Newsletter                                                                    September 2024

Dear Saints,

    Recently while reading Genesis, it struck me that we need a “Father” for our Nation. During a time of crisis, after two years of a seven-year famine, Joseph told his brothers “So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt” Genesis 45:8. I won’t recount the life of Joseph, other than to say, Joseph did not see his family for thirteen years and his father thought he was dead. Not only did God restore their family, but Joseph became a father to Pharoah, saved them from extinction, protected them, and provided for them. Pharoah even said, “regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours” Genesis 45:20. Joseph’s forgiveness brought them great blessings.

    Job also had walked in great blessings, until the accuser asked God to remove the hedge of protection. Often one focuses on Job’s loss. However, in Job 29 there is a description of him as a father. In this chapter, one sees Job living in the fullness of his role as an earthly Father. He walked under the cover of God. Job was close to God and was said to be “perfect and upright” Job 1:1, and he cared greatly for his family Job 1:5. After his calamity, Job remembers what it was, to walk under the covering, behind the “hedge” Job 1:10. My message is, what does a “Father” look like when he is in the right relationship with God? Job says, "my children were about me”, and “the rock poured me out rivers of oil” Job 29:5-6 “When I went out to the gate through the city, When I prepared my seat in the street! The young men saw me, and hid themselves: And the aged arose, and stood up. The princes refrained talking, And laid their hand on their mouth. The nobles held their peace, And their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; And when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:” Job 29 7-11. Job shared his wealth. “Because I delivered the poor that cried, And the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: My judgment was as a robe and a diadem” Job 29:12-14. He had great wealth and prosperity. Though he went through great tragedy, he understood the position God wanted him in, not only as a father but as a leader. A lot of times, Job questioned God, during his calamities. His three friends were the ones who sinned, not Job. They repented, and then God restored double of all Job lost, including his ten children.

    Paul became a Father to those who accepted Christ, through the gospel. He said, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus. I have begotten you through the gospel” 1 Corinthians 4:15. Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Paul spoke to them like a father, bringing them the truth. These were people immersed in sexual immorality. They were living in the world as natural carnal beings, caught up heavily in this sin (as it is today). They followed the wrong god, the god of this world. Paul came with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who accepted Christ were born into the Kingdom of God, where God is Father to all, and Jesus Christ is Lord. By making this transition, from the ways of the world to the kingdom, they received the Holy Ghost. This gave God the authority to mentor, to teach, and to lead not only them, but all believers.

    The role of the father is greatly diminished in our culture. Believers need to remind themselves of who God is and understand that He calls himself “Father (to His children)”. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father. All authority belongs to Him. “We are in the world but not of it …” John 17:15-16. There is a different realm that God has called us to. From this realm, we bring into this world the manifestation of God's love. Joseph said, “God made me a father to Pharaoh”. God directed his steps, and at his time, put him in that position. He went through difficult situations, but in the end, he understood why. Many times, one does not understand what God is doing, but like Joseph, Job, and Paul, we must trust God with our lives. In God’s perfect time, He will “restore to you the years the locust hath eaten the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm …” Joel 2:25.

    Your financial support makes this ministry possible. Besides getting the gospel out via TV, radio, and preaching at different churches, we are helping those in need. Please make out your tax-deductible check to The Master’s Hand Christian Fellowship, send to the above address, https://paypal.me/Cohen727 or by Zelle at rev.joseph@aol.com.

Serving Our King

Rev. Joseph and Eric Ross

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