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You are of the Messiah |
Dear Brethren,
This
Countdown to the Return of Jesus Christ is dedicated to the brave young men
and women who are working together in a Spirit of unity. A few years
ago, a few young Church adults began an annual event which has become known
as the “Togetherness Weekend.” The object of the get-together is to bring
the scattered young adults of God's Church together for a few days to focus
on our common faith and hope in the future, while building relationships
that will, hopefully, bring greater unity to the Church of God and its various
groups.
Recently, I had the privilege of
delivering the Sabbath sermon to this group of young adults who were from at
least a half-dozen diverse fellowships. In this Countdown I wish to share a
few excerpts from the sermon that I presented to this spirited young
generation of believers.
A superb awakening is taking place within
God’s Church. You young members are reaching out in fellowship to
like-minded brethren across artificial man-made dividing lines. This work
of assembling yourselves together is pleasing to God. Please
understand how special to God this "Togetherness Weekend" undertaking is.
Rather than being restricted to the
confines of any one corporate organization, you courageous young brethren
are seeking the full unity of all the brethren that Jesus Christ so
intensely desired when He prayed, “That they all may be
one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be
one in Us.” (John 17:21)
Those of the world are unable to see
Jesus Christ in others – but you do. “To whom [Saints] God would
make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles [world does not know]; which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory.” (Colossians 1:27) That is the mystery of bringing unity to
the Church – seeing Christ in others.
It is God’s Holy
Spirit in you that is motivating you to reach out across
unacceptable walls of separation that divide God’s people. It is Christ in
you - He is the one reaching out to others to unify His people.
At your conversion and baptism, you were
baptized into the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ became your Lord and
Master. You belong to Christ – Christ is in each of you – you are of the
Messiah. You are holy in God’s eyes. You young men and women are
shining examples to the scattered groups that lack the unity exemplified
here today.
Whenever you reach out to any of the
scattered brethren for the sake of unity, some adversaries will disparage
your efforts because your endeavors are not sanctioned by a larger church
corporation. Do not be intimidated – God is pleased with your
togetherness way of thinking. It is altogether fitting and proper that you
should build unity among all who are being led by God’s Spirit (Romans 8:14).
In fact, this reaching out to all others
is exactly what the various Churches of God should be doing.
The exclusiveness exemplified by most church organizations is displeasing to
God. A case in point concerns two ladies in a remote area of God's
Church who, during the years before the apostasy in the Worldwide Church of
God, always kept Passover together and washed each other's feet. After
the splits occurred, the ladies found themselves in different church
organizations. When it came time for Passover, each lady asked her
Pastor if it would be permissible to continue observing Passover together as
they always had in the past. One Pastor asked his headquarters in
Charlotte – the other Pastor asked his headquarters in Cincinnati – and the
answer came back from both, "No."
What is most important to God – unity of the Spirit or corporate
organizational integrity? Unity is of paramount importance in Christ’s eyes. All church members
should be working together for the unity of the Spirit. "With all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your
calling." (Ephesians 4:2-4)
You are a part of the one body of Christ.
At your baptism you were baptized into the Spirit of God – the spiritual life
of God. "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body …
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)
How much more clearly could it be
written? Spiritually, brethren become unified – one in Spirit, and one in
the Body of Christ. By definition, it is absolutely impossible to have
Christian love for only a part of the Body of Christ. We cannot
serve and fellowship with some and neglect the needs of other brethren.
Artificially erected walls of division among church organizations,
separating God's people, are frustrating, meaningless, and destructive. It
is a non-Scriptural and un-Godly practice.
You are a part of the one body of
Christ. The Body of Christ is a body that exists in unity and oneness.
The Body of Christ is not divided. We must understand the dignity of the people
of God. God has only one Family. Do we have genuine care and concern for
all the people in the Family of God? Whenever an individual or group of
people reject a part of the Church of God - the Body of Christ - and
refuse to communicate and fellowship with other brethren – they critically violate
the integrity of Christ’s Body – which is not to be broken.
Because of your courage, you have learned
that you can fearlessly cross any artificial line that would separate Church
brethren. We are running out of time to show God that we consider all
of the brethren to be the Bride of Christ. The
Bride of Christ is not yet prepared. Soon, those who are
truly prepared for the marriage of the Lamb will come together in unity of
mind, attitude, and Spirit, no matter which organization they are in. They
will be One with each other, and One with Jesus Christ.
It will be a miracle when it happens. The
lines must be crossed – the barriers will come down. Let us warmly receive
and embrace all who have God's Holy Spirit. We must be doing everything
possible to help unify one another in the Faith. Let us
show ourselves friendly to all brethren.
God is pleased when His people reach out
across barriers to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Unity is
what is so important to Jesus Christ – spiritual Unity. Wouldn’t it be
wonderful if all of God’s true people could share a Great Passover
– similar to the one in Josiah’s day – except this time with converted
– Spirit led brethren – as we see here today. Keep up the good work - you
belong to Christ - you are of the Messiah.
***
Sermon: |
"You are of the Messiah" |
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