Leonard V. Johnson
Pastor and Co-Founder
Dear Brethren, Co-Workers, and Friends:
Greetings from West Central Florida.
I hope and pray that you are focused on our Lord Jesus Christ, and are FIRST AND FOREMOST seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness!
On that note, this Sabbath’s suggested sermon speaks about this very subject. Here is a link: Are You Christ-Centered?
This world is in their season of supposedly being focused on Jesus──Christmas. But I do know that during the small gathering, my wife just had for their Christmas, our Lord Jesus Christ wasn’t even mentioned. Except of course──by myself. It was all about celebratory revelry. When I spoke up and stated that our Lord Jesus wasn’t even born in December, that He more than likely was born in September, my wife jokingly said, “Well, it’s a late birthday celebration.”
Now, Christmas isn’t what I wish to speak about in this Letter──it’s dress. We have several articles on our webpage www.owensborocojc.com that talk about this pagan time of year.
How You Appear Before the LORD God Is Important
Our Lord Jesus is our example. In the Book of Ezekiel chapter 16, we are told all about ISRAEL. Israel is likened to a woman, our Lord Jesus being her Husband.
We see in verse 9 that one of the first things that our Lord Jesus did (He was the God of the Old Testament!) when He came across her ‘thrown out’ after birth ‘into an open field’ all bloody, was to wash her. Continuing we find just how lavish our Lord GOD was with His gifts of clothing and jewelry for His bride. “’ I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. 12) And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.’” – Ezekiel 16:9-12.
The LORD God (the family of God, which at this moment in time consists of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ) is not cheap. He wants His BRIDE to be dressed to the nines! And He expects the very best from His loyal and faithful servants. And in return, He will pour out to us blessings that we are unable to contain – cf. Malachi 3:10.
True──God our Father calls out of this world the foolish, the weak, the base, and those that are despised (1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 2:5), but He certainly doesn’t want us to stay that way. He expects us to prosper after we obey. He expects us to change our way──though some may change in many things and others in only a few things. I speak of this in my latest sermon “’ Least In the Kingdom From Heaven.’” We are to always be improving on the things that the LORD God finds unacceptable.
Now, our Lord Jesus shows us that different occasions require different kinds of clothing. Certainly, growing up at home this was taught to us!? Because──immediately coming home from school, we were told by our parents to go change out of our “school” clothes and into our “play” clothes. In His parable of the wedding supper, He speaks of a guest ‘who did not have on a wedding garment.’ And notice what our Lord Jesus said ── “’ So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 22:1-14. There was an appropriate garment for the occasion, and no other was acceptable. Sitting in front of the LORD God dressed in street clothes with a baseball cap on will not do! (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:7).
How would you dress as an Ambassador for Christ? How would you dress if you had just traveled around the world and were meeting with dignitaries ── kings, princes, prime ministers, and presidents of nations, countries, and provinces!? – either in person or via a video. cf. Matthew 28:19-20. When I get in front of a camera to give a sermon──I have this in mind. What if – as an example ── the Prime Minister of Israel was watching my sermon!? What would he think of my dress? I would be dressed as if I were meeting with him in person.
Sadly, a great many people are less concerned about how they appear before the Lord GOD on His holy Sabbath than they are about how they appear at a wedding or a funeral. I have even heard an “unprofitable servant” ── our Lord Jesus calling such a ‘wicked and lazy servant’ ── say to his audience that the Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3-12) could just as well be dressed in regular street clothes and wearing a baseball cap! The phrase ‘clothed in sackcloth’ is a metaphor for one who is clothed in humility. A great many are more concerned about how they feel and think than what the LORD God thinks! Also, on that note: White clothing is a symbol of righteousness, and ‘clothing that is fine linen, clean and bright’ is symbolic of ‘the righteous acts of the saints’ – Revelation 19:8.
And yes──I have heard the argument in which they say that ‘for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ – 1 Samuel 16:7. I ask the question: Was the LORD speaking of dress or was He speaking of how other people view us and how He sees our ‘inmost being – our hidden part’ – cf. Psalm 51:6?
Brethren, if we overcome and qualify for the glorious kingdom of God, we also will be clothed in ‘fine linen, clean and bright’! And, ‘without having spot or wrinkle – without blemish’ – Ephesians 5:27. Now, many might say that this is only metaphorical ── but do you honestly believe that our Heavenly Father would want His born sons and daughters (especially when we appear before men) dressed in “street clothes” wearing a baseball cap? And, you might say that God is a Spirit and has no need of clothing, which is true (John 4:24) ── but we mustn’t forget that all the times that the Lord GOD appeared before men He was clothed – cf. Genesis 18, 21, 22; 32:22-32; Revelation 1:13.
The LORD God Supplies All Our Needs
As I mentioned in the beginning of this Letter, we are told to ‘seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’ ── and He would supply our physical necessities, including clothing. “’ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not MUCH MORE clothe you, O you of little faith?’” – Matthew 6:30.
People are indeed the products of the culture in which they were reared. As the LORD God’s chosen begotten people we must not be lazy or indifferent to improve ourselves──which includes our dress. We are to grow enough to enter into the glorious kingdom of God. If we only wear “street clothes” all the time ── we must change. If we’re wearing shoddy clothes and we go out of the house ── we must change first. WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST! – 2 Corinthians 5:20. Not just once in a while ── but all the time! Again, how would you dress to meet dignitaries? Sheikha Rima Al-Sabah, the wife of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, shared her thoughts with a Washington Times journalist concerning attire for women, “It is important that all of my guests feel at ease in our home. I want them to relax and enjoy themselves as much as possible, and I know that may be difficult when someone feels over- or underdressed the minute they walk through the door. Black tie at an embassy function calls for ladies to wear a long dress or very fancy ankle- or midi-length dress. If it is backless or somewhat decollete, some sort of an evening wrap is advisable, especially in winter or if the air conditioning gets too cold. Silk or silk/satin evening trousers with very dressy tops are also acceptable.” 1
God is giving us time to change and grow to become more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus wore a tunic (John 19:23). “The tunic was a shirt that was worn next to the skin. It was made out of leather, haircloth, wool, or linen. Both sexes wore tunics but there was a difference in the style and pattern. For men, the tunic came down to the knees and was fastened at the waist by a girdle of leather or cloth. Female tunics were very similar to the males, but went down to their ankles.” 2 Our Lord Jesus was neat and orderly in His dress and in His personal habits. He is the Author of order and beauty, not confusion, chaos, and dirtiness – 1 Corinthians 14:33.
Now, the Laws and Way of the LORD God is universal – cf. Romans 2:11. The Laws and principles of the LORD God are meant for all mankind throughout all the ages in all of our diverse societies and customs of dress. As we know in many countries, it is customary for men to still wear tunics, skirts, or kilts. As an example: The Samoan Lavalava is a wraparound “skirt.” These are worn by men, women, and children. In Japan, there are two types of the hakama for men to wear, the divided umanori, and the undivided andon hakama. The umanori type has divided legs, similar to diverted skirts and pantskirts.
God does not dictate in His living word what style of clothing a man or a woman is to wear. We are told to walk as our Lord Jesus walked, to live as He lived (1 John 2:6). Again, our Lord Jesus wore the style of clothing that was customary for His day. And He looked and dressed like any other average Jew. We should follow His example, wearing the styles that are customary and appropriate for our area of the world.
The LORD God Commands Cleanliness
Returning again to ancient Israel ── when the LORD God established His Law (and His Law has absolutely nothing to do with the Code of Hammurabi) with Israel, he gave the people certain physical laws, and rituals, that regulated their relationship with their fellow man. And, among these laws were regulations regarding cleanliness and sanitation.
When prophet Moses went up to God on Mount Sinai, He had given Moses specific instructions to go and tell the people –
“ … ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.’” – Exodus 19:10. The Lord GOD would not permit His people to appear before Him physically dirty or wearing unkempt clothing, as many religious people today appear before their gods and goddesses. Of course, we know that the LORD God requires spiritual cleanliness, but those who are developing spiritual cleanliness should also be practicing traits of physical cleanliness as well.
And since the LORD God does not change, They are still particular about how Their chosen begotten people appear before Them ── as an example: before a camera representing the Lord Jesus (cf. Matthew 18:20), and the video is published for all the world to view – including world dignitaries, kings, princes, prime ministers, and presidents. But some ‘unprofitable servants’ have not learned this yet. It is time to put away your stubbornness, and your resistance to change, and to listen to what the Spirit has to say. The LORD God will not permit us to inherit the kingdom of God if we have not been spiritually washed as a result of His great sacrifice, and unless we also learn how to appear before others as AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST dressed in the very best of our attire – with appropriate clothing fit for a King of kings and Lord of lords! □
Suggested Sabbath Day Service
Here is our suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and friends around the world:
• TWO songs of praise. (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, is suggested, there are some Instrumental Accompaniment to the Bible Hymnal available on our website).
• Opening prayer.
• Announcements – from the deacon or pastor.
• Sermon – from the pastor or guest speaker. The one suggested for this week is “Are You Christ-Centered?” by Minister Leonard Johnson.
• Closing song.
• Closing prayer.
Some World News In Relation To Biblical Prophecy
In the Middle East, the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad was overthrown (See: VOA – ‘Russian State media report Syria’s Assad fled to Moscow’). See also: Fox News – ‘Assad arrives in Moscow, is granted asylum by Russia’).
Notice also the following:
Blaine Holt to Newsmax: Syrian Overthrow Pits 'Bad Guy Versus Bad Guy'December 8, 2024The news that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been ousted is neither good news nor bad for the rest of the world, as the fight between the dictator and the Islamist rebels who ended his regime pitted “bad guy versus bad guy,” retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt told Newsmax on Sunday. … with the Syrian government being overthrown, “Al-Qaida is moving in,” said Holt.“This is going to create a vacuum that Israel is going to have to deal with almost immediately because stability is going to be required,” he added. …Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, while visiting an area near the Syrian border, called al-Assad’s ouster a “historic day.” He also said he’s ordered Israeli forces to seize areas in the buffer zone, to bar hostile forces from establishing themselves on his country’s border.
So, now, a Shia Moslem psychopath who was behind some of the most atrocious and horrific terrorist acts recorded in history ── even against his own people ── is not in charge anymore. What will happen?
Certainly, just as there were US officials who voiced their concerns that the terrorists ISIS were going to fill the vacuum left in Afghanistan after the idiotic U.S. withdrawal, there are US officials who are concerned that “Al-Qaida is moving in.” And again, this would be consistent with a prophecy mentioned in the Book of Psalm –
“They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4) They have said, ‘Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’
5) For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6) The tents of Edom [the progenitor of the Turkish people] and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [think Jordan] and the Hagrites [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; 7) Gebal [Lebanon], Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [Turks]; Philistia [modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon] 8) Assyria [whose descendants migrated to Germany] also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot [Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan]” – Psalm 83:3-8.
Nearly all of the above peoples are in lands dominated by Islam.
I believe that Syria (as well as Iran) will be a part of an “Islamic Coalition of Nations” ── called the end-time “king of the South” in God’s living word (cf. Daniel 11:40-43).
There are now various Islamic rebel groups all vying for control of Syria. And Iran (the number one terrorist-sponsoring nation) still wants whatever terrorist group that takes over Syria to get along with it –
December 8, 2024Iran, a key ally of Bashar al-Assad throughout the Syrian conflict, said on Sunday it expects the “friendly” relations with Syria to continue even after al-Assad’s fall in Damascus.“The relations between the two nations of Iran and Syria have a long history and have always been friendly, and it is expected that these relations will continue,” a foreign ministry statement said.
As we’ve been announcing for years ── because of biblical prophecies such as Isaiah 22:6-9, it looks as if some in Syria (“Kir” includes some Syrians) will work militarily with Iran to cause great “damage to the city of David”!
Al-Qaeda is a pan-Islamist terrorist militant organization led by Sunni jihadists. There has been cooperation between Sunni and Shia Muslims before – and they do share some core tenets of Islam.
There have been some Protestant organizations claiming that the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1 is near.
Let us notice that passage as well as some others –
“The burden against Damascus. ‘Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. 2) The cities of Aroer are forsaken; They will be for flocks Which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. 3) The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, The kingdom of Damascus, And the remnant of Syria; They will be as the glory of the children of Israel,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” – Isaiah 17:1-3.
“thus says the Lord GOD: ‘It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8) For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, So that it will not be a people.” – Isiah 7:7-8.
“Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead [the Holy Land] with implements of iron.’” – Amos 1:3.
Damascus, “claimed to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.” 3 And while most question that claim, the reality is that Damascus has not been (nor ever has been) destroyed to the point of being “a ruinous heap” since the LORD of hosts inspired His prophet Isaiah to record that it would happen one day. Certainly, this utter and complete destruction will come from warfare.
So, the fulfillment of Isaiah 17:1 will be fulfilled in this end-time. Certainly, the way biblical prophecy, for this end-time, is swiftly moving along ── we could see the utter destruction of the city of Damascus within a year.
This grave situation in Syria is highly volatile and will change. Judah (the tiny nation in the Middle East today called Israel) will certainly have to take military action against the various Islamic terrorist groups vying for power. In truth, we are getting very close to the time when Damascus will be destroyed!
The time has come when the LORD God has taken away the protection of Judah and the City of David! – Isaiah 22:9.
We are in the time that was prophesied by our Lord Jesus – “‘you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.’” – Matthew 24:6.
Our Lord Jesus has told us over and over to WATCH, “’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.’” – Matthew 25:13; 24:42-44; 26:41; Mark 13:32-37; 14:38; Luke 12:36-37; 12:39-40; 21:33-36.
Concluding Comments
In this comment I think back to what I mentioned concerning an ‘unprofitable servant’ – It is time to put away your stubbornness, and your resistance to change, and to listen to what the Spirit has to say.
The apostle Paul says –
“Is there any such thing as Christians sheering each other up? Do you love me enough to want to help me? Does it mean anything to you that we are brothers in the Lord, sharing the same Spirit? Are your hearts tender and sympathetic at all? 2) Then make me truly happy by loving each other and agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, working together with one heart and mind and purpose.
3) Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. 4) Don’t just think about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing.
5) Your attitude should be the kind that was shown us by Jesus Christ, 6) who, though he was God, did not demand and cling to His rights as God, 7) but laid aside His mighty power and glory, taking the disguise of a slave and becoming like men” – Philippians 2:1-7, TLB.
My brethren, we need to have love for one another, and like our living Lord Jesus, be willing to give up our lives for the truth to help increase love throughout all eternity!!
In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,
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