Are We The Church Triumphant

The scripture paints a much different portrait of the Church than what we presently experience. In scripture, the Church is revealed, not as the Church defeated; rather, it is seen as the Church triumphant. It’s viewed through the lens of being an unstoppable force. Their opponents said of them, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here too”. Acts 17:6, Amplified Bible. The world was scared of the Church. How different it is today! The Church is scared of the world. What happened?! Why do we no longer see ourselves as the Church triumphant? And why do we view ourselves as the Church defeated…waiting for Jesus to come to rescue us from this awful, evil world? That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.

I hope you can see the point behind the question. I am trying to awaken a different perspective in the Church than the one we’ve had. Why? Because we have seen ourselves through the wrong lens. Rather than acknowledging what scripture teaches, we have tried to introduce our unbelief into the teachings of scripture. We think things like “that doesn’t make sense” or “that’s impossible” or “that was ONLY for them and not for us…we have the Bible”. What?!!! Can you see the foolishness of our unbelief? Our thinking belies the truth, which is, we just don’t have what they had. And rather than admitting we’re the ones who are deficient in following God, we try to shift and manipulate our way out of the truth, which is, we must repent. 

Yes, the greatest need of the Church today isn’t much of what we have…a new prayer book, new devotional, new teaching, or new revelation. No! What we really need is good, old fashioned repentance. From what? Numerous things. For instance, the idols of the mind. We have a mind idolatry problem. We allow our understanding to determine our reality. Foolish! What do I mean? Explain to me how five loaves and two fishes can feed five thousand. How does prayer work? Can I really change things through prayer? Is it that powerful?! Your mind will try to get you to doubt what scripture teaches…the reality of God’s work among men…the supernatural power of God.

The world is longing and yearning for the Church to step into the supernatural world it was born into. On the day of Pentecost, the supernatural became public. Tongues of fire, drunk believers, words from God to everyone who was present, and more than 3,000 saved. One day. One event. And the world changed forever. That’s how the Church was born…in fire. Today, we’re baptized in apathy. Believers are ambivalent towards God. Why? They don’t know the God revealed in the book of Acts. Rather, we have believers glued to Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok ads. What am I saying? I’m saying that the world is starving to see the real Church, the real Pentecost Church, the book of Acts Church stand up. They want to see the supernatural power of God. What they’ve witnessed is the supernatural power of the Devil. We need to show them God — in truth and in reality. No talk. No excuses. Just power.

The Apostle Paul said, “My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”. 1 Cor. 2:4, World English Bible. And, “God's kingdom is not just talk, it is power.” 1 Cor. 4:20, CEV. What we have is talk, talk, and more talk. What we need is power, power, and more power. That’s the difference between the Church triumphant and the Church defeated — God’s power being manifested in our midst. And that’s what we desperately need in our day — God’s supernatural power manifested in our midst. The question: How do we connect with God’s power to become the Church triumphant? Answering that question is the crux of the difference between the Church today and the Church in the book of Acts — they had power, we don’t. 

Power is the key to being the Church triumphant. No wonder Jesus said, “Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.” Lk. 24:49, Amplified Bible. That day happened on Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago. The Holy Spirit came and baptized the Church in power and tongues of fire. Pentecostal churches used to know that truth. Now, some have lost it. As Joseph Mattera states, we have become “functional Cessationists”. That begs the question: What is a “functional Cessationist”? A “functional Cessationist” believes in the gifts of the Spirit theologically, but fails to practice them or see them function in their lives. 

That’s where the disconnect is today — between our heads and our hearts. We know much more about the scriptures than prior generations. We have better theology than they had. They misunderstood major doctrines contained in scripture. Nevertheless, where they were poor theologically, they were rich in receiving God’s power. They cooperated with God to receive God’s power. We co-opt God’s word to justify  foolish and destructive behaviors. And we fail to receive and walk in God’s power. We lack grace. The early Church and the Church of prior generations had grace. We desperately need grace. 

Besides being a Church filled with power, the Church triumphant is filled with grace. Truth isn’t enough. To become the Church triumphant, we need more grace. Thankfully, Jesus brought us that grace and the Apostle Paul wrote and taught us that grace. We must learn how to access that same grace today as they discovered for their day. God’s grace hasn’t stopped flowing to His Church. No! We still have unwavering access to God’s grace. Now, we must do what they did — believe. Faith, and faith alone, gives us access to God’s grace and God’s power. Faith and grace work hand in glove to open the treasures of heaven on earth to God’s people today. Therefore, and as Jesus said, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mk. 5:36, ESV. 

To be the Church triumphant, there’s one thing we must do — only believe! Yes, all things are still possible for those who believe. God’s Word still works today — for those who believe. That’s the difference between the Church triumphant and the Church defeated: The Church triumphant believes. It’s one thing to give God lip service; it’s another thing to offer Him what He really wants — to be believed. Therefore, Church, I have a word from God for you today — Only believe! All things are possible to him who believes. AND if it’s not working, check your faith to see if it matches scripture. Chances are you have a form of faith, but not a real, active, and vibrant faith. 

That’s what we need to become the Church triumphant — a real, active, vibrant faith in God. I want to invite you to join that Church today.

Let us pray!

— Scott Wallis