Letter From Bishop Couch: Doing More in ’24!

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The New Year is a good time to reflect back and also to look ahead. Looking back, we thank God for His blessing and provision both naturally and spiritually. We consider every victory or failure and learn from the same. The clear teaching in this verse has to do with looking ahead and seeing the day approaching. The coming of the great day of the Lord, that begins with His glorious appearing, ushers in the millennium, and ends with the Great reckoning day of the world, when, as Paul states in Romans 2:16 …when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. And then, in finale, 2 Peter 3:13…we according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Yet, the scripture teaches that we are not only to look ahead, but in 2 Peter 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God… So how do we accomplish hasting unto the day? By doing so much more!

SO MUCH MORE IN 2024!

When the heat is on; faith is tried; time is short; His coming is near; and the Great reckoning day of the world is looming! The text we’ve read certainly approves no back up, allows no slack, no letup, no let down, or trimming back. It favors not less, but rather, it admonishes “so much the more.” Remain alert! Stay faithful! Be consistent! Continue the course! This will be hard for cold, indifferent, and distracted Apostolics. It is not time to call time out nor to be negotiating time off, while seeking the temporal and ignoring the eternal. But alas, taking leave of duty and going AWOL is epidemic.

God has promised, though much is going wrong in our world, He is with us alway! Our Mighty God is not dead nor even sick. He’s not tired (except of sin and compromise) and He’s not sleeping. Psalms 121:3…he that keepeth thee will not slumber… God is alert to the hour and wants us to be. Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

God is bigger and greater than the problems and headaches of the 21^st century. His promises have not failed, His Word has not changed, His power is not diminished, His commission has not expired, and Heaven is not depleted of its resources. Why then do we hear of so much slacking off, backing down, giving in, and not what the Lord is saying to us in these days. “SO MUCH MORE!” What’s the excuse going to be? Let us be determined to accomplish…

SO MUCH MORE CHURCH!

Church must be first and foremost. We will not be distracted, but gather consistently in His name, and for His praise and glory!

2. SO MUCH MORE DOCTRINE

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Preaching of the Word can not be sugar coated sermonettes for christianettes, catering to the crowd, scratching ears, that soothe and satisfy carnal appetites. Instead of a sermon on anxiety – atonement, authority, and accountability; faith, faithfulness, and fruitfulness; regeneration, righteousness, and revelation; purity, power, and principle; Coming from true Bible doctrine and scriptural mandates, thundering declarations from the Word of God.

Exhorting one another to LEARN, LIVE, and LOVE His Word so much more!

3. SO MUCH MORE OBEDIENCE

2 Corinthians 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Obedience like truth has fallen from favor even among professed Apostolics. Self will and self gratification is the trend of the day. Truth is given a nod on Sunday and then forsaken all week long. Instead of asking, what does God say (truth), and then yielding (by faith) to do what He says (obedience), there’s an open emphasis on me and my will, instead of, “Your will be done!” True Apostolic, Bible loving, saints of God will find out what authority is and yield to it. You cannot do anything for God or in any way please Him without obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…

Romans 6:16-18 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Obey so much more in 2024!

4. SO MUCH MORE SACRIFICE

Holy living and faithful giving of self, substance, time, and ability!

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

The Church was built on sacrifice. The sacrifice of our great God and savior on Calvary. His great expression of love for the world. Our sacrifice to Him is a barometer of our love and faith. The best investment we will ever make is in the Kingdom of God!

Sacrifice so much the more in 2024!

5. SO MUCH MORE PRAYER

Pray and not faint; Pray without ceasing; Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Praying right is so important. People often don’t pray because they don’t have faith in a God who answers prayer. Getting definite answers to prayer ought not be unusual. It should be the norm, the standard in our daily walk with God. Prayers few and far between get little response from God but when we pray as the widow woman petitioned the unjust judge in Luke 18, praying definite prayers, will bring definite answers!

Pray about everything! Large or small! Worry about nothing! Stop fidgeting and start praying. Cease fretting and start praying! Quit fault finding and start praying. End doubting and pouting and start praying. When the devil says you aren’t good at it, do it anyway! When it seems God’s not listening, do it anyway! When you didn’t see immediate response, do it anyway! You may be criticized just do it anyway!

Pray with understanding and pray in the Holy Ghost. Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost

Pray so much more in 2024!

6. SO MUCH MORE FAITH

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Not faith in self, as so promoted in our world, but faith in Him. How do we conquer great issues of our time, face a hostile world, and make things right when so much about us goes wrong? “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH”

We are saved by faith, we walk by faith, we live by faith, and we fight a fight of faith!

Don’t whine, don’t grumble, don’t complain, don’t lament you situation. Faith it!!!

So much more faith in 2024!

7. SO MUCH MORE POWER

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both n Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Romans 8:37 …in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

God has put us in the fight and given us the power to win the fight!

So much more power in 2024!

To sum it all up, 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Let all of us, as a part of AIM and God’s great kingdom, declare that we are not interested in cutting a deal with the Devil or compromising. We will stand, though Hell assails, though the enemy rages, though critics condemn, and we commit to roll up our sleeves and to do SO MUCH MORE IN 2024!