the Word of God, ensuring that believers deeply understand Scripture and its application in their daily lives.
Embrace Diversity and Unity: Celebrate the diversity of gifts, backgrounds, and perspectives within the BODY OF CHRIST while striving for unity in love and purpose.
Reject Materialism and Consumerism: Challenge the allure of materialism and consumerism within the church culture, redirecting resources and focus towards advancing God's Kingdom and meeting the needs of others.
Encourage Authentic Community: Create spaces for genuine relationships and authentic community, where real people can share their struggles, victories, and faith journey without fear of judgment or pretense.
Empower Disciples to Make Disciples: Equip believers to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, sharing the love of Christ and leading others into a life-transforming relationship with Him.
Surrender to God's Will: Ultimately, surrender to God's will and leading, allowing Him to tear down the old wineskin church and raise a righteous body of believers who are fully committed to honoring and glorifying Him in all things.
The time has come for the BODY OF CHRIST to rise and reclaim its true identity and purpose. We must no longer settle for the shallow consumerism and spiritual stagnation that plague modern Christianity–THE ONE MAN SHOW. Instead, let us fervently pursue the Spiritual Formation of the entire Body of Christ, cultivate authentic community IN REAL LOVE, and rise to the call to make disciples of all nations by Grace.
"even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:5, 8-10
Let us surrender our hearts and lives to God's will, allowing Him to tear down the old and raise the righteous, transforming REAL PEOPLE through love and moving the masses toward unity in the one man, Jesus Christ.
"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:14-15
It's time to usher in a new era of REAL faith, passionate discipleship, and radical love that will shake the foundations of the world and bring glory to our Lord, Master, and Savior. Will you join the Radical Generosity movement and be a catalyst for eternal change?