PASTOR’S COMMENTS 5-28-04
Dear Brethren,
As we should all know this coming Sunday is the
Day of First-Fruits, or better known as Pentecost. It seems necessary for us
to mention Sunday since there are any number of members who are confused into
believing it should be on Monday.
The ones I have talked to about it are so
convinced by it that the writings of Mr. Armstrong, God's late apostle,
means little to nothing to them - at least on that subject. I am very sorry
for I wish it were otherwise just as I wish all of the true and
faithful members were together in one body now, but that apparently will not
come until later on.
In the meantime, God will continue to work with
one here and there, or a family or several families, and bring them out of the
wrong places just as He brought all of us out from where we were.
Brethren, Mr. Armstrong asked the question in a
written article on Pentecost, "What does Pentecost mean to you?" You and I
need to think and meditate on that question.
It should stagger us when we really think about
the answer to that question. To think that God in His awesome and incredible
mercy, grace, and love, actually saw fit to look down on each one of us, and
in essence, say, "It is now time to call and select ____ ____ (put your name
there) to be one of My First-fruits" -- to be counted among the many thousands
who are to be in the first resurrection.
Do we just take this for granted? Or, are we in
awe and experience real humility because of this high calling? I would hope
that we truly feel this way and then driven to sincere and fervent prayer in
thanksgiving to our God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.
It seems we are often forced to be focused so
much on the cares of this world, jobs, bills to pay, problems to work our way
through, that we hardly take the time to really focus on this awesome and
wonderful blessing of actually be counted among the true begotten children of
our God. To know He really loves us and answers our prayers!
Over this weekend let us try to think a little
more in that direction. The Psalms will often be a big help with both
meditation and use in prayer. I especially often think of Psalm 103.
Brethren, I pray for all of you, those I know I
try to mention each of you by name and sometimes more than that when there is
a need. Some of you I do not know by name so all I can do is pray for you
without a name, which I do. Hopefully you will do the same with those you
know, and remember my wife and me as well. We also have our struggles as well
as all of you, but I try to keep them from dominating my mind so I will not
lose focus on trying to be of help to you -- as God sees fit to use me.
I know there are those of you who tell me you
pray for me and I sincerely appreciate your prayers. It is very needful that
we do all we can to hold each other up in these very trying times and not
forget to often talk to each other with words of support, encouragement and
caring love. (Malachi 3:16-18)
Until next time, your brother and servant in
Christ,
Don Billingsley
© Church of God, Faithful Flock
