Brother John Mowat stresses that we serve an Almighty God. Although billions neither know Him nor honor Him, it does not change the reality of His existence nor that He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. We must love and serve our heavenly Father in obedience and be separate from the world's contamination. Judgment of the world has begun, and we expect to receive deliverance; let us live a lifestyle pleasing to Jesus. He gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

Brother Singh sees a famine for the word of God in modern Christianity. An ancient scripture is applicable for our day: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD" (Amos 8:11). So, today, everybody can goggle and quote scripture—yet precious few receive the word of God!

The convenience of the modern study of scripture via computers, concordances, and commentaries presents two significant problems: 1) Uncalled ministers add themselves to the work of God. 2) There is little need to seek God diligently in prayer. (Hence carnal thinking and emotionalism masquerade as leading by the Holy Spirit.) 

Interestingly, the social outcasts and sinners gathered close to Jesus to hear him. The scribes and Pharisees, representing the religious elite of God’s people, remained at a distance, finding fault. It is a sad state if, once saved, God’s children feel superior to the unsaved. “For when we were yet without strength … Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). No matter how depraved we were as sinners, regardless of our background—Hindu, Muslim, atheist— “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Luke 15 records that publicans {tax collectors} and sinners gathered to listen to Jesus. This, of course, caused the Pharisees and the scribes to murmur, saying, “This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.”

We relate principles and lessons from Biblical times and apply them to our modern church experience. And yet, doing so can present a problem.  We are in danger of presuming that our spiritual knowledge is superior to all other believers. Often, we criticize the Pharisees of Jesus’s day while failing to realize we may display a Pharisaical attitude ourselves! May God help us avoid a self-righteous attitude that judges others as less important to God.

Communicating with Brother Richard's congregation in Westbury, Brother Singh sought to share information necessary to better live for God. The Bible is thick because God's people were constantly in rebellion. So the prophets recorded the messages God sent via them to warn His people to return to obedience and reverence before severe judgment would reign down upon them.

Despite Israel's meticulous commitment to religious practice, God was not pleased with their efforts. Their motives for serving Him were more self-serving than devotion spawned from love. Realizing how God saw His people is helpful for our self-examination.

It is shocking to realize that the king of Kings will reject many (if not most) professing Christians for practicing Iniquity. Iniquity is probably the most misunderstood word in the Bible, yet it is vitally important. Speaking about events preceding his return, Jesus said, "Many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:11-12).

Previously, Brother Singh taught us that Iniquity is any religious practice NOT APPROVED by God. Our heavenly Father wills that we "enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and FEW there be that find it" (Matthew 17:13-14). A wide gate and broad way approaches are variations of religion established according to the traditions and thinking of men.

Much of the Bible was written in response to the rebellion of God's people. The tendency of the Jews to disobey God necessitated the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and other prophets. It is essential to understand that the prophets and apostles relied solely on God to know what to tell the people. Today, we ministers need the same connection with our Lord. Instead of reading a portion of Matthew or John for inspiration, we need God to inspire us to preach what His people need to hear to live for Him now.

Our Pastor loves his Bible, yet he admits that he needs much more than the scriptures. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, {Jesus said} they are Spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). The Israelite children were delivered physically from Egypt, yet the spirit of Egypt remained in their hearts. By contrast, the body of Christ today continues to live in spiritual Egypt, also referred to biblically as the world. So, we examine ourselves to determine what percentage of our life is committed to Christ. Or how much of it clings to the world. We are not in church to learn religion—instead, it is to change our life!

Satan has deceived most of Christendom into believing that only the body dies—but the soul lives on. That is NOT what the Bible teaches! Martha knew her brother would rise again in the resurrection on the last day (John 11:24), but she did anticipate the miracle Jesus was about to perform. In this brief but poignant lesson, Brother Singh clarifies death and the resurrection so we, too, will not be ignorant of the hope that awaits believers.

Spiritual strongholds involve sinful habits like addictions and iniquitous traditions. Erroneous concepts about death are mighty strongholds. Only the power of God can deliver us from spiritual bondage.

Before the pandemic, we tended to make plans and hoped God could fit in. But since March 2020, some of us have learned hard lessons about sovereignty. It is God who makes plans (and those of us who have gained understanding) realize that we are the ones who must fit in. God never errors in judgment.

This lesson follows Brother Vid's testimony on what God has worked in His life (Reality of Conversion, 10-08-22). The man has gone through a trial nobody would wish to endure, but he sees himself with far more understanding of God. His testimony comes from the heart-- one we can all embrace. Brother Singh reminds us that we all must face judgment. And God's "judgment" comes in one of two forms — wrath for the ungodly—and chastisement of the child of God.