Vol. 37, No. 12 December, 2013

HE SHALL BE GREAT
“He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest,..” (Lk. 1:32).

From all of us here at the WILDERNESS we wish for you and yours a most Glorious Christmas Season, and we hope God’s Best for you for the New Year just ahead.

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HE SHALL BE GREAT! As I started studying for my Christmas message for the WILDERNESS I was looking for some great, profound truth, you know, something that no one has ever thought of before. Then I remembered that the most profound is usually the most simple. The Christmas story is profoundly simple, so let us keep it that way. At the birth of Christ the angel did not go to the wise, to the grand, to the learned, He went to the simple herdsmen who were tending sheep and said, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.” (Lk 2:11-12. He did not say you will find Him in a palace, or in a mansion, but you will find Him in a lowly manger. There was nothing that the world would call GREAT there at His birth, so long ago. But at the promise of His birth, the angel said unto Mary, “HE SHALL BE GREAT.” Let me share with you some of the Christmas story and some of it’s Greatness. “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent forth from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.” (Lk 1:26-27). “Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call His Name Jesus. HE SHALL BE GREAT.” (Lk 1:30-32). That’s the truth of this message….. HE SHALL BE GREAT! How does God measure greatness? Certainly not in the same fashion that man measures greatness. In these days greatness is attributed to men and women whose morals are questionable, to say the least, those whose contributions to society and whose contributions should never be termed as being great. I have in mind the Hollywood “stars” the Rock “stars,” or the sports “stars.” We have “halls of fame” for some of these. Man has his way of measuring greatness, but how does God do it? What could possibly be great about this Child born in a stable, and wrapped in torn rags. What made Him great? What could possibly come from such a lowly place as a stable? How will He be great?…

HE WILL BE SINLESS.
Now you cannot get any greater than that. In a world that is captured by sin. When it is popular to see who can out-sin the next one, who can out-show, or out-bad everyone else, when the great example of purity is needed, HE WILL BE SINLESS! “That Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” “HOLY” meaning SINLESS.

HIS BIRTH WAS SINLESS.
The Bible (KLB) says “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his Name Immanuel.” (Isa. 7:14). And in our text today, the angel went to a virgin whose name was Mary. The absolute MUST of Christmas is the Virgin Birth as prophesied by God. I am aware that those of us who believe in the Inspired, Preserved Word of God as given in the King James Bible are becoming a minority, but every one of these new ‘versions’ on the market, in some way, sometimes very bold, and sometimes very subtle attack the virgin birth of Christ. Some versions replace the word ‘virgin’ with ‘young woman’ These are not the same. Young women give birth every day, but a virgin? Yes! One time, a virgin gave birth to “That Holy Thing.” His birth was Sinless, Pure, and Holy.

HIS BODY WAS SINLESS.
He had a body, like we have a body, but He had a Sinless Body. There was nothing in Him that could sin. There was no place of weakness, no place where Satan could find a point of temptation. “Wherefore when He entered into the world, He saith, sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not but a Body thou hast prepared for me.”(Heb. 10:5). That Body knew no sin. He was made sin for us, but in Him was no sin. “For such a High Priest became us, who is HOLY, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” (Heb. 7:26). His Body housed a nature that could not sin. Everything about Him was sinless in order to “Fulfill all righteousness.”
I believe that there is one more very important thing that I must mention here…

HIS BLOOD WAS SINLESS.
I am aware that there are some today who teach and preach the error that His blood was just human blood, and as one radio preacher says, “There is no efficacy in His blood.” This error is false doctrine. We are warned in the Bible not to count the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing, (Heb 10:29). Jesus’ blood was not common, was not sinful. His blood is “Precious blood, incorruptible blood, Holy blood.” “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood He entered once into the holy place having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb. 9:12). And, we are to”Feed the Church of God which He hath purchased with His own blood.” (Acts 20:28. Our salvation is not just in His dying, our salvation is in His Blood, His sinless blood!.

HE WILL BE SAVIOUR.
“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Mt 1:21). “Jesus” means “Saviour,” one and only one Saviour. He is not A Saviour, He is not one among many, He is THE SAVIOUR. The Bible (KJB) is very clear. “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby ye must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). He is above all others. Some claim Allah, or Mohammed, or Buddha, or Confucius, or one of thousands of other ‘gods’ but Christ alone is SAVIOUR. He is “The Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” He alone is SAVIOUR!

HE WILL BE SUBSTITUTE.
Not A substitute as one of several. He is THE substitute for sin, or, the One upon whom all sin was laid, and He became our sin-bearer. “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isa 53:4-6). “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2Cor. 5:21). “Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” (1Tim 2:6). ALL of the sin of ALL the world was placed upon the Sinless Christ on the cross, and He, by His finished work there paid our debt. He is our Substitute. As He died on a cross that had been prepared for a man by the name of Barabbas, (Mt. 27:16-26) He took our place, died our death, that we might live eternally. HALLELEUJAH! What a SAVIOUR!
How else will He be Great? Is that not enough?

HE WILL BE A SIGN.
“And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary, His mother, behold, this child is set forth for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for A SIGN which shall be spoken against.” (Lk. 2:34). All history points to this SIGN. Today many watch and scan the heavens and look and listen for some sign from out there. “Why doesn’t someone out there say something?” They cry. Somebody has said something. There are three signs along the human pathway….

HIS BIRTH WAS A SIGN.
“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a SIGN, behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son..” (Isa. 7:14). When the Messenger of God proclaims that a virgin has given birth to a Child, THAT IS A SIGN! Someone out there has said something! “And this shall be a SIGN unto you, ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

HIS DEATH WAS A SIGN.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary His mother, behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel and for a SIGN which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also that the thought of many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk. 2:34-35).
This prophecy given to Mary was fulfilled at the Cross as she watched helplessly as her son was crucified by a murdering mob. The SIGN OF THE CROSS still stands in the pathway of humanity. Someone out there has spoken.

HIS RESURRECTION WAS A SIGN.
The Pharisees asked Him for a sign, after many signs had already been given. “Master we would see a sign from thee. But He answered and said unto them, an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall be no sign given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Mt. 12:38-40). From that passage it is very clear that the Resurrection of Christ was a clear SIGN to this world. As I have stated, there are three SIGNS along life’s pathway, one sign points to the next. Make sure that you are in line with these THREE SIGNS; The BIRTH, the DEATH, and the RESURRECTION of Christ.
And among so many things, there are still some other ways in which He shall be great…

HE WILL BE SOVERIGN.
He will ever reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords. “He shall be Great and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David. And He shall reign….” (Lk. 1:32-33). His Name Immanuel means “God with us.” The Sovereign King of the universe came down at Christmas

HE WAS BORN A KING.
Born in the line of David as prophesied. “Where is He that is born KING of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him.” (Mt. 2:2). More than just another baby was born that night so many years ago

HE DIED A KING.
At the crucifixion of Christ, Pilate wrote a title and placed it on the Cross of Christ. “And the writing was, Jesus of Nazareth KING of the Jews.” (Jn. 19:19). Of course the Jews did not like that and tried to get Pilate to change that title, but he would not. He could not. A KING He was at BIRTH, a KING He was at DEATH.

HE LIVES A KING.
He conquered death. He reigns today. This is the Christmas story. He came to pay our sin debt. He came to die that we might live. Now the choice is yours. You must either accept Him or reject Him. There is no neutrality. He came to be your SAVIOUR, your SUBSTITUTE. I do sincerely trust that you have believed, not with your head, but with your heart. This could be your greatest Christmas ever.

HE IS COMING KING.
In Revelation, ch. 19, He comes to earth with armies from Heaven to conquer the antichrist and his army and to rule and reign for a thousand years. “And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Rev 19:11-16).

HE SHALL BE GREAT! What else can be said? I have to line up with the apostle John who wrote,
“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” (Jn. 21:25) AMEN and AMEN!

Today, if the things we have discussed in this message are not real in your life, consider these basic things…

RECOGNIZE that you are a sinner before God.
“For ALL have sinned and come short of the
Glory of God.”

REALIZE that Christ alone can save you from the penalty and power of sin.

RECEIVE Him today. “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.”
He is there, wherever you may be, in the person of the Holy Spirit. He has been knocking at your heart’s door. He will come in at your invitation. Do that today! THAT’S WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. The world seeks to take Christ away from Christmas, and Christmas away from Christ. He can do neither, they are one in the same. Let us remember the Giver and the Gift He gave.

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Christmas lights without Christ are like a candle in a window on a foggy night with the curtain closed.

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CHRISTMAS
By Pastor George Mills

Christmas is the story, Old,
Of Gifts of Frankincense and Gold,
And Myrrh that men brought from afar,
As they followed yonder star.

Christmas is the story, True,
And every day we find anew,
God robed in the flesh in the baby, Fair,
When Christ was born in the stable, there.

Christmas is the story, Bold,
And yet the half has not been told,
Of how the King of Heaven came,
For all lost mankind to reclaim.

Christmas is the story, Real,
Of grace and Love that God did reveal,
In swaddling clothes, the Saviour lay,
When Love came down on Christmas day.

Christmas is a song to sing,
A song about this new-born King,
A Heavenly chorus welcomed Him,
This little child of Bethlehem.

Christmas is the Gift of Love,
Down from the Father up above,
A Gift for sinners far and wide,
So man in Heaven may there abide.

To live with Saints and Angels there,
And with Christ, His Glory share,
Forever there to live with Him,
The Babe that came to Bethlehem.

Yes, Christmas is a song to sing,
Hallelujahs to our King,
Eternal God in flesh came down,
Now forever, wears a Crown.

Let every voice join in and sing,
Hosanna to our coming King,
Who will with Him, the ransomed bring,
Yes, Christmas is a song to sing!

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THINK ABOUT IT…

The world says TOMORROW,
Christ says TODAY!
And the world still asks for hope in sorrow,
Christ says “I am THE WAY”

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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Christmas is here once again, time to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Saviour!
Things have changed around our house as far as how we celebrate Christmas. The kids are all grown up now and have married and moved away. The “Grands” are growing up and some are married and have their own little families, so we celebrate differently these days. Yes, we miss the good ole days when the kids were all home and our house was a busy, fun filled time at Christmas, but we have our memories.
Seasons change, our circumstances change from day to day, and things are not the same as they were years ago but we still celebrate the birth of our Saviour. And as we celebrate Jesus’ birth we give thanks to Him for our Salvation that He made possible. We give thanks for the Salvation of each of our children and we are thankful for our “Grands,” each one of them, and their little families. God has been and still is so good to this family and we thank Him for His goodness to us all. Yes, the seasons change and our circumstances change but we are reminded and thankful to know that God never changes! “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8). “For I am the Lord, I change not.” (Mal. 3:6).
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! And remember, Jesus is the reason for the Christmas Season.
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LITTLE BABY IN A MANGER
Little baby in a manger, I Love You.
Lying there, to earth a stranger,I Love you.
Wise men saw the star and answered, I Love you,
Shepherds heard the angels saying, I Love you.
Little baby down from Heaven, I Love you.
By the Father, to us given, I Love you.
Star of hope for every nation, I Love you.
Angels gave Thee adoration, I Love you.
Little baby meek and lowly, I Love you.
Son of God so pure and Holy, I Love you.
Wonderful in grace and Power,I Love you.
Sharon’s Rose, the sweetest flower, I Love you.
(By Carrie Adams, 1915)

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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
By Ashley Stevens

KEEPING CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

There are many ways that we can keep Christ in our Christmas celebrations. The number one way is to have Him present in our daily life. As Christians, keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way we live our life, than just simply saying things such as “Merry Christmas.” versus “Happy Holidays.” I have put together a few simple ideas to Help keep Christ the central focus of our life through this Christmas Season.
First idea is to give God one very special gift, just from you to Him. Let that gift be personal, no one else needs to know. It could be a gift of forgiving someone that you have needed to forgive for a long time. That may prove to be a gift that keeps on giving as well. You could also give God a commitment to take time out of your day to spend with Him on a daily basis. Maybe there is something God has asked you to give up and you just haven’t yet because you keep on holding on to it. Just make sure that this gift is your most important gift all this Christmas Season.
Secondly, consider removing a lot of the worldly celebrations and gift giving. Give a special gift to a needy family, or to a Missionary. Make the story of Jesus’ birth and the true meaning of Christmas the central focus of your family get togethers. Set your family down and read the Christmas story in the Book of Luke..
One last idea is to start each morning, before you get in the rush of all the activities, and do your devotion and spend some time alone with God. Pray that you will stay focused and recognize that nothing you will buy or receive this Christmas will last. Only what is done for Christ will last and count for eternity. Whatever you do for this Holiday Season, don’t forget the true reason for the season. Take time to thank God for sending His Son Jesus to die on a cross for you and me.
Until Next time, Ashley Stevens

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! LET EACH OF US TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY DAY THAT GOD GIVES US IN THE NEW YEAR. WE PRAISE GOD FOR LIFE. HEALTH, AND STRENGTH. LET US ALL COMMIT OURSELVES TO THE WINNING OF LOST SOULS TO JESUS CHRIST!

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At the beginning of each New Year I try to remind us all of these few simple things that this New Year will bring with it…

TOMORROW WILL COME.
“Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” (Pr. 27:1).
We have had thousands of YESTERDAYS, and we have only one TODAY, but what about TOMORROW? Will tomorrow bring with it sunshine? Or sadness? We do not know! We cannot know about tomorrow. We do know that tomorrow will come! Tomorrow will be here, right on time. The problem is, We may not be here tomorrow, but tomorrow will be. When the New Year met us some twelve months ago, some who were with us then are not with us today. I have heard of quite a few folks who were with us who have gone on to their Lord. I have conducted funerals for some who were with us when we began 2013. Tomorrow may bring with it much happiness, or it may bring death. We do not know. Today, as we plan and resolve for the New Year, let’s think about this New Year and what it may bring. God is in the tomorrows. He is already there. He gave us insight to His Word. God cautioned us about assuming tomorrow…”Go to now, ye that say today or tomorrow, we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell and get gain. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then it vanishes away. For ye ought to say, If the Lord will we shall live and do this, or that. (Ja. 4:13-14). So, let us not assume tomorrow without seeking God’s Will and blessings first!. TOMORROW WILL COME as I have stated, it will be here, on time.

TOMORROW WILL BRING WITH IT OPPORTUNITIES.
I am optimistic. Tomorrow there will be more and better ways to publish the Gospel to the nations. THINK ABOUT IT…Just one small Church can reach into many countries of the world. Tomorrow will bring greater opportunities. When I first started publishing the WILDERNESS I never had the slightest idea that we would be reaching into so many countries of the world. Let every one of us, while we can, take advantage of the great task of evangelism. This is the will of God.

TOMORROW WILL BRING WITH IT OBLIGATIONS.
Paul said “I am DEBTOR both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise. So much as in me is, I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Ro 1:14-16). We have an OBLIGATION. Christ gave it to us on the day He ascended into Heaven. We will not finish this OBLIGATION until we go home, or until He comes for us. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD.

TOMORROW WILL BRING WITH IT OBSTICLES.
The same satanic forces will be alive, alert, active and opposing the Church with OBSTICLES. There will be false brethren within the assembly, and false doctrine will abound more and more. With every wind of doctrine there comes OBSTICLES. Satan and his army will continue to place stumbling blocks, discouragements, disappointments, and despair. Satanic forces will try to delay, dilute, and destroy. Let us see every OBSTICLE as a stepping stone. We will not quit, we have made our stand and will stand on it, even if we stand alone. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD.

TOMORROW WILL BRING WITH IT OFFENCES.
Jesus said in Luke 17:1, “It is impossible, but that offences will come, but woe unto them through whom they come.” This passage is about forgiveness . As we see the OPPORTUNITIES, and OBSTICLES, beware of the OFFENCES. Let us have that kind of spirit that will not hold a grudge. No, not against another Christian, against our mate, or against anyone. The Bible says in our text that we should forgive, even if we are offended seven times in one day. Today, we cannot speak as freely as in days past. Today we have to be exact, with no hint of any intention of offense.. If we don’t say it just right; “I AM OFFENDED” they cry. This is also true in the Church world. Let us refuse to be offended. A grudge, an unforgiving spirit are awful weights for us to carry around. Again, Tomorrow will bring with it certain offenses. Determine that you will not allow some OFFENCE to rob you of Joy unspeakable. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD.

TOMORROW WILL BRING WITH IT OBITUARIES.
Some of us will not be here when this Year closes. Many who intended to be here at the close of this year have already gone home to be with the Lord. I hope that God will let me live for many more fruitful years, but that is all in His hands. Who knows, the morning paper may list our obituary along with others. But this I know that whatever the New year may bring, OPPORTUNITIES or OBITUARY, I know that everything will be alright. I have placed my faith and trust in the God of TOMORROW. So, while it is TODAY, let us keep on living for Jesus. THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD! Every day He gives us is a bonus. We just love Him better and serve Him to the fullest. TOMORROW, Christians will be alright. Whether here, or in His presence, we will be alright. We serve the God of TOMORROW!
Before I close this, may I ask, “where will you be TOMORROW if you died TODAY?”
The answer is simple. If you have received Christ, you will be with Him. If you have not received Christ, you will be eternally separated from Him in hell. Read Luke 16:19-31.

THINK ABOUT IT..TODAY is the TOMORROW that you spoke about YESTERDAY.

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THE MIRANDA WARNING SAYS:

You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can be used against you.
You have the right to speak to an attorney.
If you cannot afford an attorney one will be provided for you.

God has such a warning in His program in dealing with sin and it’s penalty.

You have the right to remain silent. No one will ever try to force you to receive Christ. You must do that yourself. That is your own choice.

Anything you say WILL be used against you. “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account in the day of judgment.” (Mt. 12:36)

You have the right to speak to an attorney. The court would recommend a lawyer who has never lost a case. “We have an advocate (lawyer) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1Jn. 2:1).

A Lawyer has been provided at no cost, for you. He doesn’t charge one cent. His great love motivates Him to see that man does not get what he rightly deserves. That is, the death penalty. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Ro. 6:23).

Cast yourself on the Mercy of the court. Claim no right except the rights paid for in the Blood shed at Calvary. Just tell God that you are a guilty sinner with nothing to offer. “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” Tell Christ that you receive Him. Accept His FREE PARDON NOW! The Judge of all the earth will hear the cry of the repentant heart. Then you will have the RIGHT of access to all that Heaven has.

Begin TODAY to LIVE forever!

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Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Pr. 14:34).
PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD
(Amos 4:12)

This is one of the most urgent warnings in the Bible concerning Israel and her backslidden condition. Judgment is threatening. In fact, as you read the entire text, judgment has already come. Drought, mildew, pestilence, and plague are everywhere, Judgment has already come.
Let us bring this up to this date….
PREPARE!

A. WHY PREPARE? There are at least three reasonable reasons.

1.Because God has said so. That’s reason enough.

2.Without Christ you are not prepared.

3.You WILL meet God. This is an appointment you WILL keep.

B. HOW TO PREPARE?

1.Realize your condition, UNPREPARED.

2.Receive Christ, the One who has PREPARED the way.

C. WHEN TO PREPARE?
The same Bible is very clear on when to prepare. “TODAY” if you will hear His voice harden not your heart.”
“Call upon Him while He is near.”Don’t wait until TOMORROW! TOMORROW has a sly way of becoming YESTERDAY!….Too late!!

Vol. 37, No. 11  November, 2013

TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Dr. George Mills
“And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.” (Acts 17:6).

This is an amazing statement. It simply states that they “TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN,.” In a day and time without any means of modern transportation, or communication, or a printing press, without a microphone, radio, television, this band of believers literally shook the world for Jesus. They “TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.” How did they do that? What was their secret? What caused the early church to conquer so much for the cause of Christ? Let’s search the Book of Acts for awhile and see just how they did it. May God speak to our hearts as we study.

THEY HAD A GREAT PROGRAM.
“But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”(Acts 1:8). They had a Great Commission and they obeyed it! The main difference between that Church and the Church of this age is, OBEDIENCE TO THE GREAT COMMISSION. The same Lord gave the same commission to the Church of all ages, that is, to take this Gospel as far as you can, while you can. Our obedience to the Great Commission will cause some to say of us that we “have turned the world upside down.” We do everything but obey the Great Commission. We need to “GET WITH THE PROGRAM.”

THEY HAD GREAT POWER.
Acts 1:8 says, “Ye shall receive POWER after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” 120 Believers tarried in the upper room at Jerusalem. At the right time, the Holy Spirit empowered that little band, and the rest is history. The devil has so much success in confusing the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, that I am afraid that we just stay away from any mention of the Holy Spirit. But their secret of success is THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. All of our effort is in vain until we labor in the Power and fullness of the Holy Spirit. Let each of us surrender to His fullness daily that He may use us as He used that small band of believers so many years ago. The same power is available for the Church today. I am not speaking about some emotional experience, I am not speaking about some “gibberish utterance” that nobody can understand. (By the way, every word spoken in the assembly was understood by everyone)(Acts 2:7-8). I am speaking about the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers who are surrendered to the the will of God. We must take God at His Word and ask Him to give us His power “If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.” (Lk 11:13). May each of us rise early before the cares of the world begin to wear us down, and seek that fresh anointing that we may be faithful witnesses for His Glory. Our Lord Jesus gave us the great discourse on the Holy Spirit in John 14, 15,16. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer. He is our power. Let us learn to listen to His voice, His prompting, His impulses. Let us learn to witness to others as He directs.

THEY HAD GREAT PRAYER.
Time and time again this small band of believers
came together in prayer. Remember their prayer meeting in Acts, Ch. 1. Read about their great prayer meetings as they came together. “And when they had prayed the place was shaken.(Acts 4:31). The Holy Spirit guided the disciples as they prayed to God for wisdom and strength. I am afraid that our prayer services fall far short of the great prayer meetings of the early Church. “The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (Ja. 5:16). The Power of Prayer still works today! Prayer will cause us to turn our world upside down. We cannot spend our time on our knees praying while there is so much to be done, but we can pray while we do the work God has called us to do. “Pray without ceasing.” World conditions. The unsaved and their destiny, drug addictions, SIN, all should motivate our prayer life. Our prayer list should get longer each day. Do you pray regularly for your loved ones, for your neighbors, for your co-workers, for your friends, enemies. Do you pray for our government officials, for leadership in high places. Do you pray for our president, congressional leaders, the courts??God has limited Himself to the prayers of His people! “Ye have not because ye ask not.”Elijah prayed earnestly that it might not rain and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (Ja. 5:17-18). We serve the same God who answers the same prayer of faith today!

THEY HAD GREAT PURPOSE.
They believed that the world, apart from Christ was lost and on the road to hell. That did something in the hearts of that band of believers. In the Book of Acts, much emphasis was placed upon great numbers, or masses of people; Acts 2:41, 2:47, 4:4, 5:14, 6:7, 11:21, 11:24, 14:1. And while there is emphasis on numbers, there is also emphasis on the individual to show God’s concern for just one soul. For example much time is spent on the conversion of Paul, the Eunuch, Cornelius, the young girl and the jailer in Acts 16. We must remember that whether in a crowd or all alone, they all get saved, ONE AT A TIME. Their Great Purpose was to reach all men everywhere with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

THEY HAD GREAT PREREQUISITES.
The word “prerequisite” meaning, “All things necessary to carry out a function.”

They had UNITY. Acts 4:32 ends with the words; “But they had all things common.” A house divided against itself cannot stand. UNITY, oneness of purpose. One Gospel, one goal, to evangelize the world.

They had URGENCY. Can we not see the URGENCY in the Book of Acts as the apostles were busy from city to city, building Churches, reaching the lost with the Gospel of Christ. The Book of First Thessalonians, Ch. 1 ends with “From you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak anything.” Romans 10:18; “Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.” Paul could say, “I am pure from the blood of all men.” (Acts 20:26). There was an URGENCY not seen since those early days. Men are still lost and the Gospel still works!

They had UNCTION. Meaning “anointing.” We have covered this in the section about the Holy Spirit. This is to remind us all once again that without His anointing, we are powerless. Time and time again the apostles were warned, arrested and tried. And time and time again they came together, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and continued in their work of evangelizing the world with the Gospel.

THEY HAD GREAT PREACHING.
They had great Bible Preaching from the Great Received Text written by the apostles at Antioch under the Inspiration of God. This latest drift away from the Word of God did not come on the scene until many years later. There has been no real revival in the land since these new “versions” waltzed on the scene in the last half of the 20th century. Anyway, let us stay with THE BOOK. The Authorized BOOK! (KJB). Read the sermons of Paul, Peter, John, and the apostles, all directed at “Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21) Our preaching must be Christ centered. He is the great focal point. We must never compromise with sound Biblical Doctrine, and at the same time we must preach Christ in His Beauty, Holiness, and His fiery indignation against sin, His wrath and judgment. Great preaching can reach America again!. “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”(1Cor. 1:21) “And Paul, as his manner was , went unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead, and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you is Christ.” (Acts 17:2-3). The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ turned the world upside down. Every lesson, every sermon, every prayer meeting, every class, every time we speak, whether to one or to a thousand, that same Gospel must be clearly presented along with an invitation to receive Christ, TODAY! Great preaching does not come from “sermon building,” it comes from Spirit led Bible study, and Fervent prayer.

THEY HAD GREAT PERSONNEL.
120 believers tarried in the upper room in obedience to Christ. There, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and as I said, the rest is history. Few in number, but great in power. It was not quantity of believers, it was the quality of believers. There were no “super Christians” there. Everything today must be “super.” Super church, super preacher, super saints, etc. Let us remember that it does not take great numbers to do God’s work. It does not take great talent or great abilities. It takes surrendered, dedicated lives. It does not matter how small, or insignificant you may feel you are, God can use you to reach many for Christ. God uses individuals to reach the masses. He uses a handful to reach multitudes. He can use YOU and ME! He wants to use us! Today we have more means to reach people than the early church could ever imagine. Today we have radio, TV, the printed page, transportation, the internet,
Oh, there are so many ways. I pastor a small Church, a very small Church, but God has used this small band to reach many in our homeland and in many nations of the world.
Since we, today, have more than they had, can we be satisfied in doing less? Let us together, work for Christ in such a manner that one day He may say of us, “THEY TURNED THEIR WOLD UPSIDE DOWN!
Now, do you personally know Christ in forgiveness of sin? If not, why not take the Word of God for your refuge. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (Jn 1:12). Christ is there, where you are. Just tell Him in your own words that you do receive Him. That you believe what the Bible says about Him. You can begin TODAY to live Forever!

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS..It is no friend to the Christian. But Christ is our unfailing Friend, our unfaltering High Priest, and unforgettable promiser of His soon return.

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AND THINK ABOUT THIS…The WORTHY ONE came to earth to save us worthless ones, that we, the worthless ones might become WORTHY ONES.

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IT ONLY TAKES A FEW
“The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.”
(LK 10:2).
By Pastor George Mills

It only took a few,
To turn the world around,
It was because the few,
Had love that did abound.
It was because in them,
A friend that Christ had found,
It only took a few,
To turn the world around.

It only takes a few,
To take the Gospel ’round,
It only takes a few,
To make the Gospel sound,
From every little corner,
And alley in our town.
It only takes a few,
To take the Gospel ’round.

It only takes a few,
If every heart is bound,
With love and single purpose,
And in every life is found,
Full devotion to our Lord,
And His Word to ever sound,
It only takes a few,
If every heart is bound.

So let us be that few,
That Jesus Christ has found,
The few that’s bound together,
To turn the world around,
The few with single purpose,
To make the Gospel sound,
To every little corner,
And alley in our town.

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. While we are IN the world we are not OF the world. God has called us OUT of the world to go INTO all the world,
to represent a better world.

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THE SAVIOUR’S TOUCH
Pastor George Mills
“Jesus put forth His hand and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean.” (Mt 8:3).

We often speak of “touching Him” or “touching the hem of his garment,” and this we all want to do. It will be worth it all when at last, our faith is sight, and we can bow before Him, and literally TOUCH HIM. What a day that will be. I am grateful for the fact that He has touched me. Yes, many times, He has touched me…Just when I needed Him most. As we wander through this WILDERNESS, His touch is ever near. In Bible times, if anyone touched a leper, he himself would be defiled and would have to go through the cleaning process. Christ touched the poor leper in our text, identifying himself with the man. Upon His cross, Christ identified Himself with our sin. Our uncleanness was passed to Him, and His Righteousness was passed to all who claim Him as Saviour.

THINK ABOUT IT…Heaven touched earth one day and earth touched Heaven one day, that day, at the Cross where I met my Saviour.

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THE HOLY SPIRIT
He illuminates Christ. Like a spotlight shining on a person on center stage without calling attention to itself, so the Holy Spirit does not call attention to Himself. He shows us Jesus Christ. I am afraid that so much of the talk about the Holy Spirit today is just that…TALK! The Holy Spirit Magnifies and Glorifies Christ. There are many “spirits” in the world today. The spirit of error, the spirit of antichrist, lying spirits, spirits of devils. Spirit of bondage, spirit of fear, spirit of disobedience, seducing spirits, bewitching spirits, just to name a few. Any “spirit” that does not Magnify and Glorify the Person and Work of Jesus Christ is NOT the Holy Spirit.
He Births us into the family of God.
He Bestows to us wonderful gifts.
He Blesses us with assurance that He is with us
and will be with us until He leads us home.

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HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY,
NOVEMBER 28, 2013.

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT.

“In the Name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord King James by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, defender of the Faith.

Having undertaken for the Glory of God AND THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH and honor of our King and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these present, solemnly, and mutually in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil body politic, for a better
offering and preservation and furtherance of the ends of the aforesaid, and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet
and convenient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. In witness thereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at Cape Cod on the 11 of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, King James of England, France, and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland in the fifty forth. Ano. Dom. 1620.
As you read the Mayflower Compact, I pray that it will stir your heart to stand up for America.
Thank God for such a rich heritage.
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I am proud to be an American. I am not so proud of the upsets in Washington at this time. The Senate, the House of Representatives, and the President all in battle over things that should have been settled long before now. Government closings, are just mockery. Those who have sworn to protect, and defend the Constitution are making a joke out of the Constitution. I trust that some Constitutional Lawyers will take some of these issues to court and let the courts settle issues that our elected leaders cannot settle!

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THE WORD OF GOD (KJB)
“Forever O LORD Thy Word is settled.”
Pastor Mills
THE PURITY OF THE WORD. Everything about God is Pure. In Isaiah 6, the Prophet saw Seraphim circle the throne of God crying HOLY, HOLY, HOLY. These Seraphim are angelic policemen who guard the Purity and Holiness of God. Everything about God is Pure, and His Word is Pure.

THE PRESERVATION OF THE WORD.
In Psalm 12:6-7, God promised to PRESERVE His PURE Word forever. Agnostics, doubters, deniers, by the millions have tried, in vain to find some solid accusation against the Word, but cannot. Even from within, Professors in Bible colleges try to point out errors. They tried this on me, but it did not work.

THE POWER OF THE WORD.
“All things are upheld by His Word.” (Heb 1:3).
WE ARE SAVED BY HIS WORD. “Being Born again through the incorruptible seed, the Word which liveth and abideth forever.” (1Pet. 1:23).

WE ARE SECURE BY THE WORD. How do I know that I am saved? Not by my feelings, they change too often. Not by what someone else says, they cannot know my heart. The Word of God testifies countless times that we are saved. John 1:12, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 6:37, John 10:25-30).

WE SHOULD EAT THE WORD. “Thy Words were found and I did eat them.” “Eat” meaning that the Word should be a part of our daily diet the same as food.

WE SHOULD MEDITATE ON THE WORD. Read about the Blessed man in Psalm 1.

WE SHOULD SHARE THE WORD.“Cast thy bread upon the Waters.” Bread”, meaning, “the Word, “water” meaning “ world population.”

WE SHOULD LOVE THE WORD. We should join in praise with the Psalmist, “Oh how I LOVE Thy Word.”

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PAUL’S LAST MESSAGE AND PRAYER TO THE EPHESIAN ELDERS. (Acts 20:17-38).
Pastor Mills
This is a tender scene as the great Apostle weeps and prays with the elders of that Church at Ephesus. Paul’s heart is touched. He loved these brethren. He is concerned for their spiritual well being He weeps, he warns, he prays. Please take a few moments and read all of this text in your Bible. He reviews the things he taught by example.

HIS PURITY OF LIFE.
Paul knew that in order to reach the people there he had to live the example life. Paul said in v33, “I have coveted no man’s silver or gold, or apparel.” Paul was not like some “preachers” of today who come to town with boxes of tapes, how-to books, investment plans, “get rich schemes” etc, and leave town with pockets full of money. I certainly do not hold to this “get rich quick” lifestyle” as taught by many today.

HIS PERSONAL WITNESSING.
The very first thing in the life of the Apostle Paul was the Great Commission. He believed that the Gospel was for all men and that any man/woman who will believe the Gospel is saved by Grace. In Romans 9:1-4, 10:1-4 Paul shares his burden that men might be saved.

(A) HE WITNESSED PUBLICLY. (v20). In public worship service he preached Christ. He publicly persuaded men to come to Christ. In like manner, in every public service we must present Christ along with an invitation for men to receive Him.

(B) HE WITNESSED FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE. If you want to note this in the margin of your Bible, in the Greek, that means “from house to house.” He believed in covering the city with the Gospel.

HIS PREPARATION FOR FALSE TEACHERS. (v28-31).
“After my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock.” Paul was much concerned about the two-fold attack of Satan. From without, and from within.

FROM WITHOUT are wolves. Like wolves after helpless lambs, false teachers with their doctrines will seek to devour the sheep. The Church must be prepared for them. There are more today than ever before.

FROM WITHIN are pretenders.
Pretenders on the inside speaking perverse things and drawing away disciples. These are the days of false doctrine. The airways are filled with it. Satanic influences are behind the flood of new “translations” on the market today. God cannot be in all of that confusion over His Word.

HIS PREACHING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD. (v27)
Some of these things are listed in this text.

THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE GOD. In Ch. 19, Paul had a great battle with the silversmiths at Ephesus. These were earning their living by making and selling idols and images of Diana, the goddess of the Ephesians. Paul declares that there is only one True God. (see also Acts 17:22-34).
SALVATION IS ONLY IN CHRIST. (v21) There are not many plans, or many ways, Christ is THE WAY to God. There is no other Saviour. He alone purchased the Church with His own blood. (v28)

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD.(v32). Paul called it“The Word Of His Grace” which is able to build you up. There is no other book to compare with the Bible.(KJB).

THE POWER OF PRAYER. (v36) In his kneeling down and praying is another example of Paul’s belief in the Power of Prayer.

THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. (v24)
Thank God for the Grace of God that reaches down to fallen man. Grace can reach down to the IDOLATORS at Ephesus, to the IMMORAL at Corinth, to the EDUCATED at Athens, to the RULERS at Rome. The Same Gospel for all classes. The Gospel is for YOU! There is no other! Receive Christ, TODAY!

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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS

When you think it can’t get worse, cheer up, count your blessings and be thankful because things could get worse! We whine and carry on about things that are so small compared to the problems of others. If you look at your glass as “half empty” be thankful it is not completely empty and pray that God will fill it. We want the lawn to grow but then we whine because it has to be mowed so often. Stop whining and be thankful you have the health and strength to push the lawn mower. Remember, our strength comes from the Lord. If you are sick and tired of washing dirty dishes, stop for a minute and thank God for the food that made the dishes dirty in the first place. You are tired of making the beds every morning, well be thankful you have a nice, comfortable bed to sleep on, you could be on a park bench or side walk, or maybe in a filthy alley somewhere—but for the Grace of God.
Don’t be easily offended by loved ones that give you advise, be thankful you have someone that cares enough to be concerned about you. We need to be reminded of God’s goodness, of where He brought us from and where we would be today without Him. “Be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name.” So if you really believe you have been dealt a lemon in life, just throw some sugar on it and make yourself some lemonade, sit back under the shade tree, and count your blessings. Don’t worry about all those leaves that will be falling soon because it could get worse, THE TREE COULD FALL!

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY! COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS! BE HAPPY!

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THINK ABOUT IT… The Christian life is not the best life, the Christ life is the ONLY LIFE!

AND Christ is not the BEST WAY to Heaven, He is the ONLY way to Heaven.

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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
By Ashley Stevens

BEING THANKFUL

Can you believe it? November is here, and it is time to come together as a family and reflect on things to be thankful for! As we get caught up in the world and all of it’s negativity, we tend to lose focus on the things we are blessed with. This week I would like to challenge everyone to try and think about things we as young Christian believers can be thankful for. I have thought about a few and I would like to share just four things that I am thankful for this Holiday Season.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY. These are the people closest to us. Friends and family are those that encourage, support, and offer guidance through our lives. God created family for a purpose. Parents are to guide us in life to help us grow in our Christian faith.

EDUCATION. I know your “I should be thankful for school?” Yes, you should! I know it’s hard sometimes to wake up every morning and just crave to learn more and sit through boring classes. But teens, we really need to be grateful for the teachers who taught us the ability to read and write. Without them it would be more difficult to learn God’s lessons and great stories that are found in the Bible.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Some people around the world would give almost anything to have the ability to express their Christian faith. We sometimes tend to forget what an amazing right and privilege it is to have religious freedom.
FREEDOM FROM SIN.
God gave the ultimate sacrifice to free us from our sinful nature. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross in order to take away our sins, so that one day we can live with Him in Heaven. His death is why we strive to be more like Jesus and less like the world.
P.S. Don’t forget to count your blessings!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Until next time, Ashley Stevens

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“WHAT MUST I GIVE UP IN ORDER TO BE SAVED?”

Being Saved is GETTING! Salvation is RECEIVING! I know that some have the idea that in order to be saved we must first do something and then Christ will save us.. The problem with that is, Salvation would be a part of OUR WORKS, or WHAT WE DO, and that could never be. I do not have the power within me to stop, to quit, to reform to turn around, and neither do you have that power. There are sins of COMMISSION and sins of OMMISSION. Both are sin. I have no way of knowing if I have repented enough, stopped enough, or gave up enough. Salvation is not giving up. Salvation is receiving! Receiving Eternal Life, Receiving forgiveness receiving the Holy Spirit. When Christ comes into our lives He gives us power to live the victorious Christian life.

WHAT MUST I GIVE UP TO BE SAVED? You must give up any hope or trust in any other than Christ. That includes your works, or any religion, anything other than Christ, and by faith alone receive Him as your personal Saviour. He paid the price for your sin by His death on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead. How do you receive Him? The Bible says, “ask, and ye shall receive.” He is there, where you are. Call upon Him NOW. Then you will have that inner strength. He will be in you. He will give you power day by day to live for Him in a victorious life.

Vol. 37, No. 10 October, 2013

THE UNPARDONABLE SIN. WHAT IS IT?
WHO CAN COMMIT IT?
Dr. George Mills

“Whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him. Neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Mt. 12:24-34)).

This question comes to me in many ways; “Preacher, do you think that I have committed the unpardonable sin?” This publication goes into many prisons, jails, and various institutions where men and women are housed for years and some for life. “Have I gone too far?” some want to know.”Have I reached the place where God will not hear me if I call on Him?” It is not uncommon for me to receive this kind of questioning. Let me say this, and then I will say some other things about this subject…If this is bothering you…if you are concerned about this, then, in my opinion, I do not believe that you have gone too far. If you had reached the place where God no longer speaks to your heart, then I do not believe you would have any concern about God, or yourself or eternity whatsoever. So if you are concerned about your relationship with God, my answer would be NO! You have not committed the unpardonable sin. However, I would not wait another moment. I would, “Call upon Him while He is near.” We do live in bad times. People do commit terrible things. The lives of so many are in such disarray that we wonder how this could happen to anyone, BUT IT DOES!
Let me say this; The only convicting Power that God has on earth to lead man/woman to forgiveness is the Holy Spirit., (John 16:7-15). The verses in Matthew 12 clearly teach that a man who rejects every plea of the Holy Spirit can be brought to the place in life where God will no longer deal with him. Other than the things I have just said, I am nobody’s judge. I cannot tell. I cannot read hearts and tell when someone has reached that state where he/she has “crossed the line.” I believe that this text is a clear warning about our responsibility to receive Christ, TODAY! Let me mention some of the sins that seem to be troubling to so many…

MURDER. Is murder the unpardonable sin?
This is a great growing problem in our society. It would be easy for me to choose any paper from any city and print the shootings, the stabbings, the acts of violence by man against man. One human taking the life of another human is condemned in the Law Of God. “Thou shalt not kill.” Just recently here in our city, a vehicle stopped in front of a residence, and shots rang out as the home was peppered with bullets. Two innocent teen-age girls were left dead. That same night a lady waiting at a bus stop had her purse taken away and an innocent man was shot down. A customer in the local Post office was robbed and shot. Unsafe streets, unsafe neighborhoods, crime, violence, Murder for hire. It is nothing to hear about killers who have been proven guilty of committing many murders. You read your papers, you listen to the news reports, and you know what I am speaking about. This is a day of violence. Murder is being committed by children. Drugs, video games, unsupervised young people form gangs. As the Bible says, “blood touches blood. Three teenagers in Colorado shot and killed a jogger just because they were bored. A child in a baby stroller was shot in the face while his mother was being robbed. MURDER, MURDER, MURDER. Without Christ, man is capable of anything. When a nation forsakes the foundational truths on which it was founded,well, we see the results. But I do have some good news, the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The Gospel tells us of God’s Love. King David was “a man after God’s heart.” King David was one of the greatest men of history, but he committed some of the greatest sins against God; Adultery and Murder. He committed adultery with Bathsheba, then he had her husband Uriah killed. He suffered much for his sins. You can read about his confessions in Psalm 32, Psalm 51. He was forgiven by the Grace of God, but there was much reaping for his wrong for the rest of his life. The Apostle Paul was another of the great men of history. Paul confessed his hatred for this new movement called the “Church.” and went out to stop it. He confessed that he imprisoned and beat the ones who believed in Christ and that he consented to the death of Stephen, (Acts 22:19-20). Although they were guilty of murder, David and Paul found GRACE. I have heard and read the testimony of some who have been convicted of murder , who were on death row in prison,who heard, or read about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and found forgiveness of their great sin. I have no reason to doubt their conversion. I know that some confessions are not real, but some are! God is willing to forgive all who trust in the Finished work of Jesus Christ. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.”(Jn 1:12). The problem is the heart, not the weapon. Jesus said, “For out of the HEART proceedeth evil thoughts, MURDERS, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witnesses, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.” (Mt 15:19-20). This comes from the heart, but murder is not the Unpardonable sin.

ABORTION. Is Abortion the unpardonable sin?
This too is a horrible blight on society. When I think of the millions of abortions, the “doctors” who perform such, the clinics, and not caring for the unborn, and women who say, “it’s my body, I can do what I want to do with it.” NO YOU CAN’T! There are many laws, still in the books that say NO, YOU CAN’T DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO WITH YOUR BODY. “These six things doth the LORD hate yea, seven are an abomination unto Him. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” (Pr. 6: 16-19). Nothing could be more innocent than a child in it’s mother’s womb! When does life begin? Life begins at conception! When the seed is planted in the womb, with that seed the genetic make-up of both parents comes alive in the womb and begins it’s journey from there to eternity. Read Psalm 139:13-19, Psalm 22:9-10, Luke 1:41-44. Life is in the womb! Many a young girl, after a lustful encounter, perhaps in the back seat of an automobile has found herself with child and sought help, and through the efforts of some abortionist, her child was killed, aborted! She knows that she has done wrong and wonders, and wonders. Questions come to her mind. Will God forgive me for that? Will I ever get over this? Is my child still alive, somewhere? YES! Sometimes these questions are so troubling that they lead to other things, things like alcohol, or drugs. Anything to soothe a troubled mind. When we do wrong and seek forgiveness from God, He is there to forgive! I am so glad of that ! “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” When we receive Christ as our Saviour, He forgives, He forgets, and He gives peace of mind and heart. The encounter in the back seat was wrong, the abortion was wrong, but a turning to the Loving God we serve is God’s answer for our sin, no matter how bad our sin may have been. Abortion is WRONG, but abortion is NOT the unpardonable sin.

ADULTERY. Is Adultery the unpardonable sin?
This is the common thing today. It is practiced secretly, and sometimes openly. Sexual relations and affairs with someone other than the one to who you are married. This is a great heart breaker. More than just two people are involved in so many ways. God knew the endless results of such a relationship so He placed in His Law, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”(Ex. 20:14). But this goes on and on, but very few ever stop to think about the results. We could mention the unwanted children,(there is no such thing as an illegitimate child, illegitimate parents, yes, but no illegitimate child) the deadbeat dads. On and on the list goes. But there is hope for the adulterer. Read John 8:3-11. A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus. If she was caught in the act, that means there was a man involved. (I suppose he is still running). Christ told her accusers, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” They were convicted by their own conscience and left one by one. “Where are thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said no man LORD. Jesus said, Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more.” Yes, there is always hope in Christ.

HOMOSEXUALITY. Is Homosexuality the unpardonable sin?

I do not believe that homosexuals are born homosexual. “Male and Female” created He them” God made man and God made woman. Homosexuals are made by society. We learn from our environment. A child must have a Father and a Mother in his/her life and he/she learns from the parents just what his/her position in life is. So many of the children in this society have been left with only one parent to learn from. Now, let me thank the single parents out there who have been left to raise children alone and are doing a great job. However, you are in the minority. This has been presented to this generation as an acceptable alternate lifestyle. Even the military, and all areas of government promote this as “acceptable.” It is reported that 13% of men and 5% of women are practicing homosexual. But what does God say about this?
God destroyed civilizations in the past because of this sin.(Romans 1:21-32. “God gave them up, God gave them up, God gave them over to a reprobate mind.”

God will destroy again because of this sin. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overflow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” (2Peter 2:6).

This sin is condemned in the Law of God. Take a few moments and read Leviticus 20. The Law is very clear concerning sexual sins…..

Lev. 20:10.Adultery…
Lev. 20:11.Sexual relations with stepmother
Lev. 20:12 Sexual relations with daughter in law.
Lev. 20:13…..
Lev. 20:14.Sexual relations with mother-in-law.
Lev. 20:15-16. Bestiality.
Lev. 20:17..Sexual relations with sister.
Lev. 20:19. Sexual relations with Aunt.
Lev. 20:21. Sexual relations with sister-in-law.
ALL OF THESE ARE WRONG!

I believe that we can look at the above list from the Law of God and agree,. These sins are wrong! They pollute society, produce unhealthy births!

Now, take a look at the very middle of the Law of God in Leviticus 20:13,
“If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination.”
The same Law that condemns the sexual acts in the above verses condemns the sin of homosexuality also. These Laws are NOT “Readers Choice!!”All are sin as clearly written in the Law of God. May I say that there is hope, in the Bible, Hope in Christ for the Homosexual. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived, neither fornicators nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate (Homosexual) nor abusers of themselves with mankind…shall inherit the Kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God.” (1Cor. 6-9-11). According to these verses there is hope in Christ for everyone. Some of the Corinthian believers were saved and delivered from the homosexual lifestyle. No one has any animosity or ill-will toward anyone who has adopted this, or these lifestyles. It is the SIN, and not the sinner. We are glad to share with you the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who said, “I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

SUICIDE. Is Suicide the unpardonable sin?
Every day over 1,000 people in America commit suicide. This is the 10th most common cause of death, and the second most common cause of death among teens. Among the group that should be the happiest, some are turning to suicide. Pressures of life, jobs, family problems, finances., sickness, mental disorder, grief. Physical pain, broken heart. The list keeps on and on. Many see only one way out. But this is never the right answer.
“How about Christians. Do Christians take this way out?” I am afraid that some do. This has happened among my own kin folks. Some who knew Christ and publicly made their stand for Him, took this route. I believe they were saved, but some of the pressures of life listed were just too much. So they took their life. I believe that we will meet again on Heaven’s shore, because of their Faith in Christ. While they were here we walked together and talked about Christ, and there, we will do that again! Thank God for His GRACE! NO, I do not believe that suicide is the unpardonable sin.

WITCHCRAFT, CULTS, Is this the unpardonable sin?
I must bring this to a close because of space. I wanted to give everyone assurance that CHRIST IS ABLE! TRUST HIM ALONE!
Some have said that they have dealt with witchcraft,and made vows which were blasphemy. “Have I gone too far?” Please take a few moments and read Acts 16:16-20. A young girl at Philippi who was demon possessed and practiced forms of witchcraft was saved, and probably one of the first members of the Church there. In Acts 19, many at Ephesus who were involved in witchcraft, sorcery, magic, called upon the name of the Lord Jesus, and brought their articles, books, curious art works together to the apostles to be burned. So mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed. (Acts 19:13-20).
If these things are not, what then, is the unpardonable sin?

The unpardonable sin is a sin of the HEART!

The unpardonable sin is a willful rejection of Christ!

“Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded. But ye have set at naught all my council, and would none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, BUT I WILL NOT ANSWER, they shall seek me early but they shall not find me.” (Prov. 1:24-33).
Today, if you are not saved, Christ has been there for you all of your life. He has been calling, knocking at your heart’s door. If you continue to refuse Him, Tomorrow, He may not be knocking.

An old song says…

There’s a line that is drawn by rejecting the Lord,
Where the call of His Spirit is lost,
As you hurry along,
with the pleasure mad throng,
Have you counted, have you counted the cost?

“TODAY if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.”(Heb. 3:7-15)
Everything that I have mentioned in this message, and so much more are things that God has no problem in forgiving and making life anew. The worse thing that a man or woman can do is to live here and die without Christ.
That’s the UNPARDONABLE SIN!

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THINK ABOUT IT..The last thing Christ did while He was here on earth was to save a THIEF hanging on a cross next to Him, and take him to glory.

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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

FORGETTING THE PAST

So many of us as Christians dwell on the past and are burdened down with the “only ifs” in our lives. We stay so busy thinking about the “woulda,” “shoulda,” “couldas,” and especially the “if onlys,” and all these thoughts keep us from going forward in our Christian walk. We are stuck in the past and can’t get moving to do a work for the Lord. Forget the past and go forward for the Lord! Satan uses the “if onlys” and the “woulda”, “shoulda,” “couldas” to keep us down with a sense of defeat and a “what’s the use” attitude. Our past is forgiven, the future is ours, and The Lord wants us to go forward serving Him with all our hearts, never looking back and facing the future with a smile. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before.” (Phil. 3:13).
If you have never trusted Jesus Christ for forgiveness, tell Him now that you believe He died on the cross so you could have forgiveness for your sin. Ask Him now to come into your heart and He will forgive not only your past sin, but your present sin and your future sin. Lord Jesus we are so thankful that “Calvary Covers It All.”

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THE BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION

“Be it known unto you therefore men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.”

Justification is the act of God whereby He calls the sinner Just, or, Justified, or, just as though he never sinned. Through the work of Christ, God can justify the sinner, and not violate His Law. The debt of sin has been paid for at Calvary. Now, that’s Beautiful!

THE BASIS OF JUSTIFICATION…Paul stood and preached his message;

The Death of Christ. Acts 13:28-29.

The Burial of Christ. Acts 13:29.

The Resurrection of Christ. Acts 13:30-37.
There you have it, the BASIS of Justification. May I add that you cannot leave out one of these and be Justified. (1Cor. 15:1-4, Ro. 10:9-10)

THE BLESSINGS OF JUSTFICATION. (Acts 13:38). Forgiveness of sins. “In who we have Redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His Grace. (Eph 1:7). “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven.” (Ro. 4:7). FORGIVEN, what a beautiful word.

THE BENEFITS OF JUSTIFICATION. “Justified from ALL things.” The Law could not justify us. Paul states in Ro. 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin.” The Law could only show our condition but it could do nothing about our condition . The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. (Gal 3:24). The Beauty of Justification.

THE BOUNDS OF JUSTIFICATION. Acts 13:39 says, “All that believe.” There are not bounds, no limits, no barriers in Justification. We are not partly justified, but JUSTIFIED! It matters not what a life may have been. It matters not about race, or gender, age or creed. The rich man, the poor man, the beggar, the Doctor, the Judge, the moral, the immoral and all in between. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. There are no bounds or boundaries. The invitation includes you.

THE BITTERNESS OF JUDGMENT. In the midst of this great text Paul reminds the Jews of an awful history.“I work a work.” (41) refers to the Book of Habakkuk, 1:5-6). God told the prophet that He is working a work. In that, He said that the Chaldeans will come down upon Israel and utterly destroy the land. The people did not repent so God raised up that army. The land was leveled by the invading forces of Nebuchadnezzar. People are still talking about that work of God these centuries later. In our text in Acts 13, God says to the nation again, “Beware.” (v40).”Turn to God. . Believe the message about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Of course, the nation did not turn to Christ. The Roman General Titus came and leveled the city again. This is part of that “Work of God.”

THE BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION. Our text in Acts 13 tells of the gentiles turning to God. V47 says that “Salvation is unto the ends of the earth.” The Great Commission is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the uttermost part of the earth. Take it to the islands of the sea. Take it to the jungles, to the cities, to the great and small. Take it to the heathen lands where people are living in ignorance and idolatry. And wherever you take this Gospel, whoever will believe the message of Jesus Christ are Justified from all things, from all sin. Oh the BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION!
How about you my dear friend. Have you turned to Christ in faith, believing all about His finished work on the cross for you? If this is true, I rejoice in that fact. If this is not true in your life, this could be the greatest day of your life. If you are troubled, or confused about the Gospel. Trust the Holy Spirit to end your trouble and confusion now. Open your heart to Christ. Tell Him that you receive Him, NOW! He is there, where you are. You may ask, “How do I receive Him?” The Bible says, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” Do that now, and begin TODAY to live FOREVER. That’s the BEAUTY OF JUSTIFICATION!

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You can spell Justification like this….
“JUST-IF-I’D”never sinned….Oh the beauty of it all!!

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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
By Ashley Stevens

MORE OF YOU JESUS, LESS OF ME

It is common to get wrapped up in our busy lives. We tend to get selfish and the only person we think about is ourselves. The first step to overcoming selfishness is to admit it and to be honest with yourself about it. This can often be the hardest step of them all. It is not very easy for us to look at ourselves in the mirror and honestly recognize we are selfish. The importance of admitting we are selfish is to take all of that weight off and throw it away. This will bring great relief.
The next step to overcoming selfishness is at the end of the day examine yourself to see if you were selfish towards the people around you. You need to take the time to examine your thoughts, words, attitude, and actions. Start by being honest with yourself and stay away from blaming others and making excuses.
Lastly, walk in love. Make First Corinthians 13:4-8 a daily reminder. Memorize it until it becomes big in your life and every time you tend to become selfish, make it the first thing that pops into your mind. Remember, love kills selfishness.
Remember the saying, “More of you Jesus, less of me.” Let the light of God shine within you, and allow God to take your hand and help you not to focus so much on yourself, but more of Him, the One who laid down His life for you.

Until next time, Ashley Stevens

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THY WORD IS SETTLED! (KJB)
As I was stopped at a traffic light I saw a small drinking cup in the intersection. Traffic would pass by in one direction and the wind from vehicles would cause the cup to spin in one direction. The light would change and the cup would spin in another direction. There it was..just spinning. I said, that is the way of so many today. Just spinning with whatever wind of doctrine that blows. “Lord, help me not to just spin with the wind but to be settled in Thy Word.”

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WHAT SALVATION IS NOT
Pastor George Mills

If you are not genuinely saved today I trust that you will take a few moments and read this message. If you are saved, perhaps you may see some things that will help you to reach someone for Christ. Recently I was listening to a radio preacher who was making light of “Just receiving Jesus.” He evidently thinks that there is more, or something else, or some work we must do.. The preacher went on to say that “Salvation is a process.” By that I suppose that he believes that there are several “steps” in receiving Salvation. The question is, did Jesus suffer all of the pain of Calvary, did He take upon Himself the sin of every man, did He suffer so, and then make salvation so complicated that you cannot understand it? NO! Let me say that Jesus Christ paid for ALL SIN in His Finished work of Redemption.. As I said, the Work is finished. All that we can do is receive it, or reject it. There is nothing we can add to that or take away from. Follow me closely as I share with you WHAT SALVATION IS NOT.

SALVATION IS NOT REMORSE. Remorse; “a deep sense of guilt.” I believe that when we receive Christ we will have that deep sense of guilt in realizing that our sin placed Him on the cross. But we are not saved by a deep sense of guilt. Some insist that we must continually be remorseful. Not so! Salvation sets us free, at liberty , free, in Christ.

SALVATION IS NOT IN REGRET. Regret; “to feel sorry about, or, to mourn.” Since the moment I received Christ I have regretted the life I lived before I was saved. I have regretted every ungodly deed and every wasted day. But I cannot spend my time there in “regretsville.” Let me move on to “forgetsville.”

SALVATION IS NOT IN REFORM. Reform; “to make better by removing faults.” Stopping things, quitting things, changing things, doing better, giving more. When we receive Christ we will stop some things, and start some things, and change some things, and rearrange some things. We will “turn over a new leaf” and quit and turn and turn and quit. These things have their place in our growth as a Christian but they do not add a single thing to Salvation.

SALVATION IS NOT IN REFRAINING. Refraining; “to keep oneself from doing.”If you vow never to do that again, if you stop, determined never to do that again. If you say that I will never, never, never do that again. If you have REMORSE, or REGRET. If you REFRAIN or if you REFORM, no matter how good your intentions may be, these will never save you. All of these things mentioned, (and so many more) are HUMAN EFFORT, and HUMAN EFFORT never saved anybody.

SALVATION IS RECEIVING CHRIST! The greatest text in the Bible is in the third chapter of John’s Gospel. Jesus said to a good, moral, religious, teacher of the Law, “Ye must be born again.” That;’s it, “BORN AGAIN!” How then are we born again? “Is it not in doing these things?”NO! Now, get this verse, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (Jn. 1:12). “How do I receive Him?” Again, the Bible is very clear, “Ask, and ye shall receive.” Christ is wherever you are. His Holy Spirit is there, bidding entrance to your heart and life. He will never knock down the barriers in your life and come in unbidden by you. He will hear the cry of the repentant heart.
Remember, you cannot be remorseful enough, regretful enough, reformful enough, or refrainful enough. Now, That’s a little bit of what Salvation is and is not. Have you got it? Then enjoy it, share it, rejoice in it.
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“A real Christian is an odd number anyway. He feels supreme love for one he has never seen, talks everyday to someone he cannot see, expects to go to Heaven on the virtue of someone else, empties himself in order to be full, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, he is richest when he is poorest,he dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible.” …A.W. Tozier

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BECAUSE HE LIVES
By Pastor George Mills

“.. Because I live, ye shall live also.”
(John 14:19)

On His Cross He sealed my pardon,
He died to set the sinner free,
For He purchased my Salvation,
Shed His blood for even me.

In the tomb He sweetly rested,
Satan’s host had sealed the door,
Satan’s victory was established,
Christ was dead for evermore.

On a lovely Sunday morning,
Just about the break of day,
Satan’s hopes were doomed forever,
For the stone was rolled away.

Now He lives on high in Heaven,
Now He lives within my heart,
Now He is alive forever,
For His Salvation to impart.

Precious Saviour we are longing,
For that day is sure to come,
When the Church will be completed,
And we’re safely gathered home.

Every Word will come to fulfillment,
We will see the One who forgives,
There to live with Christ forever,
All is well, BECAUSE HE LIVES!

Vol. 37, No. 9  September, 2013

THE TWO WAYS; THE DYNAMIC, AND THE DEMONIC.
By Dr. George Mills

“Can TWO walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

I well remember trying to witness to a County Commissioner in Georgia who owned a large farm in that county. “Now preacher,” he said, “I know what you are saying about being right with God, but I have my own ideas about it. You see, it’s like this; I have to make frequent trips to Atlanta, you know, personal and County business. Now, there are two ways for me to get to Atlanta. If I am in a hurry, I can take Interstate 20 and be there in less than two hours. However, if I am not in a hurry, I can take the back road through the farm country and enjoy the scenery. But both ways will lead me to Atlanta.” I can understand that, but I am not speaking about going to Atlanta, I am talking about going to Heaven, about being on the right road to eternity. There is the RIGHT way, and there is the WRONG way. I spoke to another man who was trying to help his preacher friend find a church. I asked, “Is he Southern Baptist, or is he Independent Baptist?” “Oh,” he answered, “He is Southern Baptist, but he can go “EITHER WAY.” When I think of these incidents I believe they fit the general theme of this subject. There are choices. You can go “EITHER WAY.”
The choice is yours. You see, in reality,
There are;
2 God’s. (A) The God of Heaven.
(B) The god of this world
2 Christ’s. (A) The Lord Jesus Christ.
(B) The antichrist.
2 Spirit’s. (A) The Holy Spirit
(B) The spirit of antichrist.
2 Gospels. (A) The Gospel of Grace.
(B) Another gospel.
2 Kings. (A) Grace
(B) Sin
2 Plans of Salvation. (A) By Grace.
(B) By works
2 Foundations. (A) The Rock.
(B) Sand
2Destinys. (A) Heaven
(B) Hell

2 Preachers. (A) God called.
(B) Man called.
2 Bibles. (A) Our God Breathed Book, or, (B) The antichrist bible.

On and on this list could go, but I trust that you can clearly see with me that there are choices. Let me take a fewmoments and share with you some characteristics of these
Pairs. Don’t get them confused. Many have. It is recorded in 1Chr 12:32, “The children of Issachar which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” We need today to understand the times. Of course, I do not have the space in this small publication to go into much detail on every subject. I trust that you will take your Bible, (KJV) and study for yourself.

1. THERE ARE TWO GOD’S. Yes, the Bible clearly teaches us about two God’s.

(A) THE GOD OF HEAVEN. The Great Creator, Redeemer, of lost mankind. The Scriptures are very clear on the Personality of our God. His Name is NOT Buddha, NOT Allah, NOT Mohammed, NOT one of the “god’s” of the Middle East, or of the Far East. I love the Scriptural description of our God, “Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.”(Psa.90:1-2). Our God has eternally existed in Three Persons, God, the Father, God, the Son, God the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures, (KJV) refer to each member of the Trinity as “GOD.”

(B) THE GOD OF THIS WORLD. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2Cor. 4:4). Yes, just as sure as there is a God in Heaven, there is a “god” of this world, or, “This world system.” Of course, I am speaking about Satan and his army. If you cannot see the mighty conflict raging, he has already blinded your mind. He is known by many, many different names and titles. But he is active, busy, in governments, in media, in education, in religion, deceiving, and blinding the minds of men. The Bible, (KJV) says in Ephesians 2:2; “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR.” Before we were saved, we followed this “god,” as does the unsaved world follow him, his teaching, his philosophy. He has a vast army, unseen, but as real as you and me.
As GOD the Father exists in three distinct personalities, so does the “god” of this world. Pictured in various ways in the Scriptures, but culminates in the Book of The Revelation, Chs. 13-19. Briefly, the Dragon of Rev. 13:1-2 is anti-god. The Beast of Rev 13:3-4 is antichrist. He apparently receives a deadly wound, and is miraculously resurrected, to copy the real Christ,(Rev 13:3, 12, 14). The Beast out of the earth in Rev. 13:11-18 is anti-spirit. In the “god” of this world you have a COPY of God the Father, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. May I take this moment to caution, to warn again about the subtle tricks of this satanic trio. Heaven looks down and sees them as Beasts, in their beast-like character. The world looks at the same trio and wonders, and marvels in amazement. Now, let this sink down deep in your heart today; If the Real Christ, and the anti-Christ were standing before us today, the only way we could tell them apart is by the witness of the Holy Spirit who lives in the believer. He would point out the real Christ,(Jn 16:12-15). That’s how subtle the “god” of this world is.
2. THERE ARE TWO CHRIST’S.

(A) THERE IS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST who gave His Life for our sins on the Cross, who was buried, who is alive forever. What can I say about Him? He is My Lord. My Saviour, My King, My All in all. I think of the billions of ways the notes of the musical scale have been arranged, and yet, the most melodious tune about Christ has yet to be written. Think of the letters of the alphabet, and the billions of ways these letters have been arranged by those who have attempted to adequately Praise Him. And still the most beautiful song, most beautiful poem, or sermon about Christ and His Work of Redemption has yet to be written or spoken.

(B) THERE IS ALSO ANTICHRIST. Revealed so clear in the Scripture. In Type, in Prophesy. Take a few moments and read 2Thess 2:1-17. The antichrist will one day enter the Temple, present himself as “god” and demand to be worshiped. Satan is a deceiver, a copier. Everything that God has, Satan tries to duplicate. God has His Christ, Satan has his anti-Christ. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is anti-Christ, that denieth the Father and the Son.” (1Jn 2: 18-22).

3. THERE ARE TWO SPIRIT’S.

(A) THERE IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. He SOUGHT us when we were sinners. He led us to Jesus Christ. He SAVED us when we asked Christ into our heart. We are “Born of The Spirit. He SEALED us with His presence. He SECURED us eternally. “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” He SEEKS to be our guide through every day. He is that “still small voice that speaks to the believer. So much could be said about the Holy Spirit.

(B) THERE IS THE SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST. Just as God uses the Holy Spirit to shine, to illuminate Christ, so, the spirit of antichrist illuminates the systems of this world. His artists paint a beautiful picture of the “Far country.” He blinds the minds of men to the reality of Christ. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father, but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (1Jn 2:22-23). Any “spirit” that does not magnify Christ is not of God.

4. THERE ARE TWO GOSPELS.

(A) THERE IS THE GOSPEL OF GRACE. “For by GRACE are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the Gift of God. Grace says that Salvation is a free Gift. If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Ro 10:9). Salvation is a free Gift. You cannot earn it, buy it, work for it, pray enough to merit it. The Gospel of the Grace of God is open for everyone who will receive Christ. By GRACE plus and minus nothing!

(B) THERE IS “ANOTHER GOSPEL.”
This “Gospel” adds things. Things like Baptism, circumcision, church membership, holding out, holding on, legalism, and a thousand other things that men can do. Things like robes, burning candles, priestly confessions, catechisms, oaths, and so on. Anything that adds to the Gospel of Grace, one single “work” that man must do in order to gain favor with God and help earn his salvation is “Another Gospel.” There is a strong condemnation against this “gospel” Paul says in Galatians Ch.1, That “if any man preach another Gospel, “Let him be accursed.” “Another Gospel” is very popular today. Do not let anything or anyone take your eyes off the Gospel of Grace..

5. THERE ARE TWO KINGS.

(A) There is a King called GRACE. We have already discussed Grace in the previous point. I just want to add this verse; “even so might Grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Ro 5:21). King Grace wants to reign in every heart.

(B) There is a king called SIN. “That as sin hath reigned unto death,” (Ro 5:21)
Sin has reigned for a long time, even since Adam. Sin reigns today. Christ paid for us the wages of sin, and now, death no longer reigns in the life of the believer. If physical death comes today, the believer will live forever in the Presence of our Lord. Christ reigns. Does He reign in your heart today? Or does sin still reign.? Dethrone this king called sin, and submit to the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

6. THERE ARE TWO PLANS OF SALVATION.
We have already discussed these plans in the fourth point. But just to refresh our minds, there is,

(A) God’s Plan of Salvation. God’s plan is “Look and live” “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” The text refers to the time when Israel murmured against God as He was leading them through the wilderness. God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and to hang the serpent high on a pole. God sent serpents into the camp, and many in Israel were bitten by these serpents. Moses told the people who were bitten by the serpents, to look at the brazen serpent on the pole, and they would not die. All they needed to do was to Look and Live. And so it is with Christ. We look to Him, in faith, believing what the Bible,(KJB) says about Him, and we live. That’s God’s Plan.

(B) Man’s plan of salvation. Man’s plan adds to, or takes away from God’s plan. If you stray from simple Salvation By Grace through Faith, plus or minus nothing, then you are submitting yourself to man’s plan, and that will NOT get you off the ground.

7. THERE ARE TWO FOUNDATIONS.
I believe that most of us are familiar with the Story that Jesus told in the Book of Matthew 7:24-27. Two men built their houses.

(A) The solid Rock Foundation. I believe that both of these men took care to design and build their house. They used the best material they could afford. They selected a good neighborhood. They worked, they planned, and stayed with their building until it was finished. And then one night, a storm came. It was not just another rainy night, this was a violent storm with rain, wind, and a flood. One of these builders had taken care to build his house on a solid foundation. After all, a building is no better than it’s foundation. His house stood the test. The Bible, (KJV) says that “Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ.” (1Cor 3:11-15) The Foundation of Christ is sure. He is the Rock upon Whom we build. This Foundation will never fail. Are you building your life, your future on the Foundation of Christ? Or are you like the other builder.

(B) Sand. Now, I feel sure that this builder did not just begin his building without doing some checking first. In a dry season, sand can become very hard. It can become very much like brick. This man probably saw something like that and came to the conclusion that this will make a fine foundation. But, when the waters begin to fall, and the sand began to soften, the foundation began to just “float away.” It looked so good in fair weather, But, life is not always fair weather. Storms come. Both of these men faced the same storm. One foundation stood the test, the other foundation failed. Which foundation are YOU building upon? If your foundation is not Christ, your foundation will fail. But, the choice is yours. Where you see the real, the false is not far behind.

8. THERE ARE TWO DESTINIES. Atlanta is quite a place, with quite a history, but Atlanta is not included in the final destiny of men. Heaven, the Beautiful City of God as described in the Book of Revelation, Chs, 21-22, that’s Home! That’s where Jesus lives, and where the Redeemed live. “Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Mt 7:13-14). Two destinies…

(A) Life..Eternal life. For those who have followed the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He brought us to Christ. We believed His Gospel. We accepted His plan of Salvation, we have the guarantee of eternal life. Our destiny is sealed.

(B) Destruction. A Christless Hell awaits those who reject Christ. Those who build upon the sand of time, will see everything fall, and great will be the fall of it. Why take any chances? Accept Christ, today.

9. THERE ARE TWO PREACHERS.

(A) There is the God-called Preacher. He is the MAN described by the Apostle Peter in 1Per 5:2-3, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight, thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” This is the Godly preacher who is concerned about the Spiritual welfare of his flock. He is concerned about his community and town. His is not preaching for money, or for prestige.
He is sincere, honest, and trustworthy. He will take his stand upon the Word of God, (KJV) and will not move.

(B) There is the man-called Preacher. He is in business for money only. He too is described in 1Peter 5, as one preaching for filthy lucre (money). He is described in various places in the Scriptures. Paul writes, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his minister also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works.” (2Cor 11:13-15)
These two preachers are very active, preaching their Gospel message. Just make sure that you examine their message.

10. THERE ARE TWO BIBLES. I mean that, there are only two bibles.

(A) From the RECEIVED TEXT we get our God-breathed Bible, the King James Bible. God gave this Book to the English speaking people of the world. God has Blessed it, Honored it, Protected it. I believe that every Word is inspired. I have found no fault in it, and I have no problem with the italics. This Book will explain Itself, if we just study it. The Bible says in Prov 30:5, “Every Word of God is PURE.” “The Law of the Lord is PERFECT.” (Psa 19:7). And , “Thou shalt PRESERVE them from this generation for ever.” (Psa 12:7) PURE, PERFECT, and PRESERVED. How can you possibly improve that? Perfection cannot be up-dated.

(B) From the MODERN CRITICAL TEXT there is the Antichrist bible. This “bible” comes in many colors, and with many different names. Names like, ASV, NASV, NKJV, Good News, Living Letters, TEV, NEB, NIV, RSV, TLV, and the list keeps growing. There will probably be another “translation” on the market by the time this publication is mailed. God is NOT in all of this confusion. This “bible” is never completed. It keeps changing with every new edition. Man keeps on searching, looking. He searches “GREEK” and “HEBREW” always searching but never finding, and always changing. In the very beginning, Satan used the hiss of a serpent to pervert the Word of God as he spoke to Adam and Eve. Today, he uses the minds of educated men. If these “bibles” listed above, and many not listed above attack the Person and Work of the Christ as presented in our God breathed Book, then these “bibles” are Antichrist “bibles.” Satan has been busy down through the centuries just adding a little here, and taking away a little there until he has managed to confuse the masses. Years ago when I first started in the Ministry, I wondered just how will there be a famine of hearing the Word of God in the last days, (Amos 8:11), seeing that the Bible was always on the best seller list. We did not have this mass of confusion in those days. Since we have seen this flood of antichrist “bibles” I can clearly see how. We are in that time of famine now. Oh yes, we have crowds, noise, movements. We have entertainment, comedians, laughter, medicine shows, but no revival. And there will be no revival apart from the Word of God.
The message then, is simple, Let the right Preachers, take the Right Bible, and preach the Right Gospel, and lead the people in the Right way, to build on the Right Foundation, being led by the Right Spirit.

CHOICES, CHOICES. The CHOICE is up to you. God has set forth choices in His Word. You make the decision. God will never break down the barriers in your life, you must open your heart and invite Him in. I urge everyone from the depths of my heart to accept the Christ of the Bible (KJB), to learn to study, and Love your Bible, and don’t let men deceive you by their “correcting” it while saying at the same time that they believe it. Makes no sense. Oh well, If ignorance is bliss, I’ll just stay Blissful.

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THINK ABOUT IT…Wherever you find the REAL, The FALSE is not far behind.

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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

HE IS NEAR!

Jesus is always near and listening to hear the lost sinner call on Him, asking for forgiveness of sin and trusting His finished work on the Cross for Salvation. He is near and no matter where you are He will hear you when you call upon Him. Maybe you are sick and in a hospital room, maybe you are in a prison cell, or maybe you are in your home or car, it doesn’t matter, Jesus is near! If you are in a bad situation and feel like you have no one to talk to, remember, Jesus is Near! Tell Him you need a friend, and He will be that friend. Tell Him you need help and He will be your help. Jesus Christ is all you need! Jesus is near! “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His Temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.” (Psa. 18:6). When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, He longs to hear from us, He waits for His children to tell Him our troubles. He wants to give us the desires of our heart, so talk to Him and walk with Him. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”(1Pet. 5:7). If you have a problem that seems to be hopeless to solve, just remember that all things are possible with the Lord. There is nothing too big for God and He has the answers to any problem we might have, Talk to Him, read His Word, trust Him and then watch Him work things out for your good! God is good and loves His children, just trust Him today. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” (Prov 3:5-6). Wherever you might be, shine for Jesus! Brighten the corner where you are and always remember “Jesus is near to comfort and cheer, just when we need Him most..”

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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
By Ashley Stevens

THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN

“Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.”
“Her candle goeth not out by night.”
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”
This month’s article is centered for all the ladies out there. Recently I got involved in a young woman’s bible study. We meet once a week to discuss how to be “the virtuous woman” that is portrayed in Proverbs 31. The “Proverbs 31 Woman” shines like a bright and beautiful light in the Old Testament Book of precepts and warnings. Today we see women of all ages, following the wrong type of role models in their lives. However, we are refreshed to find and see a timeless example of virtue, responsibility and good sense. In Proverbs 31, we are painted a picture of a woman who shows the qualities which every believing woman should strive to be like in her personal life, appearance, family life, and in her daily duties. Being a Proverbs 31 woman is not about being “perfect.” It’s about living life with a purpose, diligence, forgiveness, and repentance. She is, just to name a few traits, noble, trustworthy, hard working, generous, fears the Lord, honors her husband, and speaks with wisdom. My goal for you and for all the young women out there is to strive to be a virtuous woman. Read your Bible, study and understand what God has provided for us. Strive in your life to be a Godly example of the “Proverbs 31 woman.”
Until next time, Ashley Stevens.
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GOD BLESS AMERICA!
By Pastor George Mills

“Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” (Psa. 90:1)

AMERICA my home, may forever you be,
The home of the brave,
And the land of the free.
May tyranny crumple and turn into dust,
And weapons formed against you,
Be devoured by rust.

From ocean to ocean , from mountain to plain
May all hearts be united,
In single refrain.
In seeking the face of our Great God above,
Who has showered this nation,
With His Wonderful Love.

God is our help as in all ages past,
God is our refuge,
From the enemy’s blast.
And may it be known among all nations,
That God is our help,
As in all generations.

May our flag ever fly, may freedom ring,
And love, peace and joy.
Fill each heart as we sing,
Our praises to God, the Builder of nations,
And tell of His help,
Through all generations

Vol. 37, No. 8
August, 2013

THE DISOBEDIENT PROPHET
1Kings, Chs. 12-13

I suppose the one to whom I owe most credit for this message would be Evangelist Ed Ballew. This dear Brother was on the committee that ordained me into the Ministry almost 50 years ago. He went on to his Heavenly reward a few months ago. What a dear Soldier of the Cross he was.
Please take a few moments and read these two chapters. I do not have space in this publication to print all of this text. I will refer to some of the verses that I wish to use. The real issue of that day was APOSTASY. The real issue of our day some 3,000 years later is APOSTASY. Apostasy meaning, “A falling away” “A turning from the Truth, to lies.” We are now in the midst of that GREAT FALLING AWAY that Paul wrote about.
I have read this text many times. I have heard sermons preached from this text. I have read commentaries about this text. What I wish to share with you is a compilation of these things I have learned. I offer nothing new. I only trust that some of us will see where we are Spiritually, and where we are heading, and we will make our stand, and stand firm in this day. Times change, but the issues do not change. Oh we may call them something else, but the issues of that day so long ago are the issues of this day and age. A brief look into the times of our text reveals a great power struggle in the land of Israel. At the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam reigned in his stead. In Ch. 12 the old men of the land appealed to Rehoboam to ease the heavy tax burden from the people. The spending of Solomon had placed a heavy burden upon the people. The younger men had a different view. Their advice to King Rehoboam was, “Thus shalt thou shalt say unto them, my little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins,” (12:10). “Make the burden heavier. Set the tax rate higher.” was the advice of the younger men. Rehoboam forsook the advice of the elders. There was rebellion in the land, and two kingdoms were formed. Israel was the northern kingdom with King Jeroboam as ruler. Judah became the southern kingdom with Rehoboam as ruler. Rehoboam was not a very good ruler, nor was Jeroboam. Jeroboam was afraid that if the people of his kingdom went to Jerusalem to worship in the Temple, and keep the Holy Days, that the people’s heart would return to Rehoboam and Judah, (12:27). Jeroboam had a plan and set it in motion. “It is too far for the people to have to go all the way to Jerusalem to worship, I have a better plan.” (12:28-29). So Jeroboam set up an alter with a golden calf at Bethel and also one was set up at Dan. He also set up his own priesthood and holy days. And Jeroboam burned incense at the altar. Needless to say that God was not pleased with this situation, so God set His own plan in motion. He sent a man with a message. God called an UN-named Prophet to cry out against this APOSTASY in the land. As Jeroboam offered an “easy way” so the “profits” of our day offer an easy way. Today, there is no cross to bear, no warfare, no contending for the faith. We have scores of new “bibles” that say anything you want them to say. “A new way, and new things.” Things haven’t changed so much after all.

1.. THE PROPHET’S CHARGE.
“For it was CHARGED me by the Word of the LORD saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, not by the way he came to Bethel.”(13:9-10). The Prophet’s CHARGE was clear and plain. He was to enter Bethel, and to cry out against the Apostasy, and to exit the city another way. Do not linger, do not eat, do not drink. Just preach your message and leave. God’s CHARGE is always clear and plain. We have our own ways of “messing it up,” and placing the blame on others.

2. THE PROPHET’S CRY. (v2).
“And he cried against the altar in the Word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name, and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee,” The PROPHET’S message had two points…

“A child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name.” Over 300 years later that prophecy was fulfilled. (2Kings 23:15-17).

The second point of his message was, “The altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.” (13:3). This was fulfilled immediately.

The Prophet had done his job. He has been true and faithful to his calling. We have to admire the few who know their calling and will be faithful. I am a fundamentalist. I believe in the fundamentals of the Faith. I believe in the inspired, preserved Word of God, (Psa. 12:6-7).I have not moved one iota since I started many years ago. At this point in our text, the Un-named Prophet was a “fundamentalist.” He delivered the Word, unwavering. Later we will will see him in disobedience, and then we can call him a “New-Evangelical.” There is a difference, a vast difference.

3. THE PROPHET’S CRISIS.
When king Jeroboam heard the preaching of the Prophet, and saw that his altar was cast down at the voice of the Prophet, he pointed to the Prophet and told his officers, “Arrest that man.” The king’s arm remained in that position and he could not pull his arm to his side. What an awful fix to be in; your arm frozen in a pointed position and no way to pull it down. Then king Jeroboam asked the man of God to pray for him, and the Prophet did pray, and the king’s arm was restored. Again, the Prophet does fine. In gratitude the king invites the Prophet to his palace for refreshments and reward. The Prophet tells the king about his charge, that he cannot stop, drink, or eat. Or go out in the same way he came in.(13:4-10).This man of God has done just what God told him to do. The Bible says that there was an old prophet in Bethel who had some sons. These sons were in town when the man of God delivered his sermon and the altar was destroyed. These boys went home and told their father; “You should have been in town today and seen what happened. We saw the king’s altar destroyed. We saw the king’s arm healed. Man, this was really something!” “Where is this man?” the father asked. “We don’t know, he came in from the East and went West.””Saddle me an ass,” said the old prophet, and he went looking for the man of God. Now the real CRISIS begins.

1. The CRISIS is in the DELAY!

The old prophet found the Man of God sitting under an oak. This is no time to take a break. Get away from that place! You have fulfilled your mission, don’t stop now! I wonder how many of us have found that Satan’s best time of attack is right after we have had a great victory? We begin to feel good about ourselves. We even want to gloat some, then WHAMMO! Satan shows up in his disguise. Here he is in the person of an old prophet. “Let us “get together.” Let’s have a time of fellowship.” The Bible warns us that :It is no great thing if his (Satan’s) servants ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness.” (2Cor. 11:13-15). John warns us about deceivers, Jude warns us. Paul warns us, Peter warns us. Fellowship is fine. Fellowship is rewarding, refreshing, and relaxing , and needed. But there can be no fellowship when there is no agreement on the Word of God.

2. The CRISIS is in his DOUBTING.

The Old prophet invited the Man of God home with him. The Man of God answered, “I may not return with thee.” Now the CRISIS heats up. The old prophet said, “I am a prophet also as thou art, and an angel spoke to me by the Word of the LORD saying bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water.
BUT HE LIED UNTO HIM.” (13:18).
The question then is, “WILL A BROTHER LIE TO YOU? OH YES, YES, YES!. I hear it every day. Men who profess to be Christian brothers cast DOUBTS on the Word of God. Preachers, teachers, religious leaders, professors, Seminaries, etc. “Now, you can’t trust that verse.” or, The Greek doesn’t agree with that.” or “I have checked the Greek. The Hebrew” or “I have checked the “ORIGINALS.” (there are none).DOUBTS by the score hit our ears every day. The problem is that very few are really listening to what is being said. New “versions” created by committees, and more new ‘versions’ are on the way. There has never been such an all out attack on the Word as today!. The old preachers rebelled when the RSV hit the market in the 1940’s. Their grandsons, educated in liberal institutions, by liberal professors have no problem in accepting everything that has “bible” on the cover. Somebody has to wake up! God is not in all of this confusion about the Bible. He gave us His Word, He promised to PRESERVE His Word, He has kept His promise, but MEN LIE! If you are a preacher and you you hold to one of these new ‘versions’ and tell people that “This version is the Word of God, YOU LIE! If you can’t read it in English you cannot read it in Greek or Hebrew. If you say that one version is as good as any other, you LIE. If you say that these are just “up-dated” texts from the Old Bible, you LIE! These new versions come from a corrupt Wescott and Hort text. This Old Prophet LIED to the Man of God. Doubting the Word. What a crisis! In the Garden of Eden, Satan did his work on mankind by causing a doubt on the Word of God. All that he did was add a little three letter word. “Ye shall NOT surely die.” Over 60,000 words have been omitted from new versions. These are not “thee” and “thy.” but major words. The person and Work of Jesus Christ is attacked in every new version. Satan has been lying about the Word since the beginning. He has lots of help today! Will a brother lie? Oh Yes! Now our Fundamental prophet has become a “New-Evangelical.” The same words are used, but they don’t mean the same thing. Fundamental Bible words are being used but they don’t mean the same thing. I remember when the words; FUNDAMENTAL. INDEPENDENT BAPTIST meant just that. You could listen to the preacher declare his position, openly, without hesitation. I am afraid that in most cases today they mean something entirely different.

3. The CRISIS is in his DOCTRINE.

The Bible (KJB) is very clear. We are to preach and practice sound doctrine. That’s fundamentalism. New Evangelism says, “Let’s fellowship.” “Don’t take that so literal, after all, we must forget any differences and get together.”
“Can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). This Man of God had no business fellowshipping with this old prophet. This violated his charge. This old prophet has probably lived at or near Bethel perhaps for quite some time. There is no hint of his battling with the Apostasy of that day. “Now we command you BRETHREN, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every BROTHER that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received from us.” (2Thess. 3:6). We will not, we must not, we cannot compromise Doctrine although something may “seem” right, or something may look right. “After all, that’s the way everybody is going.” NOT ME! If it doesn’t stand the test of sound doctrine, stay away from it, You may have to stand alone. I learned that years ago.

4. THE PROPHET’S CALL HOME.
“There is a sin unto death.” God would not allow this Man of God to continue living. He called him home.

(A) His death was a premature death. I believe that many have been called home who could have continued for years, but because of disobedience, God called him home. God is not one who is looking for the slightest mistake in order for Him to call us home. God is Loving, Patient, and Kind. “For this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” (1Cor. 11:30). Many had died because of disobedience concerning the Lord’s Table. “There is a sin unto death,” Speaking to Christians, (1Jn 5:16), Now, I am in no way saying or even hinting that because some have been called home seemingly prematurely that they may have been guilty of disobedience or some other sin in their life. God forbid! Christians die. Some die young and some live long lives. God is the Judge of us all. He is the giver and taker of life. He knows what He is doing.

(B) His death was a peculiar death. “Peculiar” meaning “not ordinary.” “The Word of the Lord came to the prophet that brought him back. And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah saying, thus saith the Lord, forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord and has not kept all the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, but camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place of the which the Lord did say unto thee, eat no bread, and drink no water, thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers. And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone. A lion met him by the way, and slew him, and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion stood also by the carcase.” ((1Kings 13:21-24). Here is a very peculiar death. First, the lion did not slay the ass. His natural instinct would have him slay the animal. Second the lion did not eat the man. He just stood beside the man. The lion on one side and the ass on the other side, and the Disobedient Prophet in the middle. Very peculiar, very sad, so unnecessary. His funeral message consisted of three words; “Alas my brother.”(v30).We are reminded of the Apostle Peter’s warning, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring LION walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (1Pet. 5:8). That same LION is behind every bush in my town seeking whom he may devour.” He is ready to pounce upon that unsuspecting child of God. Don’t let him destroy your testimony. Stay close to Jesus, Stay in His Word.

Never doubt the Word of God no matter the circumstances.

There can be no real fellowship where there is disagreement on God’s Word.

Do not let other people determine what God’s Will is for you.

As Samuel said to Saul, “To OBEY is better than sacrifice.” (1Sam. 15:22).

Never doubt in the darkness what God says in the Light..

“But though we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Gal. 1:6-9)..

May I ask, is the issue of your Salvation settled? The Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (John1:12) Have you done that? Have you, in your own words told Him that you believe what the Bible says about His Birth, Life, death on the cross and His resurrection. If you have not done that, Right now, tell Him that you receive Him.
BEGIN TODAY, TO LIVE FOREVER!

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THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
By Pastor George Mills

“But can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
(Mt. 16:3).

Before we get into some of the things I wish to discuss with you in this message, let me share a few thoughts…

First, I do not believe that we are to be consumed in seeking signs, and setting dates. We should not be trying to“squeeze”things into some fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Much damage has been done in the lives of people down through the years who follow “date setters.”

Second. Signs concerning the return of Christ mentioned in the Bible are signs that precede His Second coming in the Revelation when every eye shall see Him. There are no signs concerning the Rapture, or secret “catching away” of the Church. Christ can come and catch away His Bride at any moment. This is true of any time in history. We do not look for signs, we listen for a shout. (1Thess. 4:13-18).

Third, when the Bible (KJB) speaks about the “last days” it is speaking about about the entire church age, from Pentecost to the rapture… “Hath in these LAST DAYS spoken unto us by His Son.”(Heb 1:2) “”Little children it is the LAST TIME.” (1Jn. 1:18). The antichrist system of the LAST DAYS was already working in John’s day. Paul said much about the last days, (1Tim. 4:1, 2Tim.3:1). The last days began with the early church and will end when Christ returns.

So, the things that I wish to bring to our attention are the things that have been occurring down through the years. I believe that the Bible,(KJB) clearly teaches that, although these things will happen, they will WORSEN as the time of the end approaches. I have examined every doctrine about the coming of Christ, and I made up my mind many years ago that I accept the pre-tribulation, premillennial return of Christ in the Rapture. Just how will things be here on earth at His coming? Will man ultimately find the solutions to the world problems? I think not!

THE BREAKDOWN OF FAMILY LIFE, THE HOME AND MARRIAGE VOWS AS INSTUTUTED BY GOD IS CLEARLY A SIGN OF THE LAST TIMES.
“As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, and were given in marriage until the day Noe enter into the Ark.”(Lk 17:26-27). The days of Noah began in Genesis 6, “They took them wives of all which they chose.’ The days of Noah are being repeated today, Just as Christ said. The HOME is basic to society. As the HOME goes, so society goes. Today, couples forsake marriage vows and live in adultery. Society today accepts this as normal, or the natural thing to do. The extended family is all but extinct in some classes of society. Today we have much to say about the Bible being taken away from the school room, the court room, and other rooms, public places, etc. But not much is being said about the Bible being taken away from our homes

GROWING IMMORALITY, MORAL DEGENERACY, ILLICET SEX, HOMOSEXUALITY , FORNICATION, All describe the growing lifestyle on earth as the day of the coming of Christ nears. It will not get better! “Likewise as it was in the days of Lot.” The one thing that marked Lot’s day was homosexuality, sodomy. Today this sin is glorified and promoted as an acceptable alternate lifestyle. The Supreme court has opened the door a little wider concerning Homosexual marriages. This sin is placed on the bottom step of the moral ladder downward in Romans, Ch.1. Apostate denominations have ordained homosexual “bishops” “priests” and “preachers” both male and female. But this is a violation of the Law of God. This moral degeneracy, this unashamed sinning is definitely a sign of the times. May I add this. We have nothing against anyone who chooses this lifestyle. We do stand in opposition to this GREAT SIN. God loves you. Christ paid the price for your sin, my sin by His finished work on the Cross. Faith in Him as your Personal Saviour can deliver anyone, set anyone free from an ungodly lifestyle, and make life worth living. I urge you to turn to Him, today!

FORSAKING THE WORD OF GOD, A TURNING FROM THE FAITH TO A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING THE POWER OF GOD IS A SIGN OF THE TIMES.
“This know also that in the Last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, false accusers, incontinent, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” (2Tim.3:1-4).”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” (2Tim 4:3-4). What is the TRUTH that men turn from? The answer; THY WORD IS TRUTH.” Not true, but TRUTH! Men in wholesale fashion have turned from that TRUTH and have turned to FABLES. The world of religion has become so entangled in doctrines of men that no two ‘churches’ are in agreement. Sound doctrine is a thing of the past. Sound doctrine is the glue that holds everything together. New doctrines are introduced daily. Television spews much false doctrine, and people are falling for it. Preachers cannot promote their doctrines and stay with the Old Book (KJB) at the same time. We do not need a new bible, we just need to get back to the old one, you know, the Book that brought us this far. I am sure it will take us the rest of the way. The Prophet Amos said, “Behold the days come saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread not a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” (Amos 8:11).
We have arrived!!..

ISRAEL IN A DESPERATE SITUATION IS CLEARLY A SIGN OF THE TIMES..
God’s prophetic clock is Israel. Some of Israel has returned to the homeland and is struggling for survival. Israel will return to the homeland during the tribulation. Such an influx of immigrants will pose great problems for the antichrist in those days. I believe that the preaching of the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM will call Israel home. (Mt 24:14). Today, Israel struggles for survival. To the south, Egypt threatens, To the west ships patrol the Mediterranean. To the east Arab nations threaten. To the north is Turkey and Russia. God said that He would draw all nations to that part of the world. Winston Churchill said, “This is not the end, this is not the beginning of the end, but this is the end of the beginning.”
Are you ready for that great event when the Lord Jesus will descend and call His Church home? If not, receive Him today. THINK ABOUT THIS…Every day is “the end,” for some, and for some, every day is the “beginning of the end,” but for all us us, we are seeing the “end of the beginning”“Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

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THINK ABOUT IT…
I once read about a group of college students as they toured the slums of a certain city. One of the girls seeing a little girl playing in the dirt asked her guide, “Why doesn’t her mother clean her up?” “Madam,” he replied, “that girl’s mother probably loves her, but she doesn’t hate the dirt. You hate the dirt, but you don’t love the little girl enough to go down to her and clean her up. Until hate for the dirt and love for the child are in the same person, that little child is likely to remain as she is. And until hate for the sin, and love for the sinner gets into the same person, nothing will be done about the plight of the lost.

<<<<<<<<<<<<MANNA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thanks to all who take time to write, or call , or stop by with some encouraging words about the work of the WILDERNESS Ministries. God has opened doors and allowed us to be in many countries of the world every Month. Every encouraging word is like MANNA! Thanks!

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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Honesty is a rare virtue these days. The truth is hard to find in a sin sick world. Just tell it so it will “sound good” is the motto for today. Just “beat around the bush” so to speak, but where is the truth? I’m baffled when a question is asked and I get an answer only to find out the next day that is was not a completely honest answer. The answer changes from day to day. Just tell it like it is the first time and save me from all the aggravation. The ones you expect to get a straight answer from sometimes disappoint us. I was in my kitchen waiting for a call with some good news concerning my husband’s health and the call finally came and thankfully, it was good news. However, by then, the frustration had set in so I had to have a talk with the Lord. I admitted to Him that I didn’t know what to believe or who to believe even after the call came in. I went down my list of complaining to the Lord and of course, He listened patiently. “Lord, can I believe what the Doctors say, can I really believe they are telling it like it is, are they really being honest and telling the truth or just telling me what they want me to hear? Lord. Can I even believe the mechanic when I take my car in for repair? Can I believe the news reporter, can I believe the preacher, (I hope so, he is my husband). Can I really believe they are telling it like it is. Or will I hear a different story tomorrow? After going down my list of doubting and lack of trust for everyone and everything in this world, I was reminded of what truth really is! “Thy Word is Truth!” God’s Word is never to be doubted and it can be trusted. God’s Word has been tried and tested. “Thy Word is Truth!” I prayed, “Lord, I don’t know who to believe or what to believe when I get so many different stories, but this one thing I know without a doubt; “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou are with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
What is truth? “Thy Word is Truth.” (Jn. 17:17).

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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
By Ashley Stevens

SHARING GOD’S LOVE

In my mind I had this vision of what my summer was going to be; beach, hanging with friends, and just relaxing. However, God had a different plan for me. It was a few days into the month of June and I was volunteering at a local Church to help out with Vacation Bible School. The children’s pastor came up to me and asked me if I would be interested in going on a mission trip with the Church. I just blew it off and told him that I didn’t think that I would be able to go. I honestly never gave it another thought. About mid-week, the Lord laid it on my heart that this is a trip that I needed to go on. So, two days before the mission trip, I decided to go. I was scared and nervous and did not know what to expect, but I had this overwhelming peace that God gave me. I now know why God wanted me on that trip. Not only did we have 17 children come to know Christ, but God was working in my heart too. This trip allowed me to become closer to Him. Nothing can replace that. So I encourage you, if you have a chance to go on a mission trip, take it! You never know what seed God may be planting in your life.

Until next time, Ashley Stevens

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THINK ABOUT IT…Since Jesus was raised from the dead, His Lordship is Unquestionable, His Word is Unalterable, and His Promise is Unmovable, His Mission is Unstoppable.

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O STILLER OF THE STORM
By Pastor George Mills

“And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, peace be still, and the wind ceased and there was a great calm.” (Mk. 4:39).

O stiller of the storm tossed sea,
O Keeper of the deep,
Straightener of my pathway be,
For my path is very steep.

O strength that keeps through the long, long day,
O Watcher of the long, long night,
O Guider through the darkened way,
When there is but little light.

O Lighter of my dreary path,
Please hasten to my need,
The storm is raging in it’s wrath,
For help, I humbly plead.

O Walker on the storm tossed sea,
O voice that whispers peace,
Just speak and the waters calm will be,
The storm will have to cease.

Just see how the waters calmly lay,
The winds no longer blow,
Because they heard the Master say,
“Be still,” and it was so.

What calmness now, what healing balm,
Now safe from every harm,
All praise to Christ, my life is calm,
O STILLER OF THE STORM.