Ministry Of the Word (MOW)
Improving Our Spiritual Understanding
Theme: You Cannot Go to Yourself!
Memory Verses:
“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Cor 12:27).
Beloved
We bless the Almighty God for the last week in the month of double grace.
God has manifested His power mightily in the month of October and we eagerly look forward to walking with Him in November.
This season, God wants us to grow spiritually, in wisdom and in our knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Many a times you hear believers say: “I am going to Church”, in reference to going for fellowship with other believers. This is a misnomer and a reflection of spiritual ignorance. The truth is that if you are truly born again, by the grace of God, you become part and parcel of the body of Christ as per our memory verse. Hence, you can not go to yourself .
Unfortunately, within the body of Christ , the word ‘church’ is often used superficially to refer to the building or place of worship. This is not necessarily completely wrong, but it is the superficial meaning. The true Church of our Lord Jesus Christ is the congregation of those who are truly born again, according to Jesus Christ Himself in the book of John 3:3-5). When the word church was first used by Jesus Christ Himself, it was with reference to the person of Peter the rock, and not a building:
“And I say also unto thee, That 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).
There is a great danger in seeing the church as a mere building. Such believer will be unable to see himself ( no gender difference in the spirit realm) as an extension of Jesus or a branch of Jesus. In the course of my interactions with some believers, I have had cause to point out to them that the phrase “go to church” is a misnomer and is not in the bible. Rather, Apostle Paul, when appropriate would say ” greet also the church that meets at their house” (Romans 16:5 NIV);
“Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house” (Col 4:15 NIV).
I often wonder how many believers have churches in their houses!
Jesus Himself made us to understand that if we truly believe in Him, then we are His branches. Jesus says:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
A major danger of not being able to see yourself as a branch of Jesus is that you are only “holy” on Sundays when you “go to church”. I can never forget my interaction at work with one male mental health professional in Portsmouth, UK , in the 90s when I was training in psychiatry. We had the opportunity to promote Jesus together while at work. Then, we met at the end of the year Christmas party. I was taken aback the way he was drinking alcoholic wine freely and tossing one lady after another, to the extent that the ladies picked quarrel. I could not help but look for the opportunity to approach him. I remember calling him and asking, I had thought you are a born again Christian? I could not believe his response! His response was something like this: Ben, when we are in the Church, we behave like born again Christians, when we are partying, we enjoy ourselves! I was disappointed and ashamed.
Beloved, if you are truly born again in Christ Jesus, you are a tiny part of the body of Christ. You are not of this world just as Jesus was not of this world, though in the world (John 17:16). This is why there is no substitute to unity in the Church. Apostle Paul said:
“And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you”(1Cor 12:21).
Again, our Lord Jesus Christ says:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:1-2). If you are unfruitful in the kingdom of light, the Father Himself removes you.
Truly, you can not go to yourself. You are an integral part of the body of Christ irrespective where you find yourself. It is biblical to fellowship in small and large groups, but please, ensure that you do have a church in your house.
To grow spiritually increasingly requires daily meditation in the word of God, with total fear of God. Train yourself yourself to be godly…(Tim 4:7-8, NIV). Learn to meditate on the word of God day and night ( Joshua 1:8).
Prayer: There is someone reading this message , may you receive the grace of spiritual understanding in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Yours in the Vineyard of Jesus Christ. Ben Bassey, Iyobosa, Princess Esther & the MOW family.
Spiritual Health Counselling Helpline: +447404624293.
Email: ministryofw@gmail.com;
Personal : benbassey@gmail.com
Dr Ben Bassey is a practicing psychiatrist in the UK & a spiritual health counselor, who ministers to people regularly through the MOW and AHF.
To further enrich yourself with spiritual materials and health information, please visit: www.ministryoftheword.org;
All scriptures are taken from KJV, unless if otherwise specified.
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“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever “(Hebrews 13:8).