Christ said,”….I will build my church, and the gates of hell (powers of darkness) shall not prevail (overcome it) against it-Mat.16:18”. After that, He went ahead and began to build. What exactly did He build? (For details on this, request for our message, “what is a church?”). Christ came proclaiming some news about the coming kingdom of God and the life of God (righteousness) which is lived in that kingdom. We know that man was created to live this same godly life but was deceived and strayed from it.
As He continued to proclaim (preach) this news, people believed (accepted) and followed him. What did they believe? The life which Christ was teaching. They accepted that it is the true life which they are supposed to live. It is these who believed whom He named the Church. Take it please. It was not a people who sat and agreed to start a fellowship. It is not a person who campaigned and convinced others to agree with him, and so formed a group which can only do what he says. It was (and up to now is) a people who heard the word of God preached by Jesus, and afterwards by men whom He had taught the exact same identical message, who”…when they received the word of God which they heard from the preachers, they accepted it not as the word of men but as it really is, the word of God which is at work in those who believe-1Thes.2:13”. So, whether by Jesus, or the prophets, or the apostles, what whoever believed accepted was the one life of the one God which was being preached by all, and which was written down to become the scriptures we are quoting here.
Here, we are talking about one God who has one way of life, which the people He has named the church have accepted, and are learning to live by. It is therefore a plain truth that, as many as have accepted this life, have also been united by,”…..the same mind and the same judgement-1cor.1:10”. How can so many people have the same mind? It’s simple.
After accepting the one life of God which is in Jesus Christ,”…..they no longer live for themselves (what one may think or desire), but for Him who died for them-2cor.5:15”. Therefore, though many, each one has forsaken his/her mind and replaced it with”… the mind of Christ, which is the mind of God-1 cor.2:16”. See-John.17:21, read please.
WHY THE ONENESS?
When God created man, He wished to enlarge His family which lives in that one life of His which is right and holy. After man chose the wrong life, he brought upon himself a knowledge which once applied, causes the divisions we are seeing in communities today. (See our message, “it is Satan”). Since He must accomplish His plan, God had to send Jesus who came and revealed the true knowledge which if applied, will unite all into the one desired godly family. The Church are those who accepted this life, and God has made them His embassy here on Earth among men who are divided among themselves. What for? “…to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.That,through the Church, the manifold wisdom of God may now be made known-Eph.3:9-10”. So, the Church will not be itself, and will also not be serving God if it doesn’t apply that one mind of God which binds it together so that,”…just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ(the church-Eph.4:15)-1Cor.12:12”.Once united in this manner,then,it will convince the world that it represents God and His true life which is meant for all men, regardless of religion, gender,tribe,nationality,race, or language, for the author of the Church(Jesus) says,”……that they may all be one, even as me and you are,……so that the world may believe-John.17:21”. Get it please. It is the oneness that proves to the world that these people are God’s Church. Against Satan’s world which is divided among itself, and packed with hatred, God has established His embassy (the Church), to teach the world the way of peace, and demonstrate it by this oneness in love as a proof, for Christ continues to say, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another-John.13:35”.
This, brethren, becomes possible when every member is working towards being made like God, and when he/she has stopped consulting with the self in anything that one does, feels, thinks, talks, or even desires. They are a people who,”…do not rely on their own thinking, but always consults with God’s word in every step-Prov.3:5-6”.If this be the case, then there will not be a person who is claiming to be the one who did, who deserves, who should be commended, or anything of the self-interest because, whether they did, or what, they know the one who is doing. As a people who have been sent by Christ, and empowered to, either plant, or weed, or prune, whatever service one is given to render, they know very well that ,”…it is God who gives the growth. He who waters and he who plants are equal-1Cor.3:7-8”.Being then God’s project, these Church members have nothing to contend for among themselves, for theirs is to(through the gift of God which each is given) grow in the knowledge of God, looking to Him(not to men),for approval and justification. They each know themselves to be God’s work, and so they leave everything to Him, to protect, and to defend, theirs being only to obey what He commands (not what they want or what others may come with).
IMITATORS OF GOD.
God is a family which right now Consists of two individuals,i.e,God the father, and God the son who initially was the word(see.John.1:1-3,14). These two are united in one mind and judgment for Christ says, “the son does nothing apart from what the father does. For as the father does, so does the son-John.5:19”.By living this one life, it makes them one, for he further says,”….know that the father is in me and I in the father-john.10:38”.God created man to be added to His family, that,”….God may bring many sons to glory—–Hebr.2:10”,and that,”…Christ may be the first born among many brothers-rom.8:29”.since man was deceived, and God has hereby began the church through which He will teach all men His original purpose for their lives, for the church to do so, He has grafted it(the church) to this oneness of the father and the son, for He says,”….our fellowship is with the father and with His son Jesus Christ-1John.1:3”.And again,”…that they may be one even as I am with you-john.17:21”.This is evident with the 1st century Church which consisted of the twelve apostles, and long after them. Hear what is said about them. “Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said any of the things he possessed was his, but they had everything in common-acts.4:32”.Since they learned from God, they had to continue with the example they were shown by their master, for he told them,” I have given you an example that you may follow my steps-John.13:15”.The first era of God’s church never lost sight of God’s purpose of establishing it, which is to grow in God’s true life as they witness it to the world by remaining united.
Let’s get more evidence please. After the Church grew and were dispersed by persecution (not by being deceived from the truth), wherever each one or several landed, they continued to preach as they demonstrate the life by deeds. Did they each detach themselves with everyone starting their own group, and claiming to be its founder and leader? Let’s get the answer please from the bible. “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word(life of God).Phillip went down to a city of Samaria…………..when they heard him preach, the multitude heeded with one accord……………..When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria has received the word of God, they sent to them peter and John-Act.8:4-7,14-16”. Let’s face the truth please. Phillip went alone preaching and the Samaritans believed. Did he say,” I am the one who started this group. I must be the leader. You guys preach out there while I do it here.These are my followers. What is necessary is that we all preach Christ”. Did he do that? Not even in the least. Why? What he preached was not his word. So the people did not accept him but God who had sent him. He never tried to convert them to his will. He was only telling them about the life of God which he discovered to be good, and loved that they may also discover and find peace like him. The apostles in Jerusalem did also not say; “we did not send him.So his preaching is not valid”. They knew that no one can speak the truth unless God has send him, and also, no one can confirm the word by signs and wonders except God who gave the word.
They immediately sent people to Samaria to strengthen God’s work by doing their part after Phillip had done his, for,”……as each has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever speaks, as one who utters God’s oracles; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies, in order that in everything, God is glorified through Jesus Christ-1Pet.4:10-11”. Yes, after Phillip and Peter/John, each had done their part (and it was God doing in them), whose group did it become? The Samaritan church headed by Phillip? Peter’s/John’s Church since they are the ones through whom God gave His spirit? Throughout the Church history, we see God adding people to His Church, not starting contending groups with each claiming better closeness to God than the other. What God began in Samaria was a pillar of His same Church, for,”…they became imitators of the churches of God in Judea which are in Jesus Christ-1Thes.2:14”.It means, after joining Christ, they joined the one mind which was with Phillip,Peter and john, becoming one with the father and the son, and with one another. The word churches is never applied to mean many differing groups but rather, the one church in different locations. This was why, whether peter or Paul, or James, or any other servant of God visited any group, there never used to be questions of which affiliation one belongs to, or, what doctrine one upholds. For they were all in the one doctrine of Jesus, who is in all and they in Him.
After Peter visited Cornelius, the church expanded to that region. Another group was scattered to Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, and they also went speaking the word. “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of those who believed turned to the Lord. News of this came to the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent barnabas-Acts.11:19-22”.
Again here, these preachers did not exclude themselves from the mother Church, because, apart from striving to become like Christ and witnessing to the same wherever they went, they had no personal agenda. They knew how it is God fulfilling his purpose through them, that of reaching the whole world with the gospel which advocates for unity and peace. So, wherever they went, they had this one thing in mind; which? “……eager to maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. For there is one body and one spirit; just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God-Eph.4:3-6”.And this was made possible by each not,”.. speaking of anything except what Christ has wrought through them to win obedience from the listeners, by word and deed-Rom.15:18”. We don’t see anywhere in the bible where some individuals separated themselves and began a parallel ministry, because after self-denial, no one had any personal interest apart from that of having God’s truth seen and heard through him.(Our message, “why deny self has details on this please).
And this all because, everyone knew of him/herself as a part of the one body of Christ, who is the Church. None needed introduction in any Church group they visited because they were speaking the same thing-see.2 Cor.8:18-22.see Also verses-1-6. Even after the scattering by persecution, the church, though with local groups in various regions, continued to have a common wealth, though not accumulated in one place. The members continued with that oneness of God’s mind of outgoing concern for each other.
Each group used to contribute,”……for they gave according to their means, of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-2cor.8:3-4”.Are we there? This is a gentile group of believers (the Macedonians in Greece), who, by the love of God at work in them asked for an opportunity to give in help of the needy saints.
Was it just the Macedonians alone? Brethren, the Church of God remained united and it is up to now. Another local group began in Antioch-acts.11:20-22.When they heard reports of famine in Jerusalem,”…the disciples, determined each according to his ability to send relief in Judea-Acts.11:29-30”. Because of the one mind of God by the one spirit in them, though scattered, they were all one-one church. The separation was just geographical (distance barrier), not in opinion nor decision-making. Room doesn’t permit us to continue with these examples but they are all over in the bible-see Rom.16:1–; 1Cor.16:1-……; Phill.4:1-…..and many more chapters. We don’t see a single place in the bible where the Church differed to a level of each local group starting a parallel ministry while they excused it and agreed to disagree. When Satan tried it during the apostles’ time, they as advocates of God’s truth stood against him and rebuked the arrangement, asking;”….Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you, or were you baptized in the name of Paul-1Cor.1:13?” Here, Satan invaded the Church through the lay members. But since the leaders were true God’s servants, who were selfless and filled with the Holy Spirit, they saw it and immediately, stopped it.
So, they defeated his design, encouraging the brethren to remember what they believed in, and what it began in them, that,”…..all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgement-1Cor.1:10”. The scattering didn’t stop the Church from being one in everything. Differences would arise with individuals but they were never allowed to remain. They used to be settled and the unity continued. Read about Paul and Barnabas, and mark. Read about the two ladies-see Phill.4:2.The point is, whenever a difference arose, it used to be sorted out. Whether individually, or locally in Christ, the Church has continued to be universally united also in Him, for its manner of life is,”….worthy of the gospel of Christ,……..so that you stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel-Phill.1:27”.Yes,because the gospel is teaching all men through the display by the Church about the one united life and family of God unto which all men are potential members. I know many, especially the scoffers, are right now wondering whether am in my normal senses, and whether I know what I am talking about. Let whoever is harboring such a wonder know that, it is not me but Your Lord and savior Jesus Christ, the head of the Church who is speaking in me, and He is the truth. But one will insist; “where is that united Church and all we are seeing are hundreds of groups calling themselves, ‘church of God’, and each has its own independent ministry?” Know and understand that each member of God’s church is independently in Christ (is a body part of Christ).But in Christ (the one body), each member is dependent on the other, so that it,”…into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth, and up builds itself in love-Eph.4:15-16”.If this be so, can you show us where it applies in the today’s groups? We don’t see that unity (one body).Read on and see please.
A DIFFERENT CHURCH
Paul in his days kept warning about a,”…mystery of disobedience already at work…..2Thes.2:7”.It is that same mystery at work now, and has succeeded in giving birth to these groups. Beware of false prophets, and also of church members with little knowledge who are trying to justify the divisions. “You were running well. Who hindered you from following the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who called you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump-Gal.5:7-9”.
God changes not and, His”…counsel shall stand, and He will accomplish all His purpose-Isa.46:10”.As we began to see, amid a deceived- divided- differing world, God in Jesus Christ started His Church to show His purpose and life for all mankind, which is one of unity, and corporation, made possible by His one-shared mind. We have followed through with His church to now, and have not seen any change. What about the groups then? “Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now, many antichrists have come-1John.2:18”. I know it will not sound good to the majority. But brethren, what will it help if we don’t speak God’s truth for the sake of pleasing ourselves? “Are we here seeking the favor of men, or God? Or, are we trying to please men? If up to now, we are still pleasing men, then we are not serving Christ-Gal.1:10”. Is there pleasure against the truth? Not unless one is of the world, who”…..stumbles on the word instead of repenting”.
An antichrist is simply a person who speaks against Christ. This is exactly what these church groups are doing, and they prove to be, “of the world; therefore what they say is of the world, and the world listens to them-1John.4:5”. What do you mean? You are calling God’s churches, worldly? I am saying, they are not God’s. This is why they are upholding the world’s nature of divisions, thus speaking against Christ who says,”….that they may all be one, with love for one another-John.17:21; 13:35”.(Read our message please named, “Is Christ divided” for details).
Satan began them when, he sent his agents into the Church of God. A people who disguised themselves as angels of light(as believers).Sad to say, the God’s church of today doesn’t seem to harbor the same spiritual eyes which our forefathers used to have. This is because, in their days, any slight effort by Satan to infiltrate the church used to be noticed and an alarm raised, for they warned,” I appeal to you brethren to take note of those who create divisions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught, and avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by fair and flattering words, they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded-Rom.16:17-18”.see also 2Pet.2:3-4.Before his death, Paul warned of what is happening, which is Satan’s doing through his agents. Now, how many of us are remembering the warning, and noticing these wolves? This is how Satan began the groups. Paul warned; “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the holy spirit has made you guardians, to feed the Church of the Lord which he obtained with His own blood- Acts.20:28”.
Why the alert? Remember, Christ is addressing you who are reading this message now. What He told them during the days of the writing of the scriptures is what He is telling us who are alive and reading now, for He changes not. Will you heed? So, why the alert? Paul continued; “…For fierce wolves (Satan’s agents) have come in among you, and are not sparing the flock. They have arisen among yourselves, speaking perverse things to draw away (from the truth) disciples after themselves-Acts.20:29-30”.Have we heeded the warning, and stayed alert? Not even in the least, for, the Churches we are witnessing right now are a product of this satanic activity. But God’s true people are so watered down that they don’t see, and a great majority are swallowed up in the system. You say,” I belong to united; I, to living, restored, Church of God in truth, Etc,Etc;”.During the apostles time, Satan tried to use the followers to cause divisions by making them cling, each to the apostle of their preference-see 1 Cor.1:11-12 please.. But God’s true servants saw it and sounded the warning trumpet. Today, Satan has used the leaders, and the unsuspecting followers have heeded ignorantly. My friend, don’t feel insulted or belittled when Christ tells you that you are now in a spiritual captivity. See it please with a self-denied mind. Satan has arisen his servants (wolves) within the Church. They have shared the followers among themselves, each seeking a following (not conveying God’s message)-see.Acts.20:30.
Now, if they are wolves, will what they bring about in the name of church be God’s? By no means. You who was asking me about where the church explained by the scripture is, the one bodied church, get the answer from this point on please. Read carefully and get answered as you follow. (you can also read our message, “The end time church” for more info). This agents were raised by Satan and they have fulfilled the, ”prophesied coming rebellion(falling away) from the true foundation-2Thes.2:3”. During the first century, the Church was scattered by persecution. The today’s scattering is brought about by deception, with people accepting a lie, and each following these agents, ”who teach what they want to hear, and have turned away from the truth-2Tim.4:3-4”. Most of these leaders are a people,”…following their own ungodly passions (want a following).It is these who cause divisions (Not God as some claim), and they do it because they are not lead by God’s spirit of oneness-Jude.1:18-19”.
A certain servant of God used to warn the Church about the indwelling evil agents. He used to warn the true members; speaking to a group of, like 200members,he would tell them,” I doubt whether in this congregation, there are more than five or at most, ten people who are getting this truth rightly”. What am saying is; in every Church- of- God- gathering, the majority are Satan’s agents. This is because, as Christ said, very few see and walk through the narrow door. Even though many be called, very few measure to being chosen.
Satan used these agents to tear apart the few who used to meet in that original umbrella for a spiritual fellowship. And because they never stayed alert, when Satan struck, they were carried away by the wave of the many who were imposters. Therefore, know and understand that the original united true Church of God is very much alive but scattered by satanic forces through his agents who now are seen as the Churches’ leaders; and they have put a fence around them. In the guise of protecting the flock, they have brainwashed them to believe that they can only fellowship and be free with those of the group in which they belong. Am I attacking anybody or group, or this is what is happening? Agree with me please. Each group is comfortable with itself, and critical of the other groups. Any visit by a member of another group to a different group is received with great suspicion, and the group isn’t very concerned with whether that person has come with the truth. Its concern is with whether the person has come to join them. If not to join, what follows is an argument –filled, so called fellowship, with each trying to outdo the other. KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS
This world is Satan’s world. After people accepted his way, they live divided, they gossip (silent campaign against each other) each other, ever on self-defense, they like pre-eminence, and many more. As I continue to reach the Church in Laodicea among this groups, most of the churches’ leaders accuse me of pouching their believers. Some wonder why I have to preach to their members instead of going to what they call the world. The world? Do they not know they are already in the world, and it’s why they are so much concerned with their leadership positions such that, they reject the Christ they pretend to serve? They think I am coming to overthrow them and like them, draw followers after myself.
Do we who are given the work of shepherding the flock protect them by building a wall around them? Do we not know that Satan works in people’s minds and can’t be stopped physically? The true Church of God doesn’t fight for followers. It is fulfilling its master’s command to worn those of its members who are right now scattered in these groups, that they may,”…Flee from the midst of Babylon (this spiritual confusion). Let every man save his life”. Why? What is happening? “For I the Lord am stirring up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon-Jerem.51:6, 1”. The true Church doesn’t even fight for itself, but for the truth, and protects its flock by, ”equipping the saints(with knowledge),…….until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood,,…to the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind of teaching -Eph.4:12-14”.But against this plain truth, these leaders will not allow someone who doesn’t belong there to teach in their synagogues,even though one may be teaching the truth,which,if anybody’s will is to do the will of God, he/she can prove it from the bible, not from the preacher. In the same way the world leaders are careful not to lose support of their subjects, and not to see anyone raising above them, so are these church leaders. They discriminate, honoring the rich, and those in leading positions, just like the world.
We know that God is right now building His thoughts, desires, feelings, knowledge, and behavior in the believers’ heart. So the true Church concerns itself, and fellowships about the word of God which talks about their hearts, and shows them what to change to.
But these groups’ fellowships are filled with gauging each other. Evaluating people’s lives, in exactly the same way the world does. Why? Because, after straying from the truth, their focus has turned to the carnal level where,”…the minds are set on the things of the flesh-Rom.8:5”.This is what they can understand.
They are busy comparing themselves (not with Christ, for if Christ, they will fellowship about him)”….with those who commend themselves (not with Christ, our only example).But when they measure themselves with one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding-1Cor.10:12”.
Yes, they shy away from any discussion that exposes their heart’s intentions, because their right now aim is not to become like Christ, but to secure their personal standing. Their worries are; “how others (people, not God) see them; what are they saying about me? How do they take me;is he eyeing my pastoral position, and the like, because, being in the carnal level,”…..how can you believe, you who receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God-John.5:44”.If you are there among them, and are being lead by the holy spirit, and are striving to put on Christ, you will agree with me that, what you are experiencing there is a lot of setbacks, with the majority trying by their talks and attitudes, to draw you away from that Godly concern. Are you one of those who are experiencing such an atmosphere? It is because you are in a spiritual Babylon and are choking, imagining that those around you are going the same direction with you, and at the same time, wondering why they don’t seem to get careful with God’s life. Know and understand that you are in a Leodicean environment. Thank God because this voice you are reading now is from your savior, through those who have also heard it, and Christ is now using them to call you out of there, back to Him(not to us, even though, once you go back to Him, you will also be joined to us because we are speaking in Him),for,”… We venture not to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through us to win obedience from as many of you as are given ears to hear, by word and deed-Rom.15:18”.
Brethren, if we are among those who are trapped there, listen to this trumpet and heed to it, because the order by Christ to regather His Church, and to prepare it by,”…washing it with water by the word—Eph.5:26”,is on; for his second coming is near. So brother, since we have to inherit the soon coming kingdom, and that is only possible if Christ is living in us and we in him (in His word), then here He is, telling you that, you have abandoned Him; but He has not despaired on you. He came into you when you believed and made his dwelling in you, making you one with him and the father, and those who believe like you. But after the wolves struck, you were carried away from him
He wants you to come back, and this is what he is promising you. “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to Him(as He was in the beginning) and eat with him, and he with me(compare with-john.14:23).Once we do that and get perfected by the obedience of the word, by God’s power, then we will become spotless. So,Chrsit continues with his promise to you who hears, “He who overcomes, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself overcame and am sited with my father on his throne-Rev.3:20-21”. Those who will come out of Laodicea will sit together(not as parallel administrations)on Christ’s throne. God demands that His Church trains in that oneness now and develop that Character. We must overcome these divisions if we will be there. We must learn to live together in Christ right now if we will sit together with him when He comes,for,”where the carcass(Christ)is, there the vultures(His true Church) will be gathered-Mat.24:28”whoever has hears, let him hear what the spirit is saying to the Churches-Rev.3:22”.
Christ is here with more details, ready to teach as many as are desirous of His life and, and eternal living in his soon coming kingdom, through his Church. Join Him now for more by tuning in with,
THE ENDTIME CHURCH OF GOD,