Elders Letter
James Russell, Elder
Dear Brethren and Co -Workers,
We pray, after this season of joyfulness, finds themselves spiritually stronger in faith and truth. Revelation 17:14
reminds us, “The chosen and faithful will be with Christ at His coming.” But who are the chosen and faithful
God is working with today? To find the answer to this question, open your Bible to Isaiah 61, starting with the
last half of verse eight. “I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with
them. And their seed shall be known among the nations and their offsprings among the people, all who see them
shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed whom the Lord had blessed.” The chosen and faithful are
diligently preparing and readying themselves to be the Bride of Christ. “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my
soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with
the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with
her jewels” (Isa. 61:8-10). The garment of salvation and the robe of righteousness symbolizes obeying God’s
word and truth [not changing it] because the Bride is set apart as the Apostle John was inspired to write,
“Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).
We cannot let Satan influence us or discourage us from obeying God’s laws, and statutes! Passover, Days of
Unleavened Bread and Pentecost each year brings our attention back to our first love of God and what His Son
did for all mankind World wide.
The blindness of this world’s population finds themselves in turmoil and in a state of discord. This dismal
human condition is caused, according to God’s word, by a sick heart. “The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man” (Matt. 15:19-20). Jeremiah, a man God sanctified and ordained while in his mothers womb, said, “O LORD, I know that the
way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jer. 10:23).
As long as man’s heart remains unchanged, this world’s conditions will continue in anguish, pain, and grief that
will only bring ruin. This cycle can only be broken by God’s intervention, repairing mankind’s sick heart. God
calls this condition sin, meaning anything that contradicts the perfect will and character of God. God changes
this world by changing us! The Kingdom of God is all about change, transformation, having the fruits of God’s
Holy Spirit working in it.
God promises that all Israel will have an opportunity to receive a new heart. “And I will give them an heart to
know Me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto
Me with their whole heart. For I will set Mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land:
and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up” (Jer. 24:7,6).
Ezekiel, written for our day, adds, “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all
countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean:
from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of
flesh. And I will put My spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My
judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people,
and I will be your God” (Ezek. 36:24-28).
When spiritual Israel receives her new heart, the whole world will receive a new beginning way of life. “But in
the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of
the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall
come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and
He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of
the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his
fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it” (Micah 4:1-4).
Never forget to pray as Christ taught us! “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”
(Matt. 6:10).
Church of God, In Truth: P.O. Box: 2011 Kimberling City: MO 65686
Tel: 417-338-0033: Fax: 417-338-0031: E-Mail: cogit@flash.net
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: mmartinez@ucint.com
Philippines Romeo
Samudio,
Rep: Tel:
090-333-3148 E-Mail:
romesamudio@yahoo.com
MOUNT OF OLIVES