Weekly Message 6-26-2023
This week’s key phrase is “How to Live With Eternal Life in Mind”.
Author: CLG
Weekly Message 6-12-2023
Church of the Living God
The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased With His Own Blood, Inc.
Jewell Dominion
Weekly Message from General Chief Overseer Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
Date: 06/12/2023
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. This week’s phrase is “Faith in Focusing on Eternal Life.”
Faith comes from hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17). If we don’t hear that Jesus came to bring us back into an intimate relationship with God, then we won’t have faith for that and we won’t experience it. There are many people who have come to the Lord and received the forgiveness of their sins, but they are saved and stuck. They are just waiting for heaven so they can really start living. They are missing the main point of salvation. If there was no afterlife, if there was no heaven or hell, John 3:16 reveals that Jesus would still have come and died for our sins so we could once again have an intimate relationship with Him and His Father, in this present evil world. Galatians 1:4 reads, “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father…”.
This was one of the main differences between the first-century church and our modern church. Those people knew God intimately. They had a relationship with the Lord that wasn’t waiting to start in heaven, but was working in them while they were still in this world. They didn’t have the advantages of radio, television, internet, or any other modern means of communication. Yet, these believers turned the known world upside down with the truths of the Gospel in just thirty years. Acts 17:6 tells us, “And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also…”. They impacted their world much more than we are impacting our world today. Why?
Because they had such a depth of relationship with a Living God that it was contagious. In Rome, Christians knew their God so intimately that they sang His praises as they were burned at the stake. There are historical accounts of Nero the emperor sticking his fingers in his ears and saying, “Why must these Christians sing?” They had much more than a doctrine and a hope, they had faith. Their faith gave them a present-tense relationship that allowed them to endure with joy, terrible atrocities. There are historical accounts of Romans, when witnessing the joy of these Christians who were being martyred, jumping out of the stands and rushing to them. They knew they would be doomed to the same fate, but they willingly accepted death so they could know God in the same close, intimate, and personal way as these Christians.
In closing, Let me ask this question. How many people do you know that would die to have what you have? Do you know someone who is envious of your relationship with God? If there is no one, then you are not experiencing eternal life as the Bible describes it and as our Lord Jesus Christ died to give us. In fact, if this isn’t your experience, you are not really living. This is what drove the Apostle Paul and all the early Christians. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” Philippians 3:10. It’s all about having a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord. And the good news is that our Lord wants us to have this more than some of us do. Until next week let us remember, “… with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
In His Service,
Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop
Message from First Lady Worthem – 6/10/2023
Church of the Living God The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased With His Own Blood, Inc. Jewell Dominion Message from the Desk of First Lady Deaconess Linda Worthem Date: June 11, 2023 Greetings my brother and sisters in the name …
Weekly Message 5-29-2023
Church of the Living God
The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased With His Own Blood, Inc.
Jewell Dominion
Weekly Message from General Chief Overseer Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
Date: 05/29/2023
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. This week’s key phrase is Wisdom in how to “Be an Example”.
In I Timothy 4:12, Paul instructs Timothy as to his obligations, Paul charges him to “be an example to the believers…” “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12). Titus is also encouraged to be an example and to teach others to be an godly example. Brothers and Sisters, Timothy and Titus are not the only people expected to be examples, every born-again child of God is to follow the example of Christ. We should not only identify as Christians because we tell others we are, but we must also exhibit it in our conduct, interactions, speech, attitude and conversations. An example denotes being a pattern, example, or guide for others to follow.
We can be an example by teaching and instructing others in what to do and how to do it. “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” ( I Timothy 4:4-5). By doing it for others to see, and to be able to do the same, “ But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (I Timothy 4:7-8). Those who ought to be examples are ministers of the gospel: Preachers, Teachers, Pastors, Evangelists, Deacons, and Lay-members. Philippians 3:15-17 tells us, “ Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample (means to show by example)”.
Examples we should exhibit are : An Example in Word: “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” I Timothy 4: 2, 8). An example in An Example in Conduct: not only is our conduct to be an example to the believers, but honorable among unbelievers, “ Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation” (I Peter 2:11-12). An Example in Love: the Love we are to display is to be manifested toward God and our Brethren and our fellow man including our enemies, An Example in Purity: moral or sexual purity, both in thought and act, seems to be the idea. There should be nothing in your contact with the other sex that would give rise to scandal.
In closing, ask yourself are you calling on the Lord out of a pure heart? If so, let our example be one that illustrates the power of the gospel to impact, our words, conduct, love, and purity. The next question to ask yourself: What kind of people would we be if everyone followed our own example in these things? May these questions motivate us to examine our lives and correct any deficiencies that we may find. Until next week let us remember, “… with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).
In His Service,
Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop
Message from First Lady Worthem – 5/12/2023
Church of the Living God The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased With His Own Blood, Inc. Jewell Dominion Message from the Desk of First Lady Deaconess Linda Worthem May 12, 2023 Greetings my brothers and sisters in the name of our …
Weekly Message 5-15-2023
Church of the Living God
The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased With His Own Blood, Inc.
Jewell Dominion
Weekly Message from General Chief Overseer Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
Date: 5/15/2023
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory, Power, and Dominion forever and ever and to the Holy Ghost that is yet abiding in the body. This week’s key phrase is Wisdom in making Good Choices.
When God tells us in Deuteronomy 31:19 to “choose life,” “ I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live”. He’s actually showing us what wisdom looks like, it’s life-giving. And when we follow wisdom, we live deeper than “I want, I think, I feel…” Because wisdom always chooses to do now what it will be satisfied with later on, while foolishness means “without common sense.”
To begin this journey in Christ, we have to understand that nobody can change themselves. Whatever change we need to make, we must pray and ask God to change us and help us. We must study the Bible in the areas where we are struggling, like anger, selfishness or unforgiveness. And be serious about it, we have to really study the Word to get what we need from God. It’s so good to know we can do something to choose life, not just have an existence full of misery and death. We can seek wisdom, pray every day and renew our commitment to do what He wants us to do. We can live with integrity and do what’s right – even when no one is watching us but God. That’s when we know we’re really living for Him and not for ourselves or to please others.
How can we change and what could our life be like if we made better choices right now? Don’t put it off any longer. There won’t be a more convenient time, and we don’t have to waste another day missing out on the good life God has for us. There are 5 principles for biblical decision making. (1). Our Best Decisions Reflect Our Values: These are all big decisions because they reflect our desire to glorify God in everything we do. (2). Our Best Decisions Are Birthed in an Atmosphere of Prayer: Prayer is our way of asking God for His proffered wisdom, given liberally and willingly to those who ask for it. Prayer is our lifeline to finding and fulfilling God’s will in all we say and do. (3). Our Best Decisions Heed Wisdom From Others: We also need the wisdom of those we trust. The book of Proverbs reminds us to seek godly counsel before deciding what to do. Proverbs 24:6, “ For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety”. (4). Our Best Decisions Take Time: Proverbs also teaches us about big decision thinking. Proverbs 14:8 tell us, “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.” And Proverbs 14:15 says, “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” The final principle (5). Our Best Decisions Are Committed to God: You and I have decisions to make every day. We’re fallible people, and we’ll make mistakes along the way. But we earnestly base our decisions on our unseen values, pray over them, make them thoughtfully, base them on wise counsel, and commit them to God.
In closing, if we make a wrong decision, God knows how to correct our paths or redeem our mistakes. The Lord needs men and women who know how to make wise choices, who are growing more mature day by day, and who can commit their decisions to the Lord and press on. Until next week let us remember, “… with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26b).
In His Service,
Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem
General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop
