Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, May 18, 2023. It is Day 40; Day 5 of Week 6 in our Count to Pentecost.

Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom of God was near.

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison; Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God

During the 40 days He spent with His disciples were to further equip them to be His witnesses. Those 40 days were days of special preparation. The disciples were to preach about the Kingdom of God just as Messiah had done. They were to explain what the Kingdom of God entailed, including Messiah’s virgin birth, His teachings and miracles, His sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection to eternal life, and His ascension to heaven to His glorified position at the right hand of the Almighty Father. They were also to preach repentance and remission of sins in the name of the Anointed One of God.

It was the ascension of Messiah into heaven that marked the conclusion of the physical preparation of the chosen apostles. Ten days after the ascension, God sent His Holy Spirit to grant them the spiritual preparation for their evangelistic witness to all the world. On Pentecost, they were to be given qualities of God’s divine nature including the boldness to preach the gospel and power to become sons of God.

The ascension, which occurred 40 days after the Wavesheaf offering, is mentioned in both Acts and the gospel of Luke.

Luke 24:45-53 (45) Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (46) And said unto them; Thus, it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And ye are witnesses of these things. (49) And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (50) And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them. (51) And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (52) And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (53) And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

Acts 1:1-11 (1) The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (2) Until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: (3) To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of themforty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: (4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. (6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying; Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And He said unto them; It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power. (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (9) And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said; Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

Jesus sent the apostles to Jerusalem. There they waited in one accord in prayer and supplication. They had great expectations, and they were not going to be disappointed.

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.

May God bless us with just such an expectant approach of being in one accord with prayer and supplication as we look forward to the coming of Pentecost and all that God has in mind for us this year.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, May 17, 2023. It is Day 39 Day 4 of Week 6 in our Count to Pentecost.

Considering all the trouble and complaining the Israelites seemed to be addicted to, God’s manner of dealing with Israel was very gentle. And, God’s manner of dealing with us is also very gentle.

The Scripture tells us that God chose ancient Israel for His people. He claimed them. And, He even asked them to agree in His covenant with Him at Mt. Sinai. One of the major problems with Israel is that they did not treasure God’s presence in their lives. They chose to dwell in their circumstances instead of looking to the Source of Life and all good things.

Our God has chosen us; are we choosing Him? Do we dwell in our circumstances or do we seek our God regardless of circumstances? Do we persevere in our relationship with God? Have we set our hearts to seek Him?

One way to know that we are persevering in our relationship with God is our choosing to look to God and rejoice through all our circumstances. No matter what!

Philippians 4:4-9 (4) Rejoice in the Lord always: and again, I say; Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Ancient Israel did not grasp these spiritual realities; however, we have the Holy Spirit and the power from God to do so. May God make us constantly aware of His presence in our lives and cause us to respond to Him with positive thoughts and rejoicing.

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

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, May 16, 2023. It is Day 38; Day 3 of Week 6 as we Count to Pentecost.

According to Numbers 33:12-15, Israel had camped at Dophkah and Alush just before Rephidim. Exodus 17 does not mention those two camping sites. Perhaps not much of great significance occurred at those sites. However, at Rephidim, the Israelites had several very important experiences. The word Rephidim means support. And, because of the actions and attitudes of the Israelites, Moses called the place by two other names: Massah which means testing and Meribah which means quarrelling or contention.

Exodus 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying; Is the LORD among us, or not?

Later, when Moses wrote of this place, he continued to use the names Massah and Meribah.

Deuteronomy 6:16 Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted Him in Massah.

Deuteronomy 9:22 And at Taberah, and at Massah, and at Kibrothhattaavah, ye provoked the LORD to wrath.

Deuteronomy 33:8 And of Levi he said; Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

What is it about the Israelites that they continued to reject their own historical experiences where God demonstrated His awesome wonders for their benefit? Why is it that humans test God, strive with Him, contend with Him, and provoke Him?

All true Believers will come to the same general conclusion. Sin is the answer, because it blinds us to what is really going on. In sin, people see only present problems and distress, not the truth regarding the wonders God has wrought for them and Who He really is!

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.

This quirk of human nature is another of the reasons we need the total fulfillment of Pentecost and the Holy Spirit that will grow in us and provide us with God’s divine nature and the power to make us sons of God. May God grant us His own powerful love of the truth!

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

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, May 15, 2023. It is Day 37; Day 2 of Week 6 in our Count to Pentecost.

When ancient Israel grew agitated and began to complain about not having water, God directed Moses and the elders of Israel to go on ahead to the area around Horeb. A smaller group could move faster; and apparently, God wanted the elders of Israel to witness what He was about to do through Moses.

Exodus 17:5-7 (5) And the LORD said unto Moses; Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. (6) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. (7) And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying; Is the LORD among us, or not?

What God told Moses to do was of great prophetic significance. Moses struck the rock in the sight of the elders of Israel, and life-giving water flowed from it into the desert floor. The river of water continued to flow until it reached the on-coming Israelites and their herds and flocks.

Of course, we know that ROCK was CHRIST. It was to be centuries later that the true ROCK was to be smitten while other Israelites were positioned to be witnesses. The Savior’s work provided the water of life freely to those He is calling today and to all the world as they desire to come to God at His future invitation.

1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

These physical events foreshadowed what God was going to do through the life of His Messiah back 2000 years. It also foreshadows what God is doing in our lives today through the power of the Holy Spirit.

May God bless us with the insight to see just how much we need the fulfillment of Pentecost and the pouring out of His Spirit of power.

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

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