Dear Family, 

Today is Friday, May 1, 2026. Today is Day 27 and Day 6 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.  

In John 15 the Apostle John recorded that Jesus told His Disciples He had revealed to them many things about our Father and what the Father had said. Jesus no longer wanted His Disciples to consider themselves just His servants. Jesus announced that He intended to call them His friends. Our Lord wanted His Disciples to know what He was doing. Then, He mentioned one prerequisite.  They had to obey His commandments.  

John 15:14-15 (14) Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. 

Something very similar occurred in the life of Abraham. God tried and tested Abraham to ensure that he would believe God and faithfully obey. Abraham past the tests and proved he would trust and believe God and live in a faithful and obedient manner. Now we refer to Abraham as the “Friend of God.” And, God revealed to Abraham many things He would be doing in the future (see  Acts 7).  

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith; Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 

Acts 7:6-7 (6) And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. (7) And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.  

Jesus now wants His True Disciples today to trust, believe, and obey His commandments. He wants to give us the honor of calling us His “Friends.”

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family, 

Today is Thursday, May 30, 2026. This is Day 26, and Day 5 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost. 

Jesus is referred to as a Stone (as well as the Rock) in the Scriptures. Referring to Jesus as a Stone has powerful and meaningful symbolism. The meaning of this title carries with it issues of endurance, power, stability, and permanence. Among other things, it represents strength, resilience, and being well grounded. 

1 Peter 2:4,6-8 (4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded…. (7) Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 

Daniel, Isaiah, and the Psalmist describe aspects of the Stone; also in Daniel 2:34, 45. 

Isaiah 8:14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,  

Today is Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Today is Day 25 and Day 4 of Week 4 in our Count to  Pentecost.  

Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant. He is the One and Only Mediator. He has standing in heaven‛s court and He along can bring harmony between God and man.  

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Hebrews 9:15 (KJV) And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  

Hebrews 9:15 (NIV) For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.  

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 

Hebrews 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,  

Today is Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Today is Day 24 and Day 3 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.  

Jesus is our Friend. In John 15 the Apostle John recorded that Jesus told His Disciples He had  revealed to them many things about our Father and what the Father had said. Jesus no longer wanted His Disciples to consider themselves just His servants. Jesus announced that He intended to call them His friends. Our Lord wanted His Disciples to know what He was doing. Then He mentioned one prerequisite. They had to obey His commandments.  

John 15:14-15 (14) Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (15) Henceforth I call  you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.  

Something very similar occurred in the life of Abraham. God tried and tested Abraham to ensure that he would believe God and faithfully obey. Abraham past the tests and proved he would trust and believe God and live in a faithful and obedient manner. Now we refer to Abraham as the “Friend of God.” And God revealed to Abraham many things He would be doing in the future (see  Acts 7).  

James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  

Acts 7:6-7 (6) And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that  they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years. (7) And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve Me in this place.  

Jesus now wants His True Disciples today to believe, to trust and to obey His commandments. He wants to give us the honor of calling us His “Friends.”

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,  

Today is Monday, April 27, 2026. Today is Day 23 and Day 2 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost. 

Jesus is the Messenger of the New Covenant. In the Old Testament, we find mention of the Messenger of the Covenant. Jesus is the One assigned and anointed to bear the responsibility of making a New Agreement/Covenant between God and man.  

Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.  

The Old Covenant was intended to be temporary and only be a foreshadowing of heavenly things and the permanent New Covenant.  

Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith; A new covenant, He hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.  

The Old was ready to vanish and be replaced by the New which was based on better promises.  

Matthew 26:28 shows Jesus announcing to His Disciples that His blood is the blood of that New Covenant.  

Jesus is the One Who fulfilled all of the requirements of the Old; and, He is the only One capable of establishing and sealing the New Covenant. There was a need for a New Covenant for several  reasons.  

• It was not possible for animal blood could pay the penalty for sin. (Hebrews 10:4; 9:14;  Romans 5:9)
• In the Old, Sacrifices had to be repeated over and over. (Hebrews 10:1-3) 
• The people did not have the heart or the power to keep the Old Covenant requirements. 
• In the New Covenant the laws are written on the heart and the New Covenant grants access to the power of the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:16)  
• The promises involve everlasting life (Hebrews 9:15) 

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family, 

Today is Sunday, April 26, 2026. Today is Day 22 and Day 1 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost. It is clear that Jesus is Lord. Here are four points on this topic. 

(1) Writing about Jesus‛ birth, Luke quoted this truth from the Old Testament.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

(2) Paul declared it, and every tongue will confess it. 

Philippians 2:9-11 (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

(3) As True Disciples of Jesus Christ, we only have One Lord. 

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NIV) yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and  we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him 

(4) Paul preached Jesus as Lord and told the Corinthians we are bond-servants for Jesus‛ sake. 

2 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV) For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as  your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family, 

Today is Sabbath, April 25, 2026. Today is Day 21 and Day 7 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost. 

Many of us are familiar with John 6:44 that indicates no one has access to Jesus except the Father draws him. Jesus also declared that He is the WAY. Scripture says no one can come to the Father except by Jesus.

John 6:44 No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Not only is Jesus the WAY to the Father, He is our WAY for being begotten by the Father and living forever in His Family.

Our heavenly Father has made Jesus‛ prominence in our salvation central to God‛s process of salvation for all of mankind. Below are a few examples.

• Jesus is the WORD (John 1: 1) 
• Jesus is the Anointed One, the Messiah (John 4: 25-26) 
• Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Suffering Messiah (Isaiah 53) 
• Jesus is the Perfect Sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14) 
• Jesus is the only One Who could pay the penalty for our sins (Hebrews 10:14-15)
• Jesus is our High Priest and our only Mediator (Hebrews 4:14; 1 Timothy 2:5) 
• Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) 
• Jesus is the Door of the sheep fold (John 10:7) 

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family, 

Today is Friday, April 24, 2026. Today is Day 20 and Day 6 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost. 

A very wonderful and remarkable characteristic of Jesus is His capacity for compassion. Without a doubt, He is the epitome of compassion. The Bible describes many of the situations in which He demonstrated His intense compassion. 

Compassion is the word for a trait involving many other wonderful traits such as love, faith, mercy, forgiveness, pity, empathy, kindness, humility, patience. And, there are many more.  

It is a quality that involves more than just a feeling. When we are truly compassionate as Jesus was and is, there will be effort on our part. For example, we will not simply say, “Be warmed and fed” to a hungry man. Indeed, we would provide him food (James 2:16). When Jesus saw hunger and infirmity, He felt compassion. He fed them and “healed them all” (Matthew 14:14), He met their  needs. 

Matthew 12:15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and he healed them all;  

Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 

Clearly, Jesus feels for us because He knows we require His patience and mercy to go through the process of salvation with us. 

Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His  compassions fail not. 

Psalm 103:14 For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. 

Our perfect Savior loves us with a perfect love and with perfect compassion. He wants us to enjoy and share this trait. His Word encourages us to do just that. 

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be  pitiful, be courteous:

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family, 

Today is Thursday, April 23, 2026. Today is Day 19 and Day 5 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost. 

Jesus is our Sole Mediator. Mediation is often used as a legal term. And, because we have fallen  short of God‛s glory and because of our breaking God‛s laws and sinning against God (Romans 3:23),  all of humanity needs Jesus to mediate for them before the throne (the court) of the Almighty  God. Through our sin, we all incurred the death penalty. Thankfully, God made a way because of His  great love and the willingness of Jesus to be the needed payment. God inspired Paul to write that  there is One Mediatory between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Until Jesus fulfilled all of the legal  requirements for Himself and us, we had no access to God, the Father. Our sins had cut us off  from His presence. We could not legally even show up for court. 

Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid  His face from you, that He will not hear. 

No one other than Jesus could possibly do the job of mediating between God and man because all humans are completely disqualified as soon as we sin. Jesus alone can be the Mediator and act on  our behalf because He has all the qualifications and the answers. He is the only worthy One for  many reasons. Several are listed below. 

• Jesus never sinned (Hebrews 4:15) 
• Jesus fully paid our death penalty (Romans 6:23) 
• Jesus is the Creator of all of mankind (Colossians 1:16) 
• Jesus is the literal Begotten of God (John 3:16) 
• Jesus is literally the Firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18, Revelation 1:5) • Jesus is the beginner and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) 
• Jesus was completely submitted to His Father 
• Jesus loves us enough 

Romans 8:37-39 (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved  us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be  able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family, 

Today is Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Today is Day 18 and Day 4 of Week 3 in our Count to  Pentecost. 

We know that Jesus remained with His faithful disciples for 40 days after His resurrection, fellowshipping with them, teaching them, comforting them.  

And, He had to return to His Father in heaven to set in motion the granting of the promise of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power from on high. It was a promise of the Father. 

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the City of  Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.  

Having received all power in heaven and earth and returning to heaven, Jesus also received gifts for men. Notice this in Psalms. 

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.  

Paul also refers to these gifts for men in the Book of Ephesians. Paul adds to the idea that Jesus now gave (past tense) the gifts unto men. 

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore He saith; When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 

Today, let‛s look briefly at the statement that Jesus led captivity captive. 

Until the completed work of Jesus Christ, captivity reigned. After the completed work of Jesus Christ, captivity was now captive. That is what the Bible indicates!  

What was the captivity? Through the years of keeping the annual festivals we learned the physical captivity of ancient Israel in the land of Egypt is a type of a spiritual captivity. Through the Days of Unleavened Bread we learn that God delivered His people, ancient Israel, from Egypt.  

Now, the work of Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb, made that possible in the spiritual realm! 

Christ‛s leading captivity captive involved going to the very root of the problem. It required that  Jesus, Himself, never be made a captive. It required that Jesus never give in to the power of the enemy of God, Satan the devil! And, that is exactly the way it was. Jesus never failed! In fact, He never even flinched. Even in the face of the power of darkness, He did not wimp out. Jesus knew the power of darkness must have its day! 

Luke 22:53 When I was daily with you in the Temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness. 

The power that the devil has held over mankind is a power of darkness. It is a power of evil, and deceit, and fear!  

Hebrews 2:14-16 (14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (16) For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. 

Notice that the root of the power the devil has held over mankind is the root of fear. Humans fear death (15). They fear loss of self-esteem, personhood, independence, and so on. They fear many  things.  

God‛s victory over the power of darkness was completed when Christ Jesus rose from the grave!  Praise God! 

Ben Faulkner, Pastor  
© Copyright 2026, Church of the Sovereign God