April 27, 2025
Sermon Part 4: “The Blind Church Fails To See Jesus Christ As He Is!”
Good Morning Saints!
I will simply say: God in Christ Jesus is Love! (I John 4:8)
Introduction
Saints, here is a question for you, and for every born-again Christian, and Church Leader in the USA and around the world: How many people in the world today has God predestinated to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ? How many people has God Chosen, Called, Justified, and Glorified? (Rom. 8:29-30)
The answer is: God has predestinated every person born into this world to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16 & II Pet. 3:9) God wants all people to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. (Mark16:15-18) God wants all people to be His children and to inherit the Kingdom of God. As such, no person on earth should go unfed of both natural food and spiritual food (The Word of God). (Luke 4:4)
Since God desires for all people to be saved, why then don’t we as born-again Christians treat every person on the planet the same; to love them as much as we love Jesus Christ? Why don’t we seek to be the friend of every person, as Jesus Christ is our Friend? For we are all a part of God’s Body!
America Lacks Spiritual Vision
Not long ago, I had a conversation with a born-gain Christian woman, and she inquired about the work of our Ministry. As a recent example of our Ministry work, I began sharing with her our coordinated efforts with a Church in the Philippines (Jesus for All Nations) to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, feed the hungry, and provide other support services.
Below are pictures of some of the precious adult and children souls in a village in Misamis Oriental, Philippines, as well as the brand new Shelter for Worship that we are helping to construct with the Jesus for All Nations Church under the Leadership of Pastor Lizzane Katrina Pudol Dailo. (We are prayerful to have Pastor Dailo with us latter this summer.)
Members of the Church family in the Village.
Snack of Rice Soup for the children.
Christmas Feast prepared for the Village.
Morning Prayer Service with Children and youth.
New Worship Shelter with Comfort Room and Kitchen under construction.
As I was talking about our Ministry efforts, the woman interrupted and said, “That’s nice Pastor Darryl, but I only help my fellow African American brothers and sisters who I see begging for bread on streets in Washington, D.C.” She continued saying her belief is that, as “black people, we have to look after our own before we can be concerned about others in foreign lands.” Then she shared a few details about her own efforts to help impoverished black people in her neighborhood in Southeast Washington, D.C., as well as her plans to acquire an assisted living home for the elderly there.
When she finished, I paused for a moment to catch myself, as she had rather rudely interrupted me after having asked about our Ministries’ work, to flood the conversation about her own work. It was as if providing natural and spiritual assistance to people in need in the Philippines was irrelevant, and not worth talking about.
I congratulated her on assisting blacks in her neighborhood, and she went on talking about other things. I did not get the chance to finish what I was going to say in response to her. But, I find this kind of attitude troubling and pervasive in many Christian Circles across America, and the world. This belief that it’s a righteous thing to “only” have compassion on a certain segment of the human population. Many Christians in our country pledge and demonstrate greater allegiance and support to people based on race, culture, sexual orientation, economic status, physical and intellectual abilities, Church affiliation, or denomination.
We expect this kind of behavior from people and organizations in the world who do not know Jesus Christ. But, for those who claim to know the name of Jesus, who is the Friend of all people, this is not God’s way!
I had planned to say to the woman, as I often do with other born-again Christians when talking about our service for Christ; that God has filled us all with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost and power. (Acts 1:8) The Holy Ghost dwells within our hearts; and has shed the “Love of God” throughout our hearts. (Rom.5:5)
This means that the Love of God within us has no limits to its acts of kindness, tender-heartedness, and forgiveness for all people. The Love of God is no respecter of persons, and instead seeks to favor everybody! Jesus Christ has Commanded that we Love every person as He has loved us. (John 13:34 & Eph. 4:32)
The woman’s desire to only be of assistance to “black people,” and specifically to those within her neighborhood, is called “Spiritual Blindness.” For example, suppose she encountered Iranian immigrants begging bread on the same street corners in her neighborhood, would it be a “righteous” act for her to ignore them and refuse to help because of the color of their skin? In her heart, wouldn’t the love of God through the Holy Ghost, compel her to help Iranian people, just as she would help black people?
Now thinking globally, I ask this. Are the pains and groaning of a hungry precious human being living in Barry Farms Southeast, Washington, D.C. any greater than the pains of hunger of a precious human being living in impoverished nations such as Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, or Haiti? I tell you the Truth, the Holy Ghost desires that “All” people be assisted in a “Time” of need.
Moreover, consider with humility the souls of every precious person in the world, are they not all needing to hear the gospel preached to the winning of their souls to Christ Jesus? Do we all not need our Friend Jesus to come and quench our thirsty souls with the Living Water that He alone can provide? (John 7:38) Should the gospel of Jesus Christ only be preached on Street corners in Barry Farms, Southeast, or should it be preached in every hamlet and village around the world; calling every person to repentance? The name of Jesus Christ as been given to all men so that they might be saved. (Acts 4:12)
“Spiritual Blindness” refers to a state where a person or group of people are unable to perceive or understand Spiritual Truths in the Word of God. Essentially, the person or group of people are “blind” to the reality of the spiritual realm, often due to a lack of exercise in faith in the Word of God, or a deliberate rejection of the Word and its Divine Message. Moreover, Spiritual Blindness implies a lack of insight into one’s own, or the groups’ own spiritual condition, and an inability to see God’s Will clearly; even when presented with evidence from the Word of God.
Many people in the world are Spiritually Blind because they are sinners and their hearts are darkened by Satan, not having yet received Jesus Christ, the Light of the world to regenerate their hearts. (I Cor. 2:14, II Cor. 4:4, & John 8:12) Then, within the Body of Christ, we have many Church Leaders and born-again Christians and who are Spiritually Blind because they refuse to believe, trust, and obey the Truths of God’s Word. (Heb. 5:12-14)
Saints, God does not want any born-again Christian, Church Assembly, or denomination to walk Blind to any Truth in the Holy Bible. For blind people can only lead other blind people into a ditch together! (Matt.15:14)
The quickest and most certain way to fall into a spiritual ditch is by failing to love every person on the planet, without condition or merit. Saints, right now, if there is any person or group of people that you are not willing to love as much as you love Jesus Christ, you are “Spiritually Blind!” (This includes convicted felons, murderers, crooked politicians, the immoral, the racists, atheists and agnostics.) I caution everyone who lacks a “loving way” for all people to watch their step for they are on course to land in a spiritual ditch!
Just imagine the kind of “Time” that is wasted by born-again Christians, Churches, and denominations who find themselves trapped in a spiritual ditch all because they fail to walk in love towards all people, as Jesus has loved them. Isn’t it a sad state of affairs to see three or four churches occupying all four corners of a street intersection, and yet they all have no fellowship with one another?
As stated throughout this Series, in America, we have approximately 200-separate Christian denominations in the United States, and 45,000-denominations world-wide, and rarely is there “active” fellowship among any of them. Can any one of us readily report-out what “planned and coordinated work” our Churches and denominations across America are doing together to advance the Kingdom of God?
Moreover, who is keeping track of the efforts being made to “Unify” our Churches and denominations as “One” body in Christ Jesus? Since we all claim Jesus Christ as our “Friend,” we must all become “friendly” with each other to the exclusion of none!
Spiritually Blinded Christians, Churches, and denominations who have fallen into a ditch have only one way out, as in their own ability they have no strength to climb out. They must call on Jesus Christ, our Friend and Great High Priest, to come and rescue them out of their troubles by opening their eyes to see as Jesus sees all people of the world. (Heb.7:25 & I John 4:20) Yes, “All” lives matter to God.
Regarding the woman I was talking to: My plan was to encourage her, to from her heart, to see Jesus Christ as He is seated at the right-hand throne of God the Father and Great High Priest, and ask the Holy Ghost to open-up her spiritual eyes and heart to see the whole world as Jesus does. For we have the Mind of Christ. (I Cor. 2:16)
JESUS LOVES THE COSMOS AND ALL CONTAINED THERE IN!
Frankly speaking, given the wide-schism within the Christian Community in the United States and abroad today, with racism and doctrinal infighting and more, we all need to see Jesus as He is, and ask the Holy Ghost to open our spiritual eyes and hearts to see the world as He does. And to see His Church as He sees it; for we are all “One.” We all need to make the decision to “set” our affections on things above and not on the things in the earth. (Col.3:1) We need to make heavenly things our focus, instead of earthly things.
In light of eternity, God has called us to prioritize “spiritual values” far above “worldly values.” We are to be consumed with the passions of Jesus Christ, as He is seated at the right-hand throne of God the Father. Jesus is impassioned about seeing to it that every person in the world receives salvation. (Mark 16:15) Jesus is impassioned about continually making intercession before God for the infirmities and weaknesses of His people; advocating before the Father on the basis of His finished work on the cross. (Heb. 7:25) Jesus is impassioned about every believer in Him coming into the “Unity” of faith in His finished works on the cross. (Eph. 4:13)
Well Praise God, as Jesus is so are we in this world. (I John 4:17) We are Christ’s preachers of the gospel to win the lost, as well as His priest to serve as intercessors for the people of the world and Saints of God. (Rev.1:5-6) As intercessors, we are to live continually seeking to be the “friend” of all people, both of sinners and Christians, and to diligently work together to bring Unity and Peace within the Body of Christ.
God in Christ Jesus’ motive for making us intercessors is so that we might have “Unity” among all men and nations. So that we might all be “One” in God in Christ Jesus. It is not possible for any born-again Christian, Church, or denomination seeking to live in the Truth of God’s Word to misunderstand or misinterpret this call of God to Unity among us!
The Holy Bible plainly tells us we are called into “One” Body, and we are admonished to strive to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (I Cor. 12:12-27, Eph. 4:1-6, & Rom. 12:4-5) Yet, how much earnest preaching, teaching, and practical application do we hear from our nation’s pulpits about moving into active and continual fellowship with Church denominations and Church affiliations outside of our own cliques?
I highlight Romans 12:5 which states: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
My, my, my. We all need to flow-out of our Churches around the world, drop our denomination and Church-affiliation nonsense, hug and congratulate each other, and rejoice in the “Truth,” that God in Christ has made us all “One’ body in Christ, and members one to another in the Spirit! We all have been made to drink of the same Spirit of Christ. (I Cor.12:13)
Ephesians 4:5-6 states:
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say we are 45,000-Christian denominations; only that we are “One” in God in Christ. God is in us all, and working through us all. This is the “Truth!” As such, we must come into the Unity of the faith, or else we walk this Christian journey in Spiritual Blindness and fall into a spiritual ditch. We must strive with all diligence to bring Unity to the Body of Christ to mirror the sweet communion of fellowship that exists in Heaven. (Eph. 2:5-6)
Unity in the Faith Brings Us All into Harmony with God
As I continually emphasize in this Series, the Body of Christ is to promote Unity in the faith among all believers in Jesus Christ regardless of denomination or Church affiliation. For then we resemble and harmonize with God’s work in Heaven where we all are joined together and seated as “One” in God in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:5-6)
Every Church leader: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher is mandated by God to work toward bringing all believers into the Unity of the faith so that we can grow up into a “perfect” (complete) and whole-body of the Lord. At Ephesians 4:11-16, the Apostle Paul wrote:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Saints, we achieve Unity within the Body of Christ through loving one another and rallying around our “faith” in the finished works of Jesus Christ on the cross, His death and burial, Resurrection from the dead on the third-day, and Ascension to the right-throne of God the Father. This is our common ground and every good work of God builds upon this Truth.
If we truly are God’s children, then we all must kneel-down before the Lord Jesus and acknowledge that He is the Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords, and our Great High Priest.
That Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man; and the only way to God. As Jesus’ work on the cross reconciled us all together in God through the act of selfless-love, so must we also demonstrate selfless-love for every person and faith organization in the Body of Christ. There can be no schism in the Body of Christ for any reason. For example, the Methodist claimed “Christian,” and Pentecostal claimed “Christian,” are one in the same in God’s sight. What God has joined together how dare we tear asunder!
Here me now, it’s Jesus’ finished work on the cross that compels us to love God in Christ. I John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” If we love Jesus, then we must love every person. What many Christians within the Body of Christ do not yet have the revelation on is that the Kingdom of God expands the more we come into Unity with one another. As we connect ourselves to other Ministries, Churches, and denominations, Paul’s writing at Ephesians 4:16 indicates that the perfect bond of love is established and causes the body of Christ to “increase.”
The more we Unite as One Body in Christ, the more souls are won to Christ, the Body of Christ expands, and we grow up into the fullness of Christ. Unity among all Christians enlarges and magnifies the glory of Christ in the earth, and presents Jesus to the world, as He is in Heaven! Complete Unity among believers is exactly what Jesus prayed to God the Father for in John Chapter 17, shortly before going to the cross. At John 17:11 Jesus is recorded as praying:
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
Later in the same prayer at Verses 21-23, Jesus asked the Father:
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; (complete unity) and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Obviously, Christian Unity is vitally important to our Lord. I believe in all Christian Circles, Church leaders and Christians alike have read the Lord’s Prayer to the Father at John 17. Why then has the Body of Christ, for the most part, chosen to ignore Jesus’ prayer for Unity among us and instead stubbornly resigned itself to function independent of one another?
In the Lord’s Prayer, He set forth the reasons for Christian Unity: Jesus asked that all believers may be in the Father and the Son, “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21). And then Jesus prayed for “Complete Unity” so that, “the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17: 23).
When Christians are united in Christ, the world sees two things clearly: Jesus was sent by the Father, and Jesus loves His Church. When in Unity, the people of the world can observe the authentic Christ living through all Christians, Churches, and denominations; that we all preach and live by the same gospel, display un-feigned love and kindness for all people, have all things in common–a love for Christ and Truth, they will see supernatural manifestations of the Spirit in miracles, signs and wonders working throughout the Body of Christ never seen before. Then, the people of the world will ask of us, “What must I do to be saved?”
Further, the Holy Bible speaks of many other reasons why Christian Unity must be achieved. For example, in Romans 15:5-6, the Apostle Paul wrote, “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (English Standard Version).
God wants us to glorify Him as “One” body, as is done in Heaven. Every Church and denomination should strive to come into such Unity in the faith, that with “One” Voice,” we sing and testify together of the glory of God. How magnificent would that be to see every Christian affiliation joined together to praise and glorify Jesus Christ. This past Easter Sunday, we saw a remnant of this at a Sunrise Service held at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. As shown below, Christians from all types of Church-affiliations came together for fervent prayer for our nation and world.
To work together to strive for the Lord’s blessing of Complete Unity requires courage, stamina, and encouragement that can only come from the Love of God gushing out of our hearts for one another. But, the carnal tendencies of many Christians and religious organizations, through ungodly pride to operate independent of each other, works to quench the Spirit of the Lord’s desire for cemented fellowships.
Indeed, the work of unification among Christians, Churches, and denominations is very hard work, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Php.4:13) The Apostle Paul wrote at Ephesians 4:3 that we are to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
To aid in advancing Unity, God has also given to us the gifts of the Spirit; differing gifts, and their exercise in the edification of the Church, which leads to more and more Unity. For example, if we who are enlightened about the gift of praying in the Holy Ghost (in other tongues), would reach-out in love and Truth to other members of the body of Christ to teach, expose, and pray together in tongues, the Love of God within all of our hearts would usher in Unity, as the mercies and graces of the Lord would shower down on us. (Jude 20)
Additionally, the Apostle Paul presents the Church of Jesus Christ in I Corinthians 12:12-27 as a living body. Paul emphasized that every member of the Body is important and must be nourished and cherished. The body has many members, each with specialized work to do, but all the parts are united in the Head of the Body, which is Christ. (Eph. 4:15) As such, the mega-Church is just as important as the store-front Church, and the Church on Zoom is just as important as the mid-sized Church on the corner in fulfilling the Mission of Christ. We all should be a supply to one another.
God also intends for Christians and Churches to form local communities in which no one needs to rejoice or suffer in isolation. (Rom. 12:15;& 1 Cor. 12:26) Christians from many different backgrounds working in Unity in the Spirit to display the power of the gospel and the universality of its saving Message. (Gal. 3:26–28) Christians bring honor to God’s name before the world by pursuing Unity in the power of the Holy Ghost who brings us together as “One” through faith in Christ.
As I close, let me make one caveat concerning Unity within the Body of Christ. Indeed, Complete Unity among and across individual Christians, Churches, and denominations is a virtue. However, according to the Holy Bible, there are some things that can and should limit Unity. As born-again Christians, we are not to pursue togetherness with everyone who claims to be a Christian for the mere sake of saying we are all united together. No, no no: It is only “Christ and His Truth” that unites us.
The Holy Bible tells us to separate ourselves from professed brothers and sisters in Christ who live in persistent and unrepentant sin, and from those who teach false doctrine. (Matt.18:15-17, I Cor. 5:1-2, Rev. 2:14-15) Also, check out Romans 16:17, it reads:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
We only find Unity and harmony with those in Christian Circles who come in the name of Jesus Christ and His finished works on the cross; in a spirit of love, mercy, grace, and Truth of God’s Word. At I John 4:1-5, The Apostle John provides us with instructions on testing the spirits in people who we seek to fellowship with, or they with us. In determining their “Unity in the faith.” John wrote:
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
We readily find harmony with every born-again Christian, Church, and denomination who from their hearts and mouths acknowledge that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. Meaning that Jesus Christ is the “God-man,” the “Messiah” who came to earth in human form. We harmonize with all believers who believe the Truth that Jesus was not just a divine being, but also a real person who lived on earth, experienced emotions and physical pain and suffering, and ultimately died on the cross for humanity and rose again on the third-day, and is seated at the right-hand throne of God the Father. We hug and embrace those who have the expectation that Jesus Christ is coming again to rapture His glorious Church having not spot or wrinkle nor any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph. 5:27)
Believers who confess these Truths signify that they are born of God, are aligned with the teachings of Christ, and that the Holy Ghost is at work in their lives and guiding them to understand and believe the True nature of Jesus Christ. Thus, the confession of “Jesus Christ as having come in the flesh” is a crucial test to determine the authenticity of spiritual teaching of all religious organizations, as well as the Truth it’s congregates have received is genuine.
I John 4:3 warns that those who deny this Truth; who reject Jesus Christ’s humanity, are not from God and are under the influence of the spirit of the Anti-Christ. Such organizations and individuals we must pray for that their hearts and minds be stirred and opened to the gospel of Christ, and that they repent and receive God’s salvation while there is yet time.
Though presently, the Church of Jesus Christ with all of its many members are sorely divided and walking Blind to the Truth of the oneness we all share in Christ, we must wake up, and with all of our synergies work together to attain Complete Unity throughout the Body of Christ. So that we might as Paul said, “come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”(Eph. 4:13)
To reach spiritual maturity in Christ starts with us all recognizing that God has predestinated all people of the earth to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. While it is God’s desire that all people would repent of their sins and accept Jesus as Lord, it’s up to every individual to choose to believe and receive Christ as Lord in response to the gospel. Only God, in His omniscience, knows the exact number of people who love Him and will believe on His Son Jesus to the saving of their souls. And, since we are not privy to that number it behooves each of us to treat every person on the planet, without exception, with the same love that Jesus Christ has afforded us.
To this end, no person is beyond the reach of God’s Love and we must extend His love to all people. Therefore, with the help of the Holy Ghost, let us remove and throw away all Spiritual Blindness and see that we are the Lord’s priests on earth. (Rev.1:5-6) We are Jesus’ intercessors who are to follow after His example, and become the friends of many sinners and all of our sisters and brothers in Christ.
I know for some Christian folks this rattles their religious and self-righteous cages; to become a friend to many sinners. But how can we say that we are loving, forgiving, and tender-hearted like our Friend Jesus, if we have no relationship with people who do not know Him? We were all lost in sin and Jesus took us in, why not do the same for those who are lost?
Tell me Saints, how wide is your human intercessory net and who do you pray for earnestly?
I Timothy 2:1-4 says we are to intercede for all people to bring peace and salvation to our nation and world:
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Our fervent prayers for all the people of the world make it possible for every person to be saved, and come into the knowledge of the Truth: That is, in Christ, “All” have been predestinated to be conformed into His image; to become “One” with God and the sons of God. Amen to the glory of God!
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