You mean that any little congregation holds the power of God’s Word? Yes, it does! We don’t need to worry about being like other folks. The power of God is held in the Truth, and each member holds within his or her hands the demonstration of that Truth in obedience. Another significant point pertaining to the body of Christ is that we members or Christians function as an orchestrated group that lacks nothing. As an orchestra has many pieces –violins, horns, drums, etc. – so it is with the church. Notice what Paul had to say in 1 Corinthians 12:13-19. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? (NKJV) There are many talents but one

The foundation is ever so important when constructing a building. Concrete reinforced with rebar is the usual construction method. There are building codes and constant inspections to ensure regulations are met. Builders are held accountable for any errors in the foundational support. Constructing a building without these codes could cause the building to collapse. According to God, it also makes a difference where we build our spiritual foundation. Christ gave the example of one who built his house on sand. Many heard the sayings of Christ but did not do them. When the winds came and the rain descended on the house, it fell because it was not founded upon rock (Matthew 7:24-27). Here, the rock for us is the Word of God. All of the church’s activity must be founded in the rock of the Word of God. In another sense, Paul told the Corinthians that “no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (l Corinthians 3:11). Many churches claim attachment to Christ, but unless they have submitted to His will, they are not His church. Therefore, Jesus Christ is not their foundation. Notice that in Matthew 16:15 Jesus asked, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v. 16). In verse 18 Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall

Sometimes, it is difficult to see that the goodness of the Gospel should be chosen over the bitterness in the hearts of men. Often, others will speak hurtfully without knowing it. The harmful ways and actions will be born out of a heart that has grown through worldly living. The question is, though, upon what will you choose to focus? Will it be the good or the evil? Though evil may be present in the minds of others, Peter told Christians, “For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully, for what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God” (1 Peter 2:19-20). Jesus certainly had those who did evil toward Him, and yet, He loved them and treated them with dignity. Notice John 13. Jesus ate with the twelve disciples and washed their feet before dinner. He then announced that one of them would betray Him. Yet, no one knew that it was Judas. When Judas got up and left the room, there were several thoughts in the disciples’ minds about where he was going, but no one knew that Jesus spoke of him. Jesus treated him without anger! He asked us to do the same to our enemies. Jesus said in Matthew 5:39, ‘‘But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on

Micaiah the prophet spoke his famous words in 1 Kings 22:14, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that will I speak.” There is always a temptation to speak what the crowd wants spoken. Fear of physical persecution is always present; however, we have been commanded by the Almighty to say those things that are written in His word. It is true that stepping on toes can exact a price from those who proclaim the Word, but this is the price of being God’s man. Recently, I spoke of Jeremiah and his challenge as he performed the duties of God’s messenger. In Jeremiah 26:2-3, it says, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word. Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.” God shows optimism that the people might listen and repent. He would gladly relent from the punishment that their evil deeds have brought upon them. Unfortunately, they would not turn from their evil ways before God. This is the duty of God’s man, to warn them that their wrongs have consequences. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul told Timothy, “For the time will come when they will