The Church Of Jesus Christ Headquarters: 2797 Bryant St. Portage, IN 46368 Phone: 219-841-9613 www.JESUSCHRISTISGOD.ORG Message of Hope Official Organ, owned by: The Church of Jesus Christ Editor of the Message of Hope: Sis. Wendy Leslie Please send all articles to: MESSAGE OF HOPE 236 Southwind Dr. Valparaiso, IN 46385 Bugsy2004@msn.com Articles and Pictures due: January
1st 2009
What Does The Church of Jesus Christ Believe? We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and is the SOLE authority on every subject. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Almighty God. Rev. 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” God put on a robe of flesh and walked here on earth for 33 years to fulfill prophecy for the New Testament Church, which is The Church of Jesus Christ. According to the Word, John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us….” The Church of Jesus Christ believes that everyone must take His word seriously, John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I Am He, ye shall die in your sins.” We follow God’s plan of salvation. Acts 2:38, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Baptism is by immersion in water only. The evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost is according to Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” John 3:5 states, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” We must then live a clean, holy, and dedicated life to Jesus Christ thereafter taking diligent heed to the Word. The Church of Jesus Christ must be found faithful to His Word. We must be partakers of Communion service. This service consists of the Lord’s Supper and Foot Washing. 1 Cor. 11:24, 25, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” John 13:14, 15, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (15) For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.” Watch, pray, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, give your tithes and offerings, so that YOU can be counted among the faithful when our one and only Savior, Jesus Christ, comes back in a “cloud with power and great glory”!
Executive Board of Bishops Bishop Jarret R. Spence, Presiding Bishop 2298 Fern Street Portage, Indiana 46368 Phone 219-762-7492 Bishop Tommy Johnson, Asst. Presiding Bishop P.O. Box 505 Dyersburg, Tennessee 38024 Phone 731-285-9200 Bishop Paul Rose, Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 344 Cabin Creek, West Virginia 25035 Phone 304-595-5640
National Youth Leaders Bro. Jarret & Sis. Caryn Spence 804 Pennsylvania Avenue LaPorte, IN 46350 Phone 219-325-3904 Bro. Travis & Sis. Nora Hensley, Assistants 437 Tecumseh Street Warsaw, IN 46582 Phone 574-551-4487
Bishop of Jamaica Bishop Orville Rodney 199 Catherene Mount Albion P. A. Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica, W. I. Phone 876-952-6676
Bishop of Canada Bishop Mathias Gooden 75 Dunlop St., Apt. 406 Richmond Hills, ON L4C 2M7 CANADA Phone 905-883-8543
State Bishops Bishop Charles Hays, Sr. 409 Fitch Street Albion, Michigan 49224 Phone 517-629-7053
Bishop Danny Walls P.O. Box 216 Ingalls, Indiana 46048 Phone 317-485-4105
United We Stand
Divided We Fall
www.jesuschristisgod.org www.thechurchofjesuschrist.net
Shout For the Lord Hath Given You the City!
“For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” 1 Chron. 16:25. I am still rejoicing in my spirit from the tent revival that was held in Dyersburg, Tennessee September 11 – 13th. The last service we got to experience what they did in the tabernacle in 1 Kings 8:10-11. The preacher couldn’t minister because the glory of the Lord filled the house. It was a glorious time in the Lord. That service has “restored unto me the joy of my salvation” (Ps. 51:12). We are glad to report that one from the Portage church, Bro. Clarence Rogers was filled with the Holy Ghost during that service. We have had someone filled with the Holy Ghost from our church in each of the last two tent revivals. During that wonderful service, some were led by the spirit to march around. I was reminded of the walls of Jericho. How the more we marched, the more victory came down. When I got home, I re-read the account in Joshua. I have read and heard it many times but this time I got much more out of it. When all the people obeyed the word of God victory came by those walls falling flat. Our victory comes if we obey God’s word. In Joshua 6:16, Joshua told the people to “Shout for the Lord hath given you the city.” We have all heard this taught but have we related it to us? The Lord has given us who are filled with the Holy Ghost the city. That city is New Jerusalem. We should all shout with victory because of this great promise we have awaiting us if we continue to obey His word. We can’t even enter into the gates of the city if we don’t do His commandments, Rev. 22:14. We need to know that “we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Cor. 5:1) that is just up ahead. The signs are everywhere and time is short. We need to be like Abraham who “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” Heb. 11:10. In Heb. 11:16 it states, “for he hath prepared for them a city.” It must be the place he went away to prepare in John 14:2. Do we “seek one to come” like those of faith in Heb. 13:14? I know feeling the spirit so strong that night has me looking for that city which is to come. If there is anyone who hasn’t made up their mind to follow the Lord, read the following verses in Revelation 21:4, 22-27 to see what things you would be missing. You will find all the wonderful things that will be in that city. Just think about these things: no tears, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain, no temple, no sun, no moon, no night and no sin. The Lord is the temple and the light of it. Why wouldn’t anyone want to go there? Church Reporter: Sis. Deanna Johnson Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence The Church of Jesus Christ Portage, IN
The Pursuit of Happiness
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence Many people today are in hot pursuit of happiness, as their God-given right. However, the direct pursuit of happiness as an end within itself will result in missing the mark. We can never become happy simply by chasing after happiness. Happiness does not exist as a thing separate to itself, but is the indirect result of something else. We usually experience it for a brief period following the attainment of an important achievement, and quite often during the course of achieving our goals ... especially when we begin to realize they are within our reach. I have been my happiest in life during times when I was working toward a definite end and could sense that I was making real progress towards reaching that end. I can think of no greater end to reach than eternal life with Jesus Christ. Heb. 12:1-2 says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doeth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;" and 1Timothy 6:6 states, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." If you want happiness, stop chasing after it and instead pursue Jesus Christ. Strive to be more like Him in your day-to-day life. Study His life (teachings and actions) and pattern yours after Him. Become not only a hearer of His words, but a doer as well. As you focus your efforts on this worthy goal, you will become more peaceful, contented, and joyful ... in other words, happy. Pastor, Elder Mickey Dodd The Church of Jesus Christ Dyersburg, TN
(Portage Youth Making Soup for the Seniors)
Praise the Lord! I want to thank God for the many blessings in my life, and the calling He has put in my heart to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ! He started to deal with me before I received the Holy Ghost, and thinking that was not possible, I kept putting it aside figuring it would go away after getting the Holy Ghost. Well, it didn’t go away, and I had to get my Pastor involved because it only got worse. Finally, on August 3, 2008 I accepted what God was calling me to do. I’m thankful for a wife who has supported me and has prayed with me, who also knew that God had been dealing with me before I told her. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about what Madison will see me doing. I was raised, “do as I say, not as I do.” And I can tell you, it does not work. By the time I was in my early twenties, I was what you would call a “functioning alcoholic.” My parents were not alcoholics, and they provided for me a good life. They loved me and were always there for me, but on both sides of my family drinking was more than just a casual affair, and I fell right in line. In the years prior to God leading me to His church, I found myself praying more and more for forgiveness of the things I was doing, knowing they were not right. My drinking was the one thing I did not know if I could give up to become part of God’s church, and I would not go to the altar until I knew my life would go in the complete opposite direction. When I repented, I knew without a doubt, that this was the church talked about in the Bible, and was willing to obey my Pastor on everything he taught! But, it wasn’t until I came across some scriptures in the book of Galatians, and studied them out, that I received a true revelation on drunkenness. In Galatians 5:19-21, (vs 19) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (vs 20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (vs 21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in times past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Cor. 6:9-10 (vs 9) “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (vs 10) Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Maybe I was plain ignorant, but it really shocked me that a drunkard was no different than a murderer, people I considered to be wicked. But the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 5:11-13 that is exactly what I was! (vs 11) “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (vs 12) “For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (vs 13) “But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
Many places throughout the Old and New Testaments, God warns us of being drunk and given to wine. Isaiah 5:11, 22-24 (vs 11) “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” (vs 22) “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: (vs 23) “Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!” (vs 24) “Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of Hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” In America today, if you don’t drink, people say there is something wrong with you, and to drink and get drunk every weekend is okay, and it’s the thing to do. The Church of Jesus Christ is despised for living right, and those that do wickedly are praised. The twentyfourth verse does not paint a pretty picture for America if we don’t turn from our sins! Nahum 7:10 says, “For while they be folden together as thrones, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.” Hosea 4:11, “Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.” The things we do when we are drunk are not the same things that we would do if we were sober. People are not the same person when they are drunk. The Lord knows this and that is why He warns us not to be a drunk, because a drunkard will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Proverbs 20:1, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” In the words of Jesus Christ Himself: Luke 21:3335 (vs 33) “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (vs 34) “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” (vs 35) “For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Deut. 29:5,6 (vs 5) “And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.” (vs 6) “Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the Lord your God.” How could anyone know God when they can’t remember how they got home or what they had done? If the Lord comes back on a Friday night at two o’clock in the morning, how many people will be considered drunkards? Bro. Jay Rogers Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence The Church of Jesus Christ Portage, IN
We Must Learn To Wait Upon The Lord! Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. By waiting upon the Lord, He will renew our strength so we will mount up with wings as eagles, so we will run and not be weary, and so we will walk and not faint. You see an eagle uses storms for his benefit. He carefully discerns the strong wind patterns and gains their advantage so he actually soars to greater heights. We as Christians need to learn from the eagle's example. We need to use trials and tribulations to our advantage. We need to recognize where the storms are coming from and why they are occurring so we can soar over them and achieve patience and spiritual growth. We The Church Of Jesus Christ need to recognize that as joint-heirs with Christ, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). By being tested and tried, we enter into a deeper walk and relationship with the Lord. We also need to recognize that people are not our enemy, but sin and Satan are. John 10:10 says that "the thief (Satan) cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; but Jesus Christ came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly." Peter tells us in 1Peter 5:8 that we must "be sober (not intoxicated), be vigilant (alert), because your adversary the devil, walketh about, as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." The devil is very cunning. If the devil who acts as a roaring lion can get our faith to waver, he gains victory in our lives. For the Bible says in Romans 14:23 that "whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.� So by reading the Word of God, we can increase our faith. For "faith works in love� (Galatians 5:6) and "perfect love casteth out all fear" (1 John 1:18). So faith casts out fear! The Bible mentions in John 8:44 that the devil is "the father of all lies and that there is no truth in him." So, Satan uses deception and darkness to confuse the believer. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, uses truth and light to direct us and guide us. Jesus Christ is "the Word" (John 1:1) and He is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). God has given us spiritual weapons and spiritual armor so we can fight this "roaring lion." Paul writes in II Corinthians 10:4 that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." Furthermore, II Corinthians 10:5 says, "Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought unto the obedience of Christ." We cannot fight the devil in the flesh, but we can in the spirit! By praying and reading the Bible, we can bring every thought into the captivity of the knowledge of the Word of God.
James 5:7 says "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." By putting on our spiritual armaments, we are submitting ourselves to God. So if we submit ourselves to God, the devil will then flee from us. For the Bible says in II Peter 2:9 that "the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations." When we abide in God's Word, "we shall know the truth, and the truth shall make us free!" (John 8:31-32). As you are reading this teaching, you might be asking yourself, "Where does the Bible mention spiritual armor and spiritual weapons?" Well, the apostle Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus in Ephesians 6:10-18 to: "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" The spiritual armor God has provided us can help us withstand all the fiery darts of the enemy. However, there is no armor for the backside, which means God never intended for us to run from the enemy! So choose to be bold and fight. Hold your ground saints! WE ARE THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence The Church of Jesus Christ Portage, IN
Dyersburg Youth Report The youth in Dyersburg are still doing great. We just had another youth outing on October 25th. We are also starting on our Christmas program. It's a really good play and we are all excited to be a part of it. Remember Bro. Pete and Sis Tammy because this will be their first Christmas program. Church Reporter: Sis. Laura Beth Dodd Pastor, Elder Mickey Dodd The Church of Jesus Christ Dyersburg, TN
Pierceton Report
God’s Church (Article from 1992)
Praise the Lord everyone! God is GREAT and GREATLY to be praised. Psalms 150:6, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” Psalms 150:2, “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” The Lord is worthy of all praise and so much more. Ecclesiastes 12:13, “: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning.” Psalms 112:1, “Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.” We thank the Lord for all He has been doing here at The Church of Jesus Christ in Pierceton, IN. He has been moving greatly in our services. The preaching that has been going forth has been reaching to the depths of our souls. We realize more and more that the coming of the Lord is so nigh at hand. We need to be ready more now than ever before. We need to be drawing closer to Jesus Christ and be ready to leave at any moment. The signs of His return are all around us, and we need to heed these signs. We have NO time to waste! We thank the Lord for His grace and mercy to us. For allowing us to see and be aware of the end time signs. Take heed and be ready! We were glad to have had the opportunity to attend the Tennessee Tent Revival in Dyersburg. God moved and blessed in all the services. Several people repented and came back to God. It was so great to see that God’s mercy is still extended to those that want to come to Him. Thank God for all that He is doing! Last month we were blessed to have Sis. Marleen Walls at our church for a couple of services. She preached about being on the potter’s wheel, and being willing to be remolded if we get out of God’s way and His will. It was a great message and such a blessing to have her with us in service! We thank God for our Pastor, Bishop Robert O’Dell and his wife Sis. Vanessa. We appreciate them and all that they stand for. They stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ and His word, nothing added and nothing taken away from it. The truth the whole truth, and nothing but the truth! They have been a blessing to us all and we thank the Lord for them. We are so thankful to have them that we could not ask for anyone better! We thank God for all He has done and all He is going to do. We just pray we will ALL be ready for His return to get His church. May we all be living and walking in the ways of Jesus Christ! Church Reporter: Sis. Nora Hensley Pastor, Bishop Robert O’Dell The Church of Jesus Christ Pierceton, IN
The Church of Jesus Christ, God’s Church is the only church proclaimed in the Bible. Jesus Christ talking to Peter: “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon THIS ROCK (speaking of Himself) I will build MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus Christ is building His own Church. It is His and does not belong to any other person or name or title. IT BELONGS TO HIM! So it carries His name. This Church is subject to Christ. Eph. 5:24, “Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ..” This Church is under rule of Jesus Christ. Heb. 12:23, “To the general assembly and church of the firstborn..” Jesus Christ is the FIRSTBORN! Col 1:18, “And he (Jesus Christ) is head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he (Jesus Christ) might have the preeminence.” Jesus Christ gave Himself (His life on the cross) for THE CHURCH. Eph. 5:25, “…even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” Vs 27 states, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” The Apostle Paul speaking to the elders of the Church (the ministry) in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock (the saints of God in The Church of Jesus Christ), over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God (The Church of Jesus Christ), which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Now that we know that there is only ONE church, The Church of Jesus Christ, God has made the way for us to be in it. Acts 2:47, “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” You cannot get into The Church of Jesus Christ unless it is God who adds you there. How? By obeying His commandments (His rules), as He is the head of the church. And what is His rule? The message that Peter preached. Why Peter? Because in Matt. 16:19, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” To be added into the church you must be born again of the water and of the spirit (Holy Ghost), and to be born again you must obey what Peter said, because he has the keys to the kingdom of heaven. On the day of Pentecost, WHEN THE CHURCH received the gift of the Holy Ghost, Peter preached a message to the Jews, the Jews said in Acts 2:37, “Men and brethren, what shall we do (to be saved)?” Vs 38 states,” Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Thus will God add you to the church, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. Sis. Esther Goodrich Pastor, Bishop Harold Goodrich The Church of Jesus Christ Decatur, MI
Are you Organized? When you look at the topic you might say, “of course I’m organized” or you might be one of those that don’t believe in organization. How many of us have a closet that is a complete mess, but we tell ourselves that we know right where everything is and the truth of the matter is that we really don’t want to take the time to clean up the mess. How many times when we are looking for a favorite shirt we can not find it in the mess that we have created? If we would have taken the time to organize the mess we wouldn’t stress out for hours looking for something that is right before us. The Church of Jesus Christ is a Church that must be organized. We can not let satan come in and mess up the Church that God Himself has created. The Bible lets us know that in 1 Corinthians 14:33 it states, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” The Bible goes on to state in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” The “all things” that the scripture speaks of would include the Church. This lets me know that we can not let the Church become like our messy closet. Through the years I have heard many say that, “you can not prove organization in the Bible.” But this is incorrect. A few months back a thought came to mind of the simplest way to prove organization in the Bible. If you will take your Bible out for a few moments I believe I can show you with your own Bible the organization that is found in it. I would like for you to first open your Bible to Genesis 1:1. It states, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Now notice where the beginning is found, the first book, first chapter and first verse. Notice that this verse isn’t found in the middle or in the end of your Bible but yet in the Beginning. Now open to Revelations 22:21, you will find this scripture being the last book of your Bible and last chapter and verse. This verse reads, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” The books, chapters and verses themselves, of the Bible are organized in such way that it is easy for anyone to find the verses that I have mentioned. Think for a moment what a Church service would be like if this organization was done away with. The preacher would get up and just start reading a scripture and tell you to find it. How long would a service last and how would you tell someone how to find a verse? I will now have you find the following verse without using any concordances (since they are organized also) “Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.” Take a few minutes to find the verse. Have you found the scripture yet? Unless you are one of the few that has memorized the scriptures from front to back it would take a long time to find this verse. Just like the time that is spent looking for your favorite shirt in the messy closet. You might just give up looking and claim that it isn’t there. The verse that is mentioned is found in Zechariah 8:22. And since the Bible is organized, you can simply turn to the verse in just a few moments. Thank God for Organization.
When looking at the verse that I have given, ask yourself how shall people come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD if they don’t know where Jerusalem is? Without an atlas and directions we would just wonder around lost. The same can be said about a person searching for the truth without organization they will wonder around lost. In John 1:1 it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Verse 14 says of the same chapter, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Now many will use these scriptures and teach others that the scriptures that we read from are in fact the written form of God. And since this is true then God Himself must be organized. For this is clearly seen in the scriptures. So many times we look for some deep revelation in God that we miss the very simple things that is right there in front of us. As the scriptures warns us in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” Now for one final thought: look at the binding of the Bible that you have. Notice that the organization of the books of the Bible is all held together with glue. Even though we find 66 books in the Bible they all come together in ONE BINDING. If you claim that you are in the Body of Christ should you not also be glued unto others that are organized? Or are you better then the books of the Bible (which is The Body of Christ) and believe that you don’t have to be organized? If this be true: how can you truly state that you are in The Body of Christ? It reads in Romans 12:4-5, “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: (5) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Can the ear function without the head, or can the foot walk without the leg that it must be attached too? Nether can we claim to be The Body of Christ and not be glued together with others in one binding. We as The Body of Jesus Christ must be organized. For without this organization we will become like our messy closet all messed up.
Bro. Jon. Leslie Pastor, Bishop Randell Spence The Church of Jesus Christ Portage, IN
Be Thankful
I am thankful for everything I have experienced in this life of mine. For in all I have found that in His Word-the answers I find. I am thankful for all the tears I have cried for they have taught me to appreciate laughter. They have given me the ability to see the joy that comes after. I am thankful for the storms I have encountered knowing that the rainbow is at the end. Realization that they are only temporal that with time all will mend. I am thankful for all the relationships for the good and yes, for the bad. For they have given life to my emotions an appreciation of what I have had. My most valuable relationship is that with Jesus Christ, my Father. I know that I can trust Him as I can trust no other. An appreciation of little things I understand the greatness of Jesus Christ’s love, and the pain He has suffered for me. How He endured all things so that I could be set free. Most of all, I am thankful for His Grace. For the provisions that it brings how it has provided for me in all things! -Unknown Author-
Just Fight He can fill any hole left inside. Wanting us to feel Him close beside. To trust in Him with all our hearts. Knowing Jesus Christ saves if we just fight. Sis. Ashley Terry Pastor, Elder Mickey Dodd The Church of Jesus Christ Dyersburg, TN
Happy Holidays!
Let us remember to count our blessings each and every day! ____________________________________________________________________________________