Friday, January 31, 2020

Letter to our Friends - January 28, 2020


Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer

Greetings dear Friends from West Central Florida:

We hope that you are all well. I’m getting this letter out a little later this week because I had an important appointment Tuesday which took all day.

Statcounter Report 2019 for https://www.owensborocojc.com

This week seems to be a good time to go over with you the summary stat report for our blog page for the year 2019.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said, “’ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’” – Matthew 6:21.

The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ follows the admonition of Jesus when He said, “’ But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 10:6), and of course to the potential sheep of Christ. Our mission is to teach the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God to the ‘lost sheep of Israel’ and to testify of Jesus Christ, of His forgiveness, of His atoning sacrifice, of the opportunity for all of us to have Jesus Christ as our great High Priest and to live under the promises of the New Covenant, and to someday be a part of the glorious Kingdom of God!


The average yearly page views for 2019 ended up at 4.2k.
The average yearly unique visits ended up at 1.6k.
The average yearly first time visits ended up at 1.4k.
The average yearly returning visits ended up at 185.0.

Yes, most of our viewing friends are in the United States, yet, within the last 9 months, we have reached 5.8% in Cambodia, 3.3% in Brazil, 2.4% in Ireland, and 1.2% in Cameroon!

Friends, the New Covenant was indeed prophesied! The apostle Paul teaches under a great inspiration of God’s Spirit, “But NOW He [Jesus Christ] has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. … 13) In that He says, ‘A New Covenant,’ He has made the first obsolete. …” – Hebrews 8:6, 13; NKJV.

Now, most Protestant churches teach that the fault with the Old Covenant was God’s Law and that as the Old Covenant was made with Israel the New Covenant is made with Gentiles. And, that the Old Covenant had law, the New abolishes God’s Ten Commandments and is based wholly on promises. We, friends, need to know how to meet head-on this erroneous teaching.

The New Covenant is made also with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah (Hebrews 8:8). A Spirit-begotten Gentile (in such places as Cambodia, Brazil, and Cameroon) can indeed become one of Israel spiritually (cf. Galatians 3:14, 29) – of the very household of the ETERNAL (Ephesians 2:19).

Let us hear the Words of the Lord our GOD:

“ … ‘The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” – Luke 10:2.

Let us pray friends for even more views in 2020, with an ever-greater number of laborers for His harvest!

Thank you for your friendship and support.

Feast of Tabernacles

In 2020 the Feast of Tabernacles’ services is to begin the evening of October 2nd and continue until the Last Great Day which is October 10th.

We will be meeting this year at the Logsdon Community Center 2400 Friendship Dr. Owensboro, Kentucky, USA, 42303. If you are not a regular attendee in Owensboro and wish to come, please contact Michael C. Garrett for particulars. His email address is garrett158@roadrunner.com. Now is the time to plan for it, no matter where you live.

Here is something in regards to a festival tithe - God states in Deuteronomy 14:22-27:
“’ You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23) And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. 24) But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, 25) then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. 26) And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27) You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.’” – Deuteronomy 14:22-27; NKJV.
Friends, indeed, tithing is an Old Covenant concept. After the death and resurrection, the New Testament nowhere commands us or even admonishes us as Christians to submit to a legalistic tithe system. The New Testament – under the New Covenant – nowhere designates that we are now to save a percentage of income for feast finances.

The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2) Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, …” – 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; KJV.
Jesus Christ – under the New Covenant – speaks about the importance and the benefits of giving. We are to give (as well as save for God’s feasts) as we are able. Sometimes that means 10 percent; sometimes that may mean less. It depends on the ability of the individual and the needs of the Body of Christ – the Church. Tithing, as well as saving for God’s feasts (it is a wise concept) is a private matter between the individual and Almighty God and Jesus Christ because it is an act of worship. It’s not the “job” of the Church to “enforce” or “police” this Old Covenant law. Each individual has the responsibility to “honor the LORD with [his/her] possessions, And with the firstfruits of all [their] increase.” Tithing, as well as free will offerings, are the method by which the Gospel is proclaimed to the world – Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 6:21; 23:23.

“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or OF NECESSITY; for God loves a cheerful giver.” – 2 Corinthians 9:7; NKJV.

World News Items; let me check my teletype

Breaking Israeli News reported January 22nd – that there have been so many fires and disasters in Australia, that it sounds a bit like the ten plagues of Egypt (See: ‘Australia Slammed With Hail, Pestilence, Darkness Plagues in one Week’). Indeed, friends, biblical prophecy does point to events that will be reminiscent of those plagues. The following is taken from my ‘Accumulation of Notes’ on my personal Facebook:
Now, many from the old Worldwide Church of God might be confused when I use that term ‘plagues.’ They used that term, but they misapplied it.
These FOUR TRUMPET BLASTS are the harbinger of different stages of plagues being placed upon the earth.
The Two Witnesses – “These have power to shut heaven [the atmosphere], so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy [their teaching]; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” – Revelation 11:6; NKJV.
And, just like Moses and Aaron were informed by God what to say – they pronounced these plagues back in their day, and it came cascading down upon the people of Egypt. Well, these Two Witnesses will have this same power. But it won’t be localized to Egypt. These will be situations affecting the entire earth. And, I do believe there’s a good chance – and I can’t prove it, I’m just saying there’s a supposition – that the FOUR TRUMPET BLASTS (plagues) we read about might very well be officially announced by the Two Witnesses.

Friends, the terrible things which are occurring in Australia right now – are not that.

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote concerning the end-time prophets:
“Now, I can’t say one way or the other – but let’s just say there are twelve. Six groups of two – apparently working in tandem. Because that’s what Jesus did earlier in the “gospel” accounts. He sent them out two by two. And five of these groups will be martyred. Ten people – probably. Two will be left alive until the very end – and they will be called the Two Witnesses. They will end up in Jerusalem – directly opposing the great false leader of Europe and the great false religious leader of Europe. Just like Moses and Aaron did as they went into the court of a pharaoh. And they will curse the world with different plagues. And eventually, these two people will be martyred. But three-and-a-half days later they will rise again.”
(Day of Atonement = End-Time Trauma).
But speaking of plagues, there are grave concerns in regards to the Wuhan Coronavirus. It has become a terrible problem as multiple millions of Chinese traveled for the Year of the Rat – the Chinese New Year which began January 25th (See: ‘Death Toll Rises to 6 in China from Outbreak of New Coronavirus’ and also ‘China virus sends shiver through markets as risks mount’). Here is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) current situation of the Coronavirus: ‘Novel Coronavirus in China’. Also, here is a ‘Live Update’ from The New York Times‘Coronavirus Live Updates: Emergency Declaration Is Considered as Toll Rises’. Even the US has been affected by this terrible virus (See: ‘2nd US coronavirus patient confirmed as 1st cases reported in Europe’). I also saw in this morning’s news reports, ‘India reports its first case of coronavirus’). Friends, as terrible as all this truly is – it should come to no surprise to us! Jesus Christ WARNED of pestilences as part of ‘the beginning of sorrows’ – Matthew 24:8.

In Switzerland, the World Economic Forum (WEF) conference is being held (See: ‘’A new world disorder’: Global leaders head to Davos 2020 in search of stability’). Here a few more articles regarding this conference: ‘Davos bolsters security as protesters march toward venue’ and ‘Davos braces for Trump-Greta showdown as climate change tops agenda’). Also, I had shared on our Twitter which is in relation, ‘Calls for a US 'digital dollar' rise as China powers ahead with a digital yuan’).

Now, this all brings to mind something Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote in our free online (PDF) booklet “The Mark of the Beast”:
a prophesied “one-world government”?
… That is a part of that Left Behind - Far-Right evangelical conservative garbage! … The Bible describes a “one-world government”!? No. Now, every time I’ve seen one of these books or one of these movies I’ve always been astounded by this concept that they put forth of “one-world religion,” and “one-world government”! And that seems to bring great joy to people of that ilk to talk about it. And if it were true it would be something to be upset about, but THE BIBLE DOES NOT describe that! …
Now, this idea of … “What happens when cash is removed from society and some political power regulates digital currency?” is a MISINTERPRETATION of the concept – which in the Book of Revelation is called “the mark of the beast.”
Now, many wonders just what this ‘mark’ is in association with the final ‘beast.’ Could it have to do with a time of worship or with work!? Is there an image to this ‘mark’? What does the Word of God truly teach!? Be sure to read our free online (PDF) booklet “The Mark of the Beast” to learn this amazing TRUTH OF GOD!

Indeed, the military and economic dominance of the United States of America will come to an end. The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), as well as certain other Asian nations, are working feverishly to bypass the US dollar in trade (See: ‘Russia takes over the reins to chair BRICS in 2020’ along with ‘Is BRICS Dodging US Dollar?’). While it will still take some time to eliminate the US dollar dominance in world trade, it will indeed happen. And, steps to make that happen are going on right now.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel). I have spoken with brother Roger and he has assured me that he is still working on our collection of hymns. When they are completed, we’ll have a Bible Hymnal in (PDF) here.
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is “Repent For Salvation” by Michael C. Garrett.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested for this week is “Dimash in NYC – A Daily Dose of Dimash” by Michael C. Garrett. (More sermons 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.

Concluding Comments

The prophet Isaiah was inspired by God’s Spirit to write:

20) “’ Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!’” - Isaiah 5:21-22; NKJV.

Here is something Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote concerning this passage:
“In this country, we have physical leaders, often they hang out in Washington, DC, that are ‘wise in their own eyes,’ and yet, also, within the churches of God, there are leaders who are only impressed by what THEY have to say. And they want all the people to follow them and them only. And they take the attention of God and try and put it on themselves. And there are people within the churches of God who actually ‘call evil good.’ There are people in the churches of God that are teaching things which are irrelevant or unnecessary or very unfruitful or low nutrition – a very un-nutritional spiritual diet. And yet they call that ‘good.’ And then some of them –like Mark, down in Texas, who completely ignored me. Well, ‘Woe unto them,’ thus says God. … A sermon “Look To Jesus, Not Moses”, which is based upon the Words of the Bible, inspired by Jesus Christ, is called ‘evil,’ and ‘terrible,’ and ‘shouldn’t be listened to,’ and ‘we’re never going to send it out, we’re going to censor it.’ When you do that, you have “despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.” … Because people have cast-away the Word of the Holy One of Israel and have no respect for it.”
(Notes Concerning the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day).
With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,


Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Dimash in NYC - A Daily Dose of Dimash (Sermon)


The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ is pleased to announce our latest sermon from our YouTube and Godtube channels:



1:43:36

Minister Michael C. Garrett continues with the many lessons, thoughts, ideas, and topics which arise from his December 10th, 2019 backstage visit with "best ever" Kazakh singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dimash Kudaibergen at his ARNAU ENVOY New York Concert.

Here is a link to the sermon - Dimash in NYC - A Daily Dose of Dimash


Additional Items of Interest:

Dimash in NYC - Let Your Light So Shine (Sermon) -  In the article God's Children Are of the Light, Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote: "Aren't we all to be lights to the world!? That all men may see who you are, what you are!’ That they may come closer to God because of the example you show them. ‘Let Your power and glory, and let them shine through me.’"
Dimash in NYC - From Whence Come Wars (Sermon)The Apostle James asks, "Where do wars and fights come from among you?" And he answers, "Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" - James 4:1-3; NKJV.
Dimash in NYC - More of the Story (Sermon) -  More of Michael C. Garrett's The Rest of the Story. Michael C. Garrett is a most-listened-to personality. Thousands of listeners have listened to his 'The Rest of the Story' sermon of this miraculous meeting of the great and "best singer ever" from Kazakhstan - Dimash Kudaibergen. Now, in this More of the Story, you'll surely enjoy the continued chronicling of events which led him to a personal meeting with Dimash on December 10th, 2019.
Dimash in NYC - The Rest of the Story (Sermon)Just like Paul Harvey would pause for effect - "Hello Friends, This is Michael C. Garrett! Stand byyy for the Rest of the Storyyy!"

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Is Michael Identified as Jesus Christ!?


Is the archangel Michael, who is called 'your prince' in Daniel 10:21, the being we know of as Jesus Christ - the Son of God!?

The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) self-proclaimed 'prophetess' Ellen G. White taught as doctrine that the archangel Michael was Jesus. However, is this assumption true!?

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was - and is - a Prince (Daniel 9:25). Yet, this passage does not make Him the prince who is named "Michael."

Here are some citations which Ellen G. White taught, and the SDA continues to teach today:

Patriarchs and Prophets  - Again: Christ is called the Word of God. John 1:1-3. He is so called because God gave His revelations to man in all ages through Christ. It was His Spirit that inspired the prophets. 1 Peter 1:10, 11. He was revealed to them as the Angel of Jehovah, the Captain of the Lord's host, Michael the Archangel. {pp 761.5}

Prophets and Kings - For three weeks Gabriel wrestled with the powers of darkness, seeking to counteract the influences at work on the mind of Cyrus; and before the contest closed, Christ Himself came to Gabriel's aid. "The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days," Gabriel declares; "but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." - Daniel 10:13. {pp 572}

Prophets and Kings - Then the Angel, who is Christ Himself, the Saviour of sinners, puts to silence the accuser of His people, declaring, "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" {pp 584}

Early Writings - Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave him life before his body had seen corruption. … {pp 164}

Manuscript Releases, vol. 19 [Nos. 1360-1419] - Jude presents the example of Christ. He says, 'Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil He disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee' - Jude 9. {19MR 106.2}
Now, the angelic being who gave the prophet Daniel the vision which is recorded in chapter 10 told Daniel, "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES, came to help me …" - verse 13. So, notice that they were able to subdue the prince of Persia - an evil and rebellious spirit. Also notice in this verse that Michael is called "ONE OF the chief princes." Clearly being that among the angels of God there are more 'chief princes.' The combined strength of Prince Michael and the prince who delivered this vision to Daniel (Gabriel) was enough that they were able to subdue the prince of Persia.

O friends, our LORD God - Jesus Christ - is far superior to any of these created spirit princes. There is no being - other than God the Father - who is of equal rank to the Messiah! Yet, there are others of the archangel Michael's rank. Jesus Christ is NOT Michael!

Sadly, even the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus is the archangel Michael:
● The foremost angel, both in power and authority, is the archangel, Jesus Christ, also called Michael. (1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 9).
(The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom - 1995; The Truth About Angels; retrieved 28 January, 2020).
●  - it is logical to conclude that Michael is none other than Jesus Christ in his heavenly role.
(Who is Michael the Archangel? Jehovah's Witnesses; retrieved 28 January, 2020).
Also, the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus Christ is not God.

Clear Scriptures such as John 1:1 says otherwise:
"In the beginning was the Word [the Logos - the One we now know of as Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) He was in the beginning with God. 3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. … 14) And the Word became flesh and [tabernacled] among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER, full of grace and truth" - John 1:1-3, 14; NKJV.
Now, their bible - which they call the New World Translation - which they bastardized reads:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God. All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence. … So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth."
Friends, even typing that blasphemous, corrupt, profane drivel up nauseated me. Let us be reminded what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - formerly known as the Word - WARNS US through one of God's holy angels:
"'For I testify to EVERYONE who hears the Words of the prophecy of this Book [the whole of the Holy Bible]: If ANYONE adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this Book; and if ANYONE takes away from the Words of the Book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life [He will take away the gift of eternal life], from the holy city [of New Jerusalem], and from the things which are written in this Book'" - Revelation 22:18-19; NKJV.
God's living Word (and might I say, the better of the translations of the Bible is the Authorized Version; also known as the King James Version) is clear that Jesus Christ was - nor is - the archangel Michael.

Let us notice from the Book of Hebrews:
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2) has in these last days spoken to us BY HIS SON, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4) having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5) For to which of the angels did He [God] ever say: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You'? And again: 'I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son'?
6) But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: 'Let all the angels of God worship Him.'
7) And of the angels He says: 'Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.'
8) But to the Son [Jesus Christ] He says: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9) You have loved righteousness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.'
10) And: 'You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 11) They will perish, but You remain; And they will grow old like a garment; 12) Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.'
13) But to which of the angels has He [God the Father] ever said: 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool'?
14) Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?" - Hebrews 1:1-14; NKJV.
Jesus has been in authority over Satan the devil ever since he was created as Lucifer. However, Michael was not in authority over him and could not give him a command. He could only pass a rebuke from the Lord God (Jude 9).

So, friends, it's easily proven from God's Word that the archangel Michael is not - and could not be - our living Christ! Michael is, instead, an angelic being who is put in authority over some of the lesser ranked angelic beings in God's Kingdom. □


Additional Items of Interest:

So Sweet, And Yet So Deadly (Sermon)What is the one thing that EVERYBODY truly wants!? Have you ever thought about this!? […]
antichrists - in the last hourThe so-called leader of the ICG in his December 16th, 2016 “Weekly Update” had stated, […]
Repent for SalvationWell sometimes we hear about or we learn, or discover, that someone we know – maybe a family member or a dear friend or possibly a member of our local congregation […]

Thursday, January 23, 2020

Letter to our Friends - January 21, 2020



Michael C. Garrett
Pastor and Overseer


Greetings from Central Florida:

It’s been another full week. We hope you had an enjoyable Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States of America. I thought it appropriate to mention this concerning the late Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mithraism

Now, he was a Baptist minister who became best known for his civil rights activism, but in the middle of the 20th century, he wrote about many things – including Mithraism. Mithraism was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. A religion that observed Sunday and had followers such as the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great in the 4th century.

Historian Paul Johnson has this to say concerning Constantine, “Constantine never abandoned sun-worship and kept the sun on his coins.” 1 And, Joseph Wheless wrote, “Constantine showed equal favor to both religions. As pontifex maximus, he watched over the heathen worship and protected its rights.” 2

Here is something Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote dated November 23, 1949:
In Avesta, Mithra was the genius of celestial light … The doctrine of the immortality of the soul was another view which was very prominent in Mithraism …
Women were compelled to seek salvation in some other cult, for Mithraism excluded them entirely …
When Mithraism is compared to Christianity, there are surprisingly many points of similarity. Of all the mystery cults, Mithraism was the greatest competitor of Christianity …
That Christians did copy and borrow from Mithraism cannot be denied.
(Read More: https://originalpeople.org/martin-luther-king-jr-1949-paper-on-the-influence-of-mithraism-on-christianity/; retrieved January 21, 2020).
This was also written by him in February 15, 1950:
… the Church made a sacred day out of Sunday partially because … of the resurrection. But when we observe a little further we find that as a solar festival, Sunday was the sacred day of Mithra: it is also interesting to notice that since Mithra was addressed as Lord, Sunday must have been “the Lord’s Day” long before Christian use. It is also to be noticed that our Christmas, December 25th, was the birthday of Mithra, and was only taken over in the Fourth Century as the date, actually unknown, of the birth of Jesus.
(Read More: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/influence-mystery-religions-christianity; retrieved January 21, 2020).
Indeed, Martin Luther King, Jr. clearly understood that the Sunday churches dropped the Sabbath, and that ‘the Lord’s Day’ essentially first meant the day of Mithra. Much of what is now called “Christianity” is a compromise with the religion of Mithraism.

So, while Dr. King was most known for his civil rights protests, he discovered through study that much of what passes for Christianity – even today - is really just an adopted form of Mithraism.

Is Matthew 24:14 being fulfilled – now!?

Friends, I find that so many of the descendants of the WCG continue to practice the misappropriation of Matthew 24:14. They continue to teach it as, “And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a WARNING and a WITNESS unto all nations, …” It does NOT say that! Jesus Christ said – quoting from the Authorized Version – “’And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.’” The word witness is from the Greek word marturion, meaning testimony. And, testimony is almost always rendered “witness” in the Revised Version (RV). The New American Standard Bible (NASB) renders it, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Jesus Christ just said the TRUTH OF GOD will be preached. But human beings have incorrectly came up with the idea that THEY are going to be the ones doing the preaching!

Now, back in 2018, I received a message via Facebook from a man which stated, “The gospel that should be preached now is the gospel of the grace of God.” And he used Acts 20:24 to prove this. Well, he was partially correct.

The apostle Mark, under great inspiration of the Spirit of God, wrote in Mark 1:14-15, “Now after John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe [believe this great announcement] …’” Also, in Luke 4:43 – “but He [Jesus Christ] said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God …’” And then, after His human death and His glorious resurrection, Acts 1:3 – “to whom He [Jesus Christ] also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days …” and what was He talking about!? “…and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

The apostle Paul, also, when he was under house arrest, fearing that he might die, Acts 28:23 – ““… he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God, …” Also in Acts 28:31 we read, “preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

Indeed, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of the kingdom of God, the good news of Jesus Christ our Savior, the good news that Jesus died for our sins and that after three days and nights walked out of the tomb – establishing a pattern. And, it’s the good news of the New Covenant. A new contract, an agreement between Jesus Christ – our Elder Brother – and us. And, it’s the good news of God’s grace – the promise of eternal life.

O my! The kingdom of God – a beautiful and powerful soon-coming kingdom! And, that’s what all of us should be focused upon! The kingdom of God! Jesus said, “’But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [all our physical needs] shall be added to you’” – Matthew 6:33.

Now, Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. …’” The word kingdom in Greek is basileia, meaning “the realm in which a king sovereignly rules.”

Yet sadly, like the man who wrote me back in 2018, so many people about the highways and byways of these worldly churches it’s not always clear that the people of God – those individuals whom Jesus Christ and God the Father has called and chosen to understand the Truth of God – are indeed to seek first and foremost the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Again, many of the descendants of the WCG continues to teach that they are the ones doing this great testimony – this witnessing. And in T R U T H – in the end-time – that TESTIMONY will come from Jesus Christ through His chosen ‘witnesses’ (possibly 12) – the “end-time prophets.” Friends, it is not referring to printing presses, or radio stations, or TV and all of that – as they taught their members, “Hey, we’ve got to pump out all this information. So send more money, send more money!”

Jesus Christ isn’t going to rely upon sometimes half-hearted efforts of human beings! He’s going to take care of that job Himself! The Two Witnesses for 3 ½ years will have the power from God and Jesus to do untold miracles that this world has never seen or imagined! Jesus said, “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, … the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, …’” – John 14:12.

The man via Facebook also wrote, “The gospel of the kingdom will be preached again after the rapture to Israel before the second coming.” And again, he is partially correct. (Be sure to watch our sermon: Is There A ‘Secret Rapture’?).

Friends, the possibly twelve witnesses, which are martyred (cf. Matthew 24:9) down to what the Bible calls ‘two witnesses’ (See: Revelation 11:3), are basically patterned after the historic work of Moses and Aaron. There were times when Moses and Aaron went to the house of pharaoh and pronounced a decree. ‘Thus says the Eternal God!’ The end-time prophets will do that also! But these end-time prophets will also say just like Moses and Aaron said to pharaoh, ‘Let my people go!’ ‘Let the people of Israel go!’ And so the end-time prophets – in this modern end-time – will be demanding the leaders of this soon-coming ‘beast’ power – this ten nation combine – ‘Let loose, let free, the captives which came from the house of Israel!’ (Be sure to read our three-part series entitled Prophecy Series).

Turn with me if you will to Revelation 11:4-7, concerning these end-time prophets which are martyred, leaving but the ‘two witnesses,’ which will also be martyred. These two are a modern-day type of Moses and Aaron when Israel was taken out of Egypt. That happened earlier, and it will happen again. As in the physical people of the children of Israel were brought out of slavery and bondage, so too will the ‘elect’ (See: Matthew 24:22). A great many of the Gentile nations rise up against the nations of Israel, and greatly wound them, damaging them, destroying a great many people – and cause a state of captivity over the nations of Israel.

So, as I had written in May 2019 - Matthew 28:19-20, though preaching as a witness is included within the scope of the commission – it is actually placing MORE emphasis upon the ENTIRE PROCESS OF CONVERSION, of feeding, of growing, and of overcoming – than merely witnessing. The key word being “process.”

The word “teaching” in verse 19 is the key to this understanding. The New King James English more accurately translates the word “teaching” to “make disciples.” And, this is not that teach is wrong as long as you understand that teach means a process. All the teaching required to make a disciples doesn’t take place merely in making a witness. There are huge differences between the two. At best, preaching the gospel of the coming Kingdom begins the process of teaching. Disciples are created through steady ‘feeding,’ a believing response in those who hear, combined with overcoming sin.

Let us also notice in verse 20, where it says: “’Teaching them [the disciples that had been made] to observe all things that I have commanded you.’” The key phrase being “all things.” Now, that cannot be done by merely ‘preaching in all the world as a witness.’ As we are learning – a life-long project requiring the structure of the Church of God. This, friends, is the reason why the Church of God – the Body of Christ – exists.

We focus on what Jesus admonished us to do, ‘FEED THE FLOCK!’ And, though witnessing is included in it – it’s the feeding of the flock, because it is the called, the elect – God’s children – who are God’s greatest concern. These are the ones who are being prepared for the Kingdom of God. And, it takes a lot of feeding and experiences with Almighty God and Jesus Christ, for Them to be formed in us.

YouTube



Many “partner’s” of YouTube received the following in an email:


Well, the above is but a general email from YouTube to their content creators, as opposed to any specific warning that we have published something that it is complaining about. We have received those types of emails before – however. The reality is that this is but another dangerous step from YouTube, which appears to try and stop people from holding to biblical standards of sexual morality, and it appears to stop allowing people to denounce any aspect of sexual immorality as defined by the Bible.

YouTube is not interested in “more inclusive content” in the biblical sense. They want content that they can agree with – even if it goes against Almighty God and our Savior Jesus Christ as written in the Bible.

YouTube claims that they are doing this to make an improvement, while truthfully they are embarking on ever-more censorship!

This is the main reason we have added BitChute and Godtube. They appear to be more tolerant of religious morality speech than YouTube.

Witches and Demons

Friends, there’s a book for children that has been published teaching children to ask demons for help! (See: SGT Report). Also, Disney has a new television program on how to become a witch (See: ‘Disney Introduces: ‘Demon’ who Trains Children to be Witches’). Demons are consistent with the following biblical prophecy:
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times [this end-time] some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3) forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” – 1 Timothy 4:1-3; NKJV.
Indeed, the conscience is our God-given moral consciousness within each one of us. If ones conscience is “seared” – literally “cauterized” – then it has been rendered insensitive to things like animal cruelty – as an example. It has been dulled to the sense of right and wrong.

We are forbidden by God to call out to demons or want to be witches or wizards, or sorcerers – as in the Harry Potter franchise. Demons are “angels who sinned” (2 Peter 2:4) Now, while demons certainly have a desire to be worshiped or called a god, Almighty God and Jesus Christ WARNS us against ever doing that:
“Let NO ONE cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels [including, of course, demons], intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19) and not holding fast to the Head [JESUS CHRIST], from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase THAT IS FROM GOD” – Colossians 2:18-19; KJV.
The LORD our God – Jesus the Christ – emphatically stated, “’For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve’” – Luke 4:8; see also Deuteronomy 6:13.

And also, one of God’s holy angels said to the apostle John (and subsequently to us, because it’s in the Holy Bible), “ … ‘See that you do not do that [fall down and worship angels]. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this Book [the Holy Bible]. Worship God’” – Revelation 22:9.

World News Items

A program has been announced within the European Union to try and fight climate change (See: ‘EU lays out 1 trillion-euro plan to support Green Deal’ and ‘European Green Deal: Brussels unveils €1 trillion plan to make EU carbon neutral by 2050’). Like the universal truth that for every effect there is a definite cause, without repentance there is a definite wrath from God. The Bible shows that even worse heat is prophesied to strike the earth – cf. Revelation 16:8-9. These SEVEN LAST PLAGUES ARE EQUIVALENT TO THE DAY OF THE LORD.

CHINA – A newly discovered respiratory virus is causing deadly pneumonia in China, and is making it’s way to other parts of the world (See: ‘Cases of new viral respiratory illness rise sharply in China’ along with ‘Washington man is 1st in US to catch deadly new virus from China’).

Friends, there are parallel biblical prophecies which clearly indicate why mankind will continue to suffer from the ravages of viruses and diseases. Notice Deuteronomy, the 28th chapter, beginning in verse 15: “’But it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you TODAY, that all these CURSES will come upon you and overtake you: … 21) The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22) The LORD will strike you with consumption [wasting, degenerative disease], with fever, with inflammation [possibly infectious contagions] … 27) … with tumors, with scab [scurvy; deficiency disease], and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28) The LORD will strike you with madness [mental disorders] and blindness and confusion of heart [emotional trauma]” – verses 15, 21-22, 27-18; NKJV.

It’s interesting to note that the Bible appears to indicate man’s proclivity to crowd themselves into disease-prone cities: “ … ‘when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you’” – Leviticus 26:25; NKJV.

In 2020, there is reported 8.3 million people living in Wuhan City, China, where this new Wuhan Coronavirus first was reported. On January 20th, the Express wrote, “there are 200 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus, … suggesting as many as 1,700 people could be carrying the virus. … with six people known to have died from the pneumonia-like illness.” (Read More: ‘China Coronavirus outbreak: How many people have REALLY been infected? Latest death toll’).

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:
He [Jesus Christ] goes on to say, “…’See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’” … blocs of nations, group of nations – the European combine and the Islamic confederation, or, caliphate, however you wanna call it – yet to fully develop! … And here we see, ‘nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.’ And, I’m willing to accept the possibility that this is Jesus Christ suggesting about the prophecy of Daniel 11. The king of the North vs the king of the South. The European combine and the Islamic confederation – whatever they will call themselves in the future. I think this is an indication of that growing tension between these two groups of people. “…’And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” So in all of this, it’s a step by step progress – over here something happens, over there something happens. And as you read the Bible and you sort-of get the feeling that it grows in intensity!
(Read More: https://www.owensborocojc.com/2019/02/the-day-of-lord-part-1.html).
The debt of the federal government of the United States of America continues to rise!


In July 2019, I had reported it at $22,547,313,786,884.

The prophet Habakkuk – around 605-625 BC – wrote a short book which has great implications for this end-time:
“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw.
2) O LORD, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. 3) Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. 4) Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
5) ‘Look among the nations and watch – Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. 6) For indeed I AM raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs. 7) They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. 8) Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 9) ‘They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. 10) They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. 11) Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god’” – Habakkuk 1:11; NKJV.
So, notice friends that the above states that in this end-time the work which God works will not be believed, even though God reveals it – which He is doing through His servants. While most claim that this was only for the past and mock me for quoting this in regards to the soon-coming end-time trauma, they appear to forget that this is in the New Testament. The apostle Paul, speaking in a synagogue at Antioch to the sons of the family of Abraham, and all who fear God:
“’Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41) ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you’” – Acts 13:40-41; NKJV.
Continuing with Habakkuk:
“Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction. 13) You are purer eyes then to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he? 14) Why do You make men like fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler over them? 15) They take up all of them with a hook, They catch them in their net, And gather them in their dragnet. Therefore they rejoice and are glad. 16) Therefore they sacrifice to their net, And burn incense to their dragnet; Because by them their share is sumptuous And their food plentiful. 17) Shall they therefore empty their net, And continue to slay nations without pity?” – Habakkuk 1:12-17; NKJV.
As Minister Michael C. Garrett has said regarding World War I & II, “If it hadn’t been for the United States of America and the British people the bad guys would have won those wars!” Indeed, many believe – and I believe it’s factual – that in certain ways the United States of America and her Anglo-allies were “more righteous” than those nations at that time. However, the reality is – the tides are turning for the USA and her Anglo-allies.
“I will stand my watch And set myself on the rampart, And watch to see what He will say to me, And what I will answer when I am corrected. 2) Then the LORD answered me and said: ‘Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. 3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
4) ‘Behold the proud, His [life] is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith’” – Habakkuk 2:1-4; NKJV.
Notice this end-time prophecy is for an appointed time – the time of the end. It is a prophecy for our time – and it will affect the proud. And, sadly, many will “run who reads it.”

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 It Is A Sign by Leonard V. Johnson.
● Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested for this week is: Dimash in NYC - Let Your Light So Shine by Michael C. Garrett. (More sermons 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.

Concluding Comments

The prophet Isaiah was inspired to write the following:
“’Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21) Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!’” – Isaiah 5:20-21; NKJV.
Indeed, like YouTube, they have everything backwards. What is truly important, mankind does not cherish. What is absolutely worthless junk – in the long run – people prize!

However, this is to be expected. We will see even more of this (cf. Revelation 13) as we get closer to the return of God the Father and Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Millennial kingdom of God!

With love and gratitude, in Jesus' Name,


Bibliography

1)  A History of Christianity, Johnson, P., Simon & Schuster; 1976, 87.
2)  Forgery in Christianity, Wheless, J., FQ Classics, 2007, 30.



Dimash in NYC - Let Your Light So Shine (Sermon)

Our Lord and Savior said, "'You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. … Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven'" - Matthew 5:14, 16.
Welcome! The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ is pleased to announce our latest sermon from our YouTube, Godtube and BitChute channels:



1:40:55

In the article God's Children Are of the Light, Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote:

"Aren't we all to be lights to the world!? That all men may see who you are, what you are!’ That they may come closer to God because of the example you show them. ‘Let Your power and glory, and let them shine through me.’"

Here is a link to the sermon - Dimash in NYC - Let Your Light So Shine


Additional Items of Interest:

God's Children Are Of The Light!Well it’s good to be with all of you again … everything which we are doing, everything which we are producing, is based upon the concept that it will follow the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God.
Dimash in NYC - From Whence Come Wars? (Sermon)The Apostle James asks, "Where do wars and fights come from among you?" And he answers, "Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures" - James 4:1-3; NKJV.
Dimash in NYC - More of the Story (Sermon) - More of Michael C. Garrett's The Rest of the Story. Michael C. Garrett is a most-listened-to personality. Thousands of listeners have listened to his 'The Rest of the Story' sermon of this miraculous meeting of the great and "best singer ever" from Kazakhstan - Dimash Kudaibergen. Now, in this More of the Story, you'll surely enjoy the continued chronicling of events which led him to a personal meeting with Dimash on December 10th, 2019. 

Monday, January 20, 2020

End-Time Prophets - a seven-part series (Part 5)


Photo by Leonard V. Johnson



by Michael C. Garrett

Good afternoon friends. Greetings wherever you are. Welcome to Owensboro, Kentucky and the weekly church service of the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ.

We thank you for joining us and being with us. We do hope and pray that if you enjoy what you read here and also listen to on our video sermons via our website - http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/ - that you would please recommend us to your friends, to some of your family members that might be interested, or to your fellow church friends who might want to hear what we have to say. And we just ask that you give us some consideration. Our sermons are not quick – but we do cover a lot of material and a lot of very pertinent information. So again, thank you for being with us.

Now, the first thing that I want to bring up was the terrible tragedy that had taken place down in the southeastern part of Tennessee - around Gatlinburg and Dollywood and that area. They call them wildfires. Now, if it was out west, they’d call it a forest fire. I don’t know why they don’t call them forest fires if you live up in the mountains surrounded by forests!? With everything catching on fire it seems to me that you would be in a forest fire. But for some reason the news people called it a wild fire. Well, that part of Tennessee had been hit after a long time of drought. And, I read in the paper that at least fourteen people had died, and the homes and the businesses which had been destroyed approached the nearly twenty-five hundred mark. And that is terribly sad. So, our prayers went out to those people who had their lives turned upside down. I think of all the shocks to one’s system – I think one of the greatest shocks would be to drive up into your neighborhood and to see that your house is now nothing more than a pile of rubble. And everything you own is in that pile of rubble burned up – and possibly your family pets. What a heartbreaking experience that would be! My empathy truly went out (and indeed goes out even now) to all of those people.

Another terrorist attack!

And another! On November 28, 2016, a terrorist vehicle-ramming and stabbing attack occurred at Ohio State University's Watts Hall in Columbus, Ohio. A young man from Somali, who was proclaiming to be Muslim, who claimed to have all these loyalties to Islamic people on the internet. On June 1, 2017, investigators announced that he had left a torn-up note to his parents in which he pledged his allegiance to ISIS. He goes on a terrorist attack on the campus of the Ohio State University – driving his car into a group of people, and then exits the car with a butcher knife hacking and stabbing people! The only good part about this story – well, two good things – no innocent victims died, although quite a few people were hurt. And in the end, he was very quickly put down by a campus policeman who happened to be in the area and quickly took care of business.

And again, the Obama Administration – now, if you’re a Democrat you might possibly have liked the administration and can talk about positive things. And if you’re a Republican maybe you didn’t like them, and you try to point out their flaws. And, I’m not here to do that. But I will say this – from the get-go this president which had occupied the White House – had some type of soft spot in his heart for the Muslim religion, Islam, and for the people which practice that faith. I think it goes back to the fact that for a big chunk of his life when he was younger he was raised as a Muslim – that’s very well documented. He lived in Indonesia, he went to a madrasa, he lived in a home which was Islamic. Now, I don’t know if he had just a blind spot or if it was more active than that – but he went out of his way throughout his presidency and placated - remember when the Muslim Brotherhood was in charge of Egypt, and he make-believed that was a good thing!? And, the federal government wouldn’t say Islamic terrorism, or wouldn’t use the acronym ISIS – it was ISIL. Now, what was with that!? Why did he do that!? And also, whenever there was a terrorist attack, our government officials had the hardest time just coming out and saying, “This was an Islamic terrorist attack!” Well, that’s what happened on the campus of the Ohio State University – whether or not the federal officials wanted to admit it or not! But I’m sure the people who got ran over by the car, and got hacked with a butcher knife, they know what it was! And I find it just so upsetting that they were not honest with themselves and with the American people. And he appeared to have been living – talking about Barack Hussein Obama II – in a fantasy world. Where he simply could not see the dangers of extreme Islamic radicalism.

‘do not handle the Word of God deceitfully’

Well, another thing I want to talk about – I was so bored with all of these news reports, stories, and comments concerning the now POTUS Donald Trump and his administration. And I had grown weary listening to them. So I began to go through the television channels, and I came upon a Jimmy Swaggart program. And this particular program was called Frances & Friends. Frances Swaggart is the wife of Jimmy Swaggart. And she is the mother of Donny Swaggart. And, they sit around a table and discuss different topics and different people – with people calling on the phone or sending emails. And, I’ve ran across this show before – and sometimes they give some pretty good answers to some questions, and sometimes their answers are just – to me – nothing but foolishness. And the program caught my attention. Somebody was on the phone, and this person on the phone had a friend who was a Sabbath-keeper. And the person calling in was asking about the Sabbath. Well, immediately, the people there on the program go to Donny, and I don’t know if you’ve ever watched him, he is – to me – a very difficult person to like. He is very aggressive, very opinionated, very self-assured of everything he’s saying. And I want to relay to you some of the things he had to say. But before I do – I want you please to go into your Bible and look at 2nd Timothy 2:15.

** the Sabbath **

The Bible has a lot to say about how you read the Word of God. And, basically, it points out people who do it in truth, and the Bible also talks about people who deceitfully use the Word of God. Now, the Swaggart outfit would be highly offended if they were to hear what I am now saying – that at times they deceitfully use and interpret the Word of God. Now, I brought something out in the last article - What does the Bible say about drinking alcohol? How in one of their magazines they say, ‘Oh the Bible says you can never have a glass of wine or beer, or any alcohol!’ Well, that is so patently untrue! We pointed out in John 2 how the very first public miracle that Jesus Christ performed – in which He probably was at His sister’s wedding under the encouragement of His mother – was changing about 150 gallons of water into “good” wine. Now if God is so against alcohol – why was Jesus Christ changing water into wine!? That’s a true headscratcher. Sure the Bible says ‘Don’t get drunk. Don’t misuse alcohol.’ But it doesn’t say you can’t have a glass of wine or a drink of beer or a margarita – or whatever. It just doesn’t say that. Again, it says ‘control and moderation.’

It says in 2nd Timothy 2:14 – “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord …” – talking to young Timothy, his protégé. “ … not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”

And if you’re not careful you can get into a religious argument, and if you don’t know what you’re talking about, you can get yourself all turned inside out. I have known a lot of people who – they go surfing through the internet looking for answers to biblical questions. And some of these people get into very dangerous places.

Once upon a time – about thirteen years ago – we had a man who was meeting with us locally, he appeared to be a pretty good fella, and then eventually he got bizarre. And, out of nowhere I found out later that he was going to everybody in the congregation – except myself – and telling them, “Well, we shouldn’t leave our houses on the Sabbath. So therefore, everyone come to my house on Sunday morning and we’ll have a Bible study.” And I thought – how remarkable. In this reasoning, he had come up with a theory on how – we won’t go to Church on the Sabbath, but in the end we’ll become a Sunday-keeping church. It was truly bizarre! And then I found out that he had gotten into the idea that we need to keep the New Moons. Well, nowhere in the New Testament does it say that! That’s nowhere a part of the New Covenant! And I just thought – that’s shameful. Someone suggested, “Victor, what you need to do is go talk to Mike to get some of these questions answered.” And Victor said, “I don’t want to talk to Mike, he’ll confuse me.” Which means – ‘Mike will show me the error of my way, and I don’t want that done.’

Verse 15 – “Be diligent [study] to present yourself approved to God, …” – now, study what? Obviously study the Word of God! “ … a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

And then, in the very next verse Paul goes on to say – “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. … 23) But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.”

Well, a person who wants to follow Jesus Christ should become a serious student of the Word of God, and they should strive to divide it correctly – to understand it, to read it correctly. Not putting one particular slant on an idea or on another – but allowing the Word of God to speak to you the truth of God.

There’s another passage – 2nd Corinthians 4:1 – “Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” – what is that mercy!? The calling of God! Being brought into the truth of God with enough understanding and knowledge where you seek baptism, and then are granted the Spirit of God. Verse 2 – “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation [open demonstration] of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” – or to them which are blind. To them which do not understand the truth of God. Verse 4 – “whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, …”

Again, verse 2 – “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, …”

And friends, there are some people who do.

Now, if you don’t know that much about the Bible – but you’re interested – and you go to somebody who professes to be an understander of the Bible – let’s say the Swaggart' s, and you ask them a question. Maybe they’re dividing the word of God correctly, and maybe they’re handling the word of God deceitfully.

If you would turn to Ephesians 4 – where Paul had another comment about handling the word of God poorly. Verse 13 – “till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God [Jesus Christ], to a perfect [a spiritually mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; …” – not knowing Christ just a little bit, but understanding everything about Jesus Christ and everything about the New Covenant and everything about the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – and the Kingdom of God! Verse 14 – “that we should no longer be children [spiritually immature], tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”

Now friends, I’m just telling you – there’s a whole lot of people who claim to be representatives of Jesus Christ. And yet they do not speak the truth of God.

So, let’s go back to what I said.

I’m going through the channels – a person is calling in on Frances & Friends – and the question was, ‘I have a friend who is a Sabbath-keeper, I want to know what I should tell my Sabbath-keeping friend!?’

And so Donnie, he answers the question. He says, ‘Well, the Sabbath-keepers – the Sabbatarians – all they do is look to a day for salvation.’ Now, I will – in part – agree with what he answered. I do know people who claim to be Sabbath-keepers, who live their life as though they believe that the only important thing is to keep the Sabbath – the seventh-day. Now, keep in mind, the Ten Commandments has ten commandments. And, you have to learn how to keep all of them. Including the Sabbath commandment. But just because you keep the Sabbath doesn’t make you holy. And, just because you go to the Feast of Tabernacles doesn’t make you holy. If everything about your life and your attitude is rotten – you’re not doing yourself any good. So, yes, there are some Sabbath-keepers who claim that as the ultimate – as it were – touchdown. ‘If I score that touchdown, then I win!’ It’s a whole lot more intricate than that.

And so Donnie went on to say, ‘In the Old Testament the Sabbath was to be a day of rest.’ Alright – that’s true. But then he jumps the track and ends up in a theological argument that was so far away from where he began – I couldn’t even follow his reasoning. Saying, ‘Well, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Sabbath.’ So, because Jesus Christ kept the Sabbath, therefore we don’t have to keep the Sabbath – is that what he’s implying!? It is what he’s implying! And, he went on to say, ‘He [Jesus Christ] is the rest.’ As in the rest of the Sabbath – the relaxation of the Sabbath. And then he quoted from the Book of Matthew.

And if you would turn to Matthew 11. He said - reading from verse 25 – ‘At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things …’ – what things!? The truth of God! ‘You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent …’ – from those who think they’re wise and prudent and smart. ‘ … and have revealed them to babes.’ Babes in Christ.

Verse 26 – “’Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27) All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.’ – so what He is saying is, ‘the truth of God can only be understood by the people that Jesus Christ and God the Father choose out of the crowd.

Remember one time in the Book of John – Jesus said, “’You did not choose Me, but I chose you.’” And, He says another time, “’No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.’” You don’t just waltz into God’s grace. God chooses – “’For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Jesus Christ goes on to say verse 28 – “’Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ What is He talking about here!? Is He saying, ‘Just come to Me and you don’t have to keep the Sabbath anymore’? Nothing in this passage even begins to suggest such a thing! What He is saying is, ‘Come unto Me all of you that labor and are heavy laden.’ Heavy laden with what!? With sin, confusion, lack of knowledge, incorrect traditions. I am just amazed as I look around this world today – how many people are more interested in keeping their church tradition than learning what the truth of God actually is. He says, “’I will give you rest.’Verse 29 – “’Take My yoke upon you …’ – meaning what!? The Truth of God, the Word of God, the Plan of God, the Spirit of God, the Kingdom of God, the New Covenant, Jesus Christ as Sacrifice and Savior. “ … ‘and learn from Me, …’ – learn what!? Learn the truth of God! “ … ‘for I AM gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your [lives].’

If you find the correct spiritual formula – by which you live your life – you will find rest. And, ultimately, you will find the rest – the peace – of the Kingdom of God.

If you would turn to the Book of Hebrews. It’s one of the last Books of the Bible. You’re actually getting very near the end of the Bible when you get to the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews 4:1 – “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, …” – the same idea that Jesus is talking about. What type of rest!? Eternal rest – not in death – but eternal peace by being a member of the Kingdom of God. “ … let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2) For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, …” A lot of people have heard the words of the Bible, but most people who have heard the words of the Bible spoken to them do not have the correct formula. And it is of no profit to them. “ … not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3) For we who have believed do enter that rest, …” – that’s talking about the Kingdom of God. “… as He has said: ‘So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4) For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day …” – referring to the seventh-day of the week – the Sabbath. “ … in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’; 5) and again in this place: ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ - into the Family of God, the Kingdom of God. Verse 6 – “Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7) again He designates a certain day, saying in David ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.’ – this is talking about entering into the promised land – Joshua leading the children of Israel – and that most likely occurred on a Sabbath day. Verse 8 – “If Joshua [or Jesus] had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.” If God wanted to change the day of rest wouldn’t He have told somebody!? Remember, Joshua took over – as it were – after Moses. Well, we know what Moses thought about it. He said, “Remember the Sabbath day [the seventh day], to keep it holy.” It’s a part of the Ten Commandments – Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Verse 9 – “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10) For he who has entered His rest has himself ceased from his works as God did from His. 11) Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, …” – referring to the Promised Land. Now, not the promised land of the days of Moses, but the Promised Land of the Kingdom of God! “ … lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.” Verse 12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of [life] and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Again, verse 9 – “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. That word rest is sabbatismos. And, it’s easy to find, any reference book will show it to you – any concordance. Which means a keeping of the Sabbath.

Here it is in one of the last Books of the Bible – and he makes it just as plain as can be. Long after the life – the human life and death – of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the lives of the apostles, the life of the Apostle Paul – and here late into the Apostle Paul’s life he’s still writing under the inspiration of God’s Spirit – “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” The keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God.

Now, going back to Matthew 11. Verses 28-30 have nothing to do with somehow replacing the Sabbath. And, for those people on the SBN Network to sit there and to so smugly declare that, they are deceitfully handling the word of God! And it’s a terrible shame. And I hope someday they might read this. Well, they probably won’t because they believe they know everything. There is an arrogance about those people! And they are not allowing the Spirit of God – the true Spirit of God, the true mind of Christ – to teach them that the Sabbath is still in effect.

And they went on to say – one of their commentators spoke up and said, ‘Well, the New Testament Church kept Sunday.’ Completely untrue! Remember reading about the Apostle Paul – ‘as his custom was he kept the Sabbath’? You’re just lying about the Word of God folks! And, you’re not the only ones. Most of the so-called Christian world lies about the Sabbath. Now, somehow they have got to figure out why they’re keeping Sunday and not Saturday. And, it all started in A.D. 321 when Emperor Constantine the Great – who was attracted to the Christian religion but didn’t want to be Jewish – changed the Sabbath day to Sunday. That’s what all of that goes back to – an ancient Roman emperor. And so the Roman Catholic Church decreed that custom, and Martin Luther – when he separated from the Roman Catholic Church – continued right along with everything that Pope Leo X was teaching! And all of these daughter churches since – the mainstream Protestant world, the Catholic world – has continued a custom which was instituted by the Emperor Constantine the Great! And then they have the audacity to say, ‘Well, it got changed.’ No, it never did!

Now, I tell you what – if Jimmy Swaggart was to finally get up in public and say, ‘Guess what folks, the keeping of Sunday is not correct. We’ve been studying this, and we now see in the Bible where we should keep the Sabbath.’ Well, I would be impressed. I wouldn’t become a member of their outfit, but I would be impressed. But no, they went one-step further. By claiming that somehow Matthew 11:28-30 absolves people from keeping the Sabbath when Apostle Paul says clearly, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God!” – a keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God.

Now, notice Matthew 12. Remember He said, “’For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’” Now when the Bible was being written, they didn’t divide it up into chapters, they just kept writing on scrolls. Humans many hundreds and thousands of years later came up and decided to divide it into chapter and verse. But – Matthew 12:1 – “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath.”

O’ wait a moment – what is He doing!? He is outside walking around and eating. Now, I may offend some of you – and I’m not trying to. But there are people from the tradition of the Worldwide Church of God who indeed have made the Sabbath into their main focus of worship. They have actually made the Sabbath into a type of idol. And they have used Jewish traditions and Jewish thought and Old Covenant ideas to actually tell people, “It’s wrong to go out and eat on the Sabbath!”

That also is deceitfully using the Word of God! And, if you believe that, then you’re probably not going to believe what I’m going to say. Yet, I’m telling you - very truthfully – that’s not what the Bible says.

Well, notice Jesus Christ here – “ … Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, …” – now did Jesus say, ‘fellows, it’s the Sabbath day, you can’t eat unless you go home’!? That’s not what He said. He actually saw what they were doing and didn’t do a thing to stop it. “ … and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2) And when the Pharisees saw it, …” – O’ my! The keepers of the Jewish traditions! “ … they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!’”

Friends, I hear people today who are modern-day Pharisees. Because they think by keeping Old Testament, Old Covenant, or old Jewish traditions that they are somehow pleasing God! And I’m telling you – they are not!

Verse 3 – “But He [Jesus Christ] said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4) how he entered the house of God [the temple] and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5) Or have you not read in the law [the first five Books of Moses] that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?’

Now, keep in mind – on the Sabbath day there in Jerusalem a lot of the Jewish practitioners would bring their sacrifices. And, some were just little doves, some sheep, or lambs, or goats – and some were large cattle. And the priests took these sacrificed animals and they butchered them. It was a whole lot of work. But, as Jesus said, they were ‘blameless.’

Verse 6 – “’Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.’ – referring to Himself! He is saying, ‘I, Jesus Christ, am more important than the Old Testament/Old Covenant religion!’

Now, they didn’t understand that. But He sure did!

Verse 7 – “’But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.’

Now, keep in mind – Donnie Swaggart - on his mother’s program – when asked about the Sabbath on a call-in said, “O’ no! Matthew 11 does away with that!” And yet, what do we read just a few verse later!?

Verse 8 – “’For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’ – referring to Himself!

Donnie, Jimmy, Gabriel, Francis – and all of you – why aren’t you honestly reading the Word of God!? Why are you deceiving people!? And, why are you deceitfully using the Word of God!?

Because right here it’s just plain as day! Jesus Christ is Lord of the Sabbath! Does it sound like He’s changed anything!? No!

Matthew 12:9 – “Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue.” – that’s their church building. Verse 10 – “And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’ – that they might accuse Him. 11) Then He said to them, …” – remember, this was the Sabbath. He was in a synagogue. Remember – we, in this series, are talking about the end-time prophets and are told in the Book of John that Jesus says, ‘The miracles that I have done, you will do greater!’ And I believe that He is talking about the end-time prophets. And here is one example of those miracles.

“ … ‘What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12) Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ And, it’s perfectly lawful to go to a taco restaurant on the Sabbath and have a taco!

Verse 13 – “Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14) Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Because Jesus Christ had the audacity to look them in the eye and say, ‘You want to see a miracle on the Sabbath day!!?’ and He healed that poor unfortunate man who had now become extremely blessed!

Verse 15 – “But when Jesus knew it, …” – He realized that the Pharisees were trying to kill Him “ … He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.” There might have been thousands of people in that great multitude. All with different problems – broken bones, diseases, withered arms, blindness, deafness, demon possession – and everyone in that great multitude was healed by Jesus Christ!

And the end-time prophets are going to do that – and even more!

Now, remember again back in verse 30, Matthew 11!? “’My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’” If you would turn to Matthew 23. Again, what is He talking about!? ‘My yoke is easy and My burden is light’?

He’s comparing the New Covenant with the constrictions of the Old Covenant.

And again, I do not understand why – but there are people in different congregations in different places who want to be living in this Old Covenant mentality. I’ve been talking about it for years. Why do you do that to yourselves!? We don’t live in the Old Covenant anymore – we live in the New Covenant.

Matthew 23:1 – “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2) saying …” – and I think there’s some sarcasm here. “ … ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3) Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.’ He is referring to the burden of the Old Covenant religion. Who – to this day there are people who willingly want to become Jews and somehow think they’re serving Jesus Christ. That is such an oddity in my mind. And yet, the people who get into that, they’re so deep in the hole they can’t see the Light anymore.

Verse 4 – “’For they bind heavy burdens, …’ – the keeping of the Old Covenant are ‘heavy burdens.’ Such as saying, “You can’t eat out on the Sabbath.” Why!? O’ I know, you go back to the Books of Nehemiah and Ezra – and you just completely misinterpret what’s going on. But Jesus Christ was walking through the fields and His people were eating. And I’m sure if there had been a taco restaurant they would have stopped and got tacos.

“ … ‘hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5) But all their works they do to be seen by men.’

And I do not know how many times I’ve been around these people who say, “Well, I can’t eat out on the Sabbath!” And they can’t wait to tell you. And then they go a step further – they sort of give you that look – “Why are you eating out on the Sabbath!?” And my answer is, “Because I’m hungry! And I like to spend a little time with some friends.” And then some of them say, “Well, if you go to that restaurant you’re making people work on the Sabbath.” No you’re not! Because those people are going to be there whether or not you’re going to show up in their restaurant. It’s a burden which does not need to be born.

“ … ‘They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.’ – a phylactery is sort of like a Boy Scout merit badge. “Look at me! Look at all the things I’ve accomplished!”

Verse 6 – “’They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7) greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ – meaning, ‘teacher, teacher.’

Well friends, the Old Testament religion again – verse 4 – ‘they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders.’

If you would turn to Matthew 15. The Words of Jesus Christ! Again, don’t believe me – I’m not important – but do believe Jesus Christ! Because He is important! Jesus Christ is the Author of your faith and will also be the Finisher of your faith – who will also be your Judge. And if you don’t believe Jesus Christ – well, then you’re in trouble.

Matthew 15:1 – “Then the scribes and Pharisees [the temple elite] who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2) ‘Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’

Verse 3 – “He [Jesus Christ] answered and said to them, ‘Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your [worthless] tradition? 4) For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5) But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’ – 6) then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your [worthless] tradition. 7) Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8) ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9) And in vain [in total worthlessness] they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’’ – the traditions of men.

If you would turn to Colossians 2. We’ll see that Jesus Christ was not the only one to talk about this.

“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of the understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, …”that mystery is: a human being being changed at the return of Jesus Christ and the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP – whether dead or alive – into an immortal spirit being, a member of the Family of God! “ … both of the Father and of Christ, …” – ‘acknowledging.’ 

And, by the way, I got on my computer last night, looked up Mark Armstrong’s Weekly Update – and to my shock! Once again, Mark, could not, would not, will not, cannot, acknowledge Jesus Christ! It’s just amazing! And what is even more amazing is that a bunch of you follow him. What are you thinking!? He, in effect, denies Jesus Christ! Well, if you’re in the same boat that he is, Jesus Christ will deny you when He returns!

Verse 3 – “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4) Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.” – like on Francis & Friends, or SBN Network. ‘Beguile you, confuse you, deceive you.’

Verse 5 – “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6) As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, …” – which means that you have to be willing to say or write His name! Which Mark, apparently, cannot do.

Verse 7 – “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8) Beware [be careful] lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9) For in Him [Jesus Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10) and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11) In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision [of the heart] of Christ, 12) buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13) And you, being dead in your [sins] and the uncircumcision of your [heart], …” – and if He hadn’t intervened that’s where you would be – ‘dead.’ “ …He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all your [sins], 14) having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us …” – He took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross!

So, what are the ‘wiped out the handwriting of ordinances’!? It’s the Old Covenant. Right here Paul just plainly says, ‘Jesus Christ blotted all of the Old Covenant out.’ Not the Ten Commandments. But the Old Covenant – the old Jewish ideas!

Verse 15 – “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 16) So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbath’s, 17) which are a shadow of things to come, [but let the Body of Christ judge you].”

So, what he said in verse 16 – ‘Don’t let anyone hassle you about the fact that you don’t eat pork. Don’t let anyone hassle you about the fact that you keep the Sabbath. Don’t let anyone hassle you because you keep the holy days. But, you need to listen to what the Body of Christ is saying, or the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ – the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God!

Verse 18 – “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, …”

You know – every so often you hear of little groups that worship angels.

“ … intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19) and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”

Verse 20 – “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, …” – from the basic operating principles of this world – including the mainstream religions. “ … why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to [these physical] regulations – 21) ‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,’ …” – some of the old Jewish customs. Verse 22 – “which all concern things which perish with the using – according to the commandments and doctrines of men?” – the Jewish traditions, the Old Covenant is nothing more than commandments and traditions of mankind. And they have no holiness in the eyes of God.

I just wish some of you would think about it.

Titus if you would. Chapter 1, verse 1 – “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. 2) in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

And then, notice verse 14 – he tells Titus, and in doing so, he tells us all because it’s now in the Word of God – “not giving heed to Jewish fables [and Jewish traditions] and commandments of men who turn from the truth.”

Verse 16 – the people who get caught up in all of this Jewish foolishness – “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.”

What is the most important aspect of your life?

I have another thought to share with you: If someone was to come up to you and ask you, “What is the most important aspect of your religious life!?”

And I hope your answer – and I hope that my answer – will be, “Well, the most important part of my religious life is Jesus Christ and the principles of the New Covenant, the kingdom of God, the Word of God, the Truth of God, and understanding the ultimate Plan of God.” I hope this would be at the forefront of your mind – and mine.

However, I fear that many people – and many of whom I have met and that I know – would give if they were truthful the answer of, “Well, the most important thing about my religious life is my church group.” Or, “My church friends and associates.” Or, “My religious leader.” Or, they may even say, “Well, the last name of my church leader.” Maybe that’s their most important thing. And some would say, “Well, the traditions of my church.”

Now surely you know where I’m going with this. Because all of those would be severely incorrect answers. Ones focus should be on knowing and understanding and practicing the TRUTH of God. Now, the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ is all about the Word of God, the Truth of God, and understanding the Plan of God – and that means understanding Jesus Christ and the New Covenant.

The end-time prophets will understand this!

If you would turn back to Isaiah, chapter 8. In fact, anyone who stands up before you – or on your computer or television – has a standard which they must uphold. And the standard is pretty well spoken of in Isaiah 8:20.

Now, surely, the end-time prophets will pass this standard. They will be the perfect personification of this standard.

“To the law and to the testimony! …” – the testimony of the Bible, the Word of God. “ … If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light [and by extension no truth] in them”

If someone who claims to be your religious leader does not speak from the Word of God – and does not accurately portray the Word of God to you – they are not to be followed.

And, while we’re in the Book of Isaiah. If you would turn to Isaiah 59.

In this Old Testament prophecy – indeed talking about TODAY’S SOCIETY I do believe.

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy [or deaf], That it cannot hear. 2) But your iniquities [your sins] have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear you. 3) For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, …” – and so many religious leaders have that one directly placed upon their head. “ … Your tongue has muttered perversity.”

Verse 4 – “No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. …” – O they’ll follow church tradition, and they’ll follow their leader – and that can be applied to so many different groups. Groups which have come forth from the Worldwide Church of God – they each have their little leader in front of them. And you are sort-of made to believe that only he knows what he’s talking about – and you must follow him explicitly, without doubt. And yet, the Bible says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” So, why are you looking to a man!? Why are you looking to a so-called leader!? And, the Catholics do it, the Mormons (the Latter Day Saints) do it, the Baptists do it, the Methodists do it. Everywhere you look in the world of religion. They get hung up on, “Well, our leader says.” Well, your leader ought to be Jesus Christ! And your rulebook should be the Word of God! – properly understood, properly taught. Not deceitfully used.

“ … They trust in empty words (vanity) and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”

If you would turn to verse 13 – “In transgressing and lying against the LORD, And departing from our God, Speaking oppression and revolt, Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. 14) Justice [judgment] is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity [or justice] cannot enter. 15) So truth fails, …”

And, I am unable at this time to go through all the Scriptures, but there is one parable. Matthew 13. And, I hope that nothing more – from this part five alone – you remember the parable in Matthew 13. Verse 44 – “’Again, the kingdom [from] heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid [he hides this treasure]; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.’ What is He talking about there!? The treasure - you should be willing to sell all that you have - that you can buy that field where the treasure is hid – is the TRUTH OF GOD!

And then the next parable – verse 45 – “’Again, the kingdom [from] heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46) who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.’ And, what is that ‘one pearl of great price’ in this analogy!? It is the TRUTH OF GOD!

I wish all of you had great respect for the Truth of God!

If you would turn to the Book of John, chapter 4, verse 23. Again, these are the words of your Savior and of your Judge. ’But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers [of God and Jesus Christ] will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit [or through the Spirit of God aided by the mind of Jesus Christ] and in truth.’

You mean to say Mike, ‘You could have a religion (it might be in a beautiful building, with beautiful stained glass, and beautiful woodwork) and you might have a thousand people who get together every week. And, maybe you have this massive organization where around the world other groups like you meet. And, they sing beautiful songs and they have a choir and a choir director. And the preachers are so – O great performers. And yet, if you DO NOT worship God according to His rulebook – your worship is worthless!’ Worthless worship! Because God seeks one thing He seeks people that will worship Him in TRUTH!

That’s a difficult concept for people to understand.

If you would, turn to the Book of James, chapter 1, verse 17.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation of shadow of turning. 18) Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” – the WORD OF TRUTH!

Is your religion based on Truth!?

The end-time prophets – everything they do and everything they say – will be based upon Truth! And the miracles which will be produced with them and by Jesus Christ will astound the world! People being raised from the dead, withered arms, withered legs – healed! The deaf hearing, the blind seeing! The mentally ill being made whole again! Cancers being cured! Heart disease! But these men will stand for the TRUTH OF GOD!

You must worship God according to TRUTH! It must be that ‘pearl of great price.’ That you must forego everything else that you must latch onto this ‘one precious thing’ – the TRUTH OF GOD!

Friends, thank you for joining us. And, I hope that you read this more than once. And, I hope you tell your friends about it and encourage them to read it. And, I hope that you send up your prayers to God on our behalf, and our prayers will indeed go up to God on your behalf. If you desire to financially help us, we will accept it.

We’re here to bring to you the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the knowledge and the understanding of the Plan of God. And we are here for the purpose of feeding the sheep of Jesus Christ – and the potential sheep of Jesus Christ.