Please see the information on the 2013 Feast of Tabernacles at this link: 2013 Feast of Tabernacles:
OUTREACH SITE: Slavery is Alive in America
NEWS: A two-day summit of the leaders of the 27 EU states began Thursday evening in Brussels.
The US Northeast is on a blizzard warning.
12 Israeli planes entered Lebanese airspace at 10:30 p.m. last night and roamed over various parts of the country, finally leaving at 1:15 a.m. An Israeli reconnaissance plane also flew over the southern area of Naqoura for several hours.
In heavy fighting, a Syrian army counter-offensive by large mobile armored strike groups, Friday, defeated a major rebel drive into the heart of Damascus, which aimed to reach the presidential palace. Fourth Armored Division forces drove the rebels from their strategic position at Kamaz on the Damascus-Aleppo highway and continued the battle to push them out of outlying districts of the capital which they had captured.
The tide is turning against the insurgents and Israel may strike Hezbollah to save the anti Assad uprising.
A reminder that weapons transfers to Hezbollah were expressly prohibited under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which ended the Israeli-Hizballah war in 2006.
Israel has now completed a week of rescue drills for extracting downed pilots and the Israeli Chief of Staff is returning to Israel after five days of intense consultations with the US military at the Pentagon.
The Nahal brigade is now ready to invade Lebanon.
LCG NEWS: Although I posted links to two of Wally Smith’s posts on the 501C3 the other day, he felt the need to post this today. I find it strange that Wally shoots LCG in the foot by defending 501C3 and leaving his church with no excuse for not preaching the whole Gospel.
Wally is trying to remove the cloak of government control, as an excuse for LCGs failure to preach the Gospel; leaving LCG naked of excuses for not obeying God’s commandments to preach the WHOLE Gospel.
Now come on Wally, claiming that some obecure articles in print [and which you do not even clearly identify: how old are they and in what publication?] cover these things, is not good enough; lets hear a full TV episode condemning abortion as the horrible abomination of sacrificing our children on the alter of mammon and convenience that it is; and the perversion of homosexuality which is a cancer in the nation; lets hear you preach that the RC is the great whore and the protestants are her daughters!
Wally resorts to sarcasm, which is the last resort of those who cannot defend with real facts.
Lets hear LCG actually begin to preach the whole Gospel of repentance from clearly defined sin!
Lets hear LCG CRY ALOUD and SPARE NOT. Is 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins
UCG NEWS: Vic Kubik writes:
Women’s Services
For several months, a group of seven women have met regularly to develop a Strategic Plan for Women’s Services. These women are Michelle Dean, Terri Eddington, Lisa Fenchel, Bev Kubik, LeeAnn Luker, Debbie McNeely and Kathe Myers.
With hours of discussion and hard work, the vision and mission statements were developed, as well as the values statements. This will be a “working document” to give guidance to future plans and development of this area of Ministerial and Member Services. This Strategic Plan for Women’s Services will be published in the next issue of the Ministerial Journal.
We have appreciated the very special attention that has been focused on the needs of minister’s wives as well as all women in the Church.
Luke 1
Luke 1 focuses on the advent and mission of John Baptist as the New Testament Elijah. John had the attitude, zeal, dedication and courage of Elijah; and prepared the way for the coming of Christ to teach and provide the way of salvation for humanity as the Passover Lamb of God.
The ministry of John is a type of another and more powerful ministry of an end time Elijah, who prepares the way for the return of Christ in power and authority as the ruler of the whole earth.
The two who stand by the Lord of the whole earth are Moses and Elijah; and two persons will be sent by God shortly, in the fullness of faith, obedience and zeal for God; of Moses and Elijah.
It is therefore very important to understand what John was called to preach. Any study of the two witnesses and their mission, should include a study of Moses and Elijah as well as of John Baptist.
Luke 1
1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 1:4That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
The Book of Acts is also addressed to Theophilus and it appears that Luke wrote both Luke and Acts. When we consider that Luke was a close friend of Paul from among the Greeks it is entirely believable that the experiences fo Paul were written out by Luke.
Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
Zacharias, the priest is to be the father of John.
1:5 THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
Both Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were righteous [perfect] before God as was Noah
1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
The ascending smoke of the incense as a type of the prayers of God’s people ascending to Heaven.
The pagans also believe that the smoke of their sacred fires ascend to their god; the birthday candle come from paganism where the day of birth is considered auspicious for making a wish which will ascend to the sun god [Satan] in the smoke of the birthday candle.
1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 1:9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
Gabriel gives a message from God.
1:11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
The announcement of the coming of John Baptist.
1:12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
John was given the Holy Spirit from birth and he came before Jesus! This proves without question that some were spiritually “called out” and that the Holy Spirit was given to many in faith, BEFORE that day of Pentecost in 31 AD! Heb 11.
1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
John would preach the Gospel of repentance and turn many back to God in sincere repentance.
1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
John would be a kind of Elijah; and his mission will be the same mission as Elijah: to turn men to God! To turn the disobedient to the wisdom of God’s commandments; to turn the heart of God the Father to his children; through the sincere repentance of the people [children].
1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Zacharias asks for a sign and is given one.
1:18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 1:20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Zacharias had been long delayed and the people began to notice.
1:21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
Zacharias was speechless according to Gabriel’s word.
1:22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
The courses were of two weeks service.
1:23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
Elisabeth kept her pregnancy secret for five months.
1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
In the sixth month of Elisabeth Gabriel came to Mary to announce that she was pregnant with Yeshua the Messiah.
1:26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was [Miriam] Mary.
Gabriel greeted Mary and Mary was confused by such a greeting.
1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
Gabriel then announces his message that the child would grow up to rule over all Israel! Now we know that David shall rule all Israel, so what does this message mean? It refers to Spiritual Israel and the coming Kingdom of God; into which ALL humanity will be grafted!
David will be king over all physical Israel; and will be under Jesus Christ who will be King of kings over all the earth!
1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Here an indication of the existence of the Father is given; for it is the Highest is the Father the heavenly Father who places the embryo of Jesus into the womb of Mary.
1:34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Mary then willingly agrees.
1:38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Mary ten went to help her cousin Elisabeth in or near Bethlehem, who was now large with child.
1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
Elisabeth and the unborn child immediately recognize Mary and the child Mary is carrying.
1:41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. 1:43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 1:45 And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
Mary also praises god in response.
1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 1:47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 1:48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
The mercy and salvation of Christ is upon the repentant who fear him and DO as he commands!
1:50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
The unrepentant, and the proud and haughty, shall be crushed into contrition by the Mighty One of Israel! The humble and lowly before God will be exalted!
1:51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 1:52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
Christ shall fill those who hunger and thirst after the righteousness of his ways; while those who think they are spiritually rich and have need of nothing will be rejected.
1:53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
All physical Israel shall be saved by repentance and the application of the sacrifice of Christ, being grafted into Spiritual Israel along with all nations.
Gal 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
1:54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;1:55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Mary stayed with Elisabeth until John was born and then returned home in her own third month.
1:56 And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house. 1:57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
John meaning “God is a gracious giver”.
1 John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1:59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 1:60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 1:61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 1:62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. 1:63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
With the fulfillment of the prophecy of Gabriel, the tongue of Zacharias was loosed, and filled with God’s spirit he prophesied of the mission of his son John and of the mission of the latter day type of Elijah as well.
John began his mission at his very birth, for the events of his birth generated much excitement throughout all Judea.
1:64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 1:65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 1:66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
The mission of John was the same as the mission of Elijah.
1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation [Jesus Christ] for us in the house of his servant David; 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 1:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 1:72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 1:73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
To serve means to obey, and through Jesus Christ we are to serve and obey the heavenly Father
1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.\
Now speaking of John and the latter day Elijah as well: Elijah will go before and prepare the way for the coming of Christ, by teaching repentance and obedience to the Father and to Christ.
1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
They will teach the way to salvation: teaching repentance form breaking and compromising with the commandments of God, so that the sacrifice of Christ can be applied to the repentance who commit themselves to never again sinning against the teachings and commandments of God.
1:77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
To proclaim the light of truth to those in spiritual darkness and to lead men into the peace that comes from obedience to God.
1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
John did not begin to preach until he was 30 years of age and kept himself hidden until he was fully prepared to carry out his mission.
1:80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
Tim McCaulley
February 8th, 2013 at 09:42