General Conference highlighted some of the problems that are common to our time which many new members bring with them into the B'rit Chadashah (New Covenant). These include the pernicious spirit of self-entitlement which is rampant in liberal socialist democracies. This takes many forms and is a subtle twist on the New Covenant Torah doctrine that every man is responsible to help others, as moved or commanded by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), as opposed to the spirit of socialism which views help as an entitlement and forces robs others to finance government programs. This false spirit manifests itself as an expectation or demand that fellow-believers assist them and is a fruit of the deadly sin of pride. It is the reason that there are so many immature and spiritually undeveloped people in the world as well as in the Body of Messiah (Christ). It is why the vast body of believers in the world has progressed no farther than the spirit of the spring festivals. This was something that our Nigerian brother and visitor was at pains to point out, coming as he does from a poor third world country where self-reliance is a matter of survival. In the matter of financing, as he correctly pointed out to the Conference, tithes are ultimatelly for the people themselves so that they can cooperatively be fed, and feed visitors; they are paid to the host minister not for the minister's self-aggrandisement but so the minister and any committee responsible for the feasts can administer any Festival Tithing Fund set up for the purpose. Festivals are expensive to run, as any host knows, and it is all too common that the false spirit of self-entitlement steers those not walking properly in the Derech (Way) to absolve themselves of their Torah responsibilities and to 'expect' the host to meet all their needs while making only a partial or token contribution or no contribution at all. Finally, if a delegate chooses to invite a non-member on his own initiative, without asking for the approval of the host or committe who is expected to feed and house him, it is the responsibility of the delegate to finance the non-member guest.

This was one of the reasons Yahweh only sent a small cloud of glory to the Conference assembly, forcing those who desired the Sukkot annointing to humble themselves and comply with His mitzvot (commandments). It is one of the reasons why the proposed priesthood ordinations were rejected and is one of the reasons why Shavu'ot (Weeks) covenants will be rejected also next year if there is not a proper repentance by then. This is why I was led, under the spirit of prophecy during Sukkot (Tabernacles), to declare that not only was their no Sukkot anointing for the assembly as a whole but that we were not even currently under the Shavu'ot anointing! As a people here in Europe, at least, and quite possibly elsewhere too, we are no further down the road than many evangelical churches in spite of all our knowledge. We are nobody special. In spirit, we are still a part of the unsifted and unsorted muddy mix until we get such matters resolved.

C.S.Lewis wrote that all who are in hell choose it because hell allows you to retain your pride. The floor-level cloud that appeared this Sukkot required that as a collective people, all stoop down and humble themselves. We did not and that is why we are certainly no better than your average Baptist or Pentecostal congregation who may, in many cases, though they be antinomian, be more humble and anointed than us. The consequences of this failure, in view of the imminent collapse and threat or Word War III, Ebola, tsunamis, and any number of calamities you can think of that currently threaten our world, is that as a people we will not be able to stand. Then it will be up to every individual and family to stand on their own spiritual merits and justification. Those who seek shelter with such individuals and people will be prevented from doing so by the Ruach (Spirit) and by malakim (angels), as shown to us in a prophetic dream not so long ago. The tribulation that is spreading will be a great sifter and spur to repentance or to that fateful choice: final, open defiance of the Creator.

If I may give one more illustration of the kind of false spirit that still pervades many of our people that will be bitterly regretted when calamity strikes, one person told me that he did not feel the need to make any sort of effort to make physical preparations because Yahweh would provide for him on account of his emunah (faith, trusting). This, however, is an example not of biblical emunah (biblical faith) but of passive faith - the faith demanded of true talmidim (disciples) of Yahweh is always active faith - emunah.

Think about it logically. Let us say that everyone took this position, made no preparations even though the nevi'im (prophets) have warned them, and then - when calamity strikes - expect to be led to someone who will shelter, feed and protect them. But how is that possible if no one has made any preparations? This is the false spirit of self-entitement that plagues European, American and other Western (for now) First-Worlders. They expect the state to provide for them with welfare. But as we know, if we have learned the lessons of recent examples in the USA, the government will not provide because it cannot. The government will be impotent and every man will be looking after 'No.1'. Many Christians and Messianics are infected by this false spirit believing that it is the obligation of other believers to take care of them. It is not. It is the obligation and responsibility of believers to do what they can, as led by the Ruach (Spirit), but it is not the 'right' of believers to expect other believers to take care of their needs when they refuse to do the same for themselves or for others. Yahweh will not reward such an attitude, quite the contrary. That is, in a word, gambling. What will they do when other believers (let along unbelievers) come to them in the same spirit of self-entitlement expecting to be taken care of? This is what Yah'shua (Jesus) was talking about in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt.25:1ff.). Those who do not prepare as they ought are locked out. And so it will be with those who who refuse to exercise active Torah-emunah (faith). Even many antinomians (those who reject Torah) understand this principle! [5]

This is not an easy lesson for those who have been cradled and rendered impotent by liberal socialism but it has to be learned. The question is: will you learn the easy way (by being obedient) or the hard way (by being rebellious)? Are you willing to gamble your life and the life of family members? What will you do when you find millions of others who are destitute and without food and home, just like yourself, because you made no preparations? What will you do when believers turn you away because they cannot feed you because their families would otherwise starve? Will you rage at them for being bad or selfish Christians or will you accept personal responsibility for having been a foolish virgin? Many are going to perish, and already are, but for some reason we have fooled ourselves into believing that that even though it is happening 'there' that it cannot possibly happen 'here'. It's already happening here and it's going to get worse.

This Conference was, I hope, a wake-up call. There is still a very little time left but not very much. This could be my last warning, so consider it soberly. If you think that food is going to appear out of nowhere, or that you can persuade or guilt other believers who have made teshuvah (repented) and have made sacrifices (often big ones) and have worked hard in obedience, when you have not because you expected as your 'right' to be taken care of, then you are living in cloud cuckooland, and your teshuvah (repentance) at the last minute will not be accepted by Elohim (God). How many others like yourself will be expecting manna to rain out of heaven? Unless Yahweh has told you that he will do this, in a very concrete revelation, you are presumptuously foolish to think so. "REPENT OR PERISH!" (Lk.13:5)

Much of use was accomplished at Conference this Sukkot, much fellowship enjoyed and much new scriptural knowledge gained both in the seminars and in informal discussions. We are grateful for the contribution that everyone made, and especially for those who worked so hard, often to the point of complete exhaustion, in providing meals and refreshments many times during each day and getting the guest house ready beforehand. We are also grateful for those who pitched in and lent a hand and especially to the brethren who worked on guest house repairs. We are learning to be Yahweh's messianic community little by little, we have a lot more to learn, and there is much more making teshuvah (repenting) do. But there is a very real tiqveh (hope) that the long awaited day has arrived as our mission starts to unfold slowly but surely. Our love, blessings and prayers go out to those of you who live far away that you may be blessed with much fruitfulness as complete people, in all spheres of life - spiritual, mental, emotional and physical, in Yah'shua's (Jesus') Name. Amen.

Endnotes

[1] NCAY has three formal annual conferences at the mandatory 'Pilgrim Festivals' of Pesach (Passover), Shavu'ot (Weeks) and Sukkot (Tabernacles) whose primary function is the celebration of the Feasts of Yahweh. Because of the dispersion of the members opportunity is taken to transact assembly business at these times, with Pesach (Passover) being used to conduct baptisms, Shavu'ot (Weeks) Confirmations or Bar/bat Mitzvahs), and Sukkot (Tabernacles) used for Priesthood Weighings (for those unable to be weighed between Yom Teruah (Trumpets) and Yom haBikkurim (Atonements) in areas where NCAY is not organised) and ordinations. The main Annual General Conference is held at Sukkot (Tabernacles) to discuss and make any modifications to the Constitution, discuss theology, worship and for fellowship. Pesach is also used to deal with issues that cannot await Sukkot and is the second major international assembly of NCAY. Shavu'ot, because it is so short, is mostly a time of fellowship only and the hearing of the Davar Elohim (Word of God) from the nevi'im (prophets) for the international assembly as a whole.

[2] Formerly the New Covenant Church of God (NCCG)-B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh (NCAY) - the decision was made to combine the English and Hebrew names together to ensure a uniform name throughout the world. Additionally, 'Assembly' was changed to 'Assemblies to emphasise decentralisation and the local autonomy of congregations in accordance with Romans 16:16 ("assemblies of Messiah/churches of Christ") and 1 Corinthians 1:16 ("assemblies of Elohim/churches of God").

[3] The central assembly of NCAY located in Sweden, seat of the Presiding Patriarchate and Chavurot Bekorot, the earthly equivalent of the "General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn" (Heb.12:23, KJV) who are "the spirits of the just who are perfected" (v.23b, AENT), that is to say, those of the "gathering [of the exiles of Messianic Israel] and congregation of the bachorim [of the first resurrection]" (RSTNE) who are in the process of being perfected according to the mitzvah (commandment) (Mt.5:48). That these are Torah-obedient Israel, and those Torah-obedient Israelites who are trusting in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) for their salvation, is affirmed in the Tanakh (Old Testament) where it is written, "Israel is My son, even My bachor (firstborn)" (Ex.4:22-23, RSTNE, OJB). It is the Presiding Patriarchate and the Apostolate of the Charurat Bekorot, as it is called and endowed, which issues all [Melchizedek] Priesthood Licences, supervises the proper execution of the moedim (appointments), presides over and guards the Constitution and authorises the official organisation of branches and missions applying to use the NCAY title around the world and therefore that they abide by the Constitition.

[4] This does not affect the East Africa Mission (EAM) which still has probationary status and, as far as ministerial offices are concerned, continues to function on the local converging structures that were already in place when application was made to be a part of us. Upon an inspection of the EAM after the three year probation period expires in November 2016, and provided the requirements for full membership have been met, the presiding Elder in that region would be required to be rebaptised, enter Shavu'ot covenants and be ordained by one in authority from MLT to the offices of Deacon and Elder, and then be set apart as a Bishop over what would then become the East Africa Apostolic Region, having authority to perform all the necessary ordinances to set apart Melchizedek cohenim (priests and priestesses), in accordance with the statutes of the Constitution, and after proper consulation with any future apostle for the region, to the various offices of the Priesthood and to properly organise missions and branches in his area of stewardship by rebaptising the entire membership and causing such to enter such covenants as are required pertaining to their offices as well as setting Deacons, Deaconess, Elders and Eldresses apart for service in the Kingdom, thus confirming the entire area to the proper Kingdom Order.

[5] See, for example, Phil Robertson, unPHILtered: The Way I See It (Howard Books, New York: 2014), chapter 8, Entitlements (pp.99-115)