Dear Friends,

I’m keeping this short because my “What in the World” article is longer than usual. We wrote our January newsletter well before Christmas so we owe you all a big thank you! Thank you for the Christmas cards, New Year’s greetings, and Iris’ birthday cards. We still read every one of them and appreciate them all so much. Thanks, too, for your prayers and financial support!

Everyone here has been sick, either with the flu or some type of respiratory problem, including the children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the ladies in the office. Iris and I both skimmed by until the 22nd of February, and then we both got the respiratory kind and have been coughing for two weeks. Iris ended up sleeping on the recliner. We are slowly improving, but so looking forward to warm spring days and time in the swing! On a positive note, baby calves are everywhere and they are such fun to watch. For those of you unacquainted with the cow business, the babies play just like kids!

What in the World

Matthew 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:21 – 23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The above verses were all spoken by Christ.

Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

This verse was written by the Apostle Paul.

Please, please, please read these portions of scripture over and over before you read my article.

Almost two years ago, I was shocked and thrilled to receive an enlightening phone call from a (then) new viewer. The man called and introduced himself as Colonel John Doe (not his real name) saying, “Les, I am an 85-year-old retired seminary graduate. I pastored my denominational church for about five years, and then went in to the military as my denominational chaplain for many years. Thanks to my best friend, I found your TV program. Now, let me repeat, I am an 85-year-old retired seminary graduate, pastor and chaplain. The Lord has now opened my eyes to things I had never seen or heard before. I had never heard of two gospels – The Gospel of the Kingdom and The Gospel of Grace. I know nothing of Paul’s Gospel and I Corinthians 15:1-4. I now get angry at those seminary professors for never letting me out of the four Gospels and rarely ever into Paul’s Epistles. Naturally, I had never heard of Rightly Dividing the scripture. But, now that I see all this so clearly, I am afraid most church members are still lost!”

Consequently, I was shocked but also thrilled that another one could say, “Les, I get it!” I can hear many of you still ask, “Get what?” The difference between the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace. The difference between Jesus and the twelve and Israel, and our Apostle Paul and the Gentiles.

After the conversion and call of Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3, God’s dealing with a Gentile was only on rare occasions - Rahab, the woman at the well in Jericho, Ruth the Moabitess, and Naaman the Syrian General dipping in the Jordan seven times. Otherwise, it was only God and Israel.

Ephesians 2:11-12 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

At the beginning of our Lord’s Earthly Ministry it is even more evident.

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 10:5-6 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Now is probably the appropriate time to define the Gospel of the Kingdom. It was the Good News that Jesus of Nazareth was the promised Messiah, Redeemer and King of Israel. That is epitomized by three professions of faith. Peter in Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Martha in John 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And the Eunuch in Acts 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Adherent with that profession of who Jesus was, the Jews were still under temple worship and law, John’s Baptism and Repentance, Acts 2:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

As most of you know and have experienced, like my chaplain friend, most theologians, TV preachers, and Sunday School material writers are still hung up on Pentecost as the birthday of the church, despite what is clearly written in Acts 11:19 nearly seven years after Pentecost.

Act 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

Pentecost is still under temple worship and Judaism. Not one word about Gentiles or the Body of Christ is mentioned until 37 AD with Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus and followed by the Lord’s speaking to Ananias in Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the Children of Israel:

Romans 6:14b for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

Romans 10:9&10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Romans 1:16 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

I Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 1:16 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 5:1-4 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 3:1-2 & 5 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; NOTHING FROM THE FOUR GOSPELS CAN BE ADDED TO THIS.

Note from Laura

As I am always talking about the rapture and looking forward to it and the heaven that awaits us, I often mention [when talking with others on the phone] that the one crown I know I am going to get is the crown of righteousness and I am surprised at how many people are unaware of the five crowns. So I thought I would take this opportunity and share with you the five scriptural crowns.

The Incorruptible Crown: I Corinthians 9: 24-25 This crown is given to believers who faithfully run the race. These verses seem to imply that the crown is given to those who do without themselves in some way to point fellow man to God.

The Crown of Rejoicing: I Thessalonians 2:19, 20 & Daniel 12: 3. This is also called the soul-winner's crown because it will be given to those who are faithful in witnessing and leading others to salvation.

The Crown of Life: James 1:12 & Revelation 2:8-11 Also referred to as the martyrs crown, it's given to people who suffer severely or even lose their life because of their faith.

The Crown of Righteousness: II Timothy 4:8. This crown is given to those who look forward to His appearing. If we are made righteous because of Him, we should be looking for his appearing with all yearning and earnestness.

The Crown of Glory: I Peter 5:1-4. This crown seems to be reserved for pastors, schoolteachers, missionaries and others who actively teach God's Word to others, helping them grow in their spiritual lives after they are saved.

These are the five crowns available and of course there are also the rewards. We are not really told what the rewards are but we are told that the crowns will be willingly placed again at the feet of Jesus. [We find in Revelation 4:10-11 that the 24 elders cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus and praised Him.]

A bit of trivia from Iris

Do you know the origins of the saying “the handwriting is on the wall”? The answer can be found in Daniel 5, which describes Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, and his using the vessels taken from the Temple in Jerusalem to worship false gods during a great feast in his kingdom. During this abomination, the king saw a hand come out of the wall and write words which only Daniel could interpret, foretelling of the destruction of his kingdom.

Les Feldick Ministries 30706 W. Lona Valley Rd., Kinta, OK 74552
1-800-369-7856 or 918-768-3218