We NEED to stick together, to be joined as one, to encourage one another, to support one another, to aid one another, and to LOVE one another as our LORD would have it, REGARDLESS of denomination, or Doctrine, for both are impaired with human perception, and as we can see, cause division in THE CHURCH of which we are THE BODY, and CHRIST IS THE HEAD...
It IS time to show the world the POWER OF THE LORD through us! It IS time for us to build UP THE CHURCH, and to STRENGTHEN one another, that THE CHURCH is not compromised by what is of the world! It IS time to BE the reflection of THE LORD, enjoined as HIS Chosen, while we invoke HIS SPIRIT to protect, guide, inspire, and whatever else it takes to SHINE of HIM in this increasingly darkening world!!!
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
Most of mankind do not consider the things of another world at all, because they are asleep; or they do not consider them aright, because they sleep and dream.
Our moderation as to all earthly things should be known to all men. Shall Christians, who have the light of the blessed gospel shining in their faces, be careless about their souls, and unmindful of another world? We need the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love, and hope. Faith; if we believe that the eye of God is always upon us, that there is another world to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. True and fervent love to God, and the things of God, will keep us watchful and sober. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of any thing that would shake our trust in the Lord. We have ground on which to build unshaken hope, when we consider, that salvation is by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, to atone for our sins and to ransom our souls. We should join in prayer and praise one with another. We should set a good example one before another, and this is the best means to answer the end of society. Thus we shall learn how to live to Him, with whom we hope to live for ever.
20+++But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21+++keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.…
Sensual men separate from Christ, and his church, and join themselves to the devil, the world, and the flesh, by ungodly and sinful practices. That is infinitely worse than to separate from any branch of the visible church on account of opinions, or modes and circumstances of outward government or worship. Sensual men have not the spirit of holiness, which whoever has not, does not belong to Christ. The grace of faith is most holy, as it works by love, purifies the heart, and overcomes the world, by which it is distinguished from a false and dead faith.
Our prayers are most likely to prevail, when we pray in the Holy Ghost, under his guidance and influence, according to the rule of his word, with faith, fervency, and earnestness; this is praying in the Holy Ghost. And a believing expectation of eternal life will arm us against the snares of sin: lively faith in this blessed hope will help us to mortify our lusts.
We must watch over one another; faithfully, yet prudently reprove each other, and set a good example to all about us. This must be done with compassion, making a difference between the weak and the wilful. Some we must treat with tenderness. Others save with fear; urging the terrors of the Lord. All endeavours must be joined with decided abhorrence of crimes, and care be taken to avoid whatever led to, or was connected with fellowship with them, in works of darkness, keeping far from what is, or appears to be evil.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are other duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must keep up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonable when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out, always are so.
We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer, public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden: with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching.
We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstanding discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continue our prayers with patience.
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
There are about 100 BIBLE verses about supporting one another, 100 about building up one another, over 60 for PRAYING for one another, and well, the comm'UNITY' of CHRIST is of oneness! There are other verses which tie into this, such as encouraging one another, helping one another, and LOVING one another, from which stems more that TEACH the IMPERATIVE nature of oneness IN HIM!!!
The enemy is busy these days, and we are being challenged, in which case, we will be shaken IF we do NOT stand as one, strong IN THE LORD! It is CRUCIAL for us to LEARN what we need to know, as one, and to UTILIZE what THE WORD INSTRUCTS us to do, as many of the very things cited, ARE happening to us, and around us! UNITED we STAND, divided we shall have failed THE LORD, and HIS GLORY!!!
REV. LWINSOR © 2014
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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