“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb 13:8)

Circular Letter August 1989

I greet you very warmly in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ with the Scripture from 1 Peter 3:8: “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous...”

This Scripture tells us what we should be like, but in reality we can be such only if God helps us and we receive from Him what is expressed in these characteristics. God has to give us whatever is required of us, be it like-mindedness, compassion or brotherly love. Only who has experienced mercy can be merciful. In principle, whatever God requires of us must be effected by Him alone in us by His grace.

This also applies to ministries in the church as well as the gifts and fruits of the Spirit. Peter admonishes those who participate in a ministry: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.“ (1 Peter 4:10). Again, it is emphasised that “it was received”. We can only have the stewardship of something, if it was actually given and entrusted to us.

The main point of Peter’s statement is in the following verse: “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

The effect of every ministry coming from God is that God is praised. The words that we should put forth as the oracles of God only mean what came from the mouth of God as the original Word, i.e. THUS SAITH THE LORD. From the very beginning, God spoke, gave commandments, promises, the Law etc. His Word came unto His prophets and apostles. It is our task to share the same Word in the original form.

All that God wanted to tell us is found in the Holy Scriptures. Everything has already been written - whether concerning our salvation, our life or our conduct. We only need to say what He said and do what He commanded. Whoever refers to the Word must say what the Word says and teach what the Word teachers. When a believer speaks and refers to a biblical topic, his statements must be the Word of God i.e. God’s statements as they are already written in His Word. God will not say anything different from what He has already said or judge differently from what He has already judged in His Word.

The apostle Paul wrote to a fellow worker: “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it...” (Colossians 4:17). A ministry can only be carried out correctly when the Lord gives an instruction to His servant and tells him what to do.

We who preach the Word in this time have to pay special attention to this admonition. What matters is not that something is done or preached, but that what we do and preach has to be done according to the Word and the will of God.

When I think of the heartfelt connection the Lord gave me to His Word, it fills me with deep thankfulness and godliness. He let us know His will in such a miraculous manner. No prophet or apostle had to make any correction. What they preached and wrote came from the mouth of God. Word by word they shared His statements. We also have to do the same.

When Paul writes about the mysteries that were first hidden and then revealed, it has nothing to do with “secretiveness”. The mysteries that were revealed were exposed in a clear and comprehensive way. So it happened in our days, too.

As far as the natural realm is concerned, even the greatest men of God were human beings. Even the prophets to whom the Word came and who were called “gods” by our Lord were to die like humans (Psalm 82, John 10) because they lived their natural lives like all other people. What was infallible was the Godly in them i.e. the living Word of God they received by which they became partakers of the nature of God through the work of the Holy Spirit. Their human bodies were just vessels, the content in it was of God’s origin. As humans they were fallible, but the Word they received from God and shared with us is infallible.

On the other hand, pharisees and scribes seemed to be just the contrary. They made every effort to present themselves as infallible before other people. They publicly presented themselves as faultless, but spiritually they were not only fallible, but our Lord even called them the blind leaders of the blind. Outwardly they knew everything and kept it to the letter. Yet inside, they were spiritually dead and only had a form of godliness.

Also today, there are still these two forms because things have not in fact changed. Solomon said: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecc 1:9) The best is when both the inner part and the outward part agree with the Word.

What matters as far as preaching is concerned is to alway say only what really came from the mouth of God and leave it in the context in which it was said and written, because that is important. That’s the only way to prevent wrong developments due to incorrect interpretations.

This also applies to the Lord’s statement: “For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” (Mat 24:28). It must remain in the context in which it was said i.e in connection with His return. In the preceding verses the Lord warns us that there will be a time when it will be said “Lo, here is Christ” or “There He is”. Here He referred to those false Christs and false prophets that would arise, making His return spiritual, and would show great signs and wonders “insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (verse 24). Finally, He comes to the most important point i.e. His return. Even if somebody says that He is in the desert or in the secret chambers, we do not have to believe it or go there, because when He returns, He will not descend down to the Earth, but we shall meet Him in the air. “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.” (verses 27-28).

It is not so important where there are eagles in one translation or vultures in the other. In all of them there is “wheresoever the carcase is...” Neither did He declare that He or His Word was a carcase nor did He mark His own as vultures or eagles. He used a completely natural example so that everyone, even those who were illiterate, could understand it. When the Lord returns, we will be taken up to Him in the twinkling of an eye and will be with Him forever. The purpose of this statement is to show that the Lord will not appear somewhere on the Earth, but the elect will be gathered to Him upon His return. No interpretation is needed for this statement at all as its meaning is evident from the context.

There are parables where the meaning is not immediately obvious. But it is not the case here. God did not call me to interpret but He ordained me to preach His Word to His people. It is always important to say what the Scripture says and to believe what is written in it.

In the Holy Scriptures we have the truth fully revealed to us; one Scripture complements the other so that the bright light of the revealed Word shines in its entirety.

In this period of time, we are completely acquainted with God’s plan of salvation. All the loose ends, as brother Branham said, were wound up in his ministry. Thanks to God for it.

We must be able to expect from a true servant of God that he will only preach the Word coming from the mouth of God because only then his words will be the oracles of God. It will then be fulfilled: “He that heareth you heareth me...” (Lk 10:16) and “if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (Jn 15:20b). Because our word is His Word and His Word is our word; His gospel is our gospel. Paul often speaks about the gospel of God and Jesus Christ and calls it his gospel: “according to my gospel” (2Tm 2:18).

Trip Report

My missionary journeys in June and July were of high importance for believers in various countries of Asia and Africa. In June in the Philippines I experienced how the Lord changed the matters for good, led brethren who were separated together and gathered brothers and sisters for common meetings.

My next stop in Australia was blessed, too. Brothers and sisters rejoiced a lot, especially bro. Frangos who many of you know. God used him in a mighty way.

The meetings in Cameroon, Zaire, Zambia, Malawi and Kenya in July had the highest attendance. I had not been to Cameroon for about five years so the joy of the believers was even greater now. Brother Kobba works well together with all brethren from French and English-speaking regions of the country and believers gathered from near and far to hear the Word. The ministering brethren expressed a wish that some questions they had should be answered and it happened with God’s help in an absolutely miraculous way so that all were helped.

In Zaire I was overwhelmed to see thousands come to the meetings and also the spiritual hunger in them. Dr. Tchyombo, legal representative, did a great job: the “People’s Hall” in Kinshasa was filled with 3,500 people long before the start of the meeting. When I arrived there and saw so many people outside, I thought that the hall had not been opened yet, but in fact it had been closed in the meantime. There were really thousands hearing the Word inside or outside through loudspeakers.

The City Hall in Lubumbashi, Zaire, was also overfilled. Many had to stand in the entrance area. In Kolwezi I could not believe my eyes seeing the great multitude of people in front of me. Also here, many had to stay outside the hall. Our beloved brother, Dr. Mbiye, also did a good job.

Even though the meetings in Zambia and Malawi were only attended by a few hundreds at several places, these meetings were of great importance in themselves, for brethren there as well as for the work of God.

My last stop was in Nairobi, Kenya, where Bishop Kitonga invited me to speak in his church. There were several thousands in attendance, too. The next evening I spoke to 50 invited guests in a meeting organised by the Full Gospel Business Men. The acting prime minister, who had just met with Arap Moi, Kenya’s President, was among the guests of honor.

If I am not mistaken, with God’s help we will have a great field campaign for the truth in the near future. Sincerity, selflessness and faithfulness to God will eventually pay off. Brethren who had been bought by US dollars to be in opposition against me repeatedly came and asked for forgiveness. True friendship cannot be bought for money, but it is produced by the Holy Spirit.

Many thanks should be given to our brother Alexis Barilier for the great success in French-speaking countries of Africa. By caring for them regularly a lot of questions were answered and brethren were kept up-to-date as far as doctrine is concerned. Together we thank the Lord for all the brethren in all countries who do their best to support God’s cause. Our brothers Joseph Di Prossimo and Joseph Baranowski from Belgium are also among them, who sacrificed one month of their time and ministered the Word in various African countries.

During these three weeks in July more than 20,000 people heard the Word of God. I am filled with gratitude when I think of the fruit, the countless thousands of the precious souls worldwide that were saved and led to the truth. Satan, the murderer of souls, wanted to deal a deadly blow to this ministry in 1979, but thanks be to God Who carried me over it. It is true forever that Jesus is the victor and so we are with Him. He overcame and we shall overcome with Him. I understand that I could do nothing on my own. The Lord took care to ensure that the preaching of the Word entrusted to me was received with utmost respect also by believers in different religions and brothers and sisters coming from various denominations.

Many thousands in all the world thank the Lord for having sent me to them. He has carried me through all the trials. I praise His grace. It was Him who sustained me because of God’s commission and ministry. With full conviction I say together with the psalmist: “Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.” (Ps 94:17) There is no one on the Earth as aware as I am of what the Lord meant when He said: “Without me you can do nothing.”

To all of you who remember me and this ministry in your prayers, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart and I wish you God’s rich blessings.

In God’s commission

Brother Frank