Dear Family,

Today is Friday, April 29, 2022, Day 6 of Week 2. It is our 13th Day of Count to Pentecost.

God’s turning the bitter water to sweet at Marah can serve to remind us how quickly God can turn our circumstances around. The more we experience God’s goodness, the more we can trust. And, conversely, the more we trust Him, the more we will experience God’s goodness.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

Once we taste (experience for ourselves by using our senses) the goodness of God, we become more and more aware of it. In essence, we grow in our ability to “see” the Lord is good.

There are so many people with so many attitudes about God. Yet, many have never really “tasted” God to find out about His goodness. They just rattle off their “inexperienced” opinions without really having tasted Him.

Some individuals may have come to know certain things about God by reading about Him, or just hearing people talk about Him. Others may have heard His voice as Israel did at Mt. Sinai. And, there are other ways people have come to learn specific things about God. Some have seen Him at a distance, while others seem to sense His presence as they pray. However, knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. Knowing about God is especially not the same thing as knowing God’s goodness.

God wants true Believers to really experience Him and His goodness. Yes, we can know God. Spiritually, He can be tasted . . . and savored!

The Holy Bible says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” Trust in any relationship grows as we experience faithfulness over and over. And, the words “in Him” infer a very close, personal, abiding relationship. It is one God wants all of His chosen ones, His children, to experience fully.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, April 28. 2022. This is Day 5 of Week 2. It is our 12th Day of our Count to Pentecost.

Quickly responding to Moses cry at the bitter waters of Marah, God showed Moses a tree to put into the bitter waters. Miraculously, the bitter water became sweet and easy to drink.

While the children of Israel typically grumbled, complained, and quickly lost hope when they faced a new challenge, Moses characteristically submitted to God. Throughout Israel’s wilderness journey, we find Moses turning to God over and over. There’s an important lesson for us in Moses’ example.

Moses entered the 40-year wilderness experience with a different mindset, and with a different spirit than the mindset and spirit we find in the children of Israel. Moses was humble.

In almost every circumstance, when the Israelites sinned or railed against him and against God, Moses turned to God and answered the situation with restraint, mercy, and wisdom. We find a key to Moses’ approach to challenge in the book of Numbers.

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

In the book of Hebrews, God reports that Moses “was faithful in all his house “(Hebrews 3:2b).

Humility is more than just a wise way to respond to new and challenging circumstances, it is also an extremely important characteristic we will find very useful in being counted “faithful” throughout our journeys.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, April 27, 2022. This is Day 4 of Week 2. It is our 11th Day of Count to Pentecost.

God knew Israel needed water as they trekked through the wilderness, and He was ready.

Matthew 6:8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Walking for three days from the Red Sea and finding no water simply intensified the imminent test facing Israel. Could it be that God’s leading Israel to the water at Marah was part of His plan to bless them even more than He had already blessed them?

God knew how the water at Marah tasted. He also knew He had the antidote to sweeten the water ready, close by. What God wanted was for Israel to trust Him as the Deliverer and the Provider. He wanted them to become aware of their need, to realize that God wanted/intended to provide their need, to ask humbly for what they needed, and then to be thankful when they received it.

However, it looks like Israel just wanted God to perform…automatically.

Have you ever considered the idea that God actually created us to have both needs and longings?

The cyclical nature of many of our needs and desires is no accident. God has designed us to have desires and needs that He earnestly wants to provide for us.

Psalm 145:16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
What He requires is for us to ask in a particular manner! When we ask properly and He provides, we form a bond to Him. God is THE GIVER of all givers. And, there is no end to His store of resources. When He withholds, He does it with deliberate intent to get our attention and teach us something important.

At Marah, Moses knew exactly what to do. He went to God! And, God provided.

Exodus 15:24-25 (24) And the people murmured against Moses, saying; What shall we drink? (25) And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 26, 2022. This is Day 3 of Week 2. It is our 10th Day of Count to Pentecost.

After walking past the Red Sea for three days into the wilderness of Shur, the children of Israel had found no water. Finally, they arrived at a place they labeled “Marah” because of the acidic, bitter taste of the water they found there.

Israel had known bitterness. Back in Egypt, their lives had been full of bitterness, and they had cried out for deliverance from their bondage. So, God had set out to deliver them. And, to represent their bitterness, He instructed them to eat bitter herbs at the Passover.

There is quite a difference between going through bitter times and becoming bitter toward God or others. The story of what happened to Israel at Marah helps illustrate an important difference.

At Marah, the Israelites murmured. They chose to vent negative feelings rather than to be humble and thankful. They began to be bitter toward God and His leadership through Moses. Yes, the water there was bitter, but their attitudes were also beginning to be bitter. And, it was their choosing to neglect thankfulness while allowing a growing sense of loss that fertilized bitterness in many of the ancient Israelites whose “carcasses” eventually fell in the wilderness.

Hebrews 3:17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

The word bitter has many uses in the English language. It can refer to tastes of food and drink, as well as to physical and emotional experiences that people feel are harsh, sharp, disagreeable, or unpleasant. It is the emotional bitterness that is the most difficult to bear, and it can bring about strong animosity and expressions of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment. This kind of bitterness within people can often grow from even a very small root. And typically, that root is planted by some sense of loss. It may be generated from something real or imagined.

In the New Testament we find bitterness being placed alongside some very bad company, like wrath, cursing, envy, and strife (Romans 3:14, James 3:14). And, God warns us of its dangers.

Believers cannot allow even the smallest root of bitterness to exist. In addition to defiling many, bitterness can also cause a person to “fail of the grace of God.”

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

We need God’s antidotes to bitterness. God healed the bitter waters at Marah. He can heal any bitterness we may ever encounter. The answer is to completely trust and rely on God.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 25, 2022. This Day 2 of Week 2. It is our 9th Day of Count to Pentecost.

God’s omnipresence is distinct from the special manifestations of His presence at numerous times we find recorded in Holy Scripture. The cloud and pillar of fire that covered and guided the ancient Israelites is only one example of God’s special or “manifest” presence.

Is there a spot in the universe where one can go and God not be there? Certainly not! There is NO where anyone can go to completely escape the omnipresence of God.

Psalm 139:7-12 (7) Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.

However, God has made His very special presence known to many in His own special ways. A number of people have been privileged to experience a Special Presence of God.

For example, Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. God spoke to Cain after Cain had killed his brother. He also spoke directly to Abraham. And later, God spoke face to face with Moses.

At Mt. Sinai, God spoke in a thunder and made the earth shake. Some humans saw only God’s glory while others spoke with the One we now know as our Savior, the Son of God. And, these are only a few of the instances and kinds of manifestations.

In the New Testament writings, we find a voice from heaven. But, probably the most distinctive manifestation of God in the New Testament occurred when the Day of Pentecost had fully come. It was the day God sent the cloven tongues of fire, and people clearly understood a description of the wonderful works of God in their own language and dialect.

Acts 2:7-11 (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another; Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

And, because of the gift of God’s Holy Spirit that begats us as His children, and continuously dwells in us, we are experiencing God’s presence more and more in a most intimate way as we grow to the full maturity of sons of God. What a concept! Praise God!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 22, 2025. This is Day 3 of Week 2 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 10th day of Counting.

Tracing the steps of ancient Israel’s journeys outside of Egypt, today we would find them moving in the wilderness on the east side of the Red Sea.

Exodus 15:22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

The Bible tells us Israel found no water. Now, not having water might be a real problem for some people. However, let us briefly remember the other circumstances that were fresh in Israel’s mind.

They had just been delivered from hard slavery, delivered through massive supernatural occurrences like a river turning to blood, plagues of frogs and lice, plagues of darkness and great hail, and the death of all unprotected firstborn. Supernaturally, the Red Sea opened for their safe passage, then slammed close to wipe out the mightiest army then on the face of the earth. Israel also was enjoying the presence of God in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

In view of these recent circumstances, do you think finding no water was going to be a big problem for Israel? Well, of course, it was no problem to God. But, Israel tended to forget about God’s power and mercy. They tended to jump to ideas of disaster overtaking them in spite of God’s faithfulness. They tended to gripe and complain FIRST.

By the time God called us to repentance, every one of us had experienced God’s miraculous intervention in our lives. Is there any tendency in us to jump to ideas of disaster when we are challenged with a new trial? The enemy of God would have us believe God will neglect us in some way. However, using the striking stories and warnings in the example of ancient Israel, we can quickly move past the lies and doubts created by the enemy.

The solution to each new challenge is to choose to trust God, call out to Him in a humble attitude, and expect His intervention. He will never fail us. He will never leave us or forsake us. God started us on the road to salvation. He has set His heart on saving us. He will complete His part of the task. No enemy can stop Him. And, with Him all things are possible.

May God grant us all the ability to respond the way He wants us to respond to every situation He sends or allows to come into our lives. He is worthy to be trusted!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 24, 2022. This Day 1 of Week 2. It is 8thDay of Count to Pentecost.

As the ancient Israelites moved further and further into the desert wilderness toward Mt. Sinai, the presence of God was always present in two very noticeable manifestations, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They provided a physical PROOF. One would think that God’s presence in these clear and obvious forms would be very comforting and reassuring to the people God had just delivered.

Psalm 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name: the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.

Surely all of God’s chosen people would be thankful for such apparent on-going care and concern with God’s presence clearly dwelling among them. One would think so. Right?

However, as we go through the story of the wanderings of Israel, who was constantly overshadowed by God’s presence, we find some very unthankful reactions. And, we find such negative reactions to God’s presence by other well-known Bible figures as well. For example, consider how Adam and Even reacted to God’s presence.

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Is the different reaction to God’s presence reasonable? We may find the reaction of Adam and Eve to God to be understandable since they had just defied God’s direct instructions. Clearly, not everyone is pleased to be with God at all times. Humans can find many reasons to resist God or try to hide from Him.

Yet, the Holy Bible indicates the kind of approach to God’s presence that people will have when they actively search for God’s “path of life,” when they want to please God, when they want to be upright and righteous, and when they seek His instructions, and strive to follow God diligently. Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Our reaction to God’s presence truly depends on clear choices we make. Walking on God’s “path of life” and being able to enjoy pleasures forevermore will go hand in hand. It’s THE BEST outcome!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, April 23, 2022. This is Day 7 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

Numbers 33:1-8 gives us specific details of Israel’s campsites in its account of their journey from its beginning from Rameses on the 15th of the month. After Israel “passed through the midst of the sea,” they headed into a wilderness area called Etham. It took them three days to reach their first major campsite outside of Egypt.

Numbers 33:1-8 (1) These are the journeys of the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt with their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. (2) And Moses wrote their goings out according to their journeys by the commandment of the LORD: and these are their journeys according to their goings out. (3) And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the morrow after the Passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. (4) For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments (5) And the children of Israel removed from Rameses, and pitched in Succoth. (6) And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham, which is in the edge of the wilderness. (7) And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pihahiroth, which is before Baalzephon: and they pitched before Migdol. (8) And they departed from before Pihahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, and went three days’ journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah.

Israel was entering unfamiliar territory, but they were blessed with marvelous proof of God’s presence with them. God had given them witness of His presence through a covering cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Exodus 13:20-22 (20) And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. (21) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: (22) He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. God was always the Leader; His presence was always with them. And, so it is with us. Once we have turned to the Living God in true repentance and set out on our journey, following His lead, He will never leave us. May God bless us so that we ALWAYS trust His leadership!

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, April 22, 2022. This is Day 6 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

Today is the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for 2022. Hopefully, we have all enjoyed eating both the physical unleavened bread and the spiritual Unleavened Bread of sincerity and truth found through Jesus Christ, our Living Bread of Life.

In addition to eating the unleavened bread, hopefully, we have successfully avoided eating leavened bread during this feast. And, more importantly, we hope that we have avoided all spiritual leaven.

As the days pass, let us remember what the Bible defines as spiritual leaven and continue to avoid it. There are numerous verses that make us aware of what we should avoid. The following verses associate leaven with false doctrine and hypocrisy:

Matthew 16:6Then Jesus said unto them; Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

Matthew 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Mark 8:15 And he charged them, saying; Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

Luke 12:1 In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all; Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

The Apostle Paul further associated leaven with being “puffed up” (1 Corinthians 5:2), and with “malice and wickedness” (1 Corinthians 5:8).

1 Corinthians 5:2, 6-8 (2) And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you…. (6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (7) Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: (8) Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

As we continue our Count toward Pentecost, let us remember that it is Jesus Christ, the Living Bread of Life within us, that provides us with the power to truly be spiritually unleavened and pleasing to God, our Father.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, April 21, 2022. This is Day 5 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

Scripture indicates there are some parallels between the ancient, mighty nation of Egypt ruled by its god-Pharaoh and this present evil world, ruled by the prince of the power of the air. And, what God did in Egypt thousands of years ago to free His chosen people from the bondage of Egypt parallels what is to happen as God permanently delivers His chosen people in the end of ages.

We find that Jesus spoke of these concepts and foretold some of these events during His earthly ministry, especially in the days just prior to His death, burial, and resurrection to everlasting life.

Just as God judged and destroyed much of Egypt, its armies, and its Pharaoh in the Red Sea (Exodus 15), He has planned judgment and destruction for this present evil world and its prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2).

John 12:27-28, 31 (27) Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. (28) Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (31) Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Notice in John 16 Jesus describes one of the reasons that it was “expedient” for Him to “go away.” The work He was about to accomplish was an intricate part of God’s deliverance of His people by judging and destroying sin and evil for good.

John 16:7-11 (7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Revelation 20:10(a) And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone….

Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand; Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God