Let us individually and collectively mark Spring 2022 as the most important of our lives. We live in troubling times; the world is in chaos. As judgment falls, this ministry urges, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove yourselves." (2Cor. 13:5) Brothers Sam and John combine to encourage us to come out of our lethargy to renew our commitment to Jesus, our Savior, Lord, & soon coming, King. Let no one ignorantly say that God does not communicate through His anointed ministry. We hear from God continuously, but for the most part, we ignore His admonition. 

How we perceive the man of God reflects our attitude toward Jesus and our heavenly Father. For preaching to work effectively in our lives, we must receive it as God's word, not as the word of men (1 Thessalonians 2:13). If we cannot accept that God speaks to us through His anointed ministry, we will never change our lifestyles to please our heavenly Father. The Apostle Paul stated, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye, not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5) 

The Body of Moses was led out of slavery from Egypt to be a separate nation under God, yet "with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness" (1Corinthians 10:5). Similarly, we live not under the law today but under a new covenant. We claim to be the Body of Christ, yet, the question remains for each saint, "Is my life pleasing to God?"Brother Desmond Singh stated, "I want to jar your attention to the importance of not only understanding of things of God, but the necessity of walking in His path! We ought to make a new dedication to living closer to God each year." As we approach Easter weekend, we need to examine ourselves in preparation for commemorating the Lord's supper.

Brother Sam stresses that church attendance is vain (without reward) if we do not get saved. People can attend church for forty years or more yet never develop a personal relationship with Jesus. Salvation is that first initial conversion experience that opens our lives to an ongoing sanctification process. That is when the church becomes truly valuable to us. In the church, we learn to walk in humbly and in love. The lessons we are taught from the pulpit need to be implemented in our lives to develop the nature of Jesus. Gradually, we surrender our old carnal nature to be led by the Spirit. 

This compelling lesson should motivate every elect child of God to ask, "Am I growing in God or clinging to traditions because it is all I have ever known?" Am I partaking 'of the bread of life' or existing on dry meat from generations long passed? The Bread of Life is the word of God as dispensed by Christ's anointed ministry today. "It is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword," designed to cut sin and hypocrisy from our lives so that we will be "raised up at the last day."

In this follow-up lesson to "I KNOW THY WORKS" (3-26-22. Brother Singh stresses, "We cannot defeat the devil carnally because he works on our carnal mind. We can only defeat him spiritually. In the Book of Hebrews, we read, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1) What we call sacrifice today is embarrassing compared to what they willingly surrendered! Jesus will "give every man according to his work." (Revelation 22:12). So, we must be willing to lay aside every weight {unnecessary activity} and carnal desire for sin which so easily yield ourselves.

Our Lord said to the Apostle John, “Behold, I come quickly {suddenly}; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Revelation 22:12) Teaching in his gentle but persistent manner, Brother Desmond stated, “We are not saved by good works, but rather saved unto good works.” He explains, when we are sincerely dedicated to the work of God, the works we do in the church develop our spiritual stability. Conversely, works performed with a carnal mindset (other than what God has purposed), will not save us.  (See Matthew 7:22-23)

Although the stay of Paul and Silas was brief in Thessalonica, God planted a seed in the hearts of the saints. Later, Paul wrote to them: "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it NOT as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

As the protocols for COVID-19 appear to be ending, after two years of intense restrictions, we ask ourselves what we have learned? What God intended as a judgment on the world is also chastisement for His people. So, let us examine ourselves and our commitment to our heavenly Father. Can we say we are a more separate people (2 Corinthians 6:17) than before the pandemic? Has our devotion to and dependence upon God deepened? The words of the Apostle Paul should now echo in our ears: "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

The Body of Christ is powerless today because we lack charity. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." (1Cor. 13:1). In this strong presentation, Brother Sam asserts that we know we are powerless, yet instead of 'tarrying' and seeking after God for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, too often, modern saints fake gifts of the Spirit. Speaking in unknown tongues is a fleshly activity that invites demonic intrusion. Only when we become humble before God can He use us. "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:8)