May 4, 2025
Sermon Part 5: “A Dull Blade Does Not Serve Its Purpose!”
Throughout the Body of Christ we miss a golden opportunity to grow-up in God in Christ Jesus when we refuse to fellowship across Churches, denominations, and with born-again Christians individually to share our knowledge of the Word of God.
Oh, why do we let differences in beliefs, doctrines, and practices divide us, when we all believe in Jesus Christ and His finished works of the cross and Resurrection, and Ascension to the right hand throne of God the Father which binds us together for all eternity?
Good Morning and Happy Sunday Saints!
Today’s Sermon is an Addendum to the open Letter I wrote and preached on Easter Sunday entitled: “America, Only Look At The Man in the Middle (Jesus Christ)!”
As born-again Christians, if we “set” all of our attention and affection on Jesus Christ and His sufferings on the cross, every tribulation (problem, affliction, disagreement) we face in our nation and around the world would be seen through the lense of God Almighty. Praise God, you can’t focus all your attention and affection on Jesus on the cross and remain the same for His Great Sacrifice roles away the burdens of your heart, and humbles and changes your heart to see life, humanity, and the world as God sees it! God sees the cosmos and every person and thing therein in need of Jesus, the Savior of the world!
If we focus on the cross, we become smitten, slain, and overtaken by the Love of Christ and are compelled to grab hold-of and love-on every person as Jesus has loved us. Together, we then would all stand-up for God and the Word of God as “One Church” and conquer the social, political, religious, and racial issues that we have for so long allowed to sorely divide us. Every thing that we would ask of God, according to His Word, would be granted to us! (John 14:14 & I John 5:14-15)
To this end, on Easter Sunday, we called on every Church, denomination, and born-again Christian in America (and for that matter around the world) by faith to return in a “spirit of togetherness” to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, and to remember the Lord’s Passion and Resurrection from the dead on the third-day.
We casted aside all personal vanities of religious, political, social, gender, and organizational identifications; to put on who we really are in Christ before the world. For we are the Church of Jesus Christ; we are all members of the Body of Christ! (Rom.12:5)
For example, at the foot of the cross, no longer should we identify ourselves as Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Pentecostals, or Episcapalians. We are not democrates, republicans, nor independents. We are not black or white, nor male or female. We are not a fraternity or sorority brother or sister. We are only “Christians; new creations of Christ Jesus!” (II Cor. 5:17) Even now, the Spirit of God urges that we listen and adhere to the admonition of the Apostle Paul at II Corinthians 13:5. Paul wrote:
Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith. Test your own selves. Know ye not yourselves how Jesus Christ is in you, unless ye be reprobates?
Paul directs us to self-assess and reflect to confirm the presence of Jesus Christ in our hearts through genuine faith. Examine your born-again heart and ask whether Jesus Christ is living in you, or are you a reprobate (a sinner already condemned to hell). Of course you are not a reprobate, your life is hidden in Christ Jesus. (Col. 3:3-4) As such, Christ is your life, and you no longer are to live unto yourself; but unto Jesus alone. Jesus Christ has preeminence over all nomenclatures in your life!
So my dearly beloved Saints we must never forget that its at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ where we have our “commonality.” For while we all were yet sinners and destined for death, hell, and destruction, Jesus died for us. (Rom.5:8) At the foot of the cross, is where all of our sins were blotted out, the blood of Jesus healed all of our sicknesses and diseases, and where we must heap-up and bundle together all of our societal problems and related pains, as well as every religious issue that seeks to divide us, and once and for all times cast them all on our Faithful Friend and Great High Priest Jesus Christ, who cares much for us. (I Pet.5:7)
On Christ’s cross, God reconciled the world unto Himself and He has given to us the “Ministry of Reconciliation.” (II Cor. 5:18) At the cross, we learn and remember to forgive and love “every person” as Christ has loved us, and embrace the Truth that we all have been reconciled in God in Christ. In Christ, there are no denominations and separate Church-affiliations. Rather, there are only beloved-believers joined one to another in love in Him.
As One Body, we are to know that God has called and chosen “every person” in the world to be a part of His royal family through belief in Jesus Christ. God’s Salvation is for everybody. As the Body of Christ, we are priviledged to serve as Christ’s Ambassadors sent forth into the world with the Message of Reconciliation to the world of bringing all people to God, through Jesus Christ who loves them.
We have not been sent separately into the world with the Message of Reconciliation, but “together” to go into every town and hamlet with the gospel. To win the world to Jesus Christ requires complete collaboration and coordination among all Christian Churches, denominations, and born-again Christians individually. There is no one Christian organization or person greater than the other; we all need each other.
Moreover, because the Love of God abides throughout our born-again hearts, we are to esteem every brother and sister in Christ greater than ourselves. (Rom. 5:5 & Php. 2:3) Oh, how good and pleasant the Church of Jesus Christ would be if we all would pour out of our respective Churches into the streets and greet one another and say: “Good morning my brother or sister in Christ, we are all a part of God’s Body, and I consider you greater than myself!” Any Christian that would resist or refuse such efforts to love and fellowship with other precious believers, have only identified themselves as Christians, but do not yet have a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. They desparately need to return to the foothills of Calvary and look upon the Sacrificed Body of Christ and be revived again to a lively hope in Him! Its nice to see Christians adnorning crosses around their necks, but far greater it is to offer to place their crosses around the necks of other Christians!
Given that we are Commanded to love one another and esteem one another better than the other, we must not allow any social or religious issue to keep us from working together to fulfill the Great Commision. (Mark 16:15-18) With a new determination, we must pick up our Holy Bibles, God’s gift to us on holy living, and “sharpen one another” with it. For far too long we have mishandled the Holy Bible; using it as a weapon against one another to accuse, belittle, murder, and justfiy divisions among us.
Yet, Ecclesiates 4:9-12 instructs us in the importance of teamwork; working together for common benefit. The Passage states, “That two are better than one, because they have a good return on their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. The Holy Bible is our tool for effective and efficient teamwork building.
There is no book on earth as the Holy Bible, for it is the “Heart Beat” of God for Mankind’s betterment. The writer of the Book of Hebrews stated:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb. 4:12)
The Word of God is a sword that is sharp and penetrating. The Word of God applied cuts through all doubt and unbelief, defenses against God and His Kingdom, and exposes a person’s inner-most thoughts and desires. Further, at II Timothy Chapters 2 and 3, the Apostle Paul instructs us to be students of the Word of God who are able to rightly divide the Word of truth. Every born-again Christian must be well-schooled in the Truth because we work for the Lord. Paul stated:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Tim. 2:15)
Then at II Timothy 3:16-17 he wrote:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Holy Bible is God’s inspired Word. Because it is inspired and trustworthy, “daily” we must study the Word and apply it to our lives. The Holy Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. We live in the world’s system which is full of lies and deceptions perpetrated by Satan. Thus, it should be every Chuches’, denominations’, and Christians’ desire that we all know the Truth, God’s Word is Truth, and contains no error.
Further the Holy Scriptures are our safeguard against false teaching and our source of guidance for how we should live; forever transforming our Character, Behavior, and Performance to be like Jesus.The Holy Bible is our only source of knowledge about how all people can be saved and equipped to live victoriously in this world.
In our quest for the Truth of the Holy Scriptures, we must never forget its Purpose; to equip us to do God-good in the world. We should not study God’s Word simply to increase our knowledge, or to prepare us to win arguments and debates with Christians and non-Christians. Rather, we must study the Scriptures so that we will know how to do God’s work and share that knowledge with other believers to promote spirutal growth and maturity througout the Body of Christ. This is a major problem in the Body of Christ, we do not freely share will all Christians what we know; and this makes us spiritually dull, dull, dull!
Additionally, as a part of our New Covenant with God in Christ, we are not to forsake the “assembling together” of our ouselves in fellowship across the Body of Christ. The writer of Hebrews exorts:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exorting one another and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb.10:24-25)
In Christian Circles, most Churches and denominations view this Covenant Commandment as relating only to assembling together regularly, as necessary, with members of their own congregations for worship and fellowship. But, the writer really is calling us to a higher-level of fellowship with all of the Saints, regardless of Church affiliation. As such, the Body of Christ must change its “mind-set” to seek opportunities, as often as we can, to join our worship services to exort one another as we see the Day of the Lord approaching. For how can we truthfully say we love one another and esteem the other greater, if we make no concerted efforts to worship and fellowship with Christian organizations and born-again Christians outside of our religious cliques?
The picture above depicts two Christians shouting at each other and standing apart because of their personal religious views. This truly mirrors the majority of the Church world today; arguing, separating, and neglecting one another over doctrinal issues: We are clashing over issues such as the nature of God, the person of Jesus Christ, salvation, baptisms, the role of the Holy Ghost and gifts and empowerments of the Spirit, biblical interpretation, Church leadership, and end-times theology. Also, we are clashing over biblical interpretations and applications on contemporary issues such as homosexuality, same-sex-marriage, abortion, social justice, immigration and so forth.
Long-standing disagreements on issues of religion and contemporary social problems have caused many born-again Christians to not venture into broaching hot-button topics with one another. How many times at family and social gatherings have people reminded themselves not to talk about three topics: religion, politics, and money?
But as noted earlier, our commonality is at the cross of Christ, and through recognition that we all have been made “One” in Him, there is no issue facing us that cannot be discussed and resolved the Bible Way. Through the power of the Word of God, the Holy Ghost, and prayer we can come to a place of understanding and agreement on every issue, no matter how long it may seem to take.
While it may take time to reach agreement on certain tenants within doctrines, practices, and traditions; we must continue to collaborate and cooperate with each other on fulfilling the Great Commission. As we willingly bind ourselves together to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, God will release the Spirit of Complete Unity on us to strengthen and fortify us to walk in peace and love, as we navigate through issues and differences.
As long as we allow our differences to serve as the reason for divisions, we all suffer as “dull knives” within the Body of Christ. In the natural, there is nothing worse than a dull knife; a less than sharp knife in your Butcher Block or Tool Box.
Having to use a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp one because it requires more force to cut the food or object, and increases the risk of slips and cuts, and injuries. Moreover, using a dull knife makes cutting foods in desired proportions more difficult and time-consuming.
In like manner, in spiritual things, when Churches, denominations, and born-again Christians individually have not taken the time to sharpen one another with the Word of God; we become dull and less effective in doing our work for God. When unskilled in handling the Word, we can misquote Scripture, add or subtract from Scripture, miss understand and apply Scripture in situations, create false doctrines, mislead others down wrong paths for years and even generations, as well as let precious Promises from the Word of God slip.
Church-leadership within the Five-Fold Ministries must not be intimidated and fearful of gathering our congregations together for “meal-times” in the Word of God. We must be willing to allow the Holy Ghost to have complete control over our worship services; especially our preaching and teaching to bring enlightenment, admonishment, and encouragement in the faith. We should be eager to have fellowships with Churches and denominations different from ours; sharing and imparting our knowledge of Scripture with one another. Look at the following picture and answer a couple of questions:
As we see these two young men studying the Word of God, assume that the born-again Christian on the left attends a Methodist Church, and the born-again Christian on the right attends a Pentecostal Church, tell me: (1) who is benefitting from their fellowship in the Word of God? (2) Who is getting the glory through their fellowship in the Word?
The answer is: Both Christians are benefitting by sharpening each other in the Word of God, and God is being glorified through their study and sharing of the Word. Tell me Saints, when was the last time you sat down with another Christian, from a different Church or denomination, and “studied” the Word of God together to gain mutual spiritual understanding and growth; to sharpen each other as the Day of the Lord approaches?
Most Christians do not seek to form such fellowships, and as a result become “dull blades” in God’s Tool Box, and fail to do God-good works in the world as He has purposed. Moreover, sadly, the majority of born-again Christians across denominations infrequently study the Word of God for themselves, with the majority reporting they read Scripture about “once a week” (Outside of Church), according to a Pew Research Center. But Jesus Christ said, “It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (Luke 4:4) Infrequent consumption of God’s Word leaves the spirit of a man famished!
Our Faithful Friend Jesus Christ also said at Matthew 18:18-20:
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Wouldn’t it be an all-powerful event to have our brothers and sisters in Christ from different Churches and denominations come together and study-out, and pray the Word of God, on any topic that confronts us today in America and around the world? Jesus Christ would come into our midst, and as His spiritual kings and priests we would exercise “Spiritual Authority,” to bind Satan and the forces of darkness, and lose Heaven’s goodness on America and the world. While sharpening each other in the Word, God would get all the glory!
In Malachi 3:16, the Prophet extolled the benefits of coming together to study and find understanding in the Word and God.
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
When we sharpen one another in sincere Christian fellowship, the Lord bends an ear from Heaven and is pleased. Not one Word about the Lord which brings Him glory escapes His notice! Our lead Scripture for this Session is Proverbs 27:17. The Life Application Bible reads: “Iron sharpens iron; so a friend sharpens a friend.” Since Jesus Christ is our Friend, and we are in Him, every born-again Christian should consider themselves the friend of every other believer.
Now, we know there is mutual benefit in the rubbing of two iron blades together; as the edges become sharper, and this makes the blades sharper and more efficient in their task to cut and slice. Likewise, as I noted earlier, the Word of God is a “double-edged sword,” and we sharpen one another in times of meeting, fellowship, or any other interaction. (Heb. 4:12) Proverb 27:17 also indicates the need for constant fellowship with one another.
There is a mental sharpness that comes from being around fellow born-again Christians for we all possess the Mind of Jesus Christ in our hearts. A meeting of the minds in the Word of God can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This however requires partners who can challenge each other and stimulate thought; I mean people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. Two friends who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.
From the beginning of Creation, “Man” was not made to be alone, for did not God say this? (Gen. 2:18) If in the natural, Man was not meant to be alone, how much more, then, after the Fall of Man, with regard to spiritual matters, do we need to come together with our brothers and sisters in Christ for seasons of fellowship, study in the Word, and prayer? No Church, denomination, or Christian individually should seek to be alone; but to always search for opportunities to show themselves friendly to fellow believers everywhere. Jesus is patiently waiting, even with long-suffering, for us to come together to study the Word of God.
The need for Complete Unity was clearly recognized by the Saints of the early Church who devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer, which were all corporate activities that provided opportunities for sharpening one another. Most notably, they “continued steadfastly” in the “Apostles’ doctrine,” and supernatural blessings multiplied and many people daily were added to the Church such as should be saved. (Acts 2:42-47)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Heb.13:18) Why then do we need to add or subtract from the doctrine espoused by the Apostles? We must not! If we study the Apostles’ Doctrine and apply it in everyday living with other fellow believers, the Lord will add daily to the Church such as should be saved.
Returning to the analogy of a dull knife, if a knife is blunt, it still continues to be a knife, although it is less effective; less useful in service. Let us therefore be encouraged to spend more time together, exhorting, encouraging, praying, admonishing, and sharing God’s Word so that we may go forth throughout our nation and the world as One bright light with the Ministry of Reconciliation.
Throughout the Body of Christ, we should make every effort to “regularly” come together and sharpen one another in the Holy Scriptures related to the Great Commission, and then work together to fulfill the Commandment of Christ in our streets and homes across America. (Matt. 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18 & Luke 24:46- 49) Among born-again Christian small groups, Churches and denominations we should study and share and learn from each other on effectively taking the Gospel Message to our families, friends, and communities to win them to Christ. We should study the Holy Bible together on how best to witness Christ, and defend the faith, with people of different religions and non-religious people in the world. This is the work God wants us to undertake as the Body of Christ, rather than arguing and dividing over elementary doctrinal issues and contemporary social issues.
So I close now with a prayer. Lord God, thank you for giving to us Jesus Christ our Faithful Friend and Great High Priest. Thank you that we abide in Christ’s Love, and that perfect Love casts out fear and torment. Help us to lean on and trust in Christ’s Love that abides in our hearts. Give to us the strength and courage to move out of our vain and decrepit comfort zones and reach out to every Born-again Christian individually, Church, and denomination who profess the name of Jesus Christ that you place in our pathway, to engage in worship and study of the Holy Bible together. It is our ardent desire Lord to be used by you in every way you see fit. You are the Potter and we are the clay; continue to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ so that you may be glorified in the earth.
May we resolve to be used in your Service as “razor-sharp” cutting instruments that lovingly collaborate and coordinate our efforts with other fellow believers in study and application to fulfill the Great Commission to win the lost to Christ, and do the same works and greater works of Jesus Christ as He is seated at the right hand throne of God the Father. Furthermore, help us to always see that Jesus’ Sacrifice on the cross is greater than any doctrinal issue, or social issue, that we face in the world today, and give to us the wisdom and revelation on how best to resolve all matters of differences among us according to your Word in love and peace. In Jesus name we pray, and may the grace and peace of the Lord be multiplied to all of the Saints of the Most-High God. Amen.
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