Harmony in the Body

By Gilbert Asamoah

       For several generations, the Body of Christ has been persistently troubled with disharmony among believers and denominations.  On the one hand is the prayer of the Lord Jesus for unity in John Chapter 17.  On the other hand is the strife and disunity that often characterize our relationships with one another within His Body.   The mystery of the Body of Christ has often been discussed among believers with respect to the union between the Head, namely Christ, and His Body, the Church. “Harmony in the Body” presents another often underemphasized aspect which is the interrelationships among members of the Body of Christ.  This book challenges the reader to appreciate the fact that unity in the Body of Christ also requires that its members see each other as one spiritual body.  This has implications for all levels of Christian profession, organization and ministry.   

     “Harmony in the Body” speaks directly to interrelationships among Christians in small or large group settings.  It presents how the message of Christ should govern the daily interactions among Christians at the local church level. It also provides insights for resolving denominational tensions.  Local pastors will find this book a useful tool as they nurture zealous, up-and-coming Christians within the proper boundaries of church organizations and ministries. This book will urge every Christian to better appreciate their place in the Body of Christ and how their role in the Great Commission fits into the overall plan and purpose of God.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 9, 2007
• ISBN: 9781452041025

Gilbert Asamoah

Trained in business schools at universities in Ghana, Norway and USA, Gilbert Asamoah has spent much of his secular career working in consulting, auditing, banking, finance and credit risk management.  As a Christian committed to soul-winning and preparing the Body of Christ for the return of the Lord Jesus, Pastor Gilbert has embraced the very important work of ministry as a lay pastor, while carrying on his secular career in business. He currently pastors the Columbus, Ohio branch of Lighthouse Chapel International, a worldwide denomination of charismatic Christian churches founded by Rt. Rev. Dr. Dag Heward-Mills. Pastor Gilbert Asamoah has a particular interest in building the Body of Christ into a healthy body able to fulfill the Great Commission.  For more than two decades, he has been actively involved in many Christian fellowships, prayer and Bible study groups.  Pastor Gilbert’s participation in discipleship development in various churches at both local and national levels has enabled him to form an in-depth, practical and spiritual outlook to Christian living and ministry.   He has interacted with people from all walks of life, different age groups, diverse cultures, nationalities and Christian denominations.  His book, “Harmony in the Body” has benefited from these unique experiences. Pastor Gilbert lives in Gahanna, Ohio with his wife Mavis and their four children Nathaniel, Michael, Joy Cecilia and David Divine. 

Book preview

Dedication

I dedicate this book to

my parents,

David and Cecilia Assamoah:

Thank you for the godly heritage you have bequeathed to us.

And to

Msgr. Stephen Osei-Duah, St. Huberts Seminary:

Thank you for being a good pastor and a great instructor in both Scripture and Letters at a critical phase in my life.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: Introduction

A Frightening Dream

A Quest to Understand

Chapter 2: The Example of the Godhead

One Body, One Blood Type

Chapter 3: The Body And The Mission

The Body

The Mission

Chapter 4: The Well-functioning Body

Unity of Purpose

Forgiveness and Forbearance

Lifting Up the Weak and the Fallen

Of Mutual Support in the Body

Of Prayer Support

Chapter 5: When the Body is Sick

Disunity and Lack of a Sense of One Purpose

Unforgiving Spirit—Lack of Forbearance and Tolerance

Lack of Support—Indifference about Each Other’s Activities

We Are Our Own Stumbling Block

Chapter 6: The Big Picture—Harmony for Here and Hereafter

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Mavis, my wife and partner in the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Her patience during the many moments of my hideouts allowed me to continue working on the manuscript to the end.

Special thanks to LP Dr. Maranatha John, LP Rosalyn Latse, Rev. Steve Asare and Bro. Desmond Yeboah of Lighthouse Chapel International for their review and contributions to the manuscript at various stages. I could not have brought it to completion without them.

My deepest gratitude to Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, founder and leader of Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI), for his encouragement to complete this work on the Body of Christ.

I acknowledge Pastor Dr. Charles Osei, Rev. Joel Obuobisa, LP Dr. Henrietta Orleans-Lindsay, LP Dr. Caroline Banfro and LP Dr. Wilhelmina John of Lighthouse Chapel International for their invaluable contributions in the moulding of my Christian thought and ministry outlook.

Many thanks to Rev. Steve Mensah, Charismatic Evangelistic Ministries; Tom and Gloria Siefert, Waco, Texas; Dr. Caleb Oladipo, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, Virginia; and Pastor Al Horta, End Time Ministries. You were God’s instruments for keeping alive in me the faith of the apostles in a world of diverse opinions. I am indebted to many other vessels used by God as pastors, instructors, tutors and mentors, all of whose names I am unable to list here.

Thanks, above all, to the Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the author and finisher of my faith, who was with me throughout the process of completing this work.

Chapter 1:

Introduction

From time to time we, as purpose-driven people, need to sit back and take a good look at our purpose. We need to constantly compare purpose with programs. This will ensure that we are on track with the purpose, or whether we are pursuing the right purpose after all. Likewise, the Word of God exhorts us to constantly examine ourselves as Christians:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

[2 Corinthians 13:5]

A Frightening Dream

Many years ago, I had a dream. In that dream, I saw two ministers of the gospel fighting as I stood by, watching helplessly. These two men of God first insulted each other, then their argument became physical as the ministers swung their fists, showering blows upon each other. I did not quite hear what the cause of the brawl was.

I noticed that anytime one uttered an unkind word or threw a punch at the other, the other became very pale and looked almost lifeless. I saw something like a pipeline connected to each minister, and whenever one was attacked, blood flowed out of him through this pipe, leaving him looking more and more pale and lifeless. This happened in turns as they hurled insults and then blows at each other. I did not say anything, but just continued watching in bewilderment.

Then something urged me to look up. When I did, I saw the Lord Jesus, bright in Glory. He hovered just above the ground, His feet not touching the ground. Somehow I knew it was the Lord. He was also watching the fight between the two ministers. The two ministers didn’t seem to notice the Lord watching them. I am not sure if they had noticed me, either. However, I will never forget the sharp, stern expression on the Lord’s face as he watched the brawl. He did not say a word, but His piercing eyes spoke volumes: He disapproved of the fight.

Then I started saying repeatedly, Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves!

As I spoke, the two ministers stopped fighting and started chanting with me, Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! They no longer looked pale but rather, quite normal.

As we all chanted, Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! the Lord disappeared.

I awoke from the dream still chanting, Our confidence is in the Lord and not in ourselves! I repeated that a few times before I realized I had been dreaming.

After this dream, I became filled with an incredible desire for the Body of Christ to be one according to the prayer the Lord said in the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 17:

As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

[John 17:18–21]

A Quest to Understand

I began seeking an understanding of what the Lord had to say about the present