Sabbath 10/3/34/120

Dear Friends,

We have celebrated the Feast of Pentecost last week and the First day of the week.

One of the important things to understand is the circumstances of Pentecost and what happened there and how long it took to deal with the giving of the law and the preparation of the nation of Israel.

It is important to note that Moses went up and down the Mountain at Sinai six times and there were specific laws given to him and the first set of tablets were smashed because the nations and their priesthood profaned themselves and overstepped their authority. See the paper The Ascents of Moses (No. 070).

The Bible records that 3000 Levites were executed for disloyalty, disobedience and idolatry.  It is important what God said to Israel through Moses on this Third New Moon and over the Feast of Pentecost. God has set bounds for the brethren and their leaders and they are not to exceed those bounds or the punishments are swift and sure. In that year Pentecost occurred on Sunday 6 Sivan and the New Moon was on a Tuesday.

The sequence of their march is covered in the paper Pentecost at Sinai (No. 115). What is important to this message are the limitations placed on the elect which apply also to the Church in the Last Days.

Exodus19:1-25 [1] On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone forth out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. [2] And when they set out from Reph'idim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain. [3] And Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: [4] You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. [5] Now therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my own possession among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, [6] and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel." [7] So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him. [8] And all the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD. [9] And the LORD said to Moses, "Lo, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you for ever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD. [10] And the LORD said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, [11] and be ready by the third day; for on the third day the LORD will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. [12] And you shall set bounds for the people round about, saying, `Take heed that you do not go up into the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death; [13] no hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain." [14] So Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. [15] And he said to the people, "Be ready by the third day; do not go near a woman." [16] On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. [17] Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God; and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. [18] And Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and the smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. [19] And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. [20] And the LORD came down upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. [21] And the LORD said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to gaze and many of them perish. [22] And also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out upon them." [23] And Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai; for thou thyself didst charge us, saying, `Set bounds about the mountain, and consecrate it.'" [24] And the LORD said to him, "Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, lest he break out against them." [25] So Moses went down to the people and told them.

These limitations were placed on the nations in sequence and specific duties were placed on the priesthood. The punishment for overstepping the given duties of the priesthood and the brethren and attempting to usurp the power of the established system was death.

In the same way the punishment for theft and misusing the power of the Church and lying to the Holy Spirit was also death, as we see in the story in Acts of the death of Ananias and his wife Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).

Acts.5:1-11 [1] But a man named Anani'as with his wife Sapphi'ra sold a piece of property, [2] and with his wife's knowledge he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles' feet. [3] But Peter said, "Anani'as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? [4] While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." [5] When Anani'as heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. [6] The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. [7] After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. [8] And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much." [9] But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Hark, the feet of those that have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."  [10] Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. [11] And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all who heard of these things. [12] Now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high honor. [14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women, [15] so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and pallets, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. [16] The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

As a result of God dealing with these people so decisively great fear came upon the Church. The leadership was greatly respected by the brethren.

What we have noticed in these Last Days is that most people no longer fear God and keep His laws.

Many who come into CCG over the years do not understand the significance of what it is that they do. It has become obvious to us that many people, especially those who are poor such as the brethren in Africa, do not fully understand the ethics of the Bible and the requirements of the Churches of God.

Each of us is required to count the cost of being baptised into the body of Christ and being made part of that body and hence of the nation of Israel as spiritual kings and priests.

The problem seems to be that brethren come in from churches that are not part of the body of Christ and they are not punished immediately for dishonesty and breach of God’s law. That emboldens them and they lose their fear of God and the Church of God.

We have seen dishonesty among the CCG ministry in Africa such that not even people in a civil business would behave in such a way. Over the years we have removed many leaders because of it. We will now proceed to conduct a check in a number of nations and remove those that we consider unfit to hold fellowship in CCG. 

No church that is not documented will be retained on the books of CCG. Nor will it receive funds and assistance in projects. We have already documented many thousands of people but there are tens and tens of thousands to go and unfortunately a great many will also be removed because they cannot be trusted or they are not as sincere as we require in the faith. Many are simply used by ministers as a means to a living without having to work hard. That is not part of our system.

In past times many of our brethren suffered martyrdom in order that they might attain to a better resurrection, namely the First Resurrection (see the paper The Resurrection of the Dead (No. 143)).

Some misguided brethren, because they did not understand the faith, even sought death by striking magistrates. Such behaviour is not the way to the First Resurrection. Remember these facts. These people will not inherit the kingdom of God: the immoral, neither fornicators and adulterers, nor the effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind, nor idolaters, nor those who hate, nor the covetous, nor those who envy or are gluttons, murderers, liars, thieves, drunkards, revilers, nor extortioners, nor those who promote wrath, strife, seditions and heresies  (1Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:21ff.). The fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness and faith (see the paper The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (No. 146)).

If we live in the Spirit we also ought to walk in the Spirit. Help one another and love one another and do not seek to take advantage of one another, and above all do not seek to steal from the Church of God by deceit and fraud. God is not mocked. Even if you remain alive you are dead in your sins and will be in the Second Resurrection and not part of the Body of Christ that will reign with Christ in the Millennium. If you sin such as this the second death has power over you and you will have to face the Judgment of Krisis or correction at the end of the Millennium.

There are many tasks before us and much sacrifice required of us. Do not fall short of the glory of God through the sins of the flesh.

Hold fast to the faith once delivered. Keep faith with your brethren and do not make merchandise of them or the Church.

Wade Cox
Coordinator General