8th October 2023.
1st Bible Reading – Isaiah 57:10-21.
2nd Bible Reading – Ephesians 3:1-13.
Theme: The Mystery Of God.
Topic: The Bond Of Peace.
Speaker: Apostle Paul Simon Bassey.
Text: Psalms 34:11-15, Ephesians 4:1-6.
Note:
- Unity is fundamental for the existence and progress of the church of Jesus.
- Jesus died so that He might unite the church ( Jews & Gentiles).
- The church is the unity of the physical and the spiritual.
- It is the Holy Spirit that brings forth Unity.
- You must endeavour to keep the unity of the body of Christ.
- “Peace is the greatest asset to maintain unity”
- There’s no unity without peace; peace guarantees unity.
- Peace – “The absence of strife”.The peace of God is spiritualThe church is bound together by peaceYou must consciously seek and ensure peace.The peace of God is not like that of the world ( Peace in the midst of the storm and persecution).Jesus is the peace of the church.You can only have inner peace when you have reconciled with God. (You must first have peace with God).Peace is a gift from God.
- Peace is also the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
- Your inner peace grows as you continually yield to God.
- The flesh wars against the spirit (The extent to which you are able to crucify the flesh is the extent to which the peace of God will abide in you).
- Peace is not for the wicked!
- Bond – To bind, To guarantee.
- Peace is the bond of unity.
- The kingdom of God is a mystery.
- The peace of God is a mystery.
- There will be no peace in the church if strife is tolerated.
- Strife brings fear and fear encourages wickedness.Strife griefs the Holy Spirit.You attract the wrath of God when you become an agent of strife.Insincerity is a precursor to strife.
- Nepotism brings forth strife (you must avoid nepotism).
- Mystery – A Cover Truth.
- The church is a mystery and a custodian of mystery.
- The church must be perfectly united and become one as the bride of Jesus.
- Marriage is a mystery ( the marriage of Christ and the church).
- The inheritance of God to both Jews and Gentiles;
- The guarantee of eternity in Glory.To become a member of the body of Christ (one church).
- Partakers of all the promises of Abraham.
- Jesus died for all.
Ref: Eph. 3:4- 6, Rev. 10:7, Matt. 5:9, 1st Pet. 3:8-11, Gal 3:14, Gal. 5:15-17; 22-30.
