1. The word CHURCH was first mentioned in the Bible when the LORD Jesus Christ said: “… thou art Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” [Matthew 16:18] As a reminder, there was indeed a CHURCH in the wilderness, where Moses ministered, as it is written: “THIS IS HE, THAT WAS IN THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS WITH THE ANGEL which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us” [Acts 7:38] Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:18, uprooted all previous foundations of religious fellowship, material or spiritual and laid new FOUNDATIONS for His TRUE CHURCH. Evidently, TRUE CHURCH is not the Pentecostal Fellowship, Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, etc., but a SPIRITUAL HOUSE built on the ROCK, that is, the REVELATION of Jesus Christ. The building blocks are men and women hewn from the ROCK, as the Bible says: “Ye also, as LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” [1 Peter 2:5] We are ONE BODY, united by the SPIRIT of Christ, “For BY ONE SPIRIT ARE WE ALL BAPTIZED IN TO ONE BODY, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;…” [1 Corinthian s 12:13]
2. TRUE CHURCH is the FELLOWSHIP of those who worship God in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, for “God IS A SPIRIT: and they that worship him must WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH” [John 4:24] I will unravel a MYSTERY here, the SPIRIT and TRUTH mentioned in John 4:2 are ONE, as it is written: “… And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because THE SPIRIT IS TRUTH” [1 John 5:6] Listen closely, God is the SPIRIT as stated in John 4:2, the SPIRIT is TRUTH in 1 John 5:6 and Jesus Christ said: “… I AM THE WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” [John 14:6] All three scriptures point to Jesus Christ as God MANIFEST in FLESH. This is the MYSTERY that underscores TRUE CHURCH, as the Bible says: “And without controversy GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH … preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” [1 Timothy 3:16] The revelation of God MANIFEST in Jesus Christ is the ROCK and FOUNDATION of TRUE CHURCH. The ROCK is the prophetic revelation of TRUTH binding the ELECT into ONE-FOLD under Christ, the SHEPHERD of our souls. Where there is no PROPHETIC REVELATION of Jesus Christ, there is no TRUE CHURCH.
3. TRUE CHURCH is the “… general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are WRITTEN IN HEAVEN,… ” [Hebrew 12:23] That is, the congregation of those God FOREKNEW before the world, “For WHO HE DID FOREKNOW, HE ALSO DID PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son,… ” [Romans 8:29] For emphasis, TRUE CHURCH is the SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP of SAINTS, “… WHOSE NAMES ARE IN THE BOOK OF LIFE” [Philippians 4:3] The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ is God’s invitation to locate and confirm your place in TRUE CHURCH, and admission is strictly by FAITH through GRACE, “For BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” [Ephesians 2:8] I know all these sounds a MYSTERY, and they are. You see, God knows His own sheep and came down in Jesus Christ to reconcile them to Himself, saying: “My sheep HEAR MY VOICE, and I KNOW THEM, and they FOLLOW ME” [John 10:27] The invitation to His sheep is the GOSPEL and those who HEAR do so strictly by FAITH. The reason you struggle with the MYSTERY of God MANIFEST in Jesus Christ is lack of FAITH, and as long as you do you are outside TRUE CHURCH, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but THE WORD PREACHED DID NOT PROFIT THEM, NOT BEING MIXED WITH FAITH in them that heard it” [Hebrews 4:2]
4. TRUE CHURCH is the COMMUNION of souls united “In HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE, which God, that cannot lie, PROMISED BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN” [Titus 1:2] TRUE CHURCH is not an enterprise set up for earthly dividends but God’s vineyard and we are “… LABOURERS together with God: ye are GOD’S HUSBANDRY, ye are GOD’S BUILDING” [1 Corinthians 3:9] Our work is to build souls to EVERLASTING LIFE and not brick and mortar that will not stand the test of time. We are CO-LABOURERS, irrespective of age, status or gender, and no LABOURER may or should expect a REWARD until the work is done. If any man claims to be a STEWARD of Christ and boasts of material REWARDS before the work is over, he is a LIAR and alien to the TRUE CHURCH. I know how tough it is laboring without a REWARD in this world, I exhort you to hold on in FAITH, acknowledging the TRUTH, for “… when the chief Shepherd shall appear, YE SHALL RECEIVE A CROWN OF GLORY that fadeth not away” [1 Peter 5:4] Beloved, every LABOURER, from Adam to the last SAINT shall receive Christ’s REWARDS at His coming, as it is written: “And, behold, I come quickly; and MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE EVERY MAN according as his work shall be” [Revelation 22:12] Comfort yourself with these words.
5. Beloved, TRUE CHURCH is not your denomination. SEEK the Lord now, in SPIRIT and TRUTH, while He may yet be found. Accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, amen.
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