Date: May 6, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The keyword for May is “Holiness.” 

Isaiah 35:8 says, “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it…” This week’s message is about the external journey of sanctification, of progressive holiness. 

We, the redeemed, the ones rescued by Jesus Christ, are blessed with the Highway of Holiness. This Highway, this Way of Holiness, is our beacon of hope and inspiration. Therefore, the highway is a movement away from uncleanness and all sins, internal and external, and going to be in the presence of a holy and pure God. Verse 8 says wicked fools and the unclean will not be permitted on the Highway of Holiness.

My dear brothers and sisters, this highway is exclusive, and only those redeemed by Jesus Christ may travel on it. This Highway of Holiness represents the way of salvation that is available to us through faith in Christ. Salvation is a process that happens in stages, beginning with justification. When we are justified, all our sins are forgiven, Christ’s righteousness is credited to us, and we become part of God’s family. However, this is only the beginning of our salvation journey. After justification comes sanctification, a lifelong process that every believer begins. Some people struggle with this idea, but it is essential to our spiritual growth. Philippians 2:12-13 says, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” It tells us to work out our salvation. We have a journey to travel, and that’s the way of holiness. 

In closing, early in church history, Christianity was known as “the way.” It was a way of life that followed Jesus Christ. He is the Highway of Holiness, and after we have completed our challenging journey on this path, we will appear before God in Zion. It wasn’t because of our righteousness or works, but because of Jesus Christ’s work and righteousness that we can make it. There will be no more suffering, pain, or sin in Heaven. We will be free at last, and like the Apostle Paul, we can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” For those who have longed for His return, there is a crown of righteousness that the Lord will award. 

Until next week, remember, “…with God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: April 29, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The key phrase for April is “Is Your Life and Walk Bearing Fruit?” Let’s reflect on this key phrase as we approach the end of April.

My brother and sister, you have a choice between two ways of life: the way of righteousness and the way of the wicked. The righteous way leads to blessings and fruitful growth, while the way of the wicked leads to withering and death. There is no middle ground – you must choose one or the other. In Matthew 7, Jesus spoke of the narrow and wide gates, the good and evil trees, and the wise and foolish builders. Psalm 1 also speaks of the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. These passages warn us of the consequences of our actions, but they also offer hope for those who choose the righteous path. The wicked spend time with sinners and mock the ways of the righteous. They ultimately join those who oppose God.

In contrast, the righteous delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night. They are like a tree planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in season and never withering. God knows the way of the righteous and watches over them. In his final words, Jesus declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). I urge you to reflect on His words and examine your path. Are you producing good fruit or withering away? The decision is yours. I pray this month’s messages motivate you to shun the path of the wicked, the advice of the world, and the company of the wayward. Instead, firmly root yourself next to the streams of living water. Anchor yourself near the source of spiritual nourishment and understand that the scriptures and Jesus Christ alone illuminate the path of the righteous. 

In closing, I challenge you to encourage others to follow the path of the righteous, for it is the only way to experience true blessings. I choose to follow Jesus. What about you?

Remember, “…With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop

Date: April 15, 2024

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, power, and dominion forever and ever, and to the Holy Ghost, who still abides in us. The key phrase for April is “Is Your Life and Walk Bearing Fruit?”

Counterfeit fruit is produced through pretense. We can become experts in the language, routines, and practices of Christianity while experiencing no real power or bearing fruit. Our hearts may remain self-centered, angry, and joyless even as we go through the motions of serving God. We can fall into the same sin as the Pharisees in Jesus’ day by judging ourselves based on how we appear to others while neglecting the actual state of our hearts, where all good fruit comes from. 

My brothers and sisters, if we love, desire, pursue, and fear the same things as the rest of the world, we are not abiding by Jesus Christ. Even if our lives are filled with church-related activities, we live fruitless lives (1 John 2:15-17).

Our works will be tested by fire, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. This passage compares the foundation to gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, and straw. The quality of each person’s work will be tested by fire, and whether it will survive will be revealed. If the work survives, the builder will be rewarded. If it does not, the builder will suffer loss.

In conclusion, God is the judge of our thoughts and motivations. Everything will be brought to light when we stand before Him, as mentioned in Hebrews 4:12-13. We must surrender to God in everything and use all He has given us for His glory. Our fruit, which is unique to each of us, is what God has entrusted us with. He knows what He expects us to do with it, as mentioned in Luke 12:48. Our responsibility before God is to be faithful with what we have so that we can be trusted with more, as mentioned in Matthew 25:21.

Remember, “…With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

In His Service,

Bishop Dr. Calvin Worthem

General Chief Overseer/Senior Bishop