Saturday, July 24, 2021

Letter to our Friends - July 23, 2021

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
P.O. BOX 6458
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606




Leonard V. Johnson
Founder/Pastor

Dearest Friends:

Greetings from Spring Hill, Florida.

YouTube censorship of ‘conservative’ content

YouTube last Tuesday “purged” The Independent Christian Church of God’s view count on their YouTube channel! The view count was in the triple digits for the recent sermons “Spooks” and “Who Are We?” Now the view count is in the double-digit range! Here is what Minister Guy C. LaMar wrote –
“Interesting - My wife told me yesterday day that my view count on my latest YouTube sermon was 100 even. So I looked and it was. Then today I just checked and it says 42 views. Hummmmmm.......I have a sneaky feeling YouTube is a bit of an anti-Christian media platform.”
Indeed YouTube is! They have continued to “purge” and even suspend more and more channels for which they do not care.

Back in 2018 Michael Snyder of The Economic Collapse had written –
This Is The Worst Purge Of Conservative Voices In The History Of The Internet

In recent weeks, we have witnessed an unprecedented social media crackdown on conservative voices. YouTube’s war with Alex Jones has gotten the most attention, but literally hundreds of conservative content creators have had their accounts penalized, suspended or deleted by YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social media giants. There appears to be a coordinated effort to target conservative viewpoints, because similar voices on the left are not receiving equal treatment. …

How would you feel if you spent years creating videos and building up a subscriber base only to have all of that work wiped out in a single moment by a leftist YouTube moderator?

Sadly, that is precisely what is happening to dozens upon dozens of conservatives right now…

One of the most disturbing examples of censorship was what happened to the Health Ranger channel. Mike Adams is a personal friend, and I am extremely upset about what YouTube has done to him…
As we reported over the weekend, YouTube terminated the entire Health Ranger video channel on Saturday, wiping out over 1,700 videos and approximately 350K+ subscribers. This was done, of course, as part of the YouTube left-wing PURGE now being carried out against non-establishment speakers who are being targeted for political reasons.

YouTube’s censorship rampage also wiped out all my videos on the donkeys I rescued, the range-free chickens I raise and even the beautiful ice crystals I captured on video over the winter. In its censorship sweep, YouTube is obliterating thousands of videos without cause, violating the civil rights of informative internet users and functioning as a criminal techno-cartel.
There is absolutely no reason for YouTube to do this. Mike Adams has literally helped millions of people through his work, and I am urging all of my readers to contact YouTube and demand that they restore his channel immediately.

Now certainly, these types of “purges” and suspensions from YouTube are not new, however, we are seeing an even greater increase of electronic social-media censorship against ANYONE who does not agree with the mainstream media and/or those who have the conservative views and teachings of God’s living word – the Holy Bible. Or, for that matter, those who quote God’s word!

Also, Google, which owns YouTube, has changed its search parameters in a great many areas to reduce the possibility of certain views or beliefs from showing up on the first page of their search engine query. In our view, this has greatly hurt the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries and our affiliated churches’ YouTube channels.

Now, I say this not so that our people should take some kind of political action – but I say this to witness, announce, and warn our people that Authoritarianism Can Happen Again! – even in a so-called “free” society. And that it will take place more and more as the ‘end of this age’ ends. The reality is – Internet censorship was prophesied to occur in this end-time –
“’ Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of HEARING the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, And from north to east; They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, But shall not find it’” – Amos 8:11-12, NKJV and throughout.
Notice that God’s living word tells that a time is coming when the word of the LORD will not be found – worldwide. Truly, in this 21st-century world, the Internet is accessed by people of every continent, country, nation, province, and state – thus, some type of Internet restriction/suspension/ or removal is coming! And in a few nations, it is already here – i.e. North Korea, China, Libya, South Africa.

Truly, the United States of America no longer has the type of “freedom of religion” or “freedom of speech” which our Founding Fathers wanted. Now, while YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter are not part of the US government, these private entities DO NOT support God or His teachings.

Having and following the views and teachings of God the Father and Jesus Christ as written in Their living word is certainly becoming more problematic in the United States of America!

Sadly, there is soon coming a day when the US government, as well as various private entities, will stop our efforts on the Internet altogether.

We should consider the words of our God –
“Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time” – Amos 5:13.
Interestingly – yesterday I had told my wife of what I taught upon for this coming Sabbath-day sermon, “Are The Dead In Heaven?” And she responded, “You just keep pushing their buttons, don’t you!?” I answered, “Someone needs to, and we are the only ministries which appear to be doing so!” However, God’s living wisdom tells us that even then – during this soon-coming ‘evil time’ – those that are doing nothing wrong will need to be silent for safety’s sake.

Yet, at this time, while it is still ‘day’ we must, like what the prophet Isaiah was told, - 
“’ CRY ALOUD, SPARE NOT; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins’” – Isaiah 58:1.
This is exactly what we in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries are doing – along with our affiliated churches!


We are denouncing not only the sins of God’s people – see Jeremiah 50:6-7; Luke 15:3-7; Matthew 10:6 – but a WARNING and telling of the sins of the house of Jacob (the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and her Commonwealth of Nations, Australia, and New Zealand, Canada), and also of this world’s false religion – politics.

Notice that Minister Michael C. Garrett has spoken of (and will continue to speak of) many of the sins prevalent in this 21st century –


Also, notice that Minister Guy C. Lamar of The Independent Christian Church of God has also spoken of (and will continue to speak of) these prevalent sins in this 21st century –

Also, also notice that we here at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries have (and will continue to) speak of these prevalent sins in this 21st century –


There are a great many in and outside the US government who have devious plans and are watching the Internet with ever-more plans on censorship of material they will someday completely silence.

Notice this from God’s living word –
“Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation; Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity, Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows – bitter words, That they may shoot in secret at the blameless; Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

They encourage themselves in an evil matter; They talk of laying snares secretly; They say, ‘Who will see them?’ They devise iniquities: ‘We have perfected a shrewd scheme.’ Both inward thought and the heart of man are deep” – Psalms 64:1-6.
So, if you think that if you’ve done nothing wrong there is nothing to fear from surveillance, consider that many in the US government consider that NOT supporting the LGBTQ+ agenda, or homosexual “marriage,” etc. are “enemies of the state.” Also, it has been said, that people who believe in a Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ should not be trusted and should be considered as a potential terrorist!

Suggested Sabbath Day Services

Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:

● 2 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is “The Old Time Gospel”).
● Opening prayer.
● Announcements (if any – a great site for announcements is Deacon Robbie Lamb’s Watchman brief insights of world news in relation to biblical prophecies!).
● Suggested Sermon: “Are The Dead In Heaven?” by Leonard V. Johnson. Additional sermons are available HERE!
● 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.

World News Items

The Washington Post and others reported that the documentary which was released last Friday about the life of former celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain has a disturbing “deepfaked voice” (See: TWP - The controversy over Anthony Bourdain’s deepfaked voice is a reminder that documentaries aren’t journalism’). Certainly, when one considers these entertainment documentaries real and factual there is a great risk. Consider - I have been mentioning that the majority of documentaries that are on Prime Video are for entertainment purposes only and are greatly skewed with a leftist agenda. The use of technology to produce what they are calling ‘deepfakes’ is certainly a tool in which ‘the god of this age’ – Satan the devil – will continue to utilize in the future. God’s living word warns that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” “But,” as the apostle Paul continued, “you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, …” – that being JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF! – 2 Timothy 3:12-14.

More ‘deepfakes’ are coming – do not fall for them!

Because of this “purging” and shadow banning of our YouTube channels we also are utilizing other social media video platforms – like Godtube, BitChute, Brighton, as well as our Soundcloud Radio channel. However, as I had posted in the article “EU Attacking Video Platforms,” BitChute is now being pressured (and has agreed to suppress) anti-LGBTQ+ videos. This, of course, comes as no surprise. This is why – as an example – I have phrased titles and posts in ways not to incite the wrath of Big Tech “Brother”!

However, even this may not be enough very soon. In Poland, LGBTQ+ promoters seemingly consider that advocating traditional family values and of even going to church is none other than prima facie (See: DW - Polish LGBTQ activists refuse to be silenced by lawsuits’). They – just like a relative of mine – do not like being told that God’s living word says that even condoning, without actual participation in this LGBTQ+ agenda, is deserving of death! – cf. Romans 1:18-32.

That being said – and as I just mentioned to my wife this morning; the Trump Administration was but a slight pause; the calm before the storm – much of this world is moving ever-closer towards the final time of the Gentiles (Ezekiel 30:3; Luke 21:24). Truly, the European Union, China, Iran, and Serbia have recently vowed to move closer to the Russian-dominated Eurasian Economic Union (See: Tehran Times - Iranian companies ink MOU for exporting water industry goods to Eurasia’ along with Tehran Times - Iran hails ties with Eurasian Union’ along with Foreign Brief - Serbia-Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement enters into force’). And also Bloomberg - Putin Warns U.S. May Regret Using Dollar as Sanctions Weapon’). Now, while the EAEU is NOT the prophesied threat against the Anglo-American nations, the stage is being set for the final rise of the Gentiles of the ‘end of this age.’

Concluding Comments

Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote, under the inspiration of God’s Spirit:
Lamentations 1:3 – “Judah has gone into captivity, Under affliction and hard servitude; She dwells among the nations, She finds no rest; All her persecutors overtake her in dire straits.” – now, this did take place in 605 B.C.! THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN! So, many prophecies are dual – they have an earlier fulfillment, and they have a much larger, more significant fulfillment in the latter days! And this will be one of those latter days fulfillments. Verse 12 – “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Behold and see If there is any sorrow like my sorrow, Which has been brought on me, Which the LORD has inflicted In THE DAY OF HIS FIERCE ANGER.” – the Day of the Lord!

Chapter 2, Verse 1 – “How the Lord has covered the daughter of Zion With a cloud in His anger! He cast down from heaven to the earth The beauty of Israel, And did not remember His footstool IN THE DAY OF HIS ANGER.” – ‘In the day of His anger’ is the Day of the Lord! Verse 5 – “The Lord was like an enemy. He has swallowed up ISRAEL, … And has increased mourning and lamentation In the daughter of Judah.” Verse 21 – “’ Young and old lie On the ground in the streets; My virgins and my young men Have fallen by the sword; You have slain them in THE DAY OF YOUR ANGER, You have slaughtered and not pitied.’” – now, ‘pray not for this people’ is indeed a Message from the Bible.”

Friends, a major change is prophesied – and it is coming – this world is about to get freight-trained! Let us all get our spiritual house in order NOW (Luke 21:34-36; Zephaniah 2:1-3).

In deep gratitude and love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
Leonard V. Johnson

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

EU Attacking Video Platforms


THE European Union is attacking video platforms such as BitChute for refusing to squelch its criticism in regards to the LGBTQ and BLM agenda.

Natural News reported the following:
Now the EU is going after video platforms like BitChute that refuse to censor content critical of LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter propaganda

The alternative media streaming platform BitChute, which is based out of the United Kingdom, has issued new guidelines against free speech that conform to the “hate speech” requirements of both its country and the European Union.

After consulting with the U.K.’s Office of Communications (Ofcom), BitChute determined that the wording of its “Incitement to Hatred” guidelines was too narrow and needed to be altered in order to better cover the scope of the U.K.’s regulations against “extremism.” …

Now, terrorism and violent extremism has been redefined by BitChute to include the prohibition of content coming from entities that have been “designated under counterterrorism legislation” as no longer having freedom of speech.

“In addition, those designated by the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States of America, the United Nations, the European Union or any member state of the European Union will be prohibited on the platform,” BitChute says. …

As for “Incitement to Hatred,” BitChute defines this as “any material likely to incite hatred against a group of persons or a member of a group of persons based on specific grounds,” including sex, race, color, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age and sexual orientation.

This expansive list will almost certainly be used to silence critics of Antifa, Black Lives Matter (BLM), the Cult of LGBTQ, and various other protected left-wing groups that cry “hate” every time someone says or does something that upsets them.

BitChute says that it will no longer allow content that is in any way “derogatory, denigrating” or that contains “demonizing statements” against a group of people or members of a group.

“When material is confirmed by our moderators as being in violation of the Incitement to Hatred prohibition, it will be restricted to prevent viewing within a specific set of geographical areas,” BitChute says about its new process.

These geographical areas include the U.K. and Northern Ireland, member states of the E.U., states that form the European Union Economic Area, and any territories within any of these states.

Truly, one of the main reasons why we have sermons on our BitChute channel is because of grave concerns of censorship from video platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo. YouTube began ramping up its censorship upon us when Minister Michael C. Garrett gave a five-part series of sermons entitled Toxic Philosophy. The view count went from triple digits to the lower double digits – overnight!

Last year, Big Tech “Brother” essentially shut down both BitChute and Brighteon near the 2020 election – apparently to stop videos they did not like. Since we in the COJCOM have had issues with YouTube – along with our affiliated churches – we have added other video and audio channels and platforms (for a list with links, go to COJCOMs Multimedia page).

Now, while we do utilize these alternative video and audio platforms to some of Big Tech “Brother”, these certainly are only temporary – as we are getting ever closer to God’s prophesied time of famine of His living word – Amos 8:11-12. And that will render all these alternatives essentially useless.

Certainly relying on BitChute as an open door to proclaim the glorious Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God will be a problem in the future. And, as I said recently – it already is a problem since Facebook won’t even allow one to mention BitChute, because, as they claim, it goes against their “Community Guidelines.”

Speaking one’s conservative mind, and even religious conservative opinions come under fire – and the greater majority of this world are like sheep for the slaughter when it comes to blanket censorship, de-platforming, shadow banning, etc.

Friends, the loss of religious freedom to hear the very words of the Creator of the universe was prophesied – not just for prophet Amos’ time, but also in this end-time (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:9) -
“’ Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the LORD’” – Amos 8:11.
So, notice that God’s living word tells us that there is coming a time when the word of God won’t be able to be heard – from sea to sea, or from north to east. Our people who want to hear God’s living truth won’t be able to find it!

Friends, I have been WARNING since early 2011 that governments around the world will continue to pressure regulations with the Internet which will result in the ultimate fulfillment of Amos 8:11-12!

Now, this is in part of why we in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries – along with our affiliated churches – are preparing for when our Lord Jesus Christ cuts “short” His work upon the earth – cf. Romans 9:28 – and of this soon-coming “famine” of hearing His word.

Let us consider what our Lord Jesus Christ said –
’ I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work’ – John 9:4.
Friends, we in the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries – and our affiliated churches – are doing the works of God while we can. We do understand that there is soon coming a time when “no one can work.”

Indeed, while our Lord Jesus Christ has opened this door for the Body of Christ – the Church of God – a door in which only He can shut (cf. Revelation 3:7-8), we know it will not remain open forever. And this is why we are trying out several different video and audio platforms – even though some of them have problems.

Yet, friends, there is the greatest of Good News – the coming kingdom of God – which will annihilate and replace the Babylonian type system of which we see in force today – cf. Revelation 13:16-18. □

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Monday, July 19, 2021

Will You Recognize Jesus!?


MOST people who profess Jesus Christ will not recognize Him when He returns!

Joseph Farah – an American author, journalist, and editor-in-chief of the conservative website WorldNetDaily – correctly doesn’t believe so:
“Who is Jesus and how is [H]e going to come back?” Farah asked. “You know, a lot of people missed Jesus the first time He came. Most of the Jews did not recognize Him as their Messiah. They had a misunderstanding of how the Messiah was going to come. And they were going a lot by man’s teaching rather than going back to the Scriptures. And I wonder, when Jesus does come back, if many people in the church are going to miss Him too.” …

Farah believes the form of Jesus' return is going to surprise many Christians. And he warned in the interview how believers need to be educated about what to expect so they are not misled into following a disastrous deception. …

Are they going to recognize him? Or are they going to be fooled by an imposter that we call the Antichrist who is going to do all kinds of signs and miracles, et cetera?” …
He mourned the average Christian's lack of knowledge about the Millennial Kingdom and the earthly rule of Jesus. …

"If you ask the average Christian about that, they have no understanding," he explained. …”

Indeed, very few who profess Jesus Christ actually believe in a Millennial Reign of Christ – even though His living word teaches it (cf. Revelation 20:4-6; see also A Book of the Past – And The Future). The majority who are looking for Jesus believe that He will be a “sweet” Jesus. As in "looks like a lamb" - cf. Revelation 13:11. But in fact, He will not be so sweet – as the apostle Jude announces –
“’ Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’” – Jude 1:14-15.

For ’ He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’! – Revelation 2:27.
Sadly, even fewer people in this world understand the Good News of the soon-coming kingdom of God!

What about the Roman Catholics – with an estimated 1.2 billion worldwide, according to the Vatican figures!?

Well, officially, they do not believe in a Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ – in spite of the fact that many of their “saints” taught the millennium. The Vatican strongly condemns this doctrine of the Church of God as blasphemous!
“676 The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the ‘intrinsically perverse’ political form of a secular messianism.”

Note – according to the Roman Catholic Church, this is the only doctrine of the Church of God which is associated with the Antichrist.  Certain Catholic writings and prophecies propagate that the Antichrist will –

  • Quote Scripture as proof of His Messiahship.
  • Keep and teach the seventh-day Sabbath.
  • Teach against idols and the Mass-of-Christ.
  • Teach that Catholic (which means all-embracing, or globe-girdling, universal) Christianity is false.
  • Teach “Jewish practices.”
  • Teach against the Trinity.
  • Preach and teach the Millennial Reign of Christ in the kingdom of God.
  • Teach that there is coming a future opportunity for salvation.
  • Be triumphant in the “Battle of Armageddon.”
  • Come after the destruction of The Vatican, Rome, and the “Holy” Roman Empire.
  • Claim to be Jesus Christ.
  • Have those who claim to be the resurrected saints of Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus Christ in John chapter 5 verse 39 said that Scripture itself’ testify of Me.’” He kept and taught the keeping of the seventh-day Sabbath. He taught against the keeping of idols. He taught and WARNED against receiving a mark on your right hand or on your forehead – which is truly the giving of the sign of the cross across your chest or forehead, along with venerating the symbol and image of the cross with the wearing of crosses or the placing of the image of the cross above your doors or on your shield of armaments.  Our Lord Jesus taught that those who held to church tradition (the ‘doctrines of men’) above His living word are but worshiping Him “’ in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” – cf Mark 7:6-13. Our Lord Jesus taught the keeping of all the Ten Commandments – “’ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom [from] heaven’” – Matthew 5:19. Which means they will have a degraded and contemptuous position in the kingdom of God. And I like the way the Jamison Fausset and Brown Commentary writes it – “they shall be reduced by the retributive providence that overtakes them, to the same condition of dishonor to which, by their system and their teaching, they have brought down the eternal principles of God’s Law.” 1 Our Lord Jesus was a Jew – cf. Matthew 1:1-16; Revelation 5:5. Our Lord Jesus kept “Jewish practices,” teaching us to teach all nations the things which He commanded, setting us an example – cf. Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 2:21-25. God’s living word does not teach of the false concept of a Trinity – cf. John 10:30; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 1 Peter 1:3. God’s living word and our Lord Jesus’ true servants teach of His soon-coming Millennium Reign on Earth! – cf. Revelation 11:15; Revelation 14; Revelation 20:1-6. There truly will be a future opportunity for salvation – cf. Ezekiel 37; Revelation 20:11-13. Truly, just prior to our Lord Jesus’ Second Coming – there will be a great earthquake (surely the likes of which the history of this world has never witnessed) “’ the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light’” – meaning the prophesied Two Witnesses will be prophesying and witnessing for 3½ years, given power from God Almighty to shut the atmosphere so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; … and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” – see also Revelation 8:7-12, and End-Time Prophets - a seven-part series.

Our Lord Jesus Christ prophesied that just prior to His Second Coming – the stars of the atmosphere (speaking about Satan the devil and his demons) will fall to the earth. Meaning that Satan and his minions will not even be allowed in the atmosphere of the earth! “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up” – truly meaning that just prior to our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming the atmosphere of the earth will be cleared of all the volcanic ash clouds and the residual radioactive material propelled into the upper atmosphere following nuclear blasts. “’ Then,’” as our Lord Jesus says, “’ the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven [in outer space], and then all the tribes of the earth [all the nations] will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory’” – Matthew 24:29-30.

Then those dead in Christ will be resurrected, and we who are still alive will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; see also verse 31 of Matthew 24. God’s holy saints are resurrected – the SEVENTH TRUMP HAS BEEN BLOWN!!

Then, “the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every [bond servant] and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains” – Revelation 6:15.

Why!?

Because of what our Lord Jesus Christ said, “’ they will see [in outer space] the Son of Man [who they will mistake as an invading alien force] coming’”! “Fall on us and hide us,” they will scream, “from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from THE WRATH of the Lamb! For the great day [the Day of the Lord] of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” – vs. 16-17.

Sadly, it appears as if certain private Catholic prophecies – and according to Sandy Hooper, a former Catholic nun, Bible reading is not part of their curriculum – see The Testimony of a Former Roman Catholic Nun in which she stated, “We never read the Bible together outside what we had to do for morning prayers when reciting the Psalms, but even that wasn't in the Bible. The Psalms were in a book by itself” –  warning that when Jesus Christ returns He will be the Antichrist. This will be the main reason why the nations will be angry and will make war against the Lord of lords and the King of kings! –
“’ The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, …’” – this why it is said, “’ Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light’” – Ephesians 5:14. “ … ‘And that You [Jesus Christ] should reward Your servants the prophets [the very possible twelve end-time prophets, culminating in the end-time Two Witnesses] and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth’” – Revelation 11:18. 

“And I saw the beast [the seventh and final revitalization of the “Holy” Roman Empire], the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse [a brilliant white horse] and against His army [who also sat on white horses] – Revelation 19:19.
So, friends, not only are these false prophecies being propagated across the world, so also is the idea and belief in alien UFOs! This truly is the plan of our enemy – Satan the devil. □

Bibliography

1) Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., Brown, D., Jamieson Fausset and Brown Commentary of the Whole Bible, Zondervan Publishing House, 1982, pp. 900.

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Friday, July 16, 2021

Letter to our Friends - July 12, 2021

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST ONLINE MINISTRIES
P.O. BOX 6458
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA 34606



Leonard V. Johnson
Founder/Pastor

Dearest Friends:

Greetings from Spring Hill, Florida.

Google Ranking

The Google Sitechecker ranks www.owensborocojc.com with two keywords “Jesus online ministries” 65 in the position of organic Search Engine Results Pages (SERP - the pages that Google and other search engines show in response to a user’s search query) with an average number of searches per month as 40, and “Owensboro Church of Christ” 94 SERP with an average number of searches per month as 70. So, as an example, if it appears 65th in this ordered list of search results it is said to have ranking position 65.

Also, just now I searched "Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries" on the Bing Search Engine and it was the first six on the first page under the tab “Any time.” On the Google Search Engine, the first item on the first page was our Facebook page and the third was our website. On DuckDuckGo we were the third down on the first page.

Now, understand, the search results for a query are not the same for all users. Factors such as the user’s location, the page’s relevance to their location, and their past searching habits affect what they see. Also, due to continuous updates and refreshes of search engines’ ranking algorithms, pages from our website will fluctuate often – from day to day and week to week.

Now, irrespective of all that, Google and Bing (a web search engine owned and operated by Microsoft) can be very helpful, but they are also trying to make it much harder for people in the world to find our content on the Internet. Their algorithms are intentionally blocking our pages from coming up based on popularity and content. This process is called shadow banning. Something which I have spoken of before.

This is concerning and sometimes distressing, but not unexpected.

This is a precursor to God’s prophesied coming ‘famine’ of His living word – Amos 8:11-12.

I have tried Google AdSense to help promote www.owensborocojc.com, but they keep disabling our account – they’re reasoning, the account may pose a risk to their Ads advertisers. Whatever that means!? Sounds too convoluted to me.

Surely we expect that any further expansion of www.owensborocojc.com will not be through Google.

Anyway, the former US President Donald Trump announced a lawsuit against Big Tech for censorship and shadow banning (see: The Week – The daily business briefing: July 8, 2021 - Trump sues social media companies, accusing them of censorship’). Besides the merits of Mr. Trump’s announced lawsuit, shadow banning and censorship will continue to happen, though the majority of the mainstream news media deny that there is a problem. The fact remains that the sermon “Law and Grace” has 9 views on our YouTube channel, while the very same sermon has 25 views on our BitChute channel. And, the fact remains that Facebook refuses us to even mention BitChute – claiming it is against their “Community Guidelines” because, they claim, it's foul language.

Prayer Requests

I mentioned this on the ministries' Facebook page, please pray to Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ for a very good friend of ours – Tina McCarthy. She has been a very good friend for over 24 years. She has stage 1 endometrial cancer.

Our dear Sister Christie would like prayers for De and Barb Jefferson. De is in hospital with pneumonia and other complications from Parkinson's. Barb is her friend and probably the absolute kindest person she has ever known. This news is indeed heartbreaking. Thank you.🙏🏻

Also please remember our neighbor NaNa who has stage 4 terminal cancer. Her miraculous healing can certainly occur with Almighty God – “For with God NOTHING will be impossible” – Luke 1:37. The apostle Peter tells us, “Who Himself bore our sins within His own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, may live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes you were healed” – 1 Peter 2:24, NET.

Feast of Tabernacles 2021

The FEAST OF TABERNACLES 2021 services will begin the evening of September 20th and continue until the Last Great Day which is September 28th.

Logsdon Community Center

As I’ve mentioned before, the meeting place for this coming Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day 2021 will be the Logsdon Community Center 2400 Friendship Dr. Owensboro, Kentucky 42303. This is where I will be for the last five days of the Feast this year.

Now, if you would like to join us this year, you may find it convenient to stay at the Wingfield Inn & Suites located at 3220 West Parrish Ave. Owensboro, KY. 42301. Though you do not need to stay at this hotel to attend the LORD’S Feast. Here is a booking link that could save you some money if you wish to stay here: https://www.booking.com/.

Please let Minister Michael C. Garrett know via email if you plan to attend the Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ Feast of Tabernacles and Last Great Day 2021 @ garrett158@roadrunner.com. Please do not assume that Mr. Garrett knows you are coming if you have not sent him an email to confirm.

Suggested Sabbath Day Services

Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:

● 2 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is “The Old Time Gospel”).
● Opening prayer.
● Announcements (if any – a great video for announcements is Deacon Robbie Lamb’s “Telling It Like It Is” Watchman commentaries – brief insights on world news in relation to biblical prophecies!).
● Suggested Sermon: “A Real Hellfire!” by Leonard V. Johnson. Available on 7/16/21 @ 8:30 pm EST on our YouTube channel. Additional sermons are available HERE!
● 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.

World News Items

In Canada, a bill is under consideration that some believe will allow the authorities to arrest people basically for having views which some don’t like (See: NewsWire - Response to First Person in Canada Charged with Thought-Crime and Pre-Crime in Freedom of Expression Case’). And you thought the blockbuster movie Minority Report with Tom Cruise (who will get out of his limousine, and scream with a visceral religious fervor at his mere sight) was just fantasy!? Here is something from 2017 & 2018 (See: TheBridehead - Alberta’s NDP says Christian school cannot state that God’s authority supersedes human authority’). Also, notice this (which in 2020 Google deemed the SGT Report a subversive site and terminated their YouTube channels!) from the SGT Report (See: ‘Canada proposed Orwellian “pre-crime” hate speech bill’). Just this morning I posted on our Facebook page “Pastor in Canada Arrested For Holding Church With His Family,” along with “Churches being burned in Canada as Trudeau looks on.”

It truly appears that this bill under consideration will be targeted against those who believe the aspects of God’s living word – the Holy Bible – and who quote it! This certainly has been a problem within this “free” nation called Canada for some time, it is getting worse! Our Big Tech Brother and various Western governments are committed – as never before – to push the LGBTQ+ agenda as well as their COVID-19 socialistic agenda!

And these agendas include snuffing out any opposition to them.

Also, I just saw this REPORT – (See: TheDC - REPORT: The DNC Wants Phone Companies To Police Text Messages For Vaccine Misinformation’)! And, if you think that’s terrible (which indeed it is!) check this out – it’ll cause you to upchuck your cookies! (See: Ben Shapiro - Transgender Parent Tries To Breastfeed Child in BIZARRE Viral Video’)!!

In China, there are some there who hope to stop an asteroid that could cause what they deem ‘Armageddon’ (See: Reuters - Chinese researchers propose deflecting 'Armageddon' asteroids with rockets’). As God Almighty has WARNED, the ‘great star’ (certainly an asteroid or comet) which is called “Wormwood” will strike the earth – yet, it will not be a “global killer” – Revelation 8:10-11. And, of course, the very word Armageddon, which is a Hebrew word, is a place where the militarized end-time kingdoms of the earth gather to battle on the Day of the Lord! No rockets – Chinese or otherwise – will prevent God’s will from happening!

Be sure to read “Feast of Trumpets – 2020” along with “Day of Atonement = End-Time Trauma” to better understand the seven last plagues!

In the Republic of Haiti, President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated on July 7th! (See: AP - Haiti in upheaval: President Moïse assassinated at home’). Truly, in this end-time many places around the world “the land is filled with crimes of blood, And the city is full of violence” – Ezekiel 7:23.

Concluding Comments

Friends, how will we know that the ‘end’ – the end of the age has finally arrived!?

So many in this world are confused concerning the term “plagues” They use this term, but they often misapply it.

FOUR TRUMPET BLASTS are the harbinger of different stages of plagues being placed upon the earth.

The Two Witnesses –
“These have power to shut heaven [the atmosphere], so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy [their teaching]; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire” – Revelation 11:6; NKJV.
And, just like Moses and Aaron were informed by God what to say – they pronounced these plagues back in their day, and it came cascading down upon the people of Egypt. Well, these Two Witnesses will have this same power. But it won’t be localized to Egypt. These will be situations affecting the entire earth. And, I do believe there’s a good chance – and I can’t prove it, I’m just saying there’s a supposition – that the FOUR TRUMPET BLASTS (plagues) we read about might very well be officially announced by the Two Witnesses.


Minister Michael C. Garrett wrote concerning the end-time prophets:
“Now, I can’t say one way or the other – but let’s just say there are twelve. Six groups of two – apparently working in tandem. Because that’s what Jesus did earlier in the “gospel” accounts. He sent them out two by two. And five of these groups will be martyred. Ten people – probably. Two will be left alive until the very end – and they will be called the Two Witnesses. They will end up in Jerusalem – directly opposing the great false leader of Europe and the great false religious leader of Europe. Just like Moses and Aaron did as they went into the court of a pharaoh. And they will curse the world with different plagues. And eventually, these two people will be martyred. But three-and-a-half days later they will rise again.”


“Now, the work of the two witnesses, besides confronting the two human servants of Satan the devil – the “beast” and the “false prophet.” The ‘beast’ is the military/political leader of a future combined countries from the heartland of Europe. And the ‘false prophet’ is a great religious leader, that will be much of the religious impetus and inspiration to those people. …

And the final two of the end-time prophets will be the two witnesses. And the end-time prophets – including the two witnesses – will also, at the very same time, be going around to different places to the people of Israel, and they will conduct, or through them, miracles – powerful miracles will be produced! Such like that the human beings have ever seen! So the work of the two witnesses will be a POWERFUL moment! Where God reaches out to give an end-time Message to His physical people Israel.”

Indeed, according to our Master and Elder Brother - Jesus Christ - the end will NOT come until after the prophesied end-time prophets (very possibly beginning with twelve) begin to preach 'this gospel of the kingdom of God in all the world as a witness to all the nations' (See Matthew 24:9-14; I asked the question Is Matthew 24:14 being fulfilled - now!?):
“… ‘and then the end will come’ – Matthew 24:14.

’ Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), 16) ‘then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17) Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his 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 Judea] in those days! 20) And pray that your flight may not be in the winter or on the Sabbath’ – Matthew 24:15-20.
The ‘abomination of desolation’ is when a Gentile representing Satan walks into the newly built temple in Jerusalem and claims that he is God!

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.

Friends, let us take comfort in the words of Minister Michael C. Garrett –
“Our beloved nation is at a crossroads! Ultimately, however, there is nothing the few of us can do to change it. You and I are powerless, other than prayer. We already know the ending, because we have access to the understanding of the Book – the Bible. And, as members of the Church, we are also at a crossroads – as Paul wrote in the Book of Romans, chapter 13, verse 11 – “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to AWAKE out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed 12) The night is far spent, the day …” – and I believe he’s talking about the Day of the LORD! – “…is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13) Let us walk [honestly] as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.” – and I still believe that all too often there is strife and envy in the Church of God, and there shouldn’t be! And then Paul ends this little section by saying the following – “But put on Jesus Christ!” Because in the end, the only hope you have to understand the events which are happening and to have a way of escape is that you are very close to your Savior Jesus Christ! Be thankful to Him and God the Father, because everything you have comes from Them! Your very life, the food you eat, every breath you take, every beating of your heart is at His permission! The knowledge that you have, the calling that you’ve been given! The fact that you are able to understand the truth of God and the Word of God comes from Them! The fact that you were granted the gift of repentance, and the gift of baptism, and the gift of receiving God’s Spirit, and that someday, you too will receive the gift of eternal life!”
In deep gratitude and love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
Leonard V. Johnson




Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Being Anointed


Greetings dear friends. The other day in prayer to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ I had asked Them if there was anyone in my area that needed my help! The following day a neighbor a few houses down, using a walker, walks down and approaches me in the yard, and asks for my help! She wanted to know if I would be willing to help her sell some of the things in her garage with a garage sale – letting me know that she has terminal cancer. Of course, I said, “Absolutely!”

Now, the question should be asked – did God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ send her down to me just to help her with a garage sale!?

HAVE you ever wondered just how sick you should be before you call upon a servant of God (an elder of the Church – James 5:14) for anointing and prayer to be healed!?

How can you know when you should call on Almighty God to be forgiven of your physical sins and be healed!? And, if you wonder whether you should ask, can you have faith in asking!? And, what if the elder refuses to anoint you – should you go to another for anointing!?

Truly it is a matter of balance and wisdom and a matter of knowing when and for what to apply the living sacrifice of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ.

Now, I know that God can and will heal her completely! Healing is one of the greatest blessings from God Almighty!
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3) Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases” – Psalm 103:2-3.
HEALING is truly an office that God holds – an office He has mercifully exercised for thousands of years!
“ … ‘ For I AM the LORD who heals you’” – Exodus 15:26.
This high office belongs exclusively to GOD!
“’ Now see that I, even I, AM He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand’” – Deuteronomy 32:39.
Now, as I was standing in my driveway speaking to my neighbor in whom God loves (cf. John 3:16), a car drives up to take her to Sunday church - I was unable to let her know I myself am a servant of God. So, surely she believes in Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ! Surely she knows that faith comes by hearing –
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” – Romans 10:17.
Sadly there are fakes and charlatans who have come through history and have pretended to heal – who have the arrogance of claiming unto themselves to heal – within their tent revivals. They have the audacity to take unto themselves this high office which belongs to the Creator – our great and High Priest! Also, there are those who mix up an oil and wine concoction and upon dipping their finger into it places a cross on one's forehead – unknowingly propagating the mark of the beast!

Friends, our God is a jealous God, and He jealously guards His high office!
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise” – Jeremiah 17:14.
God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are the ONLY ONES who can provide TRUE HEALING! Just as Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who can provide TRUE SALVATION!

God’s true healing is not a natural process of healing. IT IS AN OUTRIGHT REMOVAL OF THE AFFLICTION! A DIRECT MIRACLE!

I myself have been healed by Almighty God! One time while I was watching a sermon on YouTube, the minister held up the Bible to the screen and said, “If there is anyone that needs healing from Jesus, and IF you believe He will heal you, touch the screen and you will be healed! If you believe!” I touched the screen while praying to God the Father and Jesus Christ for the healing of my heart from scar tissue buildup, which was causing my heart to develop atrial fibrillation (an abnormal heart rhythm), and as I did, I began to feel a warm sensation cover my whole body, from the soles of my feet to the top of my head and then back to my heart. God had healed my heart of scar tissue!

Now, while it is true that sometimes God heals a person over a period of time, nonetheless it is a direct intervention of God and not a natural, bodily, healing. Then, like what happened to me there can be an instant healing!
“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you’ – Mark 2:5.
Jesus Christ – the Son of God – who came to bear our sin in His own body as a living sacrifice for us –
“Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I AM willing; be cleansed’ – Mark 1:41.
He made it so plain to understand that the healing of our physical bodies involves DIRECT FORGIVENESS OF SINS!
’But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins’ – He said to the paralytic” – Mark 2:10.
And, even though the healing of our physical bodies is purely a physical effect – and is but temporary – this forgiveness of our sins (which is spiritual) has a DIRECT and tangible physical effect which leads us to see just how much our Father God loves us and can and will forgive our spiritual sins and will indeed grant us eternal life and eternal good health!

Indeed, God is the personification of true love. And friends, as it happened to me, it too can happen to you - once while I was in prayer and meditation Almighty God allowed me to feel just a small portion of the love that He has for me, and in my mind whispered, ‘I cannot let you feel all the love I have for you because your physical body wouldn’t be able to handle it.’ And the very next day being baptized and hands laid upon me. For Scripture says, ‘Perfect love casts out fear.’ And, it also says that ‘love covers a multitude of sins.’

Friends, 1,991 years ago the Son of Man – Jesus Christ – who lived a perfect life, was beaten, rejected, scoffed, denied, ridiculed, mocked, scourged, spat upon, nailed to a cross, lifted up, and bled to death in the sun – and was MURDERED! But He was resurrected – the firstborn of many brethren – as a Spirit Being – of the God family! He, who now sits at the right-hand side of Father God and still offers the sacrifice of His broken body to be applied for the forgiveness of our sins. To mankind, centuries have passed. There is NO WAY within the limitations of our own physical understanding – can the suffering of another human being erase the suffering of another. It is truly beyond our physical understanding or ability – IT IS SPIRITUAL!

Important To Christ’s Ministry

HEALING has always been an integral part of the ministry of Jesus Christ!
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people” – Matthew 4:23.

“But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing” – Luke 9:11.
It was an integral part of the ministry of the New Testament Church of God!
“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, ‘By what power or by what name have you done this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” – Acts 4:7-12.

“’ saying, ‘What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further, among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name’” – vs. 16-17.

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly” – Acts 10:38-40.
It is a sign of God’s true servants and the ministry of Jesus Christ!
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’ So then, after the Lord had spoken to them. He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” – Mark 16:15-20.
Now, God’s true servants and the ministry of Jesus Christ – the Church of God – certainly do not make any show of these accompanying signs – for my neighbor does not yet even know that I am a minister of God. Nonetheless – thousands are healed every year!! And she too will be healed!

Now, the holy oil – the pure olive oil – which has been blessed by God in which His true servants use in anointing has no power to heal. Also, there is no healing power that resides within the hands of the physical individual who is anointing – the healing power is not the audible prayer given – nor is there any healing power in the threads of an anointed cloth.

GOD IS THE HEALER! And He heals through the power of His Holy Spirit and by the direct application of the punishment that Jesus Christ suffered.

Friends, the miraculous healing of our physical body is a true physical and real benefit and blessing from Almighty God! It is a way to good health when we are sick or diseased. DO NOT be guilty along with some who believe – one should not go to a doctor. This ministry – the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries – along with our affiliated churches believes that one can and should go to a doctor when needed. You must realize that whether you live or whether you die – because death is always a possibility as long as we are physical – YOU BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST!
“For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” – Romans 14:8.
You should, if possible, go to a doctor for health benefits. Yet, as stated earlier, no human being has the ability to heal you. And, it is not within another human being to have the power to FORGIVE YOU OF SIN!

Now, an exact understanding of what I speak is truly found in God’s living word -
“For he who eats [the Bread of Life] and drinks [the Blood of Christ] in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s Body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep [are dead] – 1 Corinthians 11:29-30, the New King James Version.
We partake of the Lord’s Passover every year! We take the symbol of Christ’s broken Body – the unleavened bread – which represents the broken and sinless Body of Jesus Christ sacrificed for our physical sins – sacrificed for our physical healing. Truly, CHRIST IN US!!!

We should trust completely in Almighty God for our physical healing as we trust in Him for our spiritual salvation. We should fully understand the true meaning of the sacrifice of the Body of Christ!

Also, it is gravely IMPORTANT to understand what you are asking for when you ask to be anointed – so that you DO NOT regard it lightly. In a sense, you are asking for the pain, suffering, and punishment, the beating, the scourging, the humiliation, and hatred which was hurled upon Jesus Christ – and applied for YOUR physical sins.
“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed” – 1 Peter 2:24.

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed” – Isaiah 53:5.
Truly, from the waist up, the Body of Jesus Christ was ripped to shreds. Great chunks of His flesh hung down! In some places, his very bones were exposed!
“For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots” – Psalm 22:16-18.

“Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage [His face] was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men” – Isaiah 52:14.
Friends, I remind us of these Scriptures so that we will remember and understand just what we’re asking for when we are anointed.

Let us understand –
“ … two pieces of wood, or other material, so placed in juxtaposition to one another, are understood to form a cross. … Punishment by crucifixion was widely employed in ancient times. It is known to have been used by nations such as those of Assyria, Egypt, Persia, by the Greeks, Carthaginians, Macedonians, and from very early times by the Romans.

In both of these the criminal was first of all usually stripped naked, and bound to an upright stake, where he was so cruelly scourged with an implement, formed of strips of leather having pieces of iron, or some other hard material, at their ends, that not merely was the flesh often stripped from the bones, but even the entrails partly protruded, and the anatomy of the body was disclosed. In this pitiable state he was reclothed, and, if able to do so, was made to drag the stake to the place of execution, where he was either fastened to it, or impaled upon it, and left to die.” 1
This gives you an idea of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ had to endure through the night for YOU! It was only because He was in excellent condition that He was even able to walk after receiving such a beating. These are the stripes by which YOU are healed! These are the stripes you ask to be applied to the bare back of our Savior in YOUR stead when you ask to be anointed.

YOU Must Ask

Once I go to her and tell her that I am a servant of God, she must ask for an anointing.

Though she may indeed have come to recognize and understand the awesomeness of our living sacrifice – she may be relying on those who DO NOT truly obey God!

Once one has repented of their sins, and baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and had hands laid upon them, having received the glorious Holy Spirit – it is no longer a matter of choice. It is only a matter of deciding when to call for this living sacrifice. IT IS A DIRECT COMMAND FROM GOD!
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” – James 5:14-15.
This expression “let him call” is not a suggestion – it is a command!

The Living Bible translation makes it much clearer in that it reads, “Is anyone sick? He SHOULD CALL for the elders of the Church and they should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him.”

Now, some will reason amongst themselves that they do not deserve this living sacrifice. And this is true – no one deserves this living sacrifice! Yet we are commanded to repent and be baptized – which means we MUST CLAIM the death of Jesus Christ to be applied in our stead!

Once His death has been claimed you no longer belong to yourself. You are PURCHASED – you are paid for – completely with a price beyond our physical understanding. You are no longer responsible for just yourself – an individual apart from others. YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST!
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit [which] is in you, [which] you have from God, and you are not your own?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19.
YOU are no longer free to selfishly do with your physical body as you wish to do. You are now responsible to see to it that you are in good health, strength, and energy to use the body in the service of the whole Body of Christ – the Church of God.
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” – 1 Corinthians 6:20.
You glorify Almighty God by allowing Him to live within you. You repent of your sins, both physical and spiritual, and ask for the living sacrifice of Christ to pay for both. And then you use this cleansed body to serve Him in body, mind, and spirit.

A Wrong Attitude To Have

The other day I was asked if I would be willing to drive to Tampa to anoint a sister in Christ who is in the Tampa General Hospital. It was suggested that I may be her only hope – it sounded as if she really needed an anointing. I said that I would be more than happy to go and help in any way possible. They are both from another church group. Her husband declined. He only requested prayers for his wife. Some people believe that only a minister (or an elder) from their own group can anoint them. Many feel odd when other people from other churches that aren’t their title church try to help. . The question was asked – is this how our Lord Jesus Christ would be!?

In my healing – which I spoke of earlier – it WAS NOT any human being that healed me – it was ALMIGHTY GOD HIMSELF! 

CONCLUSION

When a true servant of God, in the glorious and holy name of Jesus Christ, calls on God the Father in the upper heavenly realms and by the anointing with oil as a symbol of God’s Holy Spirit, it then becomes GOD’S RESPONSIBILITY! The servant of Christ, laying his hands upon the head of the individual to set him apart, places the responsibility for your healing in God’s hands. Now it is up to Him to decide whether He will apply the living sacrifice of Jesus Christ His Son. It is up to Him to decide when He will apply that sacrifice – and how! □


Bibliography

1) Encyclopedia Britannica – Vol VII, Cross and Crucifixion, New York, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 1911, pp. 505-506.