The Church of Jesus Christ
The Message of Hope
Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Volume 121
Spring 2010
The Church of Jesus Christ Headquarters: 2797 Bryant St. Portage, IN 46368 Phone 219-763-1049 WWW.JESUSCHRISTISGOD.ORG Message of Hope Editors: Bro. John & Sis. Sandi Garza Official Organ, owned by: The Church of Jesus Christ Please send all articles to: Message of Hope 2797 Bryant St. Portage, IN 46368 Articles and Pictures Due: JUNE 11th
What Does The Church of Jesus Christ Believe? We believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God and is the SOLE authority on every subject. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Almighty God. Rev. 1:8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” God put on the robe of flesh and walked here on earth for 33 years to fulfill prophecy for the New Testament Church, which is The Church of Jesus Christ. According to the Word, John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us….” The Church of Jesus Christ believes that everyone must take His word seriously, John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I Am He ye shall die in your sins.” We follow God’s Plan of salvation. Acts 2:38, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Baptism is by immersion in water only. The evidence of the infilling of the Holy Ghost is according to Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” John 3:5 states, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” We must then live a clean, holy, and dedicated life to Jesus Christ thereafter taking diligent heed to the Word. The Church of Jesus Christ must be found faithful to His Word. We must be partakers of Communion service. This service consists of the Lord’s Supper and Foot Washing. 1 Cor. 11:24, 25, “And when he had given thanks, he brake it and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” John 13:14, 15, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. (15) For I have given you an example that ye should do as I have done to you.” Watch, pray, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, give your tithes and offerings, so that YOU can be counted among the faithful when our one and only Savior, Jesus Christ, comes back in a “cloud with power and great glory!”
Bishop Board and Pastors Bishop Jarret R. Spence, Presiding Bishop 2298 Fern Street Portage, IN 46368 Phone 219-762-7492 Bishop Paul Rose, Secretary/Treasurer P.O. Box 344 Cabin Creek, West Virginia 45035 Phone 304-595-5640 Bishop Danny Walls P. O. Box 216 Ingalls, IN 46048 Phone 317-485-4105 Bishop Robert O’Dell 5235 East Van Ness Road Pierceton, IN 46562 Phone 574-594-2337 Bishop Calvin Blaine Pennington P.O. Box 413 (Mailing Address) 12237 State Highway 576 Montpelier, OH 43543 Phone 419-485-4464 Bishop Harold Goodrich 36288 Valley Drive Paw Paw. MI 49079 269-655-9093 Elder Humberto Loera Iglesia De Jesucristo (The Church of Jesus Christ) 138 Alejandrina Col. San Isidro Matamoros, Tamps, Mexico Phone 956-564-0911 Bishop of Jamaica Bishop Orville Rodney 199 Catherene Mount Albion P.A. Montego Bay, St. James, Jamaica, W.I. Phone 879-952-6676 Bishop of Canada Bishop Mathias Gooden 75 Dunlop St., Apt. 406 Richmond Hills, ON L4C 2M7 CANADA Phone 905-883-8543 National Youth Leaders Bro. Jarret & Sis. Caryn Spence 804 Pennsylvania Avenue Laporte, IN 46350 Phone 219-325-3904 Bro. Travis & Sis. Nora Hensley, Assistants 437 Tecumseh Street Warsaw, IN 46582 Phone 574-551-4487
Important Upcoming Events Tent Revivals & Fellowship Meetings West Virginia Tent Revival...May 13-15 Pierceton, Indiana Fellowship Meeting...May 22nd Decatur, Michigan Tent Revival....Aug. 5-7 Dyersburg, Tennessee Tent Revival‌ Sep. 16-18
June 13-18
At NEW Camp in Bedford, IN.
General Convocation
The Average Fence Praise the Lord from the beautiful state of Ohio! The weather is beautiful. Everything is coming to life. The robins and other spring birds are here. I love to hear them chirp and sing. The robins sing long before they have had their breakfast. They don't know if they will get to eat, but they still sing. Shouldn't we be all the more like that? Where's our faith? We should be singing too! We are much more than any bird. Each one of us has something to sing and praise God about. Right? I have a little story to tell. It's about an average fence. Are we average Christians? I hope we're not. Mr. Harvey was a retired banker and a widower. Every night he would wander over his six acres inspecting the crabapple trees in the orchard, throwing crumbs to the ducks in the pond. One evening as he was making his rounds, he discovered an old guernsy cow boldly picking apples off of the lower branches. He chased the cow and soon discovered rails on his fence had fallen. That's where the cow would get in and out. He hired Jed, who was a farmer to repair his fence. It was going to take him a week to put up a new fence. Jed was an Amish man, so he drove his horse and buggy over to Mr. Harvey's. One day as they were eating lunch, Mr. Harvey's coat sleeve brushed against a glass of water, spilling it on the table. He cursed the glass and his cook, Molly, showed no surprise at the language, perhaps she was used to it. Jed, the Amish man, winced at the language. Later on, Jed asked Mr. Harvey, "Don't you think your language was offensive to the cook?" Mr. Harvey wore a blank look. "What's wrong with a little cursing now and then," he said. "It's ok to let off a little steam instead of holding it in, then some day, exploding." They discussed what they thought it meant to be a Christian. They were poles apart in their ideas. Mr. Harvey ended by saying, "Guess I'm not so bad, just an average Christian. I go to church every Sunday, except of course when the weather is bad or I was up too late the night before. Sometimes I lose my temper, but I am honest. I drink liquor now and then, but I give money to the poor. Yes, I am an average Christian. Expect the Lord will have a mansion somewhere in Heaven for me." Friday noon, Jed announced that the
fence was built. Mr. Harvey asked if the fence was built tight and strong. Jed replied, "Can't say all of it is tight and strong, but it's a good average fence. Some parts are a little weak, others are strong. There's a little gap here and there. Some gaps may be a yard wide or so. Can't say it's perfect in every part; it's just an average fence." Mr. Harvey cried, "What!!!" Then said, "Don't you know that a fence must be perfect or it's worthless?" "Indeed, I use to think so," said the farmer dryly, "but, I hear you talk so much about averaging matters in your Christian life, it seemed to me we might try it with the cows. If an average life will keep you from going to hell, then an average fence should keep the cows from sneaking into your orchard." Average is second rate, unexceptional, mediocre. Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Revelation 3:2, "Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God." Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Hebrews 3:1, "Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." Our calling isn't just an average calling. So let us live our lives wholly for Jesus Christ. Wholly is complete, entirely, totally, in every respect. So, read and study the Bible. Pray and seek Jesus Christ. Then, you will not be an average Christian. You will be that bright and shining light. Bro. John Brandenberger Pastor: Bishop Calvin B Pennington Montpelier, Ohio
One Solitary Life… He was born in an obscure village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. He then became an itinerant preacher. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn’t go to college. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only thirty-three when the public turned against Him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only property He had on earth. He was laid in a borrowed grave. Many centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned have not affected the life of man on this earth, as much as that “ONE SOLITARY LIFE” “God Bless The Church of Jesus Christ” Because of Calvary Submitted by: Sister Pitman (Prov. 11:30, Isa. 32:17,18)
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. But in order to confess him with your mouth you must first hear the word preached… Romans 10:14-17 How then shall they call on him in whom they have believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Psalms 125:1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. You put your faith in different worldly things everyday like electricity or your car but at thimes they fail. Also how many times have we put our faith into someone we know just to have them fail us? Thankfully we have something so much greater to put our faith into Jesus Christ he will never fail and he even put it in writing… Psalms 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psalms 118:8 It is better to trus in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Faith
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Faith is a big word to have such few letters.
We need to be faithful and go to every church service, every Sunday school and every bible study because listening to the Preacher and praying is how we increase our faith. We need to pray and seek God to increase our faith just as the apostles did…
It means a lot of things to different people. However having faith in God is everything. John 20:31. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;and that believing ye might have life through his name. The actual definition of faith can be found in the word of God and not Webster’s Dictionary. Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The fist step in getting saved is to have faith. However, some may ask how I get faith, The word of God has the answer…
Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Stay obedient to your pastor, study the word of God and pray as much as you can and I promise your faith will increase. Submitted by: Bro. Brian Cumbee Pastor: Bishop Randell Spence Portage, Indiana
ARE WE GOING FORTH? Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Deuteronomy 7:1-15 1 When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, (the Church) and hath cast out many nations before thee, (Separated us from The World) the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; Today that would be any one outside the Church.
and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle. 15
And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. ARE WE TEACHING THIS TODAY? IN CHURCH AND AT HOME? Could this be the cause of a lot of our problems in the Church today ???
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And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: We do this today by going forth and Preaching the truth to them. 3
Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4 For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5 But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire Again we do this today by going forth and Preaching the truth to them. 6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.( He saved us )9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. 11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
The Church Of Jesus Christ Portage, In. Bis. Jarret R. Spence: Pastor
How to Plant Your Garden First you come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses. For the Garden of Daily Living plant three rows of Peas… 1. Peace of Mind 2. Peace of Heart 3. Peace of Soul Plant four rows of Squash… 1. Squash gossip 2. Squash indifference 3. Squash grumbling 4. Squash selfishness Plant four rows of Lettuce… 1. Lettuce be faithful 2. Lettuce be kind 3. Lettuce be patient 4. Lettuce really love one another No garden is without Turnips… 1. Turnip for meetings 2. Turnip for service 3. Turnip to help one another To conclude our garden we must have Thyme… 1. Thyme for God 2. Thyme for family 3. Thyme for friends
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Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: 13
And he will love thee, and bless thee,
Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. There is much fruit in your garden, because you reap what you sow.
TWO WOLVES One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. "One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. "The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith." The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." Submitted by: Sister Deanna Johnson Pastor: Bishop Randell Spence Portage, Indiana
The Revelation of Jesus Christ One of the greatest controversies of our day is the human race (many of them) do not understand who Jesus Christ really is. People have different opinions of the personality of Jesus Christ. Some say he is the second person of the blessed trinity, others say he was just another man. This question arose in the time of Jesus Christ when he was on this earth. The bible says in Matthew 16:13-17, Jesus Christ asked his disciples, whom do men say that I am. Their reply was, some say you are John the Baptist, others say Elias, Jeremias or one of the prophets. But Jesus Christ answered and said, but whom say ye that I am? The reply was this: Simon Peter said thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus Christ said unto Peter, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Simon Peter received a revelation from God almighty. Note what he said (thou art the Christ). Now when Peter was revealed this, what was his interpretation and meaning of
(thou art the Christ)? What Peter was saying is (thou art the God). Now to prove that Jesus Christ is this very God let us look into the bible to the book of Isaiah 40:3, The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. This passage is talking about John the Baptist preparing the way before Jesus Christ and called it a highway for our God, meaning Jesus Christ is our God. Let us look a bit farther in Isaiah 43:10, the prophet Isaiah said –ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, my servant whom I have chosen, that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he; before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me, Verse 11 says- I even I , am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior. I ask you, who is the savior? The bible says Jesus Christ is the savior in Luke 2:11 It is very easy from these scriptures we’ve just studied, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is God. If we confess like Peter did (thou art the Christ), then we’ll have to realize or receive the revelation of Jesus Christ, that he is the very God of all ages. Now there is great argument concerning this deity of Jesus Christ, but you can’t argue with the word of God, you must believe it. Most people today don’t want to believe that Jesus Christ is God because they say they will lose friendships or make some member of their family mad at them, but the bible says in Acts 5:29, we ought to obey God rather than men. What many people today need to do is pray for the revelation of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ will give it to them if they seek him and the truth with their whole heart. I want to give to all who read this article a little more insight, to who and what Jesus Christ is. In Revelations 1:8, he is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the almighty. In Hebrews 12:2, he is the Author and Finisher of our Faith. In Revelations 3:14, he is the beginning of the Creation of God. In Isaiah 51:9, 53:1, he is the Arm of the Lord. In John 6:32, he is the bread of life. In Isaiah 9:6, he is the Everlasting Father. In John 20:28, he is God. In Acts 3:14, he is the Holy One and the just. In Isaiah 26:4, he is the Lord Jehovah. In Luke1:69, he is the Horn of Salvation. In John 8:58, he is the I Am. 1Timothy 6:15, he is the king of kings. In Acts 10:36, he is Lord of all. In 1Corinthians 2:8, he is Lord of Glory. In Jeremiah 23:6, he is Lord of Righteous. In Job 19:256, he is our redeemer. In 1Corinthians 10:4, he is the rock. In John 14:6-9, he is the way the truth, the life and the Father, and much more. Only those who receive the revelation of Jesus Christ can say that HE IS ALL, EVERYTHING TO ME, I hope that you the reader will receive the revelation of Jesus Christ if you haven’t already. May our God, who is Jesus Christ, bless all who read this article, is my prayer. In the service of Jesus Christ, Evangelist Tommy Stafford
~In Memory of Brother Tommy Stafford ~ Originally published in the July/August 1993 Message of Hope
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Praise the Lord Everyone! We have received several letters from readers who would like to stay on the mailing list. And we appreciate all of you! We would like to give one last opportunity for people to write in and let us know if they would still like to receive a copy of The Message of Hope. As we stated in the previous magazine we now have the magazine available online. But for those of you who do not have internet access we will be sending out a copy of the magazine to you individually. But ONLY if you have written us to let us know you would like to stay on the mailing list. If you haven’t done so already, please write to the address below and let us know by JUNE 11th. Thank You!
The Church of Jesus Christ 2797 Bryant Street Portage, In 46368