Greetings,
We owe a big thank you to all those who contributed to making the Feast of Tabernacles such a wonderful time. Of course, first and foremost we thank God for His blessings and His obvious presence. In the background we had a dedicated team who worked hard to make the Feast a success. Much of what makes for a smooth and harmonious eight days takes place quietly and out of sight. It was a true example of submitting one to another. We had about a 25% increase in attendance over last year and the unity and oneness was clearly evident. We plan to use the Oxnard Residence Inn again next year as the West Coast US site and are in the process of looking for another site in the middle of the country. Please pray for God’s guidance in this. Thank you everyone.
From Cliff Veal:
The Feast in Germany went really well overall. We had beautiful weather and the hotel where we all stayed was super. The staff served us very well and we got along splendidly with them. Many of the sermons we heard – including translations – reminded us once again of the fact that God is preparing us for something big. We had a wonderfully encouraging and profitable time together.
From Marshall Stiver:
Have you found since getting home from the Feast, that living life in this world is not getting any easier? A better question might be, who hasn’t found it so? We have an adversary in the form of this world’s god that works at trying to wear down God’s begotten children.
We, however, have been armed with the power of the Holy Spirit. And by humbly yielding to it we can understand and apply the truths that God has so graciously been giving us over these last weeks and months. These truths, when acted on, will overcome the spirit of this world. The food has been given, now is the time to take action!
Theodor Roosevelt once said, “Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out”. Applied to our present vein of thought, we understand that to simply acknowledge truth but then not to work at applying it, will result in us becoming spiritually weak. So, we must work! The Apostle Paul said that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling — we are each personally accountable. (Phil 2:12) In I Cor. 12 he also explains that each working member contributes to the proper functioning of the body — the Church. So yes, we work individually and we work collectively. And the amazing result is spiritual synergy. Synergy is the interaction or cooperation of two or more agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. This marvelous human body that God created can be completely thrown out of balance by a broken or missing big toe. But if that toe is present and working properly, the entire body’s functioning is exponentially greater than the individual strength of that one toe. Our individual work becomes synergistic within the body.
We are now in the process of working at becoming one with each person in whom God’s Spirit abides. Overcoming is a major part of our present, personal work. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are counting on it. Christ said that He and His Father work. He also said in John 10:30, “I and My Father are one.” There is a spiritual synergy between the two of them against which Satan and his demons are powerless. In verses 27-29 just preceding that statement, Christ said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” Those who follow the Good Shepherd’s voice won’t be just acknowledging His truths, they will be following His example and that of His Father. They will be working at becoming one with each other. And these, Christ said would never perish in the spiritual sense. So, let’s take heart as we live in this world. And let’s work for each other together.
Warm Regards,
Marshall Stiver
