Sermon “Love for All Humans” 

Intro: God Loves all Humans. He created them all, and continues to grant potential Life in His Family. Humans do NOT love God. Can WE love all humans as God does? How can WE actively selflessly sacrifice for ALL the human race as Jesus Christ and the Father do now? Are we even suppose to do this? Dear Co-Worker with CHRIST: 12/29/66 (Member letter modified to reflect today’s Church conditions) 

Do you realize what's just ahead for YOU? Here we are, [just ready to enter] (entering) another new year. But also--a million times more important--we are right on the very threshold of a N E W W O R L D ! You probably never thought of this before. But consider! If I said to you, "Jesus Christ has shown me that He has called YOU--yes, Y O U -- to preach His Gospel, now, TODAY, wouldn't you reply, "What?--called ME to preach the Gospel? Why, I can't preach! I couldn't be a preacher!" I'm not joking! I'm SERIOUS! I do say to YOU, on authority of Jesus Christ, "Jesus Christ has called YOU to preach His Gospel now--and to have a vital PART in CHANGING THE WORLD, in the soon-coming wonderful WORLD TOMORROW! And YOU have been called by Jesus Christ to have part in it, too! But what about RIGHT NOW? LISTEN! This, I think, will amaze you! In this Great WORK OF GOD, in PREPARING THE WAY for Christ's coming to straighten out and SAVE the world, He actually HAS called YOU to preach His Gospel, NOW! Here is the explanation--in a way you probably NEVER REALIZED before! Jesus Christ, just before ascending to Heaven, said to His disciples--not only His Apostles, but disciples: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel." UNDERSTAND THIS! 

The Gospel Message was sent from GOD by Jesus Christ over [1984] years ago. But even Jesus said, "I have not spoken of myself: but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:49.) But, further: that of Himself He could do nothing: "but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works." The Father dwelt in and empowered Jesus, not in literal Person, but by His Holy Spirit! It was the POWER of God's Spirit, working in and through the then human body of Jesus, that started out the preaching of the Gospel! But when Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent the SAME Holy Spirit to enter into and work through the COLLECTIVE BODY of ALL His disciples--and thus the CHURCH came to be called "the BODY OF CHRIST." It is now the collective Body in and through which God's Spirit PREACHES THE GOSPEL! That includes every real Christian! Now Jesus said, speaking of OUR DAY, just before His RETURN as the King of kings to usher in the peaceful and happy WORLD TOMORROW: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the END (of this world) come." (Matthew 24:14 .) But HOW? I, myself, an ordained minister--(I had been ordained in June, 1931)--had been able to PREACH THE GOSPEL to ONLY 40 people! But now, the help of Co-Workers made it possible for ALL 16 of us to preach to at least 1000 people. 

Subtract the 40 I could preach to ALONE--and THEIR PART in the Work meant that THEY were getting the Gospel preached to an additional 960 people. On the average, every one of them was responsible for getting the Gospel to 64 people! Each CO-WORKER was, in effect, preaching to 64 people. I, an ordained minister, alone, had been preaching to only 40! You see, then, how the PRAYERS and OFFERINGS of these few Co-Workers each was responsible for PREACHING THE GOSPEL to 60% more people than I could alone! Today, in this same way, EVERY Co-Worker--and that means YOU --is actually responsible for preaching the Gospel to approximately 300 people! [And ALSO that includes about 25 people who read The PLAIN TRUTH! Averaging it out, YOU are paying for subscriptions to The PLAIN TRUTH reaching about 25 people, and ALSO YOU are preaching to about 300 people EVERY WEEK--52 weeks a year --BESIDE also having a part in putting students through Ambassador College, training more ministers and trained personnel for this rapidly growing WORLD-WIDE Work of God!] THAT'S how YOU are actually proclaiming the Gospel right now--PREPARING THE WAY for Christ's coming--PREPARING A PEOPLE for His coming--CHANGING LIVES! 

This past year, SEVERAL THOUSAND precious lives have been converted and baptized through this Work!] Alone, I was able to preach Christ's Gospel to 40 people! TODAY, Co-Workers have increased that to some 1,790,000 every MONTH! Listen to SOME FACTS--which YOU are helping make possible! [With 210 TV markets at just 1000 viewers per market, there is an average audience of 235,000 per week to Beyond Today. With 400,000 subscribers to the Good News magazine, that is a readership of 850,000 monthly. There is the Bible Correspondence Course, the Bible Reading program, Ambassador Bible Center, The Youth Programs, as well as over 50 booklets on doctrines of God, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and God’s Way of Living. So you are helping preach the Gospel to well over 1,790,000 people a month. YOU personally are preaching the Gospel to nearly 300 people. YOU are doing that along with Christ.] It is, today, a MIGHTY, and a POWERFUL, world-wide Work that GOD is using YOU, as well as me, in doing! DOESN'T IT GIVE YOU A THRILL? Doesn't it make your heart leap for JOY? WHAT A PRIVILEGE! TIME IS GROWING SHORT! This year we must work harder than ever! YOU, as only ONE Co-Worker, are preaching Christ's Gospel to approximately [300] people EVERY MONTH, beside paying for [Good News] subscriptions for others. And, if you are faithful--if you are LED by God's Holy Spirit, if you remain fervent in prayer, if you OVERCOME, and GROW spiritually--YOU shall have a PART in God's Kingdom far more important than being President of the United States--far more important than ANY position ever held by ANY human on this earth! Yes, WHAT a privilege. 

Benefit Statement: How much do YOU want the WORLD to know the Plan of God? How much are YOU praying for, and yearning for the mankind God created and sustains to come to the Knowledge of the Kingdom and Family of God? As followers of Jesus Christ and the Father of all, how SHOULD we dedicate our very being in pursuit of “Going Into All the World” as this Age comes to a screeching, grinding, cataclysmic tortuous end? SPS: Let’s look at How God Sees “the Work”. Is He solely interested in developing His Church? Is He interested in telling His Creation the Purpose and Plan of Life itself? As we learn to imitate and follow Christ, let’s become students of God’s “Love for All Humans” (Go Into All the World) Body: 1) God’s Approach - ALL men would be saved - 1 Tim 2:1 1Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, God is the Source of every useful and valuable thing. It is Given by and FROM Him – (((James 1:17 16Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ))) 

God is not like humans – He does not return evil for evil - (((Luke 23:33 33And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.))) Isa 55:6 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. God is motivated to GIVE Himself to His Creation FOR His Family – Jn 3:14 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should £not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

2) God intends for mankind to learn His Ways, and change to become like Him. Compassion for those who resist Him – Mt 5:38 38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. 43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 

"Advancing the Work" Melvin Rhodes - This is the 400th anniversary of the translation of the KJV. Then people carried their Bibles everywhere. In 1900 the first year of printing more secular books than the Bible, the society officially rejected God’s Word as the most important Book of all time. David Livingston who brought Bible to Africa and died doing it. He is said to have brought light to Africa. Everywhere but Africa - Christianity is in decline. The continent is most ravaged by HIV/AIDS. Clearly the churches are not having an impact on the society. In Ghana he has spoken to the virgin’s club (honorary member), and told them the solution is God’s Way of life, and that is explained in the Bible. That the 10 commandments provide that there would be no HIV/AIDS within 25 years. What is needed is the life changing saving Gospel message. Mk 1:14 14Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel £of the kingdom of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mt 28:18 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go £therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” £Amen. This was the attitude of the Church. When he started in Ghana there were 58. 

After 5 years - 500. There is a need to change the world. Jn 6:42 42And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. Jesus Christ is “Going into all the world WITH His People …and the Father draws others to Christ …Christ does NOT draw anyone to Himself. We cannot call anyone. Christ doesn’t either. We are doing this “Going” together! When people understand the Truths of God, they save lives. Washing hands, monogamy. These are simple concepts. They don’t KNOW what we consider normal. Mankind is being approached with LIFE, and God’s Church is an irremovable, intrinsic, wholly necessary, embedded part of “Going” to Mankind. DO we so Love the world that we can sacrifice as begotten Sons that whosoever believes in Christ (Who is going WITH us) may have everlasting Life? Mr. Armstrong often said that You Are Converted as much as Your Heart is in the Work. Mt 24:14 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (((We are seeing the nucleus of a Work already happening. We have not done a very good job of preaching the Gospel over the last 25 years. Often we have been held back by others in UCG. 

NOW there is a great commitment by the COE to preach a unique Message of the Kingdom and repentance from sin, and the Plan of God shown in the Holy Days. Whatever it takes to do the Work, and whatever is available will be used!))) What we are seeing now is a rapid change in the Middle East that will potentially change the balance of power in the world. Either we will default on loan repayments to the world, or cut off Social Security. That’s how serious our financial situation is, while Congress ignores it all. Netanyahu said if Egypt falls it will be worse than others having nuclear weapons. The fastest growing economy in the world, suddenly is …Germany. No matter what the amount of time we have left …we will preach the Gospel! An article asked what is the biggest problem in America? The answer was alienation from God. This is the end of the civilization of this Nation of God’s Gifts. Most churches do not get into the Message of the changes necessary to become a God Family member. The breakdown of the family and financial breakdown is a product of denying God. We are to cry aloud, lift up our voice like a trumpet, and tell His People of their sins. Today people don’t know what sin is. 

Ezek 33:1 1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ 7“So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 

9Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. 10“Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel: ‘Thus you say, “If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?”’ 11Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ A warning is commissioned to the prophets of God to warn the world, especially Israel. This blood will be required at our hand if we neglect our God commissioned responsibility. If everybody kept God’s Laws, we would have no news channels. No matter what country, the best thing you can do for your country is get behind the preaching of the Gospel We are Converted to the Degree our Heart is in the Work of God When God’s People actually DO this sacrificing, they are truly beyond human! Acts 7:60 54When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 

58and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. This kind of living and thinking is NOT human. But it IS how God reacts to His Creation. Why is “love” like this? It is a different way of thinking. God Thought. Selflessness. God Thinking and Acting creates MORE Life for others by Giving it to them! We are to Live like Christ - Mt 10:38 38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Self Sacrifice is what Christ showed us – even to Death for US - Mt 16:24 24Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. 3) We are ALL offered to actually become members of the God Family. Literal Children of God. That is only possible for the Church today as we come to see humanity as God sees them. 

1 Pet 1:3 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. HOW does God view sinning mankind? Like WE do? Absolutely NOT! Heb 2:9 9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.” 13And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.” [Isa 8:17,18] 

14Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. Humanity are NOT excluded from salvation or the Knowledge of the Plan of God, except that we hold the Truth to ourselves while “developing God’s Character”. What are WE to do? What are our marching orders? – (((Mt 28: 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.))) 

Conclusion: God considers humanity potentially Family and prevents self-extinction due to ONE element of His Plan - Mt 24:2121For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Avoiding an extinction Event …by the Work of Christ in His People So, there is a specific purpose for The Church in this Age. It is to become the Bride of Christ in the saving of human life, and ultimately participate in bringing as many as would accept God’s Way into the Family of God. In order to develop God’s Character, we must also see His human Creation as He sees It. Humanity is the Potential Family of God. We MUST Love humanity enough to want ALL in God’s Family WITH us! They are saved from total extinction because of the human embryonic Family of God (the Church) which has learned to give Itself to participate in saving mankind. Christ like Life. Close: To develop the Mind of God completely; to become perfect as our Father is perfect; it is clear that God’s People MUST consider God’s Human Creations in the same active selfless outgoing Concern that He has for ALL Humans! 

January, 1986 – (Last member letter from Herbert Armstrong) Dear Brethren and Co-Workers: Once again the time has come to send each of you your receipt for tithes and offerings--for 1985. I want you to realize the magnitude of the accomplishments you have helped make possible this past year--yet I wonder if it is humanly possible to comprehend just how great is the work the living Christ is accomplishing through our combined efforts and sacrifice under him and through the boundless power of the great God in heaven. We are humanly inclined to judge by what we can see physically. What we see physically is a small church body on earth. Yet what we should see spiritually is something so stupendous as to defy any comparison, so colossal above all that has been accomplished by all the combined efforts of the large churches of this world. Spiritually it is a gigantic worldwide accomplishment compared to no spiritual accomplishment whatever. Jesus Christ sent forth the first apostles to the small world of that day centered around the Mediterranean Sea. In 20 years there was violent controversy over whether the gospel to be proclaimed was a gospel ABOUT Christ, or the gospel OF Christ. 

For nearly 1,900 years Christ's Gospel of the Kingdom of God was there-after NOT PROCLAIMED to the world. But Jesus had said, "THIS gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto ALL NATIONS, and then shall the end [of this world] come." What tremendous accomplishments your tithes and offerings and personal efforts have made possible in 1985. Now let's keep it up in 1986! With love and gratitude, in Jesus' name, Herbert W. Armstrong It has not happened like that for that reason since that letter. WE MUST LEARN GOD’S WAY OF LOVE THROUGH KEEPING HIS LAW OF SACRIFICING OF OUR LIVES FOR ALL OTHERS, AND THAT ALSO MEANS BURNING IN OUR DESIRE TO SHARE THE PLAN OF GOD WITH HIS CREATION. SO …NOW …IT HAPPENS AGAIN! Peter Eddington There is now a public Bible Lecture campaign across he US. Starting in May 2011 in the 50 largest cities of the US. IT will take some real effort between Media and Member and Ministry Services. To hold these quarterly in 50 simultaneous locations on the Sabbath. Advertised in the Good News so our audience will realize that these lectures will be available. Three 50 minute seminars each. These ideas were tried in Melbourne. Three subjects of Jesus Christ in Mk 1:14-15. Time is at hand, repent, believe the Gospel. Three seminars on one topic on a day, quarterly later, next quarter we will make that next point. The workers will be YOU. You will get help. A combined effort with HO and Power Point presentations for the presenters. Each may be adjusted as long you adhere to the basic core ideas. 

There may be some professional presenters among us. They may step into the gap. The public will never be invited to join or asked for money. There will also be follow-up with mail in the weeks before the next one is presented. In Australia, the seminar visitors still didn’t understand what Jesus Christ was speaking about. But with this 4 step seminar process, we will hope to see a more complete understanding. Please ask the brethren to pray for the more complete blessing for the success of God’s Guidance of the Proclamation efforts. The Work of God moves forward on our knees. The brethren must be involved in this effort as God provides the resources, human and financial to make this all happen to His Will. Normally we gain about 85 new donors and coworkers per month. In January the first week was 85. Randy Stiver Vertical Thought Magazine and verticalthought.org: Young Contributors Needed Vertical Thought, by God's grace, is moving forward with renewed visual and editorial vigor! Consequently, we have many new opportunities for vertical thinking teen and young adult volunteers ready and willing to contribute their skills in several areas. 

• Writing: opportunities include writing short articles for the magazine and for the weekly online Vertical Thought Commentaries (VTC). • Illustration and cartooning: to add variety and zest to both the magazine and Web site we are seeking good illustrations and insightfully humorous cartooning on biblical themes. • Photography: plans call for more shot-for-purpose photos in the magazine and on the Web site. Here's a wonderful opportunity to help illustrate elements of the true Gospel for those of you with good camera skills. Videography: in the future we hope to have verticalthought.org set up to feature short video clips that convey good lessons regarding moral dilemmas facing teens and young adults today. Aaron Booth So excited to be able to share this information finally with us all. eReaders, smartphones and mobile devices are now available for the site. Barnes and Noble site has Jesus Christ the Real Story. Search Jesus Christ on their site and our booklet comes up number three. It is free to the world. So people can test their Nook. iPad is being readied for all booklets at Apple bookstore. This was made possible for free books to us, and now it is impossible to get on for free product. Kindle is now available for the booklets Amazon within a few months. 

Tom Disher – New Site – All of our sites are going to be one BIG site with 100 topics for visitors interests in over 20k pages. Everyone who has ever written for UCG will have an author page. The reader can build a relationship with the author. There are so many possibilities that it is dramatically exciting! Articles are structured by categories. The bio page will allow readers to see a page. You can browse by topics immediately upon entering the site. The only way to find things before was by publication. Animated banners on the Home Page with instructions on how to use the site. We will give suggestions concerning technology. We mixed Amazon, Facebook, UCG and this is what we got. Profile page shows what you are interested in, and who you are and where you are. This is social networking that allows people to connect. All available on mobile device. Social Media Facebook – How to use it and how to get the members involved. It is really encouraging to see what non-church members comments are. All over the world this is happening. Twitter – 7000 followers YouTube – 1.4 million views. Local Websites Ample opportunities to contribute locally. Write a blog or hyperlocal blog. Such as the Christian approach to a local event. This will pull up your article based on local reach in search engines. We are using the internet to preach the Gospel and Prepare a People. Feel free to get involved in asking questions about the site. We want everybody to be excited about this …and YOU can help! All Power in heaven and earth is given to Jesus Christ, Who will be with those who “Go therefore into all the world, even unto the end of the Age”. AND THE GATES OF THE GRAVE WILL NOT STAND AGAINST THIS HOLY GROUP OF CALLED OUT ONES DOING WHAT GOD WANTS DONE - Developing His Approach to His Creation in His future Family Members LET US GO TO THEM …AGAIN!