Feed the Flock

Dear Brethren,

Why do we produce a radio program?  The first program, "The Kingdom of God," makes the distinction between the Gospel about Jesus, and the Gospel of Jesus.  The second program, "Jesus Christ - Creator God," makes the point that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament.  It was Jesus, Himself, who inspired the writings of the prophets, and who met face to face with Adam, Jacob and Abraham.  Here are a few excerpts, from the program, of that Genesis 18-19 meeting between Jesus and Abraham.

"Jesus told Abraham how He was going to Sodom and Gomorrah to destroy the cities because of the homosexual perversions there.  "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous."  (Genesis 18:20)...

"The Bible reveals the wicked sin of the Sodomites was their pervasive homosexual lifestyle.  Jesus designed the family, consisting of husband, wife and children... This Jesus designed family is the foundation of society...

"The sodomites, the men of the city,.. surrounded Lot's home, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: every facet of society, government, education, and business.  They wanted to have sex with the two messengers who had accompanied  Jesus.  And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them, that is have sexual relations with them in the same way "Adam knew Eve - and she conceived."  It is the same Hebrew word.  (Genesis 19:4-5)

"Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;  And God destroyed those cities, and all the inhabitants of the cities...   (Genesis 19:24-25)

"Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, pornea - homosexuality, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."   (Jude :7)

Those are a few brief excerpts from the second broadcast.  God does say to "Cry aloud and spare not..."  God willing, that is what we are going to do.  In the early days of the work, Herbert W. Armstrong went out over this 50,000 watt clear channel broadcasting network - preaching the Gospel and warning this nation, in great power. 

Who will hear?  Who will respond?  Here is our hope - if it is God's will:  We want to direct real effort at "seeking those which are lost and driven away," for the reason that they are a part of the "bride of Christ" which needs to be prepared.  Finding and feeding the flock is primary.  This is a part of the objective of the radio broadcast.

Jesus Christ indicts the leaders for their lack of concern for the scattered and injured brethren.  "Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD."  (Jeremiah 23:2)

The wording that Jesus uses is very strong.  Ezekiel 34:2,4 "Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?  The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them." 

In God's Church, it seems, we have always had a feeling that we were preaching the Gospel for the purpose of "getting members."  That is not correct!  We do not have any grandiose ideas that we will do a work that will gather all the sheep into one flock - that seems to be what Jesus, Himself, will do.  Ezekiel 34:11-12 For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.  As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

Perhaps our Lord will allow us to find and serve a few.  It is not right for us to sit back and think that it is someone else's duty.  We, in turn, like the disciples, must preach the gospel.  It will be good if we are able to round up a few scattered brethren who have lost their way.  Perhaps those wayward members will find the kind of caring fellowship that distinguishes the Body of Christ.

We cannot expect this window of opportunity to last forever.  "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord."  (Amos 8:11)

We can expect things to become really rough for the people of God.  "They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service."  (John 16:2)  Our message is already illegal, if given in Canada.  It is obvious that the proverbial handwriting is on the wall.

We will go on broadcasting as God gives us strength, because, "We ought to obey God rather than men."  (Acts 5:29)  After that, who knows what will happen.  There have been times in the past when the word of God was not able to be preached.  "The word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision."  (1Samuel 3:1)

God tells us that at the end we will have no more power.  "When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished."  (Daniel 12:7)  It is clear what we must be doing.  "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."  (Isaiah 55:6)

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Sermon:  "Jesus Christ is Coming Again"  

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