Basic HTML Version
PAGE 2
PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, DECEMBER 2, 1986
were indeed representatives of God's government on earth. Jesus said of
them in Matthew 23g2-3, "The scribes and the Pharisees.sit in Moses'
seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and
do: but do not ye after their works: for they say and do not." These
people were representatives but not reflections1 They knew what to say,
but that was
as
far as it went.
Church pastors have the responsibility to enhance unity in the
congregation by being faithful reflections of headquarters. Your
enthusiastic responsiveness
to
those over you inspires and encourages
those under you to follow .suit. A scripture
Mr.
Herbert Armstrong used
to refer to oft-en was
Amos
3:3,
"Can
two walk together, except they be
agreed?" We must be like-minded, having a common goal, and fused
together by the Holy Spirit. Regular communication with God is
essential. Then, with
God's
mind and attitude, we must communicate
regularly with one another. Strong, positive, unifying relationships are
not developed in a vacuum. You pastors need to be the architects humanly
of the kind of positive, encouraging atmosphere in which godly love can
be developed,
I've written before about putting up the superstructure on the
foundation God laid through
Mr.
Armstrong. We are God's building
material.
I
Corinthians 3:9-11 explains it
so
clearly:
"For
we are
labourers together with
God:
ye are
God's
husbandry, ye are God's
building. According to the grace of
God
which
is
given unto me, as a
wise masterbuilder,
I
have laid the foundation, and another buildeth
thereon. But let every
man
take heed how he buildeth there upon. For
.other foundation can no man lay than that
is
laid, which is Jesus
Christ." We must allow
God
to use us as
He
sees fit. And we must not
stray off our foundation.
I told the brethren in Mexico,
"Samos
familia.' The English
translation is, "We are family." And our relationship is that of members
of God's Family. The apostle John wrote in I John 3:l, "Behold, what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the
sons
of
God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him
not,
a
Continue to remind the brethren about these things.
And
remember
how important your
own
personal example is to them. You are -to be a
reflection of
God.
That is what Jesus was, and we are to follow His
example.
POT
many who never had the benefit of a father's presence when
growing up8 you may be their only physical comparison to what God is
like. How clear a reflection we are depends on how close to God we are.
As
I said to the Mexican brethren, "Viva la unidadl" ("Unity
foreverla)
With love, in Jesus' name,