Letter of Encouragement
November 2020
FROM THE DESK OF: Elder Richard Best
TOPIC: Put on Christ
Greetings saints and friends, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. We greet all Prophets, Prophetesses, Bishops, Pastors, Mothers, Elders, Evangelists, Ministers, Teachers, Deacons, Saints, and Friends. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. As there is a beginning of creation, surely there is also an ending. The bible states in Romans 13:11-14, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” If we are aware of the time then our actions as Christians should reflect such. Such a sleep mentioned in verse 11 is not one of sleep as when you are tired after a hard day’s work, but rather one of spiritual dullness. Here the scripture alerts us to the forward trend of time. “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” In the previous chapter, verses 1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” And in chapter 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now of course we know the scripture said in Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Yet many are reverting to their old ways or some have not completely cast off the works of darkness. The goodness and mercy of God still exhorts and encourages us and lets us know, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Do not make provisions for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof; in other words, don’t supply it or attend to it, or as the scripture says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” (Romans 8:5-6). Now is the time to awake out of sleep. May the good Lord bless you and keep you.
TOPIC: Put on Christ
Greetings saints and friends, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. We greet all Prophets, Prophetesses, Bishops, Pastors, Mothers, Elders, Evangelists, Ministers, Teachers, Deacons, Saints, and Friends. Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. As there is a beginning of creation, surely there is also an ending. The bible states in Romans 13:11-14, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” If we are aware of the time then our actions as Christians should reflect such. Such a sleep mentioned in verse 11 is not one of sleep as when you are tired after a hard day’s work, but rather one of spiritual dullness. Here the scripture alerts us to the forward trend of time. “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand.” In the previous chapter, verses 1-2 reads, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” And in chapter 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Now of course we know the scripture said in Galatians 3:27, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Yet many are reverting to their old ways or some have not completely cast off the works of darkness. The goodness and mercy of God still exhorts and encourages us and lets us know, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Do not make provisions for the flesh, to fulfil the lust thereof; in other words, don’t supply it or attend to it, or as the scripture says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” (Romans 8:5-6). Now is the time to awake out of sleep. May the good Lord bless you and keep you.