App
July 14, 2017
Dear Brethren,
On July 1st I watched the video cast of the “Celebrate Freedom” rally, which gave thanks to God and honored veterans of the Armed Services of the United States. It was sponsored by the Trinity Baptist Church of Dallas and pastor Robert Jeffress, friend of President Donald Trump. The whole presentation was terrific! They talked about God and Jesus Christ, they quoted some scriptures and referred to others, they sang songs about God and praised the power of Jesus’ name—and they prayed to God. Finally, President Trump gave an excellent, heartfelt speech—mentioning God numerous times. The program focused on thanking God for the blessings of this nation, which is good to do because He is the source of our national blessings. Thus, it was a truly moving and inspiring event!
Although our political leaders do not have a genuine knowledge of God, He does bless those leaders who sincerely acknowledge Him. Pastor Jeffress mentioned that when Trump was in Jerusalem and prayed at the Wailing Wall, he prayed for wisdom from God as he carried out his duties as president of the United States. Here are key excerpts from Trump’s speech:
“I also want to speak to all of the people—see, you thought I forgot—in our faith community who are here with us tonight, veterans and nonveterans alike. You’re never going to be forgotten. You’ll never be forgotten.
“My administration will always support and defend your religious liberty. We don’t want to see God forced out of the public square, driven out of our schools, or pushed out of our civic life. We want to see prayers before football games if they want to give prayers. We want all children to have the opportunity to know the blessings of God. We will not allow the Government to censor sermons, to restrict the free speech of our pastors and our preachers, and the people that we most respect, like Robert.
“That is why, just as I promised Pastor Jeffress and other faith leaders, I just signed an Executive Order following—and this is something that makes me very happy and very proud—following through on my campaign pledge to stop the Johnson Amendment from interfering with your First Amendment rights. As long as I am president, no one is going to stop you from practicing your faith, or from preaching what is in your heart. We want to hear him.
“One of the most grave and dire threats to religious freedom in the world today is the threat of terrorism; and specifically, it just seems it’s called radical Islamic terrorism. And we cannot allow this terrorism and extremism to spread in our country, or to find sanctuary on our shores or in our cities. We want to make sure that anyone who seeks to join our country shares our values, and has the capacity to love our people. (Thank you.) Together, we will protect our families, our nations and our borders. And yes, by the way, for those who are curious, we will build the wall. Okay?
“Because we understand that a country is more than just its geography. A nation is the sum of its citizens, their hopes, their dreams, their aspirations. America is a land rich with history, traditions and values. And as we have seen tonight—what a group this is tonight!—America is also a land rich with heroes.
“And though we have many stories, we all share one home and one glorious destiny, a destiny that is getting better and better every single day. And whether we are black, or brown, or white—and you’ve heard me say this before—we all bleed the same red blood. We all salute the same great American flag. And we are all made by the same Almighty God. We face many challenges. There are many hills and mountains to climb. But with the strength and courage of the patriots assembled in this room tonight, we will scale—I mean and you see it, and you see it all the time—and we’re doing it all the time because we are scaling those summits, and we will get the job done.
“We will all prove worthy of this very important moment in history. And we will prove worthy of the sacrifice that our brave veterans have made. As long as we have pride in our beliefs, courage in our convictions, and faith in our God, we will not fail. As long as our country remains true to its values, loyal to its heroes, and devoted to its Creator, then our best days are yet to come because we will make America great again.
“To my friend Pastor Jeffress, and to Paula and to Louie and to Harry and to Luis and everybody in this room, and to everybody in this country, thank you for your great support. I appreciate it. I will not let you down. To all of our incredible veterans, to the people in the military, and to the evangelical Christians who came out in record, record, record numbers, thank you. Have a wonderful Independence Day. God bless you. God bless our nation’s veterans. God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much” (From President Donald Trump’s “Celebrate Freedom” speech, July 1, 2017).
The United States is the only country with the freedom of speech (and press) necessary to boldly preach the Gospel—whether in truth by the people of God, or in partial truth by various “Christian-professing” churches and organizations (Phil. 1:15-18). This is why it is necessary that we have political leaders who will uphold our freedom of religion and speech.
As Christians, we do not get involved in politics (but we do watch world leaders). We realize that God is the one who deals directly with the top leaders—raising them up and putting them down. In the book of Daniel, we find that God dealt directly with Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon—yet he was obviously not called to salvation. God’s dealing with Nebuchadnezzar moved him profoundly, prompting the king to write an epistle to the nations. This is quite amazing when you think about it! Notice: “Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: ‘Peace be multiplied to you. It seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are His signs! And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation” (Dan 4:1-3).
Nebuchadnezzar’s declaration is actually a prophecy of the coming Kingdom of God! God dealt directly with the king and punished him with seven years of insanity. When God restored Nebuchadnezzar’s mind and his kingdom, notice how he humbly responded: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him Who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing; and He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay His hand, or say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
“At that time my reason returned to me. And the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. And my advisers and my lords sought me out, and I was established in my kingdom, and surpassing greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are truth and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase” (verses 34-37).
This July 1st event celebrating the blessings and religious freedom that God has given this nation was good from a national, as well as a spiritual, perspective. To those who are more secular, the event must have appeared quite “godly”—a boon for Protestantism.
Indeed, Protestant America always wants to feel good about itself. The ancient nation of Israel—from which America originated—had the same tendency. They retained a belief in God, professed to be “good people,” but loved their “Baal-ism”—Sunday worship and the observance of occult holidays. During the days of the prophet Elijah, Israel practiced “Baal-ism” while paying lip service to God. Gathering the people to Mount Carmel, Elijah challenged them: “How long will you vacillate between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, then follow him” (I Kings 18:21).
It is the same today. Protestants profess belief in Jesus and claim to worship the true God. And they do keep some of the commandments of God (Rom. 2:14-15)—otherwise we would have total lawlessness. But they worship on Sunday and retain the pagan holidays of the Roman Catholic Church—which is “Baal-ism”! Like ancient Israel, they hold two different opinions at the same time—and most of them know it. They admit Saturday is the true Sabbath—but choose Sunday! They acknowledge the pagan origins of today’s holidays—but choose to keep them! Such double mindedness makes it impossible for them to comprehend the true plan of God.
While their practices appear good, they are actually blinded to the truth of God. They think they are serving God, not realizing that such practices actually displease God. Yes, they do live by some of God’s Word, but they reject key portions of the Bible, claiming that the “law” has been “done away with” and that the Old Testament has been fulfilled. Thus, they have “an outward appearance of godliness, but [are] denying the power of true godliness” (II Tim. 3:5).
They deny God’s power in their lives by rejecting Him as Lawgiver! They refuse to accept Jesus’ plain statement that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. Rather, He came to raise them to a higher spiritual level (Matt. 5:17-19). Indeed, He made them more binding than mere “letter of the law obedience” (Rom. 7:6). The prophet Isaiah foretold of this expansion of the Law: “[The] Lord [God] is well pleased for His righteousness sake; He will magnify the Law and make it glorious [through Jesus’ life and teachings]” (Isa. 42:21).
Protestants have the entire Bible, but they pick and choose passages that seem to support their pet doctrines. They claim that “grace” is all they will ever need for salvation—that God will just “accept them” as they are. But they fail to grasp that one cannot live in sin—and Sunday-keeping (as well as the keeping of pagan holidays) constitutes practicing sin! The apostle Paul writes that no one can claim to be “under grace” and continue to live in sin. “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin, so that grace may abound? MAY IT NEVER BE! We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1-2). Amazing!
Protestants believe that God’s love is unconditional. Some even teach that a person’s lifestyle is irrelevant: God still loves them and they will “be saved.” But Jesus said that there are conditions to loving God and receiving His love: “IF you love Me, keep the commandments—namely, My commandments…. IF you keep My commandments, you shall live in my love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and live in His love” (John 14:15; 15:10). Thus, God’s love for salvation is indeed conditional. This is why Jesus proclaimed that we are to live by every word of God: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ ” (Matt. 4:4).
Jesus warned of the consequences of professing His name, or preaching in His name, while failing to practicing obedience toward God. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but the one who is doing the will of My Father, Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day [of judgment], ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy through Your name? And did we not cast out demons through Your name? And did we not perform many works of power through Your name?’ And then I will confess to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness’ ” (Matt. 7:21-23).
Such Protestant-types do not live by or teach every word of God—the will of God!
Over 2,500 years ago, the prophet Jeremiah wrote that this very thing would take place in the “latter days.” “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘Do not listen to the words of the prophets [Protestant pastors] who prophesy to you. They make you vain; they speak a vision [their own liberal theology] from their own heart, not out of the mouth of the Lord.
“ ‘They still say to those who despise Me, “The Lord has said, ‘You shall have peace!’ ” And they say to everyone who walks after the imagination of his own heart, “No evil shall come upon you!” For who has [truly] stood in the counsel of the Lord to see and hear His Word? Who has [truly] attended to His Word and heard it? Behold, the tempest of the Lord has gone forth in fury, a whirling tempest. It shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. 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.
“ ‘I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But, IF they had [truly] stood in My counsel and had caused My people to hear My words [every word of God], then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings’ ” (Jer. 23:16-22).
Jeremiah continues: “ ‘I have heard what the prophets [pastors] said, who prophesy [teach] lies in My name, saying, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed.” [Protestant pastors say, “God just laid it on my heart!”] 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? They scheme to cause My people to forget My name [i.e., God’s sovereignty and power] 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. [But] he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully…. Is not My Word like a fire?’ says the Lord; ‘and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? [God’s Word rightly taught is powerful, effective.] Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets who steal [misappropriate] My words each one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets who use their tongues and say, “He says,” when I did not say. Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams and tell them, and cause My people to go astray by their lies and by their wantonness. Yet I did not send them nor command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all,’ says the Lord” (Jer. 23:25-32).
As never before, we are to be faithful with God’s Word. We are to obey it, protect it, and teach it (Rev. 3:7-13). We are to love God the Father and Jesus Christ with all of our heart, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30)—and we are to demonstrate our love through obedience.
Brethren, this letter is somewhat long because we have included the mid-year Web sites Report along with some letters and e-mails. As you can see from the report, we are reaching hundreds of thousands of people every month—and that is in addition to all the CDs, DVDs, Bibles, books, booklets, and articles we mail out. Also enclosed is a comparison between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Several messages will follow on this topic. Meanwhile, take time to become familiar with the subject through your own study.
Once again, we thank God, and you, for your continued love and prayers—and for your support through your tithes and offerings. We pray for you daily—for God’s blessings, healing, and spiritual strength so you can continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
Recent Letters and E-mails from Brethren
Dear Fred Coulter: Near the end of 2016, I contacted you regarding sounds and noises in my apartment. You sent me an anointed cloth and wrote a very warm, encouraging letter stating what to do—i.e., having faith, fully trusting in Jesus Christ and the power of His name, asking God to rebuke the evil, annoying spirit, with prayer and fasting. I believe God has heard and answered our prayers because I no longer hear the sounds as before. Once in awhile there comes a click, a sound which I immediately ask God to rebuke—and that’s it.
I wish that you and your staff will continue to pray that this spirit leave and never return. Thank you! What a relief it is and to know that our God has power and that He hears us! I wish there were more ministers like you. You teach while others give sermons. God bless you and your family and staff. I’ve received the booklet and CD How to Use the Holy Spirit. It’s exciting that we can draw closer to God when we obey Him. Thank you!—B.B., Ohio
Fred: I just wanted to drop you a note to say thank you. You don’t know me personally, but I wanted to thank you and your staff for your service, commitment, and love for this community. It is making an impact. Your work is bearing fruit. So thank you! Be encouraged—you are making a difference. Keep it up! With Gratitude.—E.P.
Dear Mr. Coulter: I remember some years ago that I requested some of your books. The books were God’s Plan for Mankind, Occult Holidays or God’s Holy Days—Which?, and The Day Jesus the Christ Died. I really enjoyed the books. They have opened my mind and given me understanding of the plan of God for salvation and the soon coming Kingdom of God.
I am a British citizen, although Ghanaian by birth, and have lived in the UK for the past 22 years with my wife, a Registered Nurse, and five children who have finished their education and are working. We are presently worshipping in London with the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. We celebrate all the feasts with them. I have even completed the Ambassador Bible College Correspondence Course with Philadelphia Church of God.
I have been studying at your Web site and it has inspired me more than any other Church of God site. I never knew human beings have the law of sin and death within them, even Jesus when He was born. I love your sermons—The Hope of Your Calling, Your Eternal Calling, The Meaning of Baptism, etc. At the moment I am on The Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, how the God of the Old Testament ended the Old Covenant and ratified the New Covenant with His blood.
I am touched by how you explain the Bible. I need you as my pastor and teacher because my family and I are seeking the first resurrection. At present I am in Ghana and have passed the good news to others there who have responded to God’s call—and they are so inspired about your message. I would be grateful if we could have a Church of God congregation in Ghana. God bless your ministry. Yours Sincerely.—R., Ghana
Dear Fred Coulter: Hope you are all well; keep up the good work. The CDs have been coming every week on Friday or on the Sabbath day—and they have been very good. Looking forward to Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Love you all.—Name Withheld
Dear Fred: Thank you so much for the material you send us. Since I am all alone on the Sabbath, it really means a lot to me. I am sending my offering. Again, thank you very much. With love in Christ Jesus.—M.B.
Dear Fred: Hope all is well with you and Delores, and family. Just wanted to send you this note of thanksgiving for your ministry. You’ve helped me tremendously, on a monumental level! I thank God for you. Our God is an awesome God! Our Father God has been teaching me, and I’m so blessed. May God bless you for your good work.
We are all fine. Thank you very much for what you have done for my family. With my warmest regards, have a wonderful Holy Day season. In Christian love.—Name Withheld
Dear Fred: Thank you for all you do. We are really getting a lot of understanding from Romans 7 and Galatians with the sermons we have been listening to and studying. God’s Word is so exciting and you always help us to see more and more. The truth of God is amazing, and the longer we are in God’s Church the more truth we want and strive for.
Hope everyone has a great Passover and DUB. We are so looking forward to renewing our covenant and learning what God has for us this Feast season. Sincerely.—J. and S., Georgia
Dear Fred: Just wanted to let you know my Bible arrived today. It is such a beautiful book that I will cherish forever. I have already found some important translation corrections that caused us to stumble in the past. This will be a great study Bible and source of godly knowledge.
Thank you for getting it to me, and I apologize for being impatient. Please thank all those involved in this translation of the Bible. God is surely pleased with this work. I am a member of one of the churches of God since 1975. Sincerely.—T.R., Michigan
Hey Fred: Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers. I’m sorry if I come off sometimes offensive. Sometimes my emotions get the best of me; especially when I’m in distress and feel alone. I don’t mean to be abrasive or say the wrong things that may hurt. I told God that I was going to send this e-mail to you just to say “sorry.”
Thank you for your prayers and willingness to help me. I went to Lansing, Michigan, with brethren I met at the Feast in Shipshewana last year. It was so loving and they comforted me so much. It was uplifting and full of compassion and righteous fruit. They spoiled me and my son and sent us home with gifts and extra money! God is amazing the way He brings His children together and His amazing Spirit rests upon us at the same time!—C.G., Illinois
Dear Mr. Coulter: I would like to tell you how much I appreciate you. You have been faithful in sending me books and CDs for many years. They mean so much to me. I’m 82 years old and I have been in the Church of God for 33 years. I started listening to you 25 years ago. I didn’t know much then about God, but due to you I now know the true God. Thank you so much for all the things you have sent me and may God bless you in all you do. You said on one of your CDs that you had 66 notebooks with different subjects and studies; I would love to have some of them to learn more. Your friend.—S.
Dear Mr. Coulter: I would just like to say “thank you” so much for the transcript book study package. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying this book. I can hardly wait to get up in the morning to read and study it. I am learning so much. Thank you, thank you so much. I can hardly wait to get the next one.—S.
Dear Fred: I very much appreciate the free literature! I am a 22-year-old female just journeying for a closer relationship with the Lord! It has been amazing thus far to see my life completely turn around because of my new dedication to God’s Word. Now, I am eagerly, yet patiently, waiting for His wisdom and holy instruction in my life. I will await Him with a heart filled with love. Amen.—A.H.
Dear Folks at CBCG: I so appreciate the CD messages, printed updates, and books you have so faithfully sent over the years. Everything you have sent has encouraged/nurtured spiritual growth through all of life’s ups and downs, as little else has through the years.
I have encountered only a handful of leaders who are wholeheartedly dedicated to the narrow path as shown in God’s Word. A couple of them are able to clearly teach and motivate, but still have further to go with the electronic outreach skills … so essential to getting the work done in this age of computers. Heartfelt thanks to you, Fred, and your dedicated team.
Wish I had more to give, but will be praying for God to give the increase. Thanks, love, and sincere appreciation.—B.S., Texas
Our Brother in Christ, Fred: Our little congregation here is thankful to God for your service. We are thankful for your recent teaching on “The” Law vs. The Law and Passover Sacrifice vs. Passover Offering. Also, thank you for the materials you have sent and for replacing my Bible because I gave mine away.
Enclosed is $200; it would be nice to send a million! Thank you, Fred.—Arkansas
Dearest Fred: We were so very glad to see you and everyone at Florence. You have no idea how much seeing everyone means to us. I call it our mini-Feast. I was so very excited to think about everything on the Web site being put on YouTube. I don’t know how to do that stuff, but thankfully there are others who do know, and that’s wonderful!
In my mind, I can only imagine what it’s going to be like on that Sea of Glass someday. I think it will be a big hug-a-thon. There is such strong love when we all get together—it can be felt. We meet people for the first time and instantly there is a bond of inexplicable love. It’s more like a family reunion to me.
One thing that really impresses me is that you are very humble. In other groups, people are afraid to offer ideas or input because they fear ridicule; but you listen and evaluate things differently. I know that we as a church are just a drop in the bucket compared to the “important” people in this world. But we all look forward to the day when we will work with Christ to bring the same love and peace to the world that we were able to enjoy at the Hilton in Florence. That’s going to be so wonderful! Love you ever so much.—B.D., Kentucky
Fred: Thank you so much for your spiritual leadership and for showing my wife and myself the truth of God. We love your video sermons, Bible, and CDs. Your dedication to God and Jesus is the most genuine I’ve seen in 60 years. We love learning the answers to questions all the other churches can’t seem to answer. Sincerely.—R.D., Arkansas
Dear Mr. Coulter: Thank you for the service that you provide for God’s people. You keep us spiritually fed continually. We have children in three different churches of God; so, from time to time, especially on God’s holy days, we listen in to see what they are hearing. Mr. Coulter, we are shocked at what they are not hearing—and even being told that Pentecost has nothing to do with the resurrection. We talked to them about this just before Pentecost and continue to pray that their eyes will be opened. We pray that God will bring these ministers to knowledge and repentance, so that God’s people could be taught correctly. We pray and give thanks for you daily. Thank You.—B.H.F., Louisiana
Dear Fred and Delores: Greetings from hot Arizona, where it reached 105 today! We’re looking forward to cooler temperatures in Payson come FOT 2017.
In addition to my tithes for April/May, I’ve included a “thanksgiving offering.” God is incredibly merciful and loving! Here are a few examples over the past couple of weeks:
- He is helping to slowly restore my mother’s cross-eyed vision after her stroke;
- He helped me with three major projects at work;
- God healed me of a terrible stomach flu (complete with vomiting every two hours, crippling abdominal pain, and the loss of 10 lbs. in one week);
- God protected me from a head-on collision after work;
- He protected Dennis yesterday when he slipped and fell backwards in the shower, knocking the toilet off its foundation;
—and these are only a few miracles!
No amount of money can accurately measure our thankfulness for His protection and mercifulness. May this offering help other brethren who are under trials; may it help in some small way. Thank you, Fred and Delores, for your loving services. We pray for you and your health. May God grant you good health, strength, comfort, and wisdom.—Arizona
Greetings Mr. Coulter: You and I are the same age. I pray for you each day. I thank God for your good health. Many of us look forward to your weekly sermons. It is an exciting time to be alive and see prophecy being powerfully fulfilled. Your devoted friend.—G.H., Oregon
Mr. Fred Coulter: Thank you for the blessing of Church at Home. My wife and I enjoyed watching your series “Was Peter in Rome?” On the Sabbath, we often spend the whole day watching and learning from Church at Home. Thank you.—J. and A.D., Florida
