We can look at others and say "they are out of balance", but can we look in the mirror?

Jesus is the center of the Christian ministry. He is the word of truth and the teacher of love. He tells us to use His words and the direction of the Holy Spirit as our guide. We need the balance, focus and coordination a Spirit directed ministry will produce.

Take these things out of here; Do not make my Father's house a place of business.

We are to finance our ministry without capitalizing on sanctified space and worship time. Jesus repeated this instruction near the end of His ministry.

Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations, the house of prayer? But you have made it a den of thieves.

Sacrifices were necessary but the Temple was not to be used for business transactions. Our ministry shall consider His words and teach the proper method of finance.

Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? Behold, my mother and my brethren! My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God and do it. For the person who does the will of God my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and my sister, and my mother.

Ministry members hear The Father's word and do His will.

He that sows the good seed is the Son of man, the field is the world. The good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one. The enemy that sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. As the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. … Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, … and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world. The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just.

The present kingdom contains Followers, imposters and the misled. Christian leaders use our Savior's words to lead others to the good path.

If any man claims to serve me, but fails to place me before his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sister, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And he who does not bear his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple. He who does not forsake all that he has, cannot be my disciple.

Qualifications for servants.

Can you make the children of the bride-chamber fast and mourn while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then they shall fast.

Members of a balanced ministry will subject their bodies to sacrificial discipline.

No man sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for the new piece which is put in to fill it up takes away from the old garment, and the rent is made worse; and the piece that was taken out of the new does not agree with the old. And no man puts new wine into old bottles, else the new wine will burst the bottles and the wine is spilled and runs out, and the bottles perish. But they must put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Jesus refers to building His ministry on His teaching, instead of the Jewish priesthood.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust corrupts, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

But woe unto you that are rich! For you have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! For you shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! For you shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Witnessing of Jesus causes this worlds goods to diminish in value. The approval of men is not of great importance either.

Do not fear them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

A test of our dedication to our Savior.

A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.

Herein is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit. So shall you be my disciples. As the Father loves me, so have I loved you. Continue in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

These things I command, that you love one another.

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 you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you love me.

Jesus gave clear instructions and qualifications for those who desire to follow Him. His prayer for us, that we may be one as He and the Father are one, offers an obvious standard by which we may measure our progress. "Made perfect in one"; a precious goal which those of Our Ministry desire.

You are the salt of the earth. Salt is good, but if the salt have lost it's savor, how shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing. It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men. He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. No man when he has lighted a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick; that they which come in may see the light, and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The light of the body is the eye: Therefore if your eye is focused on the word, your body shall be full of light. But if your eye is focused on the world, your body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness! Take heed therefore, that the light which is in you be not darkness. If your whole body shall be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light as when the bright shining of a candle gives you light. No man can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and material possessions.

Salt, Light, Material goods; all need careful consideration and careful evaluation while focusing on Jesus.

Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you shall be forgiven. Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with the same measure you mete it shall be measured to you again. Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master. But everyone that is perfect shall be as his master.

Our Ministry is all about becoming like our master. Condemning others is out.

Why do you behold the mote in your brother's eye, but cannot find the beam that is in your eye? You hypocrite, first cast out the beam from your eye, and then you can see clearly to cast the mote out of your brother's eye.

If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things; even the Holy Spirit, to them that ask him? Therefore all things you would have men do to you, do you to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Our Ministry members treat others as we like to be treated because we accept the help of the Holy Spirit.

Enter in the strait gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many shall go that way; because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leads unto life, and only a few will find it.

We study, model and teach the narrow way.

If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath. I will ask you one thing. Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good or to do evil? To save life or destroy? What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.

The seventh day is the Sabbath of our Heavenly Father. Our ministry is blessed by using it wisely. We are discouraged by the division caused when some of us promote a man made rest day.

Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, if a kingdom be divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand. And every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.

Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them, for every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Listen wisely and compare with our Savior's teachings before following.

Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you that work iniquity.

Let us pray that we will never be guilty. We who would lead must follow the Spirit if we are to qualify for the next text.

Therefore, he who comes to me and hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. A wise man which built a house and dug deep; laid the foundation and built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended and the floods came. The stream beat vehemently, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and could not shake it, and it fell not for it was founded upon a rock.

This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.

The Heavenly Father's words, included to emphasize the position of Jesus.

Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones, … For the son of man is come to save that which was lost.

Treat the young with compassion Train them patiently.

If your brother trespass against you, go, tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. If he refuses to hear the church, let him be unto you as one who does not believe in the Heavenly Father and as one who does business with wicked men.

Instruction for every Christian.

If two of you shall agree on any thing they ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

This promise is conditional.

Take heed to yourselves. If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. If he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again saying, I repent; you shall forgive him.

The Apostles ask for help and faith.

If you had a small growing faith, you might say unto this sycamore tree, Be uprooted, and planted in the sea; and it should obey you. But which of you having a servant, will say unto him when he comes in from the field, go and sit down to meat? Instead you will say unto him, Make ready, gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten; and afterward you shall eat and drink? Does he thank that servant for obeying that which was commanded him? I say not. So, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants. We have done that which was our duty to do.

Faith is hampered by limited understanding of our debt. Jesus gave us more than we can ever repay, so obeying His will is only a small token toward the debt. Jesus answers the question; How many times shall I forgive?

More than seven times,… until seventy times seven.

If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Freedom is precious. Members use it wisely

Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms. Provide bags which do not get old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not; where no thief approaches, neither moth corrupts. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girded about and your lights burning, and you like unto men that wait for their lord when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the lord finds watching when He comes. …

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness and go after that which is lost until he find it? When he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.

Our Ministry has concern for each sinner.

A Pharisee and a publican went up into the temple to pray. The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself, God, I thank you that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. The publican, standing humbly alone, with eyes averted, beat upon his breast saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. This man went to his house justified rather than the other.

Our Ministry encourages humble people.

You call me Master and Lord, and you say correctly; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you should wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should do as I have done to you. The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

A great lesson on humility.

Have faith in God. If you have faith and doubt not, you shall do this which is done to the fig tree, and say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea and shall not doubt in your heart, but shall believe; you shall have that for which you ask. What things you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. And when you stand praying, forgive, if you have something against anyone, that your Father which is in heaven may forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Our ministry depends on forgiveness.

Go into the highways, and as many as you find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good; and the wedding was furnished with guests. When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who was not wearing a wedding garment. He said unto him, Friend, why do you not wear a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen.

Today is the day to bring them in. Fellowship with careless Christians, gives us the obligation of teaching them.

Take heed. Watch and pray. For you know not the time. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority to his servants and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch therefore: for fear he will come suddenly and find you sleeping. For you know not when the master of the house comes; at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning; And what I say to you, I say to all, Watch. Take heed to yourselves, to keep your hearts from the sins of over indulgence and drunkenness, and cares of this life, so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man shall come.

Watching includes following His teaching, avoiding Satan's snares and witnessing of the love Jesus offers.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with him, he shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations. He shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. He shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me meat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and fed you, or thirsty and gave you drink? When did we see you a stranger and took you in, or naked and clothed you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison and came unto you? And the King shall answer them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

Hospitality and fellowship are important elements of Our Ministry.

I am come a light into the world, that he who believes on me should not abide in darkness. He that rejects me and receives not my words, has one that judges him. The word that I have spoken, shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself, but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say and speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:

Members of Our Ministry rejoice that we have His words from The Father to define the way.

He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; And greater works than these shall he do; because I go to my Father. That which you ask in my name, I will do; That the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it sees him not, neither knows him. But you know him, for he dwells with you and shall be in you.

We live in a different setting but the promise is certain, believe and you will receive.

He that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me. And he that loves me shall be loved of my Father. And I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him; and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loves me not does not keep my sayings. And the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

Let us call the sinner to repentance, nurture those who come, teach those who err and encourage those within the fellowship.

The Christian community has failed to explain our Savior's message, because we prefer to follow man made traditions. The effort to get away from Judaism gave pagan leaders access to our ranks. Enough so that a man made day of rest replaced the rest day, which was sanctified by our Heavenly Father and recommended by His only begotten son. The fact that a pagan ruler, by the name of Constantine, dedicated his rest day to the Sun in 321 A D, should have sealed it away from the Christian community. Especially because he was attempting to control all religions under his leadership. But a sad day came along in 325 A D when Constantine influenced a group of church leaders to call his pagan day of rest a Christian institution. Some scholars think Constantine was converted in 336 A D. However that may be, his legacy (man's authority replacing our Savior's) is the greatest single step away from our Savior's teachings to this day. O.K. Enough of that. What are we to do now?

But the hour comes, and now is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeks such to worship him.

Believing is almost impossible unless the person knows the subject. Bringing truth into the decision making process is important.

Come unto me, all of you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.

It is the meek part that we have missed. Our Ministry should be in complete submission to our Heavenly Father. Much as a bride awaiting the union with a husband in 30 A D. Jesus taught and modeled the way. We need to base all decisions on our Savior's words; Remembering Peter, James, John, Paul and Jude never differed with Jesus and often referred to themselves as His servants. We need a unity that cannot be broken. We should go on the offensive using a balanced attack that convinces all who see or hear our message that Jesus is the Messiah: And that His way is the best way for men to live peacefully in this earth.