Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, April 20, 2023. This is Day 12; Day 5 of week 2 in our Count to Pentecost.

In the Old Covenant Writings where God has recorded the story of ancient Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage, we find a very impressive and wonderful account of God’s power and His demonstration of great love for His people. We find even more extraordinary proof of God’s power and love for His people in the New Testament Writings.

About 2000 years ago, our Savior became the literal Lamb of God, our Passover. He also became the literal Wavesheaf; and, the resurrected Son of God, born now of Spirit, rather than flesh and blood and bone; appeared to His disciples on many occasions for a period of 40 days. First, our resurrected Savior appeared to Mary Magdalene and the “other” Mary at the garden tomb just prior to His ascending and being accepted as the True Wavesheaf by His Father.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

In Mark 16:12 and 14 we find that He also appeared to other disciples.
(12) After that He appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. (14) Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.

Sometimes the disciples did not believe Him or recognize Him, and He had to show the scars in His hands and side. Eight days after showing Himself to a group of disciples, He showed Himself to Thomas, a disciple who seemed very skeptical about the eyewitness accounts of the other disciples.

John 20:26-27 (26) And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them:
then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said; Peace be unto you. (27) Then saith He to Thomas; Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.

These early disciples had so much proof of God’s power and love appearing to them; yet, they tended to be skeptical. There is a good reason for this. They did not yet have the Holy Spirit. It is God’s Spirit that gives humans the ability to see and understand spiritual things.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Our need for God’s Holy Spirit is a great lesson, demonstrated for us by these early disciples. These accounts have tremendous ability to warn us and instruct us about human “knowing” versus the “knowing” we can have by way of God’s Spirit. We need Pentecost! May God bless us on our journey.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Today is Day 11; Day 4 of Week 2 in our Count to Pentecost.

After their brief stay at Marah, the ancient Israelites followed the cloud to an oasis named Elim (meaning big trees). There they found 12 wells and 70 palm trees. Many have speculated about what these numbers of wells and trees might symbolize, but Scripture is not clear about this.

Apparently, Israel rested at Elim for several weeks. Here is a Scriptural overview of their journey and camping sites during their first month out of Egyptian bondage.

Although this journey to the Promised Land was thousands of years ago, God has maintained a record for us today, containing specific details for His purposes. May God bless us to trust Him and learn the details He has provided as well as all the lessons He intends for our edification.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Today is Day 10; Day 3 of Week 2 in our Count to Pentecost.

In spite of the flagrant demonstration of wretched human nature at the waters of Marah, God continued to grant His presence and help to ancient Israel. He had promised them a land!

Our daily Count to Pentecost helps us to understand God’s faithfulness to His people. He has also made promises to us.

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

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

His very name means the Salvation of the Everliving One. He is our Faithful, Unfailing Savior, and He is our Way to complete success.

We can be sure that God’s Plan of Salvation is going to work for mankind. God cannot fail. He will not fail. His teachings show the path, He lights the way. He feeds us. He heals us. He encourages us. He defeats the enemy.

What is our part? We must be aware of who He is and be aware of His Sovereignty, His Wisdom, and His Nature. And, then we walk joyfully in His ways, applying the faith He gives to us by grace.

May God bless each one of us to live our lives as if we cannot fail – not because of ourselves, but because of the ONE WHO is invested in us, the ONE WHO has paid so much to have us in His future eternity – our promised land!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 17, 2023. Today is Day 9; Day 2 of Week 2 in our Count to Pentecost.

From the Red Sea, Israel traveled three days into the wilderness without finding water. They were following the cloud by day and resting with the protection of the pillar of fire by night. There was no mistaking the fact that God’s divine Presence was with them, leading them.

Then Israel came to a place they called Marah, because the water they found there was bitter. However, God turned the bitter water sweet. Despite their complaining and murmuring, God offered them a promise of healing and protection from disease. This is just like a loving Father!

Exodus 15:22-26 (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. (23) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore, the name of it was called Marah. (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, (26) And said; If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Basically, the entire time Israel was in the wilderness, they doubted God and complained easily. They were quick to doubt that God would bring them into the lush farmlands, flowing with milk and honey. They were quick to turn to murmuring and complaining, instead of believing and trusting in spite of the many, many signs God provided to them regarding His promises and His faithfulness.

One of those important signs, yet very little understood signs, was God’s Holy Days. While the ancient Israelites were in the wilderness, many years before they came into the land where they were to plant crops, harvest those crops, and present firstfruits unto the LORD, God gave them Holy Days that required planting and harvesting. The Days of Unleavened Bread and the Wavesheaf during those days are clearly tied to Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks. It is a harvest festival. The Holy Days that occur later in the year are also connected to a harvest season.

God had to bring Israel into the Promised Land for them to live out the Holy Days in a physical sense. He has His Holy Days in their specific seasons for an important spiritual analogy. As we witness God working out His Plan, step-by-step, Holy Day-by-Holy Day, this analogy becomes easier and easier to see and understand. We have the advantage of thousands of years of hindsight. And, we need to remember that God never does anything frivolously or without purpose.

Israel did not have the eyes to see or the ears to hear God’s integrity, His promises, and His purposes. May our God bless us with sharp vision and hearing so we miss nothing regarding His goodness and riches towards us.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 16, 2023. This is Day 1 of Week 2. It is Day 8 in our Count to Pentecost.

During these days between the Wavesheaf and Pentecost, we see Israel free from the bondage of Egypt, but we also see them struggling with their inner bondages to various kinds of sin. A useful synonym for bondage is slavery. In essence, the ancient Israelites were still slaves of a particular kind of bondage.

Throughout the pages of the Bible, we find many references to bondage. There are numerous ways to be in bondage and to think about bondage. For example, there is physical bondage and spiritual bondage. Humans can be in bondage to other humans, to themselves, and to sin. Some people have even put themselves into bondage to the law God provided at Mt. Sinai.

Over the centuries, there has been a great deal of confusion regarding the law of God (given to ancient Israel in a formal, codified form at Mt. Sinai) and the granting of the Holy Spirit to the Church of God after our Savior ascended into heaven. To be truly free, true disciples of our Savior must have the law of God as well as the Holy Spirit; it has not been done away. Freedom from bondage does not mean we can live any way we can dream up. It does not mean we can become immoral or lawless.

Surely, the lessons of ancient Israel in the wilderness show us that sin is absolutely-not-acceptable to God. What God has done for us through the work of our Savior does not give us freedom to sin. We are still subject to living either a right and lawful way of life or an unlawful and evil way of life. Leaving the holiness and righteousness that God GIVES to us through faith, is to make ourselves the servants to sin. And, of course, God does not intend that we should be in bondage to sin. We are not to serve sin; and, the Bible is very clear on this point.

John 8:34 Jesus answered them; Verily, verily, I say unto you; Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

When we repent and baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, we are forgiven and set free from the bondage of our fleshly minds that Paul says “cannot” be subject to the law of God. We can overcome the pulls of the flesh by God’s power.

Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

And, just as God wants us to be free from the bondage of our human nature and sin, He also wants us to be free from any bondage we might have to a code of law. We cannot earn God’s gifts. God is the ONE we serve. We want to be just like He is. His law is one way He defines His righteousness for us. It is holy, just, and good. Yet, God never intended that we should be in bondage to any code of law. God has set us free to “serve” Him.

May God bless us with insight as we deeply consider during our Count to Pentecost what it means, what it looks like, and what it takes on our part to be truly free.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, April 15, 2023. Today is Day 7 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

If ancient Israel knew that God always finishes what He starts, would they have responded differently to the challenges that they faced in the wilderness?

Today, we can know that God always finishes what He starts! It is because what He starts is worthy to be started! It is because He is trustworthy! It is because He is faithful! It is because He keeps His Word!

He proves over and over that He completes what He starts! How many witnesses do we need? He has started a work in us that He will finish; and, He provides everything we need for life and godliness! We can trust what He promises.

2 Peter 1:3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

How can we become more successful in living out God’s plans for us? How can we help God, so that
He will finish what He has started in us?

• We need to buck up and throw off whatever it is that tends to make us stumble or falter.
• We need to cooperate with God; He knows what He is doing.
• We need to stay focused on God’s goal for us.
• We need to choose the inheritance God chooses for us.
• We need to avoid doing the unnecessary until we have completed the necessary.
• We need to indulge God’s pleasures before our own.
• We need to choose to please God rather than man.
• We need to listen to God; when He speaks, do it now! Not later!
• We need to be courageous!

Joshua 1:7-8 (7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. (8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

What God starts is worthy to start. We have started out on a worthy journey; and, remember, God ALWAYS finishes what He starts! God’s intention is to bless each one of us that He can say the same about us.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, April 14, 2023. Today is Day 6 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

The ancient Israelites had a destination. They had a promise from God that was centuries old. God was certainly going to lead them from Egypt to that promised destination.

Yet, they had a wilderness journey to experience. A wilderness journey involves both time and testing through facing specific problems.

It turned out that Israel’s journey was much longer than it needed to have been. They ended up in the wilderness for forty years. The time was extended largely because of the many wrong choices they kept making. Of course, those wrong choices culminated in the situation they experienced when they reached Kadesh Barnea and refused to go into the Promised Land because of the giants living in the land. It was this crucial act of unbelief that finally triggered God’s decision regarding their long stay in the wilderness.

How about us today? In a lot of ways, through the decisions we make daily, we affect, at least to some degree, the length of time we must be in our wilderness. We also encounter situations, through our daily choices, that affect whether our wilderness journey will be “easy” or “hard.” It all depends on the choices we make when we face the problems we encounter.

However, the testing could actually be fairly easy. How?

God tells us the answers and responses He wants from us. In essence, He gives us the answer sheet.
The answers:

• He definitely wants to be trusted
• He wants us to know with absolute certainty that He has our best interests in mind
• He wants us to hold steady instead of complaining and being fearful
• He wants to be loved as well as to be obeyed
• He wants to be thanked and praised
• He wants our true, devoted worship

Deuteronomy 6:3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.

As-long-as we want to go with God and cooperate, He will take us through our wilderness to our destination – our DESTINY! May God bless us with the conviction that He will!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, April 13, 2023. Today is Day 5 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

When God began to work with ancient Israel to bring them out of Egypt, He planned to take them to Mt. Sinai and offer them a marriage covenant. The nation was to “marry” their Creator. This covenant between God and ancient Israel stands as a physical type of what the Mighty Ones plan for the Church of God forever.
Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called.

Thousands of years ago God was creating a nation to be a wife for Himself. And, today, God is creating a CHURCH to be His bride, His Wife forever.

As humans, we tend to look at things on the surface, and we often miss the intricate, generous, beautiful purposes and details that God is working out. Isn’t that just like a loving God? He creates more goodness than we expect. He lavishes His love upon His chosen ones. And, much of this is done in quietness, even in secret.
Psalm 139:13-16 (13) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. (14) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. (15) My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, (16) Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.

Do we see ourselves this way? Do we see ourselves as God’s work in progress as He knits us together into a Body?
Colossians 2:2, 19 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ…. (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Soon, the mystery of God will be finished; and, we are part of that mystery!
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.

Do we really comprehend the treasures and the potential happiness that God has determined to give us? Do we understand our great God-planned destiny? God has magnificent purposes in bringing us out of our Egypt. Our future is far, far better than any of us have every imagined.

Isaiah 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written; Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.

God blesses each of us so richly. May He give us the hearts to embrace His gifts.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Today is Day 4 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost. This is the LDUB; a high Holy Day commanded to be a holy convocation in Leviticus 23.

This is the day we believe that God delivered ancient Israel through the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh and the army of Egypt. It is a glorious day of celebration because it pictures a complete delivery from the bondage and slavery of Egypt. It is a day where God shows His Sovereign power and plan. It is to be a day of great rejoicing!

The Counting of 50 days beginning on the Wavesheaf Day during the DUB and ending at Pentecost ties together two special baptisms. God says Israel was baptized in the Red Sea. The same Red Sea that “baptized” the Israelites drowned the Egyptians.

Hebrews 11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

The other special baptism is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It was on Pentecost, through the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit that God began His Church.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Safe and secure on the shores of the Red Sea, the Israelites who had just been groaning and complaining now began to sing and praise. They even danced joyfully!

Exodus 15:19-21 (19) For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. (20) And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. (21) And Miriam answered them; Sing ye to the LORD, for He hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea.

While Israel learned to praise after their deliverance, we are to learn to praise before and during our deliverance. In fact, we are to praise and rejoice all the time. We have the benefit of much hindsight through the Scriptures. And, we have the benefit of God’s Holy Spirit within.

Psalm 40:16 and Psalm 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified…. Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

Let us love the salvation of the LORD and let Him know it! Let us truly enjoy this Day as we feast with our God and our Brethren!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 11, 2023. This is Day 3 of Week 1 as we Count to Pentecost.

What would we see if we could look at the Egyptians and the ancient Israelites during this week when Israel was exiting Egypt? Let us imagine for a moment what it might look like.

The entire Egyptian population would probably be personally recovering from the loss of special family members, because there was at least one dead in every household. In addition to the mourning and the great sense of personal loss, they would be hearing about the great loss of their future Pharaoh, the present Pharaoh’s son. Top Egyptian officials would have suffered similar losses in their families. The government would have been in chaos.

The land itself would have been stinking from the dead insects and animals that would not have been yet buried. The trees and fields would have been in shambles from the hail. And, the common Egyptian people would have been very disoriented and frightened. The Israelites had “spoiled” the Egyptians, taking with them great amounts of gold and jewelry. They were urged out of the land.
Exodus 12:29-33 (29) And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle. (30) And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. (31) And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said; Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. (32) Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. (33) And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said; We be all dead men.

On this day just before they crossed the Red Sea, Israel was still technically within the borders of Egypt. As Israel neared the Red Sea, the Pharaoh and his military leaders had a moment of remorse, perhaps even a moment of revenge. They mustered enough men (what was left of Egypt’s mighty army) and pursued after the Israelite families and their herds. They intended to wipe them all out in a vast military assault. Apparently, the pillar of fire did not deter the hardhearted and newly emboldened army.

Exodus 14:1-5 (1) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, (2) Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. (3) For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel; They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. (4) And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so. (5) And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said; Why have we done this,that we have let Israel go from serving us?

This was all part of God’s plan as He was moving the Israelites toward freedom. God was making an example of Pharaoh and the Egyptian army that He would use for thousands of years to teach His people about His Sovereign power and purposes.

Brethren, these are not just interesting historical events God has recorded for us; no, these are priceless lessons for our admonition and our edification.

May God give us the eyes to see what He is doing in our lives to free us from our Egypt and bring us into an everlasting, loving relationship with Him.

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