LCG: Passover Should Remind You That You Need To Support The Work With Your Money

 

I bet you never knew the plan of salvation included supporting the church financially...oh, wait...

Support God’s Work 

God has a plan of salvation for every man, woman, and child who has ever lived and who ever will live. He wants us to become part of His Family forever. Yet only a few of those billions of people are being called to be His firstfruits. Who will be those firstfruits? Those who commit to enduring to the end (Matthew 24:13). Will you be one of them? I hope so!

Out of the more than eight billion people on planet Earth, only a relative few will be taking the Christian Passover in the evening of April 21 this year. The Passover is a memorial of God’s amazing love for each of us—what He did for us, is doing for us, and will do for us. And it reminds us of a future when the whole world will observe this sober but joyous occasion. 

 

In this present age, however, God is doing His work through just a small handful of human beings. This has always been the case, as Christ reminded us: “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest’” (Matthew 9:37–38). 

 

So, as we approach the Passover, we must examine ourselves and our commitments. The Days of Unleavened Bread reveal our part in God’s plan of salvation. God instructs us to replace the leaven of malice and wickedness with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Corinthians 5:8). So, we must all be committed to being overcomers. In Revelation 2 and Revelation 3, Christ seven times speaks of those who overcome, as He states the various rewards for overcoming. And we read, “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be My son” (Revelation 21:7). We must strive to overcome our carnal human nature and ask God to create in us His divine nature (2 Peter 1:2–4). 

 

Brethren, let’s appreciate how God uses us to accomplish the Work, thankful for the opportunity and for what it will bring. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57–58). 

 

Brethren, as you prepare to take the Passover, review and renew your commitments—so you will know you can tell your Savior and your Father in Heaven, “I belong to You!” Our Passover Commitments

LCG: Abused As A Spouse Or Child? Just Let Go And Let God...After All, It's Passover Time

 

We are getting close to Passover time and the Churches of God are flooding their magazines, articles, member letters, and broadcasts with ways to prepare for Passover. The Living Church of God has an article up by Richard Ames covering a myriad of things one needs to do in that preparation.

One subsection is on forgiving others. He says women and children who have been physically abused to forgive their abuser, let go, and let God do what God is supposed to do. While he is correct in having the person seek help and protection if needed, he then says that those abused need to forgive, let it all go, and let it rest in God's hands. Sadly this has been the case in the COG for decades as spousal abuse went unchecked because the church never backed up the abused spouse and in many cases told her to remain in the home and God would sort things eventually (apparently in between the beatings).  Sexual abuse in the church was dealt with in the same way. Abusers were seldom dealt with and encouraged to attend another church area, if at all. Bringing in the Police and other officials tended to bring in scrutiny of the church and its abberent teachings and that was not a good thing.

Now, forgiving doesn’t mean that you encourage or enable someone to sin again and again. For example, spousal abuse and child abuse are serious crimes, and victims should seek out the help and protection they need. You may need to distance yourself from an unrepentant sinner. But, like the old saying goes, often the best answer is, “Let go; let God.” Instead of building up your anger at someone’s unrepented sin, trust that the matter is in God’s hands and that He will do what needs to be done. Especially when the offense is simply to your pride, or involves the other person’s selfishness or disrespect, the best response often is to let it be a matter between the sinner and God. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14–15). As Passover approaches, commit to maintaining an attitude of forgiveness. Our Passover Commitments

Crackpot Prophet Admits He Loves Me!!!!!!

In Church of Godland there is no person more ridiculed than our Great Bwana to Africa and the occasional 100 Caucasians, except maybe for Dave Pack. All of this happens despite the fact God dreamed up the Great Bwana as the foundations of the world were being whirled into being so that he could come in the perilous end times to give a warning to the world and save Africa from the tribulation. Sadly, the Great Bwana is only picking up the pieces left over after Wade Cox converted half of the continent including thousands of Muslims to his church. The Great Bwana is always the bridesmaid and never the bride.

Anyway, he is back lecturing us on how he forgives those he perceives as his enemies. For some reason, he thinks we are his enemies, but actually, we are just offering constructive criticism on how to be a better preacher, but for some reason, he fails to listen. Much like he did with Rod Meredith which resulted in him getting kicked out of the Living Church of God for his rebellion.

Mercy: Loving your enemies

On the ‘Sermon on the Mount,’ Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies. Can you do that? Why should you? How can you do that? Should you pray for your enemies and do good to them? Can you forgive someone who is not sorry? How can you show mercy to those who hate you? Is God really fair? Why did God allow Adolf Hitler? Will all reap what we sow according to the Apostle Paul? Can your physical and spiritual health be affected by the root of bitterness? Can a little leaven of bitterness hurt you a lot? Are Christians really supposed to control their thoughts? What are some health problems associated with being unwilling to forgive others? Could any of your enemies actually be above you in the Kingdom of God? Could your enemies actually be blinded by Satan and his demons? Did God call you because you were better than others? Have we all be enemies to God? Did Herbert W. Armstrong teach it was difficult to forgive those who intentionally want to cause us harm? What are some passages in the Bible about love, mercy, judgment, faith, and forgiveness? Are Christians actually supposed to strive to be perfect? Could your enemies, after the age to come, actually help make your eternity better? Dr. Thiel addresses those matters and more in this sermon.