Early one Sunday morning I was sitting on my sofa, waiting upon the Lord after having my early morning devotion. I was asking the Lord what to say to his people. It suddenly became clear to me that the focus of the church had shifted from God’s original intention when he sent his son Jesus. Most people are happy to do church and not involve Jesus. Organizations and programs are done but Jesus is not mentioned. This is how the message ‘why church should be about Jesus’ was born. This message is to remind the church how far she has strayed from the truth and for her to turn back to God. The question is, how can we build a strong building without establishing a solid foundation which makes it stand? Its critical and vital that mankind in general and the church in particular have the revelation and understanding ‘Why the church should be about Jesus Christ’. I believe Jesus thinks the church is about him.

Firstly, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ birthed the church. Its important to understand that Christ ‘suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit’ 1 Peter 3:18. He was a just man who died and was raised from the dead, to bring us back to God (Romans 4:25). If any man believes and accepts his sacrifice on the cross, he will be saved and become part of the family of God, which is the church. Jesus is the only way to the Father and to heaven and is always seeking and calling humanity to Himself. (John 14:6; Matthew 11:28; Revelation 3:20; Luke 19:10). You can come to him anytime and call on him and he will receive you and give you eternal life. That’s why Jesus should be at the center of the church.

The Church is the ‘body of Christ’ (1 Corinthians 12:27) and we are ‘one body in Christ’

(Romans 12:5). This means Christ and the church are inseparable. Ephesians 5:23 confirms that ‘…Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.’ The head is the most important part of the body as it determines the focus and direction of an individual. This means the leadership and direction of the church should come from Jesus as the head of the church. In Matthew 21:42 Christ is described as ‘The stone which the builders rejected’ which has ‘become the head of the corner:’ If Jesus is head of the corner of the church, how can it stand without him? If anyone removes him from his place, that building will begin to crumble. Christ is described as ‘the head of every man’ (1 Corinthians 11:3) and that God gave ‘him to be the head over all things to the church’ (Ephesians 1:22). Paul in Corinthians unveils a timeless truth that he is head of every human being on earth. Having this revelation will enlighten us to understand why he should be in the forefront of the church. Nothing can exist and have proper meaning without Christ’s input and authority (John 15:5).

In the church today there is a lot of uncleanness and defilement among believers and sadly among servants of God. Many believers feel they cannot live holy and consecrated lives unto God lives. Jesus sanctifies and cleanses the Church by ‘washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish’ Ephesians 5:26-27. Jesus washes us ‘through his word’ and removes any debris which defiles us in order to present us in glory to the Father. Servants of God need to preach and teach this message that Christ is an integral part of the church, and without him it cannot come to full maturity. The church is intrinsically connected and wholly dependent on Christ to reach its full stature according to the will of God. That’s why Jesus makes us righteous, covers us with a robe of righteousness, clothes us with garments of salvation, and will reward us with a crown of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Timothy 4:8; Isaiah 61:10). He is the source of true righteousness and holiness because he never sinned.  If believers try to live for Christ without trusting and looking up to him, this will result in a powerless church which lives in sin and comes short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).   

Jesus is the creator of all things, and all things hold in him (Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3). The one who created all things, is also the one who builds the church (Matthew 16:18). He is responsible for ensuring that believers come to his church and are added to where they will be fed spiritual food (Acts 2:47, 1 Corinthians 3:6). Jesus loves and cares for the church to the extent that he died to give birth to it nevertheless this requires faith and trust in him. Jude 1:24 clearly states that Jesus is able to ‘keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of his glory’. The church of today is walking in ways which fall short of God’s glorious standard because Jesus is not involved in their lives. In spite of the attitude and state of the church Jesus ‘……always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:25). He has faith that the church will allow him into its doors and hearts and in partnership with him reach its glorious destiny.

Finally, the fearful thing is that both ‘the World’ and ‘the Church’ will stand before judgment. (Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10). This will determine the destiny of every human that has ever lived on earth. Most people have rejected Christ from their homes and churches and denied him access into their lives. However the church cannot exist in its full potential, reach the depths and heights of glory destined for her if Christ is not at the center of her day-to-day existence. Jesus thinks the church is about him that’s ‘Why the church should be about Jesus Christ’

ACTIVATION PRAYER

1. Firstly we need to examine our relationship with Christ and the position we put Him in the church and allow him to show us who we are in him. (Prayer of Salvation)
2. Lord I repent of not making you the center of my life, from today be Lord of my life and be at the center of my life.
3. Lord we repent as a church for keeping you out of the church, from today we allow you in our church. Have your way in our lives and be Lord of our lives.