February 14, 2025 Brethren Letter

Dear Brethren,

When Jesus was on this earth, He asked the question, “… when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Now, FAITH as described in God’s Word is not human faith. It’s Christ’s faith! Not one of us has the power to work-up that kind of FAITH. The ONLY way to receive the faith OF Jesus Christ is through the power of God’s Holy Spirit! “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

“Now faith is the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence [proof, conviction] of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report” (Hebrews 11:1-2). When reading chapter 11 of Hebrews, we see examples of men and women who have displayed the faith OF Christ by their actions. In fact, we’re shown in verse 6, that WITHOUT faith, it’s impossible to please God! “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” The word translated “impossible” in verse 6 does not mean IMPROBABLE. It means IMPOSSIBLE!

Through the years, following various trials and experiences, God’s apostle, (Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong), began to understand what living faith was. Here are a few excerpts from an article written by Mr. Armstrong in 1980. (Good News magazine, April 1980, “You Can Have Living Faith”).

What would it be worth to you if I could tell you exactly how you could always pray to God for every need, for help and deliverance from every trouble and always get the answer? If I could show you a way to always KNOW you are going to actually get what you ask of God?

I can tell you that. I have found the way, myself…

But as of the moment I write, there is not one thing I have had to rely upon God for and ask Him for in prayer, for myself and family or this wonderful Work of His, which He has committed to me, that has not been answered.

I remember how my first wife Loma and I had to depend upon God for just about everything.

Once I had to ask God for a dime. We had to have it immediately. Believe it or not, in less than two minutes God sent it to our house.

At another time I had to ask God to send us $50,000 by a certain date – for the Work – and He sent it.

Once, more than 35 years ago, I remember, before retiring at night, asking God to remove some painful canker sores inside my mouth. When I awoke, they were gone.

Once we had to ask God to heal my wife of four or five serious afflictions, which had come upon her simultaneously – quinsy with lockjaw, blood poison from a rose thorn, a dog bite and two serious internal ailments. Her condition was so critical doctors did not expect her to live another 24 hours. She was healed of all these things instantly!

When our youngest son was 2 years and 4 months old he still could not talk. Either from birth or as a result of a fall, something obstructed his speech. When we became sure of the fact of the affliction, we asked God to heal him and let him talk, and the very next day he was beginning to talk, and in a week he was speaking whole sentences like any boy his age.

God answers every need

I have had to ask God to deliver us, and His Work, from enemies. I have asked Him for understanding of His will, and His Word. I have had to ask for wisdom where I had none, and for guidance. I have been at my wit’s end in desperate trouble and cried out to God for deliverance. God has answered every time. Never once has there been a failure to get an answer.

Once when we were returning from Europe, we found ourselves in a hurricane in the middle of the Atlantic. When it became known we were in great danger – and no life-boat could have been launched in those angry 65-foot waves – I went to my cabin and earnestly asked God to calm the storm. In two or three hours the sea was calm again.

You can have the same results – if you will be willing to learn what I have had to learn, and to do what God has shown me I have to do.

Again, in Luke 18:8 Christ asked, “…when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” The answer is yes, HE WILL! We know that when Christ returns to this earth, there will be converted individuals alive at that time, begotten of God’s Spirit, that will instantaneously be given immortality.

[15] For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. [18] Wherefore comfort one another with these words (I Thessalonians 4:15-18).

No one who is alive at the time of Christ’s return can possibly be a part of the events of I Thessalonians 4 unless they have the element of FAITH in their lives. Every one of us should want to grow in faith and not be satisfied with having very little of it.

(2) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(3) We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,
(4) so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
(5) which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; (II Thessalonians 1:2-5).

Please have a wonderful Sabbath!

Your Brother in Christ,

Gary Liebold