Thursday, March 4, 2021

Letter to our Friends - March 3, 2021


CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606


Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor and Overseer


Greetings Friends and warm hearts all around the world from Spring Hill, Florida.

Brand New Tube



I recently discovered and am considering an additional internet platform named BrandNewTube. So I signed up and started an account. I was able to get the account name COJCOM, which means the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries. I should be able to begin posting and publishing soon on this new platform.

As most of you are aware, we had in the past problems with ‘shadow banning’ from YouTube. Essentially, that’s a way that some companies use to make it harder to find certain videos that they do not care for (such as the series of sermons Minister Michael C. Garrett gave entitled Toxic Philosophy). While I do not believe that our affiliated YouTube channels will be ‘deplatformed’ (meaning – the removal of videos) any time soon, we suspect that it will happen one day. Cf. Amos 8:11-12.

YouTube - since being bought by Google in 2006 has been steadily moving toward a socialistic agenda, plus they put up unnecessary warning links i.e. “your content violates our Community Guidelines, your channel will be issued a strike.” What has been happening with YouTube as well as others brings a certain passage to mind. Notice the following from the New English Translation:
“A prudent one foresees the evil and hides himself, but the thoughtless plow ahead and are punished.” – Proverbs 22:3.
So, like Brother Guy C. LaMar being on Christian Radio in a few weeks, having additional internet platforms is not only prudent, but it also gives us access to new markets of potential listeners.

So, at this time, in addition to BrandNewTube, we also have videos on the following internet platforms – YouTube, BitChute, and GodTube.

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 “Things Which Have Recently Happened” by Minister Michael C. Garrett. Additional sermons and articles 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

In the United States of America, US President Joe Biden is pushing the so-called ‘Equality Act.’ There are some who believe that it will essentially eliminate women’s sports to help push the transgender agenda, along with forcing ever more people to unknowingly participate in abortions – causing a host of abominable results (See: ‘If You Believe Life Will “Return To Normal,” You Have A Fundamental Misunderstanding Of The Times In Which We Live’ along with ‘Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the Introduction of the Equality Act in Congress’).

Yes, Friends, this type of “new normal” that our beloved United States of America is moving into is not good. Sadly, the sovereignty of the USA is soon to come to an end. The nation, soon, will no longer exist as a sovereign nation, an independent nation, governed by the American people, that controls its own affairs – for an article related to this, check out our free article “’ Blow the Trumpet!’” Now, understand, I am in no way placing a day or hour of our Lord Jesus Christ’s return. Because ‘no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.’ – Matthew 24:36 NET. I am, however, WARNING of a soon coming Middle East regional war!

And, concerning this end-time, our Lord Jesus Christ warned:
’ Therefore, when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (the one who reads, let him understand), 16) Then let those who are IN JUDEA (in modern-day Israel) flee into the mountains. 17) Let the one who is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of the house; 18) And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19) But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies IN THOSE DAYS! 20) And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.’” – Matthew 24:15-20 NKJV.
The ‘abomination of desolation’ is when a Gentile representing Satan walks into the temple and claims that he is God! Be sure to read our free PDF article “The Two Witnesses” for a little background information concerning this.

Our Master and Elder Brother said:
“ … ‘Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43) Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.’” – Luke 12:42-43 NKJV.
While this parable does include providing physical food to the poor, it is also a parable concerning supporting the living work of our Eternal God – which provides spiritual food to the world. The ‘faithful and wise steward’ will not be focused mainly on themselves, but on supporting the preaching of the gospel to the world – and to our Master’s sheep. Cf. John 21:15-17. Of course, Almighty God can take care of this without our help.

While we do believe that the Two Witnesses (cf. Revelation 11) will be the primary witnesses to fulfill Matthew 24:14 – their preaching of ‘the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations’ at the beginning of the ‘Day of the Lord’ and will last for 3½ years! As Minister Guy C. LaMar teaches in the sermon “The Work Of The Church,” since God does not change, and our Lord Jesus Christ does not change (Hebrews 13:8), the work of the Church of God has not changed.

Concluding Comments

Friends, our Lord and Savior – the awesome Son of God – said:
’ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29) Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I AM gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls [your lives]. 30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’” – Matthew 11:28-30.
Now, this passage has nothing to do with replacing the holy Sabbath. And, for so many people – including those people on the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN) - to incorrectly teach this is deceitfully handling of the living word of God! They are not allowing the Spirit of God – the true Spirit of God, the true mind of God – to teach them that the holy Sabbath is still in effect.

’ My yoke is easy and My burden is light.’” – what is He talking about!?

He is comparing the New Covenant with the overwhelming restrictions of the Old Covenant.

Why there are churches and synagogues throughout the world that continue to want to live in this Old Covenant mentality. Minister Garrett has been speaking for years concerning this. Why are they doing that to themselves!? We don’t live in the Old Covenant anymore – we live in the New Covenant.

Also, in Matthew 23:1 – “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2) saying: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3) Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.’” – in other words, He is referring to the grave burdens of the Old Covenant religion – i.e. utensils, pots, pans that have come into contact with meat may not be used with dairy, and vice versa, grape products made by non-Jews may not be eaten, and you must write words of Torah on the doorposts of your house. In fact, I have a Jewish friend – who is now living in North Carolina – who affixes a mezuzah to his doorpost in his belief of what Deuteronomy 6:9 says. And, because of their living so deeply in the Old Covenant, they will never see the Light of Almighty God and Jesus Christ! He says so, in verse 16 – “’ Woe to you, BLIND guides, …’”!

Verse 4 – “’ For they [these religious guides] bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; …’” – the keeping of the innumerable Old Covenant laws which are ‘heavy burdens.’ Even teaching such things as ‘You cannot eat out on a Sabbath.’

Verse 5 – “’ But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.’” – a phylactery, or it’s also called tefillin, is a small square leather box containing slips of paper inscribed with Scriptural passages. Jesus is saying of them in essence – “’ Look at me! Look how religious I am!”

Friends, as the Apostle Paul wrote - “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 11:3.

Be not deceived, Jesus Christ stated emphatically, ‘My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.’

In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,

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