Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, June 1, 2025. This is the 50th Day in our Counting toward Pentecost. Happy Feast of Weeks! Happy Pentecost!

We have complete the Counting of 50 Days and 7 Sabbaths.

Leviticus 23:15-16 (15) And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: (16) Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord.

Now Family, let us go before God today with rejoicing, prepared to meet Him and receive every blessing He will pour forth upon us.
Please pray for the unity of the Body of Christ. Let us love one another deeply.

May our awesome and loving God bless each one of us with His love, mercy, and truth this Holy Day!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, May 31, 2025. This is Day 7 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 49th Day of Counting. We have entered HOLY TIME which will now last until sundown as Pentecost ends.

Traditionally, the book of Ruth is read in its entirety on the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost. It is a beautiful story with wonderful symbolism for Christ and the Church. There is redemption, a kinsman-redeemer, a husband and wife, and a new born baby, plus a lot more in this story.

Back in the Garden of Eden where we first see God instituting marriage, God said it was not good for Adam to be alone.

Genesis 2:18 And the LORD God said; It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

Were these words spoken about Adam also an indication of what God was going to do in the future for His Church, the Bride, and for the Messiah? Was God foretelling us that He was making a help meet for Himself? It’s a magnificent possibility, isn’t it?

Let us remember that God has revealed that He was making man in His image, after His likeness. We have come to understand the awesome doctrine about becoming true sons of God. God is making a family. And, one of the most beautiful and touching aspects of this concept is the wonderful mystery Paul spoke of in Ephesians.

Ephesians 5:30-32 (30) For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. (31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

May our loving God bless us to love each other as He loves us, and together pray for the perfection and unity of the Body of Christ.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, May 30, 2025. This is Day 6 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 48th Day of Counting.

Today we are preparing for two days of Holy time, the weekly Sabbath and the annual Holy convocation.

Ancient Israel spent several days preparing themselves to meet with God. In the New Testament, we find that the disciples of Jesus Christ were also preparing for a special meeting with God. Jesus had promised them that they would receive power from on high, so they went to Jerusalem and spent their days in the Temple praising God.

What will God grant to us when we truly prepare to go before Him in our commanded holy convocations? Of course, we may prepare ourselves by reading the Bible passages that apply to our upcoming Holy Day. We will clean our clothes and dress our best. Some people fast at least one day prior to each annual Sabbath.

And yet, whatever it is we choose to do to prepare ourselves, let us not forget to prepare our hearts. Here are a few verses that underscore the importance God places on preparing our hearts. You may want to read each of these in their full context.

1 Chronicles 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto Thee:

2 Chronicles 12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.

Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

Psalm 10:17 LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

May God bless us as we prepare for the additional blessings He will pour forth on us during this very special season of the year.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, May 29, 2025. This is Day 5 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 47th Day of Counting.

After nearly 7 full weeks of their journey from Egypt, Israel camped before the mountain where they were to encounter God in a special way. They had griped, complained, and criticized nearly all the way from Egypt. They had accused both Moses and God of horrible motives, such as to “kill” them. Yet, now they were cleaning themselves, bathing, and washing their clothes to meet with God. They were given clear instructions about how to approach God; what to do and what not to do; and, they agreed. Moses told them God’s words, and Israel said, YES!

Have you ever wondered why they agreed? Up to this point in their travels, ancient Israel had not shown much faith. Israel had been very disagreeable. So, we ask; Why were they willing to agree now?

Perhaps there are several answers. They wanted a land of their own. They probably liked the idea God had presented to them about being His “special” people. And, they had just come from a bitter battle with the Amalekites.

The battle with Amalek may have given Israel a different perspective and made them more agreeable, even if it was only for a short time. The battle with Amalek was a different kind of challenge to Israel than they had faced since Egypt. This battle was against an enemy that tracked them down. This battle was hand to hand combat. Amalek’s forces sneaked into Israel’s camp and attacked the weakest. And, the battle they were required to fight was ONLY won when Moses’ hands were lifted to God. How ancient Israel and Moses reacted made the difference in whether Israel was winning or losing at any given time. Israel had to fight, but Moses had to hold up his hands! Did the battle soften their hearts toward God?

Clearly, God can allow attack, physical or spiritual, or He can prevent it. And, even in warfare, God can give us the battle, or He can allow us to lose. Sometimes God may allow us to do spiritual battle against an enemy that sneaks up on us, so that we can become more agreeable toward God’s will in our lives. Most often than not, a period of fighting with our spiritual enemy makes us humble, more willing to listen to God’s directions, and more agreeable.

Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

May God bless us to remember the words of Proverbs and the lessons from Israel; and, we will live in as much peace as is possible. Perhaps God will spare us from many battles.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, May 28, 2025. This is Day 4 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 46th Day of Counting.

Before Israel was rescued from Egypt, Moses had told Pharaoh to let God’s people go so they could WORSHIP Him.

Exodus 8:1 And the Lord spake unto Moses; Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him; Thus saith the Lord, Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

Now, in the 7th week, the people are camped before the mountain where God would present Himself and offer them a covenant relationship. This covenant was a foundation for the worship God expected from Israel.

As the Israelites prepared themselves to go before God at Mt. Sinai, they were given very important and specific rules. There were serious consequences if those specific rules were broken.

Exodus 19:12-15, 21 (12) And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying; Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: (13) There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. (14) And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. (15) And he said unto the people; Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives…. (21) And the LORD said unto Moses; Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.

Many cultures have devised their own so-called gods and their rules of worship. However, God introduced Himself to Israel, the nation He wanted as His special people. As the ONE and ONLY TRUE God, He sets up the rules of worship. He expects them to be followed.

So it is today. God does not accept just any and all kinds of things people want to do toward God. He still wants His people to be holy, sanctified, and clean. He still determines and requires how we are to enter His presence. God expects us to approach Him with awe and respect.

May God bless us as we learn true worship of the true God as we stand or bow in absolute awe!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, May 27, 2025. This is Day 3 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 45th Day of Counting.

God told Moses to sanctify or consecrate the people; perhaps better, set them apart from Me (Exodus 19:10). That was appropriate because they were going to be near God. He was going to “come down in the sight of all the people” (verse 11).

Exodus 19:8-11 (8) And all the people answered together, and said; All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. (9) And the LORD said unto Moses; Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. (10) And the LORD said unto Moses; Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, (11) And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

Sanctify is used in several contexts in Scripture. It is frequently used in connection with making clean or purifying. And, it also means to make holy; to set apart for sacred use. God intends for His people to be set apart, wholly or completely! He has paid an awesome price so this might be done. And, please realize, it had to be done as a prerequisite to our eternal salvation. It’s part of the process! The sanctification of God’s people is extremely important to God; and, He does not take this sanctification lightly!

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:26 That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Hebrews 13:12 (AMP) Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city] gate so that He might sanctify and set apart for God as holy the people [who believe] through [the shedding of] His own blood.

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall He be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith He was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

It is clear that we are to go through God’s process of sanctification and purification; and, to remain sanctified before God.

May God bless us to be wholly sanctified for His use.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, May 26, 2025. This is Day 2 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 44th Day of Counting.

Ancient Israel accepted their invitation to be in covenant with God. One of the aspects of the covenant promise from God was to make of them a kingdom of priests. Yet, they were unable to keep the covenant. God, however, did set up a priesthood in the tribe of Levi. He took the entire tribe of Levi to serve Him instead of the firstborn of every family.

When they agreed to keep God’s covenant, did ancient Israel truly realize what being a kingdom of priests would mean for their day-to-day life? Probably not!

However, God has not abandoned the idea of having a kingdom of priests as He expresses a very similar desire for those He calls today. So, we ask; Do we truly realize what being a kingdom of priests means to our day-to-day life?

The Old Testament lists many duties and responsibilities of priests. The duties revolved around the system of worship God instituted. Dealing with sacrifices is one of the first things that come to mind when we think of a priesthood. And yet, there were other things God expected of priests. We find some special duties in Malachi.

Malachi 2:7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Many people today seem to expect these particular priestly responsibilities (keeping knowledge, teaching the law, and being a messenger of the Lord) to be duties of the ministry; and, that is most certainly a justified comparison. However, God, in the New Testament, refers to ALL of us as being a “chosen generation.”

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;

It is clear from the passage of Scripture in 1 Peter that everyone God has called out of darkness into marvellous light is intended to “shew forth the praises.”

May God bless us to take this particular assigned task to heart and put these words (shew forth the praises) at the top of every “to do” list we make. So, we ask; Do we?

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, May 25, 2025. This is Day 1 of Week 7 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 43rd Day of Counting. This is the Week of Israel Camping before Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 19:1-2 (1) In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. (2) For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.

At the area around Mt. Sinai, God called to Moses and gave him a message that he was to deliver to Israel.

Exodus 19:3-6 (3) And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying; Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; (4) Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. (5) Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: (6) And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

God’s message to Israel was a reminder of what He had just done for Israel, bringing them out of Egypt on “eagles’ wings.” And, God was proposing the opportunity to enter into covenant with Him. Other Old Testament Scriptures indicate that this was compared to a marriage covenant. God offered Israel the honor of being “a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people” and the opportunity of becoming a “kingdom of priests” and a “holy” nation.

Words very similar to this proposal are found in the New Testament.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light;

Ancient Israel heard the words of God’s covenant proposal and committed to doing their part; yet, as we know, they failed to live up to their part of the agreement.

Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

God wants our hearts. He wants our heartfelt love. He wants ALL of the rest of our being, also. The gift of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost has made it possible for us to give all of our being to Him.

May God bless us to give God exactly what He wants.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, May 24, 2025. This is Day 7 of Week 6 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 42nd Day of Counting.

While Jethro was visiting Moses in the camp of ancient Israel, he provided some sound advice to help Moses deal with the immense number of leadership issues, including one of judging (arbitrating, giving rulings, decisions, and verdicts) on various matters.

Judgment (decisions) on all matters from the top done was cumbersome and unnecessary. It was a hardship on the people as well as upon Moses. Therefore, a wise and practical suggestion was implemented. Part of it involved the character of the men to be chosen. And, a second part of it involved teaching the people the law so they were active participants in receiving justice and knowing that they had received it. It provided confidence in leadership.

Men who were to provide “justice” for the Israelites were to be

• Men who loved truth
• Able men with good judgment (wisdom), discernment of truth, and knowledge of the law
• Men who feared God and who would not be swayed by any form of coercion, threats, or flattery
• Men who would not give into bribery

Let’s read these characteristics in the language of the King James Bible.

Exodus 18:19-22 (19) Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: (20) And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. (21) Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: (22) And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

It is clear from Exodus 18 that there was some form of “law” already in place before the 10 Commandments, statutes, and ordinances were given as part of the covenant in codified form at Mt. Sinai. The people were to be taught that “law.” The leaders chosen to judge were to use that “law.” Everyone was involved, and everyone could know what the outcome needed to be once all the details were known and the “law” was applied correctly.

God’s people need to have confidence in the men who lead them; they need to know what God expects.

Ancient Israel apparently had many ideas about what a leader was and was not suppose to do. Frequently throughout their journey in the wilderness, they falsely accused the leaders, including God. They were stubborn, self-willed, and rebelled in different ways. It made sense that God would set forth characteristics of leadership that everyone could learn, understand, and recognize in leaders. The characteristics listed for leaders can guide us today.

God bless us all to learn and apply God’s standard for all we do.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, May 23, 2025. This is Day 6 of Week 6 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 41st Day of Counting.

During this 6th week of the journey, Moses received a special visitor, his father-in-law, Jethro; who brought Moses’ wife and sons to be with him in the wilderness.

Exodus 18:1-6 (1) When Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel His people, and that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt; (2) Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back. (3) And her two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land: (4) And the name of the other was Eliezer; for the God of my father, said He, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh: (5) And Jethro, Moses’ father in law, came with his sons and his wife unto Moses into the wilderness, where he encamped at the mount of God: (60 And he said unto Moses, I thy father-in-law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two sons with her.

Zipporah is mentioned only 2 other times in Scripture, first in Exodus 2 when she married Moses, and then in Exodus 4 where we see Zipporah and her sons on the way to Egypt with Moses where he was to tell Pharaoh to let the people go. Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, apparently had returned to Jethro’s home some time after the events of Exodus 4. Apparently, Zipporah circumcised her firstborn son to save his life.

Exodus 4:19-20, 25 (19) And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian; Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life. (20) And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand…. (25) Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said; Surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

Moses lived quite a busy life, dealing with life and death issues publicly and privately. The Bible only gives us meager details in the story of his family. However, whatever the family issues were, God was still very pleased with His servant, Moses. What we learn by putting the details together is that Moses was just a man.

Hebrews 3:1-5 (1) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; (2) Who was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. (3) For this Man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. (4) For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God. (5) And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

May God bless us to consider our leaders, in and out of the Church, and pray for their faithfulness to God’s directions.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God