Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq…The only thing that most people know about these places is war. Stop for a moment and think of how many wars that you know of at the present. As we look around the world there are approximately 50 wars going on at any given time…which is 50 too many.

If a region is not at war or involved in any conflict… is it then at peace?

Before 9/11 the US couldn’t even claim peace. It was being besieged from within by gang fights, riots, racism, school shootings, church shootings and etc. Drive-bys have been so common place in some areas that they have not made the front page in the local newspaper. Even with the ABSENCE OF WAR there was no peace even before the terrorist attacks.

Peace has a very active component. Peace doesn’t just happen, we must “make” peace. Matthew 5:9 states, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” We have a greater responsibility than just sitting back and being quiet – especially when problems exist that involve us directly. If we are to be children of God then we must be peacemakers

All through history, nations and their governments have been striving for world peace! Their striving has led only to war because “The way of peace they know not” (Isaiah 59:8; Romans 3:17). The lack of peace is evident everywhere.

We must Think Globally and Act Locally!

Some things that we can do are:

Pray – we are exhorted in 1 Timothy 2:1 to pray for all men and for leaders and “for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” We should also pray that God’s Holy Spirit leads us.

Follow Christ’s example – “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps….Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:21, 23).

Study – We must ask ourselves what it takes to have quiet, tranquillity, and contentment and all the attributes that we look forward to in the world of tomorrow. What does it take to have this between me and another… AND THEN SEEK IT, PURSUE IT AND KEEP IT (Ps 34:14).

We need to make peace dynamic, real, and working by implementing it ourselves.

The peacemaker talked about in Matthew 5:9 isn’t likely to be a third person, but rather someone involved in a conflict. We are more likely to be involved in a dispute rather than be asked to arbitrate. This is the time to let our light shine.

We have been setting a real life example of peace and must continue to do so. YOU could be making the greatest contribution toward world peace in our time!

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Romans 14:19) As we look forward to the upcoming fall festival season, to the coming of Jesus Christ and to the Millennium – “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans 12:18).
 

Paul had a tremendous calling which he describes in the book to the Ephesians, chapter 3, wherein he stated, beginning in verse 8: “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places…” (Ephesians 3:8-10).

In 1 Corinthians 2:11 we see the question being asked, “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?” And the reply is given in the same verse, “Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

Today, mankind does not know God’s Way. Our world today is filled with violence, yet man continually talks of peace. We are told in God’s Word that man does not know the way to peace! (Romans 3:17). Without God’s Spirit, peace is a dream which is impossible for mankind to achieve. However, brethren, we, with the understanding we have received in this Way, can go the way of peace and can look to a time when peace will exist throughout the earth.

We have just completed the observance of God’s spring festivals which reveal what is required of mankind and of God for world peace to be achieved. Yet we know that such a state is not possible in today’s world. The reason for this can be understood in one of God’s fall festivals which we will be observing in just over 13 weeks from now – “The Day of Atonement.” That day reflects a time in the future when mankind will be “at-one” with God. Today, this world is “at-one” with Satan, and as long as that condition exists, peace is impossible for mankind to achieve.

At that time, “He shall judge between the nations, And shall rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isa 2:4). That is the time we look forward to, brethren! “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them” (Isa 11:6). This is part of the message, part of the “unsearchable riches of Christ” that we must proclaim as we continue in this work to which we have been called.

May God bless us as a body and each of us individually as we submit to Him and His Way and continue in this tremendous calling which we have been so blessed to receive.
 

We have just celebrated the Spring Festivals of Passover, Days of Unleavened Bread and Pentecost. We have the long hot summer to contend with until the arrival of the next group of Annual Festivals – the Autumn Festivals. It is imperative during this period of time that we stay focused on the task and job we have been called to do. It is so easy to get sidetracked and/or distracted to the point where we become ineffective – by going around in circles and not accomplishing much or not working to our full potential.

Two Scriptures effectively summarize the reason for our calling in this day and age. The first Scripture, 2 Peter 3:18, commands us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Just how do we grow in Christ’s grace and knowledge? For a plant to grow it must be watered. God’s Spirit must water us on a continual basis. To be watered most effectively, we must continue to pray, study the Bible, meditate and – as unpleasant as it may seem – fast occasionally. These are the tools we can use to GROW. A tree stops growing when it is cut down or dead. This example from nature contains a lesson for us. In order to attain our goal (which is, to enter the kingdom of God), we have to keep growing throughout our Christian lives until the day of our death or change, at the return of Christ. We just cannot afford to let down, get discouraged and quit. Matthew 24:13 tells us, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” That’s the standard we need to work towards achieving.

The second Scripture to focus on, when considering the reason for our present calling, is Matthew 24:14. It reads, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Notice it says, the gospel WILL be preached. It does NOT say, it might perhaps be preached. This job will get done. It has not been completed since the end has not yet come. The only question is, “Am I going to be involved in this process of preaching the gospel?”

As part and parcel of our calling, we have been invited to be involved in this work God is doing, in sending out a warning message and in preparing a people for Christ’s return. We should not get distracted in our task, during this period between the Spring and Fall Festivals, but remain focused and true to our calling. Remember the words of Christ, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). Neither should we despise the day of small things (Zechariah 4:10; compare, too, Haggai 2:3-4). The parable of the mustard seed, in Matthew 13:31-32, explains to us that God, when He works through man, generally starts small, but huge results often follow.

Dear Brethren, as we go through the summer months and the early fall season, let us remain focused on the task ahead of us, not neglecting to do our part in the work, nor letting down in our responsibilities, including personal prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting. If we do these things, we will stay focused and we will be effective tools in God’s hands.
 

The prophet Daniel spoke of the time of the end when, among other things, knowledge would be increased (compare Daniel 12:4). Yet, with all this knowledge available in our day, does it really help mankind to seize the truly important information for an abundant, purposeful life?

Paul preached the gospel of the Kingdom of God, which includes Jesus and the resurrection. To at least one group of people this knowledge represented “strange things.” The audience he addressed was in Athens, Greece, and it is important to understand an attitude held by these individuals: “For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing” (Acts 17:21).

They were hobbyists in knowledge. They accumulated knowledge, but their endeavors fell short of the ultimate truth that Paul was inspired to reveal to them. Part of the reason seems to be that they did not apply in their own lives what they had learned.

Another such individual was King Solomon. Note what he recorded of his own quest for knowledge in Ecclesiastes 1:13: “And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven.” The record of his life testifies that he was granted great wisdom from God. However, his story doesn’t develop very well–even with such an abundance of knowledge about “all that is done under heaven.” Solomon did not keep contact with God as he grew old, and he ended up setting his heart on purely physical knowledge, while drifting away from spiritual knowledge revealed to him by God. Only at the very end of his life was he able to explain: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all (or: the whole duty of man)” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Those of us who are Christians have access to unique knowledge. God reveals to us parts of what the Bible calls “hidden knowledge” or a “mystery.” The rest of the world doesn’t know what Christians get to know–in fact, Romans 11 explains that “blindness in part has happened…” (verse 25). Implicit in this is an issue of responsibility for the knowledge we have been given.

Jesus further explains this in Matthew 7:24-27. The critical point, as He explains, is that after we hear His sayings we must DO them. If we don’t do what He says and act on the knowledge we are given, we will fail!

James also shows that we must be “DOERS of the word, and not hearers only…” (James 1:22). He later has this to say about the serious consequence of not doing what we know we should: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Individually, we need to measure ourselves when it comes to the knowledge we have been given. Paul warned that in the last days perilous times will come. Of these times and those of us in them, he prophesied that some would be “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).

Real spiritual growth in the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ comes about through obedience–that simply means we act on what we know. More knowledge without implementing what we already have been given will not cause one to grow in their Christianity. We can’t just become religious hobbyists seeking to either tell or to hear some new thing. Nor should we set ourselves, as Solomon did, to learn more and more without building upon spiritual knowledge through yielding to God’s will.

Without question, we are called upon to grow in knowledge of God’s Way, but as we do, it is important that we also be doers of all that is revealed and not hearers only. It is God Who opens up our understanding of His Word–this kind of increase is spoken of as spiritual knowledge.

As we increase in knowledge, consider this promise from Jesus: “‘If you ABIDE IN MY WORD, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall KNOW THE TRUTH, and the truth shall make you free'” (John 8:31-32).

The New Testament Church which was founded on the day of Pentecost and of which we are a part today, can teach us many things. We can see a number of characteristics that were predominant within the church at that particular time. We would do well to try and emulate those characteristics today.

In this editorial, I’d like to briefly discuss three main characteristics of the early Church. The first one is that of purpose and determination.

The early disciples had a deep sense of purpose. They were promised the Holy Spirit. In the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension, Jesus made many recorded appearances to the disciples to banish forever from their minds any doubt as to His continued existence as a living person. They were to receive power – the same Greek word is also translated as dynamite. In Acts 2:1, we read that they were all with one accord in one place. We see the Holy Spirit appearing like cloven tongues sitting on them. In verse 4, we are told that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. It would be hard at that time not to have a deep sense of purpose! In Acts 2, Peter gave the first New Testament sermon. In verse 40, we are told, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.'” Here he showed, with quite a sense of urgency, the determination and purpose motivating and driving him.

In chapter 4, Peter and John were brought before the council. The rulers who had crucified Jesus were alarmed at the spreading of the message and the growing popularity of this new religion as they saw it. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke boldly. This was the same Peter who, a few weeks before, in the same place, had been embarrassed at the remarks of a girl and had denied Christ. Now, in utter fearlessness, he defied Christ’s murderers. Being empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter and the other apostles were transformed and filled with courage to proclaim the gospel. They were “steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15: 58). There is no question that the New Testament Church certainly had a deep sense of purpose. WE SHOULD HAVE THAT SAME SENSE OF PURPOSE TODAY. They had to endure opposition and persecution then. We have opposition today. Things have changed little over the last 2,000 years. They had a deep sense of purpose and nothing was going to distract them. They got on with the job irrespective of all other considerations.

The second characteristic of the early disciples is that of unconquerable courage. Remember that Stephen gave an answer to his accusers. In Acts 7:54 they were just a little upset! Stephen didn’t flinch. In Acts 6:15 it says that as he spoke, his face “shone as the face of an angel.” He didn’t fear death. He died without a trace of resentment, which must have put his killers to shame. We read in 2 Corinthians 11 about Paul, an apostle of Christ, who was beaten with rods, who received five times 39 stripes, who was stoned, who was shipwrecked and who suffered all manner of things for the name of Christ. You don’t go through those sufferings and trials without knowing your cause is right. Paul had to have unconquerable courage. Tradition has it that John was the only apostle that was not martyred. He apparently lived his life out fully, but all of the other apostles apparently suffered martyrdom. You don’t give up your life for a lie – you give up your life for that which you totally believe in and are fully convinced about.

We also find, as a third important characteristic of the early New Testament Church, that it was a caring Church. We see in Acts 2: 44-47 that they all worked together for the common good, sharing all that they had. At the outset, they had all things in common and a community spirit was born. Of course, it was all new and later, problems surfaced – they always do! One problem that immediately springs to mind is the problem with Ananias and Sapphira who received the ultimate form of discipline because of their treachery. However, such an incident cannot hide the fact that there was a togetherness in the New Testament Church at the inception of the true Christian faith – a togetherness that assists everyone when problems arise. There were, of course, other examples including the collection for the saints in 1 Corinthians 16 where produce was collected for those less well off.

These are just three characteristics of the New Testament Church that we can learn from. Times are getting more and more difficult, and it behoves us all to ensure that the examples that are there in the Bible are not wasted on us. The New Testament Church which was founded on the day of Pentecost and which we are a part of today, can teach us much. Let us take these lessons seriously!
 

We are living in a time of great distress and uncertainties. We just experienced a war fought because of fear – fear that weapons of mass destruction would be used against our countries. Terrorists have brought fear to citizens and nations all over the world – fear that new attacks on innocent people will be launched by unscrupulous, unloving and hateful suicide bombers or falsely so-called “freedom fighters.” There is fear today that a nuclear war might be started by unpredictable leaders of certain countries that are suspected of possessing weapons of mass destruction. There are fears of deep impacts with comets or meteors; there are fears of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, monsoons, floods and tidal waves, as well as transmittable disease epidemics or the loss of our ability to make a living or that we may lose all of our money – the list seems to be endless. People are afraid to fly, or to travel by train, by ship, or even by car. People live in fear – as to what might happen to them.

The Bible has prophesied that terrible calamities will strike this planet, and that feelings of fear would be a reality in the last days. Christ tells us in Luke 21:25-26, “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on earth DISTRESS OF NATIONS, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from FEAR and the EXPECTATION of those things which ARE COMING on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

In reading on, we notice that God expects of His chosen people a different mindset. We are not to fear – rather, we are to live joyfully and peacefully with the expectation of better things to come: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift your heads, because your redemption draws near” (verse 28).

We don’t need to fear what might happen to us, because nothing happens to us, unless it is God’s will. We are always in God’s hands. David knew, “My times are in Your hand” (Psalm 31:15). David was not afraid what men might do to him. He was not afraid if a war would raise its ugly head against him. He was not afraid of evil tidings. He did not fear, even though the earth be removed (compare Psalm 3:6; Psalm 46:1-3; compare, too, Psalm 112:7-8).

Why did David have this kind of confidence and peace in times of calamity? He tells us in Psalm 27:1: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Also, in Psalm 56:11: “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

David knew how closely God is watching us – His begotten children. He KNEW that NOTHING will happen to us AGAINST the will of God. Notice David’s understanding of God’s concern for us, as expressed in Psalm 56:8, “You number my wanderings; Put my tears into your bottle; Are they not in your book?” Not a tear that we shed will be forgotten before God. When God says that the very hair on our head is numbered (Matthew 10:30), and that not a sparrow dies apart from God’s will (Matthew 10:29), how much more will God look after us – His very own begotten children whom He wants to be as born-again members in His Family?

This confidence – this assurance that God is always with us – can only come though the gift of His Spirit living within us. The God of peace gives us peace, through His Spirit. The foremost characteristic of God’s Spirit is love – because God IS love. We have not received a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, as we are told in 2 Timothy 1:7. God’s power, love and sound mind in us destroy any kind of fear as to what might happen to us. Since we are fully under God’s loving protection, we can exclaim with John, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18).

God’s Spirit in us lets us understand this profound truth, as expressed by Paul in Romans 8:31: “What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” He continues in verse 35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

The answer is, with the love of God in us, and the conviction THAT His love rules and leads our lives, nothing should make us afraid. Christ emphasizes time and time again that His little flock is not to live in fear as to what might or even to what will happen to us. He said, for instance, in Luke 12:32, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” If He is desirous to give us the eternal kingdom, how much more, then, will He be willing to give us the necessary physical things in this life, and to protect us from harm and disaster?

Let’s remember God’s timeless promise to His people, as expressed by Paul in Romans 8:28, “And we KNOW that ALL THINGS work together FOR GOOD to those who LOVE God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

What God allows to happen in our lives is for our good. Do we KNOW that? Paul did, and we must all come to know it, too.

There is NO FEAR in love. Yes, we need to have deep respect and awe for God and His word – and we will, if God’s love lives in us. However, with God’s love, there is no fear that we might slip out of His hands – that something terrible might happen to us, because God failed to pay attention. We are precious in His sight. Christ came to DIE for us, so that we could live and have life more abundantly.

This we know – WHATEVER God allows to happen to us in this life is for a purpose. Nothing happens to us, unless God specifically allows it to happen. God is watching and observing us every second. He will NOT allow that we are tested beyond our capabilities to bear or endure the test (compare 1 Corinthians 10:13). Why, then, should we be afraid of ANYTHING which might happen in our lives? God, our loving Father, is right there walking with us. He is surely capable to prevent calamities that might otherwise strike and affect us.

David had great love for God. God’s love was living in him. So, he could say with confidence, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). God has promised us this: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God” (Isaiah 43:2-3). Again, in Psalm 91:15: “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.”

We are, and always will be, in the loving and caring hand of God, as long as we let God direct and lead our lives. God’s love will always sustain us and give us peace. There is no fear in God’s love, because His perfect love casts out all fear.

Editor’s Note: We wish all of our members, co-workers, readers, listeners and friends a rewarding and meaningful feast of Pentecost. Following is an especially relevant message.

I was recently asked the question, “How can I know if I have God’s Spirit?” With all the organizations in the world today that proclaim allegiance to Jesus Christ, yet follow a divergence of doctrines, how can one be sure he is following God’s Spirit as he goes about his normal activities in life? As we examine God’s Word we find a number of Scriptures that give insight relative to these questions.

First, we should examine a few key Scriptures relative to the knowledge of God’s Truth. It is certain that understanding the true knowledge of God’s Way is critical to this question.

We read in Proverbs 2:6, “For the LORD gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding…” And in Proverbs 8:10-11, “Receive [My] instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold; For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”

Proverbs 22:17, 19 tells us, “Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to [My] knowledge….So that your trust may be in the LORD.” And, in 2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Yet, there can be major problems for those who receive true knowledge, if they are not faithful with that knowledge.

In 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 we read that, “…Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.” And 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

So we see, that the knowledge of what love is, is also critical to our understanding of this question. Paul discusses this critical subject of love under the inspiration of God’s Spirit in several places. Let us examine a few of these.

Romans 5:5, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit [which] was given to us.” And 2 John 1:6, “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.” We demonstrate love in our lives as we walk in God’s Way!

Are we able to understand how all of these things come together as God reveals to us the truth of His Way? There are several key ingredients. Knowledge, obedience, love, and faithfulness; each of these has its role in this Way to which we have been called, and each pertain to the question at hand.

Thus, the fact that we have been given true knowledge does not seem to be the key factor. The fact that we have true knowledge does not ensure that we will have God’s Spirit. The important thing about knowledge is that with it comes the understanding of what God expects of us as we go forward. Understanding the truth of God’s law, for example, gives us also the understanding of what comprises sin (Romans 3:20).

We read in Hebrews 10:26, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…” It therefore becomes critical, once we understand this, that we be diligent in observing God’s law to the best of our abilities, with the help of God’s Spirit that is within us.

When we look at the major examples of righteous men down through Biblical history whose lives were pleasing to God, we see that all of these factors we are discussing are critical. But obedience stands out as, perhaps, one of the more prominent characteristics God considers in giving His Spirit to those who ask. Let us examine a few of these examples.

The example of Jesus Christ, of course, stands out above all. Comparing the lives of the man Adam and of Jesus Christ as their lives reflected the way these two men lived under God’s law, Paul stated, in Romans 5:19, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” And Paul relates to us in Hebrews 5:8-9, “…though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the [Author] of eternal salvation to all who obey Him…”

Christ obeyed God in everything. You and I must come to the same point, eventually. That is our goal in this life! And when we obey God, and ask Him for more of His Spirit, He will not deny our request. Jesus made reference to a very special blessing we have in this way in Luke 11:13: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Of course, God saw early on that man in his natural state of mind could not be obedient to Him. Adam had rejected access to God’s Spirit and His law from the very beginning, having succumbed to the influence of Satan, the current prince of this universe (Ephesians 2:2).

God saw that it would require His Spirit working with the spirit in man for there to be any hope of mankind ever defeating the wiles of the devil and even man’s own human nature. Aware of man’s proclivities, God stated in Genesis 6:3, “…My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

God understood the heart of mankind as He spoke of the situation in Genesis 6:5-7: “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.'”

Yet, God saw a good heart in the man, Noah. Genesis 6:8-9: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” We see the key here in verse 9. Noah walked with God! Noah obeyed God! Noah was led by the Spirit of God!

Abraham is another prime example of one whom God blessed tremendously, including the gift of His Spirit, because of Abraham’s obedience to Him.

Speaking to Abraham in Genesis 22:18, God stated: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” In Hebrews 11:8, God revealed that, “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Abraham obeyed God first – and asked questions later! We must learn to do that.

We know that Isaac and Jacob followed in their father, Abraham’s, footsteps, and were obedient to God as well. In speaking to Isaac as He passed on the blessings to him, God reminded Isaac that these blessings were coming his way “…because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Genesis 26:5).

Of course, Joseph was a prime example of one in Pharaoh’s court who walked in God’s Way. Notice what God inspired Pharaoh to see concerning this man, Joseph. Genesis 41:38: “And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”‘ This was not a common occurrence in that day, just as it is not a common thing today.

And so, the Children of Israel, for the most part, failed to follow in the steps of the “Fathers” – Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As the people of God, Israel had agreed with God to follow in all His Ways (Exodus 24:3). But we see in our study of these people that they failed in this endeavor. Notice Isaiah 42:24: “Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the LORD, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law.”

Again we see, it was disobedience to God and His ways that caused them to fail in their relationship with God. Thus, He gave His Spirit only to a few in Israel; those who had learned obedience – Moses, Joshua, Caleb (specifically) and a few others who learned to obey God down through time.

During the time Saul was obedient and faithful to God, God filled Saul with His Spirit. Notice, 1 Samuel 10:6-11: “Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. You shall go down before me to Gilgal; and, surely I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and make sacrifices of peace offerings. Seven days you shall wait, till I come to you and show you what you should do. And so it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, ‘What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?'”

In like manner, David, because of His obedience to God, was given God’s Spirit. We read in 1 Samuel 16:13: “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.”

Yet, God removed His Spirit from Saul when Saul ceased being obedient to Him. “Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.’ But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel'” (1 Samuel
15:24-26).

And in 1 Samuel 16:14 we read, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul…”

When David sinned against God in the incident with Bathsheba and Uriah, David repented bitterly and asked God that He not remove His Spirit from him. David’s prayer of repentance is recorded in Psalm 51. God heard that prayer and did not remove His Spirit, though God did not allow the son of that union to live; and David was not allowed to build the Temple that he so desired to build as a monument to God.

We can see from these examples that God blesses those who are faithful in their obedience to Him, and He gives even more of His Spirit to those who continue in the faith.

Peter reminds us through the inspiration of God and His Spirit, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again [begotten], not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever'” (1 Peter 1:22-25).

These are the words which we have received, brethren. And as Peter tells us here in Chapter 2 of 1 Peter, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

We can see evidence of God’s Spirit in our lives as we relate to others around us, and even in the thoughts that come into our minds. The fruit of God’s Spirit is clearly shown in Galatians 5:22-23; while, in contrast, the works of the flesh are described in Galatians 5:19-21. If we are having problems in building the former and/or destroying the latter in our individual lives, we must ask God for more of His Spirit to help us in accomplishing our goals.

Yes, God has called us brethren, He has given us His Spirit, and now it is our responsibility, individually, to see to it that we remain in the good graces of our God; that we remain faithful to Him and continue in His Way through the Power of His Spirit, which is within us, so that He never removes His Holy Spirit from us!
 

In light of mounting adversity, ever-growing discouragement and seemingly unsolvable problems, we might be tempted, at times, to think of just “throwing in the towel” and “giving up.” We might, perhaps, feel that it is too difficult to go on — or that it is impossible to do what we ought to do, including overcoming and conquering our weaknesses.

Two weeks from Sunday we will be celebrating the annual Holy Day of Pentecost. This Feast day pictures the gift of God’s Holy Spirit to the Body of Christ, which is the Church. When the early apostles received the Holy Spirit, they were given with it God’s power to accomplish the task that was set before them. Jesus had promised them, “But you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8). By the power of God, they were able to work mighty miracles (Acts 3:12; 4:7-10). We also read that “with great power” they witnessed Christ’s resurrection (Acts 4:33).

God has promised and given His Holy Spirit of power to ALL of His children whom He has called during this day and age. We read in 2 Peter 1:2-4: “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine POWER has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

It is the power of the LIVING God that dwells within us, through the Holy Spirit. For God, nothing is too hard or impossible. You might want to read the following encouraging Scriptures, telling us about the unlimited power and might of our great God: Matthew 19:26; Luke 18:27; Luke 1:37; Genesis 18:14 (We understand, of course, that there are certain things that God has CHOSEN not to do. For instance, we read in Hebrews 6:18 that it is “impossible for God to lie.” Titus 1:2 confirms that God “cannot lie.”).

The beautiful news is that God’s power can live within us. Therefore, nothing needs to be impossible for us. Christ gives us this promise in Matthew 17:20, “…I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it WILL move; and NOTHING will be IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU.”

With God, ALL THINGS are possible. However, we must believe this to be true. We must believe that God CAN do everything — and that, as a consequence, WE can do everything as well. Jesus said in Mark 9:23, “…all things are possible to him, who believes.” We are not going to be overcomers and accomplishers based on human strength, but we will have the victory because of the mighty power of God dwelling within us through His Holy Spirit. We will be victorious because we let God do HIS mighty works through us.

We have to understand, of course, that our actions and desires must be in harmony with God’s will. Jesus knew that nothing was impossible for God; nevertheless, He prayed that God’s will, not His, would be done (Mark 14:36).

Next time we are tempted to give up in light of a seemingly insurmountable challenge, let us remember Mr. Armstrong’s response to people who felt that a certain task would be impossible for them to accomplish. He told them, “Nothing is impossible. Impossibilities only take a little bit longer.”

We greet people and people often greet us with, “How are you?” Here and there, some sarcastically say that no one actually really wants to know how we are. Perhaps we really don’t want anyone else to truly know how we are.

So, how are you?

How are you doing with your life? Are you happy? How is your health? Are good things coming your way, or are you so beaten down that you have just about lost all hope? Anyone who has lived any amount of time has surely tasted a little bit of all kinds of experiences–both good and bad.

Solomon taught: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). In verses 2 through 8, he enumerates the “everythings” and the “purposes.” If you read these details, it is very difficult to not identify with each of these most human of experiences.

In fact, in this light, consider 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear [endure] it.”

For those who, indeed, have been called by God and who are responding to His loving hand in their lives, Biblical knowledge can give us the light of confidence and hope. This shining assurance can also enlighten others. This is what being a Christian in this generation is all about! Added to knowledge is the ever-present real fact that God gives us His Spirit by which we are empowered to live our lives with complete faith that good will triumph! Romans 8:28 puts it this way: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Every so often, we need to really bore in and focus on what it is that we are doing–how we are! Out ahead of us are promises so awesome that we hardly even begin to really and truly grasp the majesty of what God is accomplishing–both the big picture things and the things of our individual lives! Hebrews 12:12-13 has these words of encouragement: “…therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet…”

Reading in the New Testament, Paul begins many of his letters with these words of greeting: “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:3, as an example).

Let us each hold on to the confidence of our sure hope that has been given to us by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. With that perspective, let us also have a ready answer of joy the next time someone asks–“how are you?”

I was born in the city of Derby. I have lived there most of my life. Derby is a city in the Midlands of England and in the county of Derbyshire. This county is one of the most beautiful counties in the United Kingdom with rolling hills, dales, pasture, rivers and historical stately homes that reflect the green and pleasant land of Great Britain. Derby is a city of about 250,000 inhabitants and famous as the home of Rolls Royce.

Derby is hardly a hotbed of political radicalism. However, it did very recently receive unwanted attention. With the war in Iraq, retaliation was expected in different parts of the world with places like London and New York being prime targets. Israel has also long been a target of suicide bombers. On Wednesday, April 30, carnage was the result of a suicide bomber at Mike’s Place, a beachfront bar, in Tel Aviv. Three people were killed and sixty people wounded. One bomber blew himself to pieces and the other, Omar Khan Sharif, according to press reports, managed to escape when his explosive device did not detonate.

How many know that this person, who immediately became the most wanted man in Israel, came from Derby? He had lived just a street or two away from where my parents and I lived many years ago, before I was married. I now live about 5 miles from that area. The locals, when interviewed for television, radio and the press, just couldn’t believe that such a quiet individual could be responsible for such an outrage.

We sometimes think that all these events occur in, and that all these type of criminals come from the big cities and the well known areas. Don’t you believe it! If suicide bombers can come from the Midlands of England, they can come from anywhere! We may think that as we live in a quiet backwater (if indeed we do), we are safe from the excesses of fanatics. However, if such people can be produced in our relatively small community in Derby, they can be produced anywhere!

How close is close? Too close for comfort! This recent suicide bombing is also a stark reminder that we approach the end of this age. As we do, there will be no hiding place — anywhere in the world — not even in little places that we consider backwaters.

Omar Khan Sharif, the failed suicide bomber from Derby, has brought to the attention of the local community that these sort of people can live in our midst, although we might not realize it. How many more fanatics will rear their ugly heads in our small communities in the future?

We have to understand that our safety and refuge do not depend on local or state policing, security guards, government edicts, or the military, but on our great Creator God. Psalm 46:1 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.” Let us never forget our real source of help, however close trouble may be. Our security, survival and protection depend on our faith in our great God and in His promises. Things will get worse and outrages such as the one in Tel Aviv will increase. Let us never forget where our protection truly lies — protection that will become ever more necessary as the weeks and months pass by.