“Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after Thee:…” And that’s the way it needs to be in our lives, brethren, that our souls, our hearts, our minds, our being follow hard after God. Don’t let this world, and don’t let anything detract you. Don’t let anything detour you. Don’t let anything hold you back from following after God hard. “…Thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; everyone that sweareth by Him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped” (vs. 7-11).

Now let’s go to Matthew 5 and carry on what Jesus said. One of the beatitudes that we need to have, one of the things that we need to really understand, one of the things that we need to realize in the best and proper way, and this day epitomizes and pictures more than anything else. Verse 1, “Blessed are the poor in spirit:…” That means that spiritually before God they are right. They come to God and say, “Yes, God, I know that in the flesh I’m nothing. I know that of my own self, my own mind, my own heart, that I am capable of doing nothing in serving You, in doing Your will and doing Your ways.” And that we understand it comes from God.

“…For theirs is the kingdom of [God] heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:1-6). And that’s the meaning of this day. Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? Do you hunger and thirst after those things that are right and good? Have you set your heart and your mind and your course in this life and in your Christian life that God has called you into, to do that, to seek that? God says you will be filled.

And it’s after righteousness, and righteousness is doing right. And righteousness is doing good. And righteousness is serving God with a right heart and mind and attitude and spirit. Or do we end up like the world – fighting, striving, backbiting, bickering? Because I guarantee you, spiritual murder is worse than physical. And the righteousness that can only come from God, and that only God can fill, that only God, with His Spirit, can put into the void to make us see and understand His word, and live by it. And He gave the Constitution for Christian living in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. And upon which, brethren, I submit that none of us at any time, or any station, have the right or the authority to change it.

Let’s turn to Mark 12:29 and see what the biggest missing ingredient is that God has to give. “And Jesus answered him…”, when they came to ask Him, “Well, what’s the first and great commandment, or what’s the primary, the most important commandment of all?” “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear O Israel…” And you can put your name there, because this is what Jesus is telling us. If there’s any one thing that is going to please God, if there’s any one thing that is going to put you in right standing with God, if there’s any one thing that is of the most paramount importance in our life to achieve, it is this: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:29-30).

This is the primary commandment. Because on that, then, if you love God then you don’t love your own life unto death. And if you love God, you can have the faith to face the future. And if you love God then He will be with you. Verse 31, “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…” And I think that there are an awful lot of us from time to time who come to the point of hatred for our neighbors, because we hate ourselves. And we hate ourselves because we don’t love God. And that doesn’t mean to turn around like the world and say, “The only way you can love your neighbor is love yourself.” No, the only way you can love your neighbor is to love God first, and then your neighbor as yourself. It’s the only way it’s going to be.

And that’s the biggest missing ingredient that only God can give us, you see, because God is love. He doesn’t have love. He is love. We can only possess what God gives us. And therefore it has to come from God. And that’s why we fast and pray. And that’s why we yield to God. Let’s see what this Christian way of life and this attitude of being at one with God, and serving God, and being close to Him, should lead us to do, and how we ought to conduct our lives, and how we ought to conduct ourselves.

Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…” You see, because the flesh doesn’t count. It’s only a vehicle to achieve the righteousness that God wants. It’s only a physical vehicle and mechanism through which God’s Spirit can work, that we may develop the character and heart and mind and attitude of God. “…That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice…” Living. The root word there is zoaewhich means zealous, active. Implicating then, “dedicated”, because the word “zealot” comes from the same root. “…Which is your reasonable [or your intelligent] service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2).

And there’s something else we have to do. There are many instructions here in Romans 12. We won’t go through the whole thing. He says in verse 9, “Let love be without dissimulation…” You know, the most dissimulating show of love that has been recorded in the world’s history: the kiss of Judas. “…Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” So there has to be a fight. There has to be a struggle. There has to be a war - and it is a spiritual war, and it is a mental battle, and it is that something that needs to be worked on all the time.

Let’s go to Ephesians 5 and see how God wants us to be. God doesn’t want us to be as part of this society, as part of this world. What does God say about the friendship of this world? That if you are a friend of the world you are an enemy of God. He says, “Woe unto you when men speak well of you for so did they of the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, paraphrased).

Ephesians 5:1, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering [an atonement] and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.” And let’s not let the stench of the dung of sin interfere with that offering. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know…” (Eph. 5:1-4). And God is saying in His love, and God is saying in His truth, and God is saying inspired through the apostle Paul - remember what he said to those who thought they stand, he said “Take heed for those of you who think you stand, lest you fall,” (I Cor. 10:12, paraphrased).

And he said this: “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame to even speak of those things which are done of them in secret” (Ephesians 5:5-12).

Let’s turn to Isaiah 58 again, and verse 1. As we see the world, like a comet, streaking towards its destruction, God says we are to cry aloud and spare not, and lift up our voice like a trumpet! And part of the very love of God is to warn of the sin that is there. And part of the righteousness of God is to reveal the evil that is there. And the hardest thing that’s going to be, brethren, is to stand up and tell the world that the Pope is of the devil! And they won’t believe us.

Isaiah 58:1, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” And since we’ve come out of the world, brethren, we are affected by the world. And those things affect us; and those things affect the spiritual temple of God.

Let’s go to the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 7:1, “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD saying, Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel…” I think maybe as we’re going to the feast, and maybe as we’re evaluating our lives in these times in which we live, let’s think about these words to us. Let’s think about these words to our lives individually, to our lives collectively; to our purposes, to our goals; for our representation of God. And God says, “…Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD are these,” (Jer. 7:1-4).

Because all you have to do is read the history of the Church of God. And all you have to do is realize and know and understand that God has told us, as Christians, as those that He has called, that our choices are the things that count. And I’ve often heard a lot of people say, “Well, why does God allow this? And why does God allow that? And why does God allow the other things?” Well, brethren, because if there weren’t free moral agency, then God wouldn’t allow it. What will God allow? Anything but the destruction of the earth. And what will God allow in your life? Anything you decide to do! That’s why it has to be right and good. That is why there has to be repentance. That is why God says that we need to amend our ways. And the last people on earth that need to be saying, “We’re the people of God! We’re the people of God! We’re the people of God!”, should be us - to say how good and righteous we are.

Verse 5, “For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor…” Resolve the issues that come. Bring forth the difficulties to the light. “…If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?” (vs. 5-10). Shall we brethren, really? Can it really be so? Can it really be true?

Let's go to 1 Timothy 6:1. You know, the greatest hypocrisy that can ever be is that if we end up like the rest of the world. You know, Jesus didn’t say that the Pharisees were wrong for having the scripture. He did not say that they weren’t there in authority. But He did say, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees” didn’t He? And that is put there that we may learn. And that is put there that we may understand, and that is put there that we may learn not to do those same things.

1 Timothy 6:1, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort,” (1 Tim. 6:1-2). And that’s all the things leading up there, all through 1 Timothy, the first five chapters. “These things teach and exhort.”

And what did he say? What were some of the things that he said to the minister? Let’s go back and see some of those things. 1 Timothy 4:6, “If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness,” (1 Tim. 4:6-7). Then he says that bodily exercise profits a little, but that which is spiritual is best.

Verse 10, “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, specially of those who believe. These things command and teach,” (vs. 10-11). There are certain things we have to command and teach. He also told them in 2 Timothy 3 that there are times when you have to say things that may not necessarily be pleasant. And there is a time to say them, there’s a season to say them, and there is a way to say them.

2 Timothy 4:2, let’s pick it up in verse 1. “I charge thee therefore [and this to Timothy, a minister] before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Tim. 4:1-3). And you know, brethren, that could happen within the church as well as without.

 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” And then he told them back in 1 Timothy 6:3, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ…” You see, because brethren, the truth is we’re not an Old Testament church. The truth is that we are to follow and live by every word of God. We’re to live by the words of Jesus Christ. And the truth is, when Jesus said, that if you be sued, give them your cloak. And the truth is, agree with your adversary while you’re in the way with him. Those are the wholesome words of Jesus Christ. The truth is that we are to obey the magistrates and be subject to the powers to be, whether for good or whether for evil - and Paul said that of a dictatorial government, where there were no constitutional rights. As we sow, so shall we reap. As we live, so shall we die. And if we are not dedicated, individually and collectively, at all times and in every place to uphold the Sacred and Holy name of Jesus Christ and uphold what God stands for, God Himself shall have His judgment upon us. And God Himself shall tell us.

And there does need to come to time when there has to be a crying aloud and sparing not. And there does have to come a time when there has to be a public evaluation of our sins as a group, and each of us individually. Not for condemnation, not for judgment, not for vanity, and not for vain-talking, not for hellfire and brimstone. But in love and strength and concern that we all make it into the Kingdom of God; and that we can eternally love each other, and we can eternally be right with Him.

1 Timothy 6:3, “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness: He is proud…” And the Greek there is “puffed up” - unconverted; filled with leaven. “…Knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself,” (1 Tim. 6:3-5).

When I first got the call Friday morning from Mr. Luker about what had transpired, and about what had gone forward, I’ve since had a long time to really think about and pray about the things that have transpired, from the first encounter, before the Sabbath before Pentecost and the one this week. And I’ve had to examine my life and my heart before God Almighty. And I had to make sure that I love God more than anything there is. Because Jesus Christ said, “He who seeks to save his life shall lose it,” (Matt. 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, paraphrased). And on the Day of Atonement I think it’s very fitting that we understand we’re not going to save ourselves by physical means!

As the circumstances and events have occurred in my life, at this point in my life I would have the greatest need to hold on to something physical. I would find the greatest reasons to compromise the truth of God to survive. And when I got that call Friday morning I was very upset. I was not mad, I was not angry. I was very disappointed. And in praying about it I determined that if it were God’s will that I transfer, I would go, and go willingly.

But I got a call later in the afternoon stating that the most unthinkable had happened. And that showed me I could no longer continue with the Worldwide Church of God in a conscientious way when I heard that Stanley Rader was ordained as an evangelist, when Mr. Armstrong said he never would; who had taken God’s name in vain publicly on national television; who has taken to himself the vengeance of God; who is, in vengeance, out to do in everyone who will not agree with him. And I feel, brethren, that the sacred tithe money and offerings that you send in to God, to be used on the projects initiated and suggested by Mr. Rader are an effrontery and blasphemous before God - of which I suggest you read Quest Magazine.

And I am sure that, true to God’s word, that as a church and as a work - and I’m not saying this in condemnation; I’m saying pray for them, brethren, because they need your prayers. And I’m not saying this because I want to hold on to something physical that I possess; and I’m not saying this because I want to be uncooperative and not transfer. And I’m not saying this to be dramatic and tell you to follow me. But I’m saying this because the worst evil that could ever happen is that God’s Church be deceived from within.

And a man, who in my judgment with the Spirit of God - though I know it is not my final judgment to make, but we shall know them by their fruits - has been placed into one of the highest offices in the Church, and we may find ourselves in very desperate trouble. And I do know that there are sins and high places, that, as the apostle Paul has said, are so despicable they are unrepeatable. And that unless these are repented of, and our parts in agreeing with it, we shall all be vomited out of the mouth of God.

And I hope and pray that there is someone in Pasadena today standing in the pulpit, calling God’s people to repentance, to amend their ways! And to use the resources and power and manpower and money that God has given into the hands of the church to preach the name of Jesus Christ around the world! And we’d better sound religious! And we better uphold the name of Jesus Christ! Because our foe is Satan the devil, and if we try and preach the salvation of God without the name of Jesus Christ, that is another gospel that is being preached that Christ didn’t send! And if we fall victim to that, Satan’s coup de gras within has taken place! And evil, and fear, and terror, wretchedness, suspicion, doubt, lack of love, and hatred will all come. And to which, brethren, I’m very sorry.

And my heart and my mind and my attitude go out for Mr. Armstrong personally. I’ve been with him; I’ve talked with him. I also know the circumstances involved, and I also understand, and I also know - true to what God says - unless there is the kind of repentance, which I thought was coming a year ago in January, a year ago in June, when he said, “Sell Quest”, and that Mr. Rader was no longer going to have any power in the church, at which time Mr. Rader threatened to sue Mr. Armstrong. Of which I submit: that if I had threatened to sue Mr. Armstrong, how long do think I would have lasted, let alone be ordained as an evangelist?

And you have seen your brothers and your sisters, and fellow ministers and deacons become prey to the devourer from within and from without. And it’s all time that we come to God in prayer, in fasting, and yielding to Him, that God Almighty would save His people. That God Almighty would turn us to serve Him with all our heart and mind and soul and being, and that we quit deceiving ourselves.

Because just like God allowed with Job, it went on, and it went on, and it went on. I imagine Job said, “How long, God?” Till he had his mind opened. Till he could understand what was right before God. And God gives a warning. And I submit to you, brethren, every one of us in the Worldwide Church of God fit into this - Revelation 3:14 on. And God Almighty says that we are to repent, every one of us – me, you, all the way up the line!

Revelation 3:15, “I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot:…” Almost double spirited. Almost double minded - one standard for people, one conduct for others: the equal and the more equal. “…I would thou wert cold or hot.” We ought to be on fire, brethren.

Let me tell you, I called an author - one of the articles here, which is a lot of first level witchcraft practice of burning their relatives and letting their children run their fingers - the ashes through their fingers, and wish the spirit well on its travel to the other side; and initiate his son into the mysteries. I called this man. He lives in Berkeley. He is an atheist genetic Jew, who believes in Eastern Maharishiism. And when we first got the “Human Potential Magazine” with Mr. Armstrong’s article in it, this was presented to us as the thing that it would be. And the switch came later, that advertises Christmas, takes the name of God in vain, and uses the tithe money of God! I’m sorry, brethren.

“So then because thou art lukewarm…”, half in the world, half in the church, not zealous for God, “…and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Rev. 3:16-17). And you know, brethren, I don’t know any minister that has been happy. We have all been miserable. And I come before you to repent of my part. And I come before you not to say “I’m perfect”, or “I am free of sin”, but I come before you to warn you, as a minister of God, that unless we all repent collectively as a church, that the devices of Satan have been set in motion that’s going to destroy it and tear it apart!

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see,” (vs. 17-18), instead of being deceived.

And may we all say together, “God, put our sins under the blood of Jesus Christ, that the blood of Jesus Christ forgive us for our wretchedness; that the blood of Jesus Christ forgive us for becoming wicked, and evil, and vile; that we may see, because, God, we know You love us. Because, God, we know You have called us.”

“I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;…” (vs. 18). Because, brethren, God will expose us to the world and we shall be ugly, sinful, despicable, wretched. And they will look at us and say, “You represent God?”

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” (vs. 19). And it’s true, and Mr. Armstrong is right - the coming of Christ is soon. But we’d better be about God’s business and God’s way, to serve God. Because if not, He will not say to us, “Well done good and faithful servant.” He will say, “Cast him into the lake of fire, because he was unprofitable.”

And so, brethren, I appreciate your prayers. I love you. I love God’s Church, and I love Mr. Armstrong. I don’t say these in any way in vindictiveness. I know after I step down from here I will be marked, disfellowshiped, branded, and discredited, and I understand that. But I count it, brethren, to be cast out of the Church of God for telling the truth, an honor.