Date: 10/10/2022

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory and to the Holy Ghost that abides within me. God has laid on my spirit to write a weekly message to the saints and friends of The Church of the Living God, The Pillar, and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased with His Own Blood, Inc.– Jewell Dominion. This week’s key word is Mindset Change (Part One).

Matthew 21:23-32 speaks on changing your mind. God calls us to radically change our mindset, to be like-minded, humble-minded, and Christ-minded.  As we follow Jesus, we learn to value others above ourselves and to truly live the way we were meant to live. Saints and friends, it is time for the Body of Christ to make a mindset change.

As I was walking one morning and looking at nature surrounding me, I saw the leaves falling off the trees. And as the leaves were falling, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that the leaves falling were off the trees, but the tree is not dead. Next, the Holy Spirit revealed to me that by the power of the Holy Ghost we too can shed our leaves of selfishness (Philippians 2:3-4), jealousy (Genesis 37:3-11), unforgiveness (Psalm 32:1), church hurt (2 Corinthians 4:9), disobedience (Isaiah 59:1-2), covetousness (Mark 7:21), gossiping (James 4:11), malice (Ephesians 4:31-32), and judging (Romans 2), to name a few. Saints and friends daily we go through the motions of praising God spiritually; we are dead due to inward things other people cannot see. However, God knows what’s in the heart; daily He is trying to get the Body of Christ to REPENT.

Additionally, Jesus taught us, through his ultimate sacrifice, the importance of repenting for our sins to enter the Kingdom of God. Throughout the Bible, the word of God stresses the importance of turning away from sin and wickedness and surrendering our lives to God.  The act of repenting begins with God’s calling, and He does not call the righteous, he calls sinners. He gives us the opportunity and an open door to return to him when we have strayed from a righteous path. When we repent, we invite the Lord to restore us through abundant forgiveness and thereby reconciling with our Christian faith.

But then what does the Bible say about repentance? When we study scripture, we can clearly see the importance of continuously self-examining our actions and calling on God to forgive us. This keeps us humble, frees us from the torment of sin, and brings us closer to Jesus Christ. The verses on repentance reiterate that God’s love and capacity for forgiveness know no bounds. There is no need to fear admitting your wickedness as the Lord is not slow to hear your prayers. He will wipe away your sin and will heal your spirit. When you’re facing difficult times and you fear that you have strayed off of the path that God has chosen for you, turn to these scriptures on repentance to give you strength.  Here is a list of 17 scriptures on repentance: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:8-9, 1 John 1:8-9, Acts 3:18-19,2 Peter 3-9, Matthew 9:13, Revelation 3:19, Luke 17:3, Luke 15:10, Luke 15:7, Romans 2:4, Isaiah 55:6-7, Acts 2:38, Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, Ezekiel 18:21-23, and Luke 24:45-67.

In closing this week’s message, we must remember our Heavenly Father still loves the body of Christ. Moreover, just like the trees are not dead; the branches will eventually have a new growth of leaves. Saints and friends, it’s time for new growth in the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased with His Own Blood, Inc. – Jewell Dominion. During my walk, observing nature, the Holy Spirit said these things (selfishness, jealousy, unforgiveness, church hurt, disobedience, covetousness, gossiping, malice, and judging, to name a few) must die out, thus saith the Lord. Therefore, we are to have the attitude of Christ; we must empty ourselves as Jesus did and put others first. We must remain focused on the Kingdom of God and the will of the Father. We cannot look away from the hurting and the destitute, we have been called to reach out to them. We have been charged as Christians to have the attitude of Christ; the attitude begins with love. Remember, “…With God all things are possible”. Next week Part 2 on Mindset Change.

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: September 12, 2022

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory and to the Holy Ghost that abides within me. God has laid on my spirit to write a weekly message to the saints and friends of The Church of the Living God, The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased with His Own Blood, Inc.– Jewell Dominion. This week’s key word is Purpose. (Part One)

Let me start off by asking you a question. What is the purpose for your life? When you wake up in the morning what is it that drives you; what is your purpose. When you get to work, or when you go to school, what is it that makes you want to excel? As you think about this question, certain pictures may come into your mind or example; you might be motivated by a childhood dream, expectation of family members, or just trying to live the American Dream. The American Dream, isn’t that what we all want? The American Dream says that we can do anything we want to do. Be whatever we want to be. It says that we should live our lives to the fullest, exceed what our parents accomplished.

As we all think about what our purpose is in life, or even as we try to find our purpose, let’s all understand that God has a purpose for our lives. By the way what is purpose? Purpose defined is That which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure, or exertion. In other words, we build a house for the purpose for shelter, we labor for the purpose of sustenance. (Illustrate a pen; its purpose to write) But sadly enough, many Christians don’t have a clue what that purpose is.

We are all driven either by design or default. We either live for the purpose that God designed us to, or we live according to the demands of our schedule and the expectations of others. Some people think the purpose of life is making money, for some it is having as much fun as possible, and for others it’s being popular and well-liked by others. There’s nothing wrong with these things, but if they are your whole purpose in life, there’s emptiness to it. It’s kind of like cotton candy – all taste, but no substance.

Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) tells us, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”. In this verse Paul, is writing to churches that he established during his 2nd missionary journey; deals with the subject of a purpose driven life and those that live with no purpose. Who he is talking about is a group of religious people who lived according to Jewish customs. They lived by the flesh, and they trusted in the flesh, not only did they trust in the flesh, but they trusted that their flesh was the ticket to eternal life. Paul tells the Philippians that he used to be just like them. He used to live for the American Dream if you will, and according to society he was somebody, he was going places, he was popular, he was rich, he was circumcised, he was of the tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of the Hebrews, he was a Pharisee, he was the persecutor of the church, killing and arresting Christians. In his mind you couldn’t get any better. But one day Paul met Jesus Christ and as a result he was saved and realized that his purpose for living had changed. Therefore, our purpose should be to live with Jesus Christ also that we may be His disciples here on earth. And remember, “With God All Things are Possible”. (Matthew 19:26) Part Two next week

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: August 22, 2022

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to Him be the Glory and to the Holy Ghost that abides within me. God has laid on my spirit to write to the elderly saints and friends of The Church of the Living God, The Pillar and Ground of the Truth, Which He Purchased with His Own Blood, Inc.– Jewell Dominion. This week’s topic is on FAITHFULNESS.

God promises to stay by our side from birth until our final days. “I will be your God throughout your lifetime, until your hair is white with age,” He says in Isaiah 46:4; adding, “I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” We are never alone, even when we feel weary or anxious. God will never abandon us, and He will work tirelessly to help us grow in the image of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His work is never done if we remain faithful. Philippians 1:6 reminds us of God’s plans, stating, “For I am sure of this very thing, that the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I know that many adults struggle with the aging process but growing older has numerous benefits. Each day, you wake up with more knowledge (wisdom) than you had yesterday. Your wisdom helps you connect with fellow seniors, but it also makes you an inspiration for younger generations. As you progress through your golden years, cast your fears aside and remember what scripture says about aging gracefully. The Bible says we should honor our elders. Elihu did not always agree with Job’s actions, nor did he appreciate the arrogance of Job’s other friends. However, in Job 32:4, Elihu waits until Job finishes speaking to voice his criticism because he feels it’s the right thing to do as a younger man.

Moreover, your earthly bodies become weary as we age, and you may also notice aches and pains. Nevertheless, let us take comfort in knowing the Lord shall renew our strength, according to Isaiah 40:31. “Then they’ll soar on wings like eagles; they’ll run and not grow weary; they’ll walk and not grow tired,” promises this comforting verse. 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 echoes this sentiment, stating “Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.” God has big plans for you, and you will have a lifetime of everlasting joy when you enter heaven’s gates due to your faithfulness to God. Growing older is a blessing, with affection and respect, I express to you who have entered older adulthood. I also invite you to reflect on who you are and your relationship with God and others at this stage of your life. Likewise, remember that growing in holiness means dealing with life’s inevitable losses. However, on n a more positive note, growth in holiness leads to wisdom. Your wisdom will not die with you but will guide and enrich generations to come. In closing Matthew 19:26 reminds us, that “with God all things are possible.”

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26