To Follow God

Steve Dalrymple

Split-Sermon

Greetings, to everyone, from Cincinnati.

A while back I was reminiscing about our recent history, the history of the Church of God—PKG. While doing so I remembered the first book written by Mr. Weinland, The Prophesied End-Time. If you were a part of God's Church at that time, do you remember how exciting it was for the Church? Do you remember your excitement? This was the first time that a book of this nature had been written. Something was about to change. A new direction for God's end-time Church was being set in motion. And then it hit me, the published date seemed such a short time ago, but in reality it was published in June of 2004. That was over 10 years ago! Where has time gone?

And then in 2006 another book was published, 2008—God's Final Witness. That was and that is a life-changing book. An order of end-time events was set in place and understanding was given to scriptures that had been sealed for thousands of years. God's direction for where He wanted His Church to travel was being made clear. As hard as it is to believe, that book was published over 8 years ago!

As I was reminiscing, I remembered New Year's Eve of 2007. On that particular evening Patty and I turned the TV on for a moment, and we caught some of the celebration in Times Square in New York. I commented, "You wouldn't catch me dead there, knowing what we know now." We almost expected the beginning of the end to take place that night. The heart of New York seemed like the perfect place for the world to witness a televised attack. We watched, and then we hesitantly went to sleep. When we awoke on January 1, 2008, life went on.

Did you have any types of these thoughts? With this new direction that God had revealed to His Church, our lives, your lives would never be the same. We went from being "religious bystanders" (so to speak) to being those on the front lines. Our lives would never again be one of just attending Sabbath services and then going home and living out life. We were given a rare but special privilege to have an understanding that no others before us were ever given. Our focus, our priorities, our lives have changed. The revelations of 2008—God's Final Witness changed our decision making process forever. It changed how we think, how we live our life, how we travel, how we spend, or how we don't spend money, how we do virtually everything. We had become a changed people. We make decisions based on the present truth that we would have never made otherwise. With this new direction, we are a focused people, unlike ever before.

As we moved forward we came to the new year of 2009, '10, '11, and 2012. Our thoughts, our feelings, our hopes never diminished. Surely one of those years was going to be the sounding of the 2nd Trumpet. Those same feelings and hopes were only magnified as time went on. As we neared Pentecost of May 27, 2012, the anticipation intensified. Do you remember how you felt? We diligently watched news events. Surely the 2nd Trumpet would sound any day! With this world teetering on the brink of self-destruction, how could this present age go on any longer? Pentecost, May 27, 2012, came, and Pentecost of 2012 went. Jesus Christ did not return.

Many had the question, "What do we do now?" I'll never forget Willem Henderson's comment. He said, "We go forward." And who are "we"? We are the Church of God. We are God's Church. So what did we do? We went forward.

Even though the 27th came and went, the focus of the faithful, our focus, and the direction of God's Church did not change. We know that the events outlined in the book 2008—God's Final Witness will take place. We know that Jesus Christ is going to return on Pentecost. Everything was and everything is put in place and the stage is set in this world. Where we didn't think that the state of this world could get any worse, we were wrong. This world is becoming ever so much more volatile, ever so much more vile and corrupt as each and every day passes. What was and is wrong is now considered right. And if you stand up for or believe in right, society considers you wrong. And then to top it all off? The entire world is in the throe of mounting tensions on an international scale. Almost daily analogies are being drawn which compare events of today to those of WWI and WWII. The threat of, or imminence of WWIII is on the horizon. There is no turning back. WWIII is going to happen in the near future. We came to see that we didn't understand the whole picture.

But from the world's point of view, from the viewpoint of those outside of God's Church, May 27th of 2012 was the definitive proof that the Church of God—PKG was not God's Church. Jesus Christ returning on that day was the assumed proof that everyone was waiting for. Unfortunately, some that were among us were fence-setters. One foot was in the Church and one foot was out. They committed thus far, so I guess they figured that they had better wait around just in case Jesus Christ would return. After Pentecost of 2012 they left the Church of God—PKG; they left God's Church. They, and those that have left since, now believe what those on the outside have always believed. They believe that this is not God's Church.

The truth is, they were gone long before they ever made the conscious decision to leave. Somewhere along their journey they lost sight of their calling. Somewhere along the way they forgot why they were called in the first place. They forgot the commitment that they made to the Great God of the universe. They forgot that when their old self was buried at baptism that they had made a life-long commitment to Yahweh Elohim. They had committed to no matter what comes along or happens that they would never turn their back on Him. But that is exactly what they did. When they, and all others that have gone before them, made the conscious decision to leave God's Church, they stopped following God.

The title of this sermon is, To Follow God.

As you make your way through biblical history, starting at the very beginning in the book of Genesis, the Bible is filled with example after example of those who have not and those who have followed God. These examples were written for our admonition of what to do and what not to do. In the book of Hebrews, which we're going to touch upon later in this sermon, there is a compilation of numerous individuals and examples of those who have lived and died by faith. They are those who followed God to the very end no matter what adversity, no matter what course, and no matter what direction was set before them. Each and every one of those individuals received the same calling that all of us have received. Everyone was called to be different. Everyone was called to be tested and tried so that God could determine who would follow Him, who would be faithful, and who would be a future son in the family of Elohim.

One of my favorite sections of the Bible begins in the book of Exodus. So much of what is outlined starting in this book, and continuing on into Leviticus, are tremendous examples that we can learn from. What is preserved for us in these writings is the physical foundation for a much greater spiritual understanding that would only be magnified upon as God's ultimate plan and purpose continued to unfold throughout time. It is here that God begins to build upon that foundation for the entirety of His master plan. That foundation includes the giving of the 10 Commandments, which are the basis for a right relationship with God and man. It is here that the Holy Days are instituted that outline God's master plan and the Levitical priesthood is established. It is here that so many physical examples are given which have been greatly magnified upon throughout time as God has revealed more and more to us concerning their true spiritual intent.

The book of Exodus also records the short story of how God drastically changed Moses' life through a calling. But how God dealt with and communicated with Moses was much different than almost all others that God has ever chosen. The first recorded account begins in Exodus 3:1. Turn with me to Exodus 3:1.

Exodus 3:1—Now, Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Eternal appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. And he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. God knew what it would take to get Moses' attention, and a burning bush that wasn't consumed was just the thing.

Verse 4—And when the Eternal saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And Moses said, Here I am. Bet that would have been a shocker! There was no one in sight, but Moses heard a strong, powerful voice that was clearly heard from the midst of a burning bush.

Verse 5—And He (that is God) says, Don't come near here. Put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. Moreover, He said, I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. At this particular moment in time God dealt and spoke directly with Moses. That is definitely not the way that we're accustomed to today. But when you consider the time in which Moses lived, there were few, if any other individuals, that God was walking with at that time. There wasn't a Church, and there definitely wasn't a ministry to teach Moses. There wasn't even a bible at that time because most of the history that we learn from today hadn't even taken place as of yet. Our history was Moses' future. There was only Moses that was being spiritually worked with in order to fulfill a great purpose. And in God's infinite wisdom, He knew exactly how He needed to work with Moses so that he would follow Him. God worked with him on a personal level, and He brought Moses to the point of faithfully trusting Him and wherever he was to follow.

However, even though Moses trusted God, God did not reveal each step of the way to him before events happened. When God first revealed Himself to Moses and told him that he was the person that was going to liberate the Israelites from Egypt and lead them to the promised land, He never told him that he was going to embark on a forty-year journey. As far as Moses knew, once they left Egypt they would take a trip and inherit the promises made by God. It was only by faith that Moses followed God's lead for forty long years in the wilderness.

As time progressed throughout the centuries, God continued to call and work with a few select individuals. Unlike Moses, most of them did not receive direct communication in the form of a verbal conversation from God. Scripture reveals that many received direction from Him through revelations, which came through visions and dreams. The communication process was through their mind. However, with each of those that God chose, He worked with each of them in the same manner. He only revealed to them what was needed at the time to fulfill the job that was at hand. That is a constant with how God works with everyone, even until now.

As I mentioned before, everyone's called to be tested and tried so that God can determine who will follow Him, who will be faithful, and who will be a future son in the family of Elohim. There was a time, though, when God once again had the need to personally lead, guide, and teach those that He was working with. That personal teaching was done through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Turn to Matthew 4. We're going to look at verses 17-23. This section of scripture takes place after Jesus had finished fasting for forty days and He was tempted (or tested) to see how He would react to Satan. That's Matthew 4:17—From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Jesus Christ preached that God's Kingdom was at hand. From the understanding of all that heard this message, the statement "at hand," meant "now." People of that time believed that God's Kingdom was going to be established then. That statement was made more than 2,000 years ago! Many today can misunderstand what Christ was saying as they do not understand that this Kingdom is not one and the same as the millennial time-period, but it is actually a group of spirit-composed individuals, the 144,000 that will compose (or make up) God's Kingdom. They did not understand that Jesus Christ was soon to become a part of that Kingdom as the first of the firstfruits, and that was the time that was at hand. God was not revealing the exact timing for His Kingdom to be established on this earth at that time, but He was revealing that the beginning of that Kingdom was at hand.

Verse 18—And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and they followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. And He called to them, and they immediately they left the ship and their father, and they followed Him. Jesus personally selected twelve individuals that God revealed to Him, so that they could fulfill a special purpose of God's plan. These twelve individuals, except for Judas (which would fulfill another vital part of God's plan), were those who would be the foundational pillars of God's beginning Church that was built on the main foundation, who was Jesus Christ.

These men that were personally taught by Jesus Christ would be the physical instruments to start God's Church, which would lay the foundation for the greatest calling of all time, the vast majority of the 144,000 that will make up the rest of God's Kingdom, the ruling government at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Throughout the rest of Jesus' life He continued to teach and instruct His disciples in order to prepare them for the job that was ahead of them. That personal teaching even went beyond Christ's death. Turn with me to Acts 1:1.

Acts 1:1—The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, 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: To whom He also showed Himself alive after His death by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father. Yes, Jesus Christ personally taught the disciples, His apostles, for forty days after His death. He personally led and taught those that wrote the New Testament as they began to preach God's word to all who were subsequently called. They could not have been any more correct and accurate in all that they preached.

Continuing on in Acts 2:1. Let's turn over just a few pages. Acts 2:1—When the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like a fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance. Yes, this was the beginning of God's Church. These were God's chosen twelve apostles, and they were filled with His spirit, and they were given knowledge and understanding unlike any who had gone before them. There is no doubt that this is God's Church and the apostles were being used in a most powerful way.

Turn over to Acts 2:29 now. This account is directly following Pentecost in 31 AD. This was the day that God's Church had begun. Acts 2:29—Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not to be left in hell, which was "the grave," neither His flesh did see corruption. This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and receiving of the Father the promise of the holy spirit, He has shed forth this, which you now see and hear. So what did they now see and hear? They saw the beginning of God's Church, first of all. They saw an excitement and a calling, and God's calling of each and every one of them. For the first time in their lives they could now "see" and understand truth through the impregnation of God's holy spirit. For the first time in mankind's history people could now have direct access to a relationship with God the Father because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice. The scales of spiritual blindness had been removed from their eyes. And what did they hear? They heard God's word preached to them by the leaders of God's Church. Those leaders were God's apostles. They "heard" and they understood the truth, God's truth, for the first time in their lives.

Verse 34—For David is not ascended into heavens: but he says himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, You shall sit on MY right hand, until I make Your foes Your footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus Christ, whom you have impaled on a pole, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and they said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Do you remember your calling? That prick in your heart? Do you remember the first time that you saw and heard God's word, God's truth? You had that same excitement when you first came to "see" and "hear," when you came to understand God's truth. That seeing and hearing for me came many years ago through Mr. Armstrong, who was God's apostle at that time. For many of you, God's calling, what you "see" and "hear" came through Mr. Weinland, God's prophet, God's appointed apostle to the end-time Church. You and I had that same question that was posed by the early Church, "What shall I do?"

Verse 38—Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit. For the promise... And what is that promise? That promise is the gift of eternal life, the gift of becoming a part of Elohim, God's family. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. We, brethren, we are those who have been called and that "are afar off." We are nearly 2,000 years past this event and we have the same opportunity. We have the same promise being offered to us. It is ours for the taking if our focus and priorities are in alignment with God's and we continue to follow Him no matter what.

Verse 40—And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourself from this untoward generation. Sound familiar? We, too, were told to repent and be baptized. And that is what we did. We were admonished to repent. And what is "repentance"? "Repentance" means "to change from our natural ways," the ways that are contrary and direct opposition to God and every way that produces peace. Repentance is to change and to take on the very nature of God Himself. That should have been and should continue to be our primary focus. However, for some that responded, their main focus in the back of their mind was limited to one thing. That one thing was saving their physical self. That self-centered focus, of and by itself, is not what God wants or requires of us. We were not called to physically save ourselves. Our focus, our attentions has to be on the big picture, the overall goal of that promise. And once again, what is that promise? That promise is the gift of eternal life, the gift of becoming a part of Elohim, God's family. In order to obtain that goal our focus must be a spiritual focus and we must continually seek to repent and change.

Verse 41—Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand people. After the publication of 2008—God's Final Witness, God's Church, the Church of God—PKG, had astounding growth also. Many of you gladly received God's word, God's calling, and the Church grew exponentially. God's Church had not experienced that type of growth since the 1960's in the Worldwide Church of God.

Verse 42—And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and in fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. They were firm in their purpose, resolution, and their faith. Nothing has changed throughout time. This sounds like our recent past, doesn't it? And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. They were being led in a most powerful way. And all that believed were gathered, and had all things in common; and sold their possessions and goods, and they parted them to all men, as every man had need. Yes, your bible states that those in the early Church sold their possessions and their goods and they shared them with everyone that was in the Church. They converted their belongings to money so that all in the Church could be taken care of. Why would they have done that? Let's go on and see what the early apostles preached.

Turn over to Acts 3:18; that's Acts 3:18—But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all of His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He has fulfilled. Repent you, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And He (that is God the Father) shall send Jesus Christ, which was before preached unto you. The early Church, the apostles were preaching the return of Jesus Christ. These people became a focused people, and they poured their heart and their soul into their calling and this newfound way of life. They eagerly looked forward to the return of Jesus Christ, just as we did and we continue to do. They believed that Jesus Christ was going to return in their lifetime. They believed that He was going to return soon and that God's Kingdom was at hand, as the present understanding was of what Jesus Christ had personally taught them.

Continuing on in Acts 4:32—And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one soul: neither said any of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses, they sold them, and brought the pieces of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. These people were unified. Their priorities and focus in life had drastically changed! They had one thing and one thing only on their minds. That was the return of Jesus Christ. As Mr. Matthews has recently explained, they sold the surplus, the extra things that they owned and possessed and they gave it to the Church, and everyone shared as they had need. The apostles believed. The Church believed that Jesus Christ was coming back soon. If they didn't wholeheartedly believe it, they surely wouldn't have done what they did. Jesus Christ did not return in their lifetime.

Do you think that anyone's faith was shaken? Throughout the remainder of biblical history that was recorded after these events, your bible lists and discusses many that became antichrist. Yes, there were some that walked away from God's calling and they turned their back on the most precious gift that could ever be offered, the gift of eternal life. Since it didn't happen as they believed, since it didn't happen as the apostles preached, there were some that stopped following God.

Once again, who was it that preached to the early Church that Jesus Christ was going to return at that time? They were the apostles that Jesus Christ personally led and taught. They were the foundational pillars that God the Father and Jesus Christ used to establish the Church of God. They were the people that wrote the New Testament in your Bible. Yes, the early Church did believe and they taught that Jesus Christ was going to return in their lifetime. One must never forget that Jesus Christ personally taught them, but He only taught them the present truth. He only revealed to them what was needed for them to know and understand at that time. They could not have been any more correct and accurate in all that they preached.

However, there was so much that Jesus expounded upon that was not spiritually comprehended, because it was not meant for them to understand at that time. Many of those teachings have not been understood until it was revealed through Mr. Weinland in our time. I will tell you, with absolute certainty, that God the Father and Jesus Christ knew that Jesus was not going to return in the early Churches lifetime, but God allowed that teaching.

Continuing on in Acts 5:1—But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and they kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the holy spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You've not lied unto men, but you've lied unto God. And Ananias hearing those words fell down, and he died: and great fear came upon all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and they buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, we sold it for that much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the spirit of the Eternal? Behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out also. Then she fell down straightway at his feet, and she died: and the young men came in, found her dead, carried her forth, and buried her next to her husband. And great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things. Not only did God allow the teachings of the apostles, the teaching that Jesus Christ was going to return in their lifetime, He established the authority of His Church in a most powerful way through this belief.

So why did God allow the first Church that was personally taught by the apostles, and His Church now, to experience these things? The answer is given in a post from Mr. Weinland entitled, Christ's Coming, on May 13th of this year, 2014. I'm going to quote from that post.

"Over the past few years, God has been opening (unsealing, revealing) the meaning of those very things – not all at once, but progressively so. To better understand what we have lived (experienced) over the period of the 1335 days from Trumpets of 2008 (Sept. 30) to Pentecost of 2012, the year that followed, then the present year that is now coming to a close, and finally the time which is now before us, there is a need to address the varying manner and means through which God has revealed much truth to His Church. There are numerous ‘variables’ in which God’s word is written in order to reveal truth, meaning, and purpose concerning how His plan is fulfilled in the creation of Elohim – the Kingdom of God. Examples of these ‘variables’ are replete throughout scripture, which include such things as the use of duality, types, physical/spiritual parallels and duality, repetitious fulfillment, progressive fulfillment, present truth, and more."

Brethren, we have lived through a duality event that was experienced by God's first Church. Remember, the leaders of the very first Church were personally taught by Jesus Christ Himself, yet they did not know that He was not going to return in their lifetime. They lived a "progressive fulfillment" of revealed knowledge and understanding just as we do. There was so much that the early Church had no understanding of at it's very beginning. And as for prophecy, so much was not revealed until many years later when John was inspired to write the book of Revelation. What is truly amazing is that God's revealing of understanding of Revelation was not going to be fully revealed until over 2,000 years later. And that understanding was to be given by Mr. Weinland, God's end-time prophet. We are witnessing and we are living "progressive fulfillment" and revelation of truth, and that's God's truth.

Continuing on in the post: "God is not yet revealing specific timing of all that is now going to be covered, but He is giving us a clearer outline of events in what we have been living since Trumpets 2008 and of what is now before us. In all of this, it is important to remember that there are great reasons why everything is not fully revealed to us all at one time." Let me repeat that. "There are great reasons why everything is not fully revealed to us all at one time. Some of that is for the purpose of trying and testing, some for creating stronger faith and character in those who yield to God, some for the development of truer and stronger humility, and some because of spiritual warfare and strategies. In all of this, it is good to remember that much of the warring that has occurred through time in the angelic realm is nearing it crescendo and completion, with Satan and the demons being fully restrained without power for the next 1,100 years."

This truth, this understanding was not given to the early Church. This truth was not revealed unto us until just recently. Yes, there are great reasons why everything is not fully revealed to God's people all at one time. That has been the history of everyone that God has dealt with throughout time. So how or why is it that God's people have continued to follow Him when it has become evident that they would have to wait to receive the promises?

Turn to Hebrews 11:1—Now faith is the substance, which is "the heart or core," of things hoped for, it is the evidence of things not seen. Our faith in what God has promised, the gift of eternal life, the return of Jesus Christ, is reality. We live for that faith, and if it is happening today it is the heart and it is the core of why we live this way of life.

Verse 2—For by it the elders, that is "those that have gone before us and have been recorded in the bible," obtained a good report. We, too, are obtaining that "good report" if we remain faithful to the end, whatever that end may be.

Continuing on in verse 6—Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. It is required of us that we have absolute trust and belief in God, and that we will faithfully follow His direction.

Verse 7— By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. We, too, have been warned of God, "of things that are not yet seen." 2008—God's Final Witness is that warning. The writings of that book will happen just as sure as the flood in Noah's time did take place. On a daily basis we should also be preparing ourselves for what lies ahead, not only from a physical standpoint, but more importantly from a spiritual perspective. Our daily focus must be on examining and changing ourselves so that we, too, may become an heir of righteousness.

Verse 8—By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after received an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went. That is the example that we should follow. If God leads us in a forward direction, that is the way that we go. If we are led to the right or to the left, or if we are asked to stand still, we still follow God, even though everything is not fully revealed to us all at one time. Why? Because that is God's purpose.

Verse 9—By faith Abraham sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Abraham never lost sight of the goal even though his journey was never as he expected it to be.

Through faith also Sara received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful (that is God) who had promised. Therefore, sprang there even of one (which was Abraham), and him as good as dead (he was an old man well past his prime), so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. God's physical promise to Abraham, that his future ancestry would be innumerable, came to pass, but he never saw it. He only believed.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having them seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. Once they started this journey, once they committed their allegiance to God, they never looked back. That has to be our mindset. We must never look back or question why God is leading us in a manner that He is. Once again, as Mr. Weinland has stated, "There is great reason why God has not fully revealed everything to us all at one time." We must trust in God's perfect wisdom and plan.

Verse 16—But they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly, they desired God's Kingdom, wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, that should be our desire also, that God will never be ashamed of us, for He has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall your seed be called. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. As I mentioned before, everyone is called to be tested and tried so that God can determine who will follow Him, who will be faithful, who will be a future son in a family of Elohim.

Verse 20—By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph... By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel... By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents...and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, who we spoke of earlier, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Moses embraced his calling and he chose to follow God however and wherever God chose to lead him.

[Verse] 26—Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense (the compensation) of the reward, that he was going to receive. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest He that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith, when they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: when the Egyptians assaying to do so were drowned. By faith, Moses followed God's lead for forty years through a wilderness, and he never personally received the promise.

Verse 32—And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, of Jephthae; of David, and Samuel, and all the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, they wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the army of the aliens, those who are not of God. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. They never lost sight of that overall goal, the reason why God offered them a calling in the first place, no matter what trial or test that they had to endure. Some of those trials and tests God revealed Himself beautifully and He intervened through their benefit. But there were others, there were many, many others, as it said, "that were tortured, not accepting deliverance."

Verse 36—And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourging. Nothing has changed for God's people throughout time. The mocking of God's people began at the very beginning of time and has continued on even until now. It will continue until God's Kingdom is established on this earth. Continuing on... yes, others had trials of bonds and imprisonment. Should we be so surprised that God's end-time apostle and prophet is experiencing the same?

Verse 37—They were stoned, they were sawn asunder... History reveals that God's people were hung upside down and cut in two from their bottom to their head while they were yet alive. ...they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, and tormented. God's people have suffered atrocious atrocities throughout time as they have followed God. Their faith and their hope carried them through all the way to the end, no matter what that end was.

Verse 38—(Of whom the world was not worthy): they wandered in deserts, in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. Throughout man's history mankind didn't have a clue as to whom they were persecuting. The same goes for today. Humanity is not worthy of the faithful. Humanity is not worthy of you, if you remain faithful, if you continue to follow God however and wherever He leads.

Verse 39—And all of these, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided something better for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. And who was the "us"? They were the Church that was led by the very individuals that Jesus Christ personally taught. Their faith was such that they believed that the return of Jesus Christ was imminent. They were ready for the resurrection of the firstfruits and they were awaiting their change to become a part of Elohim, right beside all of the faithful that had gone before them. That is how all that have been called of God have lived their life. They continually looked to the future. They looked to the fulfillment of the promises that were promised to them and they never lost sight of following God.

There are so many more examples of faith that could be added to Hebrews 11. As mentioned before, Jesus Christ did not return in the lifetime of the early Church, but they, the apostles, along with many who received God's holy spirit on the day of Pentecost in AD 31, followed in the same footsteps of those that went before them. The early Church lived a duality of all that went before them. And just like those that received them, they followed God all the way to the end.

We have lived through and shared in a duality that was experienced by the early Church. We are also living "repetitious fulfillment," "progressive fulfillment," "present truth," and much more, just as Mr. Weinland had mentioned in the post. The question is: Do you have absolute faith and trust in God the Father and Jesus Christ, that they did and will continue to lead their Church in the direction that they know is best? And, are you willing to follow God as He chooses to lead us all the way to the end... or should I say, all the way to the establishment of His Kingdom on this earth.

Brethren, it is not over yet. There is much more to come our way. We have a choice to remain faithful and to follow God. Be steadfast, be unmovable, always abounding in the work that the Eternal has set before you. Remember, "Without faith it is impossible to please God: for He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those that diligently seek," and follow Him.□

Table of Contents

Chapter 1