June 7, 2019 Brethren Letter
Dear Brethren,
We’ll be observing the Feast of Pentecost this coming Sunday June 9th, as commanded by the Great God. “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus 23:4). Pentecost pictures the “FIRST-FRUITS” of God’s salvation. (Leviticus 23:15-17; Acts 2:1; James 1:18)
God is not working with most people NOW. In fact, it’s not even possible to come to Christ, unless the Father first “draw” an individual. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44).
Most people have no knowledge of God’s MASTER PLAN. It remains a mystery to them. The apostle Paul wrote the following… “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” (Colossians 1:26). We are the first-fruits of God’s plan, called now to prepare as rulers and teachers in the soon coming Kingdom of God, a time when salvation will be opened to everyone.
Even the creation waits with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:19 – Moffatt)
To this day, we know, the entire creation sighs and throbs with pain; and not only so, but even we ourselves, who have the Spirit as a foretaste of the future, even we sigh to ourselves as we wait for the redemption of the body that means our full sonship (Romans 8:22-23 – Moffatt)
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:18).
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10).
I’ll end tonight’s letter with some paragraphs quoted from Mystery of the Ages (page 132), as written by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong. Jesus called disciples OUT OF THIS WORLD to be taught to teach others and in the coming millennium of the restored kingdom of God, to rule and teach under King of kings Jesus, when the tree of life will be opened to all flesh. The Church was called to be trained to become rulers and teachers in the kingdom of God WHEN the tree of life shall be opened. Meanwhile the Holy Spirit has been closed to all but the prophets and the called-out-ones of the true Church. The prophet Joel foretold it shall come to pass afterward — after the 6,000 years of this world of Satan, that God will pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). Meanwhile it was necessary for God’s purpose that the Holy Spirit be given to the prophets and those specially called out for training to become rulers and teachers under Christ, when the government of God is restored to the earth over all nations.
In calling out the Church, Jesus said plainly, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him …” (John 6:44). The Church is merely the “first-fruits” of salvation.
Brethren, we should be very thankful for the Feast of Pentecost, what God has in store for us, and for mankind!
Please have a wonderful Sabbath!
Your Brother in Christ,
Gary Liebold