World Mission Society Church of God - Wellington clean up campaign programme

Sunday 25 March 10am - 2.30pm

World Mission Society Church of God has offered to help clean up our city and will be down at Petone Beach between Oriental Street and Lion Park weeding and collecting rubbish.

Weeding around native grasses and plants to help the dunes continue to thrive and prevent weeds from overtaking them. Collecting rubbish from along the foreshore.

Location

Meet at Hikoikoi Reserve
Opening Ceremony - 10am to 11am
Clean up/weeding - 11am to 12.30pm. Weeding between Oriental Street and Lion Park and rubbish collection along the beach.
Lunch and DVD presentation - 1pm to 2.30pm

Cost

Free and lunch is provided at the church at 36 Sydney Street, Petone to anyone who comes to help out!

More Information

Bring weeding tools if you have them. Some tools, gloves and rubbish bags will be available to use. Children can come, but parental supervision is required. Any questions, please contact Kristan Robinson with Hutt City Council 0274-435-224.

http://www.huttcity.govt.nz/en/Leisure--Culture/Huttscene-events/Event/World-Mission-Society-Church-of-God---Wellington-clean-up-campaign-programme/
 

Church of God Holds Worldwide Blood Drive to Give Life Through the Love of the Passover 2012

Before the Passover 2012 which falls on April 5th, 2,200 Churches in 170 countries participate in a blood drive all together to commemorate the birth of the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong and to practice the love of the New Covenant Passover

Washington, DC (PRWEB) March 23, 2012

The World Mission Society Church of God (General Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim) carries out the “Worldwide Blood Drive to Give Life Through the Love of the Passover 2012” in Korea and every country of the world to save patients who are in critical condition due to blood shortage.
The Church of God stated the purpose of the event, “We hold blood drives to commemorate the sacred birth of God Ahnsahnghong who came to the earth a second time and to save lives in critical condition due to blood shortage, following the example of the love of God who gives eternal life to mankind through the New Covenant Passover,” and added, “We want to alert people to a trend to make light of human life and to lead the world to share the love of God.”
In Korea, the blood drive will be carried out in order throughout the country. In the case of overseas churches, about 2,200 Churches of God in 170 countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Africa where the Church of God is established, will perform it. The Church said, “It will continue until April 5th on which the 2012 Passover Assembly is held.”
The Church of God will provide its church buildings which are located in important places worldwide as temporary places for blood donation. In some regions, the members will visit a blood center, a blood donation center of the Red Cross or a university hospital to donate blood. The members of the Church of God will not only take part in the blood donation but also inform the importance of blood donation by conducting a blood donation campaign extensively and leading their neighbors to participate in it, too.
In the case of the Unites States, the blood drive is being held in the Nation’s Capitol of Washington, D.C. at the Eastern Market North Hall with Inova Blood Donor Services on March 25, 2012 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. In this blood drive, they invite the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia communities to take action and stand united donating blood under the organization of their choice competing to raise most blood. In addition, the Church of God will display its history and accomplishments in Washington, D.C. to the public during this event with musical performances and smiles on every face.
The worldwide blood drive of the Church of God will give great help to the patients suffering from incurable diseases such as leukemia or cancer, and the patients who need urgent blood transfusion due to sudden accident. Additionally, they will contribute greatly to expanding the base of blood donation by destroying negative view on blood donation.
While the Church of God carries out the “Blood Drive to Give Life Through the Love of the Passover,” they will prepare the Passover 2012, and will conduct worldwide cleanup campaign as well.
The Passover of the new covenant, which the Church regards as important, is the day when Jesus Christ promised the forgiveness of sins and eternal life to those who have bread and wine representing His flesh and blood; Jesus established this new covenant on the night before He was crucified 2,000 years ago.
Following the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Church of God keeps the Passover by eating bread and drinking wine in the evening of the 14th day of the first month in the sacred calendar every year. As its name imparts, the Church says that disasters pass over those who keep the Passover. It originated from the Exodus when the Israelites were protected from the disaster by putting the blood of the lamb on the sides and tops of the door frames of their houses.
The Church of God believes that Christ Ahnsahnghong is God in the age of the Holy Spirit because he restored the Passover of the new covenant, which was abolished at the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 after Jesus ascended. The Church of God says that it is the only church in the world, which keeps the Passover of the new covenant, following the regulations of the Bible on the correct day. This year, the Passover falls on April 5.
The Church of God keeps the seven feasts in three times according to the Bible including the Resurrection Day and the Feast of Tabernacles as well as the Passover, and it is known as the church that follows every regulation of the new covenant—the Sabbath, Baptism and the regulation on veil.



http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/03/23/church-god-holds-worldwide-blood-drive-give-life-through-love-passover-2012

Worldwide Cleanup Campaign for the Passover 2012

Worldwide Cleanup Campaign for the Passover 2012

Sunday, Mar 11, 2012 10:00a to 2:30p

Martin Luther King Jr. Regional ShorelineOakland,CA

The World Mission Society Church of God hols the "2012 Worldwide Environmental Cleanup Campaign for the Passover."
The purpose of this campaign is to practice the love of the Passover of the new covenat restored by the 2nd coming Christ Ahnsahnghong. And it is to inform people of the seriousness of global warming and environmental pollution and to draw their attention.
This campaign is being held over 2,200 places in 150 countries where the branches of the Church of God have been established.
http://events.sfgate.com/oakland_ca/events/show/248004964-worldwide-cleanup-campaign-for-the-passover-2012
 

Even giving a share of her liver

 

Trying to see the weather forecast, I turned on the TV.

Changing channels, I stopped; something caught my eyes.

The child seemed to be like a two year old and looked very sick.

The child was suffering genetic metabolic disorder.

As a result, the child had developmental disorder, since the he couldn't digest specific nutrients, and couldn't walk but crawl.

The child had to receive a liver transplant to be cured.

Holding her child, the mother just shed endless tears.

The mother decided to give her liver to her child.

The mother and the child were hospitalized together.

The child cried because of pain and fear.

Though the mother had to go through many examinations, she cried feeling sorry for her child instead of her pain.

The mother gave her child one third of her liver.

Right after the child woke up from anesthetic, he was looking for his mother.

Mother is a person that can only be described with limited words, that is, ‘love.’ She really has something that is so great.

It reminded me about Heavenly Mother who is always sorry thinking that is insufficient, even though She gives out all of Her flesh and blood.

My God the Mother, who is still praying for me...

I give thanks again and again...

http://wmscog.org/index.php/2011/12/you-are-observing-special-days-and-months-and-seasons-and-years/

Mom’s message

 

“Why isn't she coming home yet? It’s so late!”

Repeating her words,she was in a dither.

It was all because of my younger sister who still hasn't come home in this late night.

She waits for her call and after a while, she finally grabs her cellphone.

My mom didn't really call her children unless it was something special.

But it was an exception for me and my sister.

It was even more of an exception, when I used to live apart from my family.

I received mom’s text messages every single day.

Though I had my cellphone like my alter ego, I couldn't really reply her messages all the time.

I just felt bad so I couldn't possibly delete her messages, so they just piled up.

Her messages were short and concise, and didn't contain any fancy modifiers or emoticons.However, out of others, they were the friendliest messages, and messages that I could really feel the warmth.

‘I love you darling.’

‘Cheer up pumpkin.’

‘Don’t hang around late at night and go home early.’

‘Are you eating well enough?’

Though I scrolled down and down the messages that I have received, the only difference was the date and time. They were nothing special, but just messages worrying about me.

It could be consider as ‘no big deal, they are just messages,’ but sending those messages, she would have been all anxious, pressing the buttons one by one, trying to send her true heart.

Like the palm of my hand, I can visualize about her thinking about her child all day long, and finally grabbing her cellphone since she couldn't possibly stand still.

In contrary, I am just busy thinking about myself.

However, in a mother’s mind, there is nothing about herself, but full of thoughts for her children.

What’s the use of me talking about Heavenly Mother’s love who gave up Herself for me, the one who was blinded by greed and arrogance?

I cannot repay even with my whole life, or even mimic Heavenly Mother’s love and concern. Receiving Her love and concern, I am the most happiest person in this world

http://christahnsahnghongandgodthemother.blogspot.kr/2011/12/commandments-of-godchrist-ahnsahnghong.html

A Stumbling Block to Jews and Foolishness to Gentiles

At the time of the early Church, there was a stumbling block to Jews. Every day they gathered together to plot how to stop the crowd of people who were doing what was a stumbling block to them, how to slander and hinder them from attracting people's attention. What was the stumbling block to the Jews?the thing that they hated the most? It was the preaching of Jesus Christ. God is light, so darkness hates the light (Jn 1:1-14). It is because darkness retreats even when a tiny bit of light shines. What Satan hates the most is revealing God, our Savior in each age: Jehovah in the age of the Father, Jesus Christ in the age of the Son, and the Spirit and the Bride?our Heavenly Father and Jerusalem our Heavenly Mother?in the age of the Holy Spirit. The preaching of Christ is a stumbling block and foolishness to people in the world, but it is most pleasing to God. We, who are children of light, should shine the light of the glory of Jerusalem on the whole world, so that we can defeat darkness and lead all people into life. The world does not know God through its wisdom The preaching of God who has come in the fl esh is a stumbling block to Jews who claim to believe in God, and foolishness to Gentiles who do not know God. However, God's point of view is completely different. The Bible says that God is pleased through the foolishness of what is preached to save those who believe. 1 Co 1:21-24 『For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.』 When Christ came to this earth as the Savior in the age of the Son, people in those days did not have the wisdom to recognize Him. To the Jews, Jesus was a stone that caused them to stumble, and all the disciples who preached Jesus were also an annoyance to them. The name of God whom they believed in was Jehovah, so when God came to this earth in the flesh in the name of Jesus, they had a strong antipathy towards Jesus, saying, ‘How can you, a mere man, claim to be God?" Jesus was a man just like one of them in their eyes, but the disciples preached that He was God, and it seemed so foolish even to Gentiles who did not believe. However, as more and more people paid attention to the teachings of Jesus, who was completely different from the Jewish high priests who were authoritative and hypocritical, they came to feel the voice of God. The Jews, who felt a sense of crisis, plotted how to remove Jesus and His followers, how to make people have a bad impression about them. So, they produced false witnesses and spread false rumors to oppose Christ, and slandered the saints of the early Church, calling them the "followers of the Nazarene sect" (Mt 26:59-61; 28:11-15; Ac 24:1-5). Jn 10:30-33 『"I and the Father are one." Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?" "We are not stoning you for any of these," replied the Jews, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."』 The Jews picked up stones to stone God just because He referred to Himself as God. How deplorable and lamentable it is! God can come to this earth in the flesh anytime. The Bible clearly shows that God appeared as a man in the days of Abraham (Genesis 18), and it was also prophesied in many places of the Bible that God would be born in the flesh. However, to those who neglected the prophecies, Christ appeared to be a mere man, the son of a humble carpenter. He seemed to have no power and did not live a rich and dignified life, but instead He kept company with the poor and lowly people, the so-called sinners, taking pity on them. This prevented them from recognizing Jesus as God. Finally, they went to Pilate, the governor, and strongly asked him to have Jesus crucified. Pilate was afraid of an uproar, and said in front of the crowd, "I am innocent of this man's blood. It is your responsibility." Then all the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" They were so confident in opposing Jesus. But where are they now? Preaching the gospel of Christ is a stumbling block to Christians and foolishness to people of the world, but we are doing this great work in this age. As the Jewish people in those days did not have the knowledge of God, so do people today. We are preaching Christ like the disciples who received Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago, and the so-called Christians today are slandering the truth just like the Jews who rejected Jesus 2,000 years ago. If we preach the gospel, each individual soul realizes the truth correctly and comes to know God the Father and God the Mother. That is why Satan hates it so much. However, God has prepared the kingdom of heaven which is beautiful and glorious beyond all human imagination, for the heavenly children who make every effort to display the glory of God, their Savior. 1 Co 2:8-10 『None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"?but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.』 Spiritual things are spiritually discerned The preaching of God who came in the flesh was a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. It was because they looked at Him from a physical point of view. From a spiritual point of view, it is really great and amazing. Since we are doing this great task, our God is preparing us for the glorious times we will enjoy in the eternal kingdom of heaven. God has promised to let us eat and drink at His table in the kingdom of heaven and put each of us into a position which even angels envy. When we go back to heaven by keeping our faith firm and working hard to save souls, God will then give us everything we want. This work we are doing is never in vain (1 Co 15:58). So, thinking about the glory of heaven which Father and Mother will bestow on us, let us put value in the heavenly things and live in hope. 1 Co 2:13-14 『This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.』 Since the Jews looked at spiritual things from a low, physical point of view, they were never able to see the divine nature of God. So, when Jesus testified about Himself 2,000 years ago, even His relatives attempted to restrain Him, saying He was out of His mind. Jesus had brothers and sisters, and the whole town knew that He was born by His mother Mary. So, when Jesus referred to Himself as God who came down from heaven, they could not understand it. However, the Bible clearly prophesied that God the Almighty would be born as a baby through the body of a virgin (Isa 7:14; 9:6). As we can confirm the existence of microorganisms when we look through a microscope, so we can understand spiritual things when we discern spiritually. Since people look at spiritual things with their physical eyes, they do not believe in God the Mother no matter how many times we show them the Biblical verses that testify to Mother. They make their own thoughts higher than God's words. Still, they claim to believe in God. So the Bible says that they claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him (Tit 1:16). Since it is written like that in the Bible, it is not worth rediscussing. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot understand why Father and Mother have come to this earth in the flesh, and why we put our whole heart into preaching the gospel to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. They value physical things, but we pursue the incomparable value of the heavenly kingdom. Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. If one finds the treasure, he will not foolishly just pass it by. We should make every effort to obtain it. In ancient times, Galileo Galilei was brought to the Inquisition, being accused of spreading heretical theories. Standing before the Inquisition, he said that the earth moves, and the judges forced him to recant his beliefs, saying he was crazy. Now the Vatican has acknowledged its mistake in condemning Galileo. It is because the heliocentric theory has been proven true, thanks to scientific advances. In those days, however, no one could prove it. Heavenly Mother viewed through the Bible As for the invisible world, we can judge whether or not it exists through a microscope or any other equipment. It is the same for the invisible world; we can see and discern the spiritual world through the Bible. Not through the Bible which is a microscope given by God, how can we find Father and confirm the existence of Mother? Without the prophecies of the Bible, how can we interpret this present time? We have to understand God the Father and God the Mother through the Bible, and we should also find the will of God in the Bible. It is the Bible that proves all things. As the Bible tells us that spiritual things are spiritually discerned, let us confirm the value of the Bible further. People in the world put so much value on earthly things, but we find the greatest value in heavenly things. That is why their thoughts are different than ours. So, Jesus always reminded us of the value of the heavenly kingdom, and the forefathers of faith also asked us to set our hearts on things in heaven. 2 Pe 1:19-21 『And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.』 Whatever God says can never fail; it will surely come to pass (Isa 14:24-27; 46:11; 45:23). The words of the Bible are not stories men have made up, but they are the words of God, which are still being fulfilled according to God's purpose and plan for our salvation. Even though people in the world do not acknowledge us, we don't need to be influenced by that. Our salvation depends on God. No matter how much people try to slander and hinder us, our God continues to carry out the work of redemption. The Bible says that the Spirit and the Bride, Heavenly Father and Mother, will appear in the last days and call all people to receive the water of life, and that Jerusalem will be called The Throne of the LORD and all nations will gather in Jerusalem at that time (Rev 22:17; Jer 3:17). This is a prophecy about God the Mother that men spoke from God and wrote as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Gal 4:26-31 『But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.』 "The Jerusalem that is above (in heaven) is free, and she is our mother." Apostle Paul also received these words from God and wrote them as he was moved by the Holy Spirit. The Bible shows that we are children of Jerusalem Mother, the free woman, and that we, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the one born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit. It is the same now. People are continuously persecuting God's people, who are preaching Christ, because it is a stumbling block and foolishness to them. Can a man hide the sky with his hands? Nevertheless, they try to stop the gospel of God from being preached to the whole world. However, no matter what they do, the great plan of salvation set by our Father and Mother who manage the universe is carried out as prearranged. At the time of the early Church, God added to the Church of God daily those who were being saved, even in persecution and hindrance from people (Ac 2:47). A pleasing thing to God God says that not everyone who says to Him, "Lord, Lord!" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of the Heavenly Father (Mt 7:21). God our Father said, "Peter followed Jesus, Joshua followed Moses, Elisha followed Elijah, and I follow Mother." We should understand why Father said that, and according to the will of Father we have to believe in God our Mother correctly, so we can all attain eternal salvation in the kingdom of heaven. Our faith comes from God. The Bible says that men moved by the Holy Spirit received prophecies from God and wrote them. All the Bibles in the original language or any other languages describe that "the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother." If our Heavenly Mother did not exist, how would these words be written in the Bible? How would the Bride, who gives the water of life together with the Spirit who is God our Father, be described in the Bible? Testifying to the Savior who has come in the flesh?this is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. However, God says that there are people who are longing and waiting for the good news throughout the world in the last days?at the end of the gospel age, and that once they hear the news, they will all fly along to Jerusalem our Heavenly Mother like clouds, like doves to their nests. The preaching of Christ is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but it is a beautiful and pleasing thing to God. So God encourages His children who testify to Christ, saying, "You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up," and, "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news" (Isa 40:9; 52:7). God's sheep listen to His voice and follow Him (Jn 10:27). When we absolutely trust and follow all the teachings in the 66 books of the Bible, the voice of God, we will attain the eternal kingdom of heaven. Believing this firmly and putting it into practice, let us quickly proclaim the glory of Heavenly Father and Mother throughout the whole world, as "children of light" and "children of promise."

Before and After Meeting God

Before and After Meeting GodNow the young adults like the dew of the dawn are arising and coming to willingly devote themselves to God. I earnestly hope that they bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit abundantly with their youthful ambitions and burning faith. I also desire that all the members of Zion?female adults, male adults, youth students, children and senior adults, who display God's glory, receive the blessing of bearing much good fruit.

We've gone through a lot of changes before and after meeting God. Now, let's take some time to reflect on how much we have changed since we met God and what the differences are in our lives before and after meeting God, by reviewing the words of the Bible.

Wild olive branches that are grafted into the true olive tree

Before we met God, we were sinners living as slaves to death. The Bible likens us, who have been born again into eternal life after meeting God, to the "grafted branches."

Ro 11:16-24 『If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!』

In terms of botany, "grafting" means attaching part of one plant to the root or stem of another plant so that the two grow together as one. A branch that is grafted into another tree loses its original identity and becomes part of the organism to which it has been joined.

The Bible likens our relationship with God to a tree and its branches, and emphasizes that we can do nothing apart from God (Jn 15:1-5). Especially, the book of Romans portrays our organic union with God by speaking of grafting. This reminds us that we should throw off our old nature as sinners and change to resemble God's nature.

As for the same kind of species, the better quality species are described by an additional term "true," but the bad ones by "wild." It is the same with an olive tree. There are two kinds of olive trees: a true olive tree of good quality, and a wild olive tree of bad quality. We, the branches of the wild olive tree, are grafted into God, the true olive tree. Since we cannot return to the eternal kingdom of heaven with our original identity, we have been grafted into God and reborn into eternal life.

The well-grafted branches resemble the nature of the true olive tree. Supplied with sap and good nutriment from the true olive tree, the shape of the fruits becomes better and they become strong enough to defend themselves against insects and diseases.

Earthly desires are changed into heavenly hope

Before we met God, we lived simple lives, having only a limited time to live. If we didn't meet God, we would live without any hope, get older gradually while working so hard to make a living, and end our lives after lamenting the vanity and emptiness of life in the face of impending death.

Our lives have totally changed since we met God. Before meeting God, we set our minds on secular things, but everything changed after we met God. We are now called differently than before, aren't we? Previously we had no title, but since we met God we've received the titles "gospel workers" and "Christians," and even the honorable title of "Elohists." God has prepared much greater blessings for us in heaven.

Rev 2:25-29 『"Only hold on to what you have until I come. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations?‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'?just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."』

If we just hoped for earthly things such as running a business and having our own house on this earth before we met God, now we've come to have a much greater hope beyond comparison after meeting God. It is the hope for heaven; we have a desire to become a royal priesthood to rule over the nations in the kingdom of heaven. God has granted us a wider view so that we can see the whole universe.

Those who are ambitious on this earth dream of becoming a CEO of a company or President of a country. However, even if they acquire such a position after all their efforts throughout their lives, they cannot hold it for a long time, nor can they enjoy the pleasure and peace that they've expected. Outwardly it seems to be splendid, but in actuality it is accompanied by many hardships.

The authority of the kingdom of heaven is basically different in quality from the authority of the earth. The kingdom of heaven, where we who have met God are going to, is an eternal world where there is no pain or sorrow?where a new joy is created every day. God has promised to give us authority over the nations in the beautiful and eternal kingdom of heaven. God never lies. Although people in the world do not recognize us and we may seem very weak to them, everything will be so different when we go to the kingdom of heaven.

If we want to enter such a glorious kingdom of God, we need to give up our original identity as the branches of the wild olive tree. The Bible calls it "rebirth" to remove our nature as sinners. "No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (Jn 3:3). By saying this Jesus meant that we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless we are reborn as God's true children who have the divine nature after giving up our original nature as the branches of the wild olive tree.

We, who have met Elohim, are being changed from the wild olive branches into the branches of the true olive tree. Instead of putting our hope in earthly things, we should have great hope for heaven. God has promised to give us authority over the nations just as He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords in the kingdom of God. Cherishing this promise of God deep within our hearts, we should run straight towards the goals above.

Peter's life before he met God, and his life after he met God

Peter, before he met God, was merely a fisherman who caught fish for a living. He lived an aimless life, working every day for himself rather than for the benefit of others. However, after he met Christ, there were a lot of changes in his life.

Mt 4:17-20 『From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him.』

2 Pe 1:1-3 『Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours . . . His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.』

Peter's life after he met Jesus was totally different from his life before he met Jesus. His title changed from a "fisherman" to an "apostle." Before meeting God, he was only worried about how much fish he would catch each day. After meeting God, however, he thought about how many people he would have to lead into salvation. He lived a life of joy every day, having hope in God's promises and wishing to join the "royal priesthood" (1 Pe 2:9). Even though his body sometimes felt tired and exhausted, he had hope.

It was not only Peter who changed. Apostle Paul also became a totally different person after he met God. Just as the apostles changed so much, we've also gone through a lot of changes. Before we met God, we were the wild olive branches, but after we met God we've been grafted into the true olive tree and become part of it. So, we need to have our dreams and future with the true olive tree; God's hope should be our hope, and God's desire should be our desire.

Our selfish nature is changed into God's divine nature so that we can hope for the salvation of all mankind

It is the salvation of all human beings that God, the true olive tree, has always desired. The Bible says that the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost (Lk 19:10), and that the purpose of His second coming to this earth is also to save the world (Heb 9:28). So, we should try our hardest to save the whole world. Then we can be said to have received the nature of the true olive tree.

Mk 1:35-38 『Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else?to the nearby villages?so I can preach there also. That is why I have come."』

Christ had hope and concern for the task of saving the world. For this, He used to pray early in the morning, and never stopped preaching the gospel. The enthusiasm of God, who decided to save the world and put on flesh, has been transplanted into our hearts, so we are now making our best efforts to carry out the gospel work in our own mission field, aren't we?

If we lived for worldly things before we met God, we should now proceed toward the everlasting kingdom of heaven since we have met God. Studying God's word every day, we should change ourselves in a manner pleasing to God, so that we can fully become assimilated into God. We need to remove our sinful dispositions one after another and accept the nature of God, letting God's thoughts become our thoughts, God's joy our joy, and God's desire our desire. Then God will remain in us, and we in Him.

We must not go back to the way we used to be before we met God. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved (Heb 10:38-39); we have been born again since we met God.

God has led us to Him and given us the laws of the new covenant?the Sabbath, the Passover, etc. Telling us to keep His covenant and obey His commandments, God has asked us to change everything about us into that of Him. He has told us to do so in order to redeem us and not to oppress or burden us; for we, the wild olive branches grafted into the true olive tree, will decay and die in the end unless we receive the nature of the true olive tree. Since we are grafted into the true olive tree, we should be fully supplied with sap from the root of the true olive tree and possess the nature of the tree.

Jesus said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). If we turn away from the teachings of God, it is like a fish leaves the water and like the branches grafted into the true olive tree are cut off from the tree.

Put off your old self, and put on the new self

Romans 11 likens us, who remain in God, to the wild olive branches grafted into the true olive tree. Some other verses show that we are in the process of putting off our old self and putting on the new self.

Eph 4:17-24 『So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.』

The above verses state that we must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. We are to live a different life than that of the Gentiles. Satan makes all kinds of crafty schemes to plant the Gentiles's hope and desire in our hearts. However, if we give in to the temptation of Satan and become assimilated into the world, we go against God's will and become cut off from the true olive tree.

Everything about us, including our nature, thoughts, and lifestyle, should be changed. Our "old self" mentioned in the book of Ephesians means our original nature as the wild olive branches. When we remove our old self, we can become one with the true olive tree, as part of it.

The Bible clearly tells us what pleases God, the true olive tree. We should all be changed and please God by devoting ourselves to preaching the gospel, obeying God's will willingly, loving God's commandments, respecting and loving everything that belongs to God, and so on.

It is said that parents like the child who more closely resembles them. We must resemble God in full. Since God is pleased with the salvation of all human beings, we should also be pleased with their salvation and preach the gospel diligently, so that we can lead all mankind to the kingdom of heaven. With this spirit of faith, we must become one with God.

Now, many of our brothers and sisters in Zion throughout the world preach the gospel of God joyfully despite the scorching heat. They are all beautiful, resembling God. Until the day when the glory of Father and Mother resounds throughout the whole earth and the universe, let us put off our old self and put on the new self, so that our original nature as the wild olive branches can be changed into the nature of the true olive tree. Then we can be said to have been reborn and changed. I earnestly hope that you all bear much good fruit and receive the abundant blessings of the Holy Spirit, so that you will become a royal priesthood to rule over the nations in the kingdom of God.