Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Michigan.
Services went well here last Sabbath. Here is a photo:
We are still in Michigan, but are scheduled to fly back to California early tomorrow.
The recommended sermon for this Sabbath was given in Michigan last Sabbath: Physical & Spiritual Begettal and Birth.
As a reminder, we have two Sabbaths this weekend because of Pentecost.
That said, we received another 60 translations of our English booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God, to help support the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. While we are still dealing with software issues, never before in the entire church age has any truly Christian group put together literature in as many languages as has been done by the Continuing Church of God.
Rwanda
Evangelist Evans Ochieng went to Rwanda to attempt to better understand and deal with the anti-true Christian rules that are now in place in that nation. Basically you must have a minimum of a thousand adult members with Rwandan identification cards, plus have a minister who completed a government approved theology program to function as a church or even hold services for people other than, perhaps, your immediate family.
So, we are looking for a way to electronically connect the brethren there for services each Sabbath. We are also trying to deal with other government issues in Burundi and other issues in the Congo.
The New Testament teaches that:
22 We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)
And in Rwanda and many other parts of Africa, there are many tribulations the brethren are facing now.
Russia
Pastor Arthur Topos has been in Russia as the result of a free trip he won.
He said he made contact with several Russians who were interested in the teachings we in the CCOG have.
He expressed concern that we do not have Russian speakers to assist in that country.
As Jesus said:
“The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)
Yes, please pray for more laborers for the harvest.
Also, if you happen to know the Russian language and would like to assist, please let me know.
My email remains COGwriter@aol.com
Pentecost
Pentecost is this weekend and runs from sunset May 31 to sunset June 1. This means that there are back to back Sabbaths.
To aid your family as well as for you all to learn about the Bible and God’s ways together, some may, in addition to watching the recommended messages, look at the following quizzes and games:
Bible Challenger Numerous Bible games.
Bible Challenger Asteroids This is a fast-paced game with similiarities to the old Asteroids video game of last century.
Bible Wheel of Fortune A Bible challenger game you can adjust the difficulty on.
Bible Challenger Jeopardy A biblically-oriented ‘jeopardy’ game.
Bible Challenger Sabbath Quiz This illustrated quiz covers topics related to the Christian Sabbath.
Resurrection of Jesus Christ This is one of the Bible Challenger quizzes that goes over facts and teachings some do not understand.
Self Grading Bible Quiz 15 questions and a report card when you finish.
The Good Samaritan A public domain claymation for younger people.
Paul in Damascus Not a quiz, but a Lego-animation.
John 21 Not a quiz, but (other than a Lego suggesting a long-haired Jesus) a biblical story for young people.
David vs. Goliath A higher level animation for older young people.
Solomon’s Temple This is a a 5 minute animated film that shows one artist’s understanding of the details about Solomon’s temple.
Nehemiah Animation A four minute, sometimes silly, Lego-animation related to Nehemiah and rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.
Bible Crossword Puzzle
Who Wants to be a Biblical Millionaire? A sophisticated quiz. Now with over 1,000 questions to help challenge and build your knowledge of the Bible.
Night to Be Observed. This is a CCOG animation, not public domain, related to the Night To Be Observed. It provides historical and prophetic information.
Pentecost Quiz This is a Pentecost quiz based upon the Old and New Testaments in the Bible.
The Antichrist Quiz Do you really know much about the Antichrist?
Michael’s Feasts and Fasts Quiz 15 questions, amusing wrong answer screens.
The Ten Commandments Quiz Developed by our son Michael.
Michael’s Day of Atonement Quiz Another free on-line Bible quiz by our son Michael.
Bible Hangman Michael’s most interactive Bible game to date. Another one of his free online Bible games.
Michael’s Sabbath Quiz Test and learn a little more about the Sabbath.
That said, most who profess Christ know something about Pentecost–though few keep it as a Sabbath. Many, however, properly consider it the start of the New Testament church.
After Jesus died, His disciples were told to wait to receive the power of the Holy Spirit:
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)
So they waited and:
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place (Acts 2:1).
Notice that statement emphasizes that fact that the Day of Pentecost had fully come. The Bible is making it clear that the events that follow were directly related to the fact that the Day of Pentecost had fully come. And, it happened to the disciples because they were all observing it together.
Here is what happened then:
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. …
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. …47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:2-4, 38-42, 47).
The disciples received some of the power of Holy Spirit. And this is considered to be the start of the Christian church by the Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, most Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Church of God groups. So the Holy Spirit was given at a certain time (the same time that many of the Jews observed Pentecost) and that Jesus’ disciples were still observing it.
That was not a coincidence.
Is There More to Pentecost?
Many do not realize that Pentecost represented more than the giving of the Holy Spirit and the start of the New Testament church.
Looking at passages in Old and New Testaments provides more information about this day and its meaning.
The Feast of Pentecost was kept by Christians after the initial one, but with no mention of speaking in tongues. The Apostle Paul continued to keep Pentecost decades after the Pentecost mentioned in the second chapter of the Book of Acts. Notice what he wrote, about 56 A.D.:
8 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost (1 Corinthians 16:8).
This shows that Paul knew when Pentecost was, that he felt that the Corinthians must know when Pentecost was, and that the Ephesians would have known when Pentecost was. Thus, it apparently was being observed by Paul and the Gentiles in Ephesus and Corinth.
In another year, the Apostle Paul also wished to be in Jerusalem for Pentecost, around 60 A.D.:
16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 20:16).
Thus, Christians in Jerusalem were still observing Pentecost and Paul was observing it too. Otherwise, there would be no obvious reason why Paul wanted to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
The term Pentecost is a Greek term meaning 50th. That term is derived from the following Hebrew description of calculating the date:
15 And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath (Leviticus 23:15-16).
The Day of Pentecost has several names, and because of that, some have been confused about it. Its other biblical names include: the Feast of Harvest, the Feast of Weeks and the day of firstfruits.
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