Sabbath 23/2/29/120
Dear Friends
This week we progress on the Omer count to Pentecost. We came out of the period
of the Second Passover this week for those of us that were unable to complete
the Passover in due time. Today is the thirty-fifth day of the Omer count.
This period in the build up to Pentecost is one of getting ourselves, and the Church, ready. We must all be prepared as a body to be together and confirm the Holy Spirit acting in the body of the Church. We have heard the text of 1Corinthians 13 done endlessly, and yet those using it do not seem to comprehend its meaning and the explanations of the chapters that precede and follow it.
Although Pentecost is only a feast of two days it is nevertheless the example of the calling out of the elect as the wheat harvest of the First Resurrection. That time is not all that far away.
We can be prophets and linguists and communicate with all men and the heavenly host, speaking in the Holy Spirit. Our gifts of the Spirit can be in such power that we can do all things and move mountains. We can understand all the mysteries of God and still fall short of the glory of God because we do not love one another. That can be even though we give all things to feed the poor and we ourselves are martyred for the faith.
How can that be? How can we have the Holy Spirit in such power that we can do those things and expend our entire wealth, and being for the faith, and yet still not be acceptable before God? God has told us that in the last days things will not be accomplished by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts.
We have seen people quote this text when they have been trampling the intent of the text into the mud as they accuse and attack their own brethren, and usually their own leaders.
Love in the Holy Spirit suffers long. That means it is patient in the endurance of perceived error. It is kind in its endurance. It does not envy others in their success, or property, or achievements, or the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in whatever gift has been given to others as part of the body of Christ. In other words it does not covet.
Love does not vaunt itself and is not puffed up. That means when it is present
in the individual it esteems others better than itself and is not vain or arrogant
in the exercise of its gifts and authority.
David was criticised by his own generals for praying for his enemies to the
concern of his own supporters.
God took up the cause of David and supported him. God said that David was a man after his own heart yet he sinned.
The acceptance of David was based on the concern he had for others, even though he was a tough leader. He killed one of his own officers to conceal his adultery and take his wife, and ordered his son Solomon to kill Joab and also Shimei the Benjamite for his railing slander (1Kgs. 2:6,9).
When the adulterous child of Bathsheba was killed he fasted for seven days
to stop its death but accepted the decision of God and got on with the task
immediately it was apparent that God had not spared the child.
When we are confronted with those in the body that have problems, we make sure
that we look after their needs and that the appropriate authorities are informed
so that others are not hurt or affected by the problems they face, and the proper
care and attention can be given to all concerned. Discern the will of God and
the care of the brethren, and make sure the right person is informed and has
help and support in the performance of their duty. It is our duty to support
the body of the Church and its appointed elders and deacons.
If you cannot be relied upon to carry out the instructions of your leaders then you are not fit to lead and cannot be trusted. If you seek to cause disruption then you are vain and self-seeking and divide the body for your own ends.
Love does not behave itself unseemly. Our conduct among the body of Christ should be in regard to the needs of others. It was evident that David has sinned but God dealt with him through His servants the prophets. When we are with each other we do not misbehave or try to have our own way through spite and malice. Love is not easily provoked. If we are rebuked then we do not make railing accusations but rather seek the will of God and obey the elders of the faith in the exercise of their judgment. We do not sulk and conspire and make life difficult for others.
We do not think evil of others. We make no railing accusations but rather we give unto God the cause and the Eternal vindicates the cause.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rather rejoices in the truth. If you don’t know something ask and it will be revealed to you in due course. Make no iniquitous activity but rather wait on God. Look to the body of Christ as it is led by the Holy Spirit.
In this we bear all things, or forbear in all provocation. We believe all things and hope all things and endure all things. The word believe here is Pisteuo, meaning to have faith in all things (with the direct object of the fact believed either a noun in the accusative case or a sentence c.f. Bullinger App. 150, I, 1, iii). Thus, our faith is the means of sustaining us in the trials we endure. We endure through faith and hope and in that we show love.
Love never fails but the word here is falls. Where there are prophecies they will fail (literally be brought to nothing).
Tongues will cease because the necessity that made the languages in confusion at Babel will cease from the return of the Messiah. Knowledge will vanish away because we will all know even as we are known.
We know in part and we prophesy in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away or made redundant through perfect knowledge.
When I was a child I spoke as a child and I understood as a child, I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away all childish things. The greatest problems we face are usually because people do not put away childish things and they behave as naughty little children.
Much of the abuse and untruth in the world is caused because people accuse others of behaving the way they themselves think and act. Most intolerance is caused through ignorance and foolishness and the withholding of truth in unrighteousness.
Self-righteousness is the start of the spirit of accusation and is born of the father of lies, who is the accuser of the brethren.
We all see through a glass darkly but in time we shall see face to face. Now we know in part but then we shall know as we are known. We abide in faith, hope and love but of the three, love or charity is the greatest.
How can we say we have love when we accuse others in railing accusation? How can we say we have the Holy Spirit when we lie and withhold the truth in unrighteousness? How can we say we act in the body of Christ when we hold false doctrine and produce incomplete and misleading works?
It is our duty to discern the body of Christ and to support that body with all our might. Proclaim the truth and refrain from malice and evil and railing accusations.
Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts in order that you may prophesy
and proclaim the mysteries of God. Speak clearly before all men, and not in
gibberish, or in spite, or in malice. For what you speak and write is what defiles
you, or that which upholds you.
In decrying others you judge yourselves and show yourselves unworthy.
Be about the work of God in prophecy to educate others. To prophesy you must speak through the Holy Spirit and those that can translate do the work of God in making the mysteries of God available to all tongues and peoples. In that way we can provide revelation and knowledge through either prophecy or doctrine.
We can use music but in all things we must give a certain and sure sound so that we may all be prepared for battle. Speak in the power of the Holy Spirit in doctrine and sound teaching otherwise you utter gibberish into the air and defile yourselves by what is said or written and you are judged.
Seek the spiritual gifts of God so that you may edify or establish the Church. When we pray and we sing, we sing with the nous or the mind also being guided by the Spirit that intercedes for us. Do not say Amen unless you understand what is being said. Do not follow unless you know what is true.
We translate into tongues so that men shall understand. That is not for the benefit of those that believe but so that those who do not believe may be judged by it. So it was written that with men of other tongues and of other lips will I speak to this people yet for all that they will not hear me saith the Lord (1Cor. 14:21 c.f. Isa. 28:11,12).
Where there is no interpreter for the person, let them be silent. Speak in known languages and only when an interpreter is present.
When the Holy Spirit works, the Church produces truth. What is written is true. It does not matter how the style of the individual who writes it differs one from another. Paul was the most difficult to follow and the unconverted wrested his teachings in unrighteousness.
The Holy Spirit does not mislead in teaching. Unconverted people do that. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets and let the Church judge in that matter. Prophecy and doctrine are uttered in order and through the body, for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace in all the churches of the saints. It is written: Let your women keep silent in the churches for it is not permitted that they speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as also is required by the law. If they learn anything let them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame that they speak in the church.” For in that way the Church has been harmed and the ambitious and malicious seek its hurt. The Church has always taught with diligence. Let women ask questions, as they need guidance. The disobedient have misused that privilege and hurt the Church. For that reason we have appointed ministers among you for the order and government of the Church. Both men and women are to esteem them as leaders among us and to take guidance in humility from all those entrusted with your care. Count it in all joy that they come to you in the Holy Spirit to help.
The word of God comes to the church as the Body of Christ and all things are done decently and in order. We preach the gospel in which we stand strong in the faith and by which we are saved. We all follow in the footsteps of Christ and the apostles and the elders and the body that came before us. In this we do not differ, believing and doing that which we have all done for the entire time in the wilderness over the last forty jubilees, since John began to preach for repentance and the Messiah taught us the mysteries of the Kingdom of God in the Holy Spirit.
We preach Christ crucified and Christ risen from the dead. He is risen and soon he will return in power and glory to save those that eagerly await him.
Develop yourselves in this next fifteen days to Pentecost. Go to your appointed place and count it all joy that you are together as the body of Christ awaiting the Holy Spirit and the renewing of the Holy Spirit in power in the faith.
Wade Cox
Coordinator General
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