Tag Archives: Paul the Apostle

Unity

Restore the Fellowship

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

This is not a letter written in anger, but in urgency—not to condemn, but to call. For the hour is late, and the Bridegroom stands at the door. The Church must rise as One Body in Christ—not divided, but whole.

Across many cities, pastors and people have declared, “We are the church,” while speaking only of their own gatherings. But has not the Word made it plain? “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.” (Ephesians 4:4–6, NASB) As One Body in Christ, we must remember this unity.

Return to the Altar
Among the Seven: One Lamp Unlit — A Silent Warning to the Church at Sardis Let those who have ears hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The local church is a lampstand—not the whole Temple. You are a part of the Body, not the Body entire. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free.” (1 Corinthians 12:13, NASB) To see yourself as whole apart from the rest is to misjudge the very nature of the Body of Christ.

What then shall we say of the present division? Some say, “We cannot unite—they have doctrinal errors.” But Scripture bears witness: the apostles corrected error not by abandoning fellowship, but by calling the saints back to truth. The believers in Corinth were divided, immature, and even tolerating sin—yet they were still addressed as “the Church of God in Corinth… sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling.” (1 Corinthians 1:2, NASB)

Truth and unity are not enemies. They are held together by the Spirit. Truth guards the soul of the Church; unity guards the heart. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (1 Corinthians 8:1, NASB) We are called to embody truth as One Body in Christ.

Those who hold fast to doctrine must also hold fast to love. It was Paul who instructed the Church to restore the wandering brother “in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1, NASB), and it was the same apostle who urged believers to bear with one another, forgiving each other, and to “put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Colossians 3:14, NASB)

Let the example of Scripture guide us now. Paul charged the saints in Rome to “accept the one who is weak in faith, but not to have quarrels over opinions.” (Romans 14:1, NASB) And to the Ephesians, he gave this command: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3, NASB)

Let us not mistake purity for separation. Holiness does not mean isolation. The Bride is not made ready by rejecting her own body—but by being washed by the Word, clothed in humility, and joined together in love as One Body in Christ.

For Yeshua did not pray that each church would stand alone, but that “they may all be one; just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You.” (John 17:21, NASB) If He prayed for oneness, shall we not labor for it?

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another. (1 John 1:7) And if we do not, then perhaps we do not walk as closely with Him as we imagine.

The Church belongs to Christ—not to a pastor, a building, or a stream. He is the Head. We are His Body. (Colossians 1:18)

So now is the time to restore the fellowship. Not at the cost of truth, but for the sake of truth. Not by ignoring error, but by entering into relationship where truth can be spoken in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

Lay down your pride. Open the doors to your brothers and sisters. Weep with those who weep. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Pray with the saints in other houses. Join hands with those who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)

For there is one Bride, one Spirit, one hope—and the time of separation is over. The Lord is gathering His people again. Will you be found standing with your lamp lit? Or isolated, holding truth without love?

Let the Church be one again.

Let the fellowship be restored.

Let the prayer of our Lord be fulfilled in our day.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

See Also

Truth

Have I Become Your Enemy by Telling You the Truth?

Galatians 4:16 (AMP) So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Have you ever been treated like a traitor for simply speaking the truth? You spoke out to warn someone, to love them well, to call them higher. And yet, instead of gratitude, you were met with rejection. This is not unique to you. The Apostle Paul was faced with rejection for telling the truth in love when he asked the Galatians, “So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16, AMP).

Telling the truth in love is not about condemnation. It is about compassion. It requires boldness birthed in prayer, courage formed in the fear of God, and a deep love for people that is willing to risk misunderstanding.

Truth Offends Before It Heals

Jesus said, “And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin]” (John 8:32, AMP). But what He did not say is that the truth often offends before it heals. It confronts pride, exposes hidden sin, and tears down the idols we’ve grown comfortable with. Remember that telling the truth in love can provoke strong reactions.

When Stephen told the truth, he was stoned by the very people he loved (Acts 7:54–60). When Yeshua told the truth in His hometown, they tried to throw Him off a cliff (Luke 4:28–29). The truth can provoke violent reactions, not because it is wrong, but because it hits the mark.

Speaking the Truth in Love is a Command, Not an Option

Paul urged the believers in Ephesus to grow up in Messiah by “speaking the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15, AMP). That means we cannot pick one and ignore the other. Love without truth becomes flattery. Truth without love becomes a weapon. But when the two walk together, God is glorified and people are set free.

You cannot serve God and stay silent when He calls you to speak. The truth is a scalpel, not a club. It is meant to cut with precision, not to harm but to heal.

Expect Rejection, But Speak Anyway

Yeshua was perfect, yet He was hated. Stephen was filled with the Spirit, yet he was killed. John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Messiah, yet he was imprisoned and beheaded. The common thread? They told the truth. Telling the truth in love is often met with resistance, but it remains a divine calling.

Paul wrote, “Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10, AMP). If you aim to be accepted by everyone, you will never carry the weight of God’s Word faithfully.

How Do You Respond to Correction?

When someone speaks the truth to you, especially when it is uncomfortable, what is your reaction? Do you push them away or examine your own heart?

David said, “Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way” (Psalm 139:23-24, AMP). The humble heart receives correction and grows. The proud heart resists and withers.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]” (Proverbs 27:6, AMP).

Stand Firm in the Truth

Beloved, if God has given you a voice, do not silence it to stay comfortable. Telling the truth in love should always be done with humility and courage. Speak truth with humility, weep before you rebuke, and pray before you confront. But speak.

The Church does not need more echoes. It needs a generation of voices who love truth more than popularity. A Church without truth has no power. A Church without love has no heart.

Let us be those who speak the truth in love, who receive it in humility, and who follow Yeshua regardless of the cost.

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O sharpened truth, You pierce my pride,
You draw the wound I tried to hide.
But in Your cut, the healing flows,
For mercy meets where justice goes.

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Prayer

Lord, I want to be faithful to You above all else. Help me to speak truth with boldness and love, never out of pride but always from Your heart. Teach me to receive correction without offense, and to offer it without bitterness. Let my words be guided by Your Spirit and filled with grace. You are the Truth, and I choose to follow You, no matter the cost. In the name of Yeshua, Amen.

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See Also

Sufficiency of the Word

The Traditions of Men

A Call to Return to the Truth

Brethren, I do not write to flatter, but to urge. I plead with you as one who has been shown mercy, who once trusted in the law and the ordinances of men, but was apprehended by the grace of God. I now write with boldness: beware the traditions of men.

For many walk no longer according to the Spirit, but according to patterns handed down without power. They uphold forms without fire. Statues without life. Commands without the Cross. They say, “This is how it has always been,” but they do not ask, “Is this of the Lord?”

1. The Word of God Is Sufficient

    Let every man be found a liar if he speaks contrary to the written Word of God. For Scripture was not given to be supplemented by inventions of the flesh, nor twisted by the wisdom of this age. The Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth. Paul wrote:

    “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”

    —2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB)

    If the Scriptures make a man fully capable, why do we reach for substitutes? Why do some add practices, rituals, or mediators that neither Jesus taught nor the apostles endorsed?

    2. When Tradition Becomes a Snare

      Traditions are not evil in themselves. I, too, upheld customs, celebrated feasts, and walked with zeal. But when tradition becomes a stumbling block to the gospel—when it burdens consciences, exalts men, or draws attention away from the finished work of Yeshua—it must be cast down.

      “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

      —Colossians 2:8 (NASB)

      Do not be taken captive! What is handed down by men cannot save. What is proclaimed from heaven—Christ crucified, risen, and reigning—this is the power of God.

      3. One Mediator, One Lord

      Some have exalted figures, relics, and sacred objects. Others have crafted elaborate systems of prayer and penance. But I testify before God and His elect angels: there is only One who intercedes, only One who atoned for sin.

      “For there is one God, and one Mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all.”

      —1 Timothy 2:5–6a (NASB)

      Every substitute is a shadow. Every tradition that bypasses the cross is a deception. We must not exchange the glory of the incorruptible God for images or patterns made by human hands.

      4. Test Every Tradition by the Gospel

      Do not be deceived by mere age. A tradition practiced for a thousand years is still false if it does not align with the Gospel. Test everything. Prove it by the Word. We do not preach ourselves, nor our customs—we preach Christ, and Him crucified.

      “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!”

      —Galatians 1:8 (NASB)

      Beloved, hear this: you are not saved by tradition, but by grace through faith. You are not sanctified by routines, but by the Spirit. The truth sets you free—not repetition, symbols, or rituals.

      5. A Better Way: Return to the Simplicity of Christ

      As the serpent deceived Eve, I fear some have drifted from the simplicity and purity of devotion to the Messiah. Return to Him. Cast aside every weight, every shadow, every teaching that exalts man or diminishes the sufficiency of the cross.

      Let the fire of the Spirit cleanse your worship, the blood of the Lamb purify your conscience, and the truth of the Gospel restore what tradition has obscured.

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      No idol carved, no crafted rite,
      Shall match the cross or pierce the night.
      Tradition bows, the truth stands tall—
      The Word made flesh is Lord of all.

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      Closing Prayer

      Lord God, we renounce the empty ways passed down without Your Spirit. Expose every tradition that exalts itself above Your Word. Cleanse us from man-made religion and lead us back to the simplicity of Christ. Open our eyes to see, our hearts to repent, and our hands to cling to You alone. Let no ritual replace our reverence, no custom replace our communion, and no tradition replace Your truth. In the name of Yeshua our Messiah, Amen.

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      See Also

      Renewal

      The Vow Remembered

      Returning to the God Who Called You

      Beloved, stop for a moment and breathe. Not the shallow breath of busyness or burden, but a deep soul-breath that whispers, “God is near.” This day—this Holy Thursday—is more than remembrance. It is a summons. A sacred trumpet blast echoing from the Upper Room through the centuries, calling you to renew your vow to God.

      Do you remember the moment you first said yes to Him? It was the start of renewing your vow to God.

      The moment you felt His love break through your shame, when you wept, when your knees buckled beneath the weight of mercy, when you swore—“Wherever You lead, I will go”? That vow was not just emotion. It was covenant. Heaven recorded it. Angels rejoiced. God smiled.

      But what has become of it?

      Perhaps you still go to church. Perhaps your Bible still lies open in the morning light. But has your heart grown cold beneath the surface? Has routine dulled the flame? Has the voice of the world crept into your spirit, quieting the voice of the Lord?

      This day is not for condemnation, but for consecration. Return to your first love. The table is still set. The towel is still in His hands. And His eyes still burn with the same fire that called Peter from the nets and Mary from the crowd. He is calling you—yes, you—to renew your vow to God.

      The apostle Paul did not run half a race. He did not make half a vow. He said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31, NASB). Why? Because the path of following Yeshua requires daily surrender, daily submission, and daily intimacy. Paul also declared, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20, NASB). Have you made peace with the crucified life? Perhaps it is time to renew your vow to God.

      You see, the vow you made wasn’t just to believe. It was to belong. To belong wholly to Him. To hold nothing back. To follow Him into gardens of sorrow and mountains of transfiguration, to feast and to fast, to rejoice and to suffer, all for the joy set before you—Him.

      So today, renew it. Not with shallow words or emotional fluff, but with trembling awe. Say it again:

      “I am Yours. All I have is Yours. All I hope to be is Yours.” Take this chance to renew your vow to God.

      Let your soul say, “I will follow even if no one else does. I will walk with You even when I do not understand. I will obey even when it hurts.” These are the vows of a disciple. These are the vows of the Bride.

      Beloved, this night we remember how Yeshua took bread and broke it. He lifted the cup and said, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28, NASB). And in doing so, He invited us not to comfort, but to covenant. Not to casual belief, but to costly love. With this, He calls us to renew our vows to God.

      Will you make that vow again?

      Will you weep where you once wept? Will you serve where you once served? Will you repent where you once repented? Will you renew your vow to God?

      Let the altar of your heart be rebuilt. Let the fire of first love be reignited. Let your knees find the floor once again. He is worthy. He who washed feet still washes hearts. He who poured out blood still pours out grace. He who died for you still lives to walk with you.

      This Holy Thursday is your moment to step back into the flame. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now.

      Prayer

      O Lord my God, I return to You with my whole heart. I renew the vow I once made and confess that I have strayed in ways I did not even see. Forgive my apathy. Forgive my pride. Forgive my self-reliance. I give You my allegiance again—not with mere words, but with my life. Help me to run this race with perseverance. Help me to die daily that You might live through me. Wash me again, renew me again, and anoint me to walk in Your will. I vow this day to follow You, no matter the cost, for You alone are worthy. In the name of Yeshua, my Savior and King. Amen.

      See Also