National Convention Honduras 2013 The Church of God

The Church of God in Honduras

The Prayer

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Prayer is communication with God. The Creator of the world is not an impersonal God but is One who is willing to listen to men. His laws are the expression of His own will in providence and preservation. You can act according to the counsel of His will thus changing your way of acting. His words should influence your feelings, will and intellect. Your prayers and God’s responses to them are included in His plan from the beginning of creation.

Prayer comes from the human heart in anguished cries to God and, when sincere, will gain the full support of God. The prayer of the wicked is an abomination before the Lord (Prov.15:29; 28:29). Those who practice sin cannot approach God. The attitude of rebellion against divine authority should be deposed and then forgiveness sought.

Prayer (communion of the children of God with their Father) includes worship, thanksgiving, confession, and petition as Nehemiah and Daniel did (Neh. 1:4-11; Dan. 9:3-19). “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6, 7). This is how the people of God have prayed through the ages.

Prayer is the outpouring of the heart to the Creator. He responds by blessings. “And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3).

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matt. 7:7-11).

James, citing an historical example, says “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16). And Christ says to His disciples, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Convinced that only God knows what will be the last consequences, good or bad, for an answer to prayer, the believer accepts the yes or no answer from the Lord.

The apostle John, addressing Christians said, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14). In some cases, the failure to grant our requests is often the greatest blessing. Whoever prays with the right attitude trusts entirely the wisdom of the Lord.

The believer should be aware that he is calling on a Holy God. He is the one who has purified us from our sins by His blood and made us kings and priests. Prayer is addressed to the triune God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of the three persons of the Trinity is invoked in the apostolic benediction. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Cor. 13:14).

In tribulations we must pray with faith and not lose our faith. Remember Stephen suffered martyrdom rather than lose his faith (Acts 7:59, 60). The apostle Paul never stopped praying and saying thank you, even if he did not receive a reply. “For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:8, 9).

Prayer is offered to God by the Spirit! Only He knows what we need to ask to stay in line of the divine will of God. “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:25-27).

Prayer formed in us will certainly be granted provided that nothing in our thoughts and behavior come to hinder our prayers. “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim. 2:8). “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Christians are called to a life of prayer. The apostle Paul exhorts: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18).

 

by Minister Noe A. Solis

THE SIMPLICITY OF CHRISTMAS

by R.O. Covey, published in the White Wing Messenger, December 15, 1973

As I was reading some Christmas articles by Hal Borland, author of Sundial of the Seasons, I was struck by the following statement: “Not the least of the wonders we commemorate this week was the simplicity surrounding the Birth itself.”

How very true! And if we hold strictly to the commemoration of those events, our so-called Christmas celebrations will be noted for the same simplicity. But it will hardly be so. The world has just about taken matters over in that respect; and, all too often, Christians take up the world’s pattern, making a virtual confusion complex out of the whole thing. Perhaps the term “holiday festivities” is a better description; yet, since the word “holiday” is derived from “holy day,” it is still quite presumptuous to associate much of today’s revelry with Christmas, if we truly mean that it is being done in honor of Jesus the Christ.

In the Bible proper, it does not take many passages to tell the Christmas story. The world wasn’t in on it. They knew nothing of what was going on. In fact, it is amazing how few godly people were permitted to share the blessed event. And whatever fervor those few may have exhibited at the time seems short-lived, unless we turn to our imaginations for more.

Luke goes into some detail, and Matthew considerably less. What there is to read is glorious beyond words, but we must agree that the simplicity of it all was striking. Of course, the visitation of the angels and the guiding star were heavenly spectacles to be wondered at. But the “fanfare” was almost nil.

The settings for the scenes were simple and unembellished—a Judean hillside where sheep and shepherds were the everyday “cast of characters”—a manger in a stable in the backgrounds, and in one of the smaller villages—“the house” where the Wise Men paid their visit, undoubtedly sometime later. The swaddling clothes, the hay-mattressed manger-bassinette, and the sacrifice offering of “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons” (Lev. 12:8), acceptable to God because they were not able to bring a lamb, all added to the sublime simplicity—God condescending to become flesh for a time and to dwell among men.

Many have felt that the true spirit of Christmas is almost totally lost in the mountains of religious tradition and heathen customs—and the mingling of the two. Poets and essayists, who apparently know little about the Bible narrative, write things altogether unscriptural and present them as truth. Thousands read them and believe them, never thinking to check them against the written Word of God. And people who have every reason to know better are often heard to misconstrue certain phases of the birth of our Saviour.

Over and over we read of the shepherds following the star; or both the shepherds and the Wise Men being guided by the same star. We read of the angels singing their “Glory to God in the highest” over the manger instead of to the shepherds on the hills of Judea. Again and again we read of the Wise Men arriving in Bethlehem on the night of Jesus’ birth, and while the shepherds were still there; but there is really nothing to indicate that this was the case.

All sorts of imaginary happenings have been set forth as being authentic, seemingly to increase the awesomeness and the mystery surrounding the already beautiful story. The fabricated legend of Saint Nicholas has encompassed the world, under one name or another, and is loudly proclaimed as “harmless” even by thousands of Christians who allot him more glamour than the Christ Child. Reindeer; fireplaces with stockings hanging by them; wreaths fashioned from pine and holly, fruit, birds, or any sort of gloss and glitter; Christmas feasts; Christmas brandy; Christmas trees and candles everywhere—all of these, and many, many more, have become indelibly imprinted among the things which are supposed to represent Christmas, the birthday of earth and heaven’s King. In fact, it is very difficult to find (even in many Christian homes) even a trace of the real Christmas story among all the array of other things.

The laughter and merrymaking passed off as legitimate celebration grows louder and more boisterous year by year. It is as though the world were trying to out-shout itself. And, God forbid, but it seems that the children of God feel that they must drown out the worldly din with an even louder one. While we would not condemn an honest hearted try, we have to wonder if, in times like these, it might not be better to “strike a lower key”—one that would be ear-catching for its reverent simplicity and “unlikeness” with the world.

After all, there is something to be said for the admonition, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psa. 46:10). Remember, when Elijah couldn’t hear or recognize God in the “great and strong wind,” the “earthquake,” and the “fire,” God spoke to him in “a still small voice” (1 Kings 19:11, 12).

Many people in this world are being driven to mental breakdowns—some of their own even call it “noise pollution.” Now, hold your peace! No sane mortal will ever tell the Church of God to quit shouting and rejoicing—that is, in the Spirit of God. Spirit-filled people are always going to be too full to remain quiet. But if the world is going to monopolize “every key but the low one,” we may have to get the Christmas message through on a different level.

Songs like Silent Night and The Night Was Still are among the immortals of inspiration. They bespeak the simplicity of the first Christmas night. They still bring worshipful tears to our eyes and catch us up above the cheap, commercial glitter of this world’s traditional, superficial Christmas. Even that blessed carol, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, says much to us before we get beyond its title. “Hark!” Be still and listen! Let the angels sing! “Hark!” Give heed to the message they bring. “Hark!” Be still, and let God have a word!

Another writer enhances Hal Borland’s thought with another. Wilferd A. Peterson speaks of the “inside of Christmas.” He presents it as a sort of challenging exploration, made necessary by the more “visible outside of Christmas.” He says, “And when we get inside of Christmas, Christmas will get inside of us.” If it isn’t there—well—it just isn’t Christmas.

Felix Garcia 1985 General Assembly TCOG

Message Thanksgiving on to God by Hannah Solis

Message "One Accord" by Minister Noe A. Solis

Revival at TCOG Antioch CA

Altar Worship in the TCOG Antioch CA

Bishop Ard at Night

Convención Regional Ministerial Mañana II

Convención Regional Ministerial 2013

Bishop Herman Ard at the Ministers Convention 2013

Christmas by AJ Tomlinson

 This message by A. J. Tomlinson was printed in the December 20, 1919, edition of the Church of God Evangel.

Many Christmas stories have been told, but there are none so interesting and thrilling as the one told about the birth of Jesus and the circumstances that led up to it. To read the Bible story concerning this wonderful child and the place of His birth is interesting to any­one merely as a story, but to those who have an experience through Christ this story becomes intensely interesting…

 On account of the edict of Augus­tus it became necessary for Joseph and Mary to leave their village home and go on a journey of nearly a hundred miles in order to register in the proper place. They belonged to the ancient and royal town of Bethlehem in the country far to the south of their home. I fancy I see them now as they journeyed along the weary road till at last they reached the ascent that led to the gate of the town. On, on, they went, climb­ing the hill toward the place they had started. No doubt they had some anxi­eties, but thought of the place of rest when they would get to their journey’s end. But, alas, when they reached the inn there was no room for them there. Others who were drawn to Bethlehem on the same errand had preceded them and every available place was occu­pied. The only thing left for them was to repair to the barn in search of shelter if nothing more.

 There in that stable that very night the Saviour was born. It had been fore­told by the prophets that He would be born on this very spot. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.” And that very night the heaven bells began to ring. Glad Christmas bells! Angels sang their wonderful songs. A multi­tude of the heavenly host sang the song that always seems so appropriate at Christmas time, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

 If this great event called forth such sweet songs from the angels of heaven, should it be any wonder that a remembrance of this wonderful event should cause us to rejoice and laud and give God the glory? It seems to me that the very deepest sense of joy should be realized on Christmas morning, just to remember Him who was born one Christmas morning.

 I remember Him now. My spirit is softened at the remembrance of that pre­cious night and the little infant that was to be my Saviour—yes my own dear Sav­iour. The greatest personage that ever trod this earth made His entry on the stage of life so strangely, humbly and silently on that memorable night. That babe, oh, that babe, the Babe of Bethlehem!

 He was unnoticed by the kings and great ones of earth. They were fast asleep in their palaces while the trio was unno­ticed in the stable. But while these great ones slept on, the princes of heaven were aroused and broke the joyful news to the shepherds in the field who hastened to the spot to find everything just as the angels had described. Oh, those shepherds! I al­most envy them now they were the first to see. I wonder why it could not have been me! But I leave the honor to them. And what an honor it was! Who can describe! Who would dare try!

Next to the shepherds were Simeon and Anna, two devout and intelligent stu­dents of the Scriptures. They lived close to the Lord and were looking for the Mes­siah. They knew Him as soon as they saw Him. The Spirit of prophecy fell upon them and they uttered wonderful words concerning His mission in the world. The aged Simeon had received a secret prom­ise from the Lord that he should not die till he had seen the Messiah. When he had seen Him he was ready to die.

 The shepherds and Simeon and Anna were only a short distance from Bethle­hem, where the Saviour was born, but the great influence of the advent thrilled souls at a much greater distance. It was prob­ably after Joseph and Mary had returned with the little child to Bethlehem after His presentation in the temple that he was vis­ited by the Wise Men of the East. These men were attracted to the town of Beth­lehem by a certain star that had appeared at the time of His birth. They came a long distance, but they searched till they found Him. They must have been sure of a successful journey because they prepared “Christmas Gifts” for Him and brought them along. So as soon as they found Him they fell down and wor­shipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and gave Him gifts of “gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

 All these gathered around the pre­cious young child—the shepherds with their simple wonder, Simeon and Anna with a holy reverence enriched by the treasured wisdom and piety of the centuries, and the Wise Men, with their gifts. But who will gather around Him this Christmas? His name will be remembered and spoken by millions… who know the full story…

 The worshippers then were few— probably the number could be counted on the fingers of your two hands, but now there are a multitude of earth’s in­habitants that reverence His name on Christmas day. The thought of Christ­mas gives joy and happiness every­where. Who does not rejoice over a Sav­iour that was born? Who would be so dull that they would not want to join in the chorus of the song of the angels and say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Let the children be gleeful and happy during Christmas time. Let the men and women rejoice and rise above sadness and gloom because a Savior is born. An incident that would call the hosts of heaven down to earth to sing and rejoice surely ought to arouse the inhabitants of earth. He did not come to redeem angels but they sang and rejoiced at His birth. But He came to redeem fallen man and surely man should rejoice at the remem­brance of His birth.

 Yes, Jesus came to save! Let the voices of the millions of earth be heard on Christmas morning saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Would to God I could make this Christmas a merry Christmas for all…

Until You’ve Known the Love of God

Until You’ve Known the Love of God

  By Stephen E. Smith, General Overseer of The Church of God

 The title to this message is the title of a beautiful Christian song that has my heart rejoicing as I write. The chorus to the song says:

Until you’ve known the loving hand that reaches down to a fallen man
And lifts him up from out of sin where he has trod;
Until you’ve known just how it feels to know that God is really real;
Then you’ve known nothing until you’ve known the love of God.

The verses of the song say that if you could own all the world and its money, build castles tall enough to reach the sky; if you could in your life­time know everyone and call them all by name—if you’ve not come face to face with Jesus and His saving grace, then you’ve known nothing until you’ve known the love of God.

The love of God is supreme, far above the greatest love exhibited by mortal man, and this love is seen throughout the Bible, page after page from cover to cover. We find its greatest expression in the New Testa­ment, as Emmanuel (God with us) is manifested in the flesh through Jesus Christ. He came to teach the pure doctrine of God, set His Church in order, and die on the cross as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” that our sins could be forgiven and our hearts could be delivered from the sinful nature that we were all born with. God’s love changes our eternal destiny from torment in the flames of hell to that happy and holy place called heaven. How thankful we should be for the loving hand “that reaches down to fallen man and lifts him up from out of sin where he has trod.”

The commonly called “Easter” sea­son reminds us of the awful sufferings of our Savior on the Cross, and of His ultimate triumph over the grave. We know Christ’s sufferings brought about our salvation and for this we are thankful beyond words. Still it is heart­breaking to imagine the cross, and see the Lamb of God there in anguish of soul and body, with his blood pouring forth from many wounds. What an enormous price was paid for our sins that day! We prefer to quickly move on to the empty grave and rejoice in knowing that because He lives, we who trust in Him shall also live forevermore.

 Christmas thoughts are much dif­ferent. They are the tender thoughts of the Christ-child lying in a manger; sweet thoughts of divine love and quiet peace. The proclamation of the angel of the Lord and the heavenly host on that sacred night still brings rejoicing to our hearts, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and say­ing, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:11-14).

 How joyful we should be when we contemplate the birth of the Savior of the World! We are told that “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). The whole universe was created by Jesus Christ, and miraculously “in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is...” (Ex. 20:11). In spite of His almighty power and maj­esty, on that first Christmas morning He did not come with pomp and pag­eantry. There in a manger (a feeding trough for animals), somewhere in the small town of Bethlehem in that tiny nation of Israel, on a star-filled night lay the King of kings and Lord of lords, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

 

Those who looked on that scene and knew who Jesus was must have been overwhelmed. This was the Son of God. Simeon, that devout man who looked for the consolation of Israel, would proclaim a few days later, “For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32). The greatest gift ever given was given to all mankind on the day Jesus was born.

 We are now about two thousand years beyond that first Christmas day, yet the event often feels close at hand. We sometimes see paintings or living manger scenes depicting the shepherds and Joseph with his wife Mary as she holds her newborn child (or perhaps with Jesus lying in a manger)—all in a serine nighttime setting. We can almost feel like we are there with them beholding the Christ-child. A wonderful sense of love and peace prevails in that scene. Simeon said he saw the salvation of God, but we who are born again by the Spirit have actually experienced the salvation of God and we under­stand “just how it feels to know that God is really real.”

 In a world so full of violence, hatred, murder, and wars that bring sorrow upon sorrow to mankind, the message of this God-child in a manger is needed as much as it was on that day Christ was born. All who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus have experienced the salvation of the Lord, Who is that glorious light sent to lighten the Gentiles; and it is our privi­lege and joy to share the message with all the world.

Last year American Atheists placed their “Christmas” message on a bill­board in New York’s Times Square. It said, “Keep the Merry (with a picture of Santa Claus) and dump the myth (with a picture of a statue depicting Jesus).” Unbelievers have no reserva­tions about mocking Christ and Chris­tianity. Another billboard showed the manger scene and said, “You KNOW it’s a Myth. This Season, Celebrate Reason.” We pray that God will some­how reach many of these deceived peo­ple and awaken them to the fact that there is a God and that He did indeed send His Son into the world on a mis­sion to save their souls.

In the face of such bold attacks on the biblical message of Christmas, it behooves us to stand strong for the truth. It begins by making our own salvation sure, and then displaying the love of God to all men. Our verbal testimony is of no value without godly lives to support it. We have a great advantage in the battle against athe­ism. We have the truth of God’s Word and we have the Spirit of God working with us. He convicts sinners, even athe­ists, working in the inner man of the heart to convince them that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have ever­lasting life” (John 3:16).

 During the American Civil War, Henry W. Longfellow wrote the lyrics of “I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” With heartfelt frankness he wrote,

For hate is strong and mocks the song,
of peace on earth,
good will to men.

Yet Jesus proclaimed to those who believe in Him, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you...” (John 14:27). Jesus is the Prince of Peace and gives a deep settled peace to those who love and serve Him.

One hundred fifty years have passed since Longfellow wrote the lyrics to his now famous song, and the truth of its lyrics still moves our hearts today. Longfellow wrote his poem during the American Civil War and his words mani­fest the sense of despair he felt as he witnessed the horrors of that war. Yet it seems that an unseen hand nudged him into another realm, the realm of God’s peace, and he wrote:

Then pealed the bells

more loud and deep:

God is not dead,

nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail,

the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

The message in Longfellow’s song stands true today. Tragedies constantly bombard our doorsteps, yet there is an echo ringing through the air. Can you hear it, dear saint? It comes forth as strong today as it did when the holy angels proclaimed it on the night of Christ’s birth. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, for the God we serve can­not be overthrown—not by the unbe­lief of the strongest atheists, not by the mightiest armies of the world, not by the rulers of the darkness of this world. No, when the dust has settled after the final hour of this last great conflict, that child born in the manger will rule the world in a 1,000 year reign of peace and love. We will then experience the fullness of “peace on earth, good will toward men.”

Since the day of Christ’s birth the love of God has been spreading to the ends of the earth, embracing many souls and guiding them from earth to heaven. Had not the love of God come into the world through His Son, the world would no doubt have self-destructed long ago. It is His love that stays the hand of evil and keeps it from unleashing its full destructive powers upon mankind. As Christmas approaches this year, the ungodly will continue to reject and mock both the holiday and the holy child we glorify and worship. To them we can only pro­claim, “You’ve known nothing until you’ve known the love of God.”

Message Thanksgiving on to God by Hannah Solis

VLB Service at TCOG Oxnard, CA 11/15/2013

Bishop Herman Ard at The Church of God in Oxnard

Greetings from the Bishops and Ministers TCOG Oxnard

La Iglesia de Dios en Oxnard

Alabanzas en el Avivamiento con el Obispo Ard

Alabanzas en la Noche Convencion Regional Ministerial 2013

World Missions March in Oxnard October 2013

http://www.youtube.com/v/A_fo3Qq0aF4?version=3&autohide=1&feature=share&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=gi76Wb6Bj6msD5YXz-splA

World Missions Campaign in Oxnard October 2013

http://www.youtube.com/v/Q_Cu6Iq5IN0?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=THS4lqE3KtWsLjf8qKAeCg&feature=share&autohide=1

Campana Misionera Alabanzas Octubre 2013

Reachihng Our Potential

Reaching Our Potential

Dustin T. Hays, General VLB Coordinator

 “Within the breasts of the people of this generation dormantly lies possibilities which, if not discovered, brought forth, and utilized, will rob mankind of much good… Latent powers are now lying dormant, unused and unknown in the bosoms and within the reach of many, many today. Within the grain of wheat is a germ of life, fraught with great possibilities for the sustenance of man… I just feel so with many young lives of today. With proper environments and under certain conditions, those latent powers will spring into use, and not only surprise friends and acquaintances, but will in many instances surprise even the persons themselves, because of the successes and exploits wrought… This world must be evangelized. “This gospel of the kingdom [power] must be preached in all the world” in our day. We must not shift this responsibility to a future generation as all other generations have done. There is enough latent power now in men and women; if brought into use, to evangelize this world in five years… There are possibilities in our young men and young women…if it were not quenched and locked down by worldly environments…to fire this world with a fear of God and His power, as Samson's foxes fired the corn fields of the Philistines… Oh, for a million men and women to burst forth, with such holy ambition, with every unused power in full use, like mad-men to strike terror and fear to all the half hearted religionists of the day!... Oh, glorious achievement! Oh, magazine of power! Oh, humility and love! Oh, great arm of the Lord! We bid you welcome to step in and take control and begin to perform the exploits due to our generation… Look out, beloved, we may linger here on the border land one day or an hour too long and be put to shame, and thus lose the better things that are promised us, and the incoming generation gain the land we might have enjoyed, if we had only pressed over at the proper time… Who will be a Caleb and still the people and say to them, “We are fully able, let us go up at once and possess the land!” Who will listen at, and obey the voice of our Captain and press on until you are filled with all the fullness of God? You dare not tarry on the threshold; you must either push on inside or be roughly thrust backward… Who will make the sacrifice and go forth to conquer or die on the field to get this gospel of the kingdom to every creature under heaven in this generation? Will you? Will you? Is the responsibility too great? Is the cross too heavy to bear? Are home and friends too dear and comfortable for you to make the sacrifice?”

A. J. Tomlinson, former General Overseer of The Church of God, wrote the previous words in the book The Last Great Conflict with most of the thoughts coming from the chapter entitled “Latent Powers.” Brother Tomlinson felt there were hidden abilities and strengths that, if tapped into, would bring the work to a quick close in his day. He noticed the potential and put the responsibility upon the young generation of his day. How true this still is today!

Among the youth of The Church of God today are young men and women who are sold out to God, who love the Truth, who love holiness and who live lives of prayer. Young men and women that are well capable of crossing the border from where we have existed for too long into the fullness of God’s power and might in the Church. Young men and women who are ready to lead the charge into perfection, not because we are any better than the generations prior to us but because we have tasted what they have and want more, more until we receive all of God. Will God return for His bride during this generation? Only He knows the answer to that question but we can certainly reach and operate in the glorious state that the Church is prophesied to reach in this generation and blaze a trail into the current unknown for the coming generations to follow.

 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Phil. 3:14, 15). “The ‘But Ye’ Generation” will be a generation that has this mindset. Too many have adopted the idea that perfection is too far away and cannot be attained in their lifetime so they have stopped pursuing it. The generation to reach it will be the generation that recognizes that there is great potential and power inside of them and all they need to do is unleash that power and allow God to do in their lives what He wants to do. Are there currently things in our lives that hinder us from fulfilling these lofty goals? In too many cases the answer is probably yes, but they are not things that are so powerful that we cannot overcome if we will press toward perfection.

 Have you allowed God to reveal to you where in your thinking that you are not pressing toward perfection? We ought to ask ourselves often, “Is the path that I am currently on going to take me to perfection?” If you were to honestly ask yourself that question right now what would your answer be? What have you been spending your time doing? Are those things bringing you closer to God or taking you further away from Him? I do not believe that there is room for any middle ground. There are no “neutral” things; they either draw us closer to perfection or push us further away from it. Jesus ad-dressed the thought of spiritual neutrality when He said: “He that is not with me is against me…” (Matt. 12:30; see also Luke 16:13). Be careful of the pursuits, interests and people in your life that seem to be spiritually neutral, for these are never what they seem. A snake lying in the grass may seem to be neutral until you get close enough to it that you are within its striking range. The venomous strike of a snake is not neutral and neither are the things in our lives that seem harmless yet do not serve to help us in our walk with the Lord.

 As the spirit was in Brother Tomlinson, so it is in me that I AM NOT SATISFIED TO ALLOW ANOTH-ER GENERATION TO REACH THE PLACES THAT GOD HAS INTENDED FOR MY GENERATION! And I am convinced that we can get there! Will you come with me?

WHEN DID I SIN?

WHEN DID I SIN?

The sin problem is ever before all humanity. It is a constant concern to both the saved and the unsaved, because sin separates man from God and eliminates him from eternal life in heaven. Unforgiven sin keeps the individual alienated from God and all the benefits of His grace. "All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death" (1 john 5:1 7); "...the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel18:4); "...sin is the transgression of the law [of God]" (1 John 3:4).

 These very straightforward assertions from God's Word we accept as eternal truth. Many other scripture passages corroborate their validity, but can every fault, misstep, oversight, omission, misjudgment, fleeting thought of the subconscious mind, impulsive act be defined as sin? Does the soul die with every slip?

 Let us consider a discussion of this matter by the New Testament writer James: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust [desire], and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth [spiritual] death" James 1:13-15) (emphasis supplied). You will notice that there is a process involved before there is an actual transgression of God's law, or sin. A slip, a temptation, an evil thought which subconsciously enters the mind, an impulse, then, is not necessarily a sin, according to James' inspired writing.

Before an evil temptation, slip, impulse becomes sin it must progress further than its very introduction into the mind. It can be stopped there and go no further. It can be rejected, dismissed, put out with no harm done to the soul or heart. However, if that evil intent is entertained in the mind/heart, and a determination is made in favor of it; when it "hath conceived," then, and only then, will God impute it as sin. It can be avoided. It can be rejected. It does not have to result in sin or transgression and spiritual death.

It is possible to live without sin. In fact, if one expects to go to heaven, he must. "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not..." (1 John 3:6); "He that committeth sin is of the devil..." (v. 8). One cannot be long to God and to the devil at the same time. ''...these things write I unto you, that ye sin not" (2:1). The inference here is that you don't have to sin. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (3:9). That is, when he allows himself to sin by allowing an evil intent to "conceive" in his heart and be overcome by the devil.

Those who advocate the heresy that one cannot live without sin disregard the fact that the sin principle (Adamic nature) is crucified in the heart by sanctification. Before sanctification, the believer, when he is tempted, must choose not to sin, because the sin principle is still in the heart, but after sanctification if the believer sins he must choose to do so, because there is nothing in his heart to consent to transgression against God. The choice can be made against any evil intent. It can be eliminated before it results in sin and the heart remains clean and justified before God. If one should allow himself to be overcome-consent to evil principle there is a remedy: "...if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: ... he is the propitiation for our sins..." (1 John 2:1, 2).

Those who advocate unavoidable sinning are wrong, wrong, wrong. Taking this line of heresy leads one into an irresponsible attitude toward sin. To them, sinning is imperative, so one can indulge the tendencies to transgression and charge it to the account of Christ with no decision to reject it and prevent it from being conceived in the heart. How subtle! How diabolical! Many souls who otherwise would have repented of their sins and been saved will be lost because they were encouraged to be "sinning" Christians. Think on these things.

The Pre-Arise, Shine Era - TCOG

The Pre-Arise, Shine Era

A single event in history is much like a penthouse at the top of a sky-scraper. Both are separate units in themselves but neither can exist without many previous levels of development. The exquisite penthouse, the pride of the entire building, can not become a reality until many under-lying stories precede it. All significant historical events, like the penthouse, are in themselves a product of past experience.

So it is with the significant day of June 13, 1903. On that historical day, the previous levels of development had run their course and the time had come for the fulfillment of one of the most important events of the last days Church of God. Before prophecy could become a reality, the groundwork of the upcoming predicted event first had to occur.

It is in this light that a historical account of what has become known as the "Christian Union" and the "Holiness Church at Camp Creek" can be justified in the historicity of the Church of God. They are not the predicted event itself but they are the necessary "stories of history" for the "penthouse." Because of the importance' of knowing the background of the "arise, shine" of the last days Church of God, they are included in the history of the Body of Christ.

Reference "HISTORY Y POITY" Revised 1985. Copy rights 1977 by the White Wing House Publishing Cleveland, Tennessee, U.S.A.

THE COVENANT - TCOG

THE COVENANT

Jeremiah 31:31-33 Exodus 19:5
“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." Jeremiah 31:31-33.

Exodus 19:5 "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:"

 What does Covenant means?
According to the English-speaking encyclopedic dictionary says: Covenant, an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do something specified.

There is no doubt that when we talk about this issue, we realize that God has always liked to get along with humans through covenants (agreements). In a pact or agreement should be two or more parties. In this case there are two entities: God and man.

In a pact or agreement there are duties or obligations on one hand and on the other hand if it complies with the duties and obligations there is profit, result, for having fulfilled the duties and obligations. So for a covenant to be effective, must comply with the clauses that are in the contract (the duties and obligations) and the clauses that are in our favor will be fulfilled to the letter. Adam in their covenant had the obligation not to take the tree of good and evil and then receive the benefit of living in the most beautiful garden known as the paradise of God. The covenant with Abraham was to follow the Lord out of their land and leaving his family and then receive the blessing of God. Abraham complied with this covenant and God blessed him.

One thing that is difficult to understand is that when man makes a pact or covenant with God is linked or attached to God through the covenant. For this reason the apostle Paul makes the comparison of the Marriage Covenant (union of Man and Woman) with respect to Christ and the church in Ephesians 5:28-32. This was a prophetic fulfillment of Isaiah 62: 1-5; V. 1"For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth." This was true when it came salvation in Jesus Christ. After the Lord Jesus Christ, the prophets stopped there were no more prophets of rank or appointment as the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 11:11-13. Matthew v.11 " that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist "V.13"For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John" Obviously the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24 and Romans 10:4). Isaiah 62: 2 says, "The nations will see your righteousness, and all thy kings your glory ... "If we go back to Isaiah 62:1. we see that the prophet spoke to Zion (the prophetic name of his people) but in this verse 2 says "thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." The mouth of the Lord on earth was the Lord Jesus Juan 1:1 says "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." No doubt that Christ was the mouth of God here on earth, John 12:49 and 50 says: “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" In Matthew 16:18 is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 62:2 "... thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." In Matthew 16:18 is putting his name when he said "My Church."

In these same verses from Matthew 16: 18 and 19, there are three things that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 62:1-5

1. Would build "His Church." He bought it so it is of Him (1 Peter 1:18 and 19 and 1 Corinthians 6:20)
2. We put a new name.
3. Peter receive the keys of the kingdom and would link (join) that enter into the kingdom. To enter the kingdom is entered through the New Birth and is to be added through the Covenant.

Let me explain a bit more than this because the prophecy of Isaiah 62:1-5 speaks:

1. The end of no more prophets to Christ (Matthew 11:13). No more Law and Prophets as being and the Lord Jesus Christ came the grace, Isaiah 62:1
2. People would look at the Lord's righteousness and salvation at the same time, Isaiah 62:2.
3. I would put a new name that the mouth of the Lord would appoint, Isaiah 62:2B.
4. That Zion (the church) would never be helpless but to be called Hephzibah (my delight is in it) and Beulah (married).
5. That their land would be "Married" Isaiah 62:4 B. No doubt the symbolism of land is the people. In this verse refers literally to the ground. Marriage is the joining between 2 people as Paul said in Ephesians 5:22-32. We can talk literally of the marriage covenant between men and women to explain the union between Christ and the church.
6. Isaiah 62:5 tells us what kind of joint or ligament would Zion (the Church). How serious the union or ligament "As a young man marries a virgin (Union) to marry your children (those born again John 3:3). According to the fulfillment of this prophecy born (children) would have to be "united, married, linked, added" (Isaiah 62:5 and Ephesians 5:30-32).
7. In Matthew 16:19 the Lord Jesus Christ says "And you give the keys of the kingdom of heaven (new birth) and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven (the Covenant).

What we see here? It is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 62:1-5, the Lord Jesus not only organized his church (Mark 3:13, 14), but gave Peter the keys of the kingdom, salvation, new birth (Matthew 16: 16-19). In addition we are talking about linking them, add them, join them as Isaiah 62:5 said "For as a young man marrieth (Covenant) a virgin, so shall thy sons marry (Unite, Add, Linked) thee (Zion): and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride (with the Covenant, together, we’re the wife of the Lord), so shall thy God rejoice over thee” (Isaiah 62:5). "

In the days of Pentecost Peter used the keys of the kingdom with the power of the Holy Spirit. Three thousand were saved, but read as a historian Luke says in Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ (New Birth) for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:41 says, "Then those who gladly received his word (saved), they were baptized (born again children;) and were added to them that day about three thousand souls." Here are 2 things I want to note. A historian or writer writes what he sees so Lucas was looking at something, remember that God liked ceremonies. Lucas saw that they were baptized and were added in response to what the Lord Jesus Christ said to Peter, using the keys of the kingdom and put them into the kingdom (baptism) but also add them according to the text of Matthew 16:19 and said the Lord Jesus Christ in response to what the prophet Isaiah said in chapter 62:5. Now Lucas as a writer, historian, tells what he sees. Obviously, a writer, historian writes what he sees and he is seeing that those who were saved were baptized and were also added (to them) as three thousand people. In support of this assertion see in 2 Corintios11: 2 Paul says the church "For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you (together, married, added) to one husband (Christ), that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”

When someone is saved it needs to be added to the Body of Christ (the Church) as the word of God says. The Kingdom (salvation) is entered through the New Birth and the Church (The Body of Christ) is coming through the Covenant.

As for discipline in the Church and its members (which were added through the covenant).

 Matthew 18:15-18 confirms that an additive is a member of the church because here in these verses concerning discipline in the church body if the member fails to be disciplined and if not then it will be up in isolation from the body as required Matthew 18:15-18"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee (the body), go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. V.16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. V.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican (a sinner). V.18. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth (covenant), shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Delink of membership)." In Matthew 18:19 and 20 says the Lord Jesus,"Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" If we follow a sequence of Matthew 18:18 which speaks of releasing the member, no connection to the idea because the Lord says, "Again" means they have already talked about this meeting but in Matthew 18:20 says that "... where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name ... "When we go to the counsel of the apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5:1-4 where the Apostle exhorts the church to decouple a member who is in fornication . Paul advised in 1 Corinthians 5:4 "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (as advised Christ in Matthew 18:20),Gather yourselves together, you and my spirit, with the power (authority) of our Lord Jesus Christ. "1 Corinthians 5:5 says" this will be handed over to Satan ... "and Jesus said in Matthew 18:17 if you do not hear the church" ... let him be ethnic and collector ... (as a sinner)." So with the League covenant is added or attached to the church and someone with the board or church meeting in compliance (two or three shall agree) will be detached from the church or be dropped from membership and will be like before member as ethnic and publican or sinner.

"The Church of God" The Name a Biblical Reality (TCOG)

"Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory ..." Isaiah 43:7

"Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice"Psalm 50:5
If we go back to Genesis 4:26 we see that the descendants of Seth, Abel’s substitute says: "...then began men to call upon the name of the LORD."

The name! How important is the name. At least I do not liked to be called another name other than my name no matter how nice that name is. That name would not be official recorded name in a government document.

The prophets by the Holy Spirit called her Zion, Hephzibah (my delight is in it), Beulah (married) (Read Jeremiah 8:19, Isaiah 62:4). Isaiah prophesied that the mouth of the Lord appointed (the mouth of the Lord was the Lord Jesus Christ.) John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The meaning of the verb is a word, so God's word (verb) here on earth was the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:10-11). Isaiah 62:2 says, "And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." No doubt that these first five verses speak of Zion the name Prophetic the people of God, but said it would put a new name that the mouth of the Lord would appoint. No doubt in Matthew 16:16-19 are the fulfillment of Isaiah 62:1-5 when he tells Zion his children (born) would marry (unite) and I would put a new name that the mouth of the Lord would appoint.

When Jesus says to Peter "Upon this rock I will build my church", the word "my" grammatically speaking it is a possessive pronoun. How do you define a possessive pronoun? Grammatically is a possessive pronoun instead of the name, when I say "this object is mine" when people see that object and know it’s mine they will say that object is my property. So when the Lord express "MY CHURCH" means that The Church of God (Christ Jesus was the name). The church is from God, He purchased with His own blood (1 Peter 1:18-19 and 1 Corinthians 6:20). So if God incarnate was delivered and bought his church would be a monumental injustice to name the church of another name and not the name of the owner who bought it.

The church came out of the darkness according to Isaiah 60:1 in this side of the dark ages and a strong signs: the plane Isaiah 60:8 and the fields of the woods in Psalm 132:6. On the morning of June 13, 1903 in fulfillment of these prophecies, the brother Tomlinson after having a time of prayer on the mountain went down the mountain having the understanding that the group who called the Sanctified of river was The Church of God. He entered the house where they met to study the scriptures and said, "If you take the Bible rightly divided as their only rule of faith and practice this means that you are The Church of God. According to writings of the historian C. T. Davidson in his volume # 1 of the work entitled Upon This Rock. Later they named the brother A.J. Tomlinson as their pastor. He took the name the "Church of God" and so was for 19 years.

In the assemblies of 1922, introduced the appointed of 70 elders are 12 that typified the 70 that God told Moses to appoint (Numbers 11:16 and 17) and the 70 and 12 that the Lord command to preach (Luke 10: 1), only these 70 appointed by Moses did not commanded him. Neither the 70 that the Lord commanded to preach. These 70 and 12 appointed at this 1922 assembly wanted to take authority decision-making on all matters of the church and also over the General Overseer which this was not Theocracy. When the brother A.J. Tomlinson returned to the previous system these brothers did not like that decision so they got divided. The People that divided accused brother A.J. Tomlinson of bad diversion of money for more than $10,000.00 dollars. For this situation they went to court where brother A.J. Tomlinson was exempt from this false accusation. For the year 1923, that group led by the people who falsely accused brother A.J. Tomlinson divided. Since then, the group that stayed with brother A.J. Tomlinson could not continue with the name "Church of God." The Church of God led by brother A.J. Tomlinson used a surname of "Prophecy" and the ones that were divided modify their name called only "Church of God” in secret. (Upon This Rock by C. T. Davidson)

In 1990 and previous years, rose a policy against brother M.A. Tomlinson second General Overseer. These people said that the General Overseer M.A. Tomlinson was very old and cannot see and even dared to say that his mind and reason was not right to continue as leader of the Church of God of Prophecy. In 1990 the brother M.A. Tomlinson tired of the Overseers’ pressures, having the Biblical view told them to name the new overseer as God did with Moses and Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:14 and Deuteronomy 34:9). But all the bishops (State and National Overseers) said that first let the position vacancy and then they will choose the new General Overseer. This was not the right way. These bishops wanted to do what the church did when they chose a successor to Judas, but in this case was different due to the General Supervisor was still alive and he needed to deliver the position to the new General Overseer as Moses did with Joshua. Perhaps you might say So What? Well, simply that these brothers diverted from the theocracy. The brother M.A. Tomlinson did as they wanted and pronounce the position vacant. Then each State / National Overseers (Bishops) gave their vote and those who disagreed had to undergo. They forgot the prayer and fasting to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and what they did was vote democratically. This is not Theocracy.

A small group waited three years to see if God will do a change (I waited 20 years to see if they returned to Theocracy). In 1993 this group that was fasting and praying seeking God's direction was rejected by the Church of God of Prophecy. Obviously this small group could not continue to preach the truth under the name of the Church of God of Prophecy and curiously could register with the name "The Church of God." In 1923 the church was unable to register with that name before the government, and now in 1993 this group was accepted under the name "The Church of God" 70 years later as the 70 years God's people was in Babylon (Babylon means confusion). Thus the name and the Church were held captive until now in the year 1993 came to light and is now able to register under the Biblical name.

Is it a coincidence? Or is one of many types and shadows that THE TRUE CHURCH has?

The etymological meaning of Babylon is Babel means confusion. So the name of "The Church of God" was in turmoil, caught (as God's people Israel) 70 years.