Dear Scattered Brethren and Co-workers,
James Russell, Elder.
As 2011 ends, now to be put into the History books, and 2012 takes its place, will we be as committed Christians
to stay the course of teaching God's truth? Will we still be seeking God's Kingdom and His righteousness to
come? The evil one and his demons are truly on the prowl to deceive us by putting lustful pleasure of life,
before the study and application of God's word.
We are living in the age of an information explosion with ipads, iPhones, eBooks, Blackberrys, cell phones,
computers, computers with wireless internet, and programs having access to megabits of memory, satellite TV.
The list of gadgets goes on and on.
It's only been around six hundred years ago when Gutenberg invented the printing press, and publishing was
started. Today we seem to be in a midst of a modern day gadgets and book cults! There is electronic books,
E-books, Digital books, consisting of both text and images.
While this is true of secular publishing, it is also true of religious publishing where the ever growing amount
of erroneous religious materials whether it be Christian, New Age, Chrislam or otherwise, serves to create an
ocean of confusion which is drowning out vital Bible truths needed to be heard. It reminds one of what Paul told
the Corinthian Church: "How is it then, brethren? when you come together, everyone of you has a psalm, has a
doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying" (1 Cor 14:26).
The Apostle Paul, as with the other books written by its author, has one important quality, "TRUTH." John 17:17
clearly states, "Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth." Daniel was told of the end time. "But you,
O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased" (Dan 12:4). But Daniel was also told in verse 10: "Many shall be purified, and
made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise
shall understand."
Understand what? God's truth! But increased knowledge alone, even religious knowledge, does not automatically
bring one to God's truth. Paul wrote of our day: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those
that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of
godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim 3:1-5). Note Paul's final description of
today's society: "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim 3:7).
The Bible is really a current event publication on the cutting edge of today's issues. The Lord may have been
tired of a people which offered Him lip service alone, having the external appearance of being religious and
virtue, but void of the application of the Word of God to everyday life. Might it have been for this purpose, God
chasten and awaken a lazy and slumbering body of believers. Consider Isaiah 48:1 and especially the 58th
chapter of Isaiah of which verse 2 reads, "Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that
did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take
delight in approaching to God" (Isa 58:2).
Outwardly the Nations of Israel have professed to follow the Lord, but inwardly they are far from Him! They
hold to the external forms of religion, but neglected its basic principles, such as, praying daily, observing God's
Sabbath, bringing their tithes and offerings into God's storehouse. They attempt to serve both God and mammon.
What is our Lord of Lord and King of Kings, answer to that? "No man can serve two masters: for either he will
hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon" (Matt 6:24). The attempt to serve God with a divided heart is to be unstable in all one's ways.
James 1: and verse 8, explains a "double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
The purpose of the Bible, is to inspire the reader to "DO SOMETHING" with what they learned ! The ability
to both know God's perspective on things and then apply what you know in some way requires WISDOM. James
wrote: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and
it shall be given him"(James 1:5). Wisdom would lead one to pray for God to open their mind to receive the gift
of God's Holy Spirit ! The things such as obedience, faith, trust, thankfulness and love. The Holy Spirit cannot
be bought and sold, but rather is a free gift from God. Our sins must be cleansed, and this will not happen until
a person considers it vital and important enough to seek God in prayer on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus
Christ and His righteousness. Isaiah 55 encourages the called to "seek you the LORD while He may be found,
call you upon Him while He is near" (Isa 55:6).
The oil of truth, oil of understanding (Pro 23:23) which Christ said would be in the lamps of the wise (Matt 25:4)
at the time the midnight cry (warning) was to go out. What was their cry to the unwise who had no oil of truth
in their lamps? "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show My people their
transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isa 58:1).
In chapter 58 of Isaiah, is given instruction as to what repentance involves and what is essential before the
promised blessings may be realized. A call to repentance can not be effective unless it sets forth clearly what
men must do about sin in their lives!
Church of God, in Truth: P.O. Box 1120 Kimberling City, MO 65686.
Tel: 417-338-0033 // Fax: 417-338-0031
James Russell, Elder: Tel: 417-338-0033; E-Mail; cogit@flash.net
Pete Fleming, Elder: Tel: 830-885-5502; E-Mail; pmf06@gvtc.com
Spanish: Martin Martinez; Deacon: Tel: 787-786-5856; E-Mail: marty@ucint.com
Philippines: Romeo Samudio; Rep: Tel: 090-333-3148; E-Mail: romesamudio@yahoo.com
Kenya: Brad Ochieng; Rep: Tel: 254-734-409-541; E-Mail resetreadrest@yahoo.com