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,








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