I'm a Pilgrim and a Stranger I Peter 2:11   Hebrews 11:13

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek an country." (Hebrews 11:14-15)

"For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:10)

"But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.: (Hebrews 11:16)

We are not mindful of the country from which we came. If we were mindful of that country, perhaps we would return to it, but we cannot go back. We have opened our mouth to the Lord, and it is too late to turn around now. There is a motto of the brethren which says: "Go forward". So, we cannot go backwards. We have already crossed over the Red Sea, and now are about to cross over to the other side of Jordan on our way to that country which John saw coming down out of heaven. In that country, God shall wipe all tears away from their eyes.

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2)

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

There will not be anyone lame in that country. You will not need any kind of devices for physical assistance. Nobody will be limping in that city. Nobody will have tears in their eyes, and neither shall there be any more dying. We will not need any kind of light, for Jesus Christ Himself will be the light of that city. Therefore, being a pilgrim and a stranger, we cannot stay with you.

"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:5)

Time passes in such a fraction with us; it goes so fast, and the it goes so slow. We feel in one way that we were just born again, for God has indeed renewed our strength. However, we were born thousands of years ago and thousands of years before that, for the one who lives in us and gives us strength is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, and the ending. (See Revelation 1:8) Jesus Christ has given us the assurance that He would be with is and in us like a well of living water. (See John 4:14) If we drink of the water which God has for us, we sill never thirst.

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

Who are we, you may ask, or where are we going? We are a pilgrim and a stranger traveling through this barren land. We are on a mission for the Lord and in His service.

If you are a partaker of Christ's death and have been baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues as the spirit of God gives utterance, then we will visit you when we are in your area. We will bring glad tidings and say, "Praise the Lord". We will talk about the goodness of God and His healing power. If you are earnestly contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints according to the scriptures, you will be able to tell us that God is a healer. We can call on the name of the Lord in the time of trouble and He will deliver us. For we have cried unto the Lord in the time of trouble and the Lord delivered him.

"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." (Psalms 34:6)

We are here because there is strength and power among the people of God. We heard that God was laying in Zion as a tried stone, a chief cornerstone.

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:…" (See I Peter 2:6)

The people of God are a praying people, and we believe in the Lord. We have this testimony—"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." (Job 13:15)

"If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." (Job 14:14) We are going to wait until our change comes. When we are with the people of God, we believe we are welcome because God's people will call on His name in the time of trouble.

We have found some old travelers along the way who have been traveling for many years. But they are still here.

Sometimes we meet false prophets on our journey who say that there are three persons in the Godhead, and we have to stop for a few minutes and tell them that the same Jesus who was crucified, was both Lord and God. (See Acts 2:36) He was father in creation, son in redemption, and is now Holy Ghost in The Church. (See Colossians 1:16, John 1:10, John 3:16, Hebrews 9:14 & 15, acts 2:4, John 14:16 and John 16:7)

The people of God are the kind of people with whom we would like to be. They are holy people, and have been with the Lord. Indeed, we could spend eternity with you, but we are just a pilgrim and a stranger. There are many other places to which we must go. Someone wants to call on the name of the Lord with us and praise God with us in other places in the world, for God has many people in the earth.

"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in the tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:" (Hebrews 11:8 &: 9)

Perhaps we may go to Corinth or to Ephesus, but who knows, for our course is charted by the Spirit. And when the Holy Ghost says go, we must go.

We are just a pilgrim and a stranger, and the only map we have is the Word of God. It goes from Genesis to Revelation. If we meet someone in our travel, we will ask them: "…Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? …Unto what then were ye baptized? (See Acts 19:2 & 3) We will say that The Comforter has come. We will let everyone know what the Prophet, John said about Him, that "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30) John also testified that the people should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (See Acts 19:4) He also told them about their baptism, and Peter left on record the baptism for this time.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38)

If you live right, you might meet our Brother Paul one day and see him face to face. If you do not know him, ask us and we will introduce him to you, because we have to give and account for all of you who are now in our day. It is required of us to give an account for all of you since the calendar year of 1961, around the Eighth or Ninth month. While our Brother Paul is giving an account for his disciples, we will sat, Lord, these are ours. These are our jewels, the ones who came in the latter day of The Church, the ones who came through the troubled times, just before tribulation, the ones who came by faith. We will say to the Lord that our disciples did not have the advantage of seeing Him in person, neither did they have the advantage of eating and drinking with Him. Bit, we served them your broken body and your blood and told them to take, eat: This is the body and the blood of Jesus Christ. We told them to walk in the strength thereof. (See Corinthians 11:24)

"as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lords death till he come." (I Corinthians 11:26) For our jewels are witnesses in the earth for the Lord till He comes to take you away.

For those of you who have not been baptized in water and received the gift of the Holy Ghost according to Acts 2:38 and Acts 2:4, you must obey this pilgrim and stranger and do so. On the day of Pentecost, the people were gathered from many nations under the sun—Pamphylia, Capadocia, Parthians, Elamites, Arabians, and others—and they heard them speak in the language in which they were born. (See Acts 2:7-11) Then the question was asked: "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:8) There were some scoffers and critics around who replied "..These men are full of new wine." (See Acts 2:13) But should some receive the Holy Ghost in this Church, we shall say: "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose.." (See Acts 2:15)

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And only servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" (Acts 2:16:18)

If we meet any women preachers along the way, we will say to them as the scripture says: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." (I Timothy 2:12)

If we meet any young men, we are going to ask them if they have been seeing any visions, not hallucinations. We will ask the old men if they have been dreaming dreams—not filthy dreams, because the Bible speaks against filthy dreamers.

"Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. (Jude 8) We are talking about the dreams of the day when you will not have to suffer the maladies of old age, for you will neither hunger nor thirst. We are talking about the dreams of a better time and a better place. In that place there is a tree that has leaves for the healing of all nations. (See Revelation 22:2)

We do not want any encumbrances, because we must lay aside every weight, for we are just a pilgrim.

It is needful for us to go away, although we would love to be with you forever. But, we are just a pilgrim and a stranger. It is needful that we do not tarry because we have other tasks to do. We must have strength to turn the battle to the gate.

The souls of men are dying everywhere, and they are calling out to us saying, "come to our country." We must go to various parts of the world and bring the truth of the Word of God, even to those at Rome.

Since we are a pilgrim and a stranger, it is our destiny to go through the world for better or worse, in sickness and in health, and for richer or poorer.

Even Jesus could not finish His message, for He sent messages to His disciples admonishing them what to do. He told His disciples, Paul and Silas, to abstain from pollution, from fornication, things strangled, and from blood. (See Acts 15:20, 28 & 29) When He sent His message to Timothy, He gave him the instructions of how the women should dress—adorning themselves in modest apparel. Sarah was used for an example for the women. The women were to be sober and shamefaced. (See I Timothy 2:9 and I Peter 3:6)

A message was given to: "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:" (Colossians 2:16)

Because we are a pilgrim and a stranger, we cannot show favoritism, not even to those who assist us, for we must preach the Word of God to them also. If we cater to your ways, you will become spoiled and backslide, but we want to see you again. Stay low and God can use you, because He resisteth the proud. (See James 4:6) The brother of low degree can rejoice, because he will be exalted. (See James 1:9)

"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you." (II Corinthians 13:11)

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord preserve your strength and teach you how to work together one with the other. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Ephesians 6:10) In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty.

For we are a pilgrim and a stranger just passing through on our journey up the King's highway. 

Amen.