Friday, September 27, 2019

Is There A "Secret Rapture"? (Sermonette)


The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ is pleased to announce this sermonette from our YouTube channel.


26:22


Is There A "Secret Rapture"?

Will there be a "secret rapture"!? Thousands upon thousands are placing their hope in a coming rapture. Will it occur!? What about the utter destruction of all people on the earth at the end-times!? Will that occur!? One major and influential religious organization teaches such a thing. Minister Leonard V. Johnson provides some insight on this.
Here is a link to this sermonette: Is There A "Secret Rapture"?

Some other items of related interest may include:

"Pray Not For This People" (Sermon) - Minister Michael C. Garrett gave this sermon to a religious organization down in Tyler, Texas which totally and vehemently rejected this inspired Message from Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Because God has these prophecies where He says, ‘Don’t even offer up a prayer, I’m not gonna hear it. Don’t even do it!’ Now, at this point, God says, ‘I’m done!’ Saying, ‘I’m done trying to help. I’m done having My hand slapped away. I’m done having my face spit into.’ HE SAID THE JUDGMENTS WILL COME FORTH!!!

And that time may not quite be here - yet - but it's just over the horizon!

Proving the Truth! - Friends, do you have trouble studying your Bible and understanding God's Word because you don't have the Master Key!?

Has Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ been waiting for YOU to do something which you have been procrastinating!? 

The Bible is God's "instruction manual" to all mankind, and you must be able to read these instructions! What further proof do you need to reinforce the authenticity of the Bible!? Atheists and agnostics all deny the proof which is all around them every day.

Yet, the reason that you are among the very few who have proven His living Word is because you have the Master Key - God's Holy Spirit!

If you don't have this key, get it at once (cf. Acts 2:38)!

Repent For Salvation - These Western nations are indeed religious - at least according to every street corner. Most profess a deep interest in Christianity. Religion has even become fashionable with the rise of megachurches as mini towns!

Yet, these Western "Christian" societies are NOT bearing fruit which is pleasing to God (cf. Colossians 1:10).

Do you know why!?   

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Letter to our Friends - September 24, 2019



Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Dear Friends:

Greetings from Owensboro, Kentucky.

Well, friends, another week has passed, and God’s Work moves forward.

In this letter, I would like to talk personally to each and every one of you, something that has been mulling around in my mind for some time. I imagine the utter worldwide evil, the devastation, the chaos in this world, has so many of us with an air of melancholy. I know I do.

But do YOU see a bright future ahead!? For YOU!? For humanity as a whole!? Personally, I do – and I hope you can join me in saying that, you are one in a hundred thousand! Where is any good NEWS today!? Where is a bright future to be found!? – in nations of ‘wars and rumors of wars,’ of nations possessing and continuing to develop nuclear weapons!? Weapons of mass destruction, which can literally erase all life, human, animal and plant life from earth!? Where is there any hope to be found in what the Apostle Paul called, ‘this present evil age’!? Is it in the utterly pointless and overly complex autopilots of the Tesla 3!? A world with such abject poverty and squalor, wretchedness, and ignorance, filth in which more than half of this world truly lives!? Where is there any joy, anticipation of prosperity!? Because we live in a world in which our very drinking water – the lakes, the rivers, the oceans, are being polluted at an alarming rate. The air we breathe is being befouled, the soil for our food waning of life-giving nutrients. A world where our very homes and the traditional father role is being decimated, crime is rampant, racial tensions rising and are at the highest rate level since the early 60s, with violence erupting WORLDWIDE, and terrorism has exploded on the world scene exponentially since the year 2001!

Where is the happiness today!? Nearly forty years ago now, while riding in the back of a car heading to church, I was whistling happily. The driver of the car, my dear friend, Mrs. Olivet, said, “I haven’t heard someone whistling in fifty years!” – where is the happy whistling, the happy singing today!? Where do we find encouraging reassurance for tomorrow!? Is it on our university campuses, where the leaders of tomorrow are burning American flags!? Will it be with the US presidential candidates of 2020 – who want to take away our AR-15s and AR-47s, with socialized healthcare, and the continuation of flooding America with illegal immigrants!? Will it be with the radical, warped and dangerous ideologies which are being gulped down as an educational diet!?

Where do we find inspiration!? Is it in the world leaders, who truly has NO SOLUTIONS FOR TRUE PEACE IN THE WORLD!? Well, friends, for those of the prevailing concepts the future must assuredly appear bleak – if they would take a close look at it instead of kidding themselves into the delusion that by ignoring the growing dangers they will somehow just go away. Quoting Albert Einstein, “The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it!” For there is a CAUSE for every effect. There is a CAUSE for the state of the world today. And, there has to be a CAUSE that will produce a peaceful and happy WORLD that everybody truly wants! There had to be a FIRST CAUSE for the very existence of matter, of life, of forces and energies. Yet, today it is considered “intellectual” to be IGNORANT. Well, an American video blogger, Mark Dice, gave random people a set of questions on a California street corner - which included what country the United States of America broke away from, and what year. The lack of knowledge was disconcerting – to say the least. The greater majority of Generations Y and Z had no clue! Today, it is popular to embrace agnosticism – meaning, - “WE DON’T KNOW – WE ARE IGNORANT.” In today’s generation, IGNORANCE is being embraced and labeled “KNOWLEDGE.”

Well, is it IGNORANT to recognize and understand the FACTS of the GREAT FIRST CAUSE – the very One who reveals the true CAUSE of all of today’s PROBLEMS!? It is wise, is it intellectual, knowledgeable, to be IGNORANT of the basic facts of TRUTH!?

JESUS CHRIST taught – within the pages of the Bible - there are only TWO WAYS of life – two basic PRINCIPLES – two philosophies. One is the way of GIVE: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’ and the other is GET. One is the way of LOVE – of outgoing concern for your fellow human being – the other insists on taking, of acquiring, of accumulating, without regard of others. The one way is Christocentric, the other is self-centered, saying, “Do it to others, before they do it to me.”

Friends, this world – with its civilizations and societies – are all based on hostility, on competition, on a SELF-centered way. And, it has produced every wail of human woe! And since the days of Nimrod (Genesis 10:8), this world has gone the way that now threatens all life on this planet.

I ask, is there any HOPE for the future!? Is it with the self-professed “great” men, of whom God says, ‘Although they claimed to be wise, they became FOOLS!’!?

Friends, THERE CERTAINLY IS a bright future ahead! The New Heaven and the New Earth – of which the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ proclaims! The kingdom of God will bring worldwide peace, universal happiness, the right education, and true prosperity to all!

This soon-coming World Tomorrow isn’t going to rely upon the sometimes-half-hearted efforts of human beings! It will come despite men. The greatest event in universal history will come when Jesus Christ and His holy angels – along with His saints – set up the glorious kingdom of God! However, this time, Jesus Christ is not coming as a lamb – where He came teaching and proclaiming His New Covenant, which brought floggings and death at the hands of hateful men. He is NOW proclaiming clearly and loudly, ‘I AM He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I AM alive forevermore. Amen.’ He went to the very throne of the Government of the UNIVERSE, to be GLORIFIED, and CORONATED as Supreme Ruler over the entire universe. When He returns, the world will know something of the meaning, ‘GREAT POWER AND GLORY!’

His glorious eyes will flash like flames of fire, His face will be shining like the sun in its brilliance! He will come with all the POWER that created the UNIVERSE! He is coming to CRUSH every human government – coming as the KING of kings and LORD of lords – to RULE ALL NATIONS with a rod of iron! Coming to CHANGE men’s hearts! Coming to enforce the Way – the Way that the great majority refuse to accept. Of outgoing concern – of LOVE, of giving and serving, of sharing, of helping instead of taking and self-righteousness. He is coming to ABOLISH wars, strife’s, violence. Coming to teach RIGHT EDUCATION. Coming to CLEAN UP this filthy earth. Coming to establish THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD!

Yes, my friends, I see a very BRIGHT FUTURE just ahead of us! It’s the only true GOOD NEWS in the world today!

Fall Holy Days

Friends, we are less than a week away from the start of the Fall Holy Days for 2019! Sunset September 29th through sunset September 30th is the Feast of Trumpets! I have a completed article by Minister Michael C. Garrett for the Feast entitled The Feast of Trumpets – ‘Thy Kingdom Come.’ Be sure to look for that on our blog page - https://www.owensborocojc.com – on the day of the Feast. Next, will be the Day of Atonement, which runs from sunset October 8th through sunset October 9th. Then, the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day – from sunset October 13th through sunset October 21st!

Let us be ready!

Have you prepared to be off work/school on God’s commanded Holy Days!?

As far as the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day goes, we invite you to be with us during this Holy Feast at the Logsdon Community Center 2400 Friendship Dr. Owensboro, Kentucky 42303. You may contact Minister Garrett at garrett158@roadrunner.com for additional information.

Statcounter



It is most exciting to note that our visit length from the past five-months is getting much longer for our blog site - https://www.owensborocojc.com. The average monthly page views are 393, with the average monthly returning visits being 19.5 within the past eight months! Thank you so much for your support! Let us continue asking our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for Their great blessing on this MOST IMPORTANT Work of God!

World News Items
The Vatican City State is continuing to push her ecumenical and interfaith agenda as Jorge Mario Bergoglio (better known as Pope Francis) pushes a ‘global pact’ meeting for next May (See: ‘Cardinal Burke, Bishop Schneider Announce Crusade of Prayer and Fasting’ along with ‘Pope Francis invites religious, political leaders to sign ‘Global Pact’ for ‘new humanism’ and ‘Pope says he's not afraid of a schism in the Catholic Church’).

In Saudi Arabia oil facilities were attacked that disrupted oil production (See: ‘Saudi Arabia: Fires Out After Purported Houthi Drone Strikes on Oil Facilities’). The greater majority of nations are pointing the finger at Iran, who wishes NOT to talk with the United States of America at all (See: ‘Iran ‘will never talk to America,’ supreme leader says ahead of UN General Assembly meetings’ and ‘Trump strains to balance diplomacy, military threat to Iran’). The Trump Administration is blaming Iran for the attacks and Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is warning that any attack against Iran would lead to an ‘all-out-war!’ (See: ‘Pompeo: 'Important Information' for Trump After Mideast Talks on Saudi Oil Field Attacks’ and ‘Iran envoy: ‘All-out war’ to result if hit for Saudi attack’). Surely, just as Japan felt prior to December 7, 1941, Iran is feeling so much pressure that this may accelerate actions that are prophesied to strike Jerusalem (Isaiah 22:6-9), and a retaliatory strike against an Islamic centered collection of nations (cf. Matthew 24:7; Daniel 11).

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this weeks suggested Sabbath service:

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is Repent For Salvation.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is And That Rock Was Christ - Part 4 by Michael C. Garrett. (Many more sermons are available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/).
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, friends, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our podcast sermons so that you won't miss our latest podcast distributed via RSS (Rich Site Summary) format!

Concluding Comments

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote, under the inspiration of God’s Spirit:
Lamentations 1:3 – “Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits.” – now, this did take place in 605 B.C.! THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN! So, many prophecies are dual – they have an earlier fulfillment, and they have a much larger, more significant fulfillment in the latter days! And this will be one of those latter days fulfillments. Verse 12 – “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see If there is any sorrow like my sorrow, Which has been brought on me, Which the LORD has inflicted In THE DAY OF HIS FIERCE ANGER.” – the Day of the Lord!
Chapter 2, Verse 1 – “How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion With a cloud in His anger! He cast down from heaven to the earth The beauty of Israel, And did not remember His footstool IN THE DAY OF HIS ANGER.” – ‘In the day of His anger’ is the Day of the Lord! Verse 5 – “The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up ISRAEL, … And has increased mourning and lamentation In the daughter of Judah.” Verse 21 – “’ Young and old lie On the ground in the streets; My virgins and my young men Have fallen by the sword; You have slain them in THE DAY OF YOUR ANGER, You have slaughtered and not pitied.’” – now, ‘pray not for this people’ is indeed a Message from the Bible.”
(Notes Regarding The Day of Atonement - Prophetically the Day of the Lord!).
Friends, a major change is prophesied – and it is coming – this world is about to get freight-trained! Let us all get our spiritual house in order NOW (Luke 21:34-36; Zephaniah 2:1-3).

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,



Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Letter to our Friends - September 17, 2019


Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Dear Friends:

Greetings from Owensboro, Kentucky.

Facebook, YouTube, Godtube, and BitChute

Breaking Israel News reported September 11th that an advertisement related to the Fall Holy Days - involving a Jewish organization called Ariel Jewish Center – in which Facebook gave a bogus reason for stopping the ad by falsely claiming “This ad isn’t running because it is sexually provocative or overly suggestive.” (See: ‘Facebook Deems Rosh Hashannah “Sexually Provocative”’).

Indeed, in ‘this present evil age’ (cf. Galatians 1:1-5) the news media as well as society at large supports immoralities, where social media sites such as Facebook and YouTube censor (and often down-right shut down) voices which support biblically-based morality. The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ has determined that it is wise to have several backup platforms for our sermons based on the living Word of God.

So, this last March we began posting our sermons on a platform called Godtube (See: https://www.godtube.com/o'borochurchofjesuschrist/).

We are utilizing Godtube essentially as a backup in the event YouTube one day shuts down our ability to share sermons there. We currently have 219 views with 27 sermons available. While we do not agree with all that Godtube supports, and may decide it is not a correct video platform for us, Godtube is indeed a more religious-based platform than Vimeo or YouTube. Godtube manually reviews every video uploaded to its site, and encourages the user with the instruction – “Be inspired in your walk with Jesus Christ and grow in your knowledge of the Bible with videos highlighting inspirational messages and verses.” At this moment, we see Godtube as a platform that is currently more likely not to try and censor us.

We also have another platform for sermons, August 2nd of this year we added BitChute. (See: https://www.bitchute.com/channel/owensborochurchofjc/).


Again, BitChute is free and appears less likely to censor us or shut us down. Unlike YouTube which has viciously attacked us as far as our view count.

What is interesting about BitChute is how it shows people who go to our main video page our latest videos that were uploaded. This way, people who would normally not find our channel, get an opportunity to see (for a short time) what we just uploaded.

Now, while we are not yet receiving massive views on Godtube or BitChute, we are receiving dozens of views of the videos which we uploaded to these channels (with more at BitChute). Those channels are beginning to reach people that we may not have reached before!

Friends, as this world’s censorship continues to get worse with such social media platforms as Facebook, Google, YouTube, and Vimeo, we will continue to grow on such platforms as Flipboard, Godtube, and BitChute. But even if not, having those additional channels is wise. We – through the grace and blessing of Almighty God and Jesus Christ – are continuing to witness to the people (even if it is in less than massive amounts) that we would not otherwise reach. So, these are ‘doors’ (Revelation 3:7-8) that we have been blessed to continue through as long as they are open.

Feast of Trumpets

Friends, the next Holy Day is the Feast of Trumpets (from sunset September 29th through sunset September 30th this year).

The New Testament indeed mentions the ‘blowing of trumpets’ when prophetic matters of judgment are involved.

Our Lord and Savior taught:
’ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven [the sky], and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31) And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other [in other words, from all around the world].’” – Matthew 24:30-31; NKJV and hereafter.
The Apostle Paul taught similarly:
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven [the sky] with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet [the SEVENTH TRUMPET] of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.
So both our Lord and Paul taught that the saints of God would be gathered together when the SEVENTH TRUMPET sound goes forth! And that Jesus would return with a trumpet blast! The last trumpet – THE SEVENTH TRUMPET!
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep [not all die], but we shall all be changed – 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, AT THE LAST TRUMPET. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
So, because this is indeed referring to THE LAST TRUMPET, the Bible does not support the concept of a “rapture,” as many evangelicals teach and believe in.

Now, although his writings are not a part of God’s inspired Words – the Bible – Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, indeed looked forward to the fulfillment of this prophesied trumpet blast when he wrote:
“Therefore, prepare yourselves for the race and serve the Lord in fear and truth like people who have forsaken the useless, empty talk and the errors of the multitude and believed in the One who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead and gave him glory and a throne at his right hand.
All things in heaven and on earth are subject to Him. Every spirit serves Him. He comes as the Judge of the living and the dead. God will require justice for His blood from those who do not believe in Him.
But the One who raised Christ from the dead will raise us also, if we do His will, walk in His commandments, love what He loved, and keep ourselves from all unrighteousness, greed, love of money, evil speaking, and lies.”
(Polycarp. The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians. Vol. II. The Ante-Nicene Fathers).
This ‘last trumpet’ in 1st Corinthians is the SEVENTH TRUMPET of Revelation 11:15:
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven [the sky], saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’” – Revelation 11:15.
Will the sounds of God’s trumpets sound like the sounds which have been heard all around the world since 2012!?

The Book of Revelation reveals a whole series of events which will accompany the blowing of trumpets –called the ‘seven angels who had the seven trumpets.’ Now, these angels blowing these seven trumpets are in order, however, the Book of Revelation is not in chronological order.

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:
What I’m about to say to you has never been taught – was never – in the churches of God, be it Worldwide, United, Philadelphia, or Intercontinental, or International, or Global, or Living, this concept which I am about to tell you. Most likely if you have a background and history with the remnants of the Worldwide Church of God you have NEVER heard this before. The Day of Atonement is prophetically linked with an event which the Bible calls the Day of the Lord. You were taught as doctrine, and many of you still believe, … but the official teaching of the Worldwide Church of God was that there were the SEVEN SEALS, and then the SEVEN TRUMPETS, and then the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES, and THEN JESUS CHRIST would return. … Not an accurate rendition according to the Word of God! … Remember – SEVEN SEALS, SEVEN TRUMPETS – THE SEVENTH TRUMP IS THE RESURRECTION TRUMPET! …
The WRATH OF GOD (the Day of the Lord) is prophetically linked with the Day of Atonement. The single most prophesied event in the Bible – bar none. Not even the Return of Jesus Christ is prophesied as much as the Day of the Lord is prophesied. The Fall Holy Days picture, in a prophetic sense, some of the major events, major stages, major progressions of the end-times. The SEVEN SEALS of the Book of Revelation are the symbolic, prophetically, of the early ‘troubles’ which will befall this world, and in particular, the House of Judah and the House of Israel. And the FIRST SIX of the SEVEN TRUMPETS are a progression of those ‘troubles.’ And the SEVENTH TRUMP of the seven trump’s is indeed, directly related to the concept of the resurrection of the saint’s. The blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP! And following that, in the Book of Revelation – Chapters 15 & 16 – you read about the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES.”
(Notes Regarding the Day of Atonement (Prophetically the Day of the LORD)).
Let us read of that progression of ‘troubles’:
“So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. 7) The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. 8) Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea [the Mediterranean Sea], and a third of the sea became blood. 9) And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. 10) Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven [from the sky or rather space], burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. 11) The name of the star is Wormwood [meaning bitter]. A third of the waters became [bitter], and many men dies from the water, because it was made bitter. 12) The fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. … 9:1 - Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven [the sky] to the earth [Satan and his demons are about to be thrown into the bottomless pit just before the return of Jesus Christ! cf. Rev. 20:1-2]. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit, 2) And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. … 13) Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, 14) saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, ‘Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.’” – Revelation 8:6-12; 9:1-2, 13-14.
And, of course, the SEVENTH TRUMP of the seven trump’s is indeed, directly related to the concept of the resurrection of the saint’s.

News Around the World

China, the European Union, along with Russia (See: ‘Russia & China stockpiling gold because ‘they can read the writing on the wall’ – Peter Schiff’ along with ‘China’s Trade with US Tumbles as Tariff War Shows Its Teeth’) all continue taking steps to bypass the US dollar and setup even more trade between Asia and Europe. Friends, this is consistent with many biblical prophecies (cf. Ezekiel 27:12-16; Revelation 18), yet, the greater majority of Americans continue to act as if the United States of America will continue being the dominant power in the world – forever. We realize and understand that based upon biblical prophecies such as Daniel 11:39 as well as Habakkuk 2:6-8, the time is soon coming when the United States of America will no longer dominate the world. Other major players in the world, like the EU, Russia, and China are intent on eliminating the U.S. dollar’s dominance.

The United States presidential hopeful and practicing homosexual, Peter Buttigieg says that God will punish people for negatively impacting global climate change (See: ‘Buttigieg: God will punish us for global warming’). Now, friends, while God’s living written Word does say that God will ‘destroy those who destroy the earth’ – Revelation 11:18, God’s Word also very clearly teaches that God will punish those who are practicing sexual immoralities – which include homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality (cf. Romans 1:26-27; Revelation 21:8; also Leviticus 18:22-23). As well as those who approve of that “lifestyle” – Romans 1:18-32.

Continuing in the small nation known as Israel is the calling for the construction of another Jewish temple (See: ‘Right After Party Endorses 3rd Temple, Polls Show them Entering Knesset After Elections’). Indeed, God’s Word clearly states that a third temple will be built! One of the last messages our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave in His human life, He talks about the ‘abomination of desolation,’ or the ‘abomination that makes desolate,’ spoken of in the Book of Daniel – several times. And, Jesus said, “’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STANDING IN THE HOLY PLACE’ … ” – talking about a temple – in Jerusalem.

With the United Kingdom due to leave the European Union on October 31st, complications associated with that withdrawal continue (See: ‘Scottish court rules suspension of British Parliament 'unlawful'’). Indeed, the EU does not need to grant the UK Parliament an extension. The EU appears to want any nation which leaves the member states to suffer, along with the French Foreign Minister, who stated that “In the current circumstances, it’s no. … We are not going to go through this every three months.” (See: ‘France says 'non' to Brexit delay’).

As Minister Garrett has said in the past:
“… there is a great concern among EU advocates that other countries may very well follow Britain’s path. That is - other countries may, here within the coming years, also vote to leave the European Union. … [W]hat just happened is very important – highly significant. The UK voting to break away from the European Union directly has implications for future fulfilled prophecy. … [I]t was inevitable that the British people and the European people go down separate paths … the two of them don’t stay together. You have Britain and America on one side of this issue, and you have a soon-coming United Europe – by whatever name they come to call themselves – on another page of prophetic history. America and England are to be together in the same situation in the end-time – basically being mistreated by the European central hub; call it United Europe, call it the United States of Europe, call it whatever they will call it, the Bible just simply calls it the “beast” power. … I know there are people out there – church groups – that in the past would talk about forces from Europe coming across the Atlantic and drive their mechanized vehicles up onto the shores of America and would overtake America. Well folks, I always thought that was a foolish idea. I didn’t know just exactly why, it just didn’t … it just never rang true to me. Just something flawed in that reasoning. But, hey, why do you need a bunch of militant Europeans when you flood our country with maybe a hundred million strangers – a hundred and fifty million illegal strangers!? Two hundred million strangers!? And we cease to be the nation that God Almighty intended us to be. GERMANS coming over the Atlantic to subdue us!? O’ NO! We’re going to do it to ourselves!”
(God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series; Disingenuous Propaganda (sermon)).
Also, Iran – in which the Bible calls Persia – is disappointed that the United States has pulled out of the nuclear deal and that the Europeans has not done more to assist them. So, Iran is openly violating certain aspects of that nuclear deal (See: ‘Iran Using Advanced Centrifuges, Violating Nuclear Deal’). God’s living Word indicates that Iran may very well be involved in damaging Jerusalem in the near future per Isaiah 22:6-9.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this week's suggested Sabbath service:

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is A Great Challenge by Leonard V. Johnson.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is And That Rock Was Christ - Part 3 by Michael C. Garrett.
(Many more sermons are available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/).
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel. We also – as a reminder – have a BitChute channel.

Concluding Comments

Minister Michael C. Garrett was inspired to write:
“1 John 3:1-2 – the people of the world do not understand what you are about to read – but many of you reading this have heard it before, and you do understand it! I just hope that we always deeply appreciate it! “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He [shall appear], we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” We will be like the resurrected Jesus Christ!
Now, quite frankly, if you have been baptized – you were in the water, you were brought out – you had hands laid upon you and a prayer said over you and in the prayer the minister asked you be granted the Spirit of God. Now when the Spirit of God enters you, it probably starts out as just a very small quantity. It is as it were… it combines with our mind, and it gives our mind an extra level of understanding. Before your baptism, before receiving God’s Spirit, you might have tried to read the Bible, might have been wanting to understand the Word of God, but because of all the incorrect messages which you have heard throughout your life. I mean if you’ve grown up in the Methodist Church or the Baptist Church or the Catholic Church or whatever religious training you had, you might have had a lot of the misconceptions of those denominations clouding your mind. And making it difficult to understand what the Bible was actually saying. There was all this static and interference, like having a radio station and it’s not tuning in very clearly. Sometimes, because of all this noise. The noise being other churches, other teachings, other preachers. Now, back in those old days, as it were, you could have studied your Bible religiously as they say, maybe reading it a half-hour every night or reading it two or three times a day. And you would read it, and your mind would see the words, but I do believe – and I’d be willing to bet – you never saw or understood the overall Plan of God.
Now, with that in mind, turn to 1 Corinthians 2 – Paul was inspired to write, and he was quoting much of this from the Old Testament, Verse 9 – “’Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” And then Paul added to this Old Testament passage, Verse 10 – “But God has revealed them to us [by and] through His Spirit.” – the Spirit of God that combines with our brain, to make our brain special. But, as it says back in 1 John 3:2 – “…it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, …”
With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Letter to our Friends - September 10, 2019

Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Dear Friends:

Greetings from Owensboro, Kentucky.

Prophetic dreams for our day

I soon will be finished transcribing Minister Garrett’s God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series, in which patriarch Jacob had a powerful dream where God had communicated to him. And, indeed, throughout the Bible, many times God communicates – not all the time – and relays information to a human being through a dream.

According to God’s living Word – the Bible – prophetic dreams from God were prophesied for the end-times. And we are in the end-times.

On the Day of Pentecost A.D. 31, the Apostle Peter proclaimed:
“ … ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. … 16) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh …’” - the firstfruits of God. Almighty God opened the Tree of Life (the Holy Spirit) up to those predestined to be in the Church of God.
And, the Apostle Peter continued:
“ … ‘Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, …’” – they shall teach - that’s all the word prophesy means. 1 Teaching under an inspired mantle – meaning from the Spirit of God. “ … ‘Your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. 18) And on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy [teach].’” – Acts 2:14, 16-18; NIV, unless otherwise noted.
1 prophēteuō, v. GK: 4736 [→ 4394]. to prophesy, to speak an inspired message, … The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. Strong, James. Zondervan. 2001. #4395. pg. 1640.
While any Christian might occasionally receive a prophecy, some seem, to have a special gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12:29; 13:2). … While teaching and prophecy are different, they also can be related (Acts 13:1-2; Rev. 2:20). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Holman Reference, 2015 by B & H Publishing Group, pg. 1305. 


Friends, teaching the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God, as well as prophetic dreams, were prophesied for our day!

Sadly, despite what the Bible actually says, most churches of this world (and even many churches of God descended from the WCG) do not seemingly accept that God the Father and or our Lord Jesus Christ actually – sometimes – speaks in dreams in the 21st century. There are even a great many who seemingly despise prophecies – cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 – and are seemingly indignant of the very idea that God would use dreams to communicate. (Be sure to read antichrists – in the last hour).

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave many signs (John 2:11; 6:2, 26; 7:31; 9:16; 11:47; 12:37), the people wanted different ones:
“But although He [Jesus Christ] had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, 38) that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?’” – John 12:37-38.
Jesus denounced those who wanted different signs from Him (Matthew 12:38-39). Many in the churches of this world (and even many churches of God descended from the WCG) are unwilling to accept God’s signs. Our LORD God does not always show signs the way many seem to think that He has to.

The apostles, “went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word through the accompanying signs.” – Mark 16:20.

Again, it is strange, that so many people who claim to be followers of Christ are so dismissive of God’s use of dreams – sometimes – to communicate.

The Book of Numbers has this to say:
“Then the LORD came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam [Aaron as high priest and his sister a prophetess]. And they both went forward. 6) Then He said, ‘Hear now My Words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.’” – Numbers 12:5-6.
So notice that God says that His way is that He makes Himself known to His teachers in visions and speaks to them in dreams. And, remember, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” – Hebrews 13:8.

Friends, let us consider something Minister Garrett wrote concerning false prophets in accordance with Jeremiah 23 - under the inspiration of God’s Spirit:
“The house of God, the house of Israel, the spiritual house of Israel. I think He’s referring to the Body of Christ. Indeed, there are leaders – they say they’re leaders, they have titles – they promenade around like they’re leaders, they strut like a peacock like they’re leaders, and yet, He says, “I have found them to be wicked and they are profaned, the prophet, the religious leaders.” Verse 16 – “…’ Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, …’” – We, here-and-now, are to be practitioners, fully involved, in the religion of the New Covenant. The Priesthood of Jesus Christ. And yet, there are people out there on the religious highways and byways within the so-called Churches of God which for all intense and purposes are indeed Old Testament, Old Covenant churches. And when you bring this up to them, they rage, they roar like lions without their food. Because they “walk,” Verse 17 “according to the dictates [imagination] of [their] own heart, …” – their own ideas. … Verses 21-24; 25 – “’ I have heard what the [false] prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’” – that’s a very blunt statement! Understand, IF you turn to the Old Covenant mentality, you will NOT have the protection of Jesus Christ! Because the Old Covenant operated without Jesus Christ! Oh, there were types and shadows. But the New Covenant operates directly under the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.”
(Notes Regarding the Day of Atonement – Prophetically the Day of the Lord).
Prophet Jeremiah under inspiration also wrote:
“’ The prophet [the teacher under an inspired mantle – meaning from the Spirit of God] who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully.’” – Jeremiah 23:28.
I, myself, four years ago had a dream – which I would later understand to be a prophetic dream from God:
“I dreamt about a young Jewish family, where all the males wore yarmulkes. The family was outside on a most beautiful day taking pictures with a camera when immediately I was taken in my mind in orbit around the earth. I saw a huge armada of ships in space with a very tall “commander” dressed in shiny silver armor with six huge horns wrapping around from the back of his head. His face was nothing but bright white light. And, he placed what appeared to be binoculars to his eyes and a prism of different colored lights came forth from it. Then, the dream was gone.”
There may be some who do not want to hear about prophetic dreams, yet God says, ‘the teacher under the inspired mantle, let him speak My Word faithfully.’ There may be some criticism of me for revealing such a dream, but I do so only for the glory of God.

Apostle Peter and the other apostles stated:
“ … ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. 30) The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31) Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32) And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’” – Acts 5:29-32.
Friends, in these end-times, Christians still ‘ought to obey God rather than men.’ And, when it comes to witnessing - we should also be His witnesses faithfully.

World News Items

Hurricane Dorian caused grave damage in many parts of the Bahamas and has claimed possibly thousands of lives, including impacting parts of the east coast of the US (See: ‘Dorian Batters Bahamas; First Deaths Confirmed’). Let us continue to pray that God will be merciful to all affected and help them recover quickly.

Also, while Europe is facing financial problems (See: ‘“The Eurozone faces the worst combination of economic and systemic risk”’), we’re continuing to see steps that appear to be at least partially intended to displace the US dollar from dominance in the world, and there are some which are publicly admitting this (See: ‘BRICS was created as a tool of attack: Lula’).

The United States of America has been surviving from borrowed money for decades. And, it is so bad now that Bloomberg has reported that if the US stopped borrowing – she would slip into severe economic depression (See: ‘Study Discovers That If The Debt Machine Was Turned Off, The U.S. Would Immediately Plunge Into A Horrifying Depression’). Indeed, according to biblical prophecy, there is coming a time when the US debt will be invoked as a reason to conquer the US per Habakkuk 2:6-8.

The United Kingdom is continuing to have major problems with Brexit (See: ‘Brexit: What's happened and what's next?’). It is indeed – from the pages of your Bible – inevitable that the British people and the European people would go down separate paths, yet, ultimately, this will not end well for the UK – cf. Daniel 8:24-25; Isaiah 17:3-4.

In Germany on September 1st, there were elections that resulted in gains for the anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutshland party (See: ‘How the world press viewed the far-right surge in eastern German elections’). Soon, the government leaders of Europe will say, “We have a problem! We opened our arms to these immigrants, and now these immigrants, and some of the children of these immigrants, are trying to destroy us!” The government leaders aren’t yet willing to say it, because they’re very Left-wing Socialist types and we’re all are going to hold hands and sing Kumbaya – and we’re all going to be together types – in the privacy of their own homes or with friends are starting to say, “We have a problem! And the problem is the enemy which we have brought into our neighborhoods – we attempted to befriend them and now they are lashing out – some of them are trying to destroy us!” So it’s a growing problem! Uncontrolled immigrants entering Europe is indeed changing the very makeup of those countries! It happened in Rome, and it is happening in Europe! And Europe soon will violently respond – cf. Isaiah 10:5-11; Daniel 11:39.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this week's suggested Sabbath service:

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is The Final Empire.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is The Foundation of Truth. (Many more sermons are available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/).
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel. We also – as a reminder – have a BitChute channel.

Concluding Comments

Brother John was inspired by the Lord our God to write the following:
5) "This is the Message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that GOD is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk-in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7) But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" - 1 John 1:5-7.
Friends, let us always walk in the light of truth. Let us NEVER practice darkness. Believe that our Lord Jesus can cleanse us from all sin.
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD in Christ forgave you" - Ephesians 4:29-32.
As far as fellowship with one another goes, let us meet with other friends of like mind when we can. And do NOT neglect to try to attend the Feast of Tabernacles.

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VaOvLLqLJmZBenAH_EGrOapR_J9FaCFN/view?usp=sharing

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Letter to our Friends - September 3, 2019

Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer

Dear Friends:

Greetings from Owensboro, Kentucky.

We trust you had a most positive and Godly character building week!

Integrity Is Important

God’s living Word teaches us:
“Cursed is he who does the Work of the LORD deceitfully, …” – Jeremiah 48:10; NIV unless otherwise noted.
As most of you are aware, since the year 2011 I had been searching earnestly for God’s people – the remnants of the churches of God descended from the Worldwide Church of God – and I came across a devastating and grave problem – I couldn’t find them! I had contacted numerous splinter-groups of the WCG – Grace Communion International, Restored, Philadelphia, Continuing, and ICG – only to see in full view their “fruits” on display and the utter lack of love, and might I add – their lack of integrity.

Then, after much prayer and fasting, on July 18th, 2018, God changed my direction and my focus. Through Almighty God I was led to my brethren at the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ, with Minister Garrett exclaiming, “The more a person or a group becomes absorbed with the teachings and practices of the Old Covenant the more distant that person or group will become from the teachings and precepts of the New Covenant!” I then knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what God was saying to me – WE HAVE A NEW COVENANT, a BETTER COVENANT!

After much biblical study – comparing those organizations “fruit” (or lack thereof of the fruits of God’s Spirit) which included lies, and their vehement hatred for anybody which they deem undesirable. I discovered through spiritual discernment that the so-called leaders of those organizations were not and could not be of God.

Indeed, God’s living Word – the Holy Bible – shows us that dealing with people who have integrity issues is nothing new with God’s Church – recall Simon Magus – cf. Acts 8:13. The Apostle Paul had terrible issues with many he worked within Asia Minor – cf. 2 Timothy 1:15; 4:14. Including the Apostle John – cf. 3 John 9-10.

Our Master and Savior – Jesus Christ – also had to deal with a devil – cf. John 6:70. Also, He prophesied that His Church would one-day ‘make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are [chosen people] and are not, but lie … come and worship before [our] feet, and to know that [He has] loved [us].’ – Revelation 3:9. And us being - individuals (men and women) in whom the Spirit of God resides, people’s whose names are written in the Book of Life, people who have truly experienced that phenomenon – Christ In You! Through His Spirit!

The Holy Sabbath by Minister Guy LaMar

When someone says something against someone keeping the “Sabbath” from Friday Sunset to Saturday sunset they prove that they do NOT know Jesus Christ.

Why?

Because it was the Roman Catholic Church that started this Sunday keeping. Jesus kept the Friday sunset to Saturday sunset Sabbath.

Adam and Eve kept the Sabbath!! – cf. Genesis 2:1-3. God rested, blessed, and hallowed the seventh day.

It was intended as an institution of the Sabbath command.

Adam and Eve would have kept the Sabbath in Eden and beyond.

There are lots mentioned about keeping the Law or commands of God long before Moses brought the tablets of the commandments off Mt. Sinai as a reminder to the stubborn people of Israel.

The Sabbath is the 7th day! Not on the first day! – cf. Ex. 20:10.

Jesus is the very God of the O. T. ! -cf. John 1.

God / Jesus NEVER changes! God / Jesus is exceedingly established in their ways and commandments. God / Jesus expects for those that are called to apply to the commandments given – cf. Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8.

Jesus said that the heavens and earth would pass away before one single line of God’s laws would – Matt. 24:35.

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man (JESUS CHRIST) is Lord even of the Sabbath – Matt. 12:1-8; Mk. 2:23-28; Lk. 6:1-5.

Jesus preached - taught from the Old Testament - it was the ONLY bible - Jesus was Living the New Testament – Matt. 4:4, 7, 10; Matt. 5:17, 18; Matt. 12:40; Matt. 19:4-6; Matt. 22:29; Matt. 23:35; Matt. 24:37-38; Mk. 13:19; Luke 24:27; Jn. 10:35; Jn. 17:17.

So when people say “my Sabbath” is on so and so day, it’s meaningless.

First off, the person has put themselves before God.

So don’t make any mistake of it, God is NOT involved.

God has no respect for people’s opinions. But God takes note to those that obey Him – cf. Acts 10:34-35.

If we TRULY care about God then we would apply our lives to His will.

Anything else is simply following the traditions of man of which Jesus said its vain worship towards Him – cf. Matthew 15:9.

Prayer Request

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:
“Friends – there comes a time in the progression of the downfall of a society or a group or a nation, a time when God says, ‘I’m just done with it!’ ‘I’m done messing with them!’ At that point you’re wasting your time even praying for them. I mean when Noah was in that huge boat, and the rains fell and the waters rose, do you think Noah was on the top deck praying for the people!? The judgment of God had already been made! Do you think that Lot and his two daughters when they were struggling to get away from the plain of Sodom and Gomorrah, do you really think that God wanted them to turn around and go, “O’ these poor people”!? “O’ God help them!” … There was no praying for the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, it was over! God had rendered His judgment and He was executing it. And so, the people of America, the people who say, ‘In God We Trust,’ but a society which is so mucked up now, it sometimes will get you in trouble if you even say the name Jesus Christ in public. There’s going to come a time when God Almighty and Jesus Christ say, ‘I’m just done with it!’ ‘It’s over!’ ‘Let the end-time trauma begin!’ Are we there yet!? No. Are we near!? Probably.” – cf. Jeremiah 7:15-16.
(Notes Regarding the Day of Atonement – Prophetically the Day of the Lord!).
So friends, while it is still day (cf. John 9:4) let us continue to pray dear friends for those impacted by Hurricane Dorian, along with praying for the families and friends going through the sorrow of the atrocity committed in Midland - Odessa, Texas! The Apostle Paul exhorts us to pray and intercede for all men – 1 Timothy 2:1. And also, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” – Ephesians 6:18.

Let us dear friends – “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem OTHERS better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was [and is] in Christ Jesus” – Philippians 2:3-5.

World News Items

The G-7 nations (the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan) met in a three-day conference in France which ended August 26th. The leaders have grave concerns involving trade, Iran, and climate change, yet appears to have not accomplished anything noteworthy. For the most part – the leaders would like POTUS Donald Trump to change his views (See: ‘Trump at G-7 Optimistic About Deals with China, Japan, Iran’).

UKs Prime Minister Boris Johnson continues pushing the UK to exit the EU – even without a deal. This position is also backed by the POTUS Donald Trump (See: ‘Johnson acknowledges touch and go prospects for Brexit deal’). The PM also got Queen Elizabeth II to approve a temporary closing of the UK Parliament next month, which he believes will help shed themselves of the EU (See: ‘Parliament suspension: Queen approves PM's plan’). As for now, neither the UK nor the EU will give way to negotiations (See: ‘Brexit is back, and investors should buckle up’). Surely, the EU will likely not forget the Americans nor the British for this – cf. Daniel 8:24-25; 11:39.

The nation of Judah – aka Israel – took what has been called a preemptive strike against the number-one terrorist-sponsoring nation’s drones inside Syria (See: ‘Netanyahu: Syria Strike Shows ‘Iran Has No Immunity Anywhere’). Israel, despite the fact that their military ranked 17th of 137 1 is at high risk of being greatly damaged by Iran and/or Syria (cf. Isaiah 22:1-14).

1 “For 2019, the nation of Israel is ranked 17 (of 137) out of the countries currently considered for the annual GFP review.” 2019 Military Strength Ranking. Global Fire Power. Retrieved 3 September 2019.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this weeks suggested Sabbath service:

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is Anti-Christs – Part 1. There is also an accompanying article - antichrists - in the last hour.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is You Will Know Them By Their Fruits - Part 1. (Many more sermons are available at http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/).
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel. We also – as a reminder – have a BitChute channel.

Concluding Comments

Minister Michael C. Garrett was inspired to write:
“ 1st Corinthians chapter 15 … Verse 50 – “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.” – did you know the Mormons, I am told, believe that you enter eternal life as a physical human being!? In a physical state!? That’s what they told me out in Arizona! Every time I read this verse I go, “What do ya do with that one!?” “Well, we just don’t read that one! We read something else, from the Book of Mormon.” Verse 51 – “Behold, I tell you a mystery [a great unknown because the people of the world do not understand this!]: We shall not all sleep, …” – again, death is portrayed as sleep. “but we shall all be changed – 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” – and that is what all of us – that is the hope of eternal life – which all of us, at one level or another, that is why we’re here!! That’s why we, the collective group, is here!! Because we’re hoping and praying that God will grant us the mercy of giving us eternal life. And we want it for ourselves, and we want it for the ones we have loved. And all of you reading this, know people who now sleep. And you wait, and you wait, and you wait. But someday – if you believe there is a God, and you believe in the Bible – you know that someday you are going to see them again! And, every time I think of that, I think about the idea of ‘what if.’ What if I didn’t make it!? What if I go haywire and go off into the deep end!? I will never have that opportunity to see them again! And can you imagine how sad, how broken-hearted they would be, when they come up out of the grave and say, “Where’s my wife/husband/child/friend!?” And you’re not there! For their sake, we simply cannot fail to hang onto this gift that God is freely giving to us. We just have to hang on!
Hang on to the end! He says in Verse 53 – “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” – where we will actually have the opportunity to mock death! “You had your icy fingers around me once, but no more fella – get outta here! Because LIFE has won out! Because Jesus Christ has won out! Because the power of God has won out over you!” “Death – you are now vanquished!” That’s a great day to look forward to!
(The Confusion About Death).
With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,