Herbert W Armstrong

Christ qualified to rule. He did so by overcoming Satan and remaining absolutely faithful to His Father's will. Now we are being prepared, while living in Satan's world, for rulership in God's soon-coming world tomorrow. We will then teach the people God's way in God's world — a world ruled by Jesus Christ and His government. We are now qualifying to rule by overcoming Satan as Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, did before us. He said, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

We must follow Christ's example. He kept His Father's Law. He did His Father's will, not His own. He even rejected the rulership of this world when Satan offered it to Him. He said, "The prince of this world cometh, and he hath nothing in me" (John 14:30). Jesus qualified to establish a new world and civilization — God's world after the end of Satan's world. That is why we must follow Christ's example in overcoming this world. It is Jesus Christ living in us through the Holy Spirit that enables us to overcome. That is why we must not allow ourselves to drift away from God by lack of prayer, Bible study or fasting. We must not begin to put our fingers into what Satan's world has to offer. Many ministers have done so in times past, and as a result are no longer in the ministry or the Body of Christ.

Many through the years have gone out of the Church, or been put out, because they either forgot or never understood that "strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14), and that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (II Tim. 3:12). Apparently they also either forgot or never understood that God commands us to "come out of her, my people" (Rev. 18:4) and "be not ye therefore partakers with them" (Eph. 5:7).

God has called us to qualify for rulership while living in this same evil world of Satan the devil that Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith, qualified in. Do we view sin as Jesus did? Do we see that it leads to eternal death as He did? Do we see it as separation from God the Father, from all that is happy, all that is good and pure, all that is hope and joy? Do we see it as the destruction of peace? Do we see it as suffering, hurt, sorrow, misery and ugliness, as Jesus Christ did? Are we really seeking to develop the mind of Jesus Christ? How important is it to us? What priority does overcoming this present evil world have in your life?

We are preparing to teach and rule the world under Jesus in the Kingdom of God. We will be ruling by and teaching the Law of God. A Law that is holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12). A perfect Law (Ps.19:7). We will be teaching the nations to keep that Law, which will show them the way God lives and what His mind is like.

God tells us in Psalm 111:10, "A good understanding have all they that do his commandments." We cannot really understand what we are learning about God's Law unless we keep it! And we must deeply appreciate the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin. We must develop the attitude and habit of repentance, striving to change and overcome all sin in our lives, to remove that which is opposed to God's mind and character.

Impress on the brethren the need to be growing spiritually and overcoming, and the reason for it. Always keep before them the calling God has given them to prepare them for rulership and teaching His Law in His Kingdom. Show them that this calling requires them to be studying and learning, and in addition to that, to be putting into practice (Phil. 4:9) what they are learning by obeying God, overcoming sin and changing, realizing God's great mercy and willingness to forgive us upon true, godly repentance.

I'd like to share with you a very encouraging report I received from Mr. Robert Morton. I know many of you were aware of and praying for our brethren in India regarding the mandatory six-day work week. God has now intervened!

For years our brethren in India have laboured under the burden of a six-day work week. This has meant a number of them over the years have lost their jobs as a result of the Sabbath, while others have found it necessary to use their valuable vacation time to keep the weekly Sabbath. Some have been working under an almost permanent threat of being fired for not working on the Sabbath.

Once someone has lost his or her job in India, it is almost impossible to obtain another one. For a large portion of the Church this has severely tested their faith and meant that they have had to face personal persecution from their employers. Over recent months our members working in banks and government departments have been under a great deal of pressure, which has been increasing month by month.

Today Mr. Bill Sidney phoned to let me know that the Indian government has passed legislation to bring in a five-day work week beginning June the 3rd this year. He said this will be one of the biggest milestones for our brethren in India. For years they have had to live week by week in faith that somehow God will work things out for them. Now, God has mercifully lifted the trial off them. From now on, life will be much easier for them — at least in this particular area.

Mr. Sidney also mentioned that he expects quite a number of co­workers to express a great deal more interest in the Church as a result of this decision. In the past, they have lacked faith to step out and trust God for their livelihoods. It seems that maybe now God in His mercy is going to make it easier for them to obey Him — at least for the time being. I think over the next few months we will see an increase in the number of baptism requests coming into our address in India.

I knew you would want to join us in thanking God for mercifully lifting a great burden off His Church in India.