LOVE, GRACE, AND COMMUNION - Soul Winning Series

LOVE, GRACE, AND COMMUNION  - Soul Winning Series

2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV) 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The threefold benediction mentions the three members of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Why is grace primarily associated with God the Son? Why is love primarily associated with God the Father? And finally, why is communion primarily associated with God the Spirit?

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Love, Grace, And Communion
• 2:20 The Trinity Blesses The Church
• 7:13 Why Love Comes First
• 14:40 Proof Of Love 
• 22:59 Grace That Supplies And Sustains
• 29:06 What Communion Really Means
• 36:40 One Spirit That Unites The Church
• 43:29 Applying It To Home And Culture

Transcript

Love, Grace, And Communion

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I'm here to share with you a very important message Love, grace, and communion. Love, grace, and communion is the salvation process. Love, grace, and communion is how God relates with you and I. So this theme of love, grace, and communion we can see it throughout the Bible. You and I we are saved because of love, grace, and communion. God, the Godhead, the Trinity that relates with you and I because of love, grace, and communion. We are so familiar with this verse. And we say this at the end of our prayers. May the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the love of God and the sweet fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we say this at the end of our prayers. But child of God, I'm here to remind you today there's so much revelation into this love, grace, and communion. And I can't wait for us to dive into this. So let's see our scriptural reference. It's coming from 2 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 14. It states the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. So what we see here is the threefold benediction. So at the end of a letter, especially if you read the letters of Paul, at the end you will see a farewell greeting and a benediction. A benediction is a blessing pronounced. So this verse is a blessing pronounced on us as believers, not just to the Corinthians church. Amen.

The Trinity Blesses The Church

SPEAKER_00 2:20

So what this is what I call the threefold benediction. The threefold blessings, it has what love, grace, and communion. Why this threefold benediction? The Bible states that God wants us to reconcile with Him, and God not only wants reconciliation, God also wants relationship. In this same chapter, Corinthians chapter 2. Look what it states in verse 20. It states, now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. It states in verse in chapter 8, verse 4 to 5, employing us with much urgency that we should receive the gifts and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And I'm not only as we had hoped, but they first give themselves to the Lord and then to us by the will of God. So for you and I to first give ourselves to each other in fellowship, we need to have fellowship with the Holy Trinity. So we are familiar with the concept of the Godhead that is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This threefold benediction, we see the Godhead mentioned together, blessing the church. In 1 John 5, 7 and state, for there are three that bear witness in heaven. So we see there's another instance in the scripture where God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are mentioned. Not just in what we just read in um 2 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 14. And also in 1 John, John is saying that there are three witnesses the Father, the Word, and the Spirit. And then Matthew chapter 28, verse 29, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Why am I bringing this up? Because we see the entire Trinity getting involved in blessing us. They work as a team. That is why when you read the book of Genesis, God said, Let us make man. That is God speaking to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When it comes to dealing with humanity, the Godhead is involved. God the Son is involved, God the Father is involved, and God the Spirit is involved. And God wants us to have a relationship with the Godhead. Look what it says to confirm that. Romans chapter 8, verse 16 to 17. The Spirit Himself, that is God the Spirit, bears witness with our spirit, that we bear witness with our spirit that we are children of God. You see this? So for you to know that you are a child of God the Father, the Spirit of God bears witness in your spirit to confirm in your heart that you are a child of God. The Holy Trinity, they are all working together for your good. And each children that ears, ears of God, enjoy ears with Christ, that is God the Son. So we see their involvement when it comes to relationship with us. And we also see our duties in the end time. We are in the end times. Look what it states in Jude chapter 120, verse 21. But you beloved, that is the church, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, that is our Christianity. Now, look at the work of the Holy Spirit in terms of what we have to do. It says, pray in the Holy Spirit. So our duty when it comes to relating with the Holy Spirit is to do what? Pray in the Holy Spirit. And now what it says about God the Father, it says, keep yourself in the love of God. Again, that word, grace from the Son, love from God, communion from the Spirit. Communion, when you commute with God, you commute through praying. That is why the Holy Spirit is there to help you to pray. You invite him to help you to talk to God. And we we see here that keep yourselves in the love of God. Why keep yourself in the love of God? Because we have to share love with God. Our duty as children of God is to do what to keep, to maintain, to sustain our love for God. And look what it says looking for the mercies of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. We have mercy because of the grace of Jesus Christ. So what I'm trying to explain here is that we see the Godhead involve in terms of our relationship. In terms of our relationship.

Why Love Comes First

SPEAKER_00 7:13

Now, let's look at the first benediction. That is the love of God. Most times, when you read that, when you read the Bible, the entire Bible, we see that when we talk about love, mainly we associate love with God the Father. Yes, Jesus can love you, Holy Spirit can love you. But when it comes to their roles or responsibility or function, love is at times associated to God the Father. Because Paul states, why am I even starting with love? Because when you read it, Paul started by saying that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, he started off with grace, which is okay. But in order for you to have grace, you need love. Love came before grace, because the Bible said, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, and his begotten son is the fullness of grace. So love was the motivation, love was the incentive, love was the reason why you and I were saved. If God didn't love you, God wouldn't save you. If God didn't love us, God wouldn't send his one and only son to save us. So love is the foundation of our salvation. So that is why I'm starting off with this. The first benediction when it comes to the salvation process, how you and I we are being saved. And this is how we need to preach the gospel when we go out there in the world about love, grace, and communion. Start off with love from the Father. So, what kind of love are we talking about? The Greek word here is agape, that is what we call the unconditional love of God. A love that is not based on you. Amen. It's agape, meaning charity. That's a key word because charity reflects the biblical concept of love, because it involves love as an attribute, meaning that love is a characteristic, it's a trait. It also reflects love as an attitude, how you view someone, and it also involves love as an action. Because most times we we think that just you saying I love you doesn't mean anything. No, for you to claim that you are a loving person or for God to claim that he's loving, God has the nature of love because the Bible states God is love, and God's attitude towards us is of affection, and God not only said Brahim, I love you, Musumba, I love you, he acts upon it, and one of the one of the proofs of love is given. Because the Bible said, For God so love the world, if if we only know that God loves us, okay, God, what's the proof of you saying that you love the world? You can't that's why when people say, Oh, I love you, I love you, it means nothing. Anyone can say I love you, and we have misused the word I love you. The for God so loved the world, okay, that's a fact. What proofs that God loves the world? He gave. So when we talk about love, one key component of love is given. Amen. Action of God for God's glory. Now, why love and God the Father? I'm gonna list all the biblical references. Why love and God the Father? It will baffle your mind. Amen. God is love. That's why Paul said that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God. Love is associated with God the Father because God is love, according to 1 John 4.8. I'm just gonna read quickly. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. So for you to even claim that you love as a child of God, you have to know that God is love because true love, this agape love originates from God. You and I, our human love is conditional. But for you to have this agape love, you need to know that God is love. That is why the salvation process started with love, and we can also apply this in our relationship. Those of us that are getting married, let love be the foundation. I'm not just talking about love. You see, there's a difference between love and romance, and there's a difference between love and feelings. We're talking about love as a trait, as an attitude, an action based on nothing, there's no condition attached at all. So God is love. The nature of the love of God is unconditional. Look what it states in 1 John 4 4 19. We love him because he first loved us. We don't love God just for the sake of loving God. Some of us we never wanted to be with God, we never wanted to be believers, but because God first loved you, the Bible says, While you and I were sinners, Christ died for us because of love. The father loves his son, the father loves those who believe and love his son. Christ is God's demonstration and display of love. You want to ask God, prove your love to me. God said, I've proven your love to you through my son Jesus. And Jesus did that there's no greater love than this, but for a man to lay down his life, and he proved it. He laid down his life for you and I. So Christ, when we see Christ, we see God's love demonstrated in us. There are so many references about God's proof of love for us through Jesus Christ. John 3 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. Romans chapter 5, verse 18. But God demonstrates his own love towards us. Not just one person, us, us, everyone, okay, towards us in that world, but we are still sinners. Oh God. So God didn't love you because you're you're you're come to church, God didn't love you because you're a preacher, God didn't love you because you're righteous, God didn't love you because you give in church, God didn't love you because of your talent, he didn't love you because of your background. He loved you even when you are messed up, you're a sinner, you're crazy, you're cuckoo. That is the love of God. And look what it says in one john 4, uh 1 John chapter 4, 9 to 10. In this, in this love of God was manifested towards us. That God, you see, how does this how was this love manifested? That God has sent his only begotten son into the world. You see, you see the cross reference in the Bible. How many references to tell us how much God loves us, and God demonstrated that love by giving his only why does the Bible say this only and begotten? Because that only and begotten is special. God gave us his best of the best. How do you know that somebody's love you when they give you their best? When they give you their best, God gave us his best. Oh my god. You see, if people don't love me, it's okay, I can live with that, but I can't afford not to know that God doesn't love me. If people disappoint me, it's okay. If people reject you, it's okay. But when you know that God loves you, oh my god, you will be at ease, you will feel at rest. I am loved by God, and his

Proof Of Love And Real Rest

SPEAKER_00 14:40

love is unconditional, his love is faithful, his love is loyal, his love is reliable, his love is trustworthy. Even when you yourself you are confused, God is sticking with you. Ah, this God that we serve. He's a good lover. Just to continue, the love of God has been poured into our hearts. This shows that Musumba, mama, you have what it takes to give that agape type of love. We have no excuse as believers to base our love on conditions, especially us as believers. No, we don't, because the Bible states in Romans chapter 5, verse 5 look now, hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured into our hearts. Again, love starts from the heart. If someone does not love you from the heart, they don't truly love you. Why did Jesus Christ summarize the two, the greatest and the first commandment by saying that love that law with all your heart? Started with the heart, with all your might, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Love starts from the heart. I cannot love you from the mind, I cannot love you from the flesh. That is what we call lust. If a young man tells a young woman, oh, I love you, no, you don't love her, you are lost in after her. Because true love starts from the heart. I'm not talking about feelings because the heart goes beyond feelings. Am I making sense? So the Bible is saying that God has God, his love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us again. How can that be possible? Our Mongolio, that's how you pronounce it. Our Mongolio, for you to love it, excuse me, our pronunciation, but for you to love your wife unconditionally, it is possible. Do you know why I believe it is possible? Because the love of God has been poured into your heart, and the love of God has been poured into the heart of your wife. Wait, I'm talking about us as believers. You see, sometimes I pity us as believers because we don't know what is in the world. You have to claim what is in the world. Is it God? This is who I am. This is who I am, which shows that you are capable to love unconditionally, because that love of God has been poured into your heart. So there's no place, Nathan, for hatred, there's no place for malice, there's no place for heavy, there's no place for grudge, there's no place for all that. Because true love has entered into your heart. Not the love that man can give, not the love based on substance, not the love based on money, not the love based on anything else, because God is love and his nature has been poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit. And look at another thing about the love of God, nothing can separate us from the love of God. You see, oh God, when you're going through situations, who is gonna help you to stand is love. Ha! When things are not working, who is gonna make you to stand is love. Remember, mankind have sinned against God, mankind have rebelled against God, mankind have offended God, but you know what remained? Love. God was still fighting for you now because of love. If God didn't love you, God will care less. Imagine if God didn't love you, God will care less. Love will never give up on you. Love will never give up on you in your children, in your family, with your spouse, with the ministers, with the church member. Let's build on love. Love will never give up on you. The Bible states in Romans chapter 8, 39. No height. Paul is saying that hey, child of God, nothing can separate you and I from the love of God. You might think, you know what? I sinned against God yesterday. I don't think God loves me. I think you know what God has withheld his love from me. Oh God, this problem is too much. No, I don't, oh God, I think the reason why I'm going through this is because God doesn't love us. I used to think like that. Whenever I have problems, oh God doesn't love me. Hey, what a lie! Just because you're going through problems, don't affirm saying that God doesn't love you. It's a lie, it's a lie. Paul is saying that no height, nothing higher, nothing, all the principalities, powers, wickedness in high places, none of them, none of them, child of God, no depth in the sea. It doesn't matter how deep the situation is, no any other created thing, not even angels or demons or another human being, amen, shall be none of these things that have that Paul have listed, nothing, nothing high, nothing low, no created entity, no demon, no angel, no human being, no animal, no plant, nothing. Wow, shall be able, wow, to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ our Lord Jesus. Why? Nothing. So, child of God, just relax, rest. We're in the end time. The Bible said, keep yourself in the love of God, because love will sustain you till the very end. I will make it, I will remain faithful, I will serve God, I will worship God till the very end. Because why I am keeping myself in the love of God, because that's what's gonna keep you. No amount of prayer will keep you, no amount of giving will keep you, no amount of church attendance will keep you. What's gonna keep you is the love of God. Because at times you will feel like giving up. At times when you come to church, you don't see anybody, you feel like, no God, let me go back home. There are many things to discourage you, but what's gonna keep you going is the love of God. Love should be your motivation, love should be your foundation. While we are serving in this church, let it be because of love. While we're here, let it be because of your love, your family, let it be because of love. Even when it comes to God, let it be because of God. If God does not butter your bread or sugar your teeth, say, Mukama, I still love you. Mukama, ah, I celebrate you. God, I don't know how long you're gonna deliver me from this problem, but in the midst of this, I will come to church, I will lift up my head and I will praise you. That is faithfulness. God doesn't have to be some of us when God gives us, that's when we shout, Hallelujah, amen. Because God has butter your bread, God has sugar your tea. But when our Muslim will always say, at times she doesn't even have money, no opportunities, but she will still. Do you know why she's doing that? Because the love of God has been poured into her heart, and it's love that is motivating her, and it's love that is keeping her for her to stand. The bishop says something, she's still standing because of how many battles? Why? Because of the love of God, Jesus stood because of the love of God, because Jesus would have given up going to the cross. He said, He said, Father, this cup is too much. Let it pass me by. But he said, Well. Because I love you so much. I want to please. You see, when you love somebody, you want to please them. Because Jesus loved the Father so much. Lord, I want to please. You know what? No, my will, but let your will be done. It takes love. Because they have that loving relationship with each other. You compromise with your wife because you love your wife. Compromise on basic things. Look, love is the greatest. We all know that. Believers. And then the Bible says we are to love God in return with all our hearts. God loves us with all his heart. God has a heart. God loves us with all his heart. But God is saying that I want you, Madam Carol. I want you, Elder Jane, to love me with all your heart. Oh, oh, God is God wants all. Not few, not partial. He wants all. Everything about you. Amen. Now let's move to the second benediction.

Grace That Supplies And Sustains

SPEAKER_00 22:59

That is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. So we have dealt with the first benediction that is the love of God associated with God the Father. Now, grace. Most times when we talk about grace, we associate grace with Jesus. Grace with Jesus. Our salvation started off with love. Love is the cause. Love is is is the is the reason why we are saved. Now, grace now makes it possible for you and I to be saved. Look what is okay. Now before we get into that, why grace and God the Son, what is grace? In a biblical sense. Meaning graciousness, goodwill, freely bestowed. Goodwill freely bestowed. Favor, charm, loveliness, benefits. It points out to God's forgiving mercy. It highlights the gospel as distinct from the law. So when we talk about grace, we're talking about God freely bestowed blessings, goodness, providence, benevolence upon mankind without your contribution, without your input. Just as God loves you while you were here, sinners. He didn't love God because you know God loved you first. Same applies to grace. God took initiative to love you, not you. Christ took initiative to extend grace to you, not you. So everything boils down to God. He did it, they did it all. Why grace and God the Son? There are many references. I can list them all. Grace is associated with God the Son. Romans chapter 16, verse 24. It says, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Romans chapter 1, verse 7. To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be sent, grace to you and peace from God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians chapter 3, verse 18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. To finish this up, 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 28, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. So Paul distinctly associates grace with Jesus. You see, Jesus is grace personified. When you look at Jesus, you see grace. Titus says, For the grace of God, that is Jesus, that brings salvation has appeared to all men. I start off by saying that the motivation, the reason, the foundation for salvation is love. Now the Bible is saying that the grace of God, that is Jesus Christ, has appeared unto all men. Who appeared unto all men? Jesus. That brings what? Salvation.

unknown 25:48

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 25:49

So grace is pacified in Jesus. And Jesus is the fullness of grace. According to John chapter 1, verse 17. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Grace of the Lord is completely undeserved and super abundant. The grace of the Lord is undeserved. We didn't work for it. It's not based on merit. Undeserved. But guess what? It's super abundant.

unknown 26:25

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 26:26

Just as the love of God is so excess, the grace of God is super, super abundant. All the divine favor, providence come from and through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here are three points, four points when we talk about grace, what grace can do for us. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ supplies. Look what it says in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. So the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ supplies. Another point: the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ sustains. Look what it states in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 9. And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you. Paul was going through something. Paul was saying that Father, take this away from me. And God said, Paul, my grace is sufficient for you. My grace is able to sustain you to go through this. And the third point, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ strengthens, it strengthens, it supplies, it sustains, and it strengthens. Look what it says in uh 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 1. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. So if you're looking for strength, if you're looking to be sustained while you're going through problems in life, you need what the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And finally, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ sanctifies, it makes us holy, it makes us pure. Look what it states in Titus chapter 2, verse 11 to uh verse 11 to 12. For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Look what it's gonna do teaching us, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. The grace of God has this awesome capacity to strengthen us, to sustain us, to satisfy us, to supply for our needs, to purify us. So when we're talking about the love of God in excess, the grace of God rich in mercy. Wow.

What Communion Really Means

SPEAKER_00 29:06

Now, the third benediction that is the communion of the Holy Spirit. I hope you're following. What is communion? Communion in a biblical sense, in this context of the verse, is a Greek word means, okay, which means partnership, participation, fellowship, association, sharing, intimacy. So the Holy Spirit, in essence, is that connection between us and God. He is that connection between us and God. Communion speaks of participating in fellowship with an intimate associate or group in a marital relationship, for example, or in a church setting. So that word is very key. It's not just communion in terms of eating, no, communion in terms of fellowship, intimate relationship, association, connection with someone close to you. Why communion and God the spirit? It makes sense. It makes sense why the Holy Spirit is makes it possible for you and I to have communion with God. Because number one, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, He lives in us. Amen. Communion is associated with God the Spirit. Why? The importance and impact of the Holy Spirit, we can find that in John chapter 14, verse 15 to 18. It states, For if you love me, keep my commandments, and I'll pray, I'll pray the Father, and He will give you another helper, another helper that is speaking of the Holy Spirit. He is a helper that he may abide with you forever. What are you telling me that the Holy Spirit will be with me forever? Child of God. What I'm trying to say to us is that the presence of God is in us, not just now, but forever. So when people say, Oh, the Holy Spirit has left me, I don't believe that. The Holy Spirit cannot leave you. No, that's wrong doctrine. The Holy Spirit cannot leave you because the Bible states he will live with you. The word live above means to live, he will stay with you, he will take rest in you forever. Oh, I think I'm not in the Holy Ghost. When did he leave? When did he disappear? He didn't leave, he didn't go anywhere. You can grieve him, yeah, you can do things to him, but he remains faithful. He says, The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him, for he dwells with you and will be with you. He dwells with you, he lives with you, and he will be with you. Wow, he lives with you and he will be with you. What does the Bible state? It will be in you, and it will be yeah, it will yeah, it will dwell with you, and it will be in you. Why does the Bible state that we should walk in the spirit, live in the spirit, led by the spirit? This is our day-to-day life. Walking, need direction, living, all it's done in the spirit, and this is this is part of the communion that we are talking about, his communion with us because we are walking with him, we are day-to-day interacting with him, we are being led by him, we are in him. Another reason is that our community in God's earthly and heavenly family, that is the kingdom of God, Romans chapter 8, verse 14 to 5 says, For as many as led by the Spirit, again, as many that are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you do not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you receive the spirit of adoption by whom we cry above Father. So the Holy Spirit makes it possible for you and I to have that family relationship, that is part of the communion we're talking about. So you are part of the family of God because of the communion of the Holy Spirit. He makes you to believe that, oh, I am adopted into God's family. Wow, I'm a child of God. Oh hey! Why? The Holy Spirit makes that possible. The Holy Spirit abides in us, he is the indwelling presence of God, he is God living in us because God is spirit. Look what it states in Philippians chapter 2, verse 1. Therefore, if there's any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any affection or mercy. So the Holy Spirit makes fellowship possible. Fellowship with God, fellowship with one another. The Bible states can two work together except they are agreed. Young people or young men and women planning to get married, when the Bible says that you have to be in agreement. For me, that agreement is spiritual agreement. The Bible says don't be on equality yoke with an unbeliever. Because how are you gonna have communion with somebody who does not believe in the God that you serve? So you have to be in agreement in a spiritual sense. So if you're gonna marry somebody, make sure that they have the same Holy Ghost. That is why the Bible states that we have what? One Lord, one Father, one hope. Everything is one. One God, one spirit, one mind. That is agreement. You have to be in oneness. Romans chapter 8, verse 9. But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. If indeed the spirit of God dwells in you, no, no, no, if anyone does not have the spirit of God, he is not in his. So we see that for you to claim that you are a child of God, you need the indwelling Holy Spirit to be in you. So these are all references of the Holy Spirit abiding us. Another reason why we attach communion with the Holy Spirit is because our connection with God and Jesus is made possible with the Holy Spirit. Look what it says in Romans chapter 8, verse 16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are child of God. So the Spirit of God makes it possible for us to hear the voice of God, it makes it possible for us to believe in Jesus. He convicts us, he will never speak contrary to God the Father, he will never speak contrary to God the Son. Sometimes when people say, Oh God, this is what the Spirit is telling me, and then what you have read in the Bible is completely different. Test the Bible says, test every spirit, and the Holy Spirit that I know will always speak in line with the word of God, that is Jesus, will always speak in line with the will of God, that's God the Father. So he will never, never speak against the word of God, he will never speak against the nature of God, he will always speak in line. Another reason why we associate communion with the Holy Spirit is because our channel of access to God the Father is through the Holy Spirit. Look what it says in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 18. For through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father. So the Holy Spirit makes it possible for you and I to have access to God. Why? Because God is spirit. You cannot relate with God on the flesh level, you cannot relate with God on a canal level, you cannot relate with God on a water level, you need to be in the spirit,

One Spirit That Unites The Church

SPEAKER_00 36:40

you need to walk in the spirit, you need to be led in the spirit. That is why when we worship God, when we are serving God, because worship service is a spiritual act, we need to do it in the spirit. Yes, we can do it in the flesh, but God is not going to receive anything of the flesh, He will receive anything of the Spirit because God is spirit, because Jesus said that they that worship God, they must worship in how? In spirit and in truth. So you cannot really connect with God without the Holy Spirit. You cannot connect with Jesus without the Holy Spirit. That's why Jesus said it's better for me to go. So I will send you the helper who is gonna be in you, all of you. Another reason you are the temple of God where the spirit of God abides. We are called to be in fellowship as a church. Acts chapter 2, verse 42. And they continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship in breaking of bread and in prayers, and also realize that for us to have unity in church, it takes the Holy Spirit. Because you can have a different spirit. When we have a vision, you want to go left, we want to go right. When we have a vision, we are walking by faith, you're walking by fear. When the Bible said, For God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, sound mind. So it's essential for us to create unity, it takes the Holy Spirit to make it possible. Because why? He's in Musumba, He's in our manager, He's in our financier, He's in our intercessor. That same spirit that Paul said, that same spirit in Peter that worked in Peter, that same spirit that resurrected Jesus, that same spirit is in us. Ha child of God, you don't even know what you have, man. Hey, I realized that when I come across believers, if if they are Indians, they are chanting. I'm not from Uganda. Do you know why I'm able to connect with you guys? Because of the spirit. I'm telling you this, I don't speak your language. Yes, I can spend time in Uganda, try to understand the language, trying to understand the culture. Why make myself comfortable? It's because of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one making me feeling comfortable in fellowship with people that I don't speak the language. But guess what? We speak a different language. Ah, you see somebody who's from a different part of the world, as long as you have the spirit of God in them, they work together. If you're gonna have a partner in life, make sure that they have the spirit of God. I'm telling you, so you guys can work together. God is all about relationship, amen. Now, finally, we play a part in the church, okay? By the Holy Spirit. I can play my role in this church, you can play your role in this church. Who makes that possible? The Holy Spirit. When we talk about gifts, where are they from? The gift of who? The Spirit. So when it comes to the communion of the church, it takes the Holy Spirit to connect us, He connects us to God, He connects us with each other because He is in you, He is in me. So that connection is possible because of the Holy Ghost. That is why Jesus said, Peter, it's better for me to go. So that when the Holy Spirit is in John, he's in James, he's in Andrew, you guys can sing perfectly. Why? Who make that possible? Holy Spirit, one Holy Spirit. Look what it says in Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12 to 14. For as the body is one and has many members, that is the body here we're talking about Jesus, but has many members, that is us as individual Christians. Okay, but all the members of that one body being many, yes, there are many believers all over the world. So we're not the only believers on this earth. There are believers in China, there are believers in Saudi Arabia, there are believers in Qatar, there are believers in a remote village. Okay, but one body, one body that is the body of Jesus. Okay, our one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit we will all baptized into one body. So, what makes all of us connected into that one body is the Holy Spirit. He is the connector with a Jew. You see, Paul Paul is trying to explain that. Okay, you might be different physically, you might be a Jew, you might be a great, you might be shot, you might be talking, you might be a slave, you might be free, you might be blind, you can see, you might be poor, you might be rich. It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. Have all been made to drink into one spirit. See how powerful the Holy Ghost is, the spirit of God, Musumba, is in you. How can that be? Only God. That is why the Bible says He's the omnipotent, omniscience. You see, angels don't have that attribute of omnipot on omniscience. Angels, even though they are spirit, but they cannot an angel cannot be in you and be in and nature at the same time. No, only God can do that. That is why Satan is so smart because Satan knows that he's he's only one spirit. He cannot, that is why he he tempted Jesus. You understand? When it's time to tempt, he will go to Peter. But he cannot tempt Jesus and Peter at the same time. No, he can't, he doesn't have that capacity. Okay, he will take care of Jesus first, he will go, he will take care of that's why the Bible, that's why God asked Peter Satan, where are you coming from? True and fro. Through and fro the earth, looking for somebody to deceive. He does that. Is why he deceived some of the angels now to use them now to execute his work. That's what we call them demons. But when it comes to God, the spirit, hey, you cannot tell me that you know what Holy Spirit, take care of Musumba, and then when you're done, come to me. Holy Ghost, take care of Hanatan when you're done, come to me. Holy Ghost, take care of Hannah when you're done. No, no, no, no, no, no. Holy Spirit, you're here. Fill this place in church, it will minister to you differently how it ministers to somebody else. But that same Holy Spirit, amen. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit, I'm almost done. Connect us to God and unite Christians into one body of Christ. The communion of the Holy Spirit is holistic. We are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are led by the Holy Spirit, we are to live by the Holy Spirit, we are to walk in the Holy Spirit, we are gifted by the Holy Spirit, we bear fruit of the Spirit. These are all the communion of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit enables our church fellowship to communicate, to connect, to contribute with one another, with our spiritual gifts.

Applying It To Home And Culture

SPEAKER_00 43:29

To conclude, the nature of the love of God is unconditional. The nature of the grace of Jesus is undeserving. The nature of the communion of the Holy Spirit is holistic. God the Father expresses love for us. God the Son extends his grace to save us. God the Spirit embraces true fellowship with God by indwelling in us. The love of God cherishes us, the grace of Jesus cultivates us. The communion of the Holy Spirit connects us. So we see all of them, the Godhead, working together. Finally, in the benediction, Paul says, Let it be with you all. What does that mean? Be with you all. Amen. So the threefold blessings from the Trinity are for all believers. Even though Paul was writing to the Corinthians church, he's saying that. But let this threefold blessing of love, grace, and communion be with you all. Amen. Not just for the preacher, not just for the minister, but all the members in the church of Corinth and also for us believers now. Amen. That same be with you all. That phrase is also mentioned in several scriptures. Number one, it's also mentioned in um Romans chapter 16, verse 24. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Again, in second 1 Corinthians chapter 16, verse 23 to 24. It says, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. May love be with you all in Christ Jesus. And then Ephesians chapter 6, verse 24, Grace be with you all, those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. So this threefold benediction of grace, love, and communion is for all of us. And we are saved because of that. And the takeaway from this is that it's a principle that I've learned how God relates with us. And he can apply this same principle in any human relationship. Build your home with love. Let's build this church with love. Let's build our friendships with love. And let us also extend grace because human beings are imperfect. People are gonna offend you, Nathan. I am gonna offend you as a minister. Your pastor is gonna offend you, your husband is gonna offend you, your children are gonna offend you. Do what? Extend grace. And one thing that is killing our society right now is social media. Social media has taken communion from us. Even while we're in church, we are on our phones. Even while we're in church, some of us we're sitting at our back. Even while we're in church after service, get your car keys and just drive. We are losing communion. Communion in your home, husband and wife, communion with your children, even communion in the church. I thank God for technology, but God wants us to go back to communion. God wants us to go back to fellowship, fellowship with human beings, not fellowship with digital devices. God is not looking for that. He's looking for you and I laughing together, eating together, drinking together, singing together, jumping together, holding hands together. Let's rise up. We're gonna pray.