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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JUNE 14, 1985
sorrow, misery and ugliness, as Jesus Christ did? Are we really seeking to
develop the mind of Jesus Christ? How important is it to us? What priority
does over'comT'ng""t1i1s present evil world have in your life?
We are preparing to teach and rule the world under Jesus in the Kingdom of
God. We will be ruling by and teaching the Law of God. A Law that is holy,
just and good (Rom. 7:12). A perfect Law (Ps. 19:7). We will be teaching
the nations to kee g that Law, which will show them the way God lives and
what His mind is like.
God tells us in Psalm 111:10, "A good understanding have all they that do
his commandments." We cannot really understand what we are learning about
God's Law unless we keep it! And we must deeply appreciate the blood of
Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin. We must develop the attitude
and habit of repentance, striving to change and overcome all sin in our
lives, to remove that which is opposed to God's mind and character.
Impress on the brethren the need to be growing spiritually and overcoming,
and the reason for it. Always keep before them the calling God has given
them to prepare them for rulership and teaching His Law in His Kingdom.
Show them that this calling requires them to be studying and learning, and
in addition to that, to be putting into practice (Phil. 4:9) what they are
learning by obeying God, overcoming sin and changing, realizing God's great
mercy and willingness to forgive us upon true, godly repentance.
I'd like to share with you a very encouraging report I ·received from Mr.
Robert Morton. I know many of you were aware of and praying for our breth
ren in India regarding the mandatory six-day work week. God has now inter
vened!
For years our brethren in India have laboured under the burden of
a six-day work week. This has meant a number of them over the
years have lost their jobs as a result of the Sabbath, while
others have found it necessary to use their valuable vacation
time to keep the weekly Sabbath. Some have been working under an
almost permanent threat of being fired for not working on the
Sabbath.
Once someone has lost his or her job in India, it is almost impos
sible to obtain another one. For a large portion of the Church
this has severely tested their faith and meant that they have had
to face personal persecution from their employers. Over recent
months our members working in banks and government departments
have been under a great deal of pressure, which has been increas
ing month by month.
Today Mr. Bill Sidney phoned to let me know that the Indian gov
ernment has passed legislation to bring in a five-day work week
beginning June the 3rd this year. He said this will be one of the
biggest milestones for our brethren in India. For years they
have had to live week by week in faith that somehow God will work
things out for them. Now, God has mercifully lifted the trial
off them. From now on, life will be much easier for them--at
least in this particular area.
Mr. Sidney also mentioned that he expects quite a number of co
workers to express a great deal more interest in the Church as a
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