Dear Family,

Today is Monday, May 1, 2023. It is Day 23; and, Day 2 of Week 4 in our Count to Pentecost.

Perhaps the ancient Israelites were unclear about why they were being taken into the wilderness toward Mt. Sinai, rather than straight across the desert peninsula. Surely, they knew they were free from Egypt. They knew God had promised them a rich and abundant land; yet, what were they anticipating? Perhaps they did not realize what God had in mind.

Did they anticipate receiving of the law of God? Did they anticipate the special covenant they were being offered? Did they anticipate that God fully intended to test and to try them along the way to see their willingness to obey Him and worship Him as the Sovereign God He is?

Living today in this 21st century, we have the benefit of much hindsight, from history and from Scripture. And, it would be very wise for us to ask ourselves some of these same questions.

Now that these centuries have past, our Savior has come, we know the 10 Commandments, and we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit; are we anticipating receiving more and more understanding of the Law of God, which of course contains much more than God’s awesome and basic 10 Commandments. It is made of much more than the Torah. In fact, it is the entire Word of God.

Our Savior said man must live by every Word of God. And, He Himself is the Living Word of God Who continues to speak to us and teach us what the Father instructs.

Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said; It is written; Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

John 1:1-5, 14 (1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. (4) In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

May God bless us to anticipate more and more of God’s truth and all the other wonderful gifts He has for us today and everyday, at this Pentecost, and in the final day that will never end.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 30, 2023. It is Day 22; and Day 1 of Week 4 as we Count to Pentecost.

During this week the Israelites moved on toward the Wilderness of Sin. They had followed the cloud by day as God led them in a path that avoided certain areas and people. God’s choice of the path was deliberate. He knew what the Israelites needed to experience and what they needed to avoid. Exodus 13 tells us that God avoided the land of the Philistines. This, of course, meant a longer route.

Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said; Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: As we learn to walk with our God in this life, let us be mindful of how important it is that God Himself picks the path we travel. Let us remember that God may often deliberately take us in a course that will circumvent specific challenges He does not want us to face. And, He also leads us into other areas where He intends that we learn valuable lessons for the infinite, ongoing life our Savior has died to provide for us. Although we do not have God’s presence in a cloud to guide us, we do have His constant attention and the light of His Word.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

May God bless us to savor the lessons of the journey and not question His tactics or His intentions.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, April 29, 2023. It is Day 21; and, Day 7 of Week 3 as we Count to Pentecost.

We are not sure which day the Israelites left their camp at Elim. However, it took some time to move from Elim to the Wilderness of Sin, perhaps several days. We do know that according to the travel log we find in Numbers 33, the Israelites had a camp by the Red Sea on their way to the wilderness area. We also know they arrived in the wilderness on the 15th day of the second month; and, that is one month after they began their journey out of Egypt.

Numbers 33:10-11 (10) And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red Sea. (11) And they removed from the Red Sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.

Exodus 16:1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children ofIsrael 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.

The locations of the Wilderness of Sin and Mt. Sinai have received a lot of attention through the years. The meanings of the names have also drawn attention and debate.

Some have thought the Wilderness of Sin got its name from Israel’s rebellion. However, historical records seem to indicate that this area was named “Sin” long before the Israelites arrived.

Most commentaries attribute the name to the pagan moon god whose name was Sin. Some believe the name of the peninsula of Sinai has the same connection. However, the commentaries do not agree. There are a few commentaries that suggest that the word sin is a transliteration of a Hebrew word which means thorn. And, much of the area may be a really “thorny” desert.

Where ever these places are and regardless of the meanings of the names, God has seen fit to record specific names and experiences for us. He has given them to us for our “admonition” as well as for general information.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2, 11-12 (1) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea…. (11) Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. (12) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

May we truly be admonished and get the lessons God has intended. We must learn whatever God determines. However, please remember that all His thoughts toward us are good.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, April 28, 2023. It is Day 20; and, Day 6 of Week 3 as we Count to Pentecost.

Counting the omer to Pentecost everyday is a spiritual training in obedience and overcoming. Are we faithful? Throughout the pages of the Bible, we learn over and over that God really does pay attention to little details. We learn from the Book of Luke that when we are faithful in little, we can be trusted to be faithful when given more.

Luke19:17 And he said unto him; Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

There are so many lessons in the Counting to 50 and in the recalling of the details of Israel’s experiences. We can find many beautiful and significant parallels between what happened to the ancient Israelites and what occurs in the lives of true disciples today. Here is a partial list. Egypt pictures our living in bondage to sin. The Passover lamb pictures the sacrifice of God’s Perfect Lamb, the Son of God. The blood over the door pictures the blood of our Savior covering our sins. The death angel passing over the homes where the inhabitants were obedient, pictures our being spared from the second death. Israel’s walk out of Egypt pictures our moving away from our old life of bondage. Crossing the Red Sea pictures our baptism and the beginning of our walk with God. The trials and tests of the journey to Mt. Sinai picture the life we live after our calling, repentance, and baptism.

Israel’s meeting with God at Mt. Sinai and making a covenant with Him on the 50th day pictures a covenant being formalized between Christ and His Church. The Book of Ruth (especially chapter 3), which is traditionally connected to Pentecost; also shows such a covenant being made between Boaz and Ruth regarding their eventual marriage.

The 50th day, like the Jubilee that occurred every 50 years, is a type of the great liberation and TOTAL SALVATION that will occur for the Church eventually. There was a tremendous display of God’s power at Mt. Sinai thousands of years ago and again in Jerusalem about 2000 years ago. On that first Pentecost, God’s people received the Law and made a marriage covenant with Him. On another Pentecost, God sent His Holy Spirit that provides us with the power to become Sons of God. We need both of these for God to finally prepare us for our eternal release from the bondage of human flesh that will occur at the Feast of Trumpets. Let us remember that much of God’s Plan remains a mystery that He will “finish” in His time and in His way.

May God make us faithful!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, April 27, 2023. It is Day 19; and, Day 5 of Week 3 as we Count to Pentecost.

Today we find the ancient Israelites still at their encampment at Elim. There they rested and were refreshed by the wells of water and the palm trees.

“Elim” is a plural Hebrew word (noted by the suffix im). The word “El” means, “strong one.” It is often used in reference to God. The word Elim can also be translated as “strong trees.” Either way, the name of this desert oasis may symbolically refer to God and to those with whom God is now working.

Let us hope and pray that we are flourishing like the palm tree. The Bible tells us that is what the righteous will be doing.

Psalm 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Our greatest refreshing comes from the presence of the LORD. He is the Source or the Fountain of Living Waters. He is our Life! God refers to Himself in these ways in several Scriptures.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Psalm 36:9 For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.

Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from Me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

As we continue our Count to Pentecost and continue our life’s journey, let us examine ourselves to be sure that the spiritual water we are drinking has God as its only Source. May all of our springs be in our God; and, may our roots go deeply into that Fountain. For then, we will be refreshed and grow strong in the LORD.

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

Dear Family,
Today is Wednesday, April 26, 2023. It is Day 18; and, Day 4 of Week 3 as we Count to Pentecost.

Let us remember that God had made ancient Israel very rich in a physical sense. Scripture says they spoiled the Egyptians; and, we know they carried much wealth with them into their wilderness journey.

Exodus 12:36 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. The children of Israel were being tried and tested along their way to Mt. Sinai. Somehow, they neglected to acknowledge and use the gifts and blessings God had provided for them along with their freedom.

God gives many gifts to us. We have received gifts such as His calling, love, truth, understanding, wisdom, grace, forgiveness, mercy, purpose, His righteousness, and many, many more.

After we are freed from our bondage, we need to realize God must purify us so we become what He is spiritually creating. He knows exactly what He is doing. As disciples of our Creator, Savior, and Teacher, we surely realize that God is trying and testing each of us on our journey. On our journey we need to be using what He has already given to us as He tests, tries, and purifies us.

May God bless us to become acutely aware of just how RICH God has made us spiritually since He delivered us from our bondage to sin. Let us use these spiritual riches to bring forth much fruit for God’s glory. And, let us be thankful and cooperative as we experience God’s methods for purifying us and making us ready for Him to grant us even greater, eternal blessings.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 25, 2023. It is Day 17; and, it is Day 3 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost.

As all thinking adults know, every life has plenty of temptations, challenges, and adversities. And, they come in all varieties.

During this week of Counting to Pentecost and our following the journey of the Israelites, we find ancient Israel resting comfortably at the oasis of Elim. God’s presence was with them as they rested. He was in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

Exodus 13:22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

During periods of plenty and rest from powerful challenges, some people tend to take good things like food, water, peace, health, freedom, unity, stability, and access to God for granted. The wise ones remember the blessings as well as the challenges and adversities that are bound to come again, and they prepare ahead. They gather the resources that need to be gathered. They stay in intimate contact with God. They grow while there is plentiful physical and spiritual nutrition.

The story of Israel at Elim demonstrates one of God’s patterns of interacting with His people. At times, God does grant us all periods of rest from our trials. He knows exactly what level of challenge we can face. And, He promises to be with us in both the good times and the times of adversity.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful; Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

In the book of Matthew, we learn of 5 wise virgins and 5 unwise ones. Half of the group had prepared ahead while the other half did not. Let us be wise enough to enjoy our times of rest and plenty while we prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and especially spiritually for what lies ahead for us in God’s Master Plan.

While we may not know exactly what to expect in our near future, surely, we all realize that we must be alert and prepared while we enjoy a time of relative peace and plenty.

May God bless and strengthen each one of us.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 24, 2023. It is Day 16; and, Day 2 of Week 3 in our Count to Pentecost.

We know from Scripture that God called, tested, and blessed Abraham, enriching him with physical wealth, the promise of many blood-line children, and spiritual blessings that will go on forever. His offspring did multiply as promised.

God also told Abraham that his seed would go into a foreign land where they would be afflicted. That also happened thousands of years ago.

Genesis 15:13 And He said unto Abram; Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

Then, God faithfully brought the children of Israel, the children of Abraham, out of Egyptian bondage.

Exodus 12:40-41 (40) Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years. (41) And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.

Please do not be confused by the 400 years and the 430 years. When you compare the two dates, remember that Israel was not afflicted for the entire time they were in Egypt. We can be sure that God knows how to tell time and how to record the details He wants recorded. The main point is that God predicts what He is going to do and then proceeds to keep His Word. God records details about Israel’s experience in Egypt again in the book of Acts.

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.

God’s sense of timing is dependable, exact, and perfect. We can be sure that God has a purpose for the seven weeks and 50 days of Counting from the Wavesheaf to Pentecost. As we faithfully do what God commands, we can rest assured that God will fulfill His purposes, whatever they are, for the Counting. And, we can be confident He will accomplish in us and through us what He desires.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 23, 2023. It is Day 15; Day 1 of Week 3 in Count to Pentecost.

As we enter this third week of our Counting to Pentecost from the Wavesheaf Offering, it is good to remind ourselves of exactly what God has told us to do regarding the Counting.

Let us be careful to learn and remember that God instructed the Counting of seven weeks as well as the Counting of 50 days.

Deuteronomy 16:9 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. God labeled the weeks exactly as “seven weeks.” Notice He did not say just any period of time would do. For example, we know God created the first week beginning on the first day of the week. It is the day that English speaking people call Sunday. Then, He ended the first week by creating and resting on the seventh day, the Sabbath.

Along with the 50 days He tells us to Count, God was also careful to make sure we understand that the weeks must “be out” when we are to meet in the commanded holy convocation.

Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:

Exodus 34:22 And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest….

Clearly, these verses indicate seven full weeks, beginning and ending as weeks have begun and ended since God created time for us back in Genesis 1. That means we begin our Count on the first day of the week, a Sunday. Then after our weeks are out, we have a holy convocation. That would, of course, take place on the 50th day. And, in this Counting, that day would obviously be a Sunday, the first day of another week. That is when the Counting ends.

As children, most of us have experienced the anticipation of something significant happening when we Counted toward a particular date. The Counting seemed to impart more positive expectations for whatever we were waiting for. May God bless us with a renewed sense of hope and an increased expectation of good from our God as we eagerly await Pentecost this and every year.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, April 22, 2023. It is Day 14; and Day 7 of Week 2 in our Count to Pentecost.

For many days, Israel camped at Elim where they enjoyed 12 wells of water and the food and shade of 70 palm trees. Just as a matter of interesting Biblical information, we find the numbers 12 and 70 frequently appear in Scripture. They all appear to be a pattern of using these numbers in dealing with leadership or government and foundations. Here are a few of the references.

• In Genesis 10, we learn of 70 nations
• Genesis 46 tells us that 70 souls went into Egypt
• Jacob had a family with 12 sons who eventually grew into the 12 tribes of Israel
• Man is generally given threescore and ten (i.e., 70) years
• Jeremiah 35:11 tells us Jerusalem had 70 years of rest while Judah was in Babylon
• 70 men were chosen as elders for the tribes of Israel

The Bible makes distinct mention of 12 people who were specially anointed; five of these men were priests while seven of them were kings.

(1) Aaron, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
(2) Nadab, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
(3) Abihu, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
(4) Eleazar, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
(5) Ithamar, Exodus 29:7,9, etc.
(6) Saul, 1 Samuel 10:1
(7) David, 1 Samuel 16:13
(8) Absalom, 2 Samuel 19:10
(9) Solomon, 1 Kings 1:39.
(10) Jehu, 2 Kings 9:6
(11) Joash, 2 Kings 11:12
(12) Josiah, 2 Kings 23:30

Jesus appointed and sent out 70; He chose 12 Apostles; He is introduced publicly at 12 years of age. There are many other situations where God describes a group of twelve, including 12 men sent to spy out Canaan, 12 loaves of bread, 12 stones for the altar, 12 jewels on the high priests’ breastplate, 12 foundations for new Jerusalem, 12 gates, 12 pearls, 12 angels.

New Jerusalem is 144 (12 X 12) cubits, and there is a special group of 144,000 (also a multiple of 12).

There are many mysteries still contained in God’s Word; and, it is not until the 7th trump that the mystery of God will be finished.

Revelation 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. God is preparing leaders for important work ahead in His great plan for mankind. Those of us called now in this present Church age are sharing an exciting journey. May God bless us to enjoy the journey as well as the fellowship of all that our God has now called to take part in what He is doing in this end time.

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