Apostle Paul counselled us thus:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3).
As a genuine member of the Body of Christ in this World, you have the following responsibilities to the Church of Christ or Saints in Christ in this World as a proof that you are truly following Christ in this World:
1. To see that you WALK WORTHY of the vocation (Christianity practice) wherewith you are called with all lowliness (humility) and meekness, with longsuffering, FORBEARING one another in LOVE.
2. To see that you endeavour to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE.
Forebearing means to refrain; hold back. To be patient or self-controlled when subject to annoyance or provocation.
Irrespective of the denomination you belong to, you and I sacred and core responsibilities to the Church of Christ in this World is to forebear one another in LOVE and keep the UNITY of the Spirit in bond of PEACE, as persons who are truly and genuinely following Christ in this World.
This is because as the Bible reveals:
There is ONE body, and ONE Spirit, even as you are called in ONE hope of your calling; ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6).
While it is the sacred and core responsibility of every true follower of Christ to see to that he or she keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace of the Body of Christ, the fivefold ministries ministers, must know, act and teach their various denominational members to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE of the Body of Christ in this World. True!
This is because, their members do not truly belong to them, but to JESUS CHRIST and Him alone. True!
Apostle Paul counselled against disunity in the Body of Christ thus:
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you ENVYING, and STRIFE, and DIVISIONS, are you not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? Therefore let NO man glory in men. For ALL things are yours (all gifts or grace in Christ is for all saints to benefit from); Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's. (1 Corinthians 3:1-5,21-23).
Furthermore, Apostle Paul reveals concerning holders of the fivefold offices thus:
But unto every one of us is given GRACE according to the measure of the GIFT of Christ. Wherefore He saith, when He (Jesus Christ) ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the SAINTS, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the BODY of CHRIST: Till we ALL come in the UNITY of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:7-16).
Therefore, know and note that if your Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor or Teacher is not teaching and encouraging you to walk and work in LOVE with other saints of other denominations and to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE of the Body of Christ, then he or she is up to something different from what Jesus Christ is up in this World and you should act fast to save yourself from perishing with him or her. However, keep him or her in prayer for him or her to see the light of the gospel he or she claim to preach in the right perspective of Christ's LOVE and the need to keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE, irrespective of denomination affiliation. True!
This are not the days you foolishly follow your spiritual leaders, for the days are evil and full of false information and manipulations. (Ephesians 5:15-18).
It is your personal responsibility to see that you follow your spiritual leaders as they follow Christ. That is the biblical standard.
Apostle Paul said thus:
Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Do you get it?
See that you walk and work with God in Christ, encouraging and partnering in LOVE with other saints in other denomination. Irrespective of your love for your spiritual leader and denomination, that is biblical standard for you who is genuinely following Christ in this World. See that you keep the UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of PEACE of the Body of Christ at all times.
The Bible reveals thus:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in UNITY! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the BLESSING, even life for evermore. (Psalm 133).
Your BLESSINGS in Christ is connected and released by the Lord based on how you consciously and consistently walk and work in love, unity and peace with other saints within the Body of Christ on Earth. True! Take note, take heed!
Welcome to a week of keeping the standard of Christ in this World!
God bless you.
MODIBO GODWILL
Divine Destiny Messenger,
Author & Speaker
@The Purpose-costal Movement (TEPUM)
Visit www.shiftstatusinternational.com
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