P.O. Box 640109

El Paso, TX 79904

18 January, 1998

Dear Children,

This week we are going to continue with the series on Christian Science by investigating what they believe in when it comes to the Comforter (Holy Spirit). But before we get into the Scriptures let me first of all give you a few good examples of the Comforter working in my own life.

It was only a few short weeks ago (28 December, 1997) that I made the following statement: And I believe it was yesterday that Hadassah mentioned an error in the message dated 14 December, 1997. In the second paragraph on page 3 it read, "Talk about myths! What these homosexuals people have to say about the Word of God, the Holy Bible, can only be labeled as warped and twisted fairy tails." Admittingly it was a mistake, but after reading it again, and thinking seriously about what was said, I think I’ll leave it as it is; it makes perfectly good sense to me.

That was what I said but it was only a very short time after that the Holy Spirit told me I should not have said what I said. You see the message on the homosexuals was what God wanted but the additional name calling was not. He did not care for the smart-aleck remark about the fairy tails because it was not of Him but of me. I said it but it was not the Spirit of God Who moved in me to say it, and He let me know it. And the reason He let me know it was because He loves all people. He loves them but yet He can’t tolerate their sin, and that’s what the original message to the United Methodist Church and the homosexual people was all about. Our Great and Mighty God is waiting with open arms for all gays and lesbians to give up their perverted lifestyles and turn to Him (sin no more). So for all those who I may have offended with my sly remark, please forgive me.

And that’s only one of the ways the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) can work in our lives. He will correct us when we do things that are not pleasing to Him, but He will also be with us in many other ways too. In fact the next example will demonstrate one of the other ways the Spirit of God can and will work in our lives if we will only allow Him to. You see even though He has the ability to correct us when we are wrong (after we have done what we shouldn’t do) He can also give us advice on what to do next. He can and will at any moment tell us what step to take next in order to stay on track with His plan for our lives (His divine will), and that’s what I’m going to show you next.

You see it was about a year ago that I moved from a little town called Fabens, Texas, which is approximately 30 miles from my work, to an apartment very close by. And likewise, since I like to keep my hair short, it behooved me to find a barber who was a little bit closer to my new location. So I found what I thought was a rather nice place to get trimmed, and they were doing a great job, but God said "NO!" For some strange reason, all of the sudden, He didn’t want me going to that particular barber shop anymore, He wanted me to go somewhere else. So after a brief struggle I finally gave in and prayed for Him to show me His choice of barbers... and it was very shortly thereafter that He told me where to go.

So for my very next "ear lowering treatment" I went to His barber shop, and what I found was one massive hair cutting production line. There were about 10 ladies cutting hair and you could either specify who you wanted or just sit and wait for the next one available. And since I didn’t really have a preference (God didn’t tell me who) I just sat down and waited. And as I was to learn later, the person who did finally cut my hair was one of the most popular ones there. In other words I should have really not been her customer because she should have had a line of people already signed up and waiting. But on that particular day and at that particular time there was no one else waiting on her except me... and I didn’t even know that I was... but God did.

And what followed was many months of hair cutting and me still not knowing why in the world God wanted me there. Why had God (through the Holy Spirit) gone to the trouble to bring me to this place and to this woman? I didn’t have a clue. But as time went on I started "hearing" an answer to my question, but this answer didn’t fit the personality of the Spirit of God Who I knew. You see what I soon discovered was that it was the master of deception himself (Satan: the false comforter) trying to get me to hear a message that wasn’t of God... but his communication wasn’t successful... because I recognized who he was... and I was able to spoil his plan by ignoring what he was telling me... and boy am I glad I did.

Because it was only about a month ago that I finally picked up on why I was sent to this barber shop and to this particular lady. I was on a mission from God to bring the Good News of Jesus to someone very special, and that is what I’m still doing to this very day. You see this story about the lady who cuts my hair and the reason why God wanted me to witness to her is still taking place. I know just a little bit now but I should know a whole lot more very soon, and prayerfully it will be just in time for another upcoming message on religion. So stay tuned because this is a story you won’t want to miss!

But anyway, the part of God that was dealing with me, in both of these situations that I have just mentioned, was the Spirit of God ( the Comforter). And I know how difficult it is to imagine this concept of three people being one but since we are all made in the image of God maybe I can show you Him (the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost) through us (human beings). Now the Bible tells us that we are all made up of three parts; the body, the soul, and the spirit. And as far as the body is concerned, if you have ever seen me once you would know me from then on out by the way I look. This is my body and there ain’t nobody else who looks exactly like me. And as for God in His three persons, it is Jesus Christ Who is that part of God called the body (God the Son). And likewise He was (and still is) also someone you could look at and recognize.

So now that we understand Who the body of God is let’s go on to the soul. The soul is that part of me that you could recognize by only hearing me talk. You wouldn’t have to see my body because my soul is characterized very well in my speech. My soul is the way that I am and it is completely separate from my body... because you can know that it is me without even seeing me (my body)... and even though the two are still undeniably one. And the same holds true with God, because His soul is God the Father.

And that brings us to the third and last of our three part body which is called the spirit. Now even though I hate to admit it I can have one of two possible spirits working in these other two parts of myself called the body and the soul. And depending on which spirit it is working in me determines whether I have horns and a long pointed tail or angel wings with a halo. I am me, with my body and my soul, but I have the choice of two different spirits. In other words I can change the way I am by taking on which ever spirit I choose (God or Satan). But when it comes to God in His Spirit that’s where the similarities end. You see God’s three-in-one body has only the choice of one spirit and that is the Holy Spirit (Spirit of God).

All right, so there you have all three; the Trinity of God, the trinity of us, and how the two are somewhat similar. And now with all that in mind let’s continue on with what the Church of Christ, Scientist (Christian Scientist), believe in when it comes to the Comforter (the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit). So once again by taking information from their Internet web site I will give you what they say they believe in.

They say that the Comforter was brought into this world by Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910) who, as you should all know by now, was the founder of Christian Science. They say that she was the one who revealed this truth (Comforter) to this age and likewise He is available through Mrs. Eddy’s discovery as told in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. In other words they are saying that if it hadn’t been for Mrs. Eddy we wouldn’t fully know who the Comforter is or be able to use Him to His full potential. And to top it all off they are even saying this about a woman who didn’t even believe that Jesus Christ was (and still is) God Almighty. Wow!!!

So seeing how I have never even read her book, how in the round world do I know the Comforter? How is He now working through me to do the things that He has called me to do? Well their answer will become obvious as we go along because the following is what the Holy Bible says and likewise what I believe. Reading the word’s of Jesus from the book of John (King James Version) and starting with chapter 14 verse 1, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you into myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whether I go ye know, and the way ye know."

These were the word’s of Jesus, to His disciples, as He prepared them for His soon to be crucifixion on the cross. He was trying to prepare them for the future, through His very own living words, and what a great future it was going to be. You see what He was getting ready to go through (His death on the cross) was going to be one terrific shock to His followers, especially His very close eleven (twelve minus Judas Iscariot). They were going to be numb with pain and disbelief over loosing (so they would think) their best friend and closest companion Jesus the Christ (God in the flesh).

And that was why He was telling them not to be lonely and blue when they saw that He was dead and gone, because He wouldn’t be gone for long. He knew that they were going to miss Him badly because He was the walking talking body of God and He had been walking and talking with them since the beginning of His ministry. He knew they would miss Him but it would only be for a very short time... because sometime in the very near future their bodies will be with His body and they will all live together in one great big mansion in Heaven. He would be back... but in a very different way. Because He said "...I go... and if I go... I will come again, and receive you into myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

He was going but yet He will come back (He still hasn’t yet), and when He does come back He will take them (and the rest of us followers) with Him to the place where He was going (Heaven). And just in case you aren’t familiar with what Jesus was talking about, it’s commonly known as the rapture. And if you are having a hard time understanding what is being said can you imagine how confusing it must have been for His disciples way back then? Well that’s the very reason why we read in the very next verse, "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know their way?"

You see even though his name was "Doubting" Thomas, I really can’t blame him for doubting what he had just heard. It was all very confusing to say the least. But the Lord quickly answered his question in the next two verses: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."

Are you starting to see the light? Well keep it in mind that Jesus is the body of God, the Father is the soul, and you can’t separate the two (they are one). And remember that it was because of Adam’s first original sin that anyone and everyone born into this world would go to Hell. Satan had a contract, he had the undeniable rights to each and every person’s body and soul, and there was only one way out... and His name was (is) Jesus. You see the only way God could correct this terrible disaster was for Himself (being perfect) to receive through His death what everyone else (from Adam until now) deserved. And that’s why we must believe that it was God who died, because it was. It was Jesus Christ the body of God who died on the cross so that we might be set free. And if we don’t give Him the credit for what He did then likewise we won’t get the rewards (Heaven).

But anyway, right after Jesus answered "Doubting" Thomas’ question there comes yet another question from one of His disciples. Reading on into verse 8, Philip saith unto Him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but by the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

You see Philip was having the same problem Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy had, but the difference is that Philip finally accepted the facts and Mrs. Eddy didn’t. And because Mrs. Eddy didn’t she had to come up with her very own make believe comforter because she certainly couldn’t have the real one. Because the Scripture goes on to say, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father; and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

You see even though the body of God (Jesus) is not with us in this life, we still have God with us through His Spirit the Comforter. And if you have read the above Scripture very carefully you should now see that the Comforter is only available to those who follow along with the requirements of all the "IF’S". If we love Jesus we will listen to Him. If we love Jesus we will believe what He tells us and do the things that He tells us to do. And one of the very first things that He tells us to do is to believe that He is God. And if we believe that He is God and do the things that He has instructed us to do, through His word (the Holy Bible), then we too can have the Comforter. But since the Christian Scientist (Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy and crew) believe in something other than what the Word of God says, they had to write their own book on how to get the Comforter. Because in reality their comforter is of no comfort because he is Satan.

You see they can’t have the real Comforter because they don’t believe that Jesus is God. And that’s a very good reason why lying is so bad... It’s of Satan... and all it does is cause you to lie more. Because in order for Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy to make people believe her lies she (and the Christian Scientist) have had to do a whole lot more lying... and that’s exactly what their teaching is all about; lies, lies, and more lies. But their lies won’t get them anywhere with God because the Scripture goes on to say, "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

You see the comforter that the Christian Science people will give you is of the world... and the world is of Satan... and the results will not be everlasting peace and comfort but torment and pain. Because Jesus went on to say, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."

Jesus as the body of God did what was required of Him on the cross. He took what Satan intended for us so that we wouldn’t have to. But in order to receive this great blessing we must remember what Jesus goes on to say in chapter 15: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples."

Now this Scripture doesn’t even apply to those following the Christian Science teachings because they aren’t a part of the vine (Jesus). They aren’t a part of Jesus (through His Spirit the Comforter) because they don’t believe that Jesus is God... and since they don’t believe in Him they can’t have what He has to offer. But for those of us who do believe that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh (the body of God), we can be plugged into Him (the vine) and receive His life giving flow of Holy Ghost information and power through the Holy Spirit (the Comforter).

But you see all that we have said thus far brings up another very important point: the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) is not an option. He is an absolute necessity in being able to complete the plan that God has put us here to do. Because now that Jesus has gone back to Heaven to construct all those mansions, it’s only through this pathway of the spirit world that God can be with us and communicate to us what He would have us to do next. And it’s only what we do in this lifetime for Him that can be considered the fruits of our lives... and we can only produce these fruits after having received the needed nutrients from the vine... and this vine is no longer the body of Jesus but His Spirit (the Holy Spirit, the Comforter).

And after becoming a part of the vine, through accepting Jesus Christ as Lord (becoming a Christian), we fail to produce the required fruits, then it is very evident from the Scripture that we will no longer be fed the required nutrients to produce the fruit. If we don’t do what God has given us the ability to do through the Holy Spirit (the Comforter) we will be separated from the vine and we will no longer be able to produce fruit even if we want to. And it’s at this point in time that we become all dried up and worthless so that God the Father has no other choice but to burn us up... forever.

Now you can believe whatever you want to believe but what we have just read is a very scary thought to me. Not even considering those lost and dying in the cult religions of this world (such as Christian Science), my question is what about the honest to goodness "real" Christians? What about those who believe Jesus is God but who don’t love Him enough to take the time and effort to seek the leading of the Holy Spirit... and then obey what He says. What about them?

The Scripture says they will be burned as trash, and we should all know by now what this trash dump is called. Hell is not only for those who don’t believe but also for those who don’t obey!!!

End of sermon.

This has been a tough one but all of you had better pray long and hard about it. Heaven is a beautiful place but we can only get there by keeping the faith!!!

Love,

Dad (Bruce Hallman)