September 28. 2013
THE CONGREGATION OF THE LORD
The Congregation of the Lord When God created the earth he created many nations of people. Out of all of the nations he called one family, the children of Israel to give them the holy oracles. Romans 3:1-2, “What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracle of God.” They would be his prince as well as his priest. Israel, which means prince of God, is also God’s firstborn. Inherent with all those who are called firstborn is duty and responsibility. A firstborn is supposed to also be an example to their younger siblings. Romans 9:4-5, “Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises: whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.” It is obvious that the
examples of almost all of the saints in the Holy Scripture are Israelites from the time of Jacob until the time of the apostles. It is their lives and examples that we read about, their suffering, sacrifice and afflictions that strengthen us. But Israel is just a very small part of all of God’s children on this earth. God divided the people into Israelite and Gentile. He divided the children of Israel into twelve tribes. He also divided the nations of the gentiles into twelve. Man has further divided themselves, constantly changing, names and traditions, yet there are still only twelve nations of Gentiles according to the will and purpose of God. Deuteronomy 32:8, “When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.� He never divided people based
on race or skin color. Race and skin color division were invented by man to justify slavery.
God has saints among all people in every nation, kindred and tongue. God, who will gather Israel, will gather others beside them. Isaiah 56:8, The Lord which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.” The scripture tells us “to the Jew first and also the gentile”. We are all one body in Christ. I Corinthians 12:13, “ For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be bond or free, and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” God has promised to gather all of his children. He will call the children of Israel from the four corners of the earth. Corners are simply directions, north, south, east and west. He will also gather together the gentiles with his people from every nation, kindred and tongue. The division or breach that stood between people will be removed. The only divide will be between those who obey God and those wicked people who disobey. All of God’s children are brothers and sisters. We will all love one another. Racism, prejudice and hatred, distrust and
misunderstanding uncleanness.
will
disappear
with
all
sin
and
The 144,000 who are the firstfruits of Israel will be sealed first, as it says in Revelations 7:1-8. It goes on to say in verse 9-10, “After this I beheld, and los, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindred and people, and tongues, stood before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” Let us remember that we are part of a great congregation. We may be small now, but there are multitudes of God’s children in heaven as well as in earth, and at the time of the resurrection, which is the greatest harvest from this earth, all of the saints of God will come together united in one body. Paul spoke about this in Hebrews 12:22-24, “But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to
the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel.�
Let us read about the great congregation and how the gentile will be called.
Please read: 79 verses Isaiah 2:1-4, Isaiah 60:1-22, II Esdras 2:10-48, Isaiah 66:10-23