Thursday, November 7, 2019

Letter to our Friends - November 5, 2019


Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Dear Friends:

Greetings again from Owensboro, Kentucky.

Might I suggest you read this week - along with watching the suggested sermon - Day of Atonement = End-Time Trauma, which teaches on the white horse and its rider of Revelation 6. While many – especially those of the tradition of the Worldwide Church of God – may disagree, we strive to teach the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God which only comes from the Bible (cf. Romans 12:6), and understand that even the prophet Jeremiah was hesitant to believe straightway something he felt God may have told him until a later time (Jeremiah 32:6-8).

And indeed, you could possibly say that this white horse and its rider is a mighty false religion in the guise of the “Mother Church of Europe” plunging this world into all-out chaos and world war! But, could it not possibly be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ beginning – in this end-time – setting forth events preparing for His return as a Conquering Warrior!?

YouTube

We thank you immensely for your continued support and subscription to our YouTube channel! We currently have 1,342 views since July 16th, 2018!

Even though YouTube has changed their algorithms – which are not in our favor – we have continued to have success on YouTube, despite what appears to be biased against those who hold to biblically-approved positions. And, this seems mainly to have affected those who might be searching to find our Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ YouTube channel, though it affects our other two channel’s as well.


Now, we originally chose YouTube ‘television’ because it was convenient and basically free. It also has a wide viewership all over the world. As of this morning, we have 11 subscribers to the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ channel. Our other two channels are:

The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwFd99BM0EXyAdM7MWtKcjw.


YouTube says that “Subscribers watch more,” meaning that they typically watch even more of what is on the channels of which they have subscribed to than non-subscribers. So, if you haven’t subscribed be sure to subscribe to one of our channels and ring the bell to get notified of our latest sermons. You have the option to be notified of occasional sermons or all of them. And, if you’re on your cell phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notification. We have never promoted getting ‘subscribers’ to our YouTube channels.

And, as far as our blog site – Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ – we have reached over 50 countries and territories since July 16th, 2018 – with a current daily average view of 10, with over 80 return viewers!

Facebook Commentary on “Conversion” – Minister Guy C. LaMar
Recently - a debate came up at church where the host minister and I had a moment of disagreement.
I am no stranger to debates.
I’ll never debate anything unless I’m totally assured of myself over the subject. There are opinions and then there are facts. When I see the facts being right before me without any room for doubt then for me it becomes a matter to share with the proper individuals.
This debate we had in church was over the meaning and word “convert” or “conversion”. Certainly, the subject must look at the context of the situation also.
I’d stated that the first possible conversion that Jesus made was to the woman at the well. Because she went into the town to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah showing that she believed. Who’s to say the woman didn’t repent once she saw her life’s errors through living contrary to God’s ways?
The host preacher at the church said that conversion happened at Pentecost with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. He said they had to repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit in order for conversion.
Was Samson baptized? Yet, he had God’s Spirit. Was the man on the cross next to Jesus baptized? Yet he was promised by Jesus to be in ‘Paradise’ with Him that very day.
Did the host minister at church study properly point out what ‘conversion’ means? I do not believe that he did.
The word “Worship” in the Greek Is .... proskynéō. Meaning: “Giving a token of reverence.”
The word “Convert” in the Greek is ... epistréphō. And just some of its meanings are: “To turn back. To turn to the worship of the true God - to the love and obedience of God. Turn to His love wisdom and righteousness. Turn and believe in God. To proclaim the true God. To obey the true God.”
The point is: To be converted is to believe! To turn back to the faith once delivered from the start given by God to all called to the understanding of it.
The woman at the well was obviously called to understand due to her proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah.
Conversion is a process and the starting point is to believe.
The lady at the well started her process of belief by proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah after communication with Him at the well. She was converted!
It’s as simple as it gets.
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Church on the Day of Pentecost it was by where the order of the salvation process, by way of dedication, was formed. You gotta start by believing. Which is converting - turning away from a former way of thinking to this new way of thinking.
Although I greatly respect the host minister at the church I attended, I do NOT see eye to eye with him on this topic of conversion.
To convert is to fix something by change and in this context, it means to believe and to hold on to that belief.
The lady at the well proved she was a changed person because she believed, or was converted, by Jesus so much that she went to proclaim Him to be the Messiah.
World News Items – I checked my teletype machine

In the US – the media is focused on chasing the holy grail of impeachment for US President Donald Trump – while Russia, China, and India just made a deal to bypass more use of the US-dominated international financial system (See: ‘Russia, China & India to set up alternative to SWIFT payment system to connect 3 billion people’). Friends, others are also taking steps to bypass the US dollar and US-dominated financial system – like the Europeans. As Minister Michael C. Garrett has been WARNING through the living Word of Jesus Christ: “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.” The US dollar is quickly losing its status as the world’s primary reserve currency which will result in severe economic problems for the United States of America, as well as other nations of the House of Israel. Many nations are working hard to topple the great United States – without firing a single military weapon.

Also in the US – President Trump has stated that the so-called leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed (See: ‘IS Leader Dead, Trump Announces’). No worries, another will take his place - if he is dead. And, according to biblical prophecy, such a leader shall rise (Daniel 11:40-43) known as the final ‘king of the South’ – a leader of an end-time Islamic confederation. As Minister Michael C. Garrett has stated: “Well, I’m gonna offer today an idea maybe you’ve never thought of. And this is just a thought – just a possibility. And with time, we’ll know. But I’m asking you to sort-of consider the possibility. What if this ‘pushing’ of this Islamic confederation at the king of the North – what if it were indeed attacked by Islamic terrorists upon Israel and Britain, and the United States!? You know we really don’t appreciate the fact that Europe really is our ally! And we have close ties with them! And I know in the old days, there was always this idea that Europe and the United States would come to hate each other! But I don’t know that that is necessarily true. I’m just offering this as an idea – what if this ‘pushing’ were a series of Islamic terrorist nuclear explosions, electromagnetic pulse weapons, explosions which would wipe out our infrastructure!? And what if then, the Islamists said, “Europe, now we’re coming after you!” Maybe that is the pushing, maybe that is the threat!? But we do know for sure – it says the king of the North will come at him (the ‘king of the South’) with powerful military forces!”

Turkey’s Erdoğan has upset a great many in Europe, along with US relations, with its incursions into Northern Syria. A new poll now shows that the majority of Germans want Turkey out of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) (See: ‘Turkey's Syria Operation Sees Crackdown on Kurdish Party’ along with ‘Majority of Germans want Turkey kicked out of NATO: survey’). The US administration imposed sanctions against Turkey for this, as well as condemning what the Turks atrociously did to the Armenians over a century ago (See: ‘US House Lawmakers Rebuke Turkey for Syria Invasion’ as well as ‘US lawmakers recognize killing of Armenians as genocide’). Bible prophecy shows us that Turkey will soon turn against the US as well as Israel, and align with a resurrected United States of Europe (cf. Psalm 83:4-8) despite what the polls might say. Be sure to read our online booklet Turkey is going to Betray His Brothers!

Another delay for the Brexit. The European Union has agreed to a delay to the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU (See: ‘EU Grants New Brexit Delay to Jan. 31’). Be sure to read our online article’s – God’s Promises To Abraham – a seven-part series. The United Kingdom will exit the EU – this will have great economic ramifications that will not turn out favorable for the UK (cf. Daniel 8:24-25).

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 Last Crusade.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested is The Rest of the Dead by Michael C. Garrett. An accompanying online booklet – The Confusion About Death! (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

The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness” – Titus 1:1.
That means people who have GOD’S Spirit and whose names are written in the Book of Life. It’s not determined by where your rear-end sits in a church service. “Well, I belong to this church, or I belong to that church. My rear-end sits in this church on the weekend.” Whatever it is, that’s not what’s IMPORTANT. It’s how GOD views you, it’s whether or not you truly have GOD’S Spirit and it’s whether or not your name is or is not written in the Book of Life.

He also wrote, under the inspiration of God’s Spirit:
“not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth” – Titus 1:14.
‘Not giving heed to Jewish fables’ – because indeed, there are church groups which are deep into this – somehow trying to merge Christianity with Judaism. Some calling themselves Messianic Jews! I just say, ‘They’re messed up!” Theologically speaking. Because they don’t know what they’re talking about. You CAN’T merge the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. IF you live under the guise of the Old Covenant, you are destined to die. There are people, in churches, of which I am familiar, who keep the Old Covenant, who keep the Day of Atonement as an Old Covenant celebration. They miss the mark. The true meaning, two significant meanings:

  1.  Humble yourself before God Almighty and Jesus Christ.
  2.  Has a powerful significance in prophecy.
Friends and fellow brethren – Messianic Judaism rejects Jesus Christ as the Messiah – the Christos. Messianic Judaism also rejects the God-given truth that a begotten child of God can become a God – of which this glorious revealed truth can be found in the Bible – the ultimate Plan of God!

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,




                                                               24:34


Why do you keep the feasts of the LORD!? And, if you don't keep them - why!?

God says, 'these are My feasts,' and they are to be kept throughout the generations of the children (or rather the nations of Israel, as well as the Gentile nations) forever.

Here, Minister Leonard V. Johnson - in Owensboro, Kentucky - covers some of the basics (the FOUNDATION) of the feasts of the LORD, and asks - Why do you keep the Feast of Tabernacles!?

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