Salvation A Call to Unity

By Gerald R. Wessels

A Christian's faith is like the foundation of a house. If the foundation is built on sand, that foundation will not stand, and when adversity occurs, loss is suffered. It is necessary for each Christian's foundation of faith to be periodically challenged. The world is entering a season where everyone's faith will be tested. Prior to that testing period, everyone must correct any weaknesses in beliefs. May God reveal to the reader any misunderstandings or other weaknesses in beliefs and provide the necessary correction.

Unity is powerful! The Christian Church should be powerful and not anemic. The time is now for unity within the many denominations and Christian organizations. Each part of the body of Christ has its purpose, function, and intended use. What has been missing is the interrelationship between the various parts. The best way for individuals to resolve differences is to work with others from varying backgrounds. Believers will soon discover that they have more in common with other believers than they have differences. This discovery is the beginning of unity.

Planting the desire for unity in the hearts of Christians will open the door for God to move mightily within the church and throughout the world. Many believe in an end-time revival that only God knows, whether it will be one revival or a series of revivals. Each believer will choose to accept God's call to unity or reject it. Either way, the plan of God will be manifested.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886856200

Book preview

cover.jpg

Salvation A Call to Unity

Gerald R. Wessels

ISBN 979-8-88685-619-4 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88685-620-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Gerald R. Wessels

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

There are some topics of controversy included. After completing an intense curriculum, the author has been both licensed and ordained. There will be no references made to denominations, church conferences, ministers, pastors, teachers, or other individuals. This is to prevent them from receiving unwarranted criticism until after they have had a chance to evaluate the content for themselves.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Reference Utilized

Preface

Acknowledgments

The First Step

Problem or Solution

The Second Step

Biblical Doctrine versus Man's Theology

The Third Step

Anointed Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Fourth Step

Pentecostal Baptism or the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The Fifth Step

Leadership

The Sixth Step

Spiritual Gifts

The Seventh Step

Healing

The Eighth Step

Deliverance

The Ninth Step

Unity

The Tenth Step

Planting Seeds of Revival

About the Author

Reference Utilized

Most of the scriptural references have been selected from the New American Standard Bible.

A nd Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will happen. ²²And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. (Matthew 21:21–22 NASU)

Where indicated, the King James Bible was used.

²¹Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

²²And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:21–22 KJV)

In addition, the Interlinear Transliterated Bible was used.

Matthew 21:21

(Interlinear Transliterated Bible. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 by Biblesoft Inc. All rights reserved [for more details, see the full copyright page])

Strong's definitions came from the New Testament 2036.

New Testament 2036 e&pw epo (ep'-o) is a primary verb that is used only in the definite past tense, and the others being borrowed from New Testament 2046, New Testament 4483, and New Testament 5346); it also means to speak to or say by word or writing.

KJV uses the words answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, and tell. Compare this with the New Testament 3004 (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft Inc. and International Bible Translators Inc.).

Preface

When many Christians talk of mountain-moving faith, they may misinterpret the scripture in Matthew 21:21–22. Christian tradition often holds that the believer is to talk or pray to God about the mountain. Scripture teaches the believer should speak to the mountain and command it to move, and it shall move. Some have taught that prayer should be to speak to the problem and tell the problem about God instead of speaking to God about the problem. The underlying premise is that God has already provided more to the believer than realized. It is up to the believer to act in faith instead of waiting for God to perform what He has already instructed or assigned believers to accomplish.

Unity is urgently needed in Christianity. Is the believer to wait on God for Him to create this unity? Are believers already equipped to reduce division and promote unity? Unity in the body of Christ can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit. It is up to believers to work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit to promote unity. When Jesus spoke of the promise of the Father the disciples were to receive, He disclosed that our spiritual source would be revealed through His Holy Spirit. God has already provided His church the opportunity to walk according to His Spirit. Believers are accountable for using the talents God has given us and multiplying them according to our faithfulness.

The action sometimes requires a stimulus. Certain chemical reactions may require a catalyst. The intent of the following content may affect readers differently. Some will receive a stimulus intended to initiate a response or action. Others may be more like a chemical reaction that needs a catalyst for the desired results to be achieved. Still, others may be offended and vow to never change. Whichever response the reader has, it is between them and God. If there is any offense, the author asks for forgiveness prior to the reader beginning his or her reading.

Christians come from many backgrounds. Christians may have areas of scriptural strength and some areas where they have had little to no instruction. Some may feel overwhelmed by certain topics. Others may have their personal beliefs challenged. The goal is the focus on scriptural teachings and not theological beliefs. No individual should change their personal theology based upon the opinions of another. When personal theology conflicts with scripture, a change should be made.

The Holy Spirit is both a comforter and a teacher. May the reader be enveloped in the love of God through the ministry of His Holy Spirit.

Acknowledgments

When the author was a baby Christian, there were church leaders, spiritual mentors, home Bible study groups, and other individuals who poured out the love of God upon him. At present, their names will not be mentioned. The author has great appreciation for all who had assisted him with his spiritual development.

The First Step

Problem or Solution

There is a common saying that a person is either part of the solution or the problem. The focus of Christianity is unity, while the focus of many Christians and Christian Churches has been individualism. Jesus was speaking in the following verses:

²²The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; ²³I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected ¹in unity, so that the world may ²know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

²⁴Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:22–24)

There are many areas of importance within these verses. One portion is so that the world may know that You sent Me. Christians have read these passages and have concluded that this will be fulfilled at the end of time. The world needs to know Jesus now! It will be too late for their salvation if this prophetic word occurs at the end of time. Every Christian needs to ask themself, Am I part of the solution, or Am I part of the problem?

Every individual has a part to play in fulfilling this scripture. Confusion occurs when there is uncertainty in the vision the Lord has for you. Philosophers have long sought the answer to the question, Why? God has a purpose for each person, each family, each worship assembly, each minister, each church conference, and each denomination. Many Christians or Christian organizations do not know what that purpose is. Some of those purposes are written down and pursued as a vision. Some of those purposes are diluted because of a lack of faith in the individuals. Others are not pursued because of either a lack of biblical teaching or a lack of personal relationship with God.

God also has His own standard and vision of what His plans are and how they will be fulfilled. The Bible contains many verses which foretell what His plans are. The above scripture is one. Another example may be found in Ephesians:

²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, ²⁶that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.²⁸So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. (Ephesians 5:25–28)

Jesus also gave instruction regarding how to treat those who were not part of their group.

³⁸John said to Him, Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.

³⁹But Jesus said, "Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of