God’s Design For the Church: Uniting the Old Testament with the New Testament

By Apostle Sharon E. Harris

The Church of the Living God is the only organization in this world that will transcend to the next world and throughout all eternity. Everything else in this world will vanish away, but God’s Church will last for all eternity - now and forever. God has structured the Church and everyone must know what that stricture is. The information in this book has been divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, because Scripture is used to answer Scripture. It is based on what God says, with Scriptures that make it plain. The information in this timeless book will change a Church, a ministry, and also change a Believer’s personal walk with the Lord. It is group worthy, as well as individual worthy of study because God has His Blueprint for His Church, and it is all hidden in Scriptures, and being able to interpret the language of the Author, which is the Holy Spirit, will lead us in the wealth of Spiritual prosperity. The Holy Spirit is the Designer of God’s Blueprint for His Church and He wants us all to understand His way because no prophecy of the Scriptures is of private interpretation. He wants us to know how we are individually, and collectively designed, and knowing this will transform us into His glorious Church. This book will help you recognize your place in the Body of Christ, His Church, as He works on us individually and collectively, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:13). This book is profitable for individual, Church, and group studies. It will help you see the spiritual construction from beginning to end, from start to finish, and we will stand in awe of this great Architect, the designer of our souls, God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jul 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9781489746313

Apostle Sharon E. Harris

Apostle Sharon E. Harris is an avid reader of the Bible and studies it relentlessly under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She finds that the Word of God is intriguing, captivating, and downright the most powerful Book Mankind could every come across. It is the mind of God. God told the prophet Habakkuk to write the vision, and make it plain, and Apostle Harris is one who backs up her writings with the Word of God. Her writings are not based on opinions, but She believes that, when it comes to speaking on behalf of the Lord, one must be Spirit-led and ensure that self has no part in anything that pertains to the Lord. She believes in seeking God to ensure that the Holy Spirit is breathing into the spirit of the person who is transcribing on behalf of the Lord. With much fasting and prayer, deep and inspired studying over many years, the Holy Spirit has released her with the torch of the Word, to light the path so that others may see the Way. All of her inspirational books are Spirit-breathed, and they bring inspiration, enlightenment, and spiritual direction so that the individual, as well as the Church on a whole, may be strengthened in the things that matter, the divine things of the Lord. Her writings are Scripture based and full of Scripture references so that readers may see for themselves what God is saying to His people. God is the center of her life, and the inspiration behind all her writings.

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God Has a Specific Design for the Church

The Designs of the Tabernacle and Temple

ARE THE DESIGNS OF THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH

All Scripture references are from

the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

"Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. And these are the measures..." (Ezekiel 43:10-13).

How to Be Born Again

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20). Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). In order to be born again, a person must acknowledge that they are a sinner, and they must receive Christ’s righteousness by faith. He stands at the door of a person’s heart and seeks entrance into their life. Every human being is born a sinner, and every sinner must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God who came through the virgin birth, and that He was crucified on a cross to pay for the sins of Mankind. The sinner must believe and accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on their behalf, and they must accept Him into their heart and life and live according to His Word, the Holy Bible. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). These are the steps to being born again.

A Model Prayer to Be Born Again

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge and confess that I am a sinner. I acknowledge that you are the Savior of the World, and that you died so that I may be reconciled to God. I thank you for shedding your blood on my behalf. Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart. I receive you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord God for sending your Son and for saving my soul, in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Credits Due

Preface

CHAPTER 1 Yahweh, the Covenant Maker

The Persecution of the Church

The Indestructible Church of Christ

The Edenic Covenant

The Adamic Covenant

The Noahic Covenant

The Call of Abraham

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

Abraham’s Promised [Land]:

Abraham’s Promised [Seed]

Abraham’s Promised [Blessing]

CHAPTER 2 The Nation of Israel

From Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob

Moses Is Called

The Birth of a Nation

The Mosaic Covenant (the Law)

The Mosaic Covenant (the Law) is Ratified by Blood

The Land of Goshen

Peace in Goshen

Judgment in Egypt

CHAPTER 3 The Tabernacle

The Builders of the Tabernacle

The Construction of the Tabernacle

The Boards and Sockets That Made the Tabernacle

The Offerings for the Tabernacle

The Ark of the Covenant

The Table of Shewbread and the Shewbread

The Golden Candlestick

The Altar of Incense

CURTAINS FOR THE COVERING OF THE TABERNACLE

The Linen Curtains

The Lion

The Ox

The Man

The Eagle

Curtains of Goats’ Hair

Covering of Rams’ Skins Dyed Red

Covering of Badgers’ Skins

THE INNER VEIL AND THE GOSPEL WRITERS

MATTHEW

The Presentation of the King

The Proclamation of the King

The Authority and Power of the King

The Preparation of the King’s Disciples

The Final Presentation and Rejection of the King

The Proof of the King

MARK

The Presentation of the Servant

The Opposition to the Servant

The Instruction by the Servant

The Rejection and Crucifixion of the Servant

The Resurrection of the Servant

LUKE

The Introduction of the Son of Man

The Ministry of the Son of Man

The Rejection of the Son of Man

The Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Son of Man

JOHN

The Incarnation of the Son of God

The Presentation of the Son of God

The Opposition to the Son of God

The Preparation of the Disciples by the Son of God

The Final Interactions of the Son of God

The Crucifixion and Resurrection of the Son of God

THE OUTER VEIL

ROMANS: The Epistle of Paul to the Romans

God’s Righteousness is Revealed

God’s Righteousness Validates His Actions

The Application of God’s Righteousness

FIRST CORINTHIANS: The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians

Human Wisdom Versus Divine Wisdom

Church Issues

Questions and Answers

SECOND CORINTHIANS: The Second Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians

Paul Gives the Church Time to Repent

The Principles and Practice of Giving

Paul Presents His Credentials

GALATIANS: The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians

Paul Defends the Gospel of Grace

Paul Explains the Gospel of Grace

Applying the Gospel of Grace

EPHESIANS: The Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians

The Christian’s Position in Christ

Spiritual Warfare Explained

PHILIPPIANS: The Epistle of Paul to the Philippians

Paul Rejoices in His Current Circumstance

Having the Mind of Christ

The Knowledge of Christ

The Peace of Christ

COLOSSIANS: The Epistle of Paul to the Colossians

The Supremacy of Christ

Submission to Christ

FIRST THESSALONIANS: The First Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

The Thessalonians’ Report Card

Paul Instructs the Thessalonians

SECOND THESSALONIANS: The Second Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians

Paul Encourages the Thessalonians in Their Persecution

The Day of the Lord

Paul Exhorts the Church

FIRST TIMOTHY: The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy

Paul Gives a Charge About False Doctrine

Paul Gives a Charge On Public Worship

Paul Gives a Charge Regarding False Teachers

Paul Gives a Charge Regarding Church Discipline

Paul Gives a Charge to Those Who Are Rich

SECOND TIMOTHY: The Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy

Persisting in Current Testing

Enduring in Future Testing

TITUS: The Epistle of Paul to Titus

Appoint Elders

Set Things in Order

PHILEMON: The Epistle of Paul to Philemon

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Philemon

Petition of Paul for Onesimus

Promise of Paul to Philemon

HEBREWS: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Superiority of the Humanity of Christ

The Superiority of Christ’s Work

The Superiority of the Christian’s Walk of Faith

JAMES: The General Epistle of James

Faith Goes through Testing

Faith and Its Characteristics

Faith Brings Victory

FIRST PETER: The First Epistle of Peter

The Believer’s Salvation through Christ

The Believer’s Submission in Life

The Believer and His Position in Suffering

SECOND PETER: The Second Epistle of Peter

The Development of the Christian Character

False Teachers will Meet Condemnation

Confidence That Christ Will Return

FIRST JOHN: The First Epistle of John

The Foundation of Fellowship

Fellowship With God Produces Love

SECOND JOHN: The Second Epistle of John

Remain in God’s Commandment of Love

Do Not Abide With False Teachers

THIRD JOHN: The Third Epistle of John

Gaius, Diotrephes, and Demetrius

JUDE: The General Epistle of Jude

Jude Describes False Teachers

Defense Against False Teachers

CREDITS DUE

All credits are given to God the Father, the Designer of the Church; God the Son, the embodiment of the Church; and God the Holy Spirit, the life-giving Sustainer of the Church. Without the Trinity, I would never have been able to write these inspiring volumes on the wonderful design of the Church of the Living God.

To my intercessors and armor bearers who are constantly lifting me up in prayer, and who offer words of encouragement so that I may keep pressing forward in the important work of ministry, you are incredibly vital to my survival in this epic war against the forces of darkness. My intercessors and armor bearers were designed by God to hold up my hands as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’s hands until the battle was won. You make such a difference in my life that, in expressing my gratitude, words fail me. The blessings of the Lord be upon you all for all that you do for the servant of the Lord, and for the sake of His Kingdom. I cherish you all.

Dorothy Johnson, my mother, whose intercessory oil never runs dry because she remains constant in prayer and in the throne room of grace, making intercession for me, our family, and for the whole world - yes she is that kind of mother and intercessor. I thank God for you.

Lloyd Johnson is an incredible father-figure. A father is the leading man of a family. Not many men know how to lead a family but there are many who lead and lead well. Dada, I am a witness that you have led your family in excellence of moral conduct and integrity. You raised your children well and I know that I can speak for all of us that you are among the best of the best fathers that God has ever made. I thank you so much for raising me the way you did. It is the reason why I am who I am today. I honor you with the blessings of heaven. May God almighty continue to bless you abundantly with long life, health, and strength. May heaven continue to shine on you and that you will reap heaven’s best.

My four sons Dexter Harris, Corey Harris, Lovell Harris, and Malik Harris - I wouldn’t trade you for the world. What a difference you make in my life! You are my God-given treasures. I am truly blessed.

Dexter is the chosen who brings laughter, which lightens the weight of life. Son, you are so funny without even trying to be funny. That is a gift from God because laughter relaxes the body, boosts the immune system, protects the heart, and releases endorphins which is the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Jesus said, These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full (John 15:11). The Lord wants us to be happy and Dexter, you make that happen. Keep on loving Jesus. God bless you son.

My son, Corey Harris, so young and yet so powerful. He is a bishop indeed at a tender age because the Spirit of the Lord has filled him with heaven’s wisdom, and he is quick to share what God has poured into him. Son, you are a spiritual inspiration to Mommy, and I am eternally grateful for the spiritual support and support in all other areas of need. May God continue to catapult you into your divine destiny.

Lovell my twin. You are like Mommy in so many ways that it amazes me. Your passion for life and to excel is astounding. You think hard and dream big and because of that, you have been positioned on the road to great success. We share many God-given traits so we do well together. You have a story to tell, and I know that one day you will tell it all, and the world will be blessed with all that you have to offer. Keep pressing forward, son.

Malik, maybe one day you will become a lawyer, or even the president of the United States. Many times over the years you’ve been told that a lawyer position would fit you well. I can see you in the courtroom defending others and leaving everyone stunned. From a very young age I had admired how well spoken you were, and how much you spoke as if you were an adult with experience. Continue to dream big so that your business aspirations will reach their climax. I know that you will. It is imbedded in you as a gift from Jehovah. Greatness lies in you and will one day become an awesome explosion of great success.

A reminder to all: it is in Him that we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:38). Let us always be mindful that without Him we cannot accomplish anything. Stay focused, and stay on the course of victory.

PREFACE

Curiosity in the natural is a wonderful trait. If a person does not seek to know more, chances are, that person will not know anything more than what they already know. A young child’s curiosity drives him to ask questions, to probe into things, to reach for that shiny object because being curious causes him to concentrate with purpose on the things that beckon his attention. We must never stop learning. Not wanting to know more is like ceasing to live. Why did I venture out to write this book on God’s Design for the Church? Because I was very curious about spiritual things from God’s perspective. I was never satisfied with where I was in my knowledge of God and His will for the Church. I unceasingly wanted to know more. As much as I received from the Lord, it only opened up my appetite for desiring to know even more. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward (Psalm 19:7-11). The more we seek after God, the more He increases our appetite for Him. There is great reward in loving God with every fiber of our being. In studying the Bible for many years I came to realize that what I have witnessed in the body of Christ, in our day and time, is simply not all that the Bible says that the Church should be. So, I went on a quest. I questioned God on many subject matters and sought Him vehemently for wisdom on spiritual matters. I had many questions such as, Why are God’s people sickly? Where are the signs, wonders, and miracles that He has promised in His Word? Why does the Church appear to be weak and powerless? What is God’s design for the Church? My thirst for spiritual knowledge led me to seek answers through the wisdom of God. It is good to have a spiritual thirst after God’s wisdom. "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her" (Proverbs 3:13-15). As I sought God’s wisdom on the body of Christ, on how the Church is designed to function, I became relentless in my pursuit until the Father caused me to fully understand the Scripture that says, …for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6b). I have personally proven that for myself. You have to diligently seek after Him without wavering. I had an intense, spiritual appetite to know the design that Christ has laid out for His Church. There has to be more than what we are currently experiencing. I believe that the early Church gave us a glimpse on how God wants to move among His people; He confirmed His Word with signs following the Believers. I know that our Father wants to release so much more into the body of Christ, so that the world will be impacted by the presence of the Church here on Earth. When that is done, souls will be won for the Kingdom of God. Every leader needs to know the design of the Church if he or she wants to display the glory of the Bride of Christ. When you delve into these life-changing and ministry-changing six-volume books of God’s Design for the Church, and apply the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ has imparted and inspired me to write, neither you nor your ministry will be the same. Through the lens of Scripture, you will see God’s design for the Church from the onset of Moses’s Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, and the establishment of the Church by Jesus Christ. In the types and shadows of Moses’s wilderness Tabernacle, to David’s blueprint for the construction of the Temple, to Solomon’s great wisdom in bringing to life David’s blueprint, and through the Blueprint (the Holy Bible) of the Church that Christ has designed and established, you will see the complete picture of how the Church should function today. Until we get back to the original Blueprint of the Church, the Church will only function at just a step above a secular organization. "And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof. And write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them" (Ezekiel 43:11). God has a design for His Church, and He wants us to know the design and follow His orders. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has been established from before the foundation of the world. The terms Church of God and the Church of Jesus Christ are used interchangeably in these volumes because they are one and the same seeing that Jesus Christ is God. All that we see in Scripture is a graduation of the full disclosure of the Church of God. From the Edenic Covenant, to the Adamic Covenant, to the Noahic Covenant, to the Abrahamic Covenant, to the Mosaic Covenant, to the Palestinian Covenant, to the Davidic Covenant, to the New Covenant, and from the wilderness Tabernacle, to Solomon’s Temple, all the way through history to the culmination of the establishment of the Church of the Living God, I have connected the pieces together, and have shown you the wonderful Bride of Christ in all her glorious splendor. I have established this through the proof of Scripture. All six volumes together of God’s Design for the Church will make the design clear, so that you will be better able to understand how the Church was designed, and how it must function in order for us to see the mighty flow of the power of God. When we go back to the original Blueprint, we will begin to see the signs, wonders, and miracles that we have so longed for. When you connect the types and shadows of the Mosaic Tabernacle and the Temple of Solomon, you will uncover the truths surrounding the establishment of the Church, whose foundation is rooted upon the solid Rock of Christ, then you will see how our modern-day Church ought to function, which is according to the divine will of God. All the Old Testament types and shadows pointed to the living, breathing, Church of God. Moses’s Tabernacle was the explicit design of Christ Himself, and hence, the Church of God. Moses’s Tabernacle was the Church in the wilderness. We can seen the transition of the Church of the Living God throughout the history of Man.

Do you know the design of the Church? All six volumes of God’s Design for the Church will serve either as an educator, an inspiration, or a refresher of the wonderful design of the body of Christ. Once we get back to the original design, we will begin to see a flow of the power of God in the midst of His Church. This will then spill over into our personal lives. The volumes of God’s Design for the Church are a life-changer. The revelations in these volumes have changed my life. In the midst of writing them the Holy Spirit continuously breathed into me inspiration after inspiration, revelation after revelation, and I have put them all together in these volumes, leaving nothing out, so all could see what thus saith the Lord unto the churches. The seven churches of Asia Minor each had a personal message from the Lord Jesus Christ; the Lord has a message for each Church today. For the Church at Ephesus, the Lord had said that they had labored and had not fainted; the message to Smyrna was that the Lord knew their works, tribulations, and poverty, but they were rich and must not fear the wicked, but be faithful unto death and He would give them the crown of life; the Lord told the Church at Pergamos that He knew their works, and that they had held fast to His name and had not denied the faith, but He had a few things against them because they condoned those who taught false doctrine. The Lord told them to repent before He came and fought against the false teachers with the Sword of His mouth; for the Church at Thyatira, He first complimented them then scolded them because they had allowed Jezebel to teach and seduce the Lord’s servants; His message to Sardis was that He had not found their work to be perfect, and they must be watchful and strengthen the things that were about to die; He told the Church at Philadelphia that He had set before them an open door that no man could shut because they had a little strength and had kept His Word, and had not denied His name; for the Church at Laodicea, their message from the Lord was that He knew their works, and that they were neither hot nor cold, and because they were lukewarm, He would spew them out of His mouth. If you are a leader of a Church or ministry, what is Christ saying about His Church that He has entrusted into your hands? What is the condition of the work He has placed you over? These volumes will get you on the right track on how to operate the Church, or your ministry, which must be according to God’s Blueprint.

Grace and peace.

Apostle Sharon E. Harris

CHAPTER 1

YAHWEH, THE COVENANT MAKER

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Before we go into the covenants that Yahweh had made with Mankind, let us first take a deep look into two key components of the summery of the whole of the Church, the body of Christ. We will first look at: the persecution of the Church, and the indestructible Church of Christ.

The Persecution of the Church

Christ came for the purpose of redeeming Man and establish His spiritual Kingdom on Earth. In order to bring His Kingdom to Earth, He must first establish the Church through which He would rule. The beginning of the establishment of His Kingdom was when He had personally called twelve men, who would answer the invitation to become His disciples, and through whom He would begin to lay the foundation of His Kingdom, the Church. "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases" (Luke 6:12-17). Before Jesus made any major decision, He always spent time in prayer with the Father. Before choosing His disciples, He spent the entire night in prayer because the decisions that He was about to make would have eternal implications. Choosing the right people to be His disciples was a major task because they would be the ones He would use to build the Church as they continued His legacy by influencing others. Christ had chosen the right materials (His disciples) to rear up His Church; having had materials that were fit for a solid foundation, He began to groom them for His cause. As we later see in the Gospels, in the disciples’ accounts of His life and legacy, each Gospel writer solidly portrayed Christ as the Blueprint of the Church of God. Blended together with the truth of Christ the Divine are the disciples’ own personalities, life experiences, essences, and vantage points of viewing Christ, which added to each their part in the building up of the Church. This is so because each writer wrote from their personal vantage point. For example, Matthew, a Jewish tax collector, wrote to a Jewish audience to convince them that Jesus was indeed the King of the Jews, therefore, presenting to them multiple proofs by quoting Old Testament prophecies that his audience was familiar with, in hopes of showing them that Jesus was their expected King; Mark wrote from the perspective of a servant so he could present Jesus the perfect Servant who was active, obedient, compassionate, and who ministered to the physical and spiritual need of others; Luke, though not a disciple or an eyewitness of Christ the Divine, but was influenced by those who were, wrote his Gospel through the compilation of accurate records from eye witnesses, and he is the only writer who gives the most complete account of Christ’s ancestry, birth, and development to show that He is the ideal Son of Man who is just like us; and finally, John is the only one who had much to say about Christ’s Divine nature, so he portrayed to his audience the deity of the incarnate Son of God. Matthew wrote about Jesus the long-awaited King; Mark wrote about Jesus the perfect Servant; Luke wrote about Jesus the perfect Son of Man; and John wrote about Jesus the Divine Son of God. The Holy Spirit used them as they were. He flowed through them, through their flawed human character, and produced a flawless literary masterpiece of the design of the Church of the Living God. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). They had nothing to boast about, but to admit that it was through the divine grace of God upon them that enabled them to have written the divine Word of God. As we can see, the Word of God is infallible, though penned by human hands. The Word of God is God-breathed (Holy Spirit inspired), therefore, it is without error or human interference. These chosen vessels with varying personalities, strengths and flaws, played key roles in the establishment of the plan of God; the apostles and prophets, through Christ, laid down the eternal foundation of the Church. The Church is the Bride of Christ, and the Bible, the Living Word of God, presents her as the radiating glory of Christ. The varying styles and personalities of each Gospel writer became the perfectly blended channel through which the Holy Spirit released the will of God. This is similar to having multiple seasons, each with its own unique flavor, becoming magnificent in the hands of a professional chef, who, with the right blend, creates exquisite meals. This master chef takes in his hands all types of seasons, herbs and spices, and blends them together to produce an aroma and taste that is most satisfying. God Almighty, who is above us all, in us all, and who operates through us all, takes each person whom He has predestined to conform to the image of His great Son, Jesus Christ, and in all the essences that make us who we are, creates a unique Bride for His Son Jesus Christ. He has knitted us together in the image of His Son, and together we emit the splendor and glory of Christ our Lord.

Jesus Christ is our example of how to live according to the will and purpose of the Father. As He spent time with the Father before making major decisions, we ought also to spend time in prayer with the Father before we make any kind of decisions. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:5-7). If we do not ask the Father for directions, we may make a decision that brings an evil outcome, a painstaking repercussion. We must not think that we know what to do because of our experience or expertise. Trust in the Lord and let Him lead. Christ’s action in seeking the Father first and foremost is an example that we need to follow; we must always seek our Father first, no matter how good something may seem. He knows what is below the surface. We dare not trust the most seemingly secured structure, but we must wholly lean on our Father. Before Jesus had chosen the twelve disciples who would become the foundation and pillars that would hold up the body, the Church, He prayed all night long to God His Father, so that He would choose well, and He did choose well, though one out of the twelve was the son of perdition, but it was so that Scripture would be fulfilled. Christ left an example for us to follow. We must seek the Lord God and His ways, and He will lead us into His divine purpose. Even the son of perdition had a part to play in the Kingdom of God, because there must be a channel through which Christ would be taken to the cross. We must note that there is not anything that anyone could ever do to stop the plan of God. Judas, the son of perdition, was replaced by Matthias, and the Church was established, and here we are today, the Church of the Living God, going strong, thanks to the twelve apostles, and oh yes, the Apostle Paul as well, who played a major role in getting the Gospel to the seas, who are the Gentile nations.

Jesus prayed all night, and when it was day He called twelve men, whom He had chosen to be His disciples. He prayed during the night. Night represents uncertainties and times of decision making. He also prayed during the day. Daylight represents clarity in decision making. Being able to see clearly, He chose those whom the Father had shown Him to be His will for discipleship. Jesus, the Messiah, prayed until He received a clear understanding of the will of the Father (He prayed until the break of daybreak), and we also must seek the Lord and pray until there is a breakthrough in understanding what the will of the Lord is. Guessing games and personal choices cannot commingle with divine purposes. Jesus did not pray up until halfway through the night, and when it was still dark He tried to figure out who was who in the dark. No. He patiently waited until it was clear enough to see the Father’s will; he waited until light appeared. We must pray until the night clears; we must pray until the uncertainty is made certain and we can see clearly to make right decisions, because the Lord will clear away every hidden agenda, every uncertainty, and He will make things appear as they truly are, so that our heart can make the right decision. After the Lord had chosen His twelve disciples, He and they came down from the mountain and into the plain. The plain represented the building site. When an architect begins his work, he stands on a plain area of ground with everything cleared off the site, so that he can begin to lay the foundation from scratch. When Jesus came down from the mountain and into the plain, many came from Judaea, Jerusalem, and also from the sea cost of Tyre and Sidon to hear Him and to be healed by Him because in Him was substance, the Substance of life. In Scripture, the seas represent the Gentile nations. Here stood Jesus the Architect of the Church with the foundational materials wherewith He would build the Church, which were His disciples. The structure of the Church was also present with Him, which were all other Israelites who were not chosen as disciples plus the Gentile nations. Each Believer from all nations (Jews and Gentiles) would be a lively stone that would build up this spiritual House (the Church), with Jesus Christ as the Chief Corner Stone. People came to Him from the sea cost of Tyre and Sidon, and also from Judaea and Jerusalem. This is to show us that the Gentiles (the Uncircumcision), as well as the chosen people of God, the Israelites (the Circumcision), would be drawn to Him through the sacrificial death. As He stood in the plain with a great multitude of people gathering unto Him, we can see the essence of the beginning of His divine Blueprint for the Church. His sacrifice would unite both Jews and Gentiles as one in Him because the Church would be established by the blending of both Jews and Gentile Believers, as was represented right here before the Messiah. The Church is the body of Christ and is, therefore, the blending of all people. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Jesus Christ is the God of the Jews, and the God of the Gentiles. What a picture we are beholding as Jesus stood in the plain with the representation of all people, the future Church! All of the substance of the mighty and wonderful Church of God was standing in the plain before the Messiah, and a great change in the elements of the Earth was in motion. "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath