Dear Family,

Today is Friday, May 2, 2025. This is Day 6 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 20th day of Counting,

As we Count to Pentecost, we are examining how God delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt. The story is a wonderful allegory for us, especially as it relates to spiritual bondage.

To be delivered from spiritual bondage; whether it is of the body, or mind, or emotions; we need an awakening. This is how the deliverance begins!

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Then, we need to know what we value and commit ourselves wholeheartedly to living it. We must embrace our values with our thoughts and our feelings. It becomes our treasure.

Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also

This adds to the courage we need to face whatever challenges and changes are necessary to face and overcome during the spiritual break-away. And, during all of this there must be an awareness of Who it is that is actually delivering us.

During the time of rest, the Israelites were enjoying at Elim, the wise would have been preparing ahead. The processes of every human life have cycles, like times of trial and testing followed by times of rest and refreshment. Wise Believers know this and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the cycles. So, we need to ask; Have we taken time to take stock of our specific situations?

We need to value and commit ourselves to hope, faith, and trust in our Bondage Breaker. We move from bondages like hopelessness and despair and guilt into inspiration and renewed vigor and purpose.

Have we considered how we have been in slavery and what has us in bondage? What are our emotional and behavioral patterns? What excuses have we used to remain in slavery? Are we holding ourselves in bondage? Are other people holding us in bondage? Cycles…do they get us down? Change is inevitable. Change is often in predictable patterns. When challenges appear, do we lapse back into our old slave habits rather than going forward? And, now that God is delivering us, what Egyptian baggage are we carrying with us? Do we remember the toil and suffering of our past bondage; or, are we remembering the onions and the leeks?

Here are some typical ways of thinking that are evidence of spiritual bondage:
Anger, apathy, need for control, cynicism, comparison, competition, denial, despair, envy, fear, greed, guilt, hatred, jealousy, lust, living in the past or future rather than the present, negativity, lust, perfectionism, pessimism, resentment, sarcasm, self doubt, self-pity, self righteousness, unworthiness.

May our loving and merciful God bless us as we take the time to inventory and prepare ahead for the next part of the cycle of our lives.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, May 1, 2025. This is Day 5 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 19th day of Counting.

This is the second month of the year on the Hebrew calendar (Iyyar or Ziv). It is considered to be the most beautiful of months, full of light and new, green growth. It is a wonderful time for us to take stock of the lessons we have learned and to move forward spiritually. The wise will reflect on lessons learned from past experiences and seek how they may apply in the future.

There are many forces that hold us in slavery, that hold us back from growing spiritually, from going forward in the will of God for our lives. The enemy knows our physical as well as our spiritual weaknesses. And, that’s where the attack occurs. The enemy may threaten us, coerce us, frighten us, tempt us, beguile us, or attack us.

But, so what! That is what happens to humans a lot! The difference for true Believers is we know the God of miracles. We serve a miracle working God; Who is not limited in His power or purpose. Miracles are His realm, His specialty.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

We just have to remain aware of our DELIVERER and trust Him!

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Psalm 40:17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

Psalm 70:5 But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: Thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Psalm 144:2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.

May our awesome God bless you and grant you more and more trust in our DELIVERER!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, April 30, 2025. This is Day 4 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 18th day of Counting.

We are told we are to draw water from the wells of salvation, and we are to do it with joy. Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Only God knows how many “wells of salvation” He provides for His people. Yet, we can identify many blessings we receive when we are refreshed by God’s Living Water.

One of the most beautiful metaphors in all of the Bible is found in Isaiah 35:1.

Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

It will take life-giving water to accomplish this! The desert will REJOICE and BLOSSOM! It is the same in the life of a true Believer. It takes life-giving water for us to blossom spiritually. And, bringing forth fruit follows the time of blossoming. God desires for us to REJOICE and BLOSSOM and then to bring forth FRUIT.

John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

There is divine purpose in our drawing from God’s wells, being REFRESHED, having JOY, and BLOSSOMING. That purpose is to BEAR MUCH FRUIT and GLORIFY God!

God is glorified, and He SAVES us. He HONORS us, provides our JOY, and brings forth FRUIT, giving our lives real PURPOSE! In God’s Plan, everyone wins!

May God bless us all as we step up to His wells of salvation and participate in His process and purposes that He has for our lives.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Tuesday, April 29, 2025. This is Day 3 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 17th day of Counting.

The Israelites camping at Elim were no doubt enjoying the water of the 12 wells. Today, let us contemplate the qualities of the refreshing physical water they were enjoying and draw spiritual lessons from some very special Scriptures about the Living Water God provides for us on our wilderness journey.

Psalm 1:3 And He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth His fruit in His season; His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever He doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 23:1-2 (1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalms 36:7-9 (7) How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings. (8) They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures. (9) For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.

Psalm 46:4-5 (4) There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. (5) God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Psalm 63:1 O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

Psalm 107:35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

Jesus said we would be blessed if we thirsted for His righteousness. May God bless us with that thirst!

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Monday, April 28, 2025. This is Day 2 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 16th day of Counting.

During their stay at Elim the children of Israel rested and were refreshed. The Sabbath itself is a time of refreshing, and Scripture says God Himself rested and was refreshed. That is an amazing statement about God.

Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.

The Bible mentions times of refreshing in Acts 3:19, also.

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.

What does, “times of refreshing” mean? The dictionary shows that “refreshing” is used in a number of different ways. To “refresh” means to reinvigorate or energize, to stimulate, to restore, to revive, or to cheer.

We have all experienced special seasons in our lives when God has refreshed us. It may be our special refreshing followed a time of great trial and testing as it did for Israel when they were tested and proved at Marah. However, the Bible also portrays our Savior as the refreshing water of life. And, we always have access to this Fountain. And, we can always be refreshed by being in God’s presence, even during times of trials and testing.

Among its many benefits, being in His presence continually gives us the promise of answered prayer.

John 15:7 If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

May God bless each one of us with a moment-by-moment awareness of being in God’s presence. May we abide with Him. May we be constantly refreshed by this relationship.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sunday, April 27, 2025. This is Day 1 of Week 3 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 15th day of Counting.

God led Israel to the oasis at Elim where they camped, rested, and were refreshed for quite some time. Tracing their journey and camping, we find Exodus 16:1 tells us they finally left Elim on the 15th day of the second month. Remember they had begun their journey out of Egypt on the 15th of the first month, and finally crossed the boundary out of Egypt on the 21st of the first month. Then, they trekked 3 days into the wilderness to Marah, and from Marah they walked on to Elim where they found 12 wells of water and 70 palms.

There are a few times when the numbers 12 and 70 appear connected in Scripture. Many theologians have proposed theories about their symbolism and significance. Elim’s 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees is only the first of the examples. A second connection between these two numbers is the existence of the 12 tribes of Israel and a special group of 70 elders from the tribes. These elders are mentioned a number of times (see Exodus 24:1, 9 and Numbers 11:16, 24-25. Then, in the New Testament, Jesus sent out His 12 original disciples and 70 others.

Luke 10: 1, 17 (1) After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come…. (17) And the seventy returned again with joy, saying; Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

The appearance of these same numbers in these situations prompts us to connect the stories in some way. While we still do not know the significance, we can search the Scriptures and ask for guidance and understanding. God does seem to do things in patterns and in an orderly fashion. Truly, there is still a lot to be learned about how God organizes our lives the way He does.

What we do know is that in these accounts ancient Israel was refreshed, the 70 ancient elders experienced a portion of the spirit God had given to Moses, and the 70 sent out by Jesus were in awe at the authority that had been given to them over evil spirits. We can only marvel with great anticipation at what God still has in store for us as we journey through our own wilderness on our way to the real Promised Land.

God bless our journey.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Sabbath, April 26, 2025. This is Day 7 of Week 2 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 14th day of Counting.

Ancient Israel was blessed with the presence of God in the cloud by day and in the fire by night. Yet, they were somewhat oblivious to His presence. The Sabbath is a special time of communing with God, because He has placed His presence in the Sabbath, making it Holy time. Let us NOT be oblivious. Let us take special time today and every Sabbath to fellowship with God’s people, God the Father, and Jesus Christ His Son.

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

Moses knew fellowship with God. It was expressly connected to enjoying “rest.” Notice verse 14 of Exodus 33.

Exodus 33:13-14 (13) Now therefore, I pray Thee, if I have found grace in Thy sight, shew me now Thy way, that I may know Thee, that I may find grace in Thy sight: and consider that this nation is Thy people. (14) And He said; My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

Jesus Christ came to give us rest. He wants to dwell with us…share His presence with us. When we have truly repented and given our lives to God, God gives us a special rest. We are freed from the bondage of sin. We are freed from the guilt of our sins. We are freed from the eternal death penalty of sin. But, there is more.

Notice in Matthew 11:28-30 that the word “rest” appears twice. The first time the word rest refers to freedom from the trials and labors of our past. The second time the word rest refers to rest we begin to receive when we take on the easy yoke of God’s service and continue to learn of Him. This rest is an ongoing process and a revelation as we learn and follow. Jesus said, “…and ye shall find rest.…”

Matthew 11:28-30 (28) Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.

And, finally there is an all-encompassing, never-ending rest that we shall enter when our vile bodies are changed from mortal to immortal, from physical to spiritual.

Philippians 3:20-21 (20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.

That is the rest referred to in Hebrews.

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Let us celebrate the Sabbath together, in awareness and appreciation of all of the “rest” God has prepared for us!

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Friday, April 25, 2025. This is Day 6 of Week 2 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 13th day of Counting.

From the bitter water at Marah, the ancient Israelites moved on further into the wilderness. They camped at Elim. It was a lush oasis in the middle of the desert wilderness.

Exodus 15:27 And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

There is a Scripture in Proverbs that correlates with the experiences in Exodus 15 and 16. God had told Israel to obey Him as He revealed Himself as YHWH Rapha, the Eternal that heals and provides health. Then, as they trusted and followed Him, He led them to a desert oasis. He wanted, then and now, to be trusted and acknowledged as the Source of all good. Also, both then and now, He tied knowledge of how to receive that good always.

Proverbs 3:1-8 (1) My son, forgets not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: (2) For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (3) Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: (4) So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. (5) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (8) It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Trusting God and being “not wise in thine own eyes” takes a spirit of humility and an awesome respect for the Almighty, Everliving God. Ancient Israel was not able to sustain such a spirit and attitude to God, but being forewarned by Israel’s example, today we can press toward God, praying for this spiritual capacity. It is health to our navel and marrow to our bones, physically and spiritually.

God bless us all in our journey towards Him.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Thursday, April 24, 2025. This is Day 5 of Week 2 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 12th day of Counting.

Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

What if the ancient Israelites had understood what God was granting them when He placed His presence with them in the fire and cloud? What if they had understood how God was delivering them on “eagles’ wings?” What if they had only understood about the power of prayer and the access God was granting them to His divine presence and power? Would things have been different for them?

Today we can know these things. Life can be different for us. When Israel left Egypt the Holy Scriptures had not been written, canonized, and delivered to them. Today we have them. We also have millennia of history. And, we have the gift of God’s calling and His Holy Spirit.

Today, we have the “Good News.” Today we know that God’s master plan of salvation includes every human who will ever live. What God does, He always does with purpose…positive purpose. What ever God gives is good…and only good. There are so many witnesses to these truths. These are beautiful truths that the entire world needs to know, yet they have been covered over in the darkness of lies about God. However, we can walk in the light.

John 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

As we go through the wilderness of our life’s journey, we can look forward to different outcomes than ancient Israel. God intends to show us the pitfalls. What is required of us is to be in His presence and walk in the light.

Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. God bless us all and light our way to Him.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God

Dear Family,

Today is Wednesday, April 23, 2025. This is Day 4 of Week 2 in our Counting toward Pentecost. It is our 11th day of Counting.

Exodus 15:22-24 (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?

Looking at the situation the ancient Israelites experienced, we may find ourselves very sympathetic towards them. After three days in the wilderness, their supply of drinking water was gone. It is understandable and acceptable that they were disappointed. What is NOT acceptable is their negative response towards God and Moses. The words of their mouth revealed the state of their heart.

Israel had come out of Egypt, but they brought a lot of Egypt with them in their hearts, attitudes, and behaviors. Israel needed to be cleaned up. It was much easier for God to sweeten the water than it was for Him to sweeten up the bitter attitudes in the hearts of the Israelites. God showed Moses what to do for the water.

Exodus 15:25-26 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.

God wanted the Israelites to enjoy good health, not just good water. He used this experience to reveal something about His greatness.

In the New Testament book of James we find an interesting passage that has a number of elements similar to those in Exodus 15. James discusses the tongue and compares it to a fountain. He asks if a fountain can send forth both sweet and bitter water? We know from other passages that people speak out of the abundance of their hearts.

James 3:8-16 (8) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (9) Herewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (10) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (11) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? (12) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. (13) Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. (14) But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. (15) This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. (16) For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

God wants us to speak righteous words of peace and to live without bitterness, strife, or envying. He wants us to be healthy and whole, within and without. The story of Marah demonstrates God’s desires and His ability to do great things for His people. When we are willing to leave the bitter, evil ways of our past Egypt behind, only spiritual health awaits us.

Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2025, Church of the Sovereign God