God's Work

Put First Things First

Some have said I do not believe in preaching the gospel. I definitely do believe in preaching the gospel to as many people as possible.

LISTEN! There is no scripture foretelling an effective worldwide work of preaching the gospel in this era of the Church until the two witnesses are given power from Christ.

I have stated Jesus Christ will not approve doing so if we do not first get our own house

(the Church) in order. We must get the beam or log out of our own eye before effectively helping others to see that God’s way is the right way.

“THOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST CAST OUT THE BEAM OUT OF THINE OWN EYE; AND THEN SHALT THOU SEE CLEARLY TO CAST OUT THE MOTE OUT OF THY BROTHER’S EYE” (Matthew 7:5).

This is a vital principle for us to understand. We must be living God’s way ourselves before we can help others to do so, otherwise we are being hypocrites.

Now listen! The greatest undertaking, or “WORK” if we word it that way, is God reproducing Himself in each one of us. This is the overall purpose for man. Read what God’s apostle taught us:

The Purpose of Man on Earth

“WHY did the Creator God put MAN on the earth? For God’s ULTIMATE SUPREME PURPOSE OF REPRODUCING HIMSELF—of recreating himself, as it were, by the SUPREME OBJECTIVE of creating the righteous divine character ultimately in millions unnumbered begotten and born children who shall become God beings, members of the God family” (Mystery of the Ages, pp. 102-103).

“GOD THEN PURPOSED TO REPRODUCE HIMSELF, THROUGH HUMANS, MADE IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS . . . WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING BORN INTO THE DIVINE FAMILY BEGOTTEN BY GOD THE FATHER. AND THAT IS WHY GOD PUT MAN ON THE EARTH! That is what caused God to do this MOST COLOSSAL, TREMENDOUS THING EVER UNDERTAKEN BY THE SUPREME, ALMIGHTY GOD—TO REPRODUCE HIMSELF!” (Mystery of the Ages, pp. 94-95).

This purpose for the creation of man, THE WORK God wants to perform in us, takes precedence over all other work we attempt to do. It must always have top priority over everything else in our lives. Let’s get this thought ingrained in our minds!

Did Mr. Armstrong come to a false concept or conclusion by his statements? What does Jesus Christ say about this?

“AND GOD SAID, LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS: AND LET THEM HAVE DOMINION . . .” (Genesis 1:26 ).

“But SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD , AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33 ).

Those who say preaching the gospel is the most important of all God’s work do not fully understand His purpose for man. Everything we do in life must fit within God’s overall purpose and framework of developing holy, righteous, spiritual character lest it all be done in vain (I

Corinthians 9:27).

“FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM” (Ephesians 2:10 ).

We Are God’s Workmanship

The Bible instructs us to produce good works, but we must keep our priorities straight.

Read what Jesus Christ says about fruit:

“HEREIN IS MY FATHER GLORIFIED, THAT YE BEAR MUCH FRUIT; SO SHALL YE BE MY DISCIPLES . . . YE HAVE NOT CHOSEN ME, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU, AND ORDAINED YOU, THAT YE SHOULD GO AND BRING FORTH FRUIT, AND THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN: THAT WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK OF THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE MAY GIVE IT YOU” (John 15:8, 16).

The Church today is divided and in confusion. It is not producing good fruit. This condition must first be dealt with before any work of preaching the gospel will be approved by God. Getting back on God’s spiritual track, to His WAY of life and His purpose is most important right now.

If we won’t produce good fruit Jesus gives us an alternative, a choice. What will be your choice?

“EVERY TREE THAT BRINGETH NOT FORTH GOOD FRUIT IS HEWN DOWN, AND CAST INTO THE FIRE . . .NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN” (Matthew 7:19-21).

There are two ways good fruit may be produced in us. One way is peaceably with God’s help:

“. . . THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SOWN IN PEACE OF THEM THAT MAKE PEACE” (James 3:18 ).

Peacemakers are called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). They are seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. They are being led by His Spirit (Romans 8:14 -16).

The other method is more difficult, through chastisement from Him. God punishes those not

producing good fruit.

“FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH HE CHASTENETH, AND SCOURGETH EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVETH.

NOW NO CHASTENING FOR THE PRESENT SEEMETH TO BE JOYOUS, BUT GRIEVOUS: NEVERTHELESS AFTERWARD IT YIELDETH THE PEACEABLE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO THEM WHICH ARE EXERCISED THEREBY” (Hebrews 12:6, 11).

God wants us to produce the fruit of His Spirit (Galatians 5:22 -23). Because this era of the Church is not producing good fruit, He says:

“AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT” (Revelation 3:19 ).

God does not want anyone to fail, only to come to repentance (II Peter 3:9). That’s the purpose for being chastened by Him. The goodness of God leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). And if chastening us is the only method to get us to produce good fruits, then He will do it. God, as the vinedresser, will prune us so we will produce better fruit (John 15:1-2).

The Church Is Not Ready

Mr. Armstrong said shortly before he died that he had preached the gospel to the world. He laid great emphasis on getting the Church ready for Christ’s return. He stated in several ermons

and Bible studies that it was not ready. This is even more true today!

Although the leadership of the Church had been given additional instructions to get the bride ready, we now know the exact opposite has taken place. The bride at this point in time is far from being ready for the marriage to Christ.

Look at the tragic results. The Church today is scattered and in much disarray (Daniel 12:7) with many completely leaving the faith. Why?

“NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKETH EXPRESSLY, THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES SOME HALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS, AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS” (I Timothy 4:1).

What is now left of the once venerable Worldwide Church of God organization has become part of the SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN. Most members who left the WCG because of this apostasy still comprise God’s true Church, but they have fallen into an attitude of Laodicea . We are in the Laodicean era, the seventh and last era of the Church. REMEMBER THIS, LAODICEA IS STILL GOD’S TRUE CHURCH .

This is the condition we must first confront and overcome before Christ will give His blessing to do any “WORK” of preaching the gospel to the world.

It is obvious the Church is not ready for Christ’s return. We must be getting ourselves ready. He wants us unified in His truth. We need to embrace and hold fast to all the doctrines taught in the Church just prior to Mr. Armstrong’s death. There can be no room for compromise.

Presently there is a great need for unity in the body of Christ. It should be the primary thrust for the ministry at this time. The Church could become united once again IF everyone, SPECIALLY THE MINISTRY, would QUIT COMPROMISING on doctrine.

For more in-depth reading about these things please request the following free literature: “The Work of God in the Laodicean Era,” “Just What is an Apostle?,” and the “Elijah” to come.