"A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"
We need each other. We need the gospel, and we need the people, so we can be warned, reproved, and instructed. We need someone to love, and rubbing shoulders with the saints - in all our faults and inconsistencies - proves that we know God, and gives us room to exercise our gifts. We need to build one another up, encouraging each other to continue in the faith. Hebrews 3:13 - "But encourage each other daily, while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened by sin's deception." Saints need tangible support, and words of comfort.
The community of believers is the greatest organization on earth, because it is the house of God, upholding the truth [1 Tim 3:15]. God is glorified as we gather. He doesn’t want many solo children. He has one body - the body of Christ - and we work together. Romans 8:29 - "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Let this mind be in you. No solo saints. No saying, “They aren’t perfect, so I’ll stay home.” Find a community of believers, and meet under God’s instruction. Do things God’s way, and you’ll see the pleasantness. He says, “how good and how pleasant.” Put away the competitive spirit - trying to make a name for self, etc. Be all about the body and lifting up Christ, and God’s Spirit will dwell in sweetness. Seek nothing for self, unite around the truth, and be zealous [Jer 45:5]. This does not disregard the gospel to hold hands with each other; it holds the gospel unshakably with those who are also steadfast. The body of Christ - the church - must expand. These are our people.
Secondly, this is where the blessing is. Psalm 133:3 - "It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore." In the church, as people work together and love each other, God comes down in special power. Grace made us love, and grace rewards our unified declaration of Christ. In the Great Awakening, that mighty revival at the formulation of the United States, many ministers and churches worked together. They had a united message, but they were different denominations. There were Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, Congregationalists, etc, all laboring side by side. George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards were the biggest names, and among the best preachers, but many unknowns served zealously. Many ministers emptied their churches to hear Whitefield, and he sought no imposition on others… no attempt to draw disciples to himself.
This is what we need today. Everybody involved. All hands on deck. No one seeking glory, and everyone serving the Son. God will add to our midst. Joy, peace, and usefulness will increase. God will bless our obedience.
Finally, we must be unified with the saints. Find people who believe the truth, and labor side by side. It doesn’t matter the faults of the flesh, so long as Christ is glorified and honored!
Our Blog
-- recent blog posts -- 9/2/2024 8:00:00 AM - “CUTTERS OF WOOD AND DRAWERS... 8/30/2024 8:00:00 AM - “THE BLESSING AND THE CURSE” ~ Joshua... 8/29/2024 8:00:00 AM - GOD WILL PROVIDE OUR NEEDS ~ Matthew... 8/27/2024 8:00:00 AM - THE REWARD OF THE HYPOCRITE... 8/25/2024 8:00:00 AM - “STRETCH OUT THE JAVELIN” - Joshua... 8/23/2024 8:00:00 AM - “I HAVE GIVEN INTO YOUR HAND” ~ Joshua... 8/22/2024 8:00:00 AM - “WEEP AND SAY” - Joel 2:17 8/22/2024 8:00:00 AM - A Plea for Revival ~ Psalm 85:1-13 8/21/2024 8:00:00 AM - “THE WALL OF THE CITY WILL... 8/20/2024 8:00:00 AM - ENTERING THE LAND OF PROMISE ~ Joshua... 8/19/2024 8:00:00 AM - “A MEMORIAL FOREVER” - Joshua 4:1-24 8/17/2024 8:00:00 AM - “YOUR ENEMIES CRINGE BEFORE YOU” -... 8/16/2024 8:00:00 AM - GENEROSITY AND THANKSGIVING - 2... 8/15/2024 8:00:00 AM - “IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS” -... 8/14/2024 8:00:00 AM - “RAN FOR HIS LIFE” -- 1 Kings 19:1-3,... 8/14/2024 8:00:00 AM - “ALL MY SINS BEHIND YOUR BACK” - Isaiah... 8/12/2024 8:00:00 AM - 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Romans... 6/17/2024 8:00:00 AM - “REMOVE EVERY OBSTACLE” - Isaiah... 6/15/2024 8:00:00 AM - OGBA UNITY HALL UPDATE: 6/13/2024 8:00:00 AM - “THE FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS” -... 6/12/2024 8:00:00 AM - “HE GIVES ALL THE MORE GRACE” - James... 6/10/2024 8:00:00 AM - “WHAT HE WILL SAY TO Me? ” --Habakkuk... 6/8/2024 8:00:00 AM - “WORK” - Haggai 2:4 6/3/2024 8:00:00 AM - “WE WILL NOT DIE” - - Habakkuk 1:12-17 5/30/2024 8:00:00 AM - THE CHIEF OF SINNERS — 1 Timothy 1:15 5/29/2024 8:00:00 AM - “STAND FIRM IN IT” — 1 Peter 5:12 5/27/2024 8:00:00 AM - “THE TORRENT WOULD HAVE GONE... 5/21/2024 8:00:00 AM - “SET YOU FREE” — Romans 8:2 5/13/2024 8:00:00 AM - LONG AWAITED ANSWERS --Genesis 25:19-26 10/23/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THEIR ENEMIES WATCHED THEM” -... 10/17/2023 8:00:00 AM - “JUST AS HE PROCLAIMED” - Revelations... 10/12/2023 8:00:00 AM - "BE A ROCK OF REFUGE" - Psalm 31 10/9/2023 8:00:00 AM - “IN LOVE” - Ephesians 4:1-16 10/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - “GOD WILL WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR” -... 10/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - DARK BUT LOVELY -Song of Songs 1:5 10/3/2023 8:00:00 AM - “NOT FAR” - Matthew 12:28-34 10/2/2023 8:00:00 AM - “WHO CAN STAND?” - Revelation 6:1-17 9/26/2023 8:00:00 AM - “A THRONE SET IN HEAVEN” - Revelation... 9/21/2023 8:00:00 AM - “HOLD ON” - Revelation 3:7-13 9/20/2023 8:00:00 AM - “HOLY IS HE” - Psalm 99 9/18/2023 8:00:00 AM - “NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL” - Romans... 9/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - “HOLD FAST AND REPENT” - Revelation... 9/12/2023 8:00:00 AM - “A FOUNTAIN OPENED” -- Zechariah 13:1-7 9/11/2023 8:00:00 AM - “UNLESS THEY REPENT” - Revelation... 9/7/2023 8:00:00 AM - “A FEW THINGS AGAINST YOU” -... 9/4/2023 8:00:00 AM - “BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH” - Revelations... 8/30/2023 8:00:00 AM - “WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?” -- Romans... 8/29/2023 8:00:00 AM - "REPENT AND DO THE FIRST WORKS” - The... 8/22/2023 8:00:00 AM - “STAND” - Ephesians 6:10-20 8/16/2023 8:00:00 AM - "BECAUSE THEY HAVE SINNED" - Zephaniah... 8/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THE TIME IS NEAR” - Revelation 1:1-8 8/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - "CARRY ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS" -... 8/1/2023 8:00:00 AM - "HOPE IN HIS FAITHFUL LOVE" - Psalm... 7/19/2023 8:00:00 AM - “LIVING BY THE GOSPEL”- 1 Corinthians... 7/19/2023 8:00:00 AM - “LIVING BY THE GOSPEL”- 1 Corinthians... 6/26/2023 8:00:00 AM - “ALL YOU SERVANTS OF THE LORD” - Psalm... 6/23/2023 8:00:00 AM - “UNITY” - Psalm 133 6/21/2023 8:00:00 AM - “REMEMBER DAVID” - Psalm 132 6/16/2023 8:00:00 AM - “NOT PROUD” - Psalm 131 6/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - “OUT OF THE DEPTHS” - Psalm 130 6/12/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THEY HAVE NOT PREVAILED” -Psalm 129 6/7/2023 8:00:00 AM - "IN VAIN" - Psalm 127 6/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE LORD HAS DONE" - Psalm 126 6/2/2023 8:00:00 AM - "ABIDES FOREVER" - Psalm 125 5/30/2023 8:00:00 AM - "PEOPLE ROSE UP AGAINST US" - Psalm 124 5/29/2023 8:00:00 AM - "OUR EYES LOOK TO THE LORD" - Psalm... 5/24/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE HOUSE OF THE LORD" - Psalm 122 5/23/2023 8:00:00 AM - "HELP COMES FROM THE LORD” - Psalm 121 5/22/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THEY ARE FOR WAR" - Psalm 120:7 5/18/2023 8:00:00 AM - “HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER” - Psalm 118 5/15/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THE LORD BEING MERCIFUL” - Genesis... 5/12/2023 8:00:00 AM - NOT BY OUR POWER OR HOLINESS - Acts... 5/9/2023 8:00:00 AM - "ALL PEOPLES" - Psalm 117 5/3/2023 8:00:00 AM - “BECAUSE HE HAS HEARD” - Psalm 116:1-7 5/2/2023 8:00:00 AM - “TO YOUR NAME GIVE GLORY” - Psalm 115 5/1/2023 8:00:00 AM - “GREATLY DELIGHT IN HIS... 4/25/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THEN THEY CRIED TO THE LORD" - Psalms... 4/24/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THANK THE LORD" - Psalm 107:8 4/20/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE FEAR OF ME" - Jeremiah 32:40 4/19/2023 8:00:00 AM - "UNCLEAN" - Leviticus 11:38 4/18/2023 8:00:00 AM - "UNCLEAN TO YOU" - Leviticus 11:37-38 4/17/2023 8:00:00 AM - "NO GREATER JOY" - 3 John 1-12 4/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - "IN HIS HEART" - Matthew 5:27-30 4/13/2023 8:00:00 AM - “ANGRY WITH HIS BROTHER” - Matthew... 4/12/2023 8:00:00 AM - “GUILTY” - Matthew 5:21-26 4/11/2023 8:00:00 AM - "BUT THEY WENT OUT" - Matthew 9:30-31 4/10/2023 8:00:00 AM - "HE DID NOT ANSWER HIM" - Matthew 27:14 4/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - "ANSWER ME" - Psalm 69:10-21 4/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - "WAITING FOR MY GOD" - Psalm 69:1-9 4/4/2023 8:00:00 AM - "JUBILANT WITH JOY" - Psalms 68:1-18 4/3/2023 8:00:00 AM - "ALL THE PEOPLE’S PRAISE YOU” – Psalms... 3/30/2023 8:00:00 AM - "AWESOME IN HIS DEEDS" - Psalm 66 3/29/2023 8:00:00 AM - "YOU ATONE FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS" -... 3/28/2023 8:00:00 AM - SHOOTING AT THE BLAMELESS - Psalms 64 3/27/2023 8:00:00 AM - "NO WATER" - Psalms 63 3/24/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THE INHERITANCE” - Psalms 61 3/23/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE LORD HEARS" - Psalms 4 3/22/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE KINGDOM OF GOD" - Romans 14:17 3/20/2023 8:00:00 AM - "FISHERS OF MEN" - Matthew 4:19 3/17/2023 8:00:00 AM - "WE WISH TO SEE JESUS" - John 12:20-36 3/16/2023 8:00:00 AM - "DO NOT JUDGE" - Matthew 7:1-14 3/15/2023 8:00:00 AM - "MY FOOD" - John 4:34 3/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - "MY COMPASSION GROWS WARM" - Hosea... 3/13/2023 8:00:00 AM - "OUR SOUL HAS ESCAPED" - Psalms 124:7 3/9/2023 8:00:00 AM - “NO RANSOM” - Numbers 35:32 3/7/2023 8:00:00 AM - "HE WILL TAKE POSSESSION" - Numbers... 3/6/2023 8:00:00 AM - "REMAIN IN MY LOVE" - John 15:10 3/1/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THAT IS WHY I TOLD THEM” - Numbers... 2/28/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THEIR MEAT BELONGS TO YOU" - Numbers... 2/26/2023 8:00:00 AM - "GET AWAY" - Numbers 16:24 2/23/2023 8:00:00 AM - "BETRAYED HIM" - Matthew 10:1-41 2/22/2023 8:00:00 AM - "ASK HIM" - Luke 11:13 2/21/2023 8:00:00 AM - "TOO HEAVY FOR ME" - Numbers 11:14 2/20/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT" - 2 Timothy... 2/17/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE SAME SUFFERINGS" - 2 Corinthians 2/16/2023 8:00:00 AM - "IF YOU HIDE ANYTHING" - 1 Samuel 3:17 2/15/2023 8:00:00 AM - “EVEN BETTER” - 1 Corinthians 7:38 2/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - "SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN... 2/14/2023 8:00:00 AM - "SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN... 2/13/2023 8:00:00 AM - "YOU SHALL SEE" - Numbers 11:23 2/9/2023 8:00:00 AM - “THEY SHALL REIGN FOREVER” -Revelation... 2/7/2023 8:00:00 AM - "I DELIGHT IN THE LAW" - Romans 7:22 2/6/2023 8:00:00 AM - "CALEB GAVE HER" - Judges 1:15 2/3/2023 8:00:00 AM - HELP - Romans 8:1-4 2/1/2023 8:00:00 AM - LOSING AND FINDING - Matthew 10:39 1/31/2023 8:00:00 AM - "NOT AS I WILL" - Matthew 26:39 1/30/2023 8:00:00 AM - “OR I SHALL DIE” - Genesis 30:1 1/27/2023 8:00:00 AM - "WITH HIS OWN BLOOD" - Acts 20:28 1/26/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE LORD STOOD BY HIM" - Acts 23:11 1/25/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE GREATEST" - Matthew 18:4 1/20/2023 8:00:00 AM - "THE SAME THINGS” --Acts 15:27 1/18/2023 8:00:00 AM - “APPOINTED TO ETERNAL LIFE” - Acts 13:48 1/17/2023 8:00:00 AM - “WHAT IS YOUR BELOVED?” --Song of Songs... 1/16/2023 8:00:00 AM - “PUT TO DEATH” - Acts 12:19 1/13/2023 8:00:00 AM - “A GOOD MAN” 1/12/2023 8:00:00 AM - "FREELY GIVEN" 1/11/2023 8:00:00 AM - "DOING GOOD" 1/10/2023 8:00:00 AM - "REST" 1/9/2023 8:00:00 AM - “YOUR LOVE” --Song 4:10 1/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - "WE WILL SERVE THE LORD" 1/5/2023 8:00:00 AM - "YOU HAVE FOUND GRACE" 1/3/2023 8:00:00 AM - "DISTINGUISHED" --Exodus 33:16 1/2/2023 8:00:00 AM - "NO BLEMISH IN YOU" 12/29/2022 8:00:00 AM - "ENDURES TO THE END" 12/28/2022 8:00:00 AM - "UNLESS YOU REPENT" 12/27/2022 8:00:00 AM - “WOULD NOT LET HIM GO” 12/26/2022 8:00:00 AM - "WITH WHOM HE IS PLEASED" 12/23/2022 8:00:00 AM - "COME" 12/22/2022 8:00:00 AM - "YOUR VOICE IS SWEET" 12/21/2022 8:00:00 AM - "SELFISH AMBITION" 12/20/2022 8:00:00 AM - "WILL HE FIND FAITH?" 12/19/2022 8:00:00 AM - "THE GREATNESS OF YOUR MERCY" 12/16/2022 8:00:00 AM - "HELP MY UNBELIEF!" 12/16/2022 8:00:00 AM - "DELIVERED" - - Genesis 14:20 12/15/2022 8:00:00 AM - "I SHALL BE ABLE" - - Joshua 14:12 12/14/2022 8:00:00 AM - "A PERSON'S ENEMIES" --Matthew 10:36 12/12/2022 8:00:00 AM - "HE COMMANDS EVEN THE WINDS... 12/12/2022 8:00:00 AM - "YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL" - - Song of Songs... 12/9/2022 8:00:00 AM - "NONE LIKE IT" - - 1 Samuel 21:9 12/8/2022 8:00:00 AM - "THE LORD CLOSED IT" --Genesis 7:16 12/7/2022 8:00:00 AM - "YOUR LOVE" - - Song of Songs 1:2 12/6/2022 8:00:00 AM - "AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED" - - Matthew 8:13 12/6/2022 8:00:00 AM - "AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED" - - Matthew 8:13 12/5/2022 8:00:00 AM - "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE" - -... 12/2/2022 8:00:00 AM - "LET THEM LIVE" --Joshua 9:21 12/1/2022 8:00:00 AM - "YES OR NO" - - Matthew 5:37
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