THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

THEME: THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18).

Every true Christian surely remembers when he came to the realization that he was a lost sinner, destined for an eternity of misery in the lake of fire. Confronted with the reality that God’s Son died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, we humbly and sincerely repented of our sins and accepted the atoning blood of Christ as the price “paid in full” for our offences against God.

The case is stated very well in the song titled “The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference.”

‘Twas a life filled with aimless desperation
Without hope walked the shell of a man;
Then a hand with a nail print stretched downward,
Just one touch then a new life began.

Chorus:

And the old rugged cross made the difference
In a life bound for heartache and defeat;
I will praise Him forever and ever
For the cross made the difference for me

Dear saint, do you remember that day clearly? Do you not rejoice with joy unspeakable when you think of that “hand with a nail print” that reached downward and lifted you out of the mire of sin? What joy filled your soul as you felt the heavy guilt of your sins suddenly vanish in the cleansing stream of God’s love and, as the glorious Saviour entered in, everything changed. Before your experience with Christ you were indeed bound for a life of heartache and defeat, but now you enjoy a life with joy unspeakable and full of glory!

The suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross purchased not only our salvation, but also our sanctification, as well as healing for our bodies. In addition, we are told that our Lord purchased The Church of God with His own blood. How fitting it is then that we choose the theme of The Old Rugged Cross for this General Assembly.

We welcome all attendees to this 109th General Assembly of the Lord’s Church and pray that each one will enjoy the glorious blessings our Saviour brought to us through the old rugged cross.

Stephen E. Smith, General Overseer

The Church of God

The Beauty of Unity

The Beauty of Unity

The old man lay upon his deathbed with a heavy heart, grieved over the disharmony of his sons.  He called them all to his bedside, and ordered each one of the five to bring a stick.  Then the sticks were all tied in a bundle. Now, beginning with the youngest, he had him try to break the bundle. Each one in turn, up to the eldest, tried, and utterly failed. Then he had the bundle untied, giving each one a stick, and ordered him to break it. In a moment the five sticks were all broken. Now he said: “My sons, you see how there is strength in union, and weakness in disharmony. When I am gone, will you live in peace and harmony, helping one another?”

The above illustration only partially illustrates the importance of God’s plan for a unified church, for He requires more than a union of believers.  God requires a unity that can only be properly defined as “divine” unity.  It is possible to create a Christian union without achieving true Biblical unity.  This is made apparent by the illustration of tying two cats together by their tails, then hanging them across a clothesline.  You clearly have union, and just as clearly – you do not have unity! 

There is today a strong move toward what is called Christian “unity” but the result is only a superficial union.  This union is based on compromise, cleverly disguised under use of the word “tolerance”.  Its basic message is “Let’s tear down the walls which divide us, and come together in Christ.” What this really means is “Let’s ignore our doctrinal differences (the walls that divide us) and come together in a common love for Jesus Christ.”  While this bit of human reasoning tickles the ear, and to many may seem to be the solution to Christian division, it springs forth from those who neither know the Scripture nor the power of God. This doctrine is the product of the carnal mind.  God does not have to compromise His Word to achieve unity among His people, and He will not. 

A small section from our old Body of Christ course might be of value here:

“Paul was emphatic in his doctrine of unity; he was insistent in his teaching that an identifying mark of the Church of God is unity: not a unity in name only, nor merely the unity of being Christians, but a unity which involves corporate union into an organized society.  Such a doctrine leaves no place for denominationalism,i.e., the theory that the Church of God is made up of various Christian organizations all of which are component parts of God’s church and are known as “denominations.”  It also leaves no place for difference in doctrine, for such would destroy the necessary unity.  It makes no reservation for differences in church organization, for such is closely allied to doctrine, also being outlined in the New Testament.  It is the height of illogic and utterly contrary to Scripture to portray the Church as a conglomerate body composed of all denominations with the multiplicity of creeds and doctrines.  The Bible teaches only one doctrine, one Lord, one baptism, and one Church for all.  Read I Cor. 1:10-13; 12:13, 20, 25.  In Paul’s day there was only one church, but already the danger of division was appearing.  Paul recognized the seriousness of that danger in several passages of his epistles; therefore, his warnings against it.  God’s plan is still the same for he has not changed.  If division was wrong in the apostolic era, it is wrong in the modern age.  Denominationalism is nothing if it is not division; therefore this theory of church unity is false.  Since this is what Paul is really teaching – and since it is the inspired Word of God – anything short of complete unity would be displeasing to God.

Of course there is an apparent contradiction here.  Nearly every sect and denomination claims some root is Scripture.  If that is so – and the Word of God is infallible – what explanation can be given for the variety of organizations all claiming to be Christian?  The answer is simple.  God’s Word is infallible, but humanity is not; the bible contains no errors or contradictions but such have arisen through the fallibility of man’s interpretations.  Think for a moment. Does it seem reasonable that the God of Heaven, of whom His own Words says he “is not the author of confusion,” should reveal one interpretation to one individual or group and give an entirely different revelation to another?  Does it seem quite within the bounds of rational thinking to suppose that God Himself, through His Word, is the author of denominationalizm and doctrinal schism?  Heaven forbid that anyone should profess such ignorance of Scripture and the nature of God.

These questions and the inevitable answer are enough to prove that God cannot have ordained such division as the final order of things, although God does use all things to promote His own ends.  The whole nature of God is unity of which division is the exact opposite.  Then with this major and unassailable premise as the starting point the reasoning should be carried to its logical conclusion.  If God is one then His people must be one.  Somewhere, out of the welter and confusion of sectism, there must come one true interpretation of God’s Word, around which a unified organization is built to propagate this as the Eternal Truth.  In other words, among all the various churches there is one which is the true Church of God to the exclusion of all others…

Human beings may achieve union and call it unity.  Do not be misled thereby for human ideas of unity do not conform to God’s.  There is a movement on the world today for great church bodies to be united in government – to become one church.  In the past several years a number have formed unions under the belief that they are fulfilling the plea of Christ to be one.  However, God requires more than this superficial unity – he requires a oneness which can only be brought about by the Holy Ghost and the Church which fulfills all the prophecies and Scripture relating to the body of Christ.”

While most of us in The Church of God understand the principles of divine unity and readily preach it to others, it is important that we do not fail to practice it ourselves.  “United we stand, divided we fall” is an expression well known, and it’s truth is based upon the Word of God.  It was Jesus Himself who said, “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mark 3:24,25).  Jesus was referring to Satan’s kingdom when he made this statement, but it applies to the kingdom of God and the House of God just as well. We must not only have unity, but our unity must exceed the unity achieved through human effort.  It must be a complete unity in which we are not only in harmony with one another, but also with the Holy Ghost and the teachings of Scripture.  Anything less will not satisfy God’s requirement for unity.  And when we achieve divine unity, we will surely be a blessed people.

The covenant of the Church does not by itself bring us into divine unity.  It does bring us into the divine body of Christ and make us members one of another, and if those taking the covenant fulfill their promises to believe and practice the Bible, there will also be divine unity.  In a marriage between a man and women, the covenant makes them one flesh and they are married for life.  But the marriage covenant also says “for better or for worse.”  Due to the failures of either the husband or wife, or perhaps both, many marriages are “for worse.”  The marriage covenant and its resulting union into one flesh remains intact, even if the marriage turns out for worse!  So we see that union in marriage does not guarantee unity in marriage.  It is the same in the body of Christ.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore” (Psm. 133:1-3)

God compares unity to the oil which was used to anoint Aaron, the high priest.  This oil is described in the thirty-second chapter of Exodus, verses 22-33.  It was made of a special combination of ingredients, each measured out in precise amounts, and it serves as a type of the oil of Heaven, the Holy Ghost.  God’s Spirit contains many ingredients (gift of wisdom, gift of knowledge, miracles, healings, etc., as well as the fruit of the Spirit –love, joy, peace, etc.) each of which adds to the precious blessing we receive when the Spirit is poured upon the Church.  The Old Testament ointment was not dabbed on, but mixed in quantities of no less than twelve gallons.  This oil was poured upon Aaron’s head is sufficient quantity as to run down his beard and soak his clothes all the way down to the hem of his garment!  Oh for an outpouring of the Holy Ghost like this!  What unity will prevail in the Church of God when we receive the full blessing of the Spirit rather than a little dab now and then!

In the pouring of the ointment upon Aaron we can see God’s pattern for the Church today.  The head of the Church, Jesus Christ received not the Spirit by measure (Jn. 3:34).  Christ (the anointed one) received the Holy Ghost without measure upon Himself and His ministry.  That same precious ointment flowed down from the Head to the body on the day of Pentecost with the outpouring of the Holy Ghost.  Yes, and it is flowing down to the very hem of His garment today, ready to saturate every member of the body with the blessed ingredients which unify us in love, doctrine, and the full divine will of God in everything!

Present divisions within the Church are the result of personal opinions and doctrines conflicting with one another.  But if we look to God and seek the ointment of Heaven, He will pour out the Spirit in such quantity that it will saturate us in love and guide us into all truth.  Divisions will be abolished, Christ will be exalted, the Church will be edified, the world will be amazed!  How good and how pleasant it will be! 

                                   

Wounds without Cause?

Wounds without Cause?

When a soldier is wounded during combat, he may receive some sort of medal in honor of his bravery on the battlefield.   Of course no one wants to be wounded, and especially if the wound would result in some sort of permanent handicap, but a soldier understands before going into battle that wounds and possible death may occur. It is his love for country and commitment to duty that makes him willing to enter the conflict, disregarding the potential dangers.   If he should be wounded during battle, he will live with the knowledge that his suffering is for a cause he believes in and he will wear the wound itself as a badge of honor.

On the other hand,” wounds without cause” suggest that someone has suffered unnecessary injuries. Through some foolish action he has injured not only himself, but perhaps others as well.  Now he suffers contempt, disgrace and regret. Rather than bringing honor to him, his wound will forever be worn as a badge of humiliation and shame.

No person fits this description better than person described in Proverbs 23: 29-30, “who hath wounds without cause?...They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed (fermented) wine.” Who can possibly count the wounds of those affected, or the dead who have been slaughtered by this drug.  The following statistics (from Dial-The-Truth Ministries) show the extent of suffering that drinking alcohol has brought to the United States alone:

• There are over 18 million alcoholics in America.
• Cirrhosis of the liver kills over 30,000 people each year and the number is rising.
• 50 percent of the people on welfare are there due to alcohol.
• 80 percent of all fire deaths are due to alcohol.
• 65 percent of the drownings
• 22 percent of home accidents
• 77 percent of falls
• 36 percent of pedestrian accidents
• 65 percent of all murders
• 40 percent of all assaults
• 35 percent of all rapes
• 30 percent of other sex crimes
• 30 percent of all suicides
• Over 80 percent of all arrests are linked to alcohol!
• And one of the most disturbing statistics of all - 60 PERCENT OF ALL CHILD ABUSE IS DUE TO ALCOHOL!
• Alcohol claims 50 times more lives than all the illegal drugs combined?
• Alcohol costs the American people 130 billion dollars every year
• It  destroys 1 in every 4 families in America?
• kills over 200,000 Americans each year?

No doubt the statistics in many other countries are just as bad, or worse.  But it is obvious that alcohol is the king of mass destruction. Much of our world lives in fear of nuclear or chemical weapons that are capable of destroying multitudes of people. At highest levels of government the political world seeks to prevent these from being developed and used.  In addition, millions are spent to diminish and hopefully remove certain drugs from society such as opium, heroin, and cocaine. 

Considering such efforts, it is surprising to see that very little is done to remove the most destructive drug of all – alcohol.  Of course, The Church of God cannot concern itself with how the governments of the world respond to these problems. The point being made is that even though our world recognizes the dangers of certain drugs and chemicals and seeks to control or remove them entirely from society, intoxicating drinks are generally accepted world-wide. The king of all drugs, the one that destroys and damages individual lives, families, and societies more than all other drugs combined, is condoned, promoted, even advertised and sold publically almost everywhere.

Such is the inconsistency of this present world.  In addition, many church organizations that once taught total abstinence now condone drinking according to that rather vague term “moderation.”  It is well known that intoxicated people seldom believe they are intoxicated.  That is part of the deception of all drugs.  They affect not only the body’s ability to function well, but also the brain’s ability to think clearly.  How often has a person who believed he was not intoxicated driven his automobile down the road and caused an accident that killed someone?  How often has that person who said he was not intoxicated went home and battered his wife, and abused his children?  Of course once is too often, but these and other sad consequences commonly occur among those who think they are “drinking in moderation.” 

Satan is the master of deception, and all his sins have a deceptive nature about them.  Just as the Word of God warns men to “flee” fornication, so they ought to flee the poison of alcohol.  And alcohol is indeed a poison.  This is what being “intoxicated” means. “Toxic” means - acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous.  To be intoxicated means to be poisoned.  This is why bartenders are known to say to their customers, “name your poison”!

To suggest that God would condone poison in moderation is to be ignorant of the nature of God. To think that God would ever approve the use of something that has wrecked multitudes of marriages, destroyed bodies, sent tens of thousands of children to orphanages, led to murder, theft, adultery and a host of other sins must surely be a major insult to the integrity of the Holy God who created us and Who desires nothing but good things for us in this world and in the world to come.

Those who plead for their alcohol love to promote the idea that Jesus drank wine, but they are mistaken. The Bible makes a clear distinction between fermented liquor and new wine, or grape juice. Speaking of fermented liquor, Proverbs 23 says, "Look not thou upon the wine when it is red (speaking of fermentation), when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright (speaking of the bubbling and carbonation). At the last it BITETH like a serpent, and STINGETH like an adder."

A description of new wine (simple grape juice) is found in Isaiah 65:8, "As the new wine is found in the cluster", not in a bottle! You can't get fermented liquor from a cluster. Fermented liquor is placed in a bottle, with yeast and allowed to ferment. Genesis 40:11 gives a clear picture of new wine, "I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's  cup."

Some say Jesus drank wine at the Last Supper with the apostles. In Matthew, Mark and Luke where the account of the Last Supper is found, the word "wine" is never even mentioned. The Bible very carefully says they drank the “fruit of the vine.”

But what about when Jesus turned the water into wine at the marriage in Cana? If Jesus Christ turned water into fermented liquor, he directly disobeyed Habakkuk 2:15, "Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also" And, if Jesus disobeyed the inspired Word of God, He becomes guilty of sin. Furthermore, he becomes a hypocrite since He is the true Author of the scripture, as he would be guilty of saying it is wrong to give liquor to another person, then He does so Himself. The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus was without sin, and He certainly has never done anything in contradiction to His own Word.

God has placed a very strong warning in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”

The wise will take heed to God’s warning. The Church of God rightfully stands its ground with Scripture in its ruling which says be believe in, “Total Abstinence from all Liquor or Strong Drinks: The Bible expressly forbids the use of intoxicating beverages. Even slight indulgence is not in keeping with the Scriptural standard of holiness. Read Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-32; Isaiah 28:7; 1 Corinthians 5:1 1; 6:10; Galatians 5:21.”

Dear saints, we need to proclaim the doctrine of total abstinence right along with all our other teachings.  In so doing we will save individuals, marriages, families, and society from much misery, and even more importantly we will save sinners from the eternal misery that awaits all who fail to repent and turn to Christ for their deliverance.

It is Christ alone who can satisfy the real thirst within men, and that is the thirst of the soul. Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” (Jn. 7:37), and again, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (Jn. 4:14).

With such wonderful, eternal, beneficial waters to drink from, why would anyone want to partake of a counterfeit substitute and only leaves them with, “wounds without cause”?

 

 

A Man: A Nation

A Man: A Nation

God's intention has been to have a nation created by him; a different nation to the existing ones is amazing that we read in Exodus 19, we marked as Israel was established as NATION.

The weather was in the third month of the Exodus from Egypt.

§  (Verse 1) The place Month Sinai was the highest point of the area as disparaging toward God, other cities its big palaces majestic structures, and set your flag on top of a large hill in a bare and barren desert there establish his pact.

 

It is called Sinai by the abundance of thorny brambles that cover the surface.

 

    The writ of constitution (verse 3)

Moses is called as a messenger "Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;"

 

Whoever takes the initiative is God he is the owner of the pact.

It is through your Goodness we are blessed that we would not have known but he met us. That's beautiful to see Galatians 4: “but now, after that ye have known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

The matter of the pact is showing benevolence and generosity, and granted the greatest privileges and advantages unimaginable, is ignorance mean I have to agree that much money for God bless me the pact not to religious tricks or tricks to deceive the honest but mistaken and naive believers.

 

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word (BERITSH) 285 times, and the Greek word (DIATHEKE) appears 33 times in the New Testament both words translate into Latin pact means Testamentun wants Testament pact is said, so it is: the pact is a commitment or agreement between two or more persons binds them to a reciprocity benefits and obligations.

But in this case God offers a pact of blessing and protection. God reminds them that power and miracles out of Egypt

Verse 4. “ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles´ wings, and brought you unto myself.”

 

  On Wings of Eagles.

 This is a beautiful expression of tenderness that God had shown them, this phrase is explained in Deuteronomy 32:11-12 “as an Eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her Young, spreadeth abroad her wings, takenth them, beareth them on her wings:”

Lord alone guided him, and there was no strange God the Glory to God! If we could make our own this sentence because it is yours and mine. The eagle represents the speed with which God came to Egypt to free his people was like the fiery furnace where it was incubating embryo that was going to be a nation, that chick had to learn to fly, so God is driving out away from the nest called Egypt, other birds carry their young in their claws, but the eagle carries on its wings. As if to say "if any archers who haul you will have an arrow through me to my" if you're really under the pact: these on eagles' wings and no heresy or apostasy can touch you for who can harm God! But if you are not faithful to the pact: sure you are transported by some owl carrying you in his claws and flying so low that why it's so easy to get nailed an arrow on the end takes the poison of rebellion, betrayal, envy and slander, I encourage you to let go of the grip of the owl starts like that arrow and ask God to make you to carry on its wings, because only that you can get to heaven. I never have seen an owl fly so high. But the eagle soars into the clouds God is speaking!

Teaching us more about this pact and this nation. I have started to meditate and come to believe that many denom inations have chicks or embryos saints that they are the nest, where God took to bring them to the real priesthood, holy nation, THE CHURCH OF GOD. Look how wonderful God in the Old Testament says that the people of Israel were taken on eagle's wings repeat!  They were taken, but in the New Testament uses a figure of the bird is the chicken and clearly tells us the goal of using that figure. Matthew 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the proophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chikens under her wings, and ye would not!” Here that we see is the grace of God that your children are not scattered, I see and feel that God wants his children togather into one body and says in Ephesians 1:22-23 “and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.”

   The Pact (Exodus 19:5)

That should hear his voice. That nation  has to pay attention not only hear but listen carefully.

§  Hear  Carefully

It means:  to be mentally focused on something. God called and continues to call not only hear but our ear is connected to the mind and heart, nowadays people are not listening carefully so they are taking things lightly, do not understand the need to listen to God as speech why there is so much wrong people, you know the names, used to live a holy life, but holy pastors who had not allowed modernism fought vanity, many of these men were killed and others left to fill your heart greed and therefore stopped listening to God. Now Christian people are easily fooled, some newborn tells them it is an apostle or prophet, as they stopped to listen to God, this prophet or apostle "not only opens the ear but also the wallet" and today the result of listening strange voices, is frustration and resentment.  

But that is not the case of the members of The Church we have ears only for him Keep him talking to us, that His Church is listening to him! Hallelujah.

 

God goes on to say "and keep my pact" He wanted them to understand that if he had saved them, if he had then released they would have to accept to be governed by him. So today there is a difference between The Church of God and the denominational people, they accept him as savior but do not accept his dominion. And those who are The Church of God accept him as our savior but we submit to his government.

We said the pact is not only about rights also involves duties, only God blessings and prosperity as it has a lot of people, is not the God of Abraham, Moses. The God of Abraham gives blessings but requires you to keep His commandments.

   Sovereignty of God (verse 5-6)

“…then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

God tells them that if they keep his covenant granted the honor to be grant and must show kindness to them in their own possession and demonstrating its sovereignty says: All the earth is Mine! Which means is: "To me it pleased me dignify you over all nations. I the Lord have decided to distinguish yourself from all the people I want that you to be my treasured possession."  And we see the difference: a special revelation to them by giving them commands to command them should believe in only and powerful God, the Lord of hosts. But this would not work if God did not give them the revelation, that is the distinction you cannot understand that if God did not reveals you.

 

 

 

 

   A Man: A Nation:

God established a nation but not only provides and would leave adrift, No! Friends he is the absolute owner of that nation which has given promises of blessing, a code of doctrine, but now makes them a man as leader of this nation had to have government, this government would be manipulated by a man , what wrong are those who say that his government is the government not accepting Christ through a man!

They forget that these same Lord Jesus Christ also established a government on earth, government would be implemented by the apostles after pastors, evangelists, teachers, bishops and prophets temporary or equipment. According to the need of the church. But back to the topic at hand,

 

Exodus 19:8 “and all the people answered together, and said, all that the Lord hath spoken we will do.”

Verse 9 “and the Lord said unto Moses. Lo. I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.”

Verse 10 “and the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes,”

Verse 11 “and be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai.”

 Verse 12 “and thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about,saying. Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:”

Verse 13“there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount..”

 

God was teaching him the nation that was not just doctrine or commandments have to be the exclusive nation, had to learn to obey government, the government that He will establish.  Not that they wanted to put, No! It was decided that the theocracy.

I love that is shown in this scene which I can understand is that God is appointing Moses as a general supervisor, the people could not get past the fence that God commanded to put, but they could see the Glory of God.

Josephus says in his writings: the Hebrews moved their tents like Moses had commanded them, and planted the foot, the foot of Mount. They very pleased that Moses back the presence of God with promises of blessing, so celebrated and dressed in their best clothes, celebrating for two days. But on the third day, before sunrise, a cloud over the whole camp of the Hebrews spread.

I've never seen anything like that, and covered the spot where he had planted the shops, and while the rest of the sky was clear, strong winds brought torrents of rain along with thunder and lightning. This show and din terrorized the Jews, because it was unusual, and the rumor of God Mount frequented the more alarmed.

 

So they shook in their shops, fearing that Moses had been destroyed by divine wrath, and hoping that ensue are the same as they felt tormented by their fears, they suddenly saw Moses coming down the mountain, with its joyful and elated face. Air is also cleared and clean after the storm passed. And Moses gathered all the people, and stood on a platform so that everyone could hear him.  Hebrews said God has received me graciously as before and has issued rules for a happy life and orderly government.

 

Beautiful the history that Josephus says:  Moses quite properly says, graciously accepted me, and set me as "orderly government" therefore God told the Israelites, "Do not break through that fence" the business of commanding and government is mine is as I want and if you dare to pass that fence will die. That delicate the government. So he says:  Ecclesiastes 10:20 “curse not the King, no not in thy thought;”

 

"David said: God save me to raise my hand against God's anointed” You know that some have passed the fence but they are dead, but walk and breathe but inside are dead, so his life is a daily walk of bitterness , resentment, envy suffered by the success of The Church and its government. But we love the government is still the cloud of glory upon us. The Bible continues to speak of a single town.

Now God has chosen a single town, people who only depend on Him, only you will obey him. Some people obey God half but the distinction of this town is to be submitted to God in a total way.

 

I like that he says about the distinction in Deuteronomy , see chapter 14:1,2 “ye are the children of the Lord you God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.”

 

§  The pagan peoples:

 were accustomed both ceremonial occasions of worship (1 Kings 18:28) and at wakes and funerals, (Jeremiah 16:6, 41:5) to make the horrific cuts on their faces and other parts body, using nails or sharp instruments, the act of shaving eyebrows among other idolatrous practice was in honor of the dead (Leviticus 19:27-28, 21:5) such unseemly and degrading customs, expressions being extravagant and unnatural weighing desperately, (1 Thessalonians 4:13) had to be carefully avoided by the Israelites, as critics of the character and inconsistent with the position of being the people Holy One of God.

 

If even the pagan customs could not be chosen to imitate God's nation much less violating divine commandments!

 

 

 

 

 

§  The cause of don’t practicing these things.

 

Verse 2: It was because they were a saint and only people say: “for thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”

 

Being chosen as a holy people means: separated from all peoples, since to serve and worship God intended for His glory and praise.

 

   In Deuteronomy 7:6-7 God chose

 

Verse 6 “for thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

Verse 7 “the Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number tan any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.”

 

God reiterates its sovereignty to say that would be a special people above all peoples, and chose not to because they were contrary were a great little town, Like the little flock.

 

Imagine That Deuteronomy says 10:22 “they fathers went down into Wgypt with threescare and ten persons: and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The fame of God

 

Deuteronomy 26:17 “Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:”

 

These people volunteered and joyfully accepting the pact not only would hear but were willing to fulfill duties, they chose him as their God does not fail in what he ordered them to be God's nation must accept his commandments And what is God's answer?

 

Verse 18 Dios dice: “and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his comandments;”

Verse 19 “And to make thee high abouve all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.”

 

You'd think this is arrogance on the part of Moses but Moses was only interpreter of the sovereign will of God, maybe it was an insult to the other nations of the time, but what fault he had Israel being unique, holy and special people? What fault have to be The Church of God?

 

   The Pact's Blessing

 

By accepting the covenant God offers the people became a people heir many blessings. It says in Deuteronomy chapter 28 if you read the whole chapter will find a number of promises, but I just point out some of the many out there for those who are under the covenant under government ordained by God. Not a compact group resentful defector nation = The church of God, when they saw individuals satisfy their ambitions ended up leaving and not because they wanted if God used their cleaning system. look at those blessings.

 

 

Verse 9 "Jehovah confirms you holy people unto himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways.

Verse 10 and all the peoples of the earth that the name Jehovah is called upon thee, and they shall be afraid. "

Verse 13 "And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail: and thou shalt be above only, and not be beneath, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command thee this day, to observe and fulfill the oh! Glory to God if we understand who we are and what we stand for in this world is time to wrest God's promises God gave us! Are ours.

 

   The Violators of the Pact (Deuteronomy 28:15)

 

Verso 15 “but it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voive of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:.”

 

That do not understand the people of Israel is the nature of the covenant on the one hand was a covenant of love and blessing, but on the other hand was a covenant curse if not obeyed, for a while they obeyed, but then fell in disobedience and they came to that judgment and curse in verse 18 we can see how terrible is that when God: “Cursed shalt thou be in the city and cursed in the country.”

 

It's good to read the consequences of violating the pact and look are terrible, many people made ​​a covenant before the church and the Holy Spirit witnesses today and raped him, surely the Bible says "a curse and that these curse can only break the covenant renewal in the church." I think you understand what I'm saying because like the people of Israel God will keep talking.

 

 

 

Deuteronomy  30:1-2-3-4

Verse 1 “and it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt cll them to mind among all the nation, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,.”

Verse 2  “and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;”.

Verse 3 “that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon them and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hat scattered thee.”

 

God gives them the opportunity of repentance but they become indifferent to such an offer. Moses tells them something terrible, something that would have made them think.

 

Deuteronomy  29:2-3-4

Verse 2. “And  Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land;”

Verse 3. “The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs,  and those great miracles:”

Verse  4. “Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and ears to hear, unto this day..”

 

The terrible thing is that God hardened their hearts even though they had heard, they could not hear their God they could hear other people other false gods but not the true God, because the Lord was tired of her indifference and deprive them of all knowledge. John notes well when Christ spoke to the Jews. Juan 8:43, “why do  ye not understand my speech? Even because ye cannot hear my word.”

 

 

 

They want to hear but could not because I had a prophecy that they could not hear or understand. Bitter reality but a reality, when the covenant God violated their coverage and stay away exposed to heresy. Just as the Jews did not understand the miracle that a dress will not be spent forty years in the sun and rain that are like new shoes walking forty years in the desert, so there are people who do not understand the Church's victory miracles there is in it as the Holy Spirit speaks to the same Gentile Jews really are blind and deaf a hardened heart.  But God is not going to be a nation? The covenant was there Bacchante was there, so Moses in his canticle in his paean to write this cute sweet heart stanza and the ear of a people who were born.

 

Deuteronomy 32: 1-2-3-4

Verse 1 “Given ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth”

Verse 2 “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass;”

Verse 3 “Because I will publish the name of the Lord; ascribe ye greatness unto our God”

Verse 4 “He is thes Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniqity, just and right is he.”

 

It is clear that the word of God is for all the earth with divine transcendence as witnesses heaven and earth. Drip like rain my doctrine. Those who work the land know that a heavy downpour or a storm spoil the small plants, however a gentle rain gives the plant growth that dew makes the foliage is lush and shiny and speaking of drops on the grass, those drops go to the root which makes the plant from strong winds or storms. Oh! If people who claim to be Christians understood that makes living the Christian Doctrine is that these messages are not shouting or loud music or dances that invented. BUT GLORY OF GOD FOR HE MEMBER OF THE CHURCH!

Because they take the doctrine as sweet to your soul and spirit without this doctrine we are weak, but she got to age full of strength and power is why we can cry heresy at the same devil that deceived the denominational.  I am a member of The Church of God I am that holy nation!  Hallelujah Glory to God!

In verse 4 Moses says that God is the rock and even the covenant made with the nation of Israel was a desert (as told Jamieson's comment) of rough red granite rocks. The covenant was also serious about making Christ the rock. The conviction of the Church of God understand. So that people talk to God but it was difficult to understand, but Moses said something that would change the history of Israel until today.

 

   Birth of a New Nation

 

Deuteronomy 32:18,21

Verse 18 “Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindfil, and hast forgotten God that formed thee”

Verse 21 “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities; and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will povoke them to anger with a foolish nation.”

 

Be careful with Bible commentaries we read because there are some who say "other people" but the Bible says "a people who were not a people" but that was to become the only exclusive freehold people of God.

 

 God said these words and did not understand, for they are still God's people but the Bible does not say so. Reason tube Pablo saying those beautiful words (Romans 10:19) “but I say, did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you”

Verse 20 “But Wsaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made  manifest unto them that asked not after me.”

 

Paul is speaking of the Gentile people that village prophesied by Moses.

It tells us: Romans 11:11“say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid; but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy”

 

I like that say in Romans 9:25 quoting the prophet Hosea: “as he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my p people; and her beloved, which was not beloved,”

 

I do not know if you see the following a village and loved, after speaking at the male and female talking on is because Christ was founding a nation, because he said, "I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH" (Matthew 16:18) A holy church composed of people are not any people would have to be better than the first village and says Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” for that Paul says in a different church not like a  denominations.

 

Ephesians 5:27 “that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”

 

No doubt this is a glorious teaching helps us to continue working in our lives to be the bride of Christ. God is looking for people who not only look like holy but is it with conviction, something beautiful tell us Solomon 4:7 “thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.”   We are told in the history of weddings before preparing the wives husbands, bathrooms with oils and perfumes. But here the wife prepares herself to wait for the husband.  All these verses are similar Revelation 19:7 “le tus be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him; for the marriage of the lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready”

 

 

It means that the church is preparing at all, to be the wife mentions the Bible, Peter says something wonderful , 1 Peter 2:9 “but ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”

 

Verse 10 “which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

 

Of course it is not all the Gentile people nor the Jewish people. the Bible teaches us that God is taking one of the two peoples quality people, people of a clean mind and heart so in Ephesians 2:12 “That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"

 Verse 13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Chris.”

Verse 14 “for he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;.”

Verse 15 “having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself or twain one new man, so making peace;”

 

I think I'm seeing God creating Adam and Eve the first humanity, these two peoples is emerging that the new humanity that God always wanted Eva to the last Adam (Christ) but the question is where would this new humanity is quality people. Paul tells us plainly in the following verse.

 

Verse 16 “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:”

 

 

 

 

Wonderful God chose Jews and Gentiles to be his church because God chose the Gentiles at this time to be The Church but the Jew who converted and believe in Christ as their savior then come to be a member of the body of Christ, so speak properly in Your Body is the Saints reached perfection and Christ coming for a church that walks to reach perfection. You tell:  Do all Jews will be saved now? Tremendous question and the answer is No!

 

Romans 11:25 says that the time of salvation for the Gentiles is today: brothers want you to understand this mystery not to be conceited.  Israel has hardened, and will remain so until the full number of the Gentiles. Today is the time of salvation for the Gentiles.

 

 If the Bible says that there is no other time I have to accept that I do not know if you understand what I mean at all, but I understand this: that he understands everything, summarizing everything, that there is no more. Now everything Gentil should take to be safe and expect God to reveal this mystery that God had to use apostles and prophets to make them understand that there was a church that was the body of Christ. Paul gives a complete description of this mystery in Ephesians 2:19 “now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

Verse 20 “and are buit upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

 

I would like to reflect this, he spoke of a family built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, a family that was already, the person who accepted Christ had to go through being a member of the Church explains the following verse with certainty:

 

Verse 21“In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord;”

 

Paul pointed out a holy building that means is the Holy Spirit who is placing the stones in the building, "he is the architect of this building," I paraphrase this, "I am the mason, and placed the stones in this building and I think are right but is the architect and me removed from the building and not only removes strip away" and says not serve! So I think, because I have some people sitting outside the church if they wanted to stay and the Holy Spirit sac building. Great this mystery!

 

Paul comes to us clarify something great about this mystery in Ephesians we have the following:

 

Ephesians 3:4 “whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”

Verse 5 “which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;”

Verse 6 “that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

 

Paul implies that the mystery of Christ was the unit of converted Jews and Gentiles and those they were heirs but the mystery unfolded in the Body of Christ. Paul alludes to the apostles and prophets because local churches had increased in number.  The Acts 16:5 “and so were the churches estabished in the  faith, and increased in number daily”

 

This reading tells us that the churches grew in number each day and the problem I had then was the number of apostles as it was very small, then God raised prophets to that time, who visited the churches, but this gives us to understand that they helped build the apostolic work of the Church with the word of God. But once the witness and instruction of the apostles, were safeguarded in the writings of the New Testament, process the need for disclosure, as they finished their ministry and left no successors the prophets ceased his ministry, for that Paul says built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets.

 

   Clarify who is responsible?

 

Glorious that the Apostle Paul said!

 

Ephesians 3:9-10 “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:”

Verse 10 “to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”

 

Do you realize? We elect to declare this wisdom is the Church. The means God wants to use are no longer apostles, prophets are not, is not Paul, is  you and me.  That's Paul says this is a great mystery: but I tell that with respect to Christ and The Church.  Glory to God!

 

Church is you ready? Are you filling oil? You're looking at the sky? Are you ready with your hands and clap and cry?

 

Comes my King, Let us rejoice because he comes!