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How do we remain faithful?
Fred R. Coulter—March 18, 2023
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Greetings, everyone! Welcome to Sabbath services! As you look at the world, it's completely in trouble almost everywhere you look.
BANKS
One of the main things right now is the problem with the banks. When you have a big bank like Swiss Suisse go under, you know there's great trouble.
How the dollar fits into all of this, you need to realize that Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa are in what is called the Brics Association. They are working to form a new standard of currency for payment for international payments.
They're running fairly good competition toward the dollar, so everyone is wondering how long will the dollar last. Some say that it may collapse in May, but that's highly unlikely at the present time. But one day it will!
You've heard about the CB (Central Banks) digital currency. What they want to do is to have all currency digital. When that happens, they control everything that you do.
In China they have that setup pretty good, and people who are troublemakers can't travel, can't make certain purchases because they can control you. With the flip of the switch, you can have no money! Flip another switch and you have no identity! This is where it is going to go.
Will there be a lot of pushback against it so that it may not happen in the time and the in the way that they think it's going to happen? We don't know! But let's learn a really good lesson.
What you need to do is any large purchases you need to make, make them! Don't leave a lot of money in the bank. Make sure that you have some cash set aside so you can operate on that for the time being.
Better still, if you take and heed the things in the past and you have some gold and silver, make sure that you have it where you hold it. If you don't hold it yourself, you don't own it. If you have it in a safety deposit vault, forget it. The government can confiscate it with just the flip of a switch.
Prov. 22:7: "The rich rules over the poor…"
Doesn't that describe what's happening today. Look at what happened with the failure of the SVB (Silicon Valley Bank). It was a complete 'woke' progressive Democrat organization! They ran it like there's no tomorrow! 'We're tech people and we can do anything we want.' But then, everything caught up with them. So, instead of letting the bank collapse, because there were a lot of large depositors in there with tens of millions of dollars….
Remember that when you go to the bank it says that your deposit is guaranteed by the FDIC up to $250,000 to each depositor. So, if you have more than one account in the bank, is it wise to have more than one account.
I don't know how much anybody has; you know what you have, you know what you don't have, and you know what you need to do.
So, "The rich rules over the poor…"
The comment was made that when Biden said that 'we will insure the deposits of the SVB' that means these giant depositors were guaranteed all their money.
- What does that look like it could represent?
- What happens if another bank comes to the same fate?
- What if it's Republican bank?
- What will they do?
There's also talk that the four big banks—Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi Bank and Chase—that they may end up being the only banks left, because everybody is doing everything online.
There are still 'old fogies' like me who has account, checks, we write the check and we pay our bills by mail.
They want it so that they don't need the local banks. When everything is digitized there's complete control. This will represent for all of the hackers a wonderful field harvest of taking your money without you knowing it until you try to use it.
We'll just say this: The digital money will be the very last step before the mark of the beast!
Speculation:Will it be that because there will be so much hacking of the accounts of individuals, because it's all online, that they will be forced to tell everyone now that you must have a chip in your right hand or your forehead. Is that how it's going to come? Sooner or later it will come to something like that; we don't know exactly what it will be.
Just yesterday our bank across the street said that their system was shutdown for about five hours. I don't know why it was shutdown, but I do know that this bank that we have the Church's money in has been a smaller bank and has been sold to larger bank. It first started out as South Valley National Bank, then San Benito Bank, then Santa Barbara Bank, then Union Bank, which it is now and they're selling to US Bank.
That means that one branch during the time that we've been here in Hollister has had five different owners. Don't know what it means. With all this banking thing coming up, and when Terry told me that she couldn't go over to the bank and make the deposit on Friday, I was wondering what's happening.
Proverbs 22:7: "The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender."
How many years have I told everyone, mentioned to everyone, get out of debt?
When you have credit cards, do not a let a residual amount go over, because the balance is charged as much as 27%. While there's still cash, operate as much as you can on cash. Whatever you have on credit cards make sure that you pay it every month.
In these times of difficulty and trouble, we're going to end up having to sacrifice something. Don't know what it is, so measure out what you do, don't get caught holding the bag, don't leave a lot of money in the bank. For the Church, we keep the account below $250,000.
BIBLE UPDATE
We've already moved things along to make the second edition, second printing of the Bible. First of all we started out with The New Testament in Its Original Order in 2003. We had three printing totaling 25,000. They're all gone, I've got three copies at home and that's it.
Then we did The Holy Bible in It's Original Order, and Michael Heiss was the translator of the Old Testament. In it He didn't want to take any credit for his translation of it, so he just wanted me to mention that he was Hebrew consultant. He's more than that! He's a Hebrew consultant, a Hebrew scholar and now he is an elder. In this second edition, second printing, we're going feature him and also have him listed as a translator. He's the one who has the knowledge of the Hebrew to do it, I don't!
But I have the knowledge of the Greek, which he doesn't. So, together that's how we were able to do it.
Now then, in getting everything ready we had certain corrections and things that we made, just a few, and we'll make note of those. But what we want to do is:
- of the leather Bibles of the 15,000 that we had, we have just over 4,000 left—that's plenty, a good supply of the calf-skinned Bible
- we're almost completely out of lambskin, except for two boxes
- we have less than a 1,000 of the paperback Bibles
What we're doing is ordering 6,000 Bibles total:
- 4,000 will be black smooth vinyl
- 2,000 will be paperback
Since the time that we did the printing of the Bible, Cindy Curly did the artwork on the box. This artwork is very complicated and for printing purposes you have to have three separate layers. Only a graphic artist with a graphic artist's program can make them.
Well, when we got searching around to find out where the information for the box, Hiedi Vogele whose husband John died just after the Feast of Tabernacles 2021, he had everything stored in his computer. So she went in there to look for it, because she worked with him on developing everything that we have. The only think she found was the front and back cover.
So, how are we going to get all the design that's on each side? I took it to a graphics artist and they said they couldn't do it, they have to have the material, the original of these things on the side.
So, I called Randy Vild and told him what the problem was, and that we needed a new photograph of the Hebrew. I have the 1550 Stephen's Text for the Greek, and we can photograph it here. I asked him if he could look and see where we could get the kind of Hebrew so we can recreate everything we need for the presentation box.
He said, 'Let me check, I might have it in my files.' He checked, called me back 20 minutes later, and he said, 'Praise God, I have it!' All four layers! So, that solved that problem.
We had a problem with the paper because the printing company Imago—and they print them in China—let me tell you difference in the price of printing from China printing it vs in America. In America it would cost $100,000 more!
So, I wanted the type of paper that we had in the original calf-skinned edition. The only think I remembered about the paper was that it came from Spain. The broker, who brokered it to Litho Pac in China for the printing of the Bible at that time—2011—he's no longer around.
The company that printed it—LithoPac—when the Chinese took over Hong Kong, they no longer exist. So, we had no way of reproducing this and no way of knowing the paper, because when Imago sent me copies of paper to select from they didn't have the paper comparable to what we have in the calf-skinned Bible. But this company was in Spain.
I was discussing it with Ron Cary, and Ron decided to do a search, so he found the company. They sent us samples of their paper, and we found the paper that we need. So, we had Imago order the paper from them for the printing of the Bible.
So, everything is getting ready to go! Imago said they've ordered the paper because I sent $70,000 wire transfer, because I'm doing what I'm advising you to do, use the funds that you have before they're worthless, or before inflation takes off and the dollar is worth less than a penny. Get it done while you have it. So, everything is set in motion for that.
SATAN'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM
It is Satan's system! A system of using other people's money to make money for yourself and give them part of the money as payment for using their money.
Sidebar: When the Kingdom of God is on earth, we're going to have an economic system based upon the seven-year cycle and the Jubilee. That's how we're going to have continuous growth during the Millennium without inflation and with strong money for whatever it may be. But Satan's way is to get the money into the hands of the rich, oppress the poor, and worship Satan.
Ezekiel 28:14: "You were the anointed cherub that covers, and I set you so; you were upon the Holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you" (vs 14-15).
If there's anything that is corrupt right now, besides religion, it is the whole financial and governmental system of this world!
Verse 16: "By the multitude of your merchandise…"
What do we have today in this gambling arena that is called The World Banking System? They have what are called derivatives, which is like betting on horses! There are over $400-trillon of derivatives of various kinds in the world. Those are all bets! It's going to collapse.
- How soon?
- How severe?
- We don't know!
"…they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned…." (v 16).
- What does this system always lead to? War!
- What do the rich do, and the leaders do when they have a war?
Just like Adolf Hitler, they take all the gold, silver and precious things to themselves. Who knows where they took all the gold that they got out of Europe. They even did this for the Jews that they were killing. They would knock out their teeth and take out the gold and then they would melt it down and use it for fillings for the Nazi soldiers, too. Nothing like having your enemy in your mouth!
"…Therefore, I will cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you…" (v 16)—bring to nothing!
We won't get into the Atonement message about destroying Satan. He's not going to be destroyed; he's going to be tormented forever.
"…O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire" (v 16).
That means that he's not going to be anywhere in a position around God's Throne. He can come up to God at the present time and talk with God like he did when the trial of Job was underway, and like he does with us as it says in:
Revelation 12:10: "…because the accuser of our brethren has been cast down, who accuses them day and night before our God."
Ezekiel 28:17: "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness. I will cast you to the ground; I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. By the multitude of your iniquities, by the unrighteousness of your trade, you have profaned your sanctuaries…" (vs 17-18).
Satan has two kinds of sanctuaries: banking and religious! They're profane, satanic! The world is all deceived! Think about it, where it says, 'that ancient serpent, Satan the devil, is deceiving the whole world!'
Look at what you watch on television. It's all controlled! Look at the ads, look at the movies, look at the things that they have, they're all satanic and more satanic and demonic than ever before.
Those of us in the Church of God need to make sure that we stay close to God! All of us! Remember what Jesus said in Luke 18, 'When the Son of man comes, will He find the faith—the true faith—on earth? That's us! I don't care where you go with any of the Churches of God, we're small, we're counted as nothing, we are all—not all of us, but a good many of us—reaching the end of the line.
What's going to happen after that? I want to get into a couple of things here and let you know what we're going to do:
We don't know how it's going to turn out with the banking, so keep your eyes on that. We don't know how it's going to turn out with the Church, but what I want to do is bring to you:
- the main reason for Christian Biblical Church of God
- the main reason for all of the publications that we have and why we do what we do
I want to let you know this: I have no personal debts, Jonathan has no personal debts. We don't draw large amounts of money; we don't need it. The important thing is this:
- that we preach the Gospel
- that we preach the Truth
- that we publish it
We have it hardcopy so when they take down the Internet it will still be available and they won't wipe it out.
This system that we have today, I want to read you what I wrote concerning The New Testament in Its Original Order when it was first printed. I want you to think back; I wrote this in 2003, and as I read it I want you to think about what has happened from 2003 up to 2023, 20 years.
Author's Preface in the New Testament in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version{http://www.cbcg.org/franklin/FV_2005VP%2001-09-06.pdf}
Today's modern, pluralistic, secular, scientific world has no room for the true God—God the Father and Jesus Christ—or His Word, the Holy Bible. {
Let's see what they have done, and what the world is, and it's going to get worse. Why it's incumbent that all of us remain faithful in everything that we do. Here's how it got that way:
Romans 1:20: "For the invisible things of Him are perceived from the creation of the world, being understood by the things that were made…"
Stop and think about everything that is made! Our bodies represent trillions of cells and bacteria. It's an amazing thing! Think about how much more amazing eternal life is going to be. But they say that we've all, over billions of years evolved. How about a little quick evolvement for all the 'transgenders.' If you think you can change what God has made, your sex is branded on every gene in your body—male or female. All the changing they can do will never change anything!
"…being understood by the things that were made both His eternal power and Godhead—so that they are without excuse; because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but they became vain in their own reasonings, and their foolish hearts were darkened. While professing themselves to be the wise ones, they became fools" (vs 20-22). I submit to you Joe Biden!
That's punishment for us as a nation for rejecting God! Think about that! God uses people:
- when the people are good, they get good leaders
- when the people are doing evil, they get evil leaders
Same thing with the immigration problem! It's not going to stop and it's going to devastate this nation like we have never understood!
Verse 23: "And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things. For this cause, God also abandoned them…" (vs 23-24).
He abandoned them three times. That's where we are. How did that abandonment start? Let me read it to you here:
Today's modern, pluralistic, secular, scientific world has no room for the true God—God the Father and Jesus Christ—or His Word, the Holy Bible. Lloyd Geering, a fellow of the Jesus Seminar, headquartered in Santa Rosa California, is an outspoken advocate of a secular, humanist religion—"Christianity" without God….
He wrote a book with that title: Christianity Without God; can you imagine taking the name of Christ and inventing something without God? He lives in New Zealand, still alive, and he's a hero down there; a nice, sweet, lovely old man. He writes:
…In his book, Christianity Without God, Geering writes: "So appeal to human rights led, in turn, to the abolition of slavery, the rejection of racism, the emancipation of women, and the acceptance
of homosexuals….
Look what's happened with the accepting of homosexuals! You haven't seen the last of that. It's going to be unreal.
…All these emancipations evolved out of the Christian matrix and today are even sometimes referred to as Christian values….
Isn't that interesting? Even in the churches they talk about values rather than obedience rather than the Laws of God.
…Yet each of these innovations has pitted the developing secular world against the entrenched dogmas of conventional Christianity....The emancipations already won, along with those still in the process of being achieved, have been made possible only because at the same time we have also been steadily emancipating ourselves from obedience to a supposed supernatural heavenly Father, whose revealed will was not to be questioned.
Get God out of everything! That's where we are! That's why the Churches of God are few in number! So, God brings difficulties and hopes that they'll repent and come back to Him! How much are they going to destroy their lives? We don't know!
"We have now reached the stage within the evolving stream of Christian tradition when to achieve the most mature state of personhood…
Think about this: When you reject God what does God call you? Fools! Notice what Geering says:
…we must become emancipated from the last element of our cultural tradition which has the capacity to enslave us—namely, theism" (Geering, Christianity Without God, p. 136, bold emphasis added)
In other words, get rid of God! Do you think He's going to go away? No!
Geering continues, "Secular futurists today, however, know that the world's future is, as never before in human history, dependent upon us humans….
How have we done so far? Not very good!
"…Because the modern global, secular humanist world stands in unbroken line of descent from the Christendom of the past, we can justifiably speak of this post-Christian dispensation as a further, but different, form of Christianity; it is now 'Christianity without God' " (Geering, p. 142)
That's how we got to where we are!
Now let's look where we are with our own group, with our own Church. We'll preface that by coming to 2-Tim.
The Apostle Paul knew that the time was coming that he was about to pass from the scene and die. I think all of the apostles were disappointed that Jesus didn't come in their day. They all thought that He was going to come in their day.
Then especially when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies and the Romans came and they captured Jerusalem, tore it down and burned it to the ground. They tore down the temple and burned it to the ground. And Jesus didn't come!
Now they were in a conundrum! And Paul wrote this before that happened, so here's what he's telling Timothy:
2-Timothy 4:6: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand."
We need to face some facts and look at things the way we need to. Understand that things need to be prepared before I pass from the scene for Christian Biblical Church of God. At the present time, I'm 88-3/4! One woman is praying that I live to be 130-years-old! I don't know if that's going to happen, or not.
I assure you of this, I am not ready to die! I'm not quite as strong as I used to be, but at this age that's to be expected. In a recent examination by the doctors shows I have a good heart, good lungs, and my overall health is very good. My mind is still working, thankfully!
So, we need to be ready so when that event happens—because it will. No one has escaped death, not even Christ, but because of Who He was, he was raised from the dead.
We don't know how long it is before that time comes, so just like all of you, I pray that God will give me whatever time He wants to give me. I pray that God will give you whatever time He wants to give to you. However long that may be.
We all need to take care of our own lives and bodies. You need to take care of yourself by natural herbal and vitamin and supplement means. Those are all things that have come from what God says, dust you are and to dust you shall return!
Think about that every time you take a bite of food; it came out of the ground. Maybe help to develop animals, birds, chickens, whatever. It's all from the ground. We need to take care of ourselves.
I know that a lot of brethren do not take care of themselves, but run to the doctors for every little thing, rather than try and study what they need to do to take care of themselves.
Betty Hyles is here with us and is 90 years old and she's older than me. But she for the last 50 years plus has been taking care of herself with herbs, natural food, organic food, organic meat, organic milk, cheese whatever. And she still drives! That's not a horse and buggy!
We're going to discuss how we're going to setup a system that will be in place so that when I do pass, which I will, everything will run as smooth as possible! Just like turning a page.
(break@43:37)
- What's going to happen when I'm no longer here?
- How are things going to be taken care of?
Let's look at some principles here that are very important. As I mentioned, my health is very good. I forgot to mention that they ran one test showing that I have no cancer. I take care of myself. I exercise every day except the Sabbath. If you are close to my age, exercise in a proper way is really good for you.
Now then, the Apostle Paul knew that his day was coming as we read in 2-Tim. 4. Paul says in 2-Tim. 1; he's talking about the Gospel being the important thing.
2-Timothy 1:9: "Who… [God and Christ] …has saved us and called us with a Holy calling… [it has to come from God] …not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the ages of time."
This shows that Paul understood the responsibility that he had and it didn't depend upon him. It depended now, as he was coming close to the time of passing, what he would do to help Timothy prepare to do things after he was gone.
Verse 10: "But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who has annulled death, and has brought to light eternal life and incorruptibility through the Gospel unto which I was ordained a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles" (vs 10-11).
I was ordained as an elder and teacher. For all of those of you who are still stuck on Herbert Armstrong, he ordained me on the last day of Unleavened Bread 1965.
Verse 12: "For which cause I am also suffering these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed. For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He has the power to keep what I have committed to Him for that day."
In other words, looking to the day of the resurrection!
Verse 13: "Hold as the standard for doctrine the sound words…"—of God!
I'll explain what that's going to be in just a little bit.
"…the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (v 13). Everything has to be:
- God the Father
- Jesus Christ
- the Holy Spirit
- the teachings that God has revealed that we need to follow
Verse 14: "Guard the good thing that was committed to you by the Holy Spirit that is dwelling in us."
Right here let me mention that we have ordained elders, and many of you known them by Go To Meeting which is every Friday evening as the Sabbath begins hosted by Steve Durham. You've heard them and you know them, and you understand who they are.
We're very thankful for them and they have been very faithful with the except of two men. They must remain faithful and true to the Word of God and not given over to their own vanity and self-importance. That is a sure recipe, if they do, to disaster.
Verse 15: "You know this, that all those who are in Asia have rejected me…"
We don't want that after I go! We want to have a continuity using the elders that God has raised up. Paul talks about that here:
2-Timothy 2:1: "Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
That's what I'm going to be charging all of the elders today and continuously. Be strong in:
- the grace of God
- the love of God
- the truth of God
- the doctrines that are taught from the Scriptures
All of those who are going to help in speaking and teaching, I'm going to suggest that you get a cowbell so that when you have an idea that you're thinking about, no one is going to mistake it as doctrine.
You have a lot of things to work with. You have much more than was provided by the Church of God that I left. That taught a great lesson, which is this: You cannot teach salvation by pamphlets! Booklets are fine it they keep people turning to the Bible.
Verse 2: "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, these things commit to faithful men… [that's the first and important thing] …such as will be competent to teach others also." That's what has to be!
Those elders who have been on Go to Meeting—eight or nine of them—we are going to have them, beginning next week, so it's not going to be a last minute thing. The worst thing in the world that could happen is everything waits until I'm dead! Then what are you going to do?
You must prepare ahead of time! So, this is what we're going to do: We're going to have presented every week—beginning next week—a half-hour presentation, which will be played on our live stream every Sabbath. Also, that opens them up to me critique!
Not to be hard on them or pick on them, because I admonish every one of the elders who are going to be involved in this:
- you must correct your own selves
- you must be faithful to God
I'll tell you this right now, if you are not, the brethren will know it!
- you, as elders, must listen to anyone who anything to say to you about how you're teaching and preaching and be willing to make the corrections
But you can solve the problem first by staying close to God and correcting yourself!
Next week, because Steve Durham is the one who has been hosting Go To Meeting for about six years I going to give the first half-hour message, which we will play right here. It will be part of the normal stream that we have every Sabbath.
After that, the next one will be Lyall Johnston from New Zealand. Betty reported that Russell Kemp gave an excellent message last night on Go To Meeting: {The Rest of the Story}
So, this will give all the elders plenty of time to grow, improve, and understand the doctrines even more than they do now and in their ability to speak and teach. As I mentioned to them, here's the most important thing:
Verse 11: "This is a faithful saying: If we have died together with Him… [by burial in water baptism] …we shall also live together with Him."
That's the whole purpose of preaching and teaching, so that we all attain to the resurrection of the dead!
Verse 12: "If we endure, we shall also reign together with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us…"
This is the charge Paul is giving to Timothy! And this is the charge I'm giving to all the elders who are going to now start speaking on the first segment of our live streaming! Then I'll finish the rest of the message.
"…if we are unfaithful, He remains faithful—He cannot deny Himself" (v 12).
Notice the faithfulness that is brought here: Faithful men, faithful to God! That's what it has to be! Being an elder is not a promotion, being an elder, as Jesus said, 'the one who is serving is the one' who like Christ was, He came and was serving. Not lording over!
Verse 14: "See that they remain mindful of these things, earnestly charging them in the sight of the Lord not to argue over words that are not profitable in any way, but which lead to the subverting of those who hear."
Verse 15 is the key: all the elders must continue growing in grace and knowledge! We can never come to a point where we can say we have accomplished and don't need any more. That's wrong! This is how:
Verse 15: "Diligently study to show yourself approved unto God…"
- you love God
- you serve God
- you preach His words
- you study His Word
- you serve the brethren
- you teach them
- you correct yourself
- you help the brethren learn how to correct themselves
Is that not the whole meaning of the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Yes, it is!
"…a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of the Truth" (v 15).
Rightly doing it! That means: Don't come up with any cockamainy ideas that may sound good to you, because there's a principle: you can't take from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and take the good and graft it into the way of God! It will always lead to disaster; I submit to you Worldwide Church of God.
For your information, in case you don't know, where the Hall of Administration was next to the Auditorium; they tore it all down and built luxury condominiums! Is that because Herbert Armstrong always liked to be with the rich and famous? I don't know, but it's very ironic that that happened that way!
So, we have to be faithful in what we're doing!
As I brought on in the recent elder's conference, and we had a good conference, so this is not only for them, but this is also for us and we all learn together.
Whenever you study the Word of God it's like God speaking to you, especially the first person quotes. Whenever an elder or teacher teaches the Word of God, he is representing the Word of God. Jesus said when He sent them on the trip for evangelism:
Preach the Gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead! The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receive Him Who sent Me.
How important is it to preach and teach the Word of God the way that God wants. It's to be a service for God to the people of God that we can all together grow in grace and knowledge and be in the first resurrection to be the sons and daughters of God. That's what Paul was writing about, about the Gospel of Jesus Christ that was before the ages of time.
Jeremiah 23:20: "The anger of the LORD shall not return, until He has executed and until He has performed the purposes of His heart; in the latter days you shall understand it perfectly."
This tells that there are a lot of things we need to understand in these latter days. That's why there are so many things going on. Think about this: Never before in the history of the world do we have it as such that we can know what's going on virtually anyplace in the world at anytime that it is occurring so we'll understand it.
Speaking of the prophets that are in the world today: v 21: "I have not sent these prophets, yet, they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet, they prophesied. But if…" (vs 21-22).
I want you to understand how powerful the Word of God is, because it comes from God. It's not our clever understanding of it, it's not something that we invent. But if we remain faithful to the Word of God—which is the whole purpose of why we are preparing now for what's going to happen in the future—not knowing how long in the future it's going to be before it occurs.
Verse 22: "But if they… [even they, because God is no respecter of persons if you properly teach the Word of God] …had stood in My counsel and had caused My people to hear My words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings."
They haven't done it, and look at the world, look at America! Look at what is happening. A lot of people are hoping that there will be a reprieve of some kind. We don't know! A lot of people are thinking that if Trump gets in, everything will work out. Really?
Will it become so bad in the next two years that not even Trump can figure it out? Unless he comes to God God's way! So, think on that! That applies to each one of us, each and every one of the elders.
Verse 25: "I have heard what the prophets said, who prophesy lies in My name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.' How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies and who are prophets of the deceit of their own heart?" (vs 25-26).
That's why it's the Word of God only. That's what's important!
Verse 27: "They scheme to cause My people to forget My name…"
Christianity without God; who has ever hear of such a thing? Talk about a bunch of self-righteousness.
We're so good we're going to solve all of our own problems and God, You don't exist, go away and get out of here.
That's what's happening in the world!
Verse 27: "They scheme to cause My people to forget My name by their dreams, which they tell, each one to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten My name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream. And he who has My Word…" (vs 27-28).
We have all of it, the Word of God, it belongs to God. We're thankful we can work in it and do it and understand it; that's what's important.
"…And he who has My Word let him speak My Word faithfully…." (v 28).
Another principle: Paul wrote to the Jews, who claim that they're the only wise ones. To this day they still act that way. When was the last time you heard a Jew—who is a teacher or preacher—tell you that God destroyed Jerusalem twice because of our sins? Never heard it! They always accuse the enemy, accuse someone else, but it's their own sins.
How do you remain faithful? Remember, Jesus said:
I am the Way—no other way—the Truth—all of God's Word, Old and New Testaments—and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me!
That's what it has to be! God's way!
- How do we remain faithful in spite of everything?
- In spite of the pressures?
- In spite of people?
Proverbs 3:1: "My son, do not forget My Law…"
Where I the Law to be written? In our heart and mind! That's how we are to think; we are to think:
- with the Word of God
- with the Spirit of God
- with the Truth of God
"…but let your heart keep My commandments; for they shall add length of days, and long life, and peace, to you. Do not let mercy and Truth forsake you…" (vs 1-3).
Do not become a 'whipping boy' against the sins of the people, or the brethren. Show them the Truth and how to repent.
"…bind them around your neck; write them upon the tablet of your heart" (v 3).
Isn't that New Testament doctrine in the Old Testament? Yes, it is!
Verse 4: "And so you shall find favor…"—grace!
Of course, grace means we have direct contact with God the Father and Jesus Christ, and They dwell in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about how great what God has given us to do in the calling, teaching and everything like this.
"…and good understanding in the sight of God and man" (v 4).
Think of it this way: Truth plus trust equals faithfulness!
Verse 5: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart…"
Everything that you do! Think about the daily prayer. What is it? You honor God, you honor His name! Then the next thing is Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven! That's trusting in God! When you pray that God's will be done in your life, you are trusting Him:
- to help you
- to guide you
- to lead you
- to give you understanding
- to correct you
- to help you correct yourself
- to help you understand the Word of God
This is the whole purpose of what it's going be if there's going to be a Christian Biblical Church of God after I pass from the scene. All the elders are going to have to be faithful, and improve their speaking, writing, everything that they do.
"…and lean not to your own understanding" (v 5).
- Isn't that where the Church got in trouble when they wanted to become like the world to have Ambassador College accredited?
- Sounded good, a little good from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?
- What did it do to the college? They had to hire professors that the accrediting board approved!
- What came into the Church? The world!
Verse 6: "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."
I want you to go over these vs 5-7, every one of us, especially all the elders, in prayer, study, thinking about:
- Where do we go from here?
- How do we live our life from this day forward?
Verse 7: "Do not be wise in your own eyes…"
'Oh boy, I'm important!' That will never work! Guess who's important? The one who loves God and fears God, and keeps His commandments! Isn't that true? Isn't that the important thing?
Remember what Paul said to the Corinthians; they got all lifted up and they were thinking that they were so spiritual and everything. They were sinning and a carnal as can be! What did Paul write to them: You have nothing you didn't receive! Think about that! Everything you have, everything about your life, where you work, what you do, everything! You have nothing you didn't receive, and you have to depend upon eating the right kind of dust every day, called food! Because dust you are and to dust you shall return.
Remember, every time you eat some meat, the animal had to eat some grass. What does it say of flesh? All flesh is of grass! Take away the heat and the water and it's all stubble! So, we need to be wise and prepare.
Let's see what David did, 1-Chron. 28, and this is what we're trying to do here. We will see how David prepared for the building of the temple. What we're going to do with what we're going to initiate here is that we're going to prepare for when I am gone that there will continue to be a Christian Biblical Church of God that will be a viable Church with viable elders and member who are loving and serving God and going forward! My son Jonathan is going to be the office manager and coordinator of getting everything for the elders for speaking.
Let's see what David did in preparing. That's what we're doing with:
- Bibles
- books
- booklets
- audio
- video
- transcript books.
We are preparing the spiritual meat for the brethren and all that whom God will call!
That's what it has to be! I've had to do a lot of it, and God has inspired me in it. But that's no credit to me, because if I didn't yield to God and do it, He would choose someone else and they would do it. So, the credit is to GOD! What we need to do is be wise, prepare now and don't wait until the disaster hits.
Here's what David did, he had a special great ceremony with as many as could get there and it lists all of them in the first verse:
1-Chronicles 28:2: "And David the king stood up on his feet and said, 'Hear me, my brethren and my people. I had in my heart to build a house of rest for the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD…'"
Where did the Covenant reside when he spoke this? In his own house where he had a special room for the Covenant with a tent over it! Asaph the high priest was the one who ran it.
Sidebar: Every Psalm that David wrote he submitted to Asaph the high priest. There are many Psalms you will see that Asaph himself wrote.
"…and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations for the building. But God said to me, 'You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood'" (vs 2-3).
Verse 4: "However, the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be the ruler, and of the house of Judah the house of my father. And among the sons of my father's house He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), He has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel" (vs 4-5).
Verse 6: And He said to me, 'Solomon your son shall build My house and My courts, for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. And I will establish his kingdom forever if…'" (vs 6-7).
So, the if here is the same way for all the elders and the brethren. What are we going to do when that day happens? If we're not prepared for it, and everybody prepared for it, and everybody knowing what they need to do, it will be a disaster. But if we do all of those things, it will be a smooth transition!
"'…if he continues resolute in keeping My commandments and My ordinances, as he is today'" (v 7). Unfortunately, Solomon didn't do that!
- Can we take the challenge that we will do that?
- That the rest of my time that I have I will do that?
- That the rest of the time all the elders have, that they will do that?
- The rest of the time that all the brethren have, that they will do that?
That's what it's all about!
Verse 8: "And now in the sight of all Israel, the congregation of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God, so that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you forever."
That was then. Now the goal is eternal life! That's what it's for, and our charge from God is: teach the brethren so they can be in the resurrection! That's why we all continuously must love God with all our heart, mind, soul and being! That's how we trust God! That's how we look to the Word of God and His commandments, and not our own understanding!
Verse 9: "And you, Solomon my son, acknowledge the God of your father and serve Him with a perfect heart… [no hidden secrets, because God knows the mind and the heart] …and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts….."
Remember this: you can never fool God, ever! If you seek Him, he will be found by you. That's what we need. If all the elders do this, all participating, and all the brethren, everything is going to work well. Maybe even blessings beyond what we can even imagine will happen. We don't know, but we all need to be prepared!
I'm trying to do this in preparation, because we don't have gold, silver or precious stones, or all that David had stored up and the plans for the Temple of God, but my endeavor is, especially with inflation looking like it's going to be pounding on the doorstep here pretty quick, to have all the literature, all of the audios and videos, all the websites all taken care of so that with everything that we have can be available to the brethren.
That's what I have in mind for what we're doing now. That's why I'm making preparations for the Bible to be printed now. In a year or two, the price may double or triple. You never know. It might not be possible to even get it.
"…If you seek Him, He will be found by you. But if you forsake Him…" (v 9).
That's for all of us, doesn't matter who you are. Any of the brethren or elders, anyone in any of the other Churches of God… Don't forget the other Churches of God. We're not in competition against them. We pray that they will repent and be successful and help the brethren. Isn't that what we want?
- maybe they have some things they need to repent of.
- maybe they have some doctrines they need to change
- maybe they need to have an understanding that they don't need a hierarchy to rule over the brethren and to help them, so that we all together grow in grace and knowledge
That's what we want!
Verse 10: "Take heed now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it."
That's what David commanded Solomon! So, we'll take that as the command for all the elders and the brethren!
- I want you to think about this
- I want you to pray about this
- I want you to ask God's blessing on the whole endeavor
- I want you to ask God to bless all the elders who will be bringing the half-hour segment every Sabbath
We will have two before Unleavened Bread, and then after that we'll have to see how the schedule goes.
I hope this gives you understanding of what we're doing so that we can have everything all ready so when I pass—which I will. I don't know how long I have, but I don't think I'm going to live to be 130, I can tell you that! But I may live a couple more years, maybe five more years, I don't know!
But in the meantime, think about how we can all grow together in grace and knowledge between now and whenever that occurs. When I go I don't want you to be upset and say, 'Oh, what do we do now?'
We're going to take care of that right now and be building toward that! When I go, I know where I'm going to be: right next to Dolores! That's what I said when she was interred. I looked at Jonathan and I said, 'I know where I'm going to be in a few years.'
Let's see if we can all put this together and do it in a way that will be what God wants and be pleased, and bless all in the Christian Biblical Church of God.
Scriptural References:
- Proverbs 22:4
- Ezekiel 28:14-16
- Revelation 12:10
- Ezekiel 28:17-18
- Romans 1:20-24
- 2 Timothy 4:6
- 2 Timothy 1:9-15
- 2 Timothy 2:1-2, 11-15
- Jeremiah 23:20-22, 25-28
- Proverbs 3:1-7
- 1 Chronicles 28:2-10
Scripture referenced, not quoted: Luke 18
Also referenced:
Book: Christianity Without God by Lloyd Geering
Message: The Rest of the Story by Russell Kemp
FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3/22/23
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