Date: 10/17/2022

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 Two).

Looking at Ephesians 6:10-18, lets examine the God’s word plays in changing our mind. Brings us to a place of repentance, so that we can affect positive in our relationships. First, how to Change Your Mind?

We can start with allocating strength, through examining our need to find our strength in the Lord.

Secondly, we must explore our need to make certain our relationships are supported by and grounded in integrity. Without that belt of truth strapped around us, we cannot stand and our relationships crumble. Next, we then must consider our need to access the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Saints and friends, we need to be right with God before we can be right in our relationships with others, and the way we get right with God is we must allow the righteousness of Jesus to be given to us. And then we ask Him to fill us, to dwell in us, and change our character so that we are truly a righteous people.

Furthermore, we need to look at our need to be actively prepared to advance. If our relationships are going to be healthy, God honoring relationships, we must be prepared in advance to Gospel of Jesus Christ into those relationships with our words and our actions. A lack of preparation leaves us susceptible to defeat by the enemy. First, examine the role of faith plays in our relationships. We must believe in the Word of God. We must trust Jesus and let that trust lead us to a life of obedience. When we trust God enough to obey what he teaches regarding our relationship, all our relationships will be enhanced.

Additionally, we all have read about the helmet of salvation. However, if we are going to effective change our mindset, for the glory of God, in our relationships we must a thermostat and not a thermometer in our relationship with God. Being a thermostat allows us to be change agents. However, that will only happen when we have a change of mind. When we repent of our current way of thinking, (selfish, me-centered, world’s perspective” and align our thoughts with Christ. We must be individuals that think like Jesus thought. This means we must change our minds. Paul told the Christians at Ephesus to take up the Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit.  Let us look at the sword of the Spirit and see how acknowledging the Word of God can make an impact on our relationships.

In closing, Ephesians 6:10-18 tells us, finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for yourself and the saints. Remember, “…With God all things are possible”. Next week Part 3 on Mindset Change.

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: 09/19/2022

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 Two)

Last week I started off asking the question, “What is the purpose for your life”?  This week’s message begins with Paul speaking to the Philippians 2:7 telling them, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”. Paul tells the Philippians and us that he realized that all those personal gains had no purpose. Why? Because in the end they weren’t going to amount to anything without Christ. Saints and friends, it doesn’t matter if you become the President of the United States, if you live a purpose driven life without Christ in the center of it, you haven’t gained a thing. However, Paul made a personal decision to give up every single accomplishment including his family, friends, work, fame, all for the sake of Christ. Paul realized that it wasn’t trying to grasp the dream, it was the attitude which was wrong. James 4:2-3 (KJV) tells us, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts”. (In other words, you ask God to fulfill your selfish desires and you receive not because you ask with the wrong type of attitude.) So how does a Child of God find his or her purpose in life? How are we to find that drive for a purpose driven life? Paul gives us some principles to live by: Decide to Know Christ, Forget the Past, Live for Today, and Press Toward the Mark.

Notice what Paul says in Philippians 3:8, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”. Make note of; that I might win Christ, used in the subjunctive mood which means this is not real action until the condition is met, he couldn’t live a purpose driven life until he made a real-life decision to know Christ). This is the same tense that Jesus used in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. Expounding on the Key Parts of John 3:16: “For God…” Jesus has been explaining to Nicodemus, “The Son of Man must be lifted up” so that those who look on him can be saved (John3:15). Now he explains God’s motive. “…He so loved the world…”

Though he has wrath for sin and hates it, in (Proverbs 6:16-19), he loves the world and the people he has created. Righteousness demands that the world be judged, but love moves God to offer a way to be saved from the coming wrath. Further, God saw a way to bring men and women to himself in peace and in friendship. “…that he gave his one and only Son,” God the Son was not created. He always existed with the Father and the Spirit (John 1:1). Jesus the man was begotten by God and Mary, fully God and fully man, tobe the perfect sacrifice. It is astounding that the eternal Son of God, the Lamb that was slain since the foundation of the world, (Revelation 13:8) had to be born a baby and grow up like everyone else. “That whoever believes in him…” John 6:28-29 says, “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent. Before we call out to God for salvation, we must believe that He is able to reward us when we call upon Him. Even though believer’s will not bear the wrath of God for their sin. Jesus has imputed his righteousness to us by taking our sin on himself. Everlasting life is difficult to grasp, but there is hardly a clearerpromise in scripture. And remember, “With God All Things are Possible”. (Matthew 19:26). In closing, I pose the question, “What is your Purpose”?  Part 3, the conclusion of the series on purpose next week.

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: August 29, 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 topic is SOCIAL MEDIA AND BULLYING.

Colossians 3:17 (KJV) tells us, ^“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”. We can see daily, how the world which is separated by distance & languages has been replaced by a world of instant access! There used to be barriers between us and the world. But now, the world is in the palm of our hands. Communication has become instant, there’s nothing to keep us from sending a message around the world within a moment! But the fact that we have a responsibility to God hasn’t changed. It’s only been enhanced! Some look at the World Wide Web as a negative, but I believe it’s a HUGE positive in our mission to Glorify God and spread the gospel!  In Isaiah 42:5-8, God reveals His glory online is the same as His glory anywhere else! It’s brilliant, radiant, and triumphant! His glory has the power to draw His creation to Him! In Ephesians 3:8-12 God reveals His glory online, through His Church. Moreover, Matthew 5:16 reminds us, as we post online, we must ask the same questions we ask in any situation or conversation: (1) “Is this action glorifying to God?” (2) “How can I honor God through this action?” Saints our behavior online is to be just like our behavior in person (Ephesians 5:1-17). Proverbs 22:1 and I Peter 2:9 tells us to guard our influence, we represent more than just ourselves. Therefore, as we relate to the world through social media, we must strive to accomplish the same mission as we strive in person! (A good test of our faith is the content on our personal social media platforms!) Hence this day forward let’s use social media for the glory of God, inform others about His way of life and His redeeming love! Bring many souls to His throne through your presence online!!

The next topic the Holy Spirit laid on my heart is Bullying.  James 3:5-12 reads, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindle”! As kids, when bullies called us names, our standard retort was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”  Those words, while meant to volley back against insults, often fell on the deaf ears. According to the School Bullying Council, every day some 160,000 students stay home from school afraid of bullies. Furthermore, with the advent of social networking, there has been an increase in teens committing suicide because of “words” posted on sites like Facebook by “cyber-bullies.” Yes, when taken to heart words can hurt…even kill. In

I Timothy 5:13 Paul described these “verbal bullies” as “tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” Our words can be as sharp and cutting as any dagger. How tragic would it be, if as Christians we were guilty of bullying fellow Christians? Not physically, but verbally and mentally, isolating them from the body of believers cutting them off from their source of vital spiritual strength. We’re all admonished to “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) …Oh be careful little tongue what you say! You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). In closing, Jesus wants us as Christians to go into the world with His love and make a difference!

In closing remember Salt – is a preservative – it keeps food from going bad. Light – shines into the darkness; they represent good deeds that we do in love. The world is a dark hopeless place and needs to see the light and goodness of Jesus!  Paraphrasing Ephesians 5:9-16, ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, rebuke and expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But when the light shines on them, it becomes clear how evil these things are. ¹⁴ And where your light shines, it will expose their evil deeds. Therefore, it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” ¹⁵ So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. ¹⁶ Hence we must make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.”  Moreover, offending the conscience of other Christians about any matter is an offense against God, a sin. Yet, Christians offend unknowingly at times. As we grow in the love of God, may we also grow in the love of others and treat their consciences with tenderhearted care. Remember, “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

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