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November/December 2008
James Russell, Elder
Dear scattered brethren and co-workers,
Greetings: For the thirteenth year, God's called first fruits in the United States were all of one accord in Branson West, Missouri over looking beautiful Table Rock Lake for the Feast of Tabernacles. We were not the only ones fulfilling God's commanded annual gathering for God's Feast's this year. The brethren in the Philippines and Kenya rejoiced along with us in their Countries assigned Feast site. The report from all areas executed Deuteronomy 16. “Thou shalt observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy Feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn Feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely REJOICE”(Deut 16:13-15).
Imagine the happiness, joy and fellow-shipping found at God's Feast that beamed from the faces of God's called brethren that had not seen one another for the past year. Handshakes and hugs were witnessed as old friends and new ones met, there were some attending with us for the first time. The potluck meals and activities were well attended. It was encouraging to overhear some say the special music and song service sung from the old W.C.G. hymnals were sounding better than ever-and the spiritual food was really appreciated from all who volunteered to serve. If Christ is living His life in us we will become one, drawn together and be spiritually unified, as seen this year 2008!
To support the fact that God's Church is built upon this kind of unity, let's recount the events leading up to Pentecost, the actual giving of the Holy Spirit, and the tremendous works which followed.
In the beginning of the book of Acts, we are quickly told about Christ's resurrection and 40 days of witness to His disciples, then His ascent back to the throne of God the Father (Acts 1:1-6). Almost immediately this theme of unity, kinship and closeness among the disciples begins to emerge:
Verse 14 states "These (the apostles) all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren." It's noticed that this early New Testament Church was a praying Church. Also, notice, that it was in this atmosphere of peace and harmony among the apostles that the Holy Spirit of God was poured out and manifested powerfully.
Other scriptures in the first few chapters of Acts show that this spirit of unity continued many days after Pentecost. “ "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul. . . and all that believed were together and had all things in common" (Acts 2:42-44). Vs 46: "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness!”
What was the channel through which this great Power could work? Again, it was the spiritual kinship and oneness which Jesus had prayed that His followers would manifest. “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me”(John 17:21-23). “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all”(Acts 4:32-33).
There is the answer. The obvious and significant theme emphasized throughout these passages is unity and that state of oneness and harmony which characterizes God's true Spiritual Church today and that which came only from receiving the Holy Spirit.
There is another vital lesson to be learned from this unique time in the Church's history. Throughout the years that followed, because of persecution and other troubles which afflicted the Church, was a period of general slackness and lethargy that had set in. The original New Testament members began to lose their zeal-their love for God and His known truth started waxing cold. As this period of disintegration set in, the Church also began to lose something else. It began to lose the love and close unity that it originally received at Pentecost.
How fully do we realize that our love and unity will also diminish if we slack off in prayer and living in daily contact with God? Not only will our love for God dwindle, but our love for each other will too. Just as Satan began to stir up the brethren and sow seeds of discord among God's Church then, can happen again today. Once we lose contact with God, Satan moves in to fill the void and one of his first actions is to implant negative attitudes in our minds toward each other and God's Work. "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another" (Gal.5:15).
Most called today should be convinced that one of the biggest causes of conflict and discord that sometimes arises in God's Spiritual Church is the direct influence of Satan. As long as we are in prayerful contact with God, he can find no avenue of entrance. This fact was clearly demonstrated at that first Pentecost. But once our relationship with God is severed, we become vulnerable to Satan's fiery darts and attacks. It behooves us to always be mindful of who our enemy really is.
When Jesus Christ returns to this earth, one of His great aims will be to restore the Government of His Father and universal peace to mankind. He will ultimately pour out His Spirit upon all the world, with the passage of time and the spreading of God's word of truth into all corners of the earth, peace and unity will finally be established. .
Looking on beyond into eternity, we as the sons of God will co-exist together as a family in perfect tranquility, peace and unity forever. Think of it - perfect peace and unity forever-the great hallmark of God's government.
September 13th thru the 20th - the dates of God's Feast of Tabernacles was again, our opportunity to put to practice - together, God's “GOOD NEWS” [government] and show that God's true spiritual called out ones are genuinely true servants for Him!
Church of God, In Truth
P.O. Box 1120
Kimberling City, MO 65686
Tel: 417-338-0033
Fax: 417-338-0031
E-mail: cogit@flash.net
Contact: James Russell, Elder Pete Fleming, Elder Spanish: Martin Martinez, Deacon
Tel: 417-338-0033 Tel: 830-885-5502 Tel: 787-786-5856
Philippines: Sotero Sonza, Deacon
Tel: 0639-1688-14846
Thought To Ponder:
“And Jesus said unto them, I Am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
It seems to be part of the human condition that we are more attracted to the sizzle than the steak; the creamy icing instead of the cake. And it happens in the spiritual realm as well: We much prefer the gifts to the Giver.
When Israel traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land, they were led by none other than God himself. But their focus was on food instead of fellowship, on tasting the meat of Egypt instead of the treat of the Promised Land. They were more interested in what God might provide than in God himself. Fifteen hundred years later, their focus was still blurry. When God incarnate, Jesus Christ, walked in their midst, they asked Him to perform signs for them-like Moses had done by providing manna in the wilderness. And Jesus' answer was, "I Am the bread of life." That is, Jesus himself was the sign they should have been looking for. Instead of arguing about what Jesus might do for them (as their forefathers had done with Moses), they should have been embracing Him as the spiritual bread they needed.
If you have a need at this moment, look first to the Giver, not to the gift. It was Moses who said, and Jesus who confirmed, that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Deuteronomy 8: 3; Matthew 4:4). It is His Word that sustains us. The sweetest reminder of God's
good provision for us is the gift of His living Word, the Bread of Life. Don't look for anything sweeter in life until you have tasted Him.
(Recommended reading John 6:30-59).
Author - David Jeremiah
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