We are deceived if we think our man-made programs can foster a move of God and bring about revival. It is a grievous thing to be so presumptuous that we would expect God to take our plans and programs and use them to bring souls into the Kingdom of God. If we believe that growth in numbers at church is an indication God is at work, we must always ask the question, "Is it true revival, or a revival of religious flesh?" We can be certain that Satan will produce a pretty deceiving counterfeit.

If we are going to truthfully refer to the 'church' as the "Body of Christ," it must have no division. There must be unity in the faith. In view of that, it should become obvious to us that denominations are divisive. "How can that be?" you say. Look at it this way: armies have divisions, and they go to war. But the 'church' also has divisions called "denominations," and for many years they have been at war one with another, fighting over doctrinal differences and clamoring for superiority. Where is the unity in the Faith? Jesus' true Ekklesia is One Body with One Spirit.

Not only are there wars between denominations, but there are wars even within those denominations. These internal wars cause church splits and result in an abundance of what Paul calls "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5:19-21. These obvious works-- "enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, envyings"--are listed right along with "fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, heresies, drunkenness, and revellings." How can we call ourselves "the Body of Christ" if we so blatantly manifest a body of flesh? He is the crucified Christ! Are we truly in Him if we have uncrucified flesh? As Paul said in verse 21, "they which practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

The living Ekklesia

In the earlier years of the first millennium AD, persecution by the enemies of the Gospel forced the true believers to meet in caves, upper rooms, or any other secret place they could find to fellowship and encourage one another in the faith. I believe this is what the writer of Hebrews was speaking of, in chapter 10:25: ". . . not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (NKJV). The afflicted Ekklesia in the early centuries desperately needed encouragement and building up in the faith. Without this exhorting of one another, they may have been numbered with those who denied the faith when persecution came.

For short periods, between times of dreadful persecution, the Christians would become complacent and careless. The next wave of persecution served only to purify the Ekklesia, as, in the face of martyrdom, other believers would emerge to take their place in spreading the Gospel. If they were banished to strange countries among heathen tribes, they would preach the Gospel there. There was no stopping the true Ekklesia of Jesus Christ. Their faith in Christ was so real that nothing could deter them from spreading the Good News.

Today, in many parts of the world, Christ's true Ekklesia is still a persecuted Ekklesia. The underground Ekklesia in China and North Korea are a part of the true Ekklesia, and the believers there suffer horrendous atrocities. The faith of those Christians is so real that they are willing to die for Jesus Christ. The message they share is the Gospel of the real Jesus--not a watered down version that leaves out the Cross of Christ.

In some other countries, to say that one is a Christian brings little or no opposition. For instance, in North America a person is almost admired if he goes to church. And those churches are often little more than grand buildings with steeples to announce their presence. We wonder why today's Christianity is not a threat to the worldly. Is it because people in the world have seen nothing to challenge their godless ways? Such a Godless church is actually more likely to stir up the world's anger because of the visible hypocrisy in its members who claim to be Christians. So why would anyone persecute a harmless, ineffective 'church'?

God has His people everywhere, so it would be wrong to suggest that all proclaimed Christians who attend the institutional 'church' are not truly born again. We are all on a journey, seeking to have that inner void filled by the only One Who can satisfy. He is all we need. Religion and church can never replace a relationship with Jesus. We need to ask the question, "If all else were gone and we had only Jesus, would He be enough?"

Are we willing to allow Jesus to be everything to us? Paul told Timothy: "Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:12-13 NKJV). Religious, hypocritical man will certainly persecute those who would dare to live godly in Christ Jesus. To go against the grain, and separate oneself from superficial Christianity can be a very lonely road--but a road worth traveling with Jesus.

I read a true story of a believer in a European country who risked his life to take the written word of God into neighboring Communist countries. His belief--his trust--was in the REAL Jesus, and his bible was precious to him. He knew that if he could get bibles into the hands of others, the Spirit of Truth would bring them to the Savior. With little regard for his personal safety, he repeatedly crossed the borders into Communist territory, smuggling bibles to be distributed by fellow believers. He was viciously beaten and imprisoned many times, but God always freed him so he could return with more bibles. The Communists feared this Sword of the Lord more than any weapons this believer might have carried.

Do Christians fear the Sword of the Lord today? Or, are we content to hear of all the benefits we can receive from God? Paul said the time will come when they will not endure [Greek: put up with]¹⁷ the sound doctrine, ". . . but having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Many will not put up with sound doctrine because they prefer fables rather than truth. It seems fables are more palatable, since they do not promote uncomfortable things like brokenness and complete surrender to God.