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 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

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, April 20, 2022. This is Day 4 of Week 1 in our Count to Pentecost.

After several days of walking, the ancient Israelites neared the Red Sea. Until Israel had crossed the Red Sea, they were technically still in the land of Egypt even though they had walked for several days. It was at the Red Sea that they realized Pharaoh was in hot pursuit.

But God was not caught off guard! He had one last blow to deliver to Egypt and its gods. Not only had God promised deliverance to the Israelites, He also promised to judge the Egyptians and their gods so that all the world would know that HE was God. And, at the Red Sea, God took the opportunity to do just that!

God had sent the plagues to reveal Himself to the Egyptians in a mighty, spectacular way. The plagues were against the Egyptians as well as all of their gods, including the god-Pharaoh. Through the centuries, many unbelievers have attempted to explain away God’s supernatural intervention against Egypt and its gods by insisting the plagues were simply natural disasters. But they were true miracles specifically directed at what God had judged to be worthy of destruction.

Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

Exodus 7:4-5 (4) But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. (5) And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.

When the ancient Israelites walked away from their Egyptian slavery, the nation of Egypt was in shambles. Yet, it was at the Red Sea that God completed His plan. God did not finish His judgment against Egypt and its gods until Pharaoh and his horsemen were cast into the sea and destroyed. We find a song of triumph in Exodus 15, and a clear statement from God in Romans 9 about His purpose for dealing with Pharaoh as He did.

Exodus 15:19 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.

Romans 9:17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh; Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Let us pray for God’s purposes and will to be done as He again declares His name in these last days!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 19, 2022. This is Day 3 of Week 1 in our count to Pentecost.

Traditionally, the Jewish community has read the Song of Songs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This small book of the Old Testament never mentions God, but many have read this beautiful love story about a king and a Shulamite woman and concluded that it is some type of allegory or parable about the love of God for His people, and Christ’s love for the Church.

Most of this book contains the sensuous words of the Shulamite, the bride to be, and the words of love from the bridegroom for his bride. Interspersed among the lovers’ dialogue are short narratives that support the main theme. The book opens with passionate words.

Song of Songs 1:1-4 (1) The song of songs, which is Solomon’s. (2) Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. (3) Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. (4) Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

It is possible that this book does indeed provide a glimpse for us of the depth and magnitude of the love Christ has for His Body, the Church of God. The book ends with an impassioned plea for the beloved bridegroom to make haste. Perhaps this entreaty is an earnest request for the soon return of our Savior to claim His bride.

Song of Songs 8:14 Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

All in all, this little book of eight short chapters continues to be a great mystery… one which God has surely preserved for His Church as part of inspired Holy Scripture, and worthy to be read and studied just as all other parts of God’s Word (Matthew 4:4, 2 Timothy 3:16, and 2 Peter 1:21). Reading this book may become very profitable for God’s Church in our near future, as He continues to reveal His mysteries to the Church, and as we wait expectantly and yearn for the return of our Savior, Messiah, and Beloved Bridegroom.

God certainly has had this unusual book remain as a part of His inspired Holy Scriptures. And, God always has purpose for what He does. The tradition of reading this book during this season of Unleavened Bread may be one of the best traditions from God’s Old Covenant people that we can acknowledge and assume for ourselves.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 18, 2022. This is Day 2 of Week 1. It is Day 2 in our Count to Pentecost.

During several more days of this first week of our count to Pentecost, our homes are unleavened, and we will continue to avoid eating leavened bread for that period of time. Hopefully, as we have prepared physically and try to remain on guard against eating leavened bread, let us, at the very least, be just as careful to avoid the sin that the leavened bread symbolizes for us.

In the context of the entire fifth chapter of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul exhorted the brethren at Corinth to purge out the spiritual leaven that was among them. Paul stressed that the Corinthians not go back to the patterns of the “old leaven” (verse 8), nor to hold onto the leaven of malice and wickedness. Rather, he urged them to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (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.

The metropolitan city of Corinth, and the early Church in that city, had many of the same kinds of problems and temptations that we find on our modern society today.

In this 21st century’s fast pace and our culture of accepting sin as we see it all around us in real life, as well as in our crazy world of entertainment, it is easy to be caught up in what the world is doing. Sometimes we can miss identifying the leaven that is all around us.

Let us follow Paul’s admonitions to the Corinthians in order to seek God’s sincerity and truth enthusiastically. It is Jesus Who is the epitome of God’s sincerity and truth! It is Jesus Christ Who is our Living Bread. Let us eat this Bread daily with clean hands and a purified heart.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 17, 2022. This is Day One of Week One. It is Day 1 in our Count to Pentecost. This special day is the Day of the Wavesheaf.

In Leviticus 23:15-16 we are told to “complete” seven Sabbaths and also to “number fifty days” from the day the sheaf was brought to be presented as a “wave offering.”

The Wavesheaf ceremony, which is described in Leviticus 23 and occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, has important prophetic significance for God’s Church.

The Wavesheaf is the prophetic foreshadowing of the risen Christ! And, the priest’s waving this sheaf of the firstfruits is a picture of Jesus Christ’s appearance before His Father to be accepted for us.

Leviticus 23:11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.

The ceremony of the Wavesheaf prophetically explains an integral part of God’s plan of salvation for mankind. The Wavesheaf pictured the resurrected Christ; Who is the first of the firstfruits of God’s early harvest.

The rest of the firstfruits pictures God’s harvest of Christ’s brethren. The children in whom God has planted His seed of everlasting life will finally be harvested just as Jesus was harvested. They too will become the everliving children, born of Almighty God, our Father.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Through the Apostle Paul’s writings to the Corinthians, we learn that without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the True Wavesheaf, we would still be dead.

1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

As the Sheaf of the firstfruits, waved and accepted, Jesus was first to be a fully born spiritual Son of God. Because of His life, death, and first-of-its-kind resurrection to a future everlasting life, we can also live forever with Him.

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