Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, May 14, 2023. It is Day 36; Day 1 of Week 6 in our Count to Pentecost.

This week we pick up the story of Israel’s journey in Exodus 17.

Exodus 17:1-4 (1) And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. (2) Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said; Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them; Why chide ye with me? Wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? (3) And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said; Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? (4) And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying; What shall I do unto this people? They be almost ready to stone me.

Imagine that! Moses actually thought the people might stone him. As part of the covenant God was about to give to the children of Israel, stoning was for crimes worthy of a brutal death.

Here is an abbreviated list of how stoning was to be used:

• For touching Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:10-13)
• Kidnapping (Exodus 21:16-18)
• Teaching about a different way to worship God (Deuteronomy 13)
• Practicing a different religion (Deuteronomy 17:1-7)
• Blasphemy (Leviticus 24:10-16)
• Giving children to Molech (Leviticus 20:1-5)
• Being a medium or a wizard (Leviticus 20:27)
• Breaking the Sabbath (Numbers 15:32-36)
• Stubborn rebellious sons (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)
• Sexual misconduct (Deuteronomy 22:13-29)
• For stealing what God had forbidden (Joshua 7:20-26)
• Cursing God and the King (1 Kings 21:1-16)

Instead of being thankful for the many gifts of God, including the gift of His chosen leader Moses, the meekest of men (Numbers 12:30), they were ready to unlawfully murder.

How God handled this threat against Moses is another of the great proofs of the absolute goodness of God’s divine nature. He was merciful, kind, and generous. And, He was determined to keep His Word.

May God bless us to look forward more and more to the coming of Pentecost where God first poured out the Holy Spirit and made it possible to receive His divine nature.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, May 13, 2023. It is Day 35; Day 7 of Week 5 as we Count to Pentecost.

Although ancient Israel knew about the Sabbath; most of them never learned what a delight it is. Today let us celebrate God’s Sabbath in all the ways He intended and in all the ways He has made available to us.

During our Count to Pentecost, we find the Israelites on their way to receiving a great formal code of law as part of a national covenant. God placed the Sabbath in the heart of the 10 Commandments. It is a key component of God’s covenant and His promises.

It is evident through the way the ancient Israelites responded to God and to His servants that they were strictly a carnal people. The natural, carnal mind cannot be subject to the law of God, but through God’s Holy Spirit (also given on Pentecost); we can even come to LOVE all of God’s ways because we are no longer “in the flesh.”

Romans 8:7, 9(A) (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (9)(A) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you….

May God grant us the great blessing of truly enjoying our fellowship with Him and sincerely loving all His ways; especially on the Sabbath.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, May 12, 2023. It is Day 34; Day 6 of Week 5 in our Count to Pentecost.

Following God’s underscoring the timing of the Sabbath and its proper observance for ancient Israel, Israel remained for a brief time in the general area. They had ample food, so that was not to be a problem for them again while they were in the wilderness. However, they still had additional challenging experiences to face.

Had Israel understood how much of a blessing the faithful and joyful proper use of the Sabbath can bring, they may have entered God’s REST much sooner. Yet, they did not know. Why? Perhaps it was because they tended to focus on self rather than God.

Brethren, do we understand the wonderful blessings linked to God’s gift of the Sabbath? It was never intended to be any kind of a burden. No, Never! The Sabbath was always to be associated with great blessings. Notice what God says in Isaiah.

Isaiah 58:13-14 (13) If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My Holy Day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the Holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: (14) Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

May God bless us with the faith so that we will all turn away our feet from the Sabbath. God’s intends for us to “ride upon the high places of the earth!” Believe it!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, May 11, 2023. It is Day 33; Day 5 of Week 5 as we Count to Pentecost.

In the Bible we find more than one kind of Sabbath commanded by God. In addition to the 7th day weekly Sabbath that God had created from the beginning and reemphasized when Israel was in the wilderness, God also instructed the nation of Israel regarding giving the land a rest every 7th year.

Just as God had promised Israel that He would give them extra manna to last over the weekly Sabbath, He also promised an extra abundance of food to harvest in the 6th year of the land rest so that the food would last until the crops came in two or three years later.

Leviticus 25:1-5, 20-22 (1) And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them; When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the LORD. (3) Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof; (4) But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the LORD: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. (5) That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap, neither gather the grapes of thy vine undressed: for it is a year of rest unto the land. (20) And if ye shall say; What shall we eat the seventh year? Behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase: (21) Then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. (22) And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.

It is truly amazing how God can so easily multiply an amount of food or a harvest’s yield. God simply says; “I will command My blessing upon you,” then it is done! And, we know that is because God’s Word never returns to Him void.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Brethren, we serve a wise, generous, powerful, and unstoppable God. Faithful, loving obedience to God through His Holy Spirit will bring an abundant harvest of blessings to each of us! May He bless us that we always cooperate with Him and trust Him to supply whatever it is we may need.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, May 10, 2023. It is Day 32; Day 4 of Week 5 in our Count to Pentecost.

While the Israelites were on their way to Mt. Sinai, God underscored the importance of observing the Sabbath day for them. He presented them with a 40 year long activity that tested their obedience.

The Israelites lived daily with supernatural intervention. They already had the daily presence of God in the cloud and in the pillar of fire. Now, they had a divine deliverance of daily bread. And, along with the miracle of the bread from heaven, God also intervened supernaturally every 6th day to provide an additional daily portion of bread so that the Israelites could eat without the labor involved in gathering bread on the 7th day.

Exodus 16:14-30 (14) And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. (15) And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another; It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them; This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat. (16) This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded; Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. (17) And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. (18) And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. (19) And Moses said; Let no man leave of it till the morning. (20) Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. (21) And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. (22) And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. (23) And he said unto them; This is that which the LORD hath said; Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (24) And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. (25) And Moses said; Eat that to day; for today is a Sabbath unto the LORD: today ye shall not find it in the field. (26) Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none. (27) And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. (28) And the LORD said unto Moses; How long refuse ye to keep My Commandments and My laws? (29) See, for that the LORD hath given you the Sabbath, therefore He giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. (30) So the people rested on the seventh day.

The way God reestablished the 7th day Sabbath left no possibility that the commanded day of rest could be any other day. He allowed the bread to decay and breed worms if Israel tried to store the bread, except on the 6th day when it would remain fresh for use on the Sabbath.

In addition, God also proved to His people that He could and would supply all of their needs. There is no end to the creative powers that God can use to bless His people.

Brethren, we belong to Him, and He has proven over and over that He has a generous open hand toward His people. May God give us the wisdom and Spirit to rejoice as we fulfill our part in His master plan.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, May 9, 2023. This is Day 31; Day 3 of Week 5 in our Count to Pentecost.

Does it astonish us that this group of ancient Israelites could chide (reproach, scold, rebuke, blame) Moses and tempt God after all they had recently seen and experienced? Indeed, they were still experiencing the “cloud” and the “fire” and the “bread from heaven” on-a-daily-basis? Yet, they did not see. It seems they were “blind.” They did not “see” or understand God at all. Why?

Although there are many reasons attached to this kind of “blindness” mentioned in the Bible, God gives us one certain reason for the blindness of the Israelites of the wilderness experiences in Psalms. The answer is that they had hard hearts.

Psalm 95:7-9 (7) For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Today if ye will hear His voice, (8) Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (9) When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me, and saw My work.

Ancient Israel did not have the “heart” to submit to God.

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!

Today, God wants us to consider the state of our hearts, also. The heart is where we store up our impressions and our feelings about what matters to us. We cannot allow ourselves o harden our hearts. God repeats an exhortation about our hearts 3 times in Hebrews.
Hebrews 3:8, 25 (8) Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: (15) While it is said; Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
Hebrews 4:7 Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David; Today, after so long a time; as it is said; Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.

It would be wise to consider what the Bible says about how a hard heart is developed. Hebrews 3 gives one answer, and 2 Thessalonians backs up the same thought.

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

These two scriptural witnesses give us some idea of the process: first, sin deceives us, leading us to not love truth, then, our hearts grow hard. It is a simple process God’s enemy uses over and over on mankind. However, realizing this process, we can circumvent it in the future. The antidote is receiving the love of the truth of God. No matter what the circumstances are and no matter what we think, feel, or want to hold onto, we are to LOVE THE TRUTH OF GOD. Loving God’s truth will protect our hearts.

May God bless us richly to zealously love Him and His TRUTH.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, May 8, 2023. It is Day 30; Day 2 of Week 5 in our Count to Pentecost.

Before God allowed the Israelites to reach Mt. Sinai and be granted a formal covenant with many promises, including those that were intended to make them a great nation, God wanted “to prove” Israel

Exodus 16:4-7 (4) Then said the LORD unto Moses; Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. (5) And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. (6) And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel; At even, then ye shall know that the LORD hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: (7) And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD; for that He heareth your murmurings against the LORD: and what are we, that ye murmur against us.

This proving of Israel by God centered around the 7th day of the week, the Sabbath, the day of rest or ceasing. God made it Holy. Of course, the Sabbath had been in effect since the first week of creation. Yet, here in the wilderness, God reaffirmed the cycle and the holiness of the Sabbath. At Mt Sinai, God formally incorporated it into the covenant and described the Sabbath in the 4th Commandment.

This Commandment has much to do with God’s recognizing a people as His own. God calls it “a sign.”

Exodus 31:13, 15-17 (13) Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying; Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. (15) Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. (16) Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. (17) It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.

May our God recognize us as His people by our response to His “proving” each one of us. May He bless us to be faithful.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, May 7, 2023. It is Day 29; Day 1 of Week 5 in our Count to Pentecost.

As citizens of the 21st century, we have a lot of history we can examine as we look back at mankind’s experiences. As followers of the true God, we need to be acutely aware that there are godly leaders as well as very ungodly leaders. And at times, at least for short intervals, we may not be able to distinguish the godly from the ungodly. That is, until their fruit matures.

God’s Word tells us God found Moses faithful. Yes, Moses was a wonderful example of a Godly leader. The fruit was evident. Yet, Israel murmured against him. In the case of Moses and other such Godly leaders who are following what they have been expressly directed to do by God Himself, murmuring against the leader is equated with murmuring against God. That is how God sees it. Notice what happened in Exodus.

Exodus 16:2, 8-9 (2) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness… (8) And Moses said, for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against Him: and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD. (9) And Moses spake unto Aaron; Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel; Come near before the LORD: for He hath heard your murmurings.

Can God work through frail, incompetent, inconsistent, fleshly human beings? Of course, He can. God worked through mere men thousands of years ago; and, He also works through mere men in this-day-and-age.

So, in this passage in Exodus, instead of murmuring against Moses, what “righteous” thing could the Israelites have done, even if they truly believed that Moses’ leadership had somehow failed them? They could have remembered what God had already done for them. They could have appealed to God and approached Moses with their concerns in a humble, non-accusing manner. They could have submitted themselves to God’s faithful care.

May God grant each one of us discernment of HIS LEADERSHIP and insight so we respond righteously to it. And, let each of us remember that we ourselves are being trained for positions of leadership. Studying Moses’ life and the lives of other of God’s faithful servants can help us understand what to expect and how to respond in leadership roles.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, May 6, 2023. It is Day 28; and, Day 7 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.

According to the Hebrew calendar we have been using, today is also the 15th of Iyyar (the second month). This date is mentioned in Exodus 16:1 as the day on which the children of Israel entered the Wilderness of Sin.

Exodus 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt.

During our Count to Pentecost, the Sabbath days are always going to be in multiples of 7 (7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 35th, 42nd and 49th). Of course, the calendar dates will vary.

We do not know that the children of Israel traveled on the Sabbath. They may have arrived in the wilderness on ANY day of the week. What we know is that they were following the cloud by day and were led, protected, and granted light at night by the pillar of fire.

Nehemiah 9:12 Moreover Thou leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.

At the very beginning of their stay in the wilderness, the Sabbath became an issue for them. Israel also began to murmur against the leaders God had used to deliver them from Egypt. The Israelites ACCUSED them of a murderous motive.

Exodus 16:2-3 (2) And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: (3) And the children of Israel said unto them; Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

How absurd! Moses had not asked for the job, but God called him to it. Moses had not wanted the job, but God insisted. And, according to the New Testament writings, Moses was faithful, even in the face of lying accusations. Moses was suffering for doing right!

Hebrews 3:2, 5 (2) Who was faithful to Him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. (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 all to deal faithfully with the work God gives us to do and trust He knows what He is doing!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, May 5, 2023. It is Day 27; and, Day 6 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.

This is a preparation day! God has given us the 6th day of the week each and every week to prepare ahead for the special fellowship He wants us to have with Him and with those He has chosen to be our brethren.

1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

As we go about our duties today, let us consciously prepare for the Sabbath. Yes, of course, there are physical things we do for its coming. Yet, perhaps more importantly, there are also spiritual things we can do to prepare for Holy time with God.

If we enter the Sabbath without conscious thought, are we shortchanging ourselves in our potential fellowship with God? If we enter the Sabbath in a hurried, hectic, or unpeaceful way, are we being dishonest with ourselves when we say. “I have prepared?” If we carry over the everyday cares, worries, and fleshly concerns that are common to our day-to-day lives, are we corrupting the wonderful possibilities for blessings that God desires to give to
us as He fellowships with us on the Sabbath?

Let us be especially aware of our need for preparation as we Count toward Pentecost. May God bless us with the insight on how to truly be prepared for this and every Sabbath.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
©2023, Church of the Sovereign God