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.

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Sermon:

"You are of the Messiah"