Is the church on the verge of failure?

There is much talk about the decline of the church today. You hear it everywhere especially among
Christians leaders. It sounds something like this - "The church is out of touch and losing it's influence. We better straighten up and do a better job or we will fail". I must disagree!

 Jesus said, "...and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it." Matthew 16:18

First, Jesus said He would build the church. I know we play a role. I understand that we must follow and obey, but to think that we are going to mess up the plan of God is to say that the work is really up to us. It's not. It is the work of Jesus. He is the Perfect One working through the imperfect church. 

Second, Jesus said it was His church. Here's a revelation - It's not your church. Jesus is responsible for the church. You didn't create it, you don't sustain it and you won't be the one that completes its work. The church belongs to Jesus Christ. 

Third, Jesus said even the gates of hell would not overcome the church. There's your prophetic results from the ultimate prophet.  The church cannot fail because Jesus said it would succeed. Individuals may fail. Local congregations may fail but the church of Jesus Christ will prevail.  The results are not up to you and I, they are up to Jesus. 

The church may look out of sorts from time to time, we may get complacent or lazy, but The Holy Spirit that resides within the church will take this imperfect, fallible group of people and change the world. How do I know? Because Jesus said so.