CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606
February 15, 2021
LEONARD V. JOHNSON
Founder, Pastor
Greetings Friends and Warm Hearts from Spring Hill, Florida.
We hope and pray that you have had a spiritually productive week.
Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day 2021
Because of this terrible COVID-19 issue, we should begin the process of knowing where we will meet this year.
I myself visited with our brethren The Independent Christian Church of God in Athens, Alabama – and if all things remain the same, this could be a definite possibility. Be sure to contact Minister Guy C. LaMar via his Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/gc.lamar.520/ for additional information if this is where you would like to meet to keep God’s commanded Feast. I know from personal experience that where the church meets – The Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel 1222 Kelli Dr. Athens, Al. 35613 – is comfortable, convenient, and reasonably priced. Here is their website address - https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/dcuathx-hampton-suites-athens-i-65-huntsville-area/.
A Sermon Series
The recommended sermon for this week is part of a sermon series I have begun – entitled “Our Fundamental Beliefs.”
I have already given two sermons regarding our fundamental beliefs – a complete list of them can be found on our website - https://www.owensborocojc.com/2019/02/statement-of-beliefs-of-church-of-jesus.html.
I am sure that many of the listed items will come as heresy to many of our Roman Catholic friends and our Protestant friends. The hope of doing this series of sermons is that it will greatly help our fellow brethren around the world in these last days “to instruct many” (Daniel 11:33) during a coming time (and in many parts of the world, even now) of persecution. It is our goal to help unite our brethren all around the world. Unfortunately, as Minister Guy LaMar recently said, the problem which we are faced with is that many of them are holding onto their egos or their leaders' egos and are forgetting the glorious teachings of Jesus Christ.
We should also take into consideration the remaining of that quoted two-fold Scripture of prophet Daniel’s – for in this time of the end, “ … many days they [our own fellow Christians, our brothers, and sisters in Christ] shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34) Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many [many of our fellow Christians] shall join with them [shall join with this seventh resurrected “United States of Europe” and its mouthpiece, “The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth” and will receive their mark] by intrigue. 35) And some of those of understanding [even some of our fellow brethren who do know God’s Master Plan – From the Beginning] shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.”
Christian Radio
It is my great pleasure to announce that The Independent Christian Church of God may soon be on Christian Radio! I will definitely keep you abreast of this. We are indeed continuing the great commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ per Matthew 28:19-20. And, in one respect, Matthew 24:14 via the internet, in the literature (we are also considering written publications to be printed, published, and distributed to i.e. Christian book stores or to those who request). This new radio tool is another way to reach many people!
In Minister Guy C. LaMar’s latest sermon – “Faith and the Kingdom” – he mentions that all people need to be aware of our connections, of our affiliations. That we are all of ONE BODY – cf. 1 Corinthians 12. As the apostle Paul says – “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5) There are DIFFERENCES OF MINISTRIES, but the same Lord. 6) And there are diversities of ACTIVITIES …” Some ministries, as an example, travel around the world physically and some via the internet. “ … but IT IS THE SAME GOD who works all in all.”
O’ how I pray that so many of those church organizations – those many different manifestations of the churches of God – would truly understand what the apostle Paul was trying to explain. That within the living Body of Christ there are different ministries, different activities – “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” As Minister Michael C. Garrett asks in our free no-obligation online PDF booklet “Is Your Belief Biblical? … and can you prove it?” “Is Christ divided? The answer is supposed to be – no! But in reality, we know that in this present era the Church of God is divided in a lot of different directions. And, some have gone far, far, far, afield. Some have stayed pretty close to the Truth of God. And God will judge those accordingly.” It has been witnessed that we have indeed been trying to unite brethren “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” – Jude 1:3.
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is this weeks suggested Sabbath service:
● 2 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is “The Old Time Gospel”).
● Opening prayer.
● Announcements (if any). I also highly suggest The WatchMan by Deacon Robbie Lamb.
● Sermon. The one suggested is “God the Son.” Additional sermons are available at:
● 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 Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries website. Also, there are audio sermons on our Soundcloud Radio channel. We also, as a reminder, have a BitChute channel.
World News Items
We are witnessing ever more protests and conflicts around the world (such as Myanmar, Haiti, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Russia, Yemen, Syria – and Iran). Indeed friends, “’ Tell us, … what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’ “’ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom [see cf. Daniel 11:40]. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8) All these are the beginning of sorrows.’” – be sure to watch the sermon “’ Tell My People Their Sins.’”
Within the United States of America, a new “Shock Poll” was released by Zogby Analytics which reveals that “a plurality of Americans expect another civil war to occur at some point in the future. 46% of Americans indicated that the occurrence was likely, with 30% stating it was “somewhat likely” and 16% stating it was “very likely.” The amount of Americans who believe that a civil war will occur is actually up from about 34% in a Rasmussen report taken last June.
Also within the United States, she is holding a mock impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump. Indeed, the USA is divided, and certainly, this mock trial will greatly deepen an already divided nation. (See: ‘Donald Trump and the impeachment trial dividing America,’ as well as ‘Trump trial starting: ‘Grievous Crime’ or just ‘theater’?’).
Also also – speaking of the USA, we are beginning (again) to witness grave issues between her and the nation of IRAN (See: ‘Biden: US Won’t Lift Iran Sanctions’ along with ‘Iran: the US must lift sanctions before it lives up to nuke deal’).
Let us also friends be aware of these reports:
Tehran, Iran — Iran’s intelligence minister has warned the West that his country could push for a nuclear weapon if crippling international sanctions on Tehran remain in place, state television reported Tuesday.In comments first reported in Iranian state TV on Tuesday, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi emphasized, “Our Nuclear Industry is strictly peaceful. Iran’s supreme leader said in a fatwah that producing nuclear weapons is against Islamic norms, is haram.”But then the powerful intelligence chief pivoted to a “threat” at a moment of a continued standoff with the Biden administration over the restoration of the JCPOA nuclear deal:“I will only say this: if a cat is backed into a corner, it might behave the way it wouldn’t while free. If Iran is pushed in that direction, it will not be Iran’s fault. Under the regular circumstances, Iran has no such plans,” he said.Alavi affirmed further: “If they push Iran in this direction, it won’t be the fault of Iran, but the fault of those who have pushed Iran.”
The greatest terrorist nation today is getting ever closer to obtaining nuclear weapons (if they don’t already have them)! WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS ON THE HORIZON! We are boldly and fiercely blowing the trumpet! Be sure to read our article “’ Blow the Trumpet’!”
Concluding Comments
“Faith without works is dead” recorded Saint James. But what exactly did he mean!?
Turn with me if you will to Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Yet, we need works. Saint James was inspired to write: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16) and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” – James 2:14-17. And, he repeats it yet again, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” – verse 20. And yet again, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” – verse 26.
In the Word of God, when you see things repeated over and over and over, you realize that God’s truly trying to get you to wake up and to understand that this thing that He’s saying is VERY IMPORTANT!
Now I had highlighted those three words – grace, faith, and works. The word grace comes from the Greek charis which means “the state of kindness and favor toward someone.” The word faith is from the Greek pistos which means “faithfulness, belief, trust, with the implication that actions based on that trust may follow.” And, the word works comes from the Greek ergon meaning “work, deed, activity, task, job.”
Now the majority of Protestants and Catholics alike base their belief wholly on the works of charity. And 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 New abolishes God’s Ten Commandments and is based wholly on promises. This, of course, is NOT true! Complete obedience to God’s eternal and universal Law is a condition we must meet to have salvation. Be sure to read Acts 15:13-39 and Acts 21:17-26 – the apostle James indeed endorses apostle Paul!
In your Bible’s turn with me over to Acts 5:32 – “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Also, Jesus Christ’s own words, “ …’ If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him’” – John 14:23. Also, “’ IF you love Me,’” – ‘if you are loyal to Me’ – “’ keep My commandments'” – John 14:15.
Friends, THAT IS OUR WORKS! OBEDIENCE TO GOD!
God’s grace and faith saves us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” – Ephesians 2:10.
Faith & works tie in together.
In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,
