We

We send you our wishes for a joyful Passover and spiritually fulfilling Days of Unleavened Bread.  This world sadly needs, desperately needs, the return of Christ.  We have the assurance and comfort of a new world ahead.

Dear Brethren,

Many of God’s people do not feel that they possess or excel at the interpersonal skills necessary to be able to communicate and interact with other people – especially when it comes to conflict resolution.  We’ve all heard someone exclaim, “I’d like to go off somewhere and get away from it all.”  “Just you and me Lord.”  “I’ve had it with people.”  “It would be nice to just head for the hills.”  I’m an independent Christian.”  “People are just not my strong suit.”

The trouble is that God intends for His people to learn now how to work and get along with others – lots of others – and with those of differing perspectives.  If we are to serve with Jesus Christ in the millennium – our primary duty will be working with people – lots of people.  We will be teaching great numbers of them to walk in the way of the Lord.  “This is the way – walk ye in it.” (Isaiah 30:21).

Though the Church of God is a small and separated flock now, God’s people are destined to grow to astronomical numbers.

On a Passover evening almost four-thousand years ago our Lord promised Abraham that the number of his children would be like the stars of heaven.  “The [Lord God] brought [Abram] forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them… So shall thy seed be.”  (Genesis 15:5)

As time grows short for the return of Christ let us avail ourselves of the remaining time to learn this one vital lesson:  God fully expects us to think of ourselves as a part of His one community of Christians who equally share one Father - Our Father.

Those two words, Our Father, express the understanding that God is literally our personal Father.  And yet Jesus Christ went to great ends to make sure that we realize that our relationship with God the Father is not a relationship that is exclusive of others – but rather mutually encompassing of all of us.  Jesus could have instructed His disciples to begin their personal prayers with, “My Father in heaven…” But He did not use My; instead He instructed us to pray, "Our Father." In fact Jesus worded our instruction so as to be specifically inclusive of all others.  That is the way He wants us to think.

Sadly, many of the brethren are being taught a fatal point of view that excludes of most of the body of Christ.  Perhaps we would like to have an exclusive relationship with the Father, but the very word, “our” indicates that God’s will is to be Father of all mankind.  When we pray and worship we are to come before the Almighty God of the universe in awe and respect, as only one among all of His creation.  It is an improper and arrogant concept to think of ourselves as having the inside track with God to the exclusion of others.  That is why Jesus did not teach us to pray, “My Father.”

Remember this:  God intends that the Church brethren first – and then all mankind be a part of His great Design and Plan.  Jesus made it possible for man to have a one-on-one relationship with the Father - but not to the barring of a single one of our brethren.  The establishment of a close, personal relationship with our Father is what He desires.  This “closeness” is of paramount importance in the development of our spiritual character – but only when we are not ruling out others.

Very near the end of his life, the last remaining apostle, the beloved John, expressed this concept of harmony and fellowship among all the brethren – including himself in the number.

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you (plural), that you (plural) also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”  (1 John 1:3)

In fact, the Church of God consists of the true believers who God the Father has called to be a part of the Body of Christ.  “You, brethren, are the Body of Christ, and members in particular.”  (1 Corinthians 12:27)

It is in Paul’s epistles that we find the concept of the Body of Christ being expounded upon.  There is no justification for scattered groups to disregard, let alone have contempt for other brethren who are lead by God’s Spirit.  "The bread which we break, is it not the fellowship of the Body of Christ?  For we being many [brethren] are one bread, and one Body."
(1 Corinthians 10:16-17)

When we are connected with Christ – we are connected to every one of the members of the Church of God.  When we do not count all the others to be our brethren – then we are not connected to Jesus Christ.  "You [brethren] are called into one Body; and be ye thankful."  (Colossians 3:15)

Jesus Christ has only one spiritual Body which is all the Church of God – the Bride of Christ – the saints – the called out ones who will reign and rule with Him in the millennium.  “And [God] has put all things under His [Jesus’] feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all."  (Ephesians 1:22-23)

If the Church of God fully appreciated these words we would not be in the scattered state we find ourselves today.  Instead we would all be loving and recognizing one another and growing in perfection unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).

Shame on every Church leader who has not publicly and honestly reached out to all the other Church leaders to allow all the brethren to observe Passover as Jesus Christ intended we keep it.

Brethren, if we as members of the Church of God would discern who the members of Christ’s Body are, and hold our Church leaders accountable to Christ, we would not be in the poor spiritual health we find ourselves today (1 Corinthians 11:29-30).

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Sermon:  "We"

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