At a time when the Church truly needs to come together in unity to war against the prevailing anti-God agenda in this nation, my heart has been captured with a revelation of Christ’s perspective on His Church. Even though I’ve read the Scripture many times, it never really sank in as to how He looks at US—not just ME, but US. For example:

View Comments (0)

“… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her … to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless” (Eph. 5:25-28 NIV).

Jesus died to save us as individuals, but He is returning for US – corporately – together. Though Scripture testifies to His love for each individual, it is clear He is returning for us as a body, fit together, working as one, a Bride for Himself. We should not be entering these spiritual battles out of some quest for personal gain or individual breakthrough. We should be fighting for something much bigger than ourselves. In our rising zeal to overturn the strategies of the enemy, our motivation cannot be for our own sake, but for the sake of HIS Bride.

“…I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2 ESV).

What does this mean? It means that until we feel this same divine jealousy over His Bride, we will never have the right heart motivation to come together – and stick together. It is His Bridal love that must capture our hearts.

The fact is, there are many wounded believers in the body of Christ who have become so disillusioned with “the Church” that they are critical of anything and anyone associated with “organized religion.” Though it’s true that a religious spirit has infiltrated among some Christians and poisoned many in the Church through pride or bitterness, we must not assume that the Church is finished. Rather, the Bible assures us that God, by His Spirit, is taking His Church through a divine “makeover” that is going to change us profoundly as He sanctifies a “… glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Eph. 5:27). When He is finished and “that day” arrives, the Bride will appear to be entirely new. He is sanctifying us, purifying us, and molding us into the Bride that is truly READY for His return. This is His work, “… that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the Church to Himself…” (Eph. 5:25-27 ESV).

His part is the cleansing and sanctifying work. Our part is to get ready. “Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7 ESV).

It’s up to each of us as part of that “glorious Bride” to cooperate with God as He prepares His Body with all parts working and functioning in a healthy way. It’s up to us to look out for one another and to cover, protect, and defend one another – regardless of the part we play. No part is above the other. Even with doctrinal differences and varying opinions about how we exercise our faith, we are still one Body. True followers of Christ do share the same core non-negotiable truths of Scripture and love for the Lord Jesus. If we so choose, we can link arms and march forward together. The enemy will continue to try and distract us by pointing out one another’s weaknesses and failures. It’s up to each of us to be so consumed by our love for Jesus that we will quickly fight for one another and stand together.

• Wanda Alger, IFA Field Correspondent