Saturday, March 27, 2021

This World Is Becoming Full-Blown Wicked!

by Guy C. LaMar


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Turn with me to the Book of Ecclesiastes chapter 1

Verse 9 – “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done. And there is nothing new under the sun.” NKJV.

What has happened before will happen again on a bigger scale at the end-times.

We see where Jesus made that clear in Matthew 24:21.

Satan the devil is deceiving the whole world! – Revelation 12:9.

Isaiah 25

Verse 7 – “And He will destroy on this mountain the face of the covering which covers all people …” – meaning, the spiritual blindness that comes from NOT obeying Almighty God. “ … and the veil that is woven over all nations.” NET.

All human beings that have ever been, who are, and who will be – with the exception of Jesus Christ – have been blinded from God’s Word, His Truth, and His Plan because of Satan the devil – at some point or another.

Mankind has obviously not learned the lessons of history.

This world is repeating the mistakes of yesteryear – but on a larger scale.

In the Book of Genesis chapter 11, verses 1 to 8 it speaks of 100’s of years after the Flood, they – the descendants of Noah’s sons – began re-instituting the way of Cain. Which is a murderous way.

So, this began on this side of the Flood – even up to TODAY!

Murderous acts are growing!

So, let us reflect on how things were – and how things are now –

Verse 1 – “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.” NKJV throughout.
  • Today – nearly all the world has learned English. And computers and modern technology have made it possible for the whole earth to have one language and one speech.
Verse 2 – “And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.”

Verse 3 – “Then they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.”

This is speaking, of course, of ancient Babylon, in the nation known today as Iraq. There was tar oozing out of the ground. And they had made an apparatus for natural gas to come up out of the ground and to make extreme fires. Such was the case as to how the fiery furnace was strengthened that was to burn up alive the three Hebrews – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Verse 4 – “And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.’”

Verse 5 – “But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.”

Verse 6 – “And the LORD said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.”

Verse 7 – “’ Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’”

Verse 8 – “So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.”
  • Now friends, had the LORD God not done this then – confusing the language and segregating the sons of men into different areas over the earth – then the people would have become even more corrupt, and the end of all humanity would have come even sooner.
GOD – who has created all humanity knows our nature.

When you place people together with different ideologies, beliefs, cultures, etc. – only bad things will happen in the long run.

Friends, the United States of America has lost her identity, her ideals, her beliefs, and her culture, by the exceedingly growing mixture of - ‘the tired, the poor, the huddled masses’ – the unfettered and unrestricted immigration since the late 1700s!

The LORD God is not a respecter of persons -

“And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times AND THEIR BOUNDARIES OF THEIR DWELLINGS. - Acts 17:26.

Mankind can conjure up all the different ideologies that they would like, but it will not wash with Almighty God. Mankind says that it is all right to do things by their way of reasoning – whereas God says otherwise. Human reasoning of how societies, nations, countries, and provinces, should conduct themselves (as in the ‘the great melting pot’) – is nothing more than rebellion against the LORD God!

Truly, if all modern technology, such as satellites and computers, were obliterated off the face of the earth then there would be complete and total chaos. Mankind as a whole would crumble.

What happened when the LORD God changed their language!?

The answer, complete and total confusion!

The people of the same language stuck together and scattered over the face of the earth and began dwelling in a certain land area, developing a certain way of living, culture, and set of ideologies.

So, what do we have nowadays to deal with!?

A foundation laid by Satan the devil – liberalism. 1.

The “cancel” culture is trying to change every aspect of how people think.

The “cancel” culture promotes abominations as being acceptable.

Referring to verse 6 – where it tells us that there was no restraint to their imagination on what they could do and accomplish. The LORD God put a quick and immediate stop from them carrying on like that.

God’s living word says that what was – speaking of great evil – will be again. But even worse! In this world today it has swiftly become perverse by accepting what was bad as good and what was good as bad – cf. Isaiah 5:20.

Friends, what is happening within the United States of America is happening to all the nations of Israel (the US, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Nations (past and present), Australia, New Zealand – respectively)!

We are heading towards the doom of all societies of this earth – due to the rebellion against Almighty God!

People had better LOOK TO JESUS and pray always to escape the atrocities to come (and many which are even happening now).

Our only hope is ‘Thy Kingdom Come!’ □


1) Liberalism is derived from two related features of Western culture. The first is the West's preoccupation with individuality, as compared to the emphasis in other civilizations on status, caste, and tradition. Throughout much of history, the individual has been submerged in and subordinate to his clan, tribe, ethnic group, or kingdom. Liberalism is the culmination of developments in Western society that produced a sense of the importance of human individuality ... ” Minogue, Kenneth, Ball, Terence, Dagger, Richard and Girvetz, Harry K. “Liberalism” Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Feb. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/liberalism. Accessed 27 March 2021.

Friday, March 26, 2021

Letter to our Friends - March 23, 2021

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606

Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor/Overseer


Dear Friends in Christ:

Greetings from the Central West Coast in Spring Hill, Florida.

As a reminder – the Spring Holy Days begin this month!

For 2021, the LORD’S Passover, or The Passover, Lord’s Supper, or Communion – whatever you wish to call it – is to be observed after sunset on March 26th. And the FIRST DAY of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to be observed from sunset March 27th through sunset April 3rd.

The LORD’S Passover

Indeed, the children of Israel were specifically told to observe the Old Covenant Passover in the Book of Exodus. I covered this in the sermon “Behold! The Lamb of God!” – in which families were to take a lamb (or a goat), a male of the first year without blemish (Exodus 12:5), for a blood sacrifice (Exodus 12:3-4). The lamb (or goat) was to be sacrificed on the fourteenth at twilight (Exodus 12:6) and some of its blood was to be placed upon the doorpost of the family’s dwelling (Exodus 12:7).

So, those who took these steps instructed by God were ‘passed over’ from the death angel, whereas the Egyptians who did not do this were not (Exodus 12:28-30).

Our Lord Jesus Christ kept the LORD’S Passover annually (Exodus 13:10) – from the time of His youth (Luke 2:41-42), and throughout His entire physical life (Luke 22:15). The LORD’S Passover was (and is) observed on the fourteenth day of the month of the FIRST MONTH (Leviticus 23:5 – called Abib in Deuteronomy 16:1 or called Nisan in Esther 3:7). It occurs in the Spring season of the year.

Our Lord Jesus Christ changed the practices associated with it (Luke 22:19-22; John 13:1-17), and He also told His disciples to observe it (Luke 22:7-13). It is crystal clear in God’s living word that because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, the killing of animals and placing their blood on an altar or doorposts is not required anymore (cf. Hebrews 7:12-13, 26-27; 9:11-28).

The apostle Paul – under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit – teaches that true Christians are to keep the LORD’S Passover in accordance with Jesus Christ’s New Covenant instructions (1st Corinthians 5:7-8; 11:23-26).

God’s living word says that Jesus Christ “was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20) to be “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). So then, Almighty God’s ultimate plan of salvation – the redemption of all mankind – is shown to us through His Holy Days and His festivals, including our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ being “the Passover Lamb,” and was planned by God the Father and Jesus Christ before there were ever human beings on earth. This is one reason why the celestial bodies in the universe were placed there – to be able to calculate His feasts! (cf. Genesis 1:14-15).

The greater majority of the churches of the world indeed recognize that God’s living word does show that Jesus Christ fulfilled something associated with the LORD’S Passover when He was sacrificed. We find that His great Sacrifice was referenced in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:15). The great LORD God killed an animal and made for them “tunics of skin” – was this animal a lamb or a goat (Genesis 3:21)!? We also see this principle – that a blood sacrifice must be made for sin – when Abel sacrificed a firstborn of his flock, a lamb, (Genesis 4:2-4).

In the Old Testament, the LORD’S Passover pictured the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt per the LORD God’s intervention. Now prophetically this pictured, of course, looking towards the time when Jesus the Christ - the MESSIAH - would come and be the Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), sacrificed for all mankind for the sins of the world (John 1:29; cf. John 3:16-17).

On our Lord Jesus Christ’s last Passover as a physical human being, He kept the Passover at the time of the late evening and told His disciples to continue observing it (Luke 22:14-19; cf. John 13:2, 12-15) on the 14th of Abib (cf. Luke 22:14; 23:52-54).

Our Lord Jesus Christ indeed changed several of the practices associated with the LORD’S Passover. He made the unleavened bread and the wine an integral part of the Passover (Matthew 26:18, 26-30), and added the practice of foot washing (John 13:12-17).


Now, despite the very fact that Our Lord Jesus Christ turned water into wine (John 2:3-10), along with the fact that the Greek term used in the New Testament (oinos) refers to fermented wine (cf. 1 Timothy 3:8), there are those which claim that it was grape juice – not fermented wine – that was used for the LORD’S Passover.

Indeed, true Christians are not to be “drunk with wine, in which is dissipation” – in other words, a dissipated living. A descent into drunkenness and sexual depravity – cf. Ephesians 5:18, NKJV. Only a very small amount of wine (preferably red wine) is normally consumed at the LORD’S Passover (I personally use only about 30 – 44 ml. About “a shot”).

Passover – On the 14th. Not the 15th

Sadly, there are a great many people who are confused about the date of the biblical Passover.

A few days ago I was invited by jw.org to join them locally for the Passover on the 27th of March. God’s living word teaches us that it was to be kept on the 14th day of the first month of GOD’S CALENDAR at twilight – which is a lunar calendar – (Leviticus 23:5).

In the Book of Exodus chapter 12, verse 6, God’s living word emphatically says that the lamb is to be killed “at twilight.” Now, The Stone Edition Tenach – the Hebrew Bible – of which I have in my library reads, “the afternoon.” The 8th verse says, “they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread …” So, between sunset and midnight the children of Israel ate the flesh of the roasted lamb. And technically, they had until the morning (sunrise) to have eaten it per Exodus 12:10. So, God’s living word is clear that the death angel ‘passed over’ “on that night” – Exodus 12:12 – the very same night of the 14th of Abib.

Our Master, Elder Brother, and Savior Jesus Christ was only to be sacrificed ONCE (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:28; 10:10-14). Jesus Christ kept His final Passover (Luke 22:14-16) and was then sacrificed. He was removed from the cross prior to the 15th. Why!? Well, because the 15th was a ‘high holy day’ – John 19:28-31 – the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6). So, Jesus Christ indeed kept and fulfilled the Old Covenant Passover on the 14th of Abib.

The greater majority of those who profess Christ do keep some version of the Passover – though they have changed the name, the date, the time, the meaning, the symbols – calling it EASTER – after an East Semitic, Akkadian, Assyrian, and Babylonian goddess of fertility, love, war, and sex. Hence, Easter eggs and bunny rabbits.

God’s living word is clear that Jesus Christ was (and is) “our Passover” sacrificed for us – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29, NKJV. And, that we are to keep the Feast with unleavened bread –
“ … Have you never heard the saying, ‘A little leaven 7) leavens all the dough’? The old leaven of corruption is working among you. Purge it out, and then you will be bread of a new baking. As Christians you are unleavened Passover bread; for indeed our Passover has begun; the sacrifice is offered – Christ 8) Himself. So we who observe the festival must not use the old leaven, the leaven of corruption and wickedness, but only the unleavened bread which is sincerity and truth [Jesus Christ]” – 1 Corinthians 5:6, 7-8, NEB.
Notice – the festival is to be kept with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth!? For the LORD’S Passover this year, I will be posting on our YouTube channel“Passover Service,” for the 14th of Abib. For the FIRST DAY and the SEVENTH-DAY of the Feast of Unleavened Bread this year, I will be posting on our YouTube channel two very wonderful sermons by Michael C. Garrett – “The Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth,” and “The Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth – Part 2.”

The apostle Paul truly understood that Jesus Christ was the Passover Lamb and had replaced and fulfilled the Old Covenant lambs which were sacrificed.

Under the divine inspiration of God’s Spirit, it was documented that our Lord Jesus Christ “took [unleavened] bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it” to His apostles to eat. He also likewise took the cup of ‘the fruit of the vine’ after supper, passed it to His apostles to drink a small amount. We – in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and affiliates – ask God the Father and Jesus Christ’s blessings, break and distribute the unleavened bread, and then ask for Their blessings on the fermented wine, distribute to His followers, and consume. Yet, the Roman Catholic Church – along with the daughter churches – no longer breaks unleavened bread. Instead, they use what is called a “sacramental bread” (often leavened; also called a host or wafer) along with (and it is often optional) “sacramental wine” (which the majority of churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church, require that sacramental wine should be pure grape wine. Other churches of the world, such as the Methodist Churches, disapprove of the consumption of alcohol, and substitute grape juice for wine).

Just What About … “’ This do, as often as you …’

Just how often should the LORD’S Passover (or, the Passover, the Lord’s Supper, or Communion) be taken!?

I had once attended as a guest a Pentecostal Assemblies of God group which insisted that the Lord’s Supper was to be taken the first Sunday of every month! I’m not sure where they get this from!?

The apostle Paul distinctly says, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” – 1 Corinthians 11:26 NKJV.

So, consider that it is our Lord’s death that this commemorates.

How often is a commemoration, an anniversary!? It is annually. Like, as an example – every year I commemorate and acknowledge the Attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), as well as D-Day (June 6, 1944), along with V J Day (August 15, 1945), and even January 27th, 1945, the Liberation of Auschwitz! – important dates in the history of the world!

Christ’s death has reconciled us to God the Father (Romans 5:10), and He sacrificed His life for our salvation (John 3:16-17; Hebrews 5:5-11). The New Covenant LORD’S Passover is an annual commemoration of Christ’s death till He comes.

For even more on the LORD’S Passover, see the following:
Please remember – these articles can be translated from English into Arabic, Malay, Chinese, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Persian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is this weeks suggested Sabbath service:

● 2 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is “The Old Time
● Opening prayer.
● Announcements (if any. You may also use this letter).
● Sermon. The one suggested is “You Are The Light of the World” by Michael C. Garrett.
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ‘LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS’ FOR ANY
WEEK, REMEMBER WE HAVE OUR CHURCH LETTERS ON OUR WEBSITE -

Suggested Passover Service

For those without a local minister, the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries is pleased to make available our suggested Passover Service – available on our YouTube channel.


A step-by-step Passover Service for baptized members of the Body of Christ to follow if they are unable to attend a congregation for Passover Service. The LORD’S Passover is to be on the 14th of the month of Abib (March 26th at twilight) of the Hebrew calendar. This Passover Service is by the overseeing pastor of the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ. Leaders of a local Passover Service should indeed have unleavened bread, fermented wine, towels, and water basins available.

Suggested FIRST DAY Service of the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Here is a suggested First Day of Unleavened Bread service for the 27th at sunset:

● 2 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is “The Old Time
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette: “First Day – Feast of Unleavened Bread Offertory” by Leonard V. Johnson – available March 27th @ 7:45 p.m. EST. on our YouTube channel.
Announcements (if any).
● Sermon. The one suggested for this week is “The Unleavened Bread of Sincerity and Truth” by Michael C. Garrett – available March 27th @ 7:45 p.m. EST. on our YouTube channel.
● Final hymn.
● Closing prayer.

World News Items

In the United States of America, it has been realized that governmentally mandated shutdowns due to COVID-19 have harmed the mental health of many children (See: ‘As U.S. schools shuttered, student mental health cratered, Reuters survey finds’). Also, many adults in America are gaining weight because of these mandated shutdowns from COVID-19 fears and socialist policies. Indeed, if public health officials – such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) truly cared about an individual's health and safety they should truly be paying attention (See: ‘Most Americans say the pandemic has been bad for their weight’).

Also in the USA – sadly there continues to be mass shootings! One last week in an Atlanta, Georgia spa, in which at least eight people were murdered. Another one this week In Boulder, Colorado where ten people were murdered (See: ‘10 killed in Colorado Grocery Store Shooting’). The Colorado murderer was from Syria (See: ‘FBI Knew About the Boulder Shooter But Failed To Stop Him’).

God’s living word – the Holy Bible – prophesies –
“The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within For the young man and virgin, The nursing child with the man of gray hairs” – Deuteronomy 32:25, NKJV.

“The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. 9) All the people will know – Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria – Who say in pride and arrogance of heart … 11) Therefore the LORD shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12) The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel [the house of Israel] with an open mouth” – Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12, NKJV.

“Make a chain, For the land is filled with crimes of blood, And the city is full of violence. 24) Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles, And they will possess their houses; I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease, And their holy places [this world’s churches, synagogues, and mosques] shall be defiled. 25) Destruction comes; They will seek peace, but there shall be none” – Ezekiel 7:23-25, NKJV.
Now, as far as the Syrian connection from the prophet Isaiah does this mean that all or most of the Syrian refugees are terrorists!?

Of course not.

Yet, as I posted last February, there has been an egregious amount of ‘pestilences’ and TERRORISM since September 1, 2001! The United States of America and our British brethren should expect even more deadly terrorist attacks from Syrians – and others!

All around the world, there has been a grave uptick of massive earthquakes as well as volcanic activity (See: ‘Iceland Volcano Erupts After Thousands Of Earthquakes’). As previously posted, New Zealand had an 8.1 earthquake as well as some other major ones!! (See: ‘2021! The highest number of major quakes ever recorded in the first 65 days of a year! In all 42 major quakes, mag 6 or higher have rocked the planet: Astonishingly 26 have rocked the eastern margin of the Australia plate since the first day of 2021’). Australia has been having terrible trouble with extreme flooding (See: ‘Parts of Australia declare natural disaster during ‘one in 100 years’ floods’). Indeed, Jesus Christ WARNED for this end-time, “’ there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows’” – Mark 13:8, NKJV.

Concluding Comments

The Apostle Paul in Titus wrote:
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. 9) But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10) Reject a divisive man [a person who tends to cause disagreement or hostility between others] after the first and second admonition, 11) knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” – Titus 3:8-11; NKJV.
Minister Garrett wrote:
“ [A] … man who actually claimed to be a member of the Church of God was claiming that abortion was a “good thing.” And he was just incensed that anyone would be against abortion. And obviously, there were people on the other side. And I guess it almost went to a bare-knuckle brawl!? Now imagine - At a church, holy festival people are getting so animated to the point of hatred, to the point of just intense rancor, and displeasure, that they almost got into a fistfight over something they can’t control. … And then, somewhere else there was a heated argument over discussions of political candidates! … And even today, I’m sure that there are church groups where people get into major disagreements over politics. And they do it on the Sabbath day while they’re attending church. And folks, it’s just not good! It’s not good! My suggestion is – stay off the topic. Now I think you can discuss politics in a calm manner. I think I’ve done it many times in my life. But when all of a sudden that becomes your team, and that becomes your player, your star, your captain, your coach, and you’re not about to let anybody disparage your side, your team – then you have a problem! Folks, LOOK TO JESUS! And, how many times have I said that!? Look to Jesus! And especially on the Sabbath day! If you’re gonna get together, talk about something that Jesus Christ would talk about. Talk about something about Jesus Christ or the New Covenant, or blessings that have come about in your life or challenges which are coming in the future. And you wish for people’s good thoughts and prayers to be on your behalf. But to dive down into the ugly sewer of politics is just unbecoming and unacceptable – if you wanna know the truth. It’s just unacceptable.”

The lack of the ‘fruits of the Spirit’ of those insisting on being improperly divisive should be crystal clear. Yet, those who do such things do not properly see their ‘luke warm’ work – cf. Revelation 3:14-16. They need their eyes properly anointed to see and to repent (change) – cf. Revelation 3:18.

Friends, “’ He who [truly] believes in Me [in Jesus Christ]…’” will surely believe what the living Bible says and teaches and will continue to support the Work of God and be careful in maintaining good works unto God.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,

Monday, March 22, 2021

The Fourth Commandment!


by Guy C. LaMar




The fourth commandment says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Jesus held church on the Sabbath day as did the apostles LONG AFTER Jesus had ascended into heaven.

The true Christian example is extremely clear.

First – to be a true Christian one must be a true follower of Jesus.

The apostle Paul said –

1 Corinthians 11:1 – “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

Sunday church keeping over Sabbath-keeping was instituted by Satan the devil – through his largest organization – The Roman Catholic Church.

Jesus and the apostles kept the Sabbath.

Friends, church day is the Sabbath – which is Saturday.

NOT SUNDAY!!!!!

To be a TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST one must OBEY the living word of God. 

Mark 2:2-27 – “And He said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’ 

Luke 4:16 – “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.”

Exodus 31:16-17 – “’ Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and ON THE SEVENTH DAY He rested and was refreshed.’” 

Exodus 31:13 – “’ Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies you.’” 

Acts 13:14 – “But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.” 

Acts 16:13 – “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.” 

Acts 17:2 – “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures.” 

Matthew 12:1-14 – “At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, ‘Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!’ But He said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.’ Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 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. Then He said to them, ‘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? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

Luke 13:10-16 – “Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, ‘Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.’ And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.’ The Lord then answered him and said, ‘Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound — think of it — for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?’ 

Ezekiel 20:18-21 – “But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. I AM the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I AM the LORD your God.’ ‘Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness.’” 

Matthew 5:17-19 – “’ Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’

John 7:22-23 – “’ Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?’ 

Acts 13:42-44 – “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God.’” 

Acts 18:4 – “And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.” 

1 John 2:4-6 – “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 

1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 

Deuteronomy 4:2 – “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” 

Ezekiel 20:12-13 – “’ Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I AM the LORD who sanctifies them. Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.’” 

Ezekiel 20:24 – “’ because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.’”

Mark 3:2-4 – “So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Step forward.’ Then He said to them, ‘Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they kept silent.” 

Luke 6:1 – “Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.” 

Luke 6:5 – “And He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.’” 

Luke 23:56 – “Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.” 

2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 

Hebrews 4:1-2 – “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” 

Hebrews 8:10 – “’ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ 

1 John 3:4 – “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.”

God rested from His labors on THE SEVENTH DAY – cf. Genesis 2:2.

God blessed THE SEVENTH DAY and sanctified it – creating the SEVENTH DAY – cf. Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:11.

The Sabbath was made for man – that is – for all mankind – cf. Mark 2:27.

God blessed THE SEVENTH DAY and named it the Sabbath – cf. Exodus 20:10-11.

God not only blessed THE SEVENTH DAY, but He also sanctified it – that is, made it HOLY by His presence and declaration – cf. Genesis 2:3.

There is no record in all the Scriptures that God ever removed His blessing from THE SABBATH and placed it upon another day of the week.

God's people kept the Sabbath before the Ten Commandments were given at Mount Sinai – cf. Exodus 16:22-26.

God ordained that man should keep the Sabbath – cf. Exodus 20; Hebrews 4:3-9.

God forbade work on the Sabbath even in harvest time – cf. Exodus 34:21.

God promised the Gentiles – non-Israelite nations – a blessing if they kept the Sabbath – cf. Isaiah 56:2.

God promised to bless anyone who keeps the Sabbath – cf. Isaiah 56:2.

There is nowhere in the Bible a command to observe any other day of the week as ‘holy,’ as a substitute or a replacement for THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH.

God calls the Sabbath His ‘holy day’ – cf. Exodus 20:10; Leviticus 23:2-3; Isaiah 58:13; Mark 2:28.

The keeping of the Sabbaths – weekly and annually – is a sign between God and His people – cf. Exodus 31:12-17.

The observance of the Sabbath shows our love and obedience towards God – cf. Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Matthew 22:37-40.

Jesus Christ kept and observed the Sabbath as a habit – which expressed His love and obedience toward God the Father – cf. Luke 4:16.

Jesus Christ is ‘Lord of the Sabbath;’ thus, the Sabbath is the true Lord’s Day – cf. Mark 2:28; Isaiah 58:13; Matthew 12:8.

Jesus Christ recognized the Sabbath commandment as binding – cf. Matthew 5:17-18; 12:12; Mark 3:4.

Jesus Christ kept His Father’s commandments – which included THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH – cf. John 5:46-47; 8:29; 15:10.

The Sabbath was being observed at the time of the crucifixion – cf. Luke 23:56.

The observance of the Sabbath was practiced years after the crucifixion – cf. Acts 17:2.

The apostle Paul recognized and observed the Sabbath during his ministry – cf. Acts 13:27.

The apostle Paul taught the Gentiles on the Sabbath day – at their request – cf. Acts 13:42.

The apostle Paul preached to an entire city on the Sabbath day – cf. Acts 13:44.

The apostle Paul attended a prayer meeting on the Sabbath day – when no synagogue was available – cf. Acts 16:13.

It was the apostle Paul’s custom to preach Jesus Christ on the Sabbath day – cf. Acts 17:2-3.

At Corinth, the apostle Paul preached every Sabbath for eighteen months – cf. Acts 18:1-4, 11.

The apostle James (a brother to our Lord Jesus Christ) recognized the Sabbath many years after Jesus Christ’s resurrection – cf. Acts 15:21.

THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH will be observed during the Millennial reign of Jesus Christ – cf. Isaiah 66:23. 

The apostle Paul made it crystal clear that the day of rest – THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH – was to be observed as a holy day – cf. Hebrews 4:4.

The Sabbath day was never changed by Jesus Christ or the apostles to the first day of the week – Sunday. Neither was it changed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ was resurrected at “THE END OF THE SABBATH,” and not on Sunday – cf. Matthew 28:1-6.

As part of our Christian requirements to receive eternal life, we must keep all of God’s holy and relevant TEN COMMANDMENTS – cf. Matthew 19:17; Revelation 22:14.

THE SEVENTH-DAY SABBATH remains as the day of rest for God’s people – cf. Hebrews 4:9.

Jesus WARNED that in the end-time – as the great tribulation was beginning – we should not flee on the Sabbath – cf. Matthew 24:20.

The sign of God’s people in the end-time is that they would be keeping the commandments of God – Revelation 12:17; 14:12.

Sunday - the day of the Sun, derived from Hellenistic astrology – is the first day of the week and is almost universally observed by “professing Christians” today.

Yet, the Bible teaches that the only day that is holy to God is THE SEVENTH-DAY OF THE WEEK – called Saturday – the Sabbath day in the living word of God.

The Gregorian calendar – modified from the Julian calendar, a solar calendar proposed by Julius Caesar AUC 708 – which is used in most of the world shows that THE SEVENTH-DAY OF THE WEEK is Saturday.

In Europe, their calendars have been changed to show Sunday as the seventh day of the week.

In spite of that change, the true biblical Sabbath of God – which is holy to Him – is still Saturday.

God’s living word clearly commands – “REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY. SIX DAYS SHALL YOU LABOR AND DO ALL YOUR WORK: BUT, THE SEVENTH-DAY IS THE SABBATH OF THE LORD YOUR GOD” – Exodus 20:8-11.

Friends, if anyone believes that Sunday worship is Christian and that God’s inspired living word teaches Sunday-keeping – then I implore you to search the Scriptures.

You will find that there is NOT …
  • One text that says that the Sabbath was ever changed from the seventh to the first day of the week.
  • One text where the first day of the week is ever called a holy day.
  • One text where we are told to keep the first day of the week.
  • One text that says that Jesus ever kept the first day.
  • One text where the first day is ever given a sacred title.
  • One text that tells us to keep the first day in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • One text that affirms that any of the apostles ever kept the first day as the Sabbath.
  • One text from any apostolic writings that authorizes Sunday observance as the Sabbath of God.
  • One text where it says it was customary for the Church of God to observe or meet on, the first day of the week – not counting Pentecost.
  • One text where we are told not to work on the first day of the week.
  • One text where any blessings are promised for observing Sunday.
  • One text where any punishment is threatened for working on Sunday.
  • One text that says the seventh day is not now God's Sabbath day.
  • One text where the apostles ever taught their converts to keep the first day of the week as a Sabbath.
  • One text that says the seventh-day Sabbath is abolished.
  • One text where the first day is ever called the Lord's Day.
  • One text where the first day was ever appointed to be kept as the Lord's Day.
  • One text that says that the Father or the Son ever rested on the first day of the week.
  • One text that says that the first day of the week was ever sanctified and hallowed as a day of rest.
  • One text that says that Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul or any of the apostles taught anyone to observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath.
  • One text that calls the seventh day the “Jewish Sabbath,” or one text that calls Sunday the “Christian Sabbath.”
  • One text authorizing anyone to abrogate, abolish or set aside God's Holy Sabbath and observe any other day.
So friends, if ANYONE is keeping Sunday over the holy Sabbath then they are not following Jesus Christ.

They are blindly following Satan the devil. □


Additional Related Articles:

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Proving the Truth!I think many of you reading this have had the experience of being with a friend, a family member, a relative, neighbor, co-worker, and in a moment of conversation maybe the conversation of religion comes up. And before long they sort-of sense that there is something a little different about your religion or maybe you, [...]
What's In A Name!?As I have said before in various church gatherings, I grew up in a small town on the banks of the Ohio River in Southern Indiana, and at around the age of twelve [...]

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Letter to our Friends - March 17, 2021


CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606




Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor/Overseer


Greetings Friends from Spring Hill, Florida, USA.

For 2021, the LORD’s Passover is to be observed after sunset on March 26th. And the Days of Unleavened Bread run from sunset March 27th through sunset April 3rd.

Deleaven?



Friends, this Passover season a great many people will be scrambling to “deleaven” their home!

Here is something that Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote regarding leavening:
Now, the Jewish Talmud is a collection of teaching points handed down through the centuries among millennia by leading Jewish rabbis and scholars. And the Jewish Talmud, I think, actually means more to Jewish people than the Bible. Which right there tells you something. But you’re never EVER going to learn about Jesus Christ looking at Jewish religious documents! You do understand that – don’t you!? And if you don’t understand Jesus Christ you cannot understand the holy days - the holy days have no true meaning. And you end up telling people, “You got to go around your house and find old leavening!”

Now folks, what is leavening? It’s some type of agent. And what’s the number one leavening agent in the history of the world and always will be!? Yeast. You can take a nine-month-old piece of bread, and you can put it in some fresh dough, and nothing will be leavened. Because that nine-month-old piece of bread – for all intents and purposes – is on its way to becoming dust or carbon. It’s not leavening anymore. …

Now, the idea that you can “deleaven” your house is ridiculous! There are right now in this room trillions and trillions of yeast spores. They’re in your hair, they’re on your skin – you could take your finger, right now, and put it under an electron microscope and there would be thousands and thousands, probably millions, of yeast spores. You can’t “deleaven” your house! It’s impossible! So, if your idea of Unleavened Bread is to thoroughly “deleaven” your house – God created a commandment that no human being (except for a NASA worker in those special climate control rooms) could keep! It’s impossible!

So, just what are the very plain and simple words of the Eternal our God!?

If you would, go to the Book of Exodus chapter 12 - which gives us the account of the very first official Passover and the first official Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Verse 15 – “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses.”

The word “leaven” is a shortened contraction meaning what – leavened bread. The whole idea was that for seven days you’re going to have in your house, and on your person, unleavened bread, and for seven days you are NOT going to eat leavened bread.

Now, does leaven picture sin and hypocrisy!? It certainly can be used symbolically – cf. Matthew 16:6-12; Luke 12:1. Having a show of piety, without true holiness, is like leaven in that it gradually increases and spreads corruption, puffing up a person with vanity. Indeed friends, the very nature of leaven (or, rather yeast) is to change whatever it contacts. Yeast does its job slowly, secretly, and silently, but no one can deny its effect on bread. Yeast is microscopic in size, and only a little is kneaded into the dough. Yet, given time, the yeast will spread through all the dough. The same can be said of CHRIST IN US!

Yet, many people this time of year make it their mission – their campaign – to go about their house doing a “ritualistic housecleaning.” Or, rather “deleavening.”

Again, Minister Michael C. Garrett:
Folks, I have something very disturbing to tell you – you can huff, and puff and you can blow on that wall all you want, but you’re never gonna blow it down! You are incapable – you – are incapable of putting sin out of your life! Because the natural human mind is enmity – is against God, against Jesus Christ – is rebellious by nature, hardheaded, thick-headed – however you wanna put it! The only way that you can put sin out of your life is to have your life filled up with Jesus Christ – and He changes you from the inside out! That’s how you overcome sin! Because Jesus Christ becomes your champion. He’s the One that causes you to go through that metamorphosis – He causes that new creature to be created in you, which Paul talked about.

(ibid.).
The apostle Paul, through the inspiration of God’s Spirit –
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20 NKJV.

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life [ETERNAL LIFE] and peace. 7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” – Romans 8:5-8 NKJV.

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump [an unleavened lump], since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8) Therefore let us keep the feast [again, two-and-a-half decades after the human existence of Jesus Christ on the Earth and he’s still teaching them], not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth [which is JESUS CHRIST].” – 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NKJV.
Obviously, the apostle Paul fully acknowledged the idea that ‘you are all supposed to keep the Passover, and you are all supposed to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread!’

Also, in 1st Corinthians chapter 11 – we all should be reading and reviewing this very chapter for the LORD’s Passover – the apostle Paul says –

“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” – the symbols of the Passover. Verse 29 – “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body [not appreciating what Jesus went through]. 30) For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” – 1st Corinthians 11:28-30 NKJV.

So, it’s not something you wanna full around with! You want to get it right and then have that right attitude. Paul is clearly teaching that to take this unleavened bread and this wine, one MUST examine oneself. Last week I gave a short sermon on this very subject (“Passover - Let Us Examine Ourselves”). Also, be sure to read our 7-part series “Christ In You (Unleavened Bread) 2017.” If you wish to watch the sermons, they are on our website - http://www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com/holy-day-sermons---2017.html

Holy Day Calendar Update



We have shared our Holy Day Calendar for some time now. Here is an extended Holy Day Calendar through to 2033 –

Indeed, knowing just when the Holy Days are does assist with planning – particularly on matters related to work, school, and travel.

* In biblical reckoning, days begin in the evening (Genesis 1:5), when the sun goes down (Joshua 8:29; 2 Chronicles 18:34; Mark 1:32), and are counted “from evening to evening” (Leviticus 23:32). Thus, all God’s festivals begin the sunset just before the dates listed in this table. In 2021, Passover is observed on the evening of March 26th after sundown, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the following evening, March 27th through to the evening of April 3rd.

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; you may also use this letter).
● Sermon. The one suggested is “’ Behold! The Lamb of God!’” by Leonard V. Johnson (sermon will be available on our YouTube channel 3/19/21 @ 7:41 p.m. EST.).
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 OUR CHURCH LETTERS ON OUR WEBSITE - www.owensborocojc.com.

World News Items

Switzerland narrowly voted to essentially ban the Islamic burqa (See: ‘Switzerland to ban wearing of burqa and niqab in public places’). There are bans on wearing burqa-type face coverings in public places also in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Now, while there are some temporary religious compromises with Islam, there will come a time when Islam will be forced out of Europe (cf. Revelation 13, and Daniel 11). Be sure to read our free online PDF booklet “Prophecy Series – The Last Crusade.”

In the United States of America, the Satanic Temple is suing the State of Texas to prevent women in the state from being made to view an ultrasound of their unborn baby before having an abortion (See: ‘The Satanic Temple sues Texas for regulations that ‘interfere’ with their abortion ‘destruction ritual’). Also, in the U.S.A. the Biden Administration has once again changed the policies in regards to having the government fund some abortions in the nation and abroad.

Again, Minister Michael C. Garrett:
God is highly principled. With a system of equity, judgment, and justice. One of the most fundamental teachings in the entire Bible is this – and this is my paraphrase – ‘In the end, when it’s all said and done, everyone will receive exactly what they deserve!” That’s one of the main messages of the Bible! …

Ezekiel chapter 7 – and I want to place this into context – why the Day of the LORD!? Why is it going to happen!? What’s the higher-level working here!? And in God’s world, He sees things differently. He says, ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts. My ways are not your ways.’ Verse 1 – “Moreover the Word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2) ‘And you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: ‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.’” – and we know who we think Israel is! Verse 3 – “’ Now the end has come upon you, And I will send My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways, And I will repay you for all your abominations. 4) My eye will not spare you, Nor will I have pity; But I will repay your ways, …’” – ‘you will, in the end, get what you deserve.’ And I again have to wonder what the issue of abortion – how that fits in God’s mind!? I do not believe He looks upon it kindly! He did not look upon – in ancient days – when what He called ‘heathens’ would sacrifice their children to their so-called god! He destroyed people because of that! And I don’t think He’s very happy with what we are doing in our so-called Western civilized world, where millions upon millions of unborn babies have never had a chance to live – perfect innocence – destroyed before they ever had a chance to live! … Ezekiel chapter 16, verse 43 – “…’ surely I will also recompense your deeds on your own head,’ …” – and then He says over in Verse 59 – “…’ I will deal with you as you have done, …’” – ‘I’m just gonna deal with you as you deserve.’ And there are many other Scriptures.

God’s living word – the Holy Bible – emphatically says, that those who shed innocent blood are evil – cf. Isaiah 59:7.

Earthquakes are at an increase! New Zealand had an 8.1 earthquake as well as some other major ones!! There has been an increase in earthquake activity in 2021 (See: ‘2021! The highest number of major quakes ever recorded in the first 65 days of a year! In all 42 major quakes, mag 6 or higher have rocked the planet: Astonishingly 26 have rocked the eastern margin of the Australia plate since the first day of 2021’). Our Lord Jesus Christ certainly said, “’ And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.’” – Matthew 24:7b.

We should expect to see an even greater increase in earthquakes. Also notice: ‘Kermadec and New Zealand Earthquakes’).

Concluding Comments

God’s living word says –
“’ This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.’” – Exodus 12:2 NKJV.
Now, this year, the new year began March (called Abib in Hebrew) the 13th at sunset.

Now, all over our yard here in Florida are brown and stringy catkins or tassels. The male pollen structures produced by oak trees. They release their pollen in the wind to fertilize female flowers. After all the pollen is gone, they fall to the ground (and into our pool), creating a mat of mess. Spring is here! It is a time considered to be a spiritual renewal, in which we should indeed examine ourselves before the LORD’s Passover.

The apostle Peter wrote –

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, BEWARE lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18) but grow in the GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.” – 2 Peter 3:17-18 NKJV.

This year let us all continue growing in God’s grace and knowledge.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,








Thursday, March 11, 2021

Letter to our Friends - March 10, 2021


CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606


Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor/Overseer


Greetings Friends from Spring Hill, Florida, USA.

This week’s recommended sermon isn’t very long, but it is a subject that is very IMPORTANT – it is on examining ourselves before the annual Passover.

Spring Holy Days – This Month


The Spring Holy Days begin this month!

The LORD’S Passover is to be observed after sunset on March 26th. And, after sunset on March 27th is the beginning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread – which is from sunset March 27th through to sunset April 3rd.

Sadly, because of governmental restrictions in regards to COVID-19 – such as Michigan which has a restaurant curfew of 10 p.m. – it might be wise for us to plan on observing the LORD’S Passover in our homes as opposed to meeting with our congregations. Since the 2021 Spring Holy Days come earlier this year than in past years, I just want to give a heads up.

We have a step-by-step video service of the LORD’S Passover available. (Watch: “Passover 2015”).

Questions & Answers

Our friend Naphtali Rajula from Kisumu City, Kenya asked “How can one be Christian?”
Thank you so much for asking Naphtali such an IMPORTANT question! –

It's IMPORTANT to understand. It's the most IMPORTANT thing in your life to understand. The most IMPORTANT thing in all of the universe to understand is Almighty God's purpose for you! The most IMPORTANT thing to all mankind is understanding God's purpose. Now, we read in Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ...”

Now, you can't love God without His Spirit in you, because you don't have the kind of love to love God. Really loving God is His Spirit in you returning back to Him in love. It says, ‘TO THEM WHO ARE CALLED.’ That God has called and chosen. “According to His purpose.”

Now, He has CALLED YOU ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE! In other words, it has been His purpose to call you. Now that's pretty important to God! If you're one He has called, that's something that is very important to Him. Now read the next verse.

“For whom He foreknew ...” - And that means that He has called you. If you put all of this and the 1st chapter of Ephesians (where it talks about predestination) and put it together, you find that God foreknew you.

“ ... He also predestined ...” - Predestined to what!? Predestined to be lost!? No, predestined “to be conformed to the image of His Son, ...” - the living Jesus Christ!

That's what you were predestinated for, and that means to be saved, that means to receive His Spirit, that means to be made one of Christ's brothers. He calls you a brother. That means to make you a begotten son of God until you become BORN OF GOD!

You see, God is calling you! You've been called by God. You didn't just volunteer. God has called you. In some way, God put it in your mind to get interested, and you wanted to know more. You can learn more at - www.owensborocojc.com. You began to look in your Bible. God began to speak to you through His own Word, the Bible. God isn't just trying to talk you into becoming a Christian – a follower of Jesus Christ – but when you are ready, find a man of God and get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:37-39.

May Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ bless you immensely.

In the holy name of Jesus Christ,
Leonard V. Johnson
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; you may also use this letter).
● Sermon. The one suggested is “Passover – Let Us Examine Ourselves.” NOTE: Available 3/12 @ 6:30 p.m. EST. on our YouTube channel. 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.

World News Items

The United States of America has been having some military involvement with Iran (See: ‘Rocket Attack Targets Iraqi Military Base’).

The grave situation between Iran and Judah (modern-day Israel) is continuing to heat up – with Israel accusing Iran of attacking a freighter this past week (See: ‘Netanyahu Blames Iran for Cargo Ship Blast’ along with ‘Netanyahu accuses Iran of attacking Israeli-owned cargo ship’).

These actions between Israel and Iran will continue towards a full destructive conflict – See: “’ Blow the Trumpet!’”

Just last year, Iran allegedly targeted six water infrastructure facilities in Israel attempting to release dangerous chemicals in order to cause mass poisoning! An alleged cyber-attack by Israel against Iran last year caused Iran to shut down many of its ports. Israel has also taken additional steps to annihilate parts of an Iranian nuclear facility.

Will this situation between Israel and Iran become evermore militaristic!? 

Yes.

Isaiah 22:4 – “Therefore I said [Isaiah speaking when he sees these things in a vision], ‘Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; Do not labor to comfort me Because of the plundering of the daughter of my people.’ 5) For it is A DAY OF TROUBLE ...” – now, you’ve heard the expression Jesus Christ talking about ‘a day of tribulation,’ well, that word just means troubles. And here is what Isaiah says, it’s a day of just tremendous troubles!

The vast majority of the Bible is talking about the DAY OF THE LORD!
In Isaiah 22:8, “Judah” is in reference to modern-day Israel. “He [Almighty God] removed the protection of Judah.” He will allow Israel to be attacked! V. 9 – “… the damage to the city of David” is indeed a reference to at least part of the city of Jerusalem – “That it was great.” This, surely, would result in a massive Israeli – with possible U.S. involvement – attack against Iran and its terrorist allies, like Syria!

Indeed friends, as our Lord Jesus Christ WARNS:

’ For nation will rise against nation, …’ – literally, ethnos – meaning, ‘a people will rise against people.’ ‘… and kingdom against kingdom.’ – Matthew 24:7.

There will be an intifada of ethnic groups against ethnic groups. Europe will temporarily align with a power from the Middle East and North Africa (Psalm 83:3-8; Daniel 11:27). And, an intifada in the Middle East could ultimately involve Syria (Isaiah 17:1) and Iran (Isaiah 22). There will come great damage to Jerusalem and Palestine, and Israeli leaders will look seriously for peace deals.

Also in the news, there are a great many anti-biblical steps that the U.S. Congress is entertaining (e.g. See: ‘House Passes The Equality Act: Here’s What It Would Do’ along with ‘The inequality of the ‘Equality Act’’).

Also, notice the following:
Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) upset Democrats when he confirmed God makes boys and girls unique.

“When men or women claim to be able to choose their own sexual identity, they are making a statement that God did not know what he was doing when he created them,” the congressman said.

“The gender confusion that exists in our culture today is a clear rejection of God’s good design. Whenever a nation’s laws no longer reflect the standards of God that nation is in rebellion against him and will inevitably bear the consequences,” the congressman said. “We are seeing the consequences of rejecting God here in our country today.”

That promoted a rather shocking comment from Nadler.

“What any religious tradition describes as God’s will is no concern of this Congress,” he admitted.

The U.S. Congress under the Biden Administration despises any Word of Almighty God – and as Rep. Greg Steube boldly announced, our nation will inevitably bear the consequences!

Our LORD God says:

“’ Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the LORD, ‘Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin; … 12) Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: ‘Because you despise this word, And trust in oppression and perversity, And rely on them, 13) Therefore this iniquity shall be to you Like a breach ready to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose breaking comes SUDDENLY …’” – do you recall the “Wall Street Crash of 1929”!? For the American people, it was SUDDEN! OVERNIGHT! “ … ‘in an instant.’” – Isaiah 30:1, 12-13 NKJV.

A major factor contributing to the fall of the United States of America is her debt – which is currently $28 TRILLION! (and growing) (Cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8). Again, the Biden Administration via U.S. Congress voted for another $1.9 TRILLION of debt! (See: ‘Biden Calls on Senate to Pass $1.9 Trillion COVID Relief Bill After House Approval’).

The Daily Reckoning published last February – ‘Will the Truth Really Set You Free?’ by Brian Maher wrote, “One-fifth of all United States dollars ever issued have entered existence within the past year. One dollar in five ever issued — within the past year! … Meantime, the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet has expanded 80% since February last, from $4.1 trillion… to $7.4 trillion.”

Now, surely, the greater majority of our people will say, “We’re happy to get another check from the U.S. government!” And many will even say that the U.S. has been increasing her debt for decades with no problems – certainly, the government has our back, right!?

Notice the LORD God’s living word:

“Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 12) Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him. 13) But it will not be well with the wicked; nor will he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he does not fear [reverent fear] before God.” – Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 NKJV.

Concluding Comments

The prophet Jeremiah wrote the following:

“Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel against the shepherds who feed My people: ‘You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings, ‘ says the LORD. … 10) For the land is full of adulterers – Jeremiah 23:2, 10.

Minister Garrett wrote:
“God says He will repay them the way they deserve to be repaid. Now, people can say, “To whom is He speaking!?” Is He talking about the physical people of Israel, who have been misled by their false religions!? It’s possible. I think that is part of the implication. But I think it is also referring to the Churches of God – the Body of Christ – and there are in these different organizations pastors who seem more concerned about their own needs, their own sense of power, their own sense of control, than worrying about the spiritual health of people who are a part of their organization. And I do believe every human being who thinks he is a leader in the Body of Christ – you need to read these words very soberly because if you’re not careful you might be on the receiving end. … “For the land is full of adulterers; …” – Now, I’ve tried pointing out before that the word “adultery,” might, in part, refer to the physical sin of adultery. Sex outside of marriage. Breaking those bonds of loyalty. But, most of the time, not all of the time, when you see words in the Bible such as fornication, adultery, whoring, those types of words, if you read the whole passage, it is God’s pronouncement against people who are engaged in false religion. You see, at one time God married Israel. And when Israel, the people of Israel, leave God and go – in His own terminology – a whoring after other gods and other religions, God looks upon that as the highest form of adultery. Of the betrayal of wedding vows.”

Now, you might very well say to yourself, we don’t have to worry about “adultery” or any false religion. Yet, friends, we are in a world that is now promoting evil as good and good as evil. Their “false gods” (as Mr. Garrett teaches in the sermon series “Toxic Philosophy” – a five-part series) are distorted worldly philosophy and public opinion which continues to rapidly sway further away from Almighty God and Jesus Christ.

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,