Best Feast Ever

Dear Brethren,

Welcome home!  What a peaceful and spiritually rewarding Feast we have just enjoyed!  For one isolated member - it was his first Feast ever!  His new experience helped bring back the memories of when everything was new and exciting.  We were blessed with a wealth of special music, as well as a children's choir and an adult choir.  The fun show brought out the best in everyone!

God intervened in so many ways, giving us a wonderful Feast.  He has truly blessed us and is continuing to give us the ability to boldly stand for His Truth.  The first thing we want to do is give God thanks, and all the credit.  Our hope and strength have been restored, and we are greatly encouraged to go forward.

Toward the end of the eight days, everyone had gotten to know nearly everyone there.  By the close of the Last Great Day, there were tears of separation along with the sharing of addresses with promises to stay in touch.  A member remarked, "There hasn't been a Feast like this since the good old days back in Worldwide."

Upon returning home, one of the members said, "The Feast gave us a  renewed vigor to buckle down, and to pray and study more."  Another said, "We ended the Feast on a high."  Perhaps the secret to a great Feast is in the service provided for others.  The way to have "The Best Feast Ever," is to give the "Best Feast Ever" to others.  What a beautiful attitude.  Those who put this into practice made the Feast wonderful for everybody.

God expects us to remember those who are less fortunate - especially during the Holy Days.  Through the generosity of members who shared their second tithe, some were able to attend the Feast with us who otherwise would not have been able to do so.  These kind, sharing gestures added to everyone's Feast experience.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"  (Psalm 133:1)

Our prayer is that all of God's people who attended the Feast this year - wherever they were, and whoever they were with - had a joyous and profitable Feast.  When Jesus Christ looks down from His throne at His Father's right hand, He sees only ONE Body - ONE assembly of Brethren.  He does not recognize a bunch of non-connected, disassociated church units as His Body - the Body of Christ.  It is not God's will that His people be scattered and separated as they have been.

It is a shame that we are not of one mind, and all together for the Feast.  Too many of our Brethren have been taught not to associate with others not within their own fellowship.  They turn their heads when they pass their former Brethren on the street - no longer considering them, Brethren.  The Bride is NOT prepared to meet Christ while this practice persists in His One Church.

The theme of the Feast this year was, "Draw near to God."  Woven into this year's messages was the instruction to recognize that all the scattered Christians are still our fellow Brethren.  God is not going to save just one of the groups.  He is not doing "The Work" through one of the corporations. He isn't dealing exclusively with one man.  One organization does not possess the secret to the Place of Safety.  Politics and favoritism have no place in the household of God.

The one thing we can be sure of is this:  God will not hold guiltless those who are doing the scattering of His flock.  Don't be a part of it and do not support it.  Stand against it.

"My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them...Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock... For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." (Ezekiel 34:6,10,11)

It is not just those in the ministry that are in jeopardy!  The Brethren, too, are warned by God not to get caught up with the special interests groups that say, "my church is better than your church."  No one should think that he is in good stead with God because he is in the "right church".  One member must not seek advantage over the others.  Brethren, we must be a part of the solution by considering other Brethren better than ourselves. (Philippians 2:3)  All of the membership, wherever they may be, are being judged NOW.

"And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, and the rams and the he-goats." (Ezekiel 34:17 Eerdmans)

Our salvation depends - not on our being in the right group - but on how we relate to each other.  Jesus could not have made it more clear when He said, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me."  (Matthew 25:40,45)

Paul said that we had better be caring for each other, as our salvation depends on it. He asked us to examine ourselves as to whether or not we were properly "discerning the Lord's body."  What Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 meant that some churchgoers are spiritually dead because of alack of real concern for every Christian in the Lord's body.  Do we understand that we are each individually responsible for bringing unity to the body of believers?

It wasn't God's will that the Church be scattered all over creation - any more than it was His will that Israel went into Assyrian captivity, or Judah into Babylonian captivity.  Sin brought it about.  God's will is always to bless His people.

Thankfully, we have another year ahead of us to prepare ourselves for the return of Jesus Christ.  We are not yet ready!

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready." (Revelation 19:7)

Next week:  Where do we go from here?

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