'He Who Follows Me Shall Not Walk In Darkness'

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“Light Has Come Into The World”

THE prophet Isaiah wrote – “The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.”

Verse 6 – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

This awesome prophecy makes me think of the question I had asked my unconverted wife – who does not believe that the Bible is inspired by God – “Is Jesus Christ the Son of God!?” And she answered a definitive, “Yes!” For this statement alone – “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder” is indeed included in one of the seven proofs of the validity of the Holy Bible – FULFILLED PROPHECY!

Friends, these few verses – like no other – are like the proverbial acorn that grows into a mighty oak tree. It is so rich in the TRUTH of God that many who read over it – read it as though it is but religious salt and pepper. But within these glorious lines contains a prophecy that reaches out to every single life and offers the clearest, purest, unobstructed view of the gospel message that most people in their state of blindness cannot see. It’s like the memorable quote from the 1992 military court drama film A Few Good Men, in which Lt. Kaffe says, “I want the truth!” And Col. Jessep replies, “You can’t handle the TRUTH!” And this is what’s happening to this world. They think they seek the truth – but when they read these words off the pages of the Holy Bible the glaring TRUTH of Almighty God is completely missed. And in mankind’s pursuit of happiness, prosperity, health, and wealth, he has sought to find a state of utopia – only to dig further into a state of utter darkness. Indeed, mankind has sought answers to his biggest questions through his own means, his own logic, and leaning upon his own understanding.

The Book of Proverbs, chapter 3 tells us – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.”

So, here in this magnificent verse of God’s living word we read that light has shined into a darkened world. But what does it mean that ‘people live in darkness’!?

I’d like to begin here in Matthew, the 6th chapter, verse 22 – Jesus Christ talked a lot about darkness. “’ The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.’” – of course, singleness of mind, one goal, one vision.

Verse 23 – “’ But if your eye is bad [evil], your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!’”

Now, in 1981, I came across a MOST IMPORTANT statement:  “May God richly bless you in your efforts to understand His truth.” The truth is God Almighty and Jesus Christ explaining to us through Their living word THE WORD OF GOD, THE TRUTH OF GOD, and THE PLAN OF GOD! And so when we read this concerning darkness we begin to understand what is out there in this world – I mean, when you look around the world today, nearly 7.8 BILLION people. How many of them understand the truth of God!? Very few people.

In John, chapter 3, verse 19, Jesus said, “’ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, …’”

He speaks of ‘light having come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ As you might or might not be aware – in strip clubs the room is in darkness, in the back rooms of adult novelty shops it is bathed in darkness. And, I’m not necessarily saying that if you go into a strip club or an adult novelty shop that you are evil – but I am saying that surely God’s Spirit is nowhere to be found there! It is as if men are trying to hide their deeds from Almighty God – in darkness. So, there is a proclivity in man to love darkness. Why!? Jesus says, ‘because their deeds [are] evil.’ And that is really hard to come to grips with – most people don’t understand that when a person comes to the truth of God one of the first realizations that they have to come to is that we are sinners. That we are breakers of God’s eternal law! Most people are oblivious to God’s law – they don’t even know what God’s law says. Can you recite the Ten Commandments!? And they are oblivious to the fact that they are breaking God’s law – and with it comes a penalty. A death penalty.

Turn with me over to 1st John, chapter 1, verse 5 – “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light …” – there’s a couple of Scriptures in the Bible that says “God is …” And this is one of them. “ … and in Him is no darkness at all. 6) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk-in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Surely, this implies someone who says they are a follower of Jesus Christ, that they have fellowship with Jesus Christ, but if they walk in darkness, walk in a life filled with breaking God’s law, they are but deceiving themselves. And here Jesus is addressing people who are religious. They walk in darkness, though they say ‘we have fellowship with Jesus.’ Do you recall what He said concerning this!?

“’ Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom [from] heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” – Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV.

This is a terrifying message here. Recall they said, ‘haven’t we cast out demons in Your name!?’ And He says, ‘depart from Me!’ – those that walk in darkness, as the apostle Matthew says here.

This surely makes me think of my dear friend who we lost to cancer April 19th, 2020 - he had been at one time a minister with the Open Bible Standard Churches. He would often praise Pentecostal evangelist’s such as Asa A. Allen – who believed and taught that the Ten Commandments ‘was superseded by grace.’ Jesus Christ will say to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practiced lawlessness!’

In 1st John, chapter 2, verse 11 – “But he who hates his brother is in darkness …” – now that surely strikes close to home sometimes. You cannot have hatred in your heart – Jesus elevated that commandment “Thou shalt not murder.” Jesus told those Pharisees, ‘If you have hatred in your heart for another person, you might as well go out and actually murder him.’ Because it’s the same result. “ … and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

It’s difficult to say just how vast this has happened to this world and to this nation – concerning the darkness, the veil which covers the eyes of human beings. Because of sin – iniquity. God gives us these parameters of just what evil is and how evil can cause great darkness. So, mankind is wandering around – as a ‘blind man.’ And not only that, he’s unaware that he’s in darkness. As a sort of example – the other day I asked my wife – “Is Jesus the Son of God?” And she answered a definitive, “Yes.” But she couldn’t answer, “Can you prove He is?” And I could have well asked her – Is Jesus the Messiah? She likely would have asked me – What is a messiah? Once she understood just what a messiah is, she probably would have answered – no. Based upon the answer to the question, “Did God create the universe?” She answered, “No. It’s always existed.” It’s this type of darkness that God speaks.

Yet, through all this blackness – this darkness – a light shines. Through all the noise and confusion of this world – the lost hope – there is a glimmer of light ahead of us. And it is so brilliant that ‘every eye will eventually see’ – cf. Revelation 1:7. It’s like when I saw the flickering light of the struck match in the utter darkness of Kartchner Caverns in Benson, Arizona – you couldn’t help yourself from not looking at the light. And so it is – mankind has been given a reason to believe again. It is, as the apostle Paul called it, “the accepted time.”

In John, the 8th chapter, Jesus said, “’ I AM the light of the world.’” And is He ever!

Verse 12 – “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” – this alone speaks of hope in this life and the ‘next life’ – as they say.

In John chapter 12, verse 46 – “’ I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes [on] Me, should not abide in darkness.’”

“’Unto us a Child is born’”

So, back in Isaiah – the next portion of that – after it says, ‘light has come into the world’ it says, “For unto us a Child is born.”

Turn with me if you will to the Book of Luke, chapter 1.

I can surely remember back when I was in junior high in Mrs. Johnson’s class when she wanted us to memorize these verses during Christmas time, and how I had privately gone to her and told her that I do not celebrate Christmas. After asking me why, and discovering the answer, she actually respected me for my conviction – which is not the reaction most would have in this world. She wanted us to memorize these verses having to do with the birth of Jesus.

Luke 1:31 – “’ And behold, you will conceive in your womb …’” – and this is the angel speaking to Mary, telling her ‘even though you’re a virgin, you’re going to conceive in your womb.’ “ …’ and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.’” – now this name is probably better rendered JOSHUA – because it’s the exact equivalent of the name Joshua. Indeed, the name Jesus in the Greek language has been absolutely bastardized. I mean they’ve used this name until it’s almost blasphemous. The way that people down through the generations have used the name Jesus – over and over again. It’s a sacred being of whom we are speaking of. And to use the name in such a blasphemous way – you know the Jews, even today, will not even write the name God, nor will they even speak the name of God in some cases, because they consider it to be so absolutely reverent. So absolutely holy. To use it in such common phraseology of religious parlances now is just in degradation. It degrades the holy name of God. Now, I’m not saying that we should not write God’s name, or speak His name. But we should use it in such a way that shows others that we consider His name to be absolutely holy.

Verse 32 – “’ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33) And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’”

Now over in Luke, the 2nd chapter, verse 8 – this was another portion my social studies teacher wanted us to memorize. “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9) And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” – I can imagine that they were.

Verse 10 – “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” – which included the Gentiles.

Verse 11 – “’ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” – now, those shepherds knew that the Savior had been born – didn’t they!? Did they doubt that the Savior had been born!? Now, later, when Jesus Christ was with the Pharisees and Sadducees, they didn’t understand that the very Savior was standing there in front of them – even though the evidence was slapping them across the face! When He would heal a blind man or raise someone from the dead. Even John the Baptist – in a moment of doubt – asked of Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” But I guarantee you here, these shepherds understood that the Savior had been born.

Verse 12 – “’ And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ 13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God saying: 14) ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”

And from my library of Bibles:

“’ Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased’” (NLT).

“’ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (NASB).

“’ Glory to God in the highest heaven,’ they sang, ‘and peace on earth for all those pleasing him’” (TLB).

“’ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of goodwill’” (NCB).

“’ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (NIV).

“’ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men’” (KJV).

“’ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (ESV).

We tend to lose some in many of these translations. It is talking about – when peace will ultimately be established and where this peace is going to break out. It will break out here on this E A R T H.

So, here we have this extraordinary revealing of this glorious Child that was born unto the family of mankind – that was prophesied. And in many commentaries, they’ll give you all of the passages of the prophecies which were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Sadly, many who contradict that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah claim – and this is truly reprehensible – that Jesus, when He was an adult man, looked back at all those old Scriptures in the Old Testament, read them, and decided to try and play them out in His life – fulfilling those prophecies. That’s one way they get around rejecting the fact that He actually came to fulfill those promises – those prophecies. Jesus actually had very little control over most of the events which occurred in His life. As an example – the betrayal of Judas Iscariot and His delivery up to be crucified.

Friends, we read in the Book of John, chapter 1 that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) ALL THINGS were made through Him, …” – an absolutely extraordinary revelation – wouldn’t you say!?

In verse 14, John reveals definitely of whom he speaks, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt [or tabernacled] among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father …” – Jesus the Christ.

When the majority of these worldly churches on their walls have a picture of a ‘little Lord Jesus’ – or hanging front and center a ‘dead Jesus on a cross.’ And they say their prayers every night to the ‘baby Jesus.’ Or they sing – little baby Jesus ‘away in a manger no crib for a bed. The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.’ Or in their movies, our LORD God – the living and powerful Jesus Christ – is portrayed as a child. And they don’t understand that Jesus was the very being that was there who said, “’ Let there be light!’ He was the very One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush. He was the very One who was with Israel when He led them out of the land of Egypt. He was the One who led them ‘by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.’ He was the very One that gave them manna, which rained down from heaven. And He was the very One who stood before the Jews and exclaimed, “’ Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’” What power He has!!

In the Book of Hebrews, it says that He was ‘the brightness of His glory,’ describing Jesus Christ as God the Father’s own begotten Son. He was an exact replica – in flesh-and-blood – of the very glory of God. The disciples just couldn’t understand this. Jesus, on a number of occasions, would say, ‘He who has seen Me has seen the Father.’ And they said, ‘Show us the Father.’ And Jesus answered, ‘Do you not believe that I AM in the Father, and the Father in Me?’ Because He was showing them exactly what the Father looks like, acts like, the Way in which He treats others, the fact that He is a God of love, and forgiveness. He once told the Pharisees, ‘go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ They scratched their heads – they just couldn’t understand what He was meaning. That God no longer desired burnt offerings but mercy, and the knowledge of God more than any sacrifice. Again, they scratched their heads in bewilderment. He was trying to explain – a great God who actually loves us so much that He literally gave His only Son as the sacrifice for the sins of the world. What a glorious and remarkable Child that had been born unto us! And so Isaiah – writing under the inspiration of the Spirit – prophesied of this Child that would be born.

“Made Himself Of No Reputation”

In Philippines, the 2nd chapter, verse 5 – the apostle Paul (and I’ve noticed a greater number of websites on the Internet which bashes the apostle Paul, and it truly sickens me) writes here something about Jesus’ character in coming down to live in flesh-and-blood. Notice, “Let this mind be in you …” – which mind should be in us!? “ … which was also in Christ Jesus.” – the same mind which Jesus had.

Verse 6 – “who, being in the form of God, …” – this exactly tells us that Jesus was a member of the divine Elohim – the God family. “ …did not consider it robbery to be equal with God.” – in other words, He was on a level with the God family. He was a divine being that had been there with God. And He did not think that position of authority and power was something to be grasped at – to cling to.

a single-cell embryo (CLAUDE CORTIER/SCIENCE SOURCE)

But, it says – verse 7 – “but made Himself of no reputation [He emptied Himself], taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

Think about Jesus Christ being ONE SINGLE CELL inside the womb of Mary – how lowly is that!? And, indeed, when you look at the earth some 383 miles above the surface through the WorldView – 3 Satellite, human beings look smaller than the head of a pin.

Yet, when Jesus Christ was born into the human family, He took on the form of a servant. And so Paul is trying to show us here just what Jesus gave up for all of us. And that we each should have that same mind in each of us toward one another. That we should be willing to get rid of all of the pride and the vanity, the hatred, resentment, and be willing to become a servant to one another. We certainly do not grasp the scope of just what Jesus gave up in that state.

“The Government Will Be Upon His Shoulder”

So, back in Isaiah – the next portion of that – after it says, “For unto us a Child is born,” it says, “And the government will be upon His shoulder.”

And we – the Church of Jesus Christ – has explained for decades the government which Jesus talked about in His public ministry. From the very onset of His preaching He said, “’ Repent, for the kingdom [from] heaven is at hand.’” And of course we know that He was talking about His return to this earth. Sadly, the majority of people have ingrained in their minds that when they die, they immediately go to heaven if they have accepted Jesus. And while the majority take this for granted, no verse in the Bible actually says, “We go to heaven when we die.” In fact, there’s a mountain of evidence to justify that no human has ever gone there – including Jesus’ own prayer to Father.

I’ve heard it so many times in various movies – ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. …’ And it’s nothing more than a mantra. But in that prayer, He says, “’ Your kingdom come. Your will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven.’” Friends, they mumble the words, yet they don’t understand that He is talking about a kingdom that is going to be established right here on E A R T H!

John, the 14th chapter, down in verse 3 – “’ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.’” – where is He going to be!? Is He, as so many people believe, going to come back and skip off the atmosphere of the earth and waft people away in a so-called ‘secret rapture’!?

Well, there is nothing secret about the return of Jesus Christ! When you go back and read the events surrounding the return of Jesus Christ it’s a ‘day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness’ – Joel 2:2. When you read the signs of what is happening during that time at the return of Jesus Christ – in the Book of Revelation as an example – one giant sign happening right after another that is raining down upon mankind. That if He didn’t intercede mankind would wipe himself off the face of the earth! There is nothing secret at all about that.

So, where will He be!? If we turn to Zechariah, the 14th chapter – it says ‘in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.’ So, again, back in 1981, I vividly recall first reading this very verse - Jesus is going to stand ‘in that day upon the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east’! I was so excited that I called my mother into the room and read aloud this very verse! As the disciples stood and watched as Jesus was taken up received of a cloud, and two angels said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Jesus Himself said in the Book of Matthew, chapter 24, verse 27 – “’ For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.’” When the throne of God, when New Jerusalem, begins to return to this earth, at some point it will be a little small light in the night sky. And the next night it will be a little brighter – like the star Sirius. And then, it becomes more and more obvious – and people will look up and go, “What is that!?” Now, most of the people of the world will think it’s – and they really will – an invading alien force! There is nothing secret about it! This sign – this little small light in the night sky will grow larger and brighter month after month, verse 30 – “’ and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’”

And in the Book of Revelation, chapter 2, verse 26, Jesus states, “’ And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.’” - this is upon the return of Jesus Christ, not a thousand years later. The setting up of the Kingdom of God. Can you imagine what it will be like to have co-power with Jesus Christ over nations!? Can you imagine the nation of Iran finally having it’s "swamp drained"!? Or Russia!? Can you imagine having the ability to ‘convict all who are ungodly’ (cf. Jude 14) – eliminating the dictators, despots, and evil wicked rulers!? To charge into the nation and shout, “This kingdom has become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (cf. Revelation 11:15). The nations of the world will cease their two greatest sins: idolatry and Sabbath-breaking! They will begin to keep all of God’s holy days (Zechariah 14:16-19). All people will begin to learn from God’s word just what God says, and how they are to live, and what they are to eat, and how they are to conduct their lives. And be witness to this transformation of the nations. Recall what the LORD said through Isaiah – even the “eunuchs [pronounced ´yü-nəks] who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant, Even them I will give in My house.”

And, friends, we could also go back and read Micah, the 4th chapter, where it talks about the condition of the earth, that the nations will “beat their swords into plowshares, And their speaks into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.” – vv. 1-3. A world at peace – for Jesus Christ is called a ‘Prince of PEACE’! So, peace will eventually break out upon the whole earth!

In the Book of Isaiah, the 11th chapter, beginning in verse 1 – “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2) The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” – speaking here of only one being - Jesus Christ!

Verse 3 – “His delight is in the fear [reverent fear] of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; …” – meaning, He’s not going to listen to tales, lies, gossip.

Verse 4 – “But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.”

And I will boldly say this – but there are people out there in this world who absolutely deserve to be destroyed from off the face of the earth! Because they WILL NOT give in to God’s Way of life. They refuse to live or even to begin to walk down a righteous path.

Verse 5 – “Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. 6) ‘The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.”

“IN THAT DAY” – when is that!? After the blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP, and God starts the process of cleaning up this earth. “…’ O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.” – this is what the physical people of Israel will say! The kingdom of God is going to be established here on this earth – an ‘everlasting kingdom’ – and that even the nature of the animals is going to be changed.

Verse 9 – “’ They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain [‘My holy government’], For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea.”

The prophet Isaiah says, Jesus Christ will sit ‘upon the throne of David and over His kingdom.’ And I’ll just remind you – in 2nd Samuel, chapter 7 – the LORD made a promise to King David that there will always be a seed after him, who will come from his body, who will establish the throne of his kingdom – forever. And the LORD relayed that later to King Solomon. He said that there will never fail his seed to sit upon the throne of Israel. Now, whether you believe that that throne still exists today or not – it’s not a point of doctrine. Yet, as I have on my personal Facebook page of favorite quotes – “Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened - Sir Winston Churchill.” The very fact that God made a promise – and cannot lie – and the fact of what the angel said in Luke – “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David” then Jesus is coming back to inherit a throne which is somewhere on this earth – yes!? Now, is it the ‘Rocket Man’s’ throne in North Korea!? Or Vladimir Putin's throne!? Is it Shinzō Abe’s throne!? Just look around the world and ask yourself – what throne is there that exists – at least it has for my nearly 51-years – which has a heritage that goes back to the nation of Israel!?

Conclusion

In conclusion, let’s turn to Isaiah, the 35th chapter.

All during the twenty years which I drove over the road hauling produce from the likes of Salinas, California to all parts of Florida – I would travel through Arizona. Now, all through my school years, we were taught that the word Arizona came from the Spanish language, meaning “arid zone.” And like I have mentioned before with the likes of such television programs as 10 Things You Don’t Know About featuring Henry Rollins – just when you thought you knew the answers, the questions are changed! But my point being – while traveling through states like Arizona and New Mexico along I-10 it, for the most part, is parched ground, desert cactus – just like the Steins ghost-town of 1880 and the Peloncillo Mountains – where there is rattlesnakes, rabbits, and thorn bushes. Yet even places like this – it says here – “The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; 2) It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. … They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.” – now, where in the world is this going to be!? Where does peace need to breakout!? Does Jesus Christ need to go to the upper heavenly realms to preach peace – to establish peace!? Think about it. All the things which He taught – does He need to preach it up in heaven with all the heavenly hosts which have been there for millennia upon millennia!? Does He need to preach God’s law there!? Where do all the problems exist!? Where does God Almighty and Jesus Christ need to preach and to teach!? Here – on this E A R T H!

Verse 3 – “Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees. 4) Say to those who are fearful hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.’”

Verse 5 – “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” – this means both physically and spiritually!

Verse 6 – “Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.” – a complete change of the topography of the earth.

Verse 7 – “The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8) A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.”

Friends, where in the world is the stain glass windows, the phallic steeples, great cathedrals, pipe organs, men and women wearing religious clothing – looking and acting religious – anywhere in any of these Scriptures we just covered!? Where are the choir lofts and the gospel music and the screaming televangelist begging for money!? Most of what people consider to be the religion that God loves is but a distraction from THE WORD OF GOD, THE TRUTH OF GOD, and THE PLAN OF GOD. We – the Church of Jesus Christ – have for decades tried to expose the deception and to reveal the real truth contained within His living word. Perhaps today a pinprick of light has made its way into your life through these words. If so, don’t be like the song by Corey Hart – in which he wears his sunglasses at night. □

Addendum:

The Division of Light From Darkness

So, Jesus calls Himself ‘the Light.’ He’s the One that sprang forth in a world of darkness.

And, here, it behooves me to mention again a set of books I’m reading called Shocked By The Bible by Joe Kovacs. My sister had asked me what my thoughts are of chapter ten of the second book – which is entitled Light up the darkness. When you think back to the recreation of this earth (cf. Genesis 1:2), we know that God tells us that He did not create this earth ‘without form, and void.’ When we come upon the scene of the very second verse of the Bible it tells us, “The earth [became] without form, and void; and DARKNESS was on the face of the deep.” And what was the very first command which came forth!? “’ Let there be light.’” I believe that it is so amazing that the very being which was there that brought light into a dark world – is the same One that brought spiritual light into a darkened world when He came to dwell among us.

In Acts chapter 26, it too can be used to show what the author was trying to point out in Genesis 1:4 – “concerning the revealing of God’s spiritual plan.” It’s not just the whole purpose of the apostle Paul’s calling – but a microcosm of the very Plan of God. And he expounds this when he is standing there giving a testimony. Remember, Paul was before King Agrippa II and he was telling his story how he had been struck down while on the road to Damascus - with authority and commission from the chief priest to go and capture the saints and bring them back for imprisonment and even death – with a great light. And he hears this voice which says, verse 15 – “’ I AM Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16) But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.’” – later on, He would appear unto him many times.

But notice what Jesus says, verse 17 – “’ I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you. …’”

But notice the commission – and this is also to be the commission for His saints in the WORLD TOMORROW – Verse 18 – “’ to open their eyes, in order to turn them from DARKNESS to LIGHT, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith [on] Me.’”

“… and God DIVIDED the LIGHT from the DARKNESS.” – Genesis 1:4 NKJV. “ …’ to open their eyes, in order to turn them from DARKNESS to LIGHT …’” – Acts 26:18 NKJV. 

Are you getting this!? 

From a spiritual standpoint, why did God DIVIDE the LIGHT from DARKNESS? Was it merely to create a day and a night in our physical world? The answer is no. The entire spiritual Plan of God can be summed up in this one verse – Genesis 1:4.

God is telling us His whole plan right from the beginning of the Bible, and He repeats it at the end -

Revelation 22:16 – “’ I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I AM the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.’”

Verse 17 – “And the Spirit and the bride [the living Church of Jesus Christ] say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” – again we see Acts 26:18 – “ …’ in order to turn them from DARKNESS to LIGHT, …’”

So here this LIGHT breaks through that darkened barrier and will literally illuminate the hearts of all people and will actually be receptive to the gospel message, be converted and changed, and will become faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ!

We know in the Book of Acts during the time of Pentecost that three-thousand were converted – but there are a number of occasions while reading through Paul’s writings that says, ‘there was a great multitude which were receptive of what we were preaching.’ And that surely was a great feeling – knowing that they have made a difference in people’s lives. □

Blind Leaders of the Blind (Sermon)

Pieter Bruegel the Elder Proverbs of the Blind Tree, Butter. 1568

The Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ is pleased to announce the following sermon on its YouTube channel:

1:31

Blind Leaders of the Blind

Matthew 15:14 - in which Jesus Christ boldly stated when hearing from His disciples that the Pharisees had been offended. Indeed, it was true of the official religious teachers to the children of Israel in the time of our Lord's day, it is ever-more true in this time of the end. Jesus says, 'Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind.' The apostle Paul - through the very teachings of Jesus Christ - specifically refers to Satan the devil as 'the god of this world': "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 NKJV. Friends, the only guide we should have to the Word of God, the Truth of God, and the ultimate Plan of God is Jesus Christ. He alone has a clear vision. He alone leads us surely through all tribulations. Lean not on ignorant men, when among us is our great High Priest and Advocate to whom we can always go to. His light shining upon our path, we will be able to see.

Here is a link to the sermon video: Blind Leaders of the Blind

Additional Items of Interest:

Future Rulership With Christ - Now, surely friends, we can see and hear just how rotten a good portion of this world is that we’re living in. [...]

The Firstfruits From the Earth - Concerning Exodus 3:18 – “’ Then they will heed your voice; and you shall come, you and the elders of Israel, to the king of Egypt; and you shall say to him, ‘The LORD God of the Hebrews has met with us; and now, please, let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness,  ..." ... Where were they going!? [...]

Do you understand Ezekiel 37? - Here is a little of what Minister Michael C. Garrett teaches concerning this: [...]

What is ... God?

Greetings friends this glorious, holy, and beautiful Sabbath here in Florida! It’s absolutely lovely outside here today!

“… God …”

Friends, that is one of the words of the very beginning of the Holy Bible. The Hebrew word being Elohim – a plural word – meaning more than one.

But, this very word “God” will now get you into fights, get you barred, rejected, ostracized, burned, beheaded, taken down, and utterly destroyed in the United States of America!

But, does God care!? Does He answer!? Does He even exist!? And if so, where is He!? Why is it that He just doesn’t intervene and solve all of these chaotic problems this world has!?

Does God know what is going on in this world today!? Is He aware of the estimated 226.7 million people starving in Africa – that one in four people suffer from hunger just south of the Sahara!? Or, the rising crime rate all over the world!? Is He even concerned about the rampant prevalence of pedophilia in America? Or, the ever-growing murder rate in Mexico, or St. Louis, or Baltimore, or Detroit in the United States of America – or even Johannesburg, South Africa!? The utter devastation caused by floods, hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes – and even the soon-coming collapse of the American economy - Is God aware!?

Does God know about this "war" between China and India!? About impending wars!? And, are there – right now – someone planning an attack on other nations, even the United States of America – Is God aware!?

Does God even know of the tribulations which we are facing here in the United States in 2020 – the racial, ethnic, civil disorder, political division, the totalitarian agenda which the Leftists are carrying out – Is God aware!?

Does God even know about our personal tribulations – our health, our well-being, and our safety!? Does He care about that!?

I can’t help but bring to mind Captain Kirk’s question to a supposed God of the universe – “What does God need with a starship?” And, I suppose that question could be fashioned – What does God need with us?

What is God … anyway!?

Are you able to describe God!? What does He look like – is He mean, wrathful, hateful – or is He sweet, loving, and kind!?

Here lately I’ve been reading a most fascinating book – which my dear Sister sent me – entitled Shocked By The Bible by author Joe Kovacs. In the book he brings out a great truism – the so-called Christians of this world are inundated with a message about God’s love and forgiveness but have never learned about the true nature of God.

Does God hate human beings – or does He have a Master Plan, and look upon us and see our potential!? Why isn’t He stepping in and correcting these overwhelming problems we are facing!?

God is … Spirit.

Turn with me if you will – and please follow along in your own Bible – to John, chapter 4, where Jesus said something so very interesting. And, there are a couple of places in the Bible – and you might be familiar with these passages – where God says, in His own words, His very own description. Now, do you or I have the ability to describe just who God is – and is it even possible!?

I mean – when you set down and truly ruminate on it – how does one describe who God is, or what God is, and just why God is!? What are His characteristics!?

So, there are a couple of places within His living word which says, “God is …”

And here is one occasion in which Jesus says, “’ You worship what you do not know; …’” – and here He was talking to a woman from Samaria. “ … ‘for salvation is of the Jews. 23) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; …’” – and of course speaking here of the great Ancient of Days – God the Father. The very Father of Jesus Christ! “ … ‘for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.’”

So, God is a Spirit – a spirit being.

And, as we know, Jesus describes to Nicodemus just what a spirit was – for He says, “’ that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’” Those people who will be converted and will eventually be in the God Family will be a spirit being. He goes on to say, it’s like “’ the wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” They are invisible to human eyes. And so, God has this characteristic – He has the ability to be unseen by human eyes. He could walk by you and you would never know that He was there!

Over in Isaiah, chapter 55, he wrote under the inspiration of God’s very Spirit – “’ My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. 9) ‘For as the heavens higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Now, what is fascinating is thinking about ancient Rome and all the statues that they had of their false gods which are made out of stone, marble, wood, and even pewter – of Zeus, Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, and of even Venus. There are literally hundreds of them throughout the city of Rome – even today.

We expect God to act like us, to have the same attributes. Like some of these false gods of mythology were depicted as having appetites, with human characteristics – like Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, women, and song – with him holding a bunch of grapes.

But, God says, “My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are not your thoughts. I think higher than that.”

So, God is a spirit being that doesn’t think like we human beings.

God is … holy.

In Leviticus, the 11th chapter, God says, “you shall be holy; for I AM holy.”

So, what does it mean to ‘be holy’ – anyway!?

There are so very many people who use that word a lot – holy this and holy that. Indeed, there are so many people around the world – in probably every language – that say such things as ‘holy dung’ cf. 2 Kings 18:27 – using a word from the King James Version of 1611. And, I believe using the word ‘holy’ in this manner – borders the line of blasphemy. But the very word ‘holy’ means to be dedicated to God and sacred. And, surely, there are not many things in this world which is sacred anymore is there!? A special feeling, a special place – where we lift Almighty God and Jesus Christ above everything else in our life.

Our LORD God tells us to ‘remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.’ And, for us to keep the holy days – that they are holy. He tells us to anoint the sick with oil – the oil symbolizing His Holy Spirit. Our bodies – which is the temple of the Holy Spirit – is itself holy. Indeed, even in the Old Testament – the inner chamber of the temple, the Holy of Holies – was the holiest place of all – representing God’s very throne. And in the New Covenant – the very presence of Almighty God is now open to all who are called and come before Christ Jesus who opened the way to the Father in heaven, what the Apostle Paul wrote, ‘the third heaven where God’s throne is.’ And, the Prophet Isaiah called it, ‘the farthest sides of the north.’ Recall, on one occasion His living word says that Lucifer walked on ‘the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the fiery stones.’

So we, as human beings, try to put these little pieces of evidence together and try to imagine what the very throne of God must look like – being portrayed by human beings in our limited ability to describe God and His throne.

And, the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” And, he was looking further ahead into the future – when God the Father and Jesus Christ will eventually reign on this Earth!

Over in Habakkuk, chapter 1, verse 13 – and not only is this a Book which I quote from quite a lot in our Letter to our Friends, but I’m now going to quote from The Soncino Books of the Bible – “Thou that art of eyes too pure to behold evil, And that canst not look on mischief.”

God is so holy that He can’t even look upon evil – or rather iniquity.

And, turning to the Book of Revelation, the 4th chapter, verse 8, we read that the four living creatures – the holy archangels – do not rest ‘day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was, and is and is to come!’

So, there is a Being out there that is worthy of our worship, praise, and honor – who is holy.

God is … light.

1st John, chapter 1, and verse 5.

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

So, we see here – and it’s interesting that the apostle John wrote about light and darkness. He makes this comparison where he contrasts light and darkness – light being of God, and darkness being of something wicked or evil. And he goes on to say in verse 6 – “If we say that we have fellowship with Him [who has and is light], and we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” – you cannot walk in darkness and be in fellowship with this Being that is of light.

Verse 7 – “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” – so, not only if we walk in the light do we have fellowship with Him, but we have fellowship with our brethren.

Over in John, the 3rd chapter, and verse 20 – and again, John wrote in many places about light and darkness. And this passage strikes a chord with me because I had an insightful thought while listening to a sermon by Mr. Garrett when he stated, “people who are living in darkness don’t want to see the light. And people who are living in the light don’t want to be in the darkness.” And, interestingly enough, when my wife and I settle down in the evenings to maybe watch a movie on television, she turns down the light and I turn up the light - I have no desire to be in darkness.

He speaks of ‘light having come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ As you might or might not be aware – in strip clubs the room is in darkness, in the back rooms of adult novelty shops it is bathed in darkness. And, I’m not necessarily saying that if you go into a strip club or an adult novelty shop that you are evil – but I am saying that surely God’s Spirit is nowhere to be found there! It is as if men are trying to hide their deeds from Almighty God – in darkness.

“’ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.’”

So, think about people who commit evil deeds. They – according to the very words of Jesus here – HATE GOD! They hate the light – the very One that is light!

Verse 21 – “’ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, …’” – a person who is approaching God and exposes all sins – just blurts it out, confesses all things – not trying to hide anything. And, of course, God does recognize this in the heart of this man or woman – and He forgives them. “ … ‘that they have been done in God.’” – meaning, God’s begotten children.

So, not only is God holy, but He is also light.

And, turning over to the Book of James, chapter 1, and verse 17, he says – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, …”

I, personally, love light – and I love sunshine! And, oftentimes overcast days can bring about melancholy or even depression. I recall my wife and I once visited the underground Kartchner Caverns in Benson, Arizona – in which the tour guide shut off all the lights, leaving us in total and complete darkness. The darkest I have ever witnessed – the eeriest feeling. I recall that the guide lit a match – and you couldn’t help but look at that light from that match, hoping that the light would never go out. And, I believe that it is no accident that we, as humans, have this feeling concerning light.

God is … love.

Now, the majority of people are familiar with this characteristic of God – they, as I had mentioned to my dear Sister – they speak of His love, His grace, His mercy, of their trinitarianism, of their glossolalia, they speak of their being given a spirit with the application of an oil and wine mixture (which I still don’t know what that means) – and they quote very liberally the passage of John 3:16 – “’ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’”

Indeed, God is the personification of true love. And I recalled once while I was meditating 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.’

God the Father and our Lord Jesus exhibit perfect love – They are not the gods depicted in statues in Rome, or the infidel hating god of Islam. And Their perfect expression of perfect love is the fact that our Lord Jesus – God the Father’s Son – was given and sacrificed for all the sins of all mankind.

God is … eternal.

I’d like you to turn with me to Psalm 90 – as we look at these different characteristics of God the Father and Jesus Christ –

“Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” – Psalm 90:2.

Indeed, our meaty minds cannot register ‘everlasting to everlasting.’ Now, oftentimes in science fiction movies and television shows you hear the phrase, “the other side of the galaxy.” Or, “the other side of the universe.” Now, man has guesstimated that the observable universe is about 28.5 gigaparsecs (which is 93 billion light-years) across, placing the very edge of the observable universe at 46.5 billion light-years away – a light-year being 5,878,625,373,186.6 miles!!

The universe is infinite! So says the majority of astrophysicist’s – such as Tamara Davis of the University of Queensland who states, “"So, I would say that stating the Universe is definitely infinite may be slightly overstating our claim, since we don't really know that it is infinite beyond our observable universe, but we have no strong reason to believe it is not infinite.” 1 Logic, for man, dictates that there must be an end to the universe – but there isn’t. Scientists look deeper and deeper into the observable universe and find that the universe is actually expanding. 2

Now, like all youngsters who have asked this infamous question – where did God come from!? – well, God has always been. And, this is something that just doesn’t register with us because we have a beginning and an end – and everything that we know has a beginning – like the terrible plight which is happening in Detroit, Michigan. By 1930 Detroit’s population had grown to nearly 1.6 million – and to nearly 2 million by 1950! In the post-war period, the city had lost nearly 150,000 jobs! Now, today, there’s urban decay! Detroit, like all cities – had a beginning and an end. And, indeed, to their credit, investors – such as John Hantz, are attempting to revitalize Detroit using various methods.

But, God’s living word tells us that God the Father and Jesus Christ are eternal. God has no beginning and has no end.

In Psalm, chapter 102.

Verse 12 – “But You, O LORD, shall endure forever, And the remembrance of Your name to all generations.”

Truly, through every generation of mankind – God Almighty and Jesus Christ were there! They witnessed it!

Verse 24 - “ … ‘Your years are throughout all generations.’”

To the people from Adam, to the Middle Ages, to 1899, and on down to today.

“’ Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26) They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 27) But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.’” – Psalm 102:25-27.

This earth, the galaxies, the stars, the moon, the sun – are eventually going to ‘wax old’ and ‘perish.’ But Almighty God and Jesus Christ will remain the same!

Moving along – to 1st Timothy, the 6th chapter. Now, a lot of people have this idea that the soul is immortal. And, this appears to be one passage which those who believe in the immortality of the soul won’t quote when they talk about immortality.

Verse 13 – “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus …” – the very focus of this Scripture! “ … who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14) that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15) which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate [RULER], the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16) who ONLY has immortality, …”

They never seem to quote this passage when talking about the immortality of the soul. Here it says that ‘ONLY GOD IS IMMORTAL.’ Soon I will do an article on the very difference between immortality and eternal. They aren't the same - 1st Timothy 6:16 indeed indicates that angels are NOT immortal.

“ … dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen OR CAN SEE, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.”

The very personality of Jesus Christ – in the God Family – appeared unto Adam, Noah, Moses, and Abraham – and said, ‘I AM WHO I AM!’ And, Jesus said, ‘Before Abraham was, I AM!’ God the Father has never – ever- appeared to a human being.

God is … perfect.

In the Book of Matthew, chapter 5, and verse 48, Jesus said, ‘therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.’

Indeed, friends, God is the standard. And, in a precursor to the New Covenant, God told Abraham, ‘walk before Me and be you perfect.’ – meaning, strive to be spiritually mature. And, this is a tall order – isn’t it!?

I began to think of just what I could use in this world to compare the perfection of God Almighty and Jesus Christ – or, rather the completeness – the spiritually mature. And, I can’t help but think of a single snowflake. There are not too many objects more beautiful than a forming snowflake! Indeed God’s beauty is all around us! This is the closest that I can come!

In Romans Paul said, ‘do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ We are instructed to strive for perfection. This truism is throughout the whole of God’s living word!

God is … righteous.

In Psalm, chapter 48, and verse 10, King David wrote, “Your right hand is full of righteousness.”

Now, God created this earth, but He demanded us to do what is right – and this is what righteousness means, doing what is right. Don’t do wrong – commit evil. Don’t do what is contrary to God’s laws.

You know, just the other day, my wife’s aunt was over – she professes to be a Christian – and she was telling us a story of how she had worked recently being paid ‘under the table.’ And, after she left I told my wife that ‘under the table’ can easily mean stealing. When you get paid under the table, you’re stealing from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – unless you keep track and file yourself. And, to note, this is completely different than getting ‘paid in cash’ and can still be legal if your employer is complying with employment laws and is properly tracking your payments for tax purposes. 3 And, sadly, my wife – being unconverted – said she didn’t consider that stealing.

Indeed, what is expected of all men – ‘Fear God, …’ meaning reverently fear. ‘ … and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.’ – Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV.

And, how does one know what righteousness is!?

It’s through God’s laws. The laws which existed long before Moses – the laws which tell us what is wrong and what is right.

So, if God is righteous, and if God’s laws are righteous – ‘For all Your commandments are righteousness’ – Psalm 119:172 – then does the God Family abide by Their own standard!? Does God abide by the laws which the LORD God put in place!?

God the Father and Jesus Christ have to - or else His whole Master Plan wouldn’t work at all.

King David also wrote, “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness.”

It reminds me of young children who tend not to see problems in abstract terms – the future seems to be entirely concentrated on the now. But God knows the beginning from the end – Isaiah 46:10. God knows all things – 1st John 3:20. God sees all things – cf. Heb. 4:13; Job 34:21; Prov. 5:21.

As I had stated to my wife yesterday of the fact that the United States of America is becoming a ‘modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah’ and the fact that if God doesn’t punish our nation for her grave sins – then He must apologize for the utter destruction of the cities of the plains. God isn’t righteous for one generation and not for the next; God is not judgmental for one generation and not the next – the apostle Paul in Hebrews states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” And, God is fair to every single human being – cf. Rom. 2:11.

God is… power.

Now, as I had said concerning young children who ask infamous questions about God – who instructed God!? “Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has taught Him?” – Isaiah 40:13. It’s almost as if we’re bringing God down to our level and saying – why can’t You solve these problems!? And, the prophet Isaiah is saying – you don’t truly realize who you’re talking to. You're not speaking of the One  - shamefully portrayed in the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings as a child!

Verse 14 – “With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding?”

Verse 15 – “Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales.”

And, indeed, when you look at the Earth some 383 miles above the surface through the WorldView – 3 Satellite, human beings look smaller than the head of a pin.

Verse 17 – “All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. 18) To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?”

Verse 21 – “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22) It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.”

Verse 25 – “’ To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?’ says the Holy One. 26) Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.’”

Of course, He’s talking about all the stars – which He has named.

Verse 28 – “’ Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.’”

As I had mentioned earlier in the Book of James – a brother to our Lord God wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” – James 1:17.

And, in the last Book of the Old Testament God says, “’ I AM the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.’” – but, what is God saying here!? – you’re not consumed!? It means that Almighty God’s mercy lasts from generation to generation. His mercy NEVER ends.

Turning back to Psalm, the 8th chapter, King David wrote, “What is man that You are mindful of him.” Our lives – as it says in several passages – are like a vapor of smoke, here today and gone tomorrow. And, people want to stand up and ask God why He does certain things!? Instead of completely submitting to Him and saying – “Yes, Lord!”

God is … truth.

Over in the Book of John, the 17th chapter, Our LORD God prayed to Father, “’ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.’”

Indeed, the Holy Bible is truth.

Over in Psalm, chapter 89, it says, “Mercy and truth go before Your face.” God is always truthful with us! And, in Psalm, chapter 118, it says, “For His mercy endures forever.”

And, surely, in the world we live in today – the duel prophecy of Isaiah comes to fruition – “truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter.” All one needs to do is listen or read this world’s news – the unmitigated fake news that is being flooded into the world!

I had mentioned earlier my wife’s aunt who came over to the house the other day – had stated (just off the top of her head) that here in Florida over 9,000 people had died from COVID-19 – in one day. I asked her where she got this information from. She said, “The news!” I reminded her that you cannot believe all that you hear or read from the mainstream media. Fake news is here. It’s real. Get used to it! It’s absolutely unbelievable!

But, we have a Creator God with truth as one of His characteristics!

King Solomon – David’s own son wrote, “In mercy and truth ATONEMENT is provided for iniquity.”

God is… our Father.

The Holy Bible describes God as our Father – and we’re supposed to have that relationship with Him.

So, with all of these characteristics on display, maybe we can think even more of who God is, and how very great God is. And that God is much more powerful than any of the tribulations which may be going on today. And, God is completely aware of them. He knows about your life. He knows about the tribulations you face. And, God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are soon to step in and it will be more amazing than any imagination could ever imagine – in the glorious Kingdom of God! □

1 Holladay, April “Where does the universe end?” The Globe And Mail, 14 Dec. 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
2 Keck, W.M. Observatory “A crisis in cosmology: New data suggests the universe expanding more rapidly than believed” Phys Org, 23 Oct. 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2020.

Letter to our Friends - June 30, 2020

OWENSBORO CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY 42303

June 30, 2020

MICHAEL C. GARRETT

FOUNDER, PASTOR

Greetings from West Central Florida:

Friends, we are continuing to do the work of God related to Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 15:1-7; John 10:27; and John 21:15-17 in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

We trust that you are having a spiritually productive week.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Friends, the greatest news, the most fantastic, the most astonishing, the most mind-boggling news is in our very own Bible! The Good News of Jesus Christ!

Have you ever heard about it!? It’s right there in your Bible – in Genesis.

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” – Genesis 1:26 NKJV

Now, if you didn’t catch that, let me spell it out for you. “Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness.”

This statement alone reveals to us the very significance of who and what God is – and the very reason why men and women were created by God in the first place!

Now, it’s obvious that the words us and our are plural words. But, in fact, the very word “God” here is a plural word – Elohim – indicating more than one. So, there is more than one in the God Family.

Actually, this very phrase “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” makes it abundantly clear that human beings look like God! If you ever wanted to know what God looked like – look in the mirror. For you and I are in the very image and likeness of God!

Now, when it came to creating human beings – men and women – who were created in the very image and likeness of God - here is more of that passage:

“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” – vv. 26-27.

So, there is no excuse not to know – God created animals after the animal kind. He created trees after the tree kind. But He created humans after His own image and likeness – after the God kind.

Friends, this greatest news anyone could ever see or hear on this planet was revealed by God to me now nearly four decades ago – but there’s more!

As shocking as all of this sounds, the very reason that when you and I look into a mirror and have the very image and likeness of God is because we were actually created to be part of the Family of God and to live with Him for all eternity!

For in Hebrews we read:

“Both the One who make men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, ‘I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing Your praises.’ And again, ‘I will put My trust in Him.’ And again He says, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given me’” – 2:11-13 NIV

Now, this does not mean that we will be God the Father or Jesus Christ – but it does mean that we will be Jesus Christ’s brothers and sisters – actual children in the Family of God.

“And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters,’ says the LORD Almighty” – 2nd Corinthians 6:18 NLT

“’ Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God’” – Matthew 5:9.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe [on] His name” – John 1:12.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus” – Galatians 3:26.

And friends, just as children get all the rights and privileges of earthly parents from being their sons and daughters. Almighty God’s children, too, receive rights and privileges from being related to Him!

“’ And they will never die again. … They are children of God and children of the resurrection’” – Luke 20:36 NLT

“For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we are heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering” – Romans 8:16-17 NLT

It’s amazing to me how more people just can’t see or hear – or even accept – what these passages clearly say, “we are the children of God.” In fact, even more clearer language is found in the New Testament – “We are His offspring” – Acts 17:28 NLT And, friends, it behooves me to announce this!

How glorious and how wonderful – there will be millions if not billions of human beings born into the very Family of God!

Friends, our destiny is the greatest news anyone could ever hear! And, I know it sounds shocking! It literally shook me to the core when I first heard this and the very first theological question so many years ago – “Stop and think! Would a Creator, having supreme intelligence, wisdom, and love to think out, plan, design, and bring about all creation – this earth, and all life upon it – have left human beings in ignorance of His purpose?” Certainly not!

The apostle John explains it this way – “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” – 1st John 3:2 NIV

The people which God the Father has called unto Christ in this life are already in the Family of God, though we are still currently in our flesh-and-blood bodies. Yet, at the very blowing of the SEVENTH TRUMP – the very return of Jesus Christ – the dead in Christ will be resurrected and those in Christ still alive will be instantly changed – given eternally alive bodies composed of wholly Spirit.

Jesus Christ Himself spoke of this very thing – noting that people would have to be born of spirit in order to be in the Kingdom of God – “’ I tell you the truth, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit’” – John 3:5-6 NIV

The apostle Paul explained that God will change our mortal bodies from mortal into immortal. But why is this so essential!? Because “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God” – 1st Corinthians 15:50 NIV Why!? Because God Almighty and Jesus Christ are on an immortal plane – a completely different dimension than human beings of flesh-and-blood.

Again, here’s Paul’s exposé concerning our future bodies in the Kingdom of God:

“There are also bodies in the heavens and bodies on the earth. The glory of the heavenly bodies is different from the glory of the earthly bodies. … It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies” – 1st Corinthians 15:40-44 NLT

And, he continues:

“Just as we are now like the earthly man [Adam], we will someday be like the heavenly Man [Jesus Christ]. What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies” – vv. 49-53.

Jesus Christ died and was resurrected into His glorified, immortal body. Paul called Him ‘the Firstborn among many brethren’ – “For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” – Romans 8:29 NLT Can anything be more plain truth!?

Let us also consider what Paul wrote in Hebrews:

“For in one place the Scripture say, ‘What are people that You should think of them, or a son of man that You should care for him? Yet You made them only a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them authority over all things.’ Now when it says ‘all things,’ it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority” – Hebrews 2:6-8 NLT

I suggest that you read that slowly over again. Here is the very answer to an infamous question of the ages – what is man? Man is a being that at the moment is ‘a little lower than the angels.’ Yet, once we die, we will eventually be above the angels – very members of the Family of God!

Dearest beloved friends – including, of course, our friends in the Philippines, Germany, Bangladesh, and the United States – many of you have never heard this message. But it’s right here on the pages of your own Bible. Whether or not you choose to believe it is up to you.

The whole of the universe is anxiously waiting for the coming day – when the true and eternal members of the Family of God is revealed:

“For all creation [including our nearest neighboring galaxy – the Andromeda Galaxy – some 2.5 million light-years from us] is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His [born] children, including the new bodies He has promised us” – Romans 8:19-23 NLT

So, we were not created in the image and likeness of tigers, no matter how gorgeous they are. We were not created from gorillas, though they are majestic beasts.

God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” We, friends, were created in the very image and likeness of the great Ancient of Days – the all-knowing, all-holy, all-loving, all-eternal Almighty God, who is bringing unto His Family countless children.

Will you be one of them!?

Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day in 2020

This year, the Feast of Tabernacles begins the evening of October 2nd and continues until the Last Great Day which is October 10th.

Last month we wrote - because of COVID-19 concerns, there could be issues with various locations for the Feast of Tabernacles 2020. Indeed, true Christians are to ‘gather together,’ though atheists do not understand. We consider holding religious services like the Feast of Tabernacles as essential.

Wingfield Inn & Suites Photo by Business Owner

I have personally stayed with the Wingfield Inn & Suites in Owensboro, Kentucky several times. Its location is 3220 W. Parrish Ave. Owensboro, Ky. 42301. Here is a photo from its website - http://www.wingfieldinnandsuitesowensboroky.com/.

Should you wish to stay there, the daily room rate is $95 per night, plus applicable taxes. You can call (270) 685-2433 to make reservations.

At this instant, we still intend to hold the Feast of Tabernacles in Owensboro, Kentucky at the Logsdon Community Center 2400 Friendship Drive, Owensboro, Kentucky 42303. However, there may be changes in location and how we can conduct services. Yet, we will still intend to hold services for the Feast of Tabernacles and encourage all who have a good character and would like to attend – you are more than welcome. For more information, please contact Mr. Garrett at garrett158@roadrunner.com.

World News Items

In the United States of America, protests and civil unrest remain a grave issue (see ‘Protesters allegedly attack state senator and topple statues outside Wisconsin State Capitol’). Just as dire was Abraham Lincoln’s House Divided Speech of 1858 – "A house divided against itself, cannot stand." It’s ever-more dire one hundred and sixty-two years later!! Our Lord Jesus Christ’s words couldn’t ring more relevant today – “’ Every kingdom [or, every nation, people, or group] divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand’” – Matthew 12:25.

Now, strangely enough – it seems odd that protestors would topple over a statue of a man who actually fought against slavery – Col. Hans Christian Heg. He was a Norwegian immigrant and an anti-slavery activist who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It goes to show you – 'those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.' Violence begets violence!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used this very phrase when he said, “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love...” 1 So, this violent protesting dishonors Dr. King!

Sadly, such violence was prophesied to occur with those who will not heed the words of God:

“’ Because you disdained all My counsel, And would have none of My rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you’” – Proverbs 1:25-27.

“’ You have forsaken Me,’ says the LORD, ‘You have gone backward. Therefore I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you; I AM weary of relenting! And I will winnow them with a winnowing fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children; I will destroy My people, Since they do not return from their ways. Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, Against the mother of the young men, A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly’” – Jeremiah 15:6-8.

Also in the news – India and China are clashing (see ‘China claims valley where Indian, Chinese troops battled’). Also, China is taking military steps that bear great concern (see ‘What is an EMP attack, and how might China carry out a ‘nuclear Pearl Harbor’?’).

Friends, whether it was related to China, Iran, or North Korea – or terrorism in general – the POTUS Donald Trump has great concerns about an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and took some steps last year:

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday to protect the US from electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) that could have a “debilitating” effect on critical US infrastructure.

Trump instructed federal agencies to identify EMP threats to vital US systems and determine ways to guard against them, Bloomberg first reported. A potentially harmful EMP event can be caused by a natural occurrence or the detonation of a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere.

The threat of an EMP attack against the US reportedly drove the president to issue Tuesday’s order. …

“Today’s executive order — the first ever to establish a comprehensive policy to improve resilience to EMPs — is one more example of how the administration is keeping its promise to always be vigilant against present dangers and future threats,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement, according to The Hill.

With the release of the White House National Security Strategy in 2017, Trump became the first president to highlight the need to protect the US electrical grid.

“Critical infrastructure keeps our food fresh, our houses warm, our trade flowing, and our citizens productive and safe,” the document said.

“The vulnerability of U.S. critical infrastructure to cyber, physical, and electromagnetic attacks means that adversaries could disrupt military command and control, banking and financial operations, the electrical grid, and means of communication.”

(Read More: https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-signs-executive-order-electromagnetic-pulse-attack-2019-3).

But, was it enough!?

COVID-19 remains a major issue in the USA and all around the globe (see ‘WHO Chief Says 'Politicization' of Pandemic Hurting Global Efforts’ as well as ‘Surging US virus cases raise fear that progress is slipping’). I myself have been saying for some time that this ‘scaredemic’ has been politicized. And, WHO itself is one of the culprits. As well as Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, California Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as others.

In Judah – known today as the nation of Israel – schools are training priests to perform rituals in anticipation of the 3rd temple (see ‘Jerusalem School Trains Priests to Perform Temple Rituals in Anticipation of 3rd Temple’). We know – from the very word of the Eternal One – that regular animal sacrifices with the Israeli government's approval will resume – and a coming temporary peace deal will come to that region:

“’ And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah [which is Jesus Christ] shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27) Then he [the prince who is to come] shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [seven-years]; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate’” – Daniel 9:26-27.

Now, briefly, this is our understanding of this amazing two-fold prophecy:

This is a prophecy often referred to as the SEVENTY WEEKS PROPHECY. Verse 27 – Remember, verse 25 we see the word “Messiah.” That’s who we’re talking about here in verse 27. The “he,” who – JESUS CHRIST – “he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;” Which in Bible parlance, one day for a year – this is SEVEN YEARS. “But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” Now, who was the ultimate sacrifice!? Jesus Christ. When did He die!? When was He executed!? He was executed on a WEDNESDAY, in the middle of the week. And, His human life ended after 3½ years of His public ministry. It was SEVEN YEARS He was supposed to have a very special dispensation. And He lived upon this earth for 3½ years, it begs the question: What became of the other 3½ years!? Well, the other 3½ years will be fulfilled in those events upon His return and for 3½ years the Millennium doesn’t really start, UNTIL AFTER 3½ years. Because Jesus Christ for 3½ years, is, as it were, remolding and reshaping the Earth – the people of the Earth. He’s getting the attitudes right. We are told, “as a Rod of Iron.” And, Jesus Christ WILL wield that club, and we as members of the resurrected Family of GOD WILL in part wield that club, and here’s a part of the story – God uses the physical people of Israel as a part of His club. That’s a part of the story which has NEVER been told.

(Garrett, M.C., Notes Concerning The Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day PDF, 2019).

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week.

● 2-3 hymns. (a free printable “Old Time Gospel” hymn site is The Old Time Gospel).
● Opening prayer.
● Sermonette (if you choose). The one suggested is “CURSES” by Michael C. Garrett.
● Announcements (if any; you’re welcome to use this letter) and one hymn.
● Sermon. The one suggested for this week is “Being A Witness” by Michael C. Garrett. Many more sermons are available at www.owensborochurchofjesuschrist.com.
● 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 Owensboro Church of Jesus Christ – Home website. Don’t forget we have a Twitter page where you can find news from around the world in relation to biblical prophecy @aservant1God.

Concluding Comments

Friends, this world is in trouble, it’s in a violent upheaval – with terrorism and escalating civil unrest the likes of which we haven’t seen since the ‘60s! Why!? Why all these seemingly unsolvable tribulations!? There seems to be no peace – as the youth of today are threatening, “No justice, no peace!” There’s no peace between neighbors. No peace between political parties. No peace between classes. No peace between nations. Now, recently – and I will be posting it soon – I spoke of “What is … God?” And of why God isn’t intervening in this world’s tribulations. Well, Satan the devil – and folks, unlike an M&Ms Christmas commercial, “he does exist!” and is ramping up his attack on the nations of Israel!

Minister Guy C. Lamar shared this IMPORTANT video – and I’d like to share it with you here. The minds at YouTube have deemed this video "inappropriate for some users." Why!? - because it speaks truth!? The number-one enemy to blame that wasn’t mentioned in this video is Satan the devil. And he is doing everything he can to divide America, and to utterly destroy America – and he is succeeding! But, friends, there is a KEY – a KEY to understanding! And that’s the Way the very Inventor of this KEY intended it to be – unlocked only by those He has called unto Christ Jesus His Son – cf. Matthew 13:11. Having this valuable key – more precious than any gold – is understanding the very knowledge of God Himself. You could understand the very purpose being worked out here on Earth. You could understand why there is a Satan, and even who he is. Where he came from. How he came into being. The very mastermind behind this violent civil unrest – including the very one behind and motivating the actions of the Black Lives Matter organized movement as well as the Antifa movement! Friends, it’s important to know just who really is behind this violent evil uprising! In this closing comment section, I feel that it’s important to go over a little of this awesome knowledge – here is a bitting cut of this KEY:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” – Ephesians 6:12.

This world’s mortal and spiritual enemy – though he is portrayed as a god in religions such as Wicca, Satanism, as well as other Theistic Luciferian groups – is an evil invisible spirit. And, therefore a being which the world at large laughs off and claims doesn’t exist – because they cannot see him, touch him, smell him, or taste him, or hear him. Yet, this world’s tribulations are not coming from other people – of flesh-and-blood – it’s actually coming from unseen ‘principalities, from powers and rulers of darkness, of spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.’ The very ones mentioned in that said important video – like Cuomo, Murphy, Wolf, and Whitmer – as well as those mentioned in the World News Items and others, are nothing more than sycophants behind all of those vile evil spirits – of which Satan the devil is the chief. Who the apostle Paul calls ‘the prince of the power of the air’ – Ephesians 2:2.

So, very quickly here – God created mankind and gave mankind His law – summed up in His Ten Commandments – but notice this ladies and gents:

“Now the serpent [the enchanted whisperer] was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” – Genesis 3:1.

In other words, he beguiled her and said, “Didn’t God hold some of this back for Himself!? Isn’t God being stingy!? Isn’t God being selfish!? He didn’t give you everything – did He!?”

“… the woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said ‘You shall not eat of it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die’” – vv. 2-3.

Satan the devil answered, “You will not surely die.”

But what about you – today in the 21st century – do you still believe this lie!? This is the first and enduring lie told by Satan the devil. But friends, you’re not an immortal soul – you are a mortal soul. You came out of the dust of the ground – Genesis 2:7.

God Himself says – twice, for clarification and importance – “the soul who sins shall die” – Ezekiel 18:4, 20.

So, people do see some of these very things in the pages of the Bible – and they can’t admit that it’s not there. Yet, the majority of people do not understand the Bible and it seems like just foolishness to them – or like my wife says, just a bunch of men who wrote a bunch of letters.

Well, it took a military Enigma machine to break the codes used by the Germans as well as the Japanese during World War II. It doesn’t take a machine to decipher and to understand the very words of God – the Holy Bible. But I’ll tell you what it does take – the Holy Spirit of God.

But how do you receive the Holy Spirit of God!? You repent. You go to Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ and admit how wrong you are and how wrong you’ve been. And, you admit just how right God is and has been all along. Have you!? Because you won’t receive His Spirit until you do; and then, as promised, you will receive the very gift of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2:38.

Now the LORD God – the very One we know of as Jesus Christ – spoke to the first man, Adam, but he didn’t believe God. Then, He came and spoke to thousands upon thousands of people – and they scoffed. Only 120 truly believed what He said – did you know that!? Jesus – ‘God with us.’ They didn’t believe what He said.

Are you one who believes what Jesus Christ has to say!?


Now, we have a two-part sermon entitled “Deliver Us From The Evil One” that I’d like you to watch. You don’t have to give an offering. We don’t beg for any money on the air. We don’t ask for anything. We only want to give this to you. This video is free – there is no charge whatsoever.

And, here’s an online booklet I want you to read and have – it’s important, too – “The Mark of the BEAST.” It’ll surely open your eyes to something that is hidden to most. Just what is the mark of the beast spoken of in the Book of Revelation!? Is it an electronic chip placed under the skin? Is it credit cards or some mysterious tattoo!? Be sure to click on that link and read this enlightening booklet.


In deep gratitude and love, in Jesus' name,

1 "Struggle for Equality: Quotes From Martin Luther King, Jr". Scholastic Inc. January 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-01-22.