The Church in the Bible is called, flock, fold, the Body of Christ, the elect, etc.

Webster Defines unique as being only one, producing only one result, being without a like or equal, unequaled, very rare or uncommon, very unusual.

The True Church of God is all of these and without equal. There are many ways to identify Her. In this message we will focus on the most obvious, Her relationship with those within the body and those also without. We want to focus on what makes Her authentic.

She must fit the pattern of God’s Word and His unequaled love. This makes theChurch of God unique and will determine Her legality to be the one Church.

My dove, my undefiled is but one; she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. Song of Solomon 6:9

The Church is unique, and is set apart by the scriptural marks of identity.The true Church will have these attributes of God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.1 John 4:8

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11

John was giving us a glimpse of these things that would identify The Church. The Church must be The Church of LOVE in every operation of Her discipline. She will display LOVE, in all of Her business practices and will show LOVE in dealing with problems, discipline, controversies, and even with rebellion. She will display the spirit of LOVE to all. These conditions will all be resolved with the Spirit of God, and our love for the individual. We are dealing with souls, consideration and restoration will be the first principle of dealing with these difficulties. To disfellowship a member should be the last resort and not the first. In the case of a minister, one should work with them, as with a member, “to restore them”. The revocation of their license MUST be the last decision when all else fails.

 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of ChristGalatians 6:1-2

God’s Word says, “restore, in the sprit of meekness”, not destroy. Seldom is meekness shown, to those who are being dealt with. If meekness is not shown, that will disqualify any that claim title to being The Church of God. To force compliance by intimidation and spiritual abuse is not the spirit of God, or of LOVE. LOVE is compassion, understanding, feeling, consideration, long-suffering, patience and endurance. Without these qualities all “want-a-bes” are disqualified. Posses-sing and using these qualities is what makes God’s Church unique and identifies the counterfeiters. The manner in which we use discipline will separate God’s Church from other groups. The Church will bear one another’s burdens.

Paul said, ...considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2

The law here is LOVE.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.Galatians 6:8

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10

These characteristics and traits must be on display, seeing we are members one of another. In our “Advice to Members” we state “as a member you count one”. You means all members (including Ministers) count only one, how many times have we heard in the Church of God there are no big “I’s” and little U’s however, it seemed to always be the big “I’s” that were saying this. The big I”s were always treated as royalty. What ever happened to every member counts one? For the Church to display the spirit of LOVE, we must come to the realization that we are members one of another and that all parts of the body are essential, indispensable and equal. When this spirit is manifested the Church will be easily identified,because all can see the uniqueness of God’s unconditional LOVE.

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that whichis gone astray?
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Fatherwhich is in heaven, that oneof theselittle ones should perish. Matthew 18:10-14

 The ministers and leadership must exhibit the role of Shepherd to bring sheep back to the fold, not to abandon them as worthless. Every man has a soul and Jesus died for them. The Church must be more considerate than what we have seen in the past. The pastor and leadership are important to The Church. They are to feed the flock, not slaughter them, since God placed them in the fold (Body). The Body needs to care and go the last mile of the way for them. Those that have gone astray are to be brought back in the fold (not disposed) of. Church, we must show LOVE to them, no matter how they have treated us. It is the law, the law of LOVE that will identify The Church of God.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth,because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.John 10:11-14

 There are too many hirelings in leadership positions that have allowed the sheep to be scattered and many slaughtered because the hireling doesn’t care for the sheep.God’s Church must not run from the faith nor abandon the faith or the loving of the sheep.

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Jeremiah 50:4-5

Many that have been in The Church of God for a long time are now asking where is the Church that I joined? They are weeping and seeking God, His love and the true Church of God. Some have left their first love, and many have been led astray. Yet there is a yearning for the LOVEthat is to be in the Church. Some try to perfect the Church by the spirit of submission and intimidation but the word preached and taught in LOVE will perfect the Church. Man cannot do this without the true spirit of LOVE. His sheep will hear His voice and will come to Zion again!!

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1 Peter 5:1-6

 “Feed the flock which is among you, taking the oversight thereof and not by constraint. We must be careful of our restriction and limitations that we don’t place God’s children back into bondage by our constraints. Peter gave us some good instructions of what to do and what not to do. We must be good examples to the flock. The leadership must take the lead by example, showing love for the sheep and not by force. We are not to be lords over God’s heritage because if we are, we will not receive a crown of glory. We are members one of another subject to one another in the things of God. This will eliminate the division and haughtiness of spirit and positions and bring us to a level that we can be equals. Then members will be subject one to another, clothed in humility because God giveth grace to the humble. Many want to be exalted now, rather than in due season and time. When those in authority are able to over ride the will of the people and even the rulings of the Assembly, it cannot continue to be The Church of God. It has lost it’s identity and respect. The Church has a mandate to show LOVE without partiality. God’s Church will not operate the buddy system but will consider the membership in our appointments.

Read Acts Chapter 15: Some had brought strife in the Church by promoting their own doctrine concerning circumcision, they wanted to make Jews out of the Gentiles. If we have personal agendas that are promoted they too will cause strife and division. We are all part of the body however we are not alike.

 I Corinthians 12:18 tells us ...hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

While we are not all alike each one of us has a specific function in this unique body.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.  And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many membersyet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.1 Corinthians 12: 7-25

This is so plain, yet many cannot envision it, it comes by Divine Revelation. Only God can give us this insight if we have been true to our covenant and are walking in the light to the best of our knowledge and ability. We must understand that The Church of God is different from the Kingdom of God. We enter the Kingdom by the New Birth; we become a member of The Body by covenant.

“Will you sincerely promise in the presence of God and these witnesses that you will accept this Bible as The word of God. Believe and practice it’s teachings rightly divided. The New Testament as your rule of faith, and practice, government and discipline, and walk in the light to the best of your knowledge and ability?”

THE ANSWER WAS AND IS—“I WILL”

To the world this is not possible, but with God all things are possible.

It’s God’s spirit and the acceptance of His word that makes the Church unique, it’s not me or you but the spirit that causes us that are placed in the body to be exceptional, and peculiar while there are “look a likes”, and “want-a-bes”. There is only one shepherd and one fold, the Church, united by God and His LOVE and His Word. The Church is very unique, because She is Christ’s chosen Bride and She is exclusive. She must not become clannish, cliquish, or snobbish and arrogant. These characteristics will disqualify any church group that claims they are the Church. While we have the highest standards of Christian living, we must also have LOVE and understanding of other Christians that are in the Kingdom. We must show them LOVE and fellowship. They are born in the Kingdom of God and are Children of God. We must not have a holier-than-thou attitude toward them. They are God’s children also, and who are we to condemn them just because God has not placed them into the Body. All of us were kingdom saints before we became members of the Body of Christ by covenant. While there are “look-a-likes: and “want-a-bes” our LOVEfor the Kingdom of God Saints set us apart from these. We are to abide in His word and in His LOVE and have love for all, even those that persecute us.Jesus prayed for His attackers ... Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do... Luke 23:34

He is our example, He was unique and His Church will be unique because She will be like Him. LOVE, for all makes us unique as His LOVE for sinners made Him unique.

May God bless all that read this message and help us to LOVE with a pure heart.

Hillard Foster