"I love my church" – Oh, really?

John F. McArthur concludes his book “Faith Works – the Gospel according to the Apostles” (a) with the following quote:

“Today’s ‘Christianity’ is in a state of disarray and decay, and the condition is deteriorating year by year. The truth of God’s Word has been watered down and compromised to reach a common denominator that will appeal to and accommodate the largest number of participants. The result is a hybrid Christianity which is essentially man-centered, materialistic and worldly, and shamefully dishonouring to the Lord Jesus Christ. This shameful degeneracy is due in large part to the erroneous gospel that is presented by many today around the world”

The slogan “I love my church” fits exactly into this context with its emphasis on “my church”. The focus of love and dedication is no longer Christ the Lord, but “my” ‘Christian’ club that allows me to live out my lifestyle without offending me. My club offers me professional music, theatre, entertaining speakers, positive thinking messages and a community where I belong and can receive recognition and praise. My club offers me all this and the promise that since I have accepted Christ as Saviour, God loves me, makes no moral demands on me, He is looking out for my best interests, will prosper me  and gives me the assurance of heaven awaiting me when I die. Is it no wonder that “I love my church”?

And that part where Christ is Lord? Well maybe that will happen to some members over time, first and foremost we are seeker friendly – measuring the success of our leadership by the number of members in our club and the number of participants and new visitors on a Sunday.

To be successful at this we do not want to offend anyone by taking about sin, the need to repent, the Judgement that is to come. We just separate sanctification out of the equation – and we meet our obligations in this regard by offering courses for those who are more interested in that type of stuff.

If the Gospel has been watered down in this way, then we are viewing a system where the Grace of God is pedalled for profit. (2 Corinthians 2:17)

Where are the days that the Holy Spirit was present in Meetings to “convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment.” (John 16:8) If He is allowed in our meetings today, His role is been mainly reduced to giving us goose bumps. In some special situations He may even come and heal someone of some body pain.

“I love my church” tends to ignore the scripture that warns us against such thinking: “For whenever each of you says, “I am of Paulus”, and another says, “I am of Apollo”, behold, are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:4) – but then maybe the shoe fits?

Jesus Christ is head of the Church – He said “I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18)

Jesus Christ is Lord! Today and now and for all eternity. His Church are those that listen to His Voice and obey Him!

 We are called to love Him 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (Matthew 22:37)

I conclude with a quote from Tozer (b):

“Now what is to accept Christ? Well, let me define it for you a little more closely. Acceptance of Christ is to form an attachment to the person of Christ; to the person of Jesus Christ. It's not to fall in love with a tender-faced Jesus. It is to realize that this tender-faced Jesus is also Lord and God! That God has made Him Lord over all things and Head of the Church and that He has the keys of death and hell and that He will sit upon the throne judging all mankind and that God has given all power into His hand - this mighty Lord Jesus! It's to form an attachment to Him that is revolutionary, reversing and transforming the life. If your Christian conversion did not reverse the direction of your life; if it did not transform it then you're not converted at all, you are simply a victim of the 'accept Jesus' heresy!

For me to accept Christ means that I am to accept Him in every part of my being and that I am to form an attachment to Him, an emotional, an intellectual, a volitional attachment which is complete, leaving no part of the life unaffected. If He cannot control you, He cannot save you. And if He cannot control all of you, He cannot control any of you!”

Let us depart from lukewarmness as we heed the Words of our Lord:

“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.  Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
(Revelation 22:10 - 11)

Sources:

(a)     http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Works-Gospel-According-Apostles/dp/0849908418
(b)     http://www.neve-family.com/books/tozer/AcceptChrist-1.html

Is homosexuality a sin?

Much has been written about homosexuality in recent months, and in response to a post of mine on Facebook an old school friend wrote the following comment “Homosexuality is not a sin!” I promised that I would take the time to write a reply, and here it is …

Sin, why should we be concerned about sin? and why should a non-Christian, someone who does not believe in God, care? Well, we all have a conscience and we do care about what is right and wrong. So I assume that my friend is expressing that he does not think that homosexuality is wrong. By using the word “sin”, I assume, that he adopts my Christian terminology to communicate his position more effectively to me.

The decision of what is right and what is wrong is so often temporal, influenced by a mired of factors from culture, media, language, education and generation. An example relevant to homosexuality is how, due to cultural pressure, the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the main professional organization of psychiatrists in America, in the early 1970's revised their DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), to remove the classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. THE DSM, which codifies psychiatric conditions and is used worldwide as a guide for diagnosing disorders, made this change at the time through a majority vote of 58%.

The message is clear, with enough activist activity and “authoritative influence”, we can secure a majority and change our definition of what behaviour is wrong and what is right. This is of course a hugely positive aspect of western societies that has led to positive changes in attitudes to slavery, child labour, racism and other forms of discrimination. But it at the same time shows how temporal and malleable our understanding of right and wrong can be.

The Jewish Bible describes how mankind was tempted and deceived with the sentence “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)

How desirable is it to us to be able to determine what is wrong and what is right? Does it give us the feeling of power and of control over our lives and situations? The feeling that we are like God?

When we use the word sin though, we should be meaning that which is not right in God’s eyes, i.e. from His perspective. The Apostle Paul makes it clear in Romans 3: 23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

This understanding somehow stunts our “godlike” activity to want to define certain actions as sin and others not. We have all sinned and in this state we deserve the eternal condemnation of separation from God, as the path we have chosen for ourselves.

Looking at the context of Romans 3:23 though, we make an amazing discovery:

But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. (Romans 3:21-25a)

God so loved the people in the world that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take sins of all people upon Himself and pay the penalty for this sin himself. In return we have to be able to acknowledge our sinful state and be willing to accept this sacrifice. Through our faith in Him, God clothes us with His Righteousness, which allows us to once again enter into an eternal relationship with Him.

God once again responds by cleansing us from our sins, putting His Spirit in us and through this, the transformation begins where we start to get and submit to His perspective on what is right and what is wrong.

So, my dear friend, the real issue is not about what you or I may believe to be right or wrong, but what the state of our relationship before our God is! We will all one day appear before the Judgement Seat and will be judged according to His standard of perfect righteousness. Either we will, through our faith in His sacrifice, be able to stand in His Gift of Righteousness to us, or we will stand in our own unrighteousness. Having failed to attain His standard we will have to accept the penalty for our decisions made on this earth, that were so often motivated by our desires to be in control of our own lives and by our rebellious refusal to submit to His Lordship in our lives!

The deeper issues of the heart darkened by sin are therefore the real issues. From them we see the manifestations of lust, adultery, divorce, immorality, selfishness, hate and greed to name but a few.

I know that I stand guilty of all these charges and I know why, but I also know that I have been given Grace to accept the Gift of Righteousness and through that entry into an eternal Kingdom, characterised by love, peace and joy. I pray that you too, may be given the divine Grace to make this decision!

We have enjoyed some good times in the past, but I look more forward to spending time with you in that kind of Eternity!

Your friend,

Mark

Confession of Healing

Read this prayer out loud every morning and every evening (as you would take medicine) - let these Words build faith and become a reality in your life and you will witness how the Lord will bless you with health and strength! 

Confession of Healing

Father, I thank you that I am prospering and that I am in health, even as my soul prospers. My body is blessed because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. You keep satisfying me with good things and You keep renewing my youth like the eagle's. [Psalm 103:5] You are Jehovah-Raphe and have taken sickness and disease away from the midst of me. I will bless you my Lord and I will not forget all Your benefits, for you have forgiven me all my sins and healed me of all my diseases! Thank you that you have commanded Your angels concerning me!

I confess and believe that which is written, that I am healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ my Lord, who has carried all my sicknesses, diseases and infirmities. [Matthew 8:17] I also believe because it is written, that all my sins are forgiven and every written code against me has been cancelled. [Colossians 2:14]  Further, as it is written, that the Son of God was manifest to destroy all the works of the devil. [1 John 3:8]

I therefore command that all written code against my life be immediately cancelled and all works of the devil against my life be destroyed. Because I have been washed in the Blood of the Lamb, I command that every spirit causing sickness, disease and infirmities remove itself from my life right now, and I command the full and complete restoration of my soul and healing of my body, in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. I cut and destroy all soul ties to people, activities and addictions and cancel all curses that would try to cause damage to my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. I say to all my body parts such as my bones, muscles, joints, organs, head, eyes, throat, glands, blood, marrow, lungs, kidneys, liver, spleen, spine, pancreas, bladder, ears, nose, sinuses, mouth, tongue, knees and feet, “I command you, come into divine order, be healed, restored, and strengthened in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth”.   

Holy Spirit, fill me with the power of divine health, surround me, keep me, preserve me, and purify my entire system. I declare that my immune system is strong, and every internal organ performs a perfect work. I am loosed from the bondage of sickness, disease and infirmity forever. My health has sprung forth; there is no trace of sickness, disease or infirmity in my body, and I will enjoy perfect health all the days of my life. I declare this all in the Name of my Lord, Jesus Christ of Nazareth!

AMEN!

Fullfilling “The Golden Rule”

In our desire to be masters of our own destiny, we have strayed from Truth and Love becoming enticed and captivated by Darkness[1]. As darkness engulfed us, we became slaves to our passions and desires[2], losing our ability to walk the Way of Peace[3]. Christ comes as a Light[4] shining in this darkness, offering to free us and to reconcile us to that which we have lost[5]. Only as He reveals Himself to us do we begin to recognise His Love for us, which allows us to trust Him and to step out of darkness into the Light of His Love, recognising our pitiful state, submitting our lives to Him and becoming recipients of His lavish Grace and Blessings.    

It is the Blood of Christ which cleanses us from Sin and allows us to enter His Presence to once again enjoy Fellowship with Him[6]. Because God is spirit[7], the Holy Spirit aids us in imparting spiritual wisdom and revelation into our spirit[8], which we need to enter this spiritual dimension to have intensive fellowship with Him.

Our spirits become filled with His Light and as we are obedient to this Revelation, changing our own thinking and accepting the Truth revealed to us – often about ourselves, then the Blood of Christ continues to cleanse us from sin[9], which allows us to have unbroken fellowship with God and with each other. This fellowship is characterised by Love, Peace and Joy in the Power of the One Holy Spirit[10].

Those who belong to Christ are one of the numerous parts which constitute the One Body[11] of Christ on the earth. The dwelling place of God is not longer to be found in temples or buildings built by men[12], but in the hearts of those who have become reconciled with Christ, submitting themselves to His Lordship. It is the hunger[13] to know Him better and the willingness to allow Him to change and transform us, which increases our capacity to become carriers of His Glory on this Earth.

The more we walk according to the Light of Christ which shines in our hearts, the more we will understand about life and the more we will develop a deep love for all mankind[14]. We will be better men and women and children fulfilling our roles as teachers, parents and ambassadors faithfully. We will have deeper regard for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for those who do not believe.

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[1] Isaiah 9:2 (AMP)

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.

[2] Ephesians 2:3 (AMP)

Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behaviour governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind.

[3] Isaiah 59:1-2 (AMP)

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

[4] John 1:9-11 (AMP)

There it was—the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him].

[5] Luke 4:18-19 (AMP)

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon Me, because He has anointed Me [the Anointed One, the Messiah] to preach the good news (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed [who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity], to proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord [the day [a]when salvation and the free favours of God profusely abound].

[6] Hebrews 10:19-22 (AMP)

Therefore, brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the [Holy of] Holies [by the power and virtue] in the blood of Jesus, by this fresh (new) and living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain (veil of the Holy of Holies), that is, through His flesh, and since we have [such] a great and wonderful and noble Priest [Who rules] over the house of God, let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by [a]that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water.

[7] John 4:24 (AMP)

God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

[8] Ephesians 1:17-21 (AMP)

[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), and [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come.

[9] 1 John 1:5-10 (AMP)

And this is the message [the message of [a]promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents]. But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].

[10] Romans 14:17-18 (AMP)

[After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men.

[11] 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (AMP)

The cup of blessing [of wine at the Lord’s Supper] upon which we ask [God’s] blessing, does it not mean [that in drinking it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the blood of Christ (the Messiah)? The bread which we break, does it not mean [that in eating it] we participate in and share a fellowship (a communion) in the body of Christ? For we [no matter how] numerous we are, are one body, because we all partake of the one Bread [the One Whom the communion bread represents].

[12] Acts 17:24-27 (NIV)

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

[13] Deuteronomy 6:5 (AMP)

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

[14] Matthew 22:36-40 (AMP)

Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light—which are heavy?] And He replied to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as [you do] yourself. These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

What are terrible times?

When Jesus Christ came and walked the earth as a human 2000 years ago, the religious system of his day was defined through the law. Now the Law had been given by God to expose sin and to teach people to live a good way in relationship to God and to others. People had taken the law and added their own traditions to it. These traditions defined how the law was understood and provided a measurement as to how well the law was kept. This helped the people to create a system whereby they could manage their relationship with God – if they did certain things; this would be pleasing to God and visa versa. The aim of this religious system was to please God. The only problem was, that the adherence to these traditions was externally focused, that is, as long as people could keep the traditions, they were unaware of the true condition of their innermost being, their hearts. Everything could look fine on the outside, but inside could be filled with dead men’s bones and everything unclean (Matthew 23:27).   

The bible teaches us that the religious system of the last days will be different to this. Paul, someone who had grown up with the Law and traditions, was given insight into these last days said the following of them: “They will be terrible times” (2 Timothy 3). Paul continues to define the following characteristics of the religious system of the last days:

•           Members will be lovers of self
•          Members will love money
•          Members will love entertainment

It is of course the aim of this religious system to please God, so the love of God will be preached. The problem will be that the love of other things will have a higher value in the members life than the love of God. The members are not willing to “tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3) That is why Paul says that it will have the form of religion, but will deny its power – the power to transform a life – the power to change a heart! This will be a religious system that has found a replacement for the Gospel of the Kingdom, changing it into a gospel for this world. It will therefore be opposed to Christ and the Message of the offense of the Cross – that people should die to self.

Just as the religious system arose in the time of Christ to stop his message and mission, so will this religious system arise against Christ (Anti-Christ) in the same way, using similar methods. It will define itself as the “true” religion, a protector of the faith and a guiding light through its educated and dedicated priesthood and its aged traditions.    

This religious system will arise against Christ and His followers – and the bible teaches us that it will have the following spiritual characteristics:

•          It will be a resort and dwelling place of demons (Revelation 18:2)
•          It will enslave the souls of its members (Revelations 18:13)
•          It will be drunk on the blood of the true followers of Christ (Revelation 17:6, 18:24, 18:20)
•          It will be responsible for the death of the true Prophets and true Apostles (Revelation 17:6, 18:20, 18:24)

This religious system is a spiritual city called “Babylon”. Therefore the voice from the heavenly city shouts an urgent request to all who have been seduced by her “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4)

As we saw in the beginning, this religious system places a veneer of “righteousness” over its members – painting them “saved” but refuses to deal with the internal issues of the heart – that people truly be transformed back into the image of Christ. Therefore although an external coming out can be helpful, it is only the internal transformation of the heart that will bring true freedom.

Therefore be encouraged to open your heart to the Lordship of Christ (Revelation 3:20), renounce your life in the systems of this world that you may be translated into the Kingdom of the Glory of the Son. Let us strive towards the goal Paul defines, which is to be conformed to the death of Christ so that we may attain to His Resurrection Life in us (Philippians 3:10-11). Because, only as we renounce our lives and embrace His Life, can we become free from the power of deception and attain  to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). Amen! 

A real way to celebrate the coming of Christ!

It is that time of year again, when we reflect on the coming of Christ to earth – made flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14).


There is a dimension of thought and strategy of the Wisdom of God to which the enemies of God (demons, powers of this age) have no access or understanding. This we understand from the context of the following scriptures:
• „no human mind has conceived the things that God has prepared“ ( 1 Corinthians 2:9 & Isaiah 64:4)
• “None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:8)
• “And the Light shines in darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not.” (John 1:9)

But for those who have been born from above (John 3:3 & 3:7) these things have been revealed by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10) – which dwells in us.

Realizing this, we must of course ask ourselves, how can we operate in this dimension – and as such live a life of continual victory against these powers!


Paul explains his apostolic mandate to us in Colossians 1:25-29 and so gives us the answer to this question:

In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you] -- The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints), To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.
Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One).  For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.

Paul says that God wanted the riches of the Glory to be brought to all nations that they may be able to take hold of, live out of and live according to this Glory. He says that he is totally committed to this Message (of Christ in us), because it is through this realization that men can become spiritually perfected. His commitment to this Message is enforced through the Power of God at work in him, testifying that the Lord also desires that men lay hold of this great revealed truth, which was previously hidden. 


Paul further stresses in Romans 5 that “we have been reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved in his life”

The Greek Word translated save here is sozo (G4982) meaning to save, i.e. deliver or protect and used elsewhere in the KJV: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.

So bringing this together, we understand that it is the Life of Christ in us that heals us, delivers us, protects us and makes us spiritual complete.


After many years being involved in the commonly called “deliverance ministry” I realized that it is possible to cast demons out of people, but as long as their soul remained in darkness, they were not really free. It is the entrance of the living Word of God that needs to be laid hold of by the person through their faith. This then brings forth the Light of the Glory of Christ (in them). If this light has started to shine, then they can be guided and protected by this Light and are no longer living in darkness.


As we deny the old self life that tries to define its identity in this world and turn to Christ to receive and become a habitation for His Life, we continue to remove the veil that has blinded us to the true purposes of God in our generation. 


Let us commit in this time of reflection to use the situations that are provided us (e.g. through attacks by demon forces) to die to self (for we have been crucified with Christ - Galatians 2:20), so that we can allow the Life of Christ to be manifest in us and finally through us.
As we train our souls to submit in this way to the Lordship of Christ (in us) we attain to the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). Entering into the Dimension of the Mind of Christ, we enter into the Rest God has prepared for us where we rest from our works and allow the Power of God to work through us. (Hebrews 4:10). Amen! ?

Let us again welcome and celebrate the coming of Christ into our lives, saying:

“Lord establish your Lordship in us, let your Kingdom come, let you Will be done – Come Lord Jesus, come and be revealed through my Body – which is now your Body.  I serve and worship you alone – I am yours and you are mine!” Amen