Herbert W Armstrong

Mr. Armstrong gave the afternoon sermon on Pentecost here in the Auditorium. During the sermon, he cautioned us as ministers to be sure we are continually reminding God's Firstfruits of the purpose of their calling — that God wants His people to be preparing now to become teachers and rulers with Christ when He returns to reestablish the government of God on the earth.

The ministers of this world simply do not understand the great purpose God is working out here on earth. They do not understand the truth about the Kingdom of God and God's government. They do not know the purpose of God's Church and of the meaning of Pentecost. Consequently, their sermons are spiritually shallow, concerned almost entirely with the here and now, focusing mainly on "getting saved" now — on personal salvation.

David alluded to the ultimate purpose of God's Firstfruits in Psalm 51:12-13 when he cried out, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." God has called us to repentance and salvation for just that reason — that we might teach transgressors God's way and have a part in the eventual reeducation and conversion of the whole world!

We must make sure that our sermons and Bible studies continually reflect the purpose of our calling — the reason God has placed us in His Church now. We must not preach as the ministers of this world do, about Christian living as an end in itself, or for a personal reward only, omitting the real substance and depth of the meaning and purpose of what God has called us to be a part of, and to be preparing for. Mr. Armstrong's article in the May 1985 issue of The GOOD NEWS pointed this out:

Jesus said "No one can come to Me" during this 6,000-year period except God the Father specially calls them (John 6:44) — and He has called" this very few not just for salvation, but for a special service preparing for the-coming Kingdom of God, as well.

After that 6,000 years expires, Jesus Christ will come again to earth, this time in SUPREME POWER AND GLORY, to set up GOD'S GOVERNMENT on earth....

For us now, it is imperative that we understand that those CALLED and inducted by God into His Church NOW have been called for MORE THAN JUST SPIRITUAL SALVATION AND THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. We are called, every one of us, for a PART in preparing for the Kingdom of God!

For our part now, in this present "Philadelphia era," each of you is called for the mission of loyally backing up the GREAT COMMISSION of proclaiming the true Gospel to the whole world — and one important thing more: When Jesus comes to RULE, His wife THE CHURCH will have made herself ready — to be holy and without blemish, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. And we in the Church as a whole HAVE NOT ATTAINED FULLY TO THAT HOLY STATURE AS YET.

And our work is not finished until we do allow God to bring us unitedly to that state — ready to leave this world of flesh and blood and to enter an entirely NEW WORLD — the Church made immortal, composed of SPIRIT! Our job to which God has called us is far from finished!

The point is, we must strive to keep our minds on what God's mind is on — the restoration of His government to this earth. The Church of God exists to do His work in preparation for that. That's the purpose for the Church! Point the members to the work God is doing through His Church. Regularly direct their attention to THE WORLDWIDE NEWS and The GOOD NEWS, rehearsing and discussing news, growth, events, trends and developments in the end-time work God has called them to support and participate in.

Mr. Armstrong has often mentioned that the extent to which our hearts are in the work of God's Church will be the extent to which we are growing spiritually. Your instruction, encouragement and continual interest and enthusiasm about the various aspects of the work of the Church in your sermons and Bible studies should always revolve around the need to be preparing ourselves to be teachers of God's laws, as well as rulers, in His coming Kingdom.

God is deeply concerned about His Kingdom, and about His Church, which is the "embryo" of that Kingdom. We ministers, as we teach God's people, must be deeply concerned as well, keeping in mind that our job is to train them to be teachers. We are not working with the brethren just to help them attain salvation, or just to "make it into the Kingdom." We must help them prepare for the great work ahead in that Kingdom through the work we are doing now of supporting Mr. Armstrong in proclaiming the message of the Kingdom of God to this world.

Let's all continue to ask God for help and inspiration in giving His people the spiritual meat they need, which is so different from anything this dying world can offer or understand.

As a final note, please remember to pray for our brethren in Sri Lanka. Terrorist activity and political unrest continue to be threats to the safety of citizens there. (See the back page of the May 27 WN.) God, of course, has protected His people from the violence. Let's all pray for His continued intervention for the ongoing safety of His Church in this area.

Recent Ordinations

Mr. Kim Wenzel, associate pastor of the Bonnyville, Alberta congregation, was raised in rank from local elder to preaching elder by Canadian regional director Colin Adair on May 14. Also raised to preaching elder was Mr. Bruno Leclerc, of the Val d'Or, Quebec congregation. He was ordained by French regional director Dibar Apartian on May 25.

Also on May 14, Mr. Adair ordained Mr. Joel King, formerly a ministerial trainee, now a local elder and associate pastor of the Vancouver, British Columbia congregation. And on May 11, in South Africa, regional director Roy McCarthy, assisted by Mr. Frank Nelte, ordained Mr. Neil Becker a local elder in the East London congregation.