What Is the Purpose of God's Church?
The Church: What Is Its Purpose?
Isaiah 9:6-7, "For unto us a child is born, unto us is a son given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the Throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from hence-forth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this."
The Eternal God, in Genesis 17: vs 4-7 said, "As for Me, behold my covenant is with thee, (Abraham) and thou shall be a father of many nations. Neither shall thou be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee; And I will make thee exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of thee and thy seed after thee and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee."
Note: This Covenant was an Everlasting contract. In the Book of Hebrews chapter 6 verse 13-30, that because God had sworn to it by an oath and because it was impossible for God to lie, The Abrahamic Covenant is immutable, and for ever.
The Covenant was unalterable, unchangeable and everlasting. This means it EXISTS TODAY. If you read the entire Covenant in Genesis 17, you will find it not only concerned the ownership of land from the river Euphrates to the river Nile, but, overshadowing all else, it was a Covenant, "To be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee, in their generations forever." It has not been revoked. Also, note that "The Covenant" was made not only with Abraham, but also with his seed forever, through Isaac, [Genesis 17:8-24, Romans 9:7-9] and through Isaac's son Jacob. It was established in Isaac, [Genesis 26:1-5] and ratified and confirmed to Jacob. [Genesis 35:10-12]
Know this; the Covenant was absolutely, unconditional, unalterable, and unchangeable. It did not depend on what the descendants of Abraham did or did not do. The Covenant stands forever on the Oath of God.
Abraham was also promised a tremendous number of descendants. God said, "I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth, as the stars in the heavens, as sand of the seas." God later changed the name of Jacob to Israel, [Genesis 35:10] so that his descendants who were the inheritors of the Covenant <promise> where hereafter called Israel, loved Joseph more than al his other children, [Genesis 3:3] and before Israel died, Joseph brought his two sons to his father to be blessed. Israel crossed his hands and laying his hands on their heads, blessed the sons of Joseph--Ephraim and Manasseh. He said, "And let my name be named on them." Thus his adoption of the two sons of Joseph created another tribe making (13) thirteen tribes in all. Joseph was displeased that his father had placed his younger son "Ephraim" before the eldest, "Manasseh". Thus Manasseh became the thirteenth tribe and received the promise of becoming a great nation. Ephraim was given the promise of becoming a "company" of nations. [Genesis 48:16-48]
Much of the history of the thirteen tribes of Israel must be passed over here: The dramatic account of their sojourn in the land of Egypt for over four hundred (400) years, their deliverance by the hand of God, from Egypt, and again their deliverance at the Red Sea, when God ld his people across on dry land in safety. His people crossed over safely and the destruction of the pursuing Egyptians can be found in Exodus 14:21-30.
At Mount Sinai, God gave his people a code of Laws, Statutes, Judgments, Commandments, and Ordinances by which His Kingdom on earth would be administered. [Exodus chapters 19 through 40 and the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy] These laws covered every phase of both national and individual life: social, financial, and economic ecclesiastical, agricultural, dietetic, and personal.
Keeping these laws, on the promise and the assurance of God, will result in perfect happiness and contentment with freedom from sickness. Concerning these laws, the Psalmist wrote: "The Law of God is perfect." [Psalm 19:7]
The people at Mt. Sinai entered into a solemn covenant with the Eternal, for they said, "All the Eternal hath spoken we will do." [Exodus 24:7-8] That is what is known as the first National Covenant, and must not be confused with the covenant God made with Abraham some four hundred years previously, which was "unconditional" upon keeping God's Laws, Statutes, Judgments, and Commandments.
At Sinai, God laid before His people the conditions of this National Covenant. If they kept His laws, blessed would they be in all their undertakings. [Lev 26:1-13] But, if they did not keep those laws, then the opposite would be the result; All their undertakings would be cursed. [Lev 26 14-46, Deut 28]
God, through the Prophets, warned Israel that if they persisted in breaking His Laws, continually, not only would curses come upon them, but he would punish them Seven times, and would banish them from the land of Palestine and scatter them among the heathens--like lost sheep---[Lev 26:28-46].
For many years all went well, and then people obeyed the laws of the Kingdom and received the promised rewards. Then they began to covet the ways of the nations around them. First they wanted a king, and earthly king to rule them. God said to Samuel, "They have not rejected you Samuel; they have rejected me, the Eternal." God gave them a king, Saul. [I Samuel 8:7-22] Later he was removed because he sinned; Then God appointed David, {of the tribe of Judah} to be king over all Israel. God then established the Throne of David forever, [II Samuel 7:11-17 and Psalm 89] making an everlasting Covenant with David, that his house would endure forever. [Jer. 33:17-26] The throne would endure as long as the sun and the moon endured in the heavens. [Psalm 89:29-37] So we have!!
<1> The Everlasting Covenant made with Israel forever, through their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (who is now called Israel). <2> The kingdom of Israel established at Sinai. <3> The Throne of the House of David established as the Monarchial system over the House of Israel forever, "That means, the House of Israel, The Throne of David, and the Everlasting Covenant is still in existence today." [I Chronicles 29:23] "For the Lord God shall give unto Him the Throne of His Father David, and He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever." [Luke 1:32-33] "Remember," He has not as yet occupied that Throne.
David reigned for thirty-three years over the whole House of Israel, [II Samuel 5:4-5] Of that time it is recorded, "Every man dwelt safely under his own vine and fig tree" [I Kings 4:25] a time wherein dwelt righteousness." David passed the throne to Solomon. The throne fell into sin under his rule, causing the people of the thirteen tribes to sin, and because of their sin, God caused the kingdom to be divided into two kingdoms. [I Kings 11:29-36]
The ten tribes under the leadership of Ephraim formed the Northern Kingdom of Israel with Samaria as its capital and Jeroboam as its King.
The other two tribes, Judah and Benjamin, with most of the tribe of Levi, formed the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Their capital was located at Jerusalem. Jeroboam, Solomon's son, was its king. [I Kings 12:16-20]
The tribe of Levi, having received no inheritance with Israel, was portioned among the tribes for priestly duties. This was the Levitical Priesthood.
The titles "House of Israel" and "House of Judah" are used to designate the tow kingdoms as they stood separated and in opposition to each other, and as they are up to this day the 2000's A.D.
The "Birthright" tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, went with the ten-tribed kingdom to Samaria, Judah, to whom pertains the Throne, or "Scepter" through God's Covenant with David, formed the other kingdom.
The "Scepter" and the "Birthright" were separated then and there, each becoming a nucleus. All the seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob gathered around either one or the other.
[I Kings 12:21-24] God forbade the King of Judah from using his Army to force the northern kingdom to reunite with him. Thus, each kingdom was free and independent of each other.
After the division of Israel into two kingdoms, the people strayed farther and farther and deeper into sin until, the warning which God gave to them in Leviticus 26, and Deuteronomy 28, was carried out.
The Assyrians came against the northern kingdom {Samaria}} the ten tribed Israel; defeating them in swift battles, and then carried them away, captive into Assyria, into Halah and also Harbor, by the river Gozan and the cities of the Medes. The accounts of the invasions may be found in II Kings 17:6-18 and 18:11-12.
The cities of Samaria were restocked by the Assyrians, with Gentile people, captives from Babylon, from Cuthath, Ava, and Mamath and from Sepharvaim. [II Kings 17:24]
These were the Samaritans, referred to by Jesus. When He commanded 'His Disciples to go not into the cities of the Samaritans, but rather go to "the lost sheep of the House of Israel." [Matthew 10:5-6]
The ten tribed House of Israel was carried into bondage in 728 B.C. They were separated from Judah from about 933 B.C to 728 B.C.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah, after the separation from the northern kingdom, in 933 B.C. remained a kingdom until their captivity by Babylon in 585 B.C.
Judah, as the prophets said, was "worse" than her sisters Samaria [Ezekiel 16: 46-48]. So we find the same punishment being meted out to Judah, starting with a series of invasions by Sennacharib, King of Assyria. [II Kings 18:13]
This was followed later by the invasions of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, until all were carried away to Babylon, [II Kings 25:22-26] and so God's warning was fulfilled to them also from Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28.
At this point in history "nearly all prevailing religious bodies failed to fully understand scripture."
They teach that because God had caused Israel to be carried away from the land of Palestine, He {God} had cast them away forever. In doing this, they teach God had brought his Kingdom, established at Mount Sinai, to an end, and in its place had chose what they call the Gentile church of "Spiritual Israel."
This is in error. It is in contradiction to what God made with Abraham. God will not lie. he will keep His Everlasting Covenant made with Abraham and his descendants. Proof that God has not cast them away forever is too numerous to list here, but here a few, as proof that God is ever true [Leviticus 26:44, Deuteronomy 4:26-31 and again in Isaiah 41:8-9]. After all Israel had been scattered, God says He has not cast them away. Malachi 3:6 God says to Israel, "I am the Lord I CHANGE NOT, therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
In the New Testament when Christ, The God of Israel, came to earth, He declared, "I am sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel." [Matthew 15:24]
He made a distinction between the Gentiles and Israel. Paul wrote in Romans 15:8 "Rather it is declared of Him that He came to "confirm" the promises made to the fathers."
In the book of James he addressed it to the "Twelve tribes in the dispersion, or scattered abroad." Peter wrote to the strangers and pilgrims in the lands which they were scattered [I peter 1 and 2]
a wealth of scripture can be found to prove that God has sworn he will never cast Israel away, nor break His Everlasting Covenant with us!! our High Priest and Savior, Jesus Christ, along with Paul, Peter, James and the prophets, all declare Israel is not cast away.
The problem today is that organized religions teach that God has cast Israel away forever, thereby nullifying His Everlasting Covenant with us!! Israel today. Whom do you believe? If you really believe God, then the answer given by Paul is the only one, "God hath not cast away His people."
What has become of them? That is the purpose of the Church. That is what we propose to show with this booklet with God's help and direction.
[Jeremiah 31:10] God declared through Jeremiah, "and declare it in the isles afar off and say, He that scattered Israel will gather and keep him as a shepherd doth his flock." That promise God made to Israel after their dispersion; that is confirmed again in Jeremiah 32:37:44. Also again in Jeremiah 18, God tells the prophets, "that just as the potter's clay was marred in the hands of the potter, but taken again the second time and remodeled into a perfect vessel, so would He do with the House of Israel."
[Jeremiah 46:27] God told Israel, "He would save them from afar off together with all their seed." And in Ezekiel 20:34, God promised to gather Israel out of the countries wherein they were scattered.
In Amos 9:9, God declared although He will sift Israel among the nations 'like as corn is sifted in a sieve" yet, not the least grain would fall upon the ground, and be lost, verses 14 and 15...He once again promised to bring them "Israel," to their own land in the appointed time.
Northern Israel was divorced from the Mosaic Law and their identity lost for a time, to history, but not to God. They are to be re-covenanted in Christ.
In Ezekiel 34:1-16, God sees His sheep, His people, Israel, 'scattered upon all the face of the earth,' as lost sheep without a shepherd, and in the 11th verse...For thus saith the Eternal, "Behold I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out as a shepherd doth his flock in the day that he is among his sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day."
The God of This World: Who Is He?
This world is Satan's world. He, Satan, is the author of confusion. He is the deceiver. He tried to destroy Jesus through the temptation. He asked Jesus to gall down and worship him. He said I will give you all the kingdoms of the earth, "if you will." Jesus told him that he should "Get behind me Satan, man shall live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God." He, Satan, tried to destroy God's Church at its very foundation.
[Isaiah 14:12] How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! art thou cut down to the earth, which didst weaken the nations! verse 13...For thou hast in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. verse 14...I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high **Satan**
John chapter 8:12, Jesus spake unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
The Pharisees hated Jesus. they were ever trying to condemn Him and to kill Him. Jesus was speaking of God, The Father, and the Pharisees knew him not. Jesus said in verse 17..."It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true verse 18...I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that send me beareth witness of me. verse 19...Then said they unto him, "Where is your Father?" Jesus answered them, "Ye neither know me nor my father; if he had known me, ye should have known my father also. verse 23...And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world."
Jesus goes on to say to them in verse 26, "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent me is true: I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him." The Pharisees did not understand him when he spoke of the Father. Jesus came into the world to make the Father known. John 17:6 "I have manifested thy name unto them the men which thou gavest me out of the world: Thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. verse 7...Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. verse 25...O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee! verse 26...I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare that the love where with thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Again in John chapter 8:39, "They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.' Jesus saith unto them, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. verse 40...But ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God" this did not Abraham do?" verse 41...Jesus said "Ye do the deeds of your father," Then said they to him: We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, God." verse 42...Jesus said unto them, "If God were your Father, ye would love me: For I proceeded forth and came from God; neither I of myself, but He sent me. verse 43...Why do ye not understand my speech? because ye cannot hear my word." Now in verse 44, Jesus tells these Pharisees a thing which they surely did not like. You might say that what calls itself, "Christianity" today, doesn't like it any better. verse 44..."ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of lies." One last verse to show who the prince of this world is: John 14:30, "Here after I will not talk to you much; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. Revelation 12:9 and the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.
Since there is a false God of this world and we have shown that Satan is god of this world, he is the arc deceiver, the adversary, the evil one, so to speak.
Is there a false church? Is there an organized church or churches designed to deceive you/ Well, yes, there is! "The whore of Babylon," Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of The Earth Revelation 17:5 A false woman is depicted as the false church, sitting on many waters, i.e.--peoples nations and tongues--
Rev. 17:1 "And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me saying to me come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore. verse 2... With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. The Roman Church, which covers many languages, countries, and nations, is a nine (9) square mile nation, most nations have ambassadors to the Vatican, their membership is above 850 million members; and continuing to grow.
Rev 17:3 "So he carried me away in the spirit, into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast," i.e. "The Roman Empire is the beast of the Revelation, Daniel chapter 2" full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. [Daniel chapter 7} verse 4...and the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. The Golden cup here is explained in Hislop's Two Babylons page 48. The cup to the multitude, exhibited him as the God of drunken revelry, and orgies, or the Sun God if you will? His mother and wife was worshipped as "Queen of Heaven, Diana, Astarte *Easter*, <Tow Babylons, page 103 section II Easter> verse 5 of Revelation 17, Here the angel is speaking about the false woman and brands her with this; verse 5...And upon her forehead was a name written” Mystery Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth." Question, How do you get to be a mother? You have children. They are called, in this case "Protestants." Did they not come kicking and screaming out of the Roman church in the fifteenth {15th} century? verse 6...And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus...And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration, verse 7 and 8...The angel explaining about the woman and the beast that she is carried by. verse 9...The angel saith, And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The Seven heads are the seven mountains which the woman sitteth. Rome is built on these seven hills. The Roman Church sits on Vatican Hill in Rome. That is the Headquarters of the Woman, Babylon Mystery the Great? verse 10 thru 14...the angel tells about the ten (10) kings who will receive their power with the last or eighth (8th) resurrection of the beast. They, the kings, will receive power as kings one hour, with the beast. They will have one mind and will five their power and strength unto the beast. (i.e. The 8th resurrection of the Roman Empire.) verse 15 thru 18...he tells us who the waters are, where the "Whore sitteth" peoples and multitudes, and nations and tongues, verse 16...And the ten horns (nations) which thou saw upon the beast, these (nations) shall hate the Whore, and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire: verse 17...For God hath put it in their hearts to fulfill his will (i.e. ten [10] nations) and to agree, and give their kingdoms unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. verse 18...And the woman which thou sawest is that great city (Rome) which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
This false church has false ministers, false apostles, deceitful workers, false prophets, etc. Paul will speak here about this very thing. {II Corinthians 11:13-15} verse 13...For such false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. verse 14...And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. verse 15...Therefore it is no great thing of his ministers also being transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. [Galatians 4:9-10] verse 9...Now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be on bondage? verse 10...Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years, such as New Year's, Christmas, Easer, Halloween, Valentine's Day, All Ladies Day, St. John Nativity, feast of purification, and many, many more.
Galatians 4:22, For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondwoman (slave), and the other son be a free woman (Sarah). verse 23...But he of the bondwoman (Ishmael) he was born after the flesh; but he (Isaac) born of the free woman (Sarah) was by the Promise. verse 24...These things are in allegory; for the two (men) are covenants; (Isaac) the one from Mount Sinai, the other Ishmael which gendereth to bondage, which is Hagar (or Gentiles). Paul is saying here that these two women stand for the two covenants. Hagar, who comes from Mount Sinai, and whose children are slaves, since Sinai is in Arabia--and she corresponds to the Present Jerusalem that is a salve like her children. verse 26...But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all, verse 27...For it is written, shout for joy, you barren women who bore no children! Break in to shouts of joy and gladness, you who were never in labor; for there are more sons of the forsaken one than sons of the wedded wife. verse 28...Now we brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of the promise. verse 29...But as then he (Ishmael) that was born after the flesh persecuted him (Isaac) that was born after the spirit, even so it is now. verse 30...Nevertheless, what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman (Hagar) and her son (Ishmael); for the son (Ishmael) of the bondwoman (Hagar) shall not be heir with the son (Isaac) of the freewoman (Sarah). verse 31...So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman (Hagar) but of the free (Sarah).
Paul in his epistle to the Thessalonians is speaking of the "Man of Sin" [II Thess. 2:3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for except there come a falling away first, and the "man of sin" be revealed, the son of prediction; verse 4..Who opposeth and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped: so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that his is God. verse 6...And now ye know what with holdeth that he might be revealed in his time. verse 7...For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: Rebellion is at work already, but in secret, and the one who is holding it back has first to be removed before the Rebel appears openly. The Lord will kill him at his coming. verse 9..But when the Rebel comes, Satan will set to work: there will be all kinds of miracles and deceptive show of signs and protents, and everything evil that can deceive those who are bound for destruction because they would not grasp the love of the truth which could have saved them. verse 11...And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: verse 12...that they might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
[II Timothy 3:13] But evil men will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. [II Tim. 4:3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts, shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; verse 4... They shall turn their ears away from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [II Tim. 3:1] This also know that in the last days perilous times shall come, {i.e. atom bombs, germs, gas, war planes, tanks, napalm, automatic weapons, lasers, etc. ] verse 2..For men shall be lovers of their own selves (yuppies), lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, verse 3..without natural affection, trucebreakers, (i.e. United States broke 354 treaties with the American Indians) false accusers, without self control, brutal, despisers of those that are good, verse 4..traitios, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (i.e. Miami Beach, Hawaii, Los Vegas, Atlantic City, gambling etc.) verse 5...Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. verse 6..For this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly "men" and women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts...(i.e. and "doctrines of men") verse 7..Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. verse 8...Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: Men of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the faith. verse 9...But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest or made known unto all, as theirs also was.
That brings us to the work of the True Church of God. There are several questions that must be asked and answered by scripture, concerning the purpose of the church, or "Ecclesia". (i.e. called out ones)
[Matt. 11:28] Cone unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. verse 29...Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls. verse 30...For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [Matt. 19:16] And behold, one come and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Here is one of those questions that this young man wanted to know. What must I do to have eternal life? Jesus answers him in verse 17...and he said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS." VERSE 18...He saith unto Jesus, "Which?" Jesus said, "Thou will do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, verse 19...Honor thy father and mother: and Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
In verse 20, the young man saith unto him: All these things have I kept from my you up: what lack I yet?" Nearly all religions teach verse 21 and they almost never teach the answer in verse 18-19. They teach the one about giving up his riches. Notice what Jesus tells the young rich man in verse 21. "If thou wilt be perfect go and sell all that thou hast, and give to the poor (i.e. not to an organized church) and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."
Keeping the Commandments, and following Jesus Christ, is how you enter into eternal life, so states Jesus Christ at this place.
Another question. How does the Church exercise domination or leadership over the flock?
Answer. Matthew 20:25-28. Verse 25...Ye know that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise domination over them, and they that are great, exercise authority upon them. verse 26...But it shall not be so among you: (i.e. the church) but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant. verse 27...And whosoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave...verse 28...Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus spoke to his disciples in Luke chapter 9:56. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save; And they went to another village. verse 57...And it came to pass, that as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, "Lord, I will follow thee whither so ever thou goest." verse 58...And Jesus said unto him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head." verse 59...And he said to another, "Follow me." But the man said "Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father." verse 60...And another also said, "Lord, I will follow thee, but first let me go bid my family and friends, which are at home, farewell, which are at my house." verse 62...And Jesus said to him, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
[Luke 10:1-6] Verse 1...After these the Lord appointed others, seventy also, and sent them two by two before him into every city and place whither he himself would come. verse 2. Therefore he said unto them, "The harvest is truly great, but the labourers few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourer into the harvest. verse 3...Go your ways: behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves. verse 4...Carry neither purse, nor script, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. verse 5...And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace to this house. verse 6...And if the Son of Peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not it shall return unto you again."
We should, at this point, look at what Jesus has said to his followers. [Luke 9:56] Jesus says he has come to save men's lives. People tell him that they want to follow him, as in chapter 9 verse 57. Jesus tells these people, to "Follow Me." verse 59, the man wants to go and bury the dead; others want to go and say good-bye, or to do something else first.
We, who put our hand to the plough, must not look back. We must not let the cares of the world get in the way. How many of us say, "I will follow Jesus; I will go into the harvest; I will be a labourer; but first I have to fix the car or I have got to make a living; I can't write that sermon; I am just too tired, I have a headache; I will do it next week; or like this, 'It won't do any good anyway?"...and on and on, excuses, excuses, always ready with an excuse. Paul said to ever be ready with a sermon or psalm, or prayer, ready to witness for Jesus.
{Luke 12:40} Be ye ready therefore also: for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye thing not. verse 42...And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? verse 43...Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing."
[Luke 24:46] Jesus said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behaved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: verse 47...And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. verse 48...and ye are witnesses of these things."
[John 6:32] Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my father giveth you the true bread from heaven, verse 33...For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world." verse 34, Then said they unto him, "Lord evermore give us this bread." verse 35, And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. verse 36...But I said unto you, Thad ye have also seen me, and believe not.' verse 37..."All that the father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to I will no wise cast out." verse 38...For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me! verse 39...And this is the Father's will which he hath given me I should loose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. verse 40...And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son, and believeth on me, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. verse 44...No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: I will raise him up at the last day. verse 45...It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. [John 6:47] Verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. verse 48...I am that bread of life. verse 50...This is that bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. verse 51...I ma the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."
[John 10:7] Then Jesus said unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. verse 8...All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them. verse 9...I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. verse 10...The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they might have life abundantly. verse 11...I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. verse 12...But he that is an hireling, and not hte shepherd, whose own sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and the wolf catcheth them, and scatter the sheep. verse 13...The hireling flees, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. verse 14...I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. verse 15...And the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. verse 16...And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Who is the Head of the Church?
Who else but, The good shepherd, The Christ, The High Priest, The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Jesus Christ is the had of the Church.
[Hebrews 7:11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, {under it the people received the law}. What further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedek (i.e. the Levitical priesthood) verse 12...For the PRIESTHOOD "being changed," there is made of necessity a change in the law as well. (What Law was changed?) verse 13...For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to "another tribe" of which no man served at the alter. verse 14...For it is evident that our Lord {Jesus Christ} sprang out of the tribe of Juda, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning the priesthood. verse 15... and it is far more evident that after the similitude of Melchisedek there ariseth another Priest. verse 16... (i.e. Jerusalem Bible) who is a priest not by virtue of a "law about physical decent" by the power of an indestructible life. verse 17...Fit it was about him that the prophecy was made; verse 18...you are a priest of the order of Melchisedek, and forever. (i.e. Psalms 110:4) The earlier commandment is then abolished, because it was neither effective nor useful, verse 19...For the Law (i.e. Law of Descent) could not make anyone perfect: but now "this commandment," (i.e. singular) is replaced by something better--the hope that brings us nearer to God. verse 20...This was not done without the taking of an oath. The others were made priests, (i.e. Levitical Priests) without any oaths. verse 21...He with an oath sworn by the one who declared to him: The Lord has sworn an oath which he will never retract; you are a priest, and forever. (i.e. Ps. 110:4) {Hebrews 7:22-25} And it follows that it is a greater covenant for which Jesus Christ has become our guarantee. There used to be a great number of those other priests. (i.e. Levitical) because he remains forever, can never lose his priesthood. It follows then, that his power to save is utterly certain since he is living forever to intercede for all who came to God through him. verse 26...The ideal High Priest would have to be holy, innocent, and uncontaminated, beyond the influence of sinners, and raised up above the heavens: verse 27...One who would not need to offer sacrifices every day, as the Levitical priests did for their own sins and for the people, because he did this once and for all by offering himself. verse 28...The Law (i.e. Law of Descent) appoints high priests who are men subject to weakness, but the promise on oath, which came after the Law appointed the Son who is made perfect forever."
Paul said in Hebrews 8:1, "The point of all that we have said is that we have a high priest of exactly this kind. He has his place at the right of the throne of the Devine Majesty in the heavens. verse 2...A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. verse 3...For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have something to offer also. verse 4...For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law. verse 5...Who serve unto the example and "shadow" of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle; for see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. verse 6...But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. verse 7...For if that covenant had been faultless, then no place should have been south for the second."
Right here Paul in verse 8 through 13 is "quoting" Jeremiah 31:31-34. Please read both Hebrews and Jeremiah. Hebrews 8:8, "For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the House of Judah: and the House of Israel; verse 9...Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord; verse 10...For this is the covenant that I will make with the "House of Israel" after those days, saith the Lord: (i.e. note the covenant He will make is with Israel only) I will put my laws into their minds, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; verse 11 And they shall NOT TEACH EVERY MAN HIS NEIGHBOUR, AND EVERY MAN HIS BROTHER, saying "Know the Lord:" for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
Question. Why do we have preachers scurrying all over the earth saying "know the Lord"? God said with this new covenant that they won't have to say "Know the Lord" because "ALL WILL KNOW ME" Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. verse 13...In that he saith, a new covenant he hath made the first old (i.e. something old doesn't mean that it is gone). Now that which is old is ready to vanish away."
Show me an average Christian that knows God's Commandments. How can the new covenant be in effect if you have to have preachers, evangelists, commentators, teachers, and 4 billion people on this planet who don't even know who Jesus Christ is or was or will be, and Yet alone know the commandments and laws of God? And that brings us to the Purpose of the Church.
[Matthew 28:19] "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: verse 20...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world: Amen.
One of the things Jesus commanded us to do; [Mark 1:15] and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand "Repent Ye" and believe the gospel." The Gospel is the Good News of the kingdom of God coming to this earth!!! [Mark 1:17] "And Jesus said unto them (i.e. us) Come ye after me; and I will make you to become fishers of men."
Jesus tells his followers that they are to become fishers of men, not "Payers and Prayers!!" Where are the followers of Jesus to preach!!!??? [Mark 1:37] "And when they had found him (Jesus), they said unto him, All men seek for thee verse 38 And Jesus said unto the, Let "us" go into the next town, throughout all Galilee."
Jesus ate with publicans and sinners. The "lawyers" said unto his followers, "How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?" [Mark 2:17] When Jesus heard, he saith unto the, "They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. [Mark 2:23] And it came to pass that he went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and his disciples began to pluck the ears of corn, as they went verse 234 and the Pharisees said unto him, "Behold why do they on the Sabbath day do that which is unlawful?" You see the Pharisees had put 1,521 separate laws on the Sabbath which was not in the book of Law. {Genesis to Deuteronomy-- the first five books of the Bible} Jesus answers them in verses 25 through 28. "The Sabbath (i.e. Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown) was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." Man, as used here in Mark 2:27 is number 444 in Strong's Greek Concordance--it means 1). anth-ro'pos' i.e. man-faced, 2). a human being) not for Jew, but all mankind. verse 28...Therefore the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
Mark Chapter 3, Jesus was about to heal a man with a withered hand, the Pharisees watched him; that they might accuse him. [Mark 3:4] Jesus said unto them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or kill? Jesus was restoring the true meaning of God's Sabbath. These lawyers had laid on burdens that no man could live under; just like some of the lawyers of today.
[Mark 3:13] "And he goeth up into a mountain, and called whom he would: and they came unto him, verse 14...And he ordained twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach."
[Mark 3:32] "Behold, thy mother and thy brothers without, seek for you. verse 33...and Jesus answered them, saying, "Who is thy mother or my brethren?" verse 34...And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, "Behold my mother and my brethren!" verse 35..."For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother." Those people, who do the work of God, are the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
In Mark chapter 4, Jesus tells the parable of the seed sower, in verse 3 through 9. verse 10...And when he was "alone", they that were about him with the twelve asked of him what the parable meant. verse 11...And he said unto them, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God" but to them that are without: all these things are given in parables: verse 12...That seeing they may see, and NOT PERCEIVE; and hearing they may hear, and NOT UNDERSTAND; lest at any time they should be "CONVERTED" and their sin should be forgiven them."
Jesus is telling his followers that those people, who are not called to him at this time, they cannot know the mystery of the kingdom of God. [Mark 4:33] "And with many such parables spake he the work unto them, as they were able to hear it. (i.e. understand) verse 34...But without a parable spaken he not unto them: {note this} and when they were alone, he expounded (i.e. explained) all things to his disciples.
[Mark 6] Jesus had come again into his own country: and he went into the synagogue: on THE SABBATH DAY. He began to teach. Everyone wanted to know how this man had such wisdom, and where these things came from. In verse 3...They said, Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Jude and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? and they were offended at him. verse 4...But Jesus said unto them, "A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." verse 5...and he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick fold, and healed them, verse 6...And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went around about the villages, teaching."
We in the Church of God, have this same problem. We are mainly despised by kin folk and the town's people where we live.
Also in Mark chapter 6, Jesus decided to feed the great multitudes of people that had followed him into the desert place. verse 37..."He answered them and said, "Give ye them to eat" and they say unto him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread?" verse 38...He said, "How many loaves have ye? Go and see. "And they said, "Five loaves and two fishes." verse 39...He commanded them to sit down---verse 40...and they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. verse 41...And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them and the two fishes divided he among them all. verse 42...And they did eat and were filled verse 43...and they took up twelve baskets of the fragments and of the fishes; verse 44...And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men."
In chapter 7 of Mark, a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him and came to him, and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. verse 27...Jesus said to her, "Let the children first be filled: for it is not meek to take the children's bread and cast it to dogs." verse 28...she answered him, "Yes Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs" verse 29...And He said, "For this saying go thy way: the devil is gone out of her."
Think about it! Jesus in Matthew 15:24 said to this same woman. "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel. verse 25...she pleaded for Help. verse 26...Jesus said, It is not meant to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs. verse 27...And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters table: verse 28...Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt:" and her daughter was made whole.'
Jesus Christ is saying that this act, (helping her by healing her daughter) is "bread" by his word!!!
In Mark Chapter 8, Jesus again feeds the multitude, with seven loaves, and few small fishes. In verse 15 of chapter 8, Jesus charged his disciples, saying, "Take heed, beware, of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven the Herod (i.e. leaven is a representative of sin). verse 16...And they reasoned among themselves saying is it because we have no bread, verse 17...Jesus said unto them, "Why reason ye, because you have no bread? perceive ye not yet? neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened? verse 18...Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember? verse 19...When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up?" And they say "Twelve" verse 20..."And when the seven loaves among the four thousand, how many baskets? took ye up,” and they said "seven". verse 21...And he said unto them, "How is it that ye do not understand?"
[Luke 4:4] "And Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
[Luke 12:1] Jesus again warns his followers, "Beware ye of the leaven of hte Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
[John 6:48] Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." verse 49...Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. verse 50...This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man eat thereof, and not die. verse 51...I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread I will give him is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. verse 53...Verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. verse 54...Whosoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the "last day" verse 55...For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood drink indeed. verse 56...He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. verse 57...The living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. verse 58...This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your father did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live forever."
Manna from heaven, kept the Israelites alive physically fro forty (40) years in the wilderness. Jesus spoke of leaven as a type of sin. Jesus is the bread of life. We, The Church of God, are one lump of bread.
[1 Corinthians 5:6] "Paul said your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? verse 7...Paul tells us purge out the old leaven (i.e. sin), that ye may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us. verse 8...Therefore let us keep the feast {Days of Unleavened Bread} not with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
Think about the five (5) loaves of bread, He blessed it, and broke it and fed five thousand (5,000) people, and had twelve (12) baskets left over. He gave his disciples the bread (i.e. word) and they passed it out to the multitudes. WE, The Church of God, are to take the word (i.e. bread) of Christ and preach the Good news to every person who will listen. You see the bead will never run out.
When we feed God's Church, and those whom he is calling, the bread will not run out. There is enough for all.
The servant serves the bread, Paul. [1 Corinthians 9:19] "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made my self servant unto all, that I might gain the more. verse 23...And this I (i.e. we) do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
[1 Corinthians 10:16] "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? verse 17...For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we all are partakers of that one bread."
[1 Corinthians 11:23] "Paul is holding the Passover service on the fourteenth (14th) day of Nisan. Paul says, "For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread. verse 24...And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said "Take eat: this is my bode which is broken for you: This do in remembrance of me."
Paul also said in 1 Corinthians 12:12, "For the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body: so also is Christ. verse 13...For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Pagans, whether we be bond or free: and all made to drink into one spirit. verse 14...For the body is not one member, but many verse 25...That there should be no discord in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. verse 26...And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured all the members rejoice with it."
[2 Corinthians 5:14] "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: verse 15...And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. verse 17...Therefore if anyone be in Christ, this one is a new Creature: old things are passed away: behold all things are become new. verse 18... And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation: verse 19...To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not inputting their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word (i.e. bread) of reconciliation. verse 20...Now we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
[2 Corinthians 6:1] "We then as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. verse 2...For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in "a" day of salvation have I succored thee: behold now the accepted time, behold now the day of salvation. verse 3...Giving no offense in any thing that the ministry be not blamed; verse 4...But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, verse 5...In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watching's in fastings; verse 6...By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. verse 7...By the word of truth, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned."
[Ephesians 4:1] Paul says, "I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation where with ye are called, verse 2...with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love. verse 3...Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Paul is telling us here not to war with one another, not to hold grudges, and malice for the other Churches of God, and each other. verse 4...There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; verse 5...One Lord, one faith, one baptism, verse 6...One God and Father of All, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. verse7... But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. verse 11...And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors, and teachers; verse 12...For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, verse 13...Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. verse 14...That we 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. verse 15...But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head even Christ: verse 16... From whom the whole body tightly joined together and compacted by which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. verse 30...And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, where by ye are sealed unto the day of Redemption. verse 31...Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; verse 32...Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Finally, my brethren, 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 darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all of the saints.
[Colossians 1] Paul tells us that Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature; and he is the head of the body, the church; who also is the beginning, the first-born from the dead' that in all things, he has pre-eminence.
For the Lord himself will descend with a shout from heaven, with the voice of the arch angel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise. Then we, which are alive at his coming, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we be with the Lord ever more.
But of times and seasons brethren; For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord (i.e. Lord's Day), so cometh as a thief in the night. For they will say Peace and Safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them on the earth, and they shall not escape.
[Matthew 24:14] "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat (i.e. bread) in due season?
Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. For I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in, naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me, I was in prison, and ye came to me.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world...
Marvin Ison