June 1997
Vol VIII
To spread the true Gospel Light to all men
WE EXTEND OUR HAND IN FELLOWSHIP
BY DR. STANLEY R. FARRAR
What do we mean when we say that we extend our hand of fellowship to every blood washed one? It means that we believe there are believers in every Christ believing church. Thus they are truly in God's church and we are to have fellowship with them as well as those who are in our own churches. Where they worship is up to God. We accept those that are a part of the body of Christ by a profession of faith on the part of the individual. Because of this belief we leave church membership to the one that makes no mistakes, Jesus Christ. The Word of God tells us that He adds to the church those who are saved.
(Acts 2:47) Praising god, and having favour with all the people. And the lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The church then is not responsible for the keeping of a record of those who are in the church. There is but one roll book that will make any difference when Jesus comes again to receive His Church, the Bride of Christ, to present it to His Father without spot nor wrinkle. Those whose name is written in the lamb's book of life are the ones that are saved and will stand before God on that day of judgment and receive the final rewards. They are the ones who will hear Him say, "well done thy good and faithful servants, come on in and inherit the rewards prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
(Rev 21:27) and there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the lamb's book of life.
Only those who have been cleansed by the blood of the lamb will be those written in this book. Those written in this book are the only true members of God's divine Church. Jesus said that He was going to establish the church and not even the gates of hell could prevail against her. Therefore, when a person comes to Jesus Christ and is cleansed and made perfect in the sight of God his name is written in this book. Not written there by man that could make a mistake of the intentions of the heart of that
person, but it is written there by God Himself. God is the only one who can know the very intent of our hearts so He is the only one that is capable of placing anyone in the Church. When man takes that privilege upon himself then he may make a mistake and take someone into the church that has not truly repented and made Jesus Lord and Savior of his life. Therefore, we in the church of God do not keep a membership book, we leave the record keeping to the one that makes no mistakes.
The Word of God tells us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. If then, those who have their membership rolls takes in those who are not saved, then if we join such a church we are unequally yoked together with unbelievers.
(2 Cor 6:14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
When we align our names on a roll we are also connecting ourselves with those people, whether saved or unsaved. We cannot know for sure who is saved and who is not, only God can know for sure.
Also, when man keeps a record book there is that tendency to exclude some that should be in the church and admit some that should not be in the church. This causes divisions in the church, and Paul tells us that there should not be those divisions in the church.
(1 Cor 12:25) that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
We see this division in the Church as we look at so many different names of the church. We have Methodism, Baptistism, Lutheranism, Catholicism, and so on. There are a great number of divisions caused by the joining of various churches. Many will say that they do not exclude anyone, but if you do not belong to that particular organization then you are not allowed to teach in their Sunday School or preach without joining their group. Instead of claiming membership in God's church through Jesus Christ, it is membership through the requirements of the organization they are a part of.
In the reformation movement of the church of God we do not have church membership in the local church nor do we have a letter to move from one church to another. Therefore, we truly can claim that we extend our hand of fellowship to every blood washed one. We can have true fellowship with every born again Christian, knowing that we are a part of the same brotherhood. When a person becomes saved then that person becomes a part of the same family, the Family of God. We may not all have the same light upon the teachings of God, but we know we are all related and living for the same master.
(Rom 8:16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
There is no need in our keeping a membership roll, instead it allows us to have the freedom to fellowship through the spirit with every child of God. Therefore, we extend our hand of fellowship with every blood washed one. Praising God and having all things in common. Worshiping God and living together in the unity of Christ and living a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
by Stanley Farrar II
There is a great deal stated about being unified today with one thing or another. But how does this relate to the church? Let us take a look at some basic components of union and unity. First, union is a joining together of parties with similar purposes. This is done through compromise on the differences of beliefs and views. This is not the same as unity. Unity is the act of being one. There is no compromise involved in unity because they are one. There is the same mind and purpose, the same belief system, they are one. Can you have a union and not have unity? Of course you can, let's say that you tie two cats tails together and you throw them over a clothesline. You have union for they are bound into one unit. They have a common goal and that is to get away. But do you have unity? No, you have conflict and division and death. You will have the same sort of situation when you try to bind a man-made system of government to the Christian or to Christians. For though an artificial bond can be made it is a lot like those cats, there can be no unity.
Many today are teaching that we must accept the denominations in order to have unity. But this is the opposite from the case. For to have a union with Denominationalism is to be involved with a man-made system of religion instead of God's church. Does God have more then one Church? (Heb 12:22-23) "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, 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". (Rev 3:12) "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." (Rev 21:2) "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." So if those who are saved and overcome are part of the new or heavenly Jerusalem then as Christians we are the bride of Christ. How many brides does Christ have? Is He a polygamist? Yet the Church is the bride of Christ! For the Denominational world to be correct then God would have to have several hundred wives, what an abomination unto God.
We are seeing many ministers today saying that we should unify with the denominational world to face the common threat of paganism. But the denominational world is just as much a man-made religion as the paganism that they are claiming to oppose. We cannot fight against the one form and embrace the other. Man-made religion is wrong in all its forms. Man cannot rule God's church, to try is to give ourselves over to Satan and surrendering the church. There are many who would ecumenicalize the church and form a union based on compromise. We cannot do this and be God's church. Ecumenicalism has attempted to unify all faiths under a common banner, this includes Protestants, Catholics, and Pagans. Here we see the three great frogs coming together to battle against the church. (Rev 16:13-14) "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." The devil is bringing his forces together but many would have us join their ranks.
The Bible tells us time and time again that there is to be a unity among the believers. Some take this to mean that we must embrace these denominational bodies to have such unity. But the unity spoken of in God's word can not be gained by a secular union, for to do this is to compromise the teaching of God. No, there must be a separation from such abominations, a standing apart for God and God alone.
If your brother or sister one day went out on their journey through life, and came upon a monster lying in a field. And instead of trying to pass by unobserved they awaken the monster and it swallows them whole. Does this make the monster now your brother or sister? I think not! It makes this abominable creature an enemy of the family. Too many today are standing by calling the monster brother instead of denouncing it and trying to free their brother as any true loving sibling would. Yes, I will admit that there are many Christian brothers and sisters adrift in a sea of denominationalism. This does not mean that we are to accept this abominable sea of man-made religion but rather throw a life preserver and pull them to safety before they are drowned in Satan's system of partisanship and division.
(2 Cor 6:14-17) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you". Christ tells us not to be unequally yoked with sinners but through denominationalism many are thus bond to their detriment, and we say nothing about it. How many times in the name of unity we push for an unholy fellowship of Christ and Belial? This is unholy and not condoned by God. It is merely a destructive tool of Satan to hamstring the church of the Living God. Whoa unto those who aid in the Devil's work by supporting such division, and thus handicapping the church.
How long will you condone an unholy union of compromise while resisting true Godly unity?
Unity can only come from salvation through Jesus Christ and complete surrender to the leading and
guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us not kick against the pricks but let us go forward with God in the
fullness of His will.
by Jason Hightree
When God first came into my life, I was scared and confused. He opened my eyes to the evil of my sin and my wrong doings. It all happened in a day of desperation. I was in jail when I met Brother Stanley Farrar. He is the man who helped bring me to God. I knew of God but was not saved.
Before I came to jail I was struggling with life and knew not what I was doing. I was a full-fledged junky: shooting-up methamphetamine, doing coke, smoking pot, and using other drugs. My hand was mangled in a previous fight and I was so messed up in drugs that I looked and felt horrible.
When I talked with Stan I found something that drug me out of the depression, God. I continued reading the bible and found that God loved me no matter what my past contained. God was so forgiving. I also found that I had a family who cared. My biological parents are alcoholics and drugies, which helped lead me down the road of damnation. This all clicked in my head and made me think. I then knew, I had something greater then drugs and alcohol, I had love. A greater love then I ever knew. I was forgiven for all the things that I had done, and for once in my life I felt good about myself. I felt like a free man even behind the old rugged cold bars. It was like I was lifted off my feet and had no worries. My cravings for drugs where gone and I had a new addiction, and that was God.
I felt like I was on the greatest high of my life. I knew it felt right. I never thought anyone would look at me like a person again, but Stan showed me I was wrong, and God showed me I could change. God also started healing me of many of my past wounds. Such as my hand and the track marks from shooting-up.
I felt things that I never felt before. I felt healthy, my mind was clear to think for itself and God showed me I was someone who was just as important as the next. He forgave me and forgot what I had done in the past. He is the greatest thing that ever happened to me!
Stan showed me things I never realized. He helped me to learn responsibility for myself.
something I needed to know to make it in life. The way I was going I would have been dead by
now. I was losing five to ten pounds a week due to drugs. Now I am slowly putting back on
weight. I feel much healthier, and I owe it all to God. I thank the Lord for His saving Grace.
by Jason Hightree
It was on March 5, 1997, when I was getting up, I tripped and fell on my hand. I broke the bone just above my pinky finger on the side of my hand where I hit. Being in jail, the deputy took me to the hospital where they set the bone and put a c-clamp on to hold it in place. I was in so much pain that I felt that I couldn't take it.
On March 8th I had a meeting with Brother Stanley Farrar. We have talks about twice a week and were discussing Bible verses on the subject of healing. I decided, with his help, to take a leap of faith. So I removed the c-clamp and he placed his hands on my broken hand. At that point we prayed that God would heal my hand. After the prayer we investigated my hand and realized that the break was healed. The bone no longer moved and the pain had vanished away. The swelling reduced and we could see the bruising leave the hand. It was a miracle of God. My hand had gone from pain and an inability to use it, to being able to lift weights with it that very same day.
It was such a deep experience I will never let anyone doubt God's healing power. He has healed for centuries and continues to heal today. It is His power and His grace. (Mark 1:29-34) "And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him." (Mark 6:13) "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."
From these verses we know God healed and continues to heal, for his power is greater then any doctor. For He also made the crippled walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the mute to talk. There are many verses in the Word of God to show these things. For God is loving and kind and can do all.
(Acts 3:2-18) "And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily
at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his
eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive
something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and
lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up
stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for
alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that
which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the
people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. And when
Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye
so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The
God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;
whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let
him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the
faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now,
brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which
God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so
fulfilled." Just as God healed the cripple in the above scripture He healed me and if you believe
on Him He will heal you too.
By Stanley R. Farrar II
I have the privilege to announce to you some very good news. On the 17th of May Shelly and I were blessed with our fourth son, Jason Alexander Farrar. He was born at 9:36 AM at the weight of six pounds fourteen ounces. Pray for him and us in the days to come that we may truly raise him and his brothers in the love and admonition of the Lord. We wish all our readers the blessings of the Lord and the light of His grace. May the Lord and His blessings rest upon all His saints.
Amen
***
This publication is by the First Church of God, 818 4th St., Fairbury, Nebraska 68352, Chief Editor Pastor Stanley Farrar II, Editor Michelle Farrar.
The Gospel Light is published to spread the true light of God's word to all men. We are dedicated to the truths of the word of God. Such as salvation, holiness, sanctification, the unity of all believers, etc... We are not responsible to return any articles submitted to The Gospel Light. We reserve the right to hold the articles for future printing, and possible reprinting. All articles submitted should be submitted to the First Church of God, 818 4th St. Fairbury, Ne 68352. Articles are not to be longer then two pages typed, because of space concerns. I hope that the Gospel Light paper is a blessing to you, and may God bless those who read this paper.
To Return to Past Issues Index
Get your own Free Home Page