September/October 2007

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<div> <I>September/October 2007</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> My Servants Shall REJOICE</div> <div> James Russell, Elder</div> <bR> <div> To Gods scattered Brethren,</div> <bR> <div> Greetings! The Church of God, In Truth invites you to meet with us for God Feast of Tabernacles in Branson West, Missouri, on Table Rock Lake, Roxas City, Capiz, Philippines at a guest house on the Jintotolo Channel or at the Italian-Kenya Scouts Development Project, near Lake Victoria in Kenya. </div> <div>      The site at Branson West, Missouri overlooks  Table Rock Lake with its colorful tree lined shores, that is  magnified with yellows, oranges, golds, light and dark greens, mixed with reds and browns. Together, these rainbow of colors illuminate the rolling hills and valleys!  </div> <div>             Our meeting room, which overlooks this beautiful view of Table Rock Lake, exemplifies a relaxed, millennial setting.  With this peaceful, uplifting and joyful atmosphere in view daily during God's Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day, our thoughts are  interwoven with the fruits of God's Holy Spirit of “Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, and Self Control,” which as the Apostle Paul tells us, “against such there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).            </div> <div>                In the book of Deuteronomy,  we are instructed, as was Israel, to come to God's Feast of Tabernacles and <B>REJOICE</B>!  This third season which God  speaks of, is a set-apart commanded appointed time in which to have a happy atmosphere of rejoice filled fellow-shipping, and the bountiful drinking in of God's Word.</div> <div>       Moses wrote that the Feast of Tabernacles was observed at the close of the harvest, when the grain,  nuts, fruits, grapes and so forth of the vineyard had been gathered in and processed.   “You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, after that you have gathered in your corn and your wine:  And you shall <B>REJOICE</B> in your feast, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates.  Seven days shall you keep a solemn feast unto the LORD your God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD your God shall bless you in all your increase, and in all the works of your hands, therefore you shall surely <B>REJOICE</B>”(Deu. 16:13-15).  </div> <div>      The Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the brethren in Rome, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and <B>joy</B> in the Holy Spirit.  For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Rom. 14:17-19).  </div> <div>       Step 6 and 7 of God's plan picture a millennium controlled by our Creator, which can bring nothing but love, joy and peace, with a positive response, because God's kingdom has come to reign for all eternity! </div> <div>      The sermon on the Mount sets forth the ideal citizens of God's kingdom:  “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3).  The poor in spirit are those who acknowledge their own helplessness and rely on God's omnipotence.  “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (v:4).  This mourning is an active, sharing of this world's hurts, sorrows and sins with Christ.  “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (v:5).  Meekness implies acceptance of one's lowly position, though he may be a “lion” in God's cause or in defending others.  “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (v:6).  These people have a passion for righteousness in their own lives; they long to see honesty, integrity and justice.  “<I>They have a thirst no earthly stream can satisfy</I>” wrote Gamaliel Bradford.  “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (v:7).  To be merciful means to be actively compassionate.  In one sense, it means to withhold punishment from offenders who deserve it.  In a wider sense it means to help others in need who cannot help themselves.  We imitate God when we have compassion and patience.  “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (v:8).  A pure hearted person is one whose motives are unmixed; who looks ahead and never behind.  His thoughts are holy and his conscience is clean.  “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (v:9).  The Lord is not only speaking about people with a peaceful disposition or those who love peace; He is referring also to those who actively intervene to make peace.</div> <div>      We read next that the Kingdom of God is promised to those believers who suffer for doing right. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  <B>Rejoice</B>, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12).  The Lord knows that His disciples would be mistreated because of their association with and loyalty to Him.  The emphases in these verses is on verses 6, “righteousness,” verse 9, “peace” and verse 12, “joy.”    </div> <div>      The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Roman Church.  “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality” (Rom. 12:9-13).  Hospitality and animated conversations are to be apparent, allowing iron to sharpen iron.  Strengthening our goal in building on a firm foundation.</div> <div>        The Feast of Tabernacles is the one time of the year God requires us to have a concentrated dose of His inspired Word.  We are to be like a sponge and soak up as much spiritual nourishment as possible and hold on to it with obedience to its spiritual intent.  We find Christ, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.  He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (<B>But this spake He of the Spirit</B>, which they that believe on Him should receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:37-39).  Christ earlier had a conversation with a Samaritan woman where He had stopped to rest and get a drink of water.  “He said to her, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13-14).  </div> <div>      God's Word is to be drank in like you would a glass of physical water that is being taken into our physical body.  We must have spiritual faith in God's Holy Spirit.  It is though faith that we can please God.  Everything we try to do for God that is not rooted in faith through His Holy Spirit is sin.</div> <div>      Faith is one of the major keys to entering into God's Kingdom. After we receive God's Holy Spirit we begin to recognize the importance of faith.  (1) we are forgiven of our sins by faith.  (2.)  We are saved and healed by faith. “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him” (James 5:15).  (3.)  We will be born of spirit by faith.  (4.)  We practice and obey God's Word on faith.  (5.)  We have faith that, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3).  (6.)  It is through faith we believe and understand things to come.  (7.)  We remember and believe God's fourth commandment on faith.</div> <div>      Faith is the source of our strength.  It pervades every aspect of our relationship with God and our service for Him.  Faith is our only hope for protection that can sustain us in the trials and persecutions that is predicted for this end age.  </div> <div>      We are told “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)”  (Heb. 10:22-23).</div> <div>       In the first verse of the faith chapter we read: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).  When we attend God's Feasts days we are exhibiting the faith to leave all worldly things behind and reach for the high calling of God.</div> <div>      Faith in obedience to God needs to be our immediate goal.  Don't let this precious end time slip away from you.  </div> <bR> <div>                                                                                 </div> <bR> <div> Church of God, In Truth </div> <div> P.O. Box 1120 </div> <div> Kimberling City, MO 65686-1120</div> <bR> <div> <B>Tel:  417-338-0033</B></div> <div> <B>Fax: 417-338-0031</B></div> <div> Contact:   James Russell, Elder                               Or                         Pete Fleming, Elder</div> <div>                                                                                                            Tel: 830-885-5502</div> <div> E-mail: <A HREF="mailto:cogit@flash.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:cogit@flash.net"><U>cogit@flash.net</U></A>                                                                        E-mail: pmf06@gvtc.com</div> <bR> <div>  Spanish:                                                                 Or                           Philippines:</div> <div> Contact: Martin Martinez, Deacon                                                        Contact: Sotero Sonza, Deacon</div> <div> Tel: 787-786-5856                                                                                 Tel: 0639168814846   </div> <div> E-mail: <A HREF="mailto:marty@ucint.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:marty@ucint.com"><U>martin2k@</U></A><U>onelinkpr.net</U>                                                               E-mail: soterosonza@yahoo.com.ph</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <B>SPECIAL NOTICE</B></div> <bR> <div>     <B>NOTE</B> - OUR <B>NEW</B> TOLL FREE SABBATH TELEPHONE CONFERENCE NUMBER;  <B>toll free: 1-888-206-2266</B>.  An automated speaker will ask for your access code.  After the beeps, enter <B>346041 </B>followed by the <B>#</B> sign.  Hook-up time is 11:30 AM Pacific time zone.  The Sabbath Internet Conference is found at: <A HREF="http://www.postponements.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.postponements.com"><U>www.postponements.com</U></A>  Also at 11:30 AM Pacific time zone.  Click on live sermons!</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>