What is the purpose of the church on earth? Why did God establish an organic body of believers with orders to meet together, encourage one another, forgive one another, pray for one another, equip one another, resource one another, and to submit to one another? We can say with certainty that the two clear, overarching commands for the church are to love one another as He loves us and to go and make disciples of all nations. We can also say that we, as God’s people, are to release heaven on earth as we teach people to obey the will of God – thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
One key to understanding our overall purpose is to go back to the beginning to see God’s initial purpose for his people on earth. “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground’” (Gen.1:28). To subdue the earth means to exercise authority over it – to rule over it. I believe, in the context of Genesis 1 and 2, that God is meeting with Adam and Eve in the garden not only to build a relationship but also to groom them to rule over the earth just as he would rule over it.
Speaking of man, David said, “You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet” (Ps.8:5-6). Again, crowned and ruler are the operative words here. God placed Adam and Eve on the earth to rule over this planet in his place – to establish the culture of heaven and the will of God on this planet. Of course, Adam sinned and relinquished his authority over the planet to Satan who then became the “prince of this world.” Jesus describes Satan with that phrase three times in the gospel of John (12:31, 14:30. 16:11). But Jesus also declared that Satan, as the prince of this world, stood condemned and judged by His perfect life, sacrifice, and resurrection. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus took back all authority in heaven and on earth and, just as his Father had done, he gave that authority to men to rule the earth once again as his representatives.
The general purpose of the church is to rule over the earth once more as representatives of the King and re-establish his kingdom on this planet. We are not to rule with brute force but by capturing the hearts of men. As Adam was directed to subdue the earth, we are directed to subdue nations by preaching the gospel. Our mission is to empty the kingdom of darkness of its residents and fill the kingdom of heaven with those same residents who have accepted the rule of Jesus in their hearts. We are to make disciples of all nations.
I like what Kris Vallotton has to say about this ruling church. After quoting Isaiah 2:2-4, he states, “Mountains are the prophet’s metaphors for authorities and the house of the Lord is the church. Isaiah is saying that in the last days the Church will be the chief authority on how to live life and make decisions. This will result in nations coming to us and learning God’s ways, much like the Queen of Sheba did in Solomon’s day. Weapons plants will be converted into grain silos, automobile manufacturing plants, and other beneficial resources, because the nations won’t be fighting each other any more. The fact that the Church has been restored to man’s original position of dominion on earth requires us to learn and carry out the responsibilities that come with our authority” (The Supernatural Ways of Royalty, p. 179-180).
I am convinced that the church cannot fill that role in its present condition. I assume our church is representative of most evangelical churches in America as far as our membership goes. This past weekend we had another addition of Freedom Weekend, which is an experiential day of emotional healing and deliverance. Ninety-one men and women of various faith backgrounds went through the weekend after an eight-week study about who they are in Christ and the transformative power of God. On Saturday we met for worship, healing and deliverance. On Sunday morning we all met again to hear what God had done for his people.
Person after person testified of significant healing (emotional and physical) and the incredible weight that had been lifted from their lives through deliverance in the name of Jesus. Frowns had given way to smiles, fear had given way to boldness, and dread had given way to faith-filled optimism. These men and women were ready to tell people what Jesus had done for them and to passionately push back on the kingdom of darkness. They were finally ready to rule and reign in the name of Jesus.
Until they had experienced the power of God in their lives, they were not ready at all. Until then they were weighed down with unworthiness, guilt, sorrow, fear, lust, condemnation and bitterness. No one can rule or represent Jesus effectively in that condition. If you were to survey the church at large, however, and get an honest report, you would find that the majority of believers are still bound up in brokenness and shame. As Bill Johnson says, “A gospel without power is no gospel at all.” If it saves me from the legal guilt of my sin, but does not actually set me free, I have not experienced the fullness of the gospel.
The good news is that the church is growing in the area of power. His people are looking for more and are willing to search for it in different places. Many are finding it. Power, by itself, is not the issue. Fully experiencing Jesus is the issue and until you experience his power you haven’t fully experienced him. Without power, Jesus would have been known as a great teacher, but would never have been known as the Son of God. If you are hungering for more, in your walk with Jesus, I hope you will pursue it until you find it as well. Our heavenly Father is always glad to feed the hungry and he wants you to be fully equipped to be his ambassador on this planet until he returns.
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. (Eph.1:18-19)
Blessings in Him today!
