SERMONS

Sermon: “Hey, You Better Make Your Momma Proud!”
May 11, 2025

Hannah, who was barren, prayed unto God to look upon her affliction and give to her a son, and promised her man-child to the Lord all of his days. God honored her request and she conceived and gave birth and called his name Samuel, whose name means “Heard of God.” (I Sam. 1:11 &20)

By all accounts, Samuel made Hannah proud as he served God in many ways all the days of his life. Samuel was a key figure in the Old Testament and is known for his roles as the last judge of Israel, a military leader, seer, prophet, and kingmaker anointing both Saul and David.

God worked through Samuel because he was willing to be one thing: “God’s Servant,” just as Hannah’s inner-most desire had been declared unto God. (I Sam. 3:1-11)

Happy Mother’s Day to All Mothers, Especially to Those within the Household of Faith!

Introduction

On this Mother’s Day, I address this Sermon to every born-again Christian within the Body of Christ. Each of us has a mother, or mother figure, who is either alive, or who has gone on to be with the Lord, and they have left us with a rich legacy. By legacy I mean, our mothers have set before us long-lasting impacts of loving events and actions that were borne out of their sanctified and sacrificed hearts to God. In large measure, these events and actions have and are working to shape and mold us into what God has called us to be. That is, “Christs” within the earth.

Like Hannah, the mother of Samuel, in the born-again hearts of every mother is the deepest of all desires for her child; to witness her child “hear and heed to God’s call,” and say “Here am I.” (I Sam. 3:6-8) While it is true in the human experience that every mother wishes for their child’s happiness, well-being, and a fulfilling life, encompassing their health, emotional and financial stability, and the ability to pursue their dreams with love and full support. Even far greater though, within the heart of each Mom, is an eternal ambition that one day her child would be granted a “wise heart” and become the “Servant” of God.

A Christian mother knows her child is a precious gift from God, and belongs to Him alone. (Ps.127:3 & Matt.19:14) From the time the child is born into this world and handed over to her loving arms and bosom, she looks up to heaven and thanks God for the child, and lends them to the Lord for keeping. As such, when we were children growing up, our mothers nurtured and admonished us in the ways of God to prepare us for that Day when we would hear the Master Jesus Christ call us into the fold. (Eph. 6:4 & Prov. 22:6)

We were taken to Sunday school, Worship Services, read the Bible, taught to pray and say the blessing over meals, to give offerings, sing songs unto God, to love God and all people, to forgive those who wronged us, to honor and obey our parents, to be respectful of our elders and those in authority, to be helpful to our neighbors and all people, and when we stepped out of line with a firm hand (and on occasion with the rod, which comforted us) we received correction and were taught to apologize for our misbehavior.

Yes, these events and actions, and so much more, were taught to us with our mother’s inner-expectation, that one Day we would make the wise choice to say to the Lord, “Here I Am.”

“Here I Am” Means Voluntary Service to God Forever

Oh what joy it brings to a mother’s heart to see her child run to the altar of the Church and give their lives to Jesus Christ. A child’s first steps and words, graduations, proms, and wedding day are all great and special events that make a mother proud. But no proud moment in our mother’s hearts exceeds the Day when we give our lives to Jesus, and receive God’s Salvation. To every child born into the world, at the set time known only of God, God begins making the clarion Call to children; the Call to His godly seed to harvest for servanthood all of the days of their lives. We all remember the Day when we came to Jesus, and said literally, or figuratively, said the words “Here I Am.”

The words voluntarily spoken from the heart, “Here I Am,” signifies a humble and complete surrender to God’s Will. It is a declaration of readiness to serve and be used by God as the Lord sees fit. “Here I am” expresses thanksgiving to God for desiring to use us in spite of who we really are. In that most precious and holy moment, we are saying to God, “Just As I AM, Here I Am.”

Sometimes we hear the Voice of Jesus calling us into the fold at a young age and immediately respond, while others may respond much later in life for God never ceases to Call. My “Ace” friend Bishop Larry Dempsey’s father (Willy Dempsey) came to Jesus Christ for the first time in his late 80s. Still, no matter the age when we say “Here I Am,” the Call of Christ must be answered because we were predestinated to belong to the Master and to be molded into His image. (Rom.8:29) This is the real beauty of surrender and the way God uses us. He simply takes broken people, with unclean lips, who are not worthy of His Presence and Anointing, nor to be used; and God says, “I want to use you.”

Even now as I preach, I’m reminded of the Prophet Isaiah’s calling. In II Chronicles 26:16-23, it is recorded that after a 52-year reign of relative peace, King Uzziah of Judah died of leprosy, and in that same year Isaiah began his prophetic ministry. Then, we also find in Isaiah Chapter 6 in more detail how the prophet, through a vision from the Lord begins his ministry for God. In the vision, the Lord asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”(Is. 6:8) Isaiah’s response was to volunteer for service, saying, “Here am I, send me.”

In the vision Isaiah saw the Lord, “high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Is. 6:1)
The Lord had a Message to deliver to the nation of Judah, and He expresses His desire for a messenger in Verse 8, Isaiah’s exclamation “Here am I, send me” marked the very beginning of his ministry, the priest was now a prophet, and the Lord’s Message for Judah eventually would become the Book of Isaiah.

However, before Isaiah could say the words “Here Am I, send me,” he had a problem that had to be addressed. In Isaiah 6:5 it states how he was made aware of his own unworthiness, he wrote:

Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Standing in the Lord’s Presence, Isaiah is made painfully aware of his sin, and he is broken about it in the same way as were Job (Job 42:6) and Peter (Luke 5:8), when they were confronted with the Presence of the Lord. God was preparing Isaiah for his cleansing and commission.

After Isaiah acknowledges his sin, one of the seraphims in the Temple takes a burning piece of coal from the altar, touches Isaiah’s lips with it, and says, “See this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Is. 6:7)

Some details are important here: Isaiah could not remove his own guilt of sin, the atonement is made possible by the altar; the place of sacrifice, and the purification is specifically applied to the point of Isaiah’s sin—his lips—making Isaiah acceptable as a minister of God’s words.

It is only after Isaiah is cleansed of his sin that he says, “Here am I; send me.” Prior to that point, he saw himself as an unworthy messenger. Once he was forgiven, he immediately desired to serve the Lord in whatever way possible. The Lord’s question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” God desires willing volunteers in His service—and a grateful and enthusiastic Isaiah doesn’t hesitate in taking the opportunity: “Here am I; send me.” And for the rest of his life, Isaiah serves God who had forgiven and saved him.

In like manner, when we heard and headed the Call and came running to the altar to receive Jesus Christ, our lives were nothing more than sinful filthy rags. But, Jesus, who loved us, washed us from our sins in His own blood, our sins were forgiven past, present, and future; and we were made kings and priests unto God the Father. (Rev.1:5-6) Yes, the Day we were born-again, as our mothers witnessed our testimonies of conversion and water baptisms, they proudly rejoiced that their inner-most prayer had been answered. We were cleansed from all sin and commissioned as Ambassadors of God in Christ Jesus. From that Day forward only what we do for Christ matters and will endure all times.

Mothers Watch Over Our Service with God

Now Saints, let Proverbs 23:25 sink deeply into your souls and thought-life. King Solomon wrote:
Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice. (KJV)

The Message Bible states:

So make your father happy! Make your mother proud!
With the Triune God abiding in us, we can and must make our mothers proud of our Christian service all of our days on earth. Our mothers were made happy the Day we gave our lives to Christ and expression of our willingness to serve the Lord. But, they also understood that our Christian journey had just begun and our commitment to Christ is everlasting. No matter our age, our mothers concern themselves with our spiritual development and maturation in Christ Jesus.

Our mothers are never willing to let us passively live the Christian life and serve God. No, no, no. The Christian mother prays ceaselessly for her child, is always there to provide instruction, correction, and encouragement in accordance with the Word of God.

No matter the problem the child is confronted with, Momma has the solution: With confidence, she boldly declares “God will make everything all right.”

In the born-again heart of every Christian mother there is a bodacious expectation that her child will overcome every trial, tribulation, and/or persecution that comes their way, and that the child is also equipped to endure the chastening of the Lord and remain in complete service to God all the days of their lives on earth. Oh yes, mothers expect to see “all” that she has invested in raising her child come to full fruition.

Now, let me also say a few words to those Saints whose mothers are deceased and present with the Lord in Heaven. I want to comfort and reassure you that they are looking down and cheering you on; to with excellence be all that God has Called you to be in His service.

In my most humble opinion, it seems odd that in Christian Circles, so many Christians assume the Saints, including our mothers, who have made their transition to Heaven and are present with the Lord are completely ignorant of what’s happening here on Earth where the great drama of redemption is unfolding. Dear Lord, wouldn’t we think the citizens of Heaven are far more enlightened about the progression of salvation on earth, not less?

The Apostle Paul wrote at I Corinthians 13:12:

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

This Verse signifies that while on earth our current understanding of God and the world is limited and imperfect, like seeing a blurry reflection, but in the future when we get to heaven, our understanding and knowledge of God and truth will be made much more complete and clear. Further, Paul’s writing speaks of knowing in part in our earthly life, but “knowing fully” in the next, implying a recognition of each other’s character and deeds when we get to heaven. The great hymnal entitled, “When the Morning Comes” says, “By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we will tell the story how we’ve overcome; we will understand it better by and by.”

Praise God, while we cannot fully understand all things from Heaven’s perspective now, the Holy Bible does provide us with clues that suggests that our loved one’s in Heaven are aware and are watching some events that go on in our lives. In the case of mothers, I duly believe that a mother’s love for her children is never forsaken. So rich and deep is her love, compassion, and concern for her children that she is comforted by Christ concerning their security and well-being.

There is no fear in Heaven only faithful fulfillment of the eternal Promises of God. Mother’s in Heaven, I believe, rest in a revealed knowledge that there child is protected and guarded by assigned angels to bring forth their salvation, and so they peer over the balconies of Heaven and cheer their children on to victory.

Here is some of the evidence in the Holy Bible that the Saints in Heaven are aware of events in the earth. For example, Saints please be reminded of the martyrs in Revelation Chapter 6, who knew that God had not yet brought judgment on those who had killed them. It’s likely that they knew many other things about what is happening on Earth. At Revelation 6:9-11 it is written:

“I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’
Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.”

This Passage demonstrates that those in Heaven are the same people; only relocated. There’s continuity of identity from this life to the next. Those we love who are there now are part of what Hebrews 12:23 calls the “righteous men made perfect.”

Notice that the martyrs are aware of what happens on earth when they ask God, “How long… until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” They know those who killed them haven’t yet been judged. That means the martyrs remember their lives on earth; even that they were murdered. Some say people in Heaven can’t remember or see life on earth because knowing of evil would diminish Heaven’s happiness. But that is not so. Saints, the key to Heaven’s joy and our perfection as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven is not ignorance, but perspective, knowing that our afflictions experienced on earth are not to be compared with the glory revealed in heaven when we meet the Lord and dwell in mansions on high. (Rom. 8:18 & John 14:1-2)

Saints, another example of people aware of events on earth, is when called from Heaven to the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah “appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:31). Moses and Elijah seemed fully aware of what was transpiring on earth, and what God was about to do.
Another excellent witness in Scripture for your consideration is Luke 15:7, where Jesus Christ referred to the “rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.” Similarly, Jesus said, at Luke 15:10 that “there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Glory to God, Jesus did not say that the angles are the ones rejoicing, but “in the presence” of the angels of God. Surely this includes Saints in Heaven, who would be overjoyed by human conversions, especially of those they knew and loved on earth. To rejoice over conversions on earth, they must be aware of what is happening on earth, not generally, but specifically.

Furthermore, Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” The writer of Hebrews invokes the image of Greek competitions watched by throngs of fans sitting high in ancient stadiums. With the Saints who have gone before us are called a “great cloud of witnesses.” This imagery suggest those Saints, veteran spiritual athletes, watch us and cheer us on from the great stadium of Heaven. Note, that the witnesses are said to “surround” us, not just those who have preceded us.
As such, I submit that the Earth is center stage, awaiting the universe’s climactic event: Christ’s return. In Heaven, our Great High Priest Christ Jesus watches closely what transpires on earth, especially in the lives of believers. (Rev. 2-3) If God’s attention is on earth, why wouldn’t the attention of His loyal citizens of Heaven be here too; faithfully watching over us as we work as Ambassadors for Christ? They all are watching as we perform the works of Christ and greater works.

Make Momma Proud, Become Like Jesus, a Servant of All People

The Holy Bible makes clear that, when we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we will desire to serve God. When our hearts are regenerated, we become new creations in Christ, our hearts are made complete with the Spirit of the Life and Mind of Jesus Christ. (II Cor. 5:17 & Col. 3:3-4) Christ lives through us, and inherent in our relationship with God and knowing Him, is the desire to serve Him. Search your hearts right now and prove for your own selves that Christ is in you, and confirm the desire to serve only Him. (II Cor. 13:5) You only have a desire to worship God in spirit and in truth; for we are His true worshippers!

When we look at Jesus’ Life, there’s no denying that He was the “consummate servant” to all people. (Php. 2:5-11) Jesus’ entire life was centered on serving God; by teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom. (Matt. 4:23) Jesus exclaimed that, “He came not to be ministered (served) but to minister (serve) and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:28).

Then, on the night of His arrest, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, leaving them with a final teaching to serve one another: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:12-17) Since Jesus’ Public Ministry on earth was all about serving, and God has predestinated us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus, then our walk with Christ must be all about service to God and one another. Jesus and all of the witnesses in Heaven are watching us serve others in unfeigned love and obedience to the Word of God.

Genuine service cannot be separated from love. We can go through the motions of serving God, but if our hearts are not in it, we are missing the point of the Christian life. First Corinthians 13 makes it clear that, unless our service is rooted in love, it’s meaningless. Serving God out of a sense of obligation or duty, apart from love for God, is not what He desires. Rather, serving God should be our natural love-filled response to Him who loved us first. (I John 4:9-11)

The Apostle Paul is a great example of how having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ results in a life of service. Prior to his conversion, Paul persecuted and killed believers, thinking he was serving God. But after he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he immediately devoted the rest of his life to truly serving God by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Acts 9:20) Paul describes this transformation in 1 Timothy 1:12-14, writing:

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

Once Paul became aware of the love and grace that God had given him, his response was to serve God. Indeed, the Holy Bible offers many motivations for our service. For example, we want to serve God because “we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,” (Heb. 12:28) because our service supplies “the needs of the Lord’s people,” (II Cor.9:12), because our service proves our faith and causes others to praise God (II Cor. 9:13), and because God sees and rewards our labor of love. (Heb. 6:10) Each of these is a good reason to serve God and not grow weary and faint. (Gal. 6:9)

Saints, we can give away only what we’ve first received. The reason we can love and serve God is that He first loved and served us through Jesus Christ. The more we are aware of and experience God’s love in our own lives, the more prone we are to respond in love by serving Him and in turn others. If you want to serve God, the key is to get to know Him by spending earnest time in study of God’s Word and prayer. This is what the events and activities our mothers exposed us to in our youth were intended to accomplish.

Ask the Holy Ghost to reveal more of God to you, and as your relationship with God deepens in love and affection, God will bring you into assignments of service to accomplish Divine Purposes. (John 16:13). When we truly know God, who is love, our natural response is a desire to love and serve Him in return. And, to each act of service required of us, we will say “Here Am I, send me.” (1 John 4:8) Every believer in Christ has been called and anointed to do the works of Christ and greater works, (John 14:12) and also called into specialized services to the local Church. Here are a few examples:

• Sunday School and Bible study teachers
• Children and youth leaders
• Administrators
• Secretaries
• Janitors and maintenance workers to upkeep the building and grounds
• Transportation workers for children or others unable to drive
• Outreach workers
• Ushers and greeters
• Choir members and soloists
• Musicians
• Music directors, song leaders, etc.
• Audio and video technicians
• Website administrators and social media coordinators
• Treasurers and accountants
• Kitchen workers
• Nursery workers

Every member of a Church or Ministry should be serving in some way, and every servant of the Lord should remember that it’s more than just serving others; it’s loving them. Paul wrote, “Serve one another humbly in love.” (Gal. 5:13) Serving within and outside of the Church walls can take on many forms: babysitting for a young couple to give them a night out, preparing a meal for a family struck by illness, visiting the elderly or housebound widow, or just picking up a phone and saying, “I was thinking about you today.” Christians may busy themselves in tasks of service like the ones listed above, but endless performing, without love, is meaningless. (I Cor. 13:1-3) As we go about serving God and others, let us do so with a spirit of humility and brotherly love. (Php. 2:1-4) For in doing these things we are pleasing in the sight of God, will be rewarded in Heaven, and we make our mothers proud.

In closing, the Apostle Peter addresses the importance of serving God in I Peter 4:10-11 wrote:

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Peter makes it clear that we have received our gifts from God for two purposes; to serve others and to bring praise to God. Serving is not about us receiving attention or glory; it is for God to receive glory.

This is what our mothers are expecting from our walk with the Lord; to do good works that bring glory to God the Father. When we are converted, we are required to strengthen our brothers and sisters. (Luke 22:32) Our mothers are watching, so make them proud with becoming a personal “Christ” for all people. Amen for the preaching of the Word of the Living God.

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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.

Please send your tithes and offerings in support of Exousia Ministries, Inc. to the PayPal link below. May God exponentially multiply your cheerful and hilarious giving to our Ministry and ever take you deeper into the knowledge of Himself.
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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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