Vol. 33, No. 12 December, 2009

“THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT.” (2Cor. 9:15).
       (A Gift that keeps on giving)
           By  Dr. George Mills

It is hard to realize that another year has passed and it is Christmas Time again! The years are swiftly passing. We want to take this opportunity to wish for everyone out there, wherever you may be, that you and yours will have a Wonderful Christmas Season, and for the New Year, a Happy, Prosperous, Christ Honoring 2010. We will be starting on the 34th year of this Publication. Thanks to everyone who prays, and in various ways support this Ministry of Publications, Tracts, Booklets, Prisons, Missions, Internet, Broadcast, and all efforts to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We wish for all A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Of course we equate Christmas with giving. The wise men brought GIFTS of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.”
Paul, in writing to the Corinthians was encouraging Churches to send an offering to the poor Saints at Jerusalem (Ro. 15:25-28,  1Cor. 16:1-3). In his

 thinking about giving, his heart is
overwhelmed with the thought about the Greatest Gift of all, the Gift of God’s son. “THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!” Let us all join in with his Praise to God for the Gift of His Son.

Did you ever receive a gift that so impressed your heart that you could not find words to adequately describe how much you really appreciated that particular gift? I believe that all of us at one time or another have received such a gift…INDESCRIBABLE! Today, let us see just a few things from God’s Gift that KEEPS ON GIVING.

1. SAVIOUR. A Gift unspeakable. “Incapable of being expressed in words.” “For unto you is born this day, in the city of David A SAVIOUR which is Christ the Lord.” (Lk 2:11). “And thou shalt call His Name Jesus for He shall SAVE His people from their sins.” (Mt 1:21) JESUS, SAVIOUR! At the right time, in God’s timing, when the nations were right, the languages were right, seasons were right, at the proper time, and not before, or late, Jesus was born of the virgin, to live a sinless life, to die for the sin of all mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16). At this time of shopping, planning, family togetherness and all the sweet things of the Christmas season, let us remember the PERSON of Christmas, the PURPOSE of Christmas, and the PRICE of Christmas. God gave His Son!

2. SALVATION.  a Gift unfathomable. “Impossible to comprehend.” Man is a sinner, God is HOLY. This is a chasm uncrossable by man, but not so for the Holy God. The man Simeon went into the temple at the circumcision of Christ, took the Babe in his arms and said, “Lord lettest thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word. For mine eyes have seen thy SALVATION.” (Lk 2:25-33). SALVATION, What a Gift!
SALVATION, meaning, “to be delivered from the bondage of sin.” God’s SALVATION is a three-fold deliverance:

(A) Deliverance from all PAST SIN When we, in Faith believe the Message of the Gospel, ALL past sin is forgiven, paid for, by the work of Christ in His death on the Cross. An inmate wrote to me; “I am in prison for child abuse. I worshipped Satan. I have a 666 Tattoo on my body. Can I be forgiven?”
“OH YES, Christ paid for ALL sin.”

(B) Deliverance from all PRESENT SIN.  “If we (Christians) confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”(1Jn 1:9) I wish that I could say that since we have confessed Christ, we never sin again. NOT SO! There are sins of commission, and sins of omission. Both are wrong. God’s SALVATION has provided daily cleansing from sin. When we fail God (and we do fail) Claim the promise of this wonderful verse.

(C) Deliverance from all POSSIBLE SIN.. Our Salvation delivers us from all PAST, PRESENT and POSSIBLE sin. Salvation one day will raise us to a higher plain, far beyond our understanding. Christ will one day return in the air and call His Church home. There we will live in a place where sin has no access. (Rev 21:1-5). “For the wages of sin is death but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Ro. 6:23) What an immeasurable GIFT!

3. SONSHIP. A Gift unchangeable. “Immutable, changeless.”
“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 very moment we received Christ, we became a Son of God. As we were born into our earthly family, we were born into God’s family by way of the New Birth, (John 3:1-7). Sonship never changes. I will always be the son of my father. My Father and I were separated when I was three years old, and I never saw him again. That separation had nothing to do with my relationship to my father. I will always be his son. I have a Heavenly Father. Nothing can ever change that relationship. No angel, no devil, no principality, no power present, past, or potential, no, nothing can ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ro 8:31-39).

4. SPIRIT. A Gift unutterable. “Beyond the power of description.”
The best friend one can have is the presence of the Holy Spirit. This Dear Friend came into our lives the moment we received Christ as our Saviour. (Eph 1:13). He is our Guide, our Helper, and our Teacher. He teaches us the things of Christ. He is like a giant spotlight as He illuminates Christ.  He is the Author of the Holy Scriptures. He is our Power. our Strength. Our first words every morning should be, “GOOD MORNING HOLY SPIRIT. PLEASE BE MY POWER, WISDOM, AND STRENGTH FOR THIS DAY.”  Get to know Him. He is that still small voice in you that seeks to say to each one of us,  “This is the way, walk ye in it.” (Isa 30:21).  No, mere words can adequately describe these wonderful Gifts, THEY ARE TO BE EXPERIENCED.

5. SUPPLICATION.  A Gift unthinkable. “Not capable of being grasped by the mind.” Supplication, meaning prayers and access to God. Who would have ever believed that lowly man can communicate with the High, and Holy God? He invites us to “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not.” (Jer. 33:3). What king would allow his subjects free and unlimited access into his presence? NONE! But our God, by way of the Cross, invokes the prayers of His people. “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my Name. Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” (Jn 16:24-26).
God knows all things, but He limits Himself to the prayers of His people. What an unthinkable, immeasurable Gift of God.

6. SCRIPTURES.  A Gift unalterable. “Not capable of being altered or changed.” Oh yes, men try. Through the ages man has tried to change, alter, or improve, but it cannot be done. The battle of the ages rages today. That battle concerns the Holy SCRIPTURES.” Forever O Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven.” His Word is forever settled for me. I do not try to explain it away, or look for definitions. I do not try to impress anyone with my knowledge of Greek or Hebrew. God promised that He would PRESERVE His WORD forever. (Psa 12:6-7). Many a time I have searched for something that I had been using. I searched every place I could think of. I retraced my steps, and would you know it? I found it right where I laid it down. Man searches for the Scriptures today. He looks through commentaries, dictionaries, and Lexicons, trying to find the Word. I believe that if he really wants to find It, all he has to do is look where he laid it down.  God gave His Word, in English, in 1611. This has been the BOOK of books for 400 years. In spite of the attacks against it, it is still the BOOK of books. Thank God for His Unalterable, unshakeable, immeasurable, fathomless GIFT of the HOLY SCRIPTURES.  
 
Oh, there is so much more. God has decorated for you a beautiful Christmas tree laden with gifts. “This is marvelous in our eyes” His Christmas Tree is the CROSS OF CALVARY. Every one of these Gifts, and so many, many more are just hanging there, waiting to be received. That sparkling ornament on the top of His Tree is HIS GRACE.  Grace enough to forgive all, to change all, to deliver all.
A Gift is just that, A GIFT. All we need to do is reach out and take it. We do not earn it, we just receive it.  Just reach out by Faith alone and tell God that you believe and that you receive His Gift of Salvation. Begin TODAY to live FOREVER!

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FROM MY HEART
By Mildred Mills

ARE YOU QUALIFIED?

Don’t you just love those dear ones that always have advice to spew out when problems arise!?! Nothing wrong with giving advice if you can back it up with your life. The life we live determines whether or not we are qualified to give advice. And of course make sure the advice we give is in line with the Scriptures. Are you saved? Do you know for sure you have a home in Heaven? Do you attend Church regularly and fellowship with God’s children? After all, if you are saved these are your brothers and sisters in the Lord. Do you love being around God’s people or are you more comfortable around ones that have never claimed Him as their Saviour? Do you have a forgiving and loving spirit that only God can give you? I could go on and on. Feel free to give advise if you are qualified.  On the other hand don’t give advise to others if you have a cold heart with little or no evidence of being born again. How can you advise others concerning their life if you don’t know how to live? How can you advise others on how to raise their children if you have never had any children? If you can’t drive, how in the world can you tell someone else how to drive? You would be surprised at the ones that can’t push a grocery cart down the aisle without running over someone, but they can certainly tell others how to drive a car. Then we have those advice givers that have carried on a grudge for years and still carrying it against someone that didn’t do things their way. Grudge carriers are the ones that advise others in a time of upset to just; “Let it go! Drop it! Forget it! You just need to let it go!”  I don’t know about you but that sounds a bit hypocritical to me. Make sure you are saved and then you can advise others to be saved; now that’s good advice!  Then live a life that others can see that you are qualified to advise them. Until then just refrain from advising others. Take advice from God’s Word and make sure you are saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13). “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).
Now that you are saved, Jesus is your Counselor and His Word is filled with perfect advice! “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).  “Call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”

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THINK ABOUT IT…The heaviest load to carry through life is a grudge!

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. The advice of the world is; “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes.” (Eccl. 11:9).

The advice of God is, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”(Eccl. 12:13)..

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        FOR THE NEW YEAR
“I WILL TAKE THE CUP OF SALVATION AND CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD” (Psa 116:13).

“What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits?” (v12).

The Psalmist had been in an awful fix. But he found help in the Lord.

1. HIS PLIGHT… (v1-4)

DEATH surrounded him. v3.
HELL was upon him, v3.
TROUBLE was about him. v3.
SORROW was in him. v3.

Did you ever feel like that? No matter where you turn, trouble is there waiting for you.
I cannot think of any worse condition to be in. The Psalmist evidently sought help, but he found that his advisers were just a bunch of liars, v11.
This accurately describes the condition of the lost man who does not know Christ.

2. HIS PLEA. “Then called I upon the Name of the LORD. O LORD, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul.”v4.   “I was brought low. And He helped me.” v6. Conviction had brought him to his knees.  “I looked on my right hand, but there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed me, no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee O LORD; I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” (Psa 142:4-5).
God always hears the cry of the heart. The Psalmist has poured out his heart to God. “Thou hast heard the voice of my supplications.” v1.

3. HIS PRAISE.  “I love the Lord because”  v1. The Psalmist begins to PRAISE GOD for His bountiful blessings.

He found Grace, v5. “Gracious is the Lord.” We know that Grace is the Attribute of God that gives us what we do not deserve.

He found Mercy, v5. Mercy is the Attribute of God that keeps us from getting what we rightly deserve.

He found Righteousness, v5. The Psalmist knew that whatever God chose to do that He would be Right in so doing. “If God refused to hear my cry, He would still be Right.” BUT “He hath heard my voice.” v1.

His soul is delivered from death, v8. The penalty of sin is death. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”(Eze 18:4). God’s Mercy has removed that awful fate. Christ bore ALL sin in His body on the Cross.

His tears are dry. v8. No doubt the Psalmist had shed many tears before he called out to God. Now he can clearly see what God has done for him.

His feet are firmly planted. v8. The Psalmist said in Ch. 40, “He hath brought me out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” How wonderful it is to know that your feet are firmly set upon that solid Rock which is Christ.

He has the promise of Heaven.v9. “I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.” According to Rev. 21:4-5, the Land of the living is in Heaven, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passes away…these words are true and faithful.”

4. HIS PROMISE. “What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me?” v12. As he rehearses the goodness of God in his life, “What can I do for Him?”

1. “I WILL take the cup of Salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD.” v13. Although Salvation is FREE, it may bring with it one or more “cups.”

For Christ, His was…
A CUP OF BITTERNESS.  “And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this CUP pass from me, nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Before Christ that awful night was a CUP that contained all of the sin, the filth, the vileness, all of the bad of all the ages. Christ drank that BITTER CUP for me, and for you, and for the world.

A CUP OF BETRAYAL. As He instituted the Lord’s supper, He said,” This CUP is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you. Behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.” Lk. 22:20-21. Judas Iscariot sitting with Him in that room went out and betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver.

A CUP OF BAPTISM. When answering the Mother of James and John about her sons sitting on His right and left in the kingdom He said, “Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the CUP that I shall drink of and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto Him, we are able. And He saith unto them ye SHALL drink indeed of my CUP.” Mt 20:22-23. Our Salvation may bring with it one of these or other CUPS. The Christian life is not a life of ease and luxury as many try to paint it. The PROMISE of the Psalmist is, “Whatever CUP God has for me, I will drink of it.” Now, don’t get me wrong, there is JOY in serving Jesus. There are also times of TOIL.

2. “I WILL faithfully call upon the Name of the LORD.” v13, v2. The Psalmist experienced the power of prayer. “Then called I upon the Name of The LORD” v4. He had seen Prayer work in his own life, he knew it would work for others
These are wonderful resolutions for the New Year.

3. “I WILL offer to Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving” v17. I wonder. Just what does he mean, “I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving?” The word ‘sacrifice’ means, “an act of offering to Deity something precious.” The most valuable thing I have to offer Him is myself, my time, my all. “That ye present your bodies a living sacrifice.” That’s the least, and most that we can do.

4. “I WILL pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all His people.”
v14, also v18. A vow does not necessarily mean money. It may, or may not. A vow is something that I promised God that I would do for Him. How many times have I heard someone say, “If God will do this for me, then I will be faithful to His church, etc.” But, 4 weeks later, the vow is forgotten. Now there are many illustrations I could mention here, but you know what you have said, and have promised God.  “When thou vowest a vow unto God defer not to pay it, for He hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than thou shouldest vow and not pay.” (Eccl. 5:4-5).

Now, let each of us be mindful in the NEW YEAR, 2010 that we must keep the promises we have made to God. Here are some resolutions for 2010;

1. I will gladly take whatever CUP that Salvation brings with it. Whatever God has for me to do, that will I do.

2. I will faithfully Pray. You, your loved ones, your neighbors, your Church, your nation needs daily prayer. God would not have commanded us to pray if our prayers would not make a difference.

3. I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving. I will offer God my best, my time, my all.

4. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of his people.

Now if each one of us will remember to keep these promises through 2010, what a difference our lives, our homes, our Churches will be.

GOD BLESS YOU. HAVE A GREAT AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

         “Begin again, in 2010”

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As we bid farewell to the old year we must not forget to say to one and all who pray for us, who encourage us, for every offering, for every nice and thoughtful thing you have done, THANK YOU!
CHRIST IS ALREADY THERE
    By Pastor George Mills
           (For the New Year)

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

I will not fear this bright New Year,
   I will face it without dread,
My Lord is here,
He’s always near,
   And He knows what lies ahead.

This New Year will bring it’s care,
   And trials, hard to bear,
I’ll face each day,
Christ knows the way,
   For He is already there.

Each day I’ll live in fullness free,
   His Will, I’ll do my best,
With Christ to lead,
His Grace to plead,
   He’ll see me through each test.

Who knows just what tomorrow brings?
   Christ is already there,
Perhaps this year,
His voice we’ll hear,
   And meet Him in the air.

It may well be this very year,
   Our Blessed Lord will come,
We’ll see his smile,
At our last mile,
   “My child, you’re welcome home.”

So let us face this Bright New Year,
   With hope, without a care,
And do our best,
For tomorrow we rest,
   Christ is already there!

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IF I DO MY BEST, WILL I GO TO HEAVEN WHEN I DIE???

Millions of people around the world have the idea that if they try hard enough, that if they live up to a certain standard, that if they refrain enough, reform enough, if they are sincere enough, that if they just do their best, God will receive them into Heaven when they die.
     BUT WHAT DOES GOD SAY?

First, your best IS NOT good enough. The Bible says that “All of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” In the light of what God has done for us, our best just does not measure up.

Second, the BEST has already been done.

A. God gave His BEST. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(B) Jesus gave His BEST. “For when we were without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Jesus Christ, through His finished work of the Cross, His burial, and His bodily resurrection from the dead supplies everything needed for time and eternity.
The BEST has been done. You must Receive that, or Reject that. There is no other way.

RECOGNIZE that your best is not good enough.

REALIZE That Jesus Christ is God’s standard for righteousness. We all fall short of that standard.

RECEIVE Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour. He will forgive your sin and make you ready for Heaven WHEN YOU DIE. How do you receive Him? Tell God in your own words, “Lord, in the best way I know how, I now, by faith alone receive Jesus Christ as my Saviour. I accept His sacrifice on the Cross as full payment for all my sin.” Then and only then will God’s Best be your best!

 (WILDERNESS TRACT)

Vol. 33, No.11  November, 2009

       THE WORK OF MARY  THE WASTE OF JUDAS
         Studies in John, Ch. 12
         By  Dr. George Mills

1. “She, (Mary) hath wrought a good work on me.” (Mk. 14:6)

2. “He, (Judas) went immediately out and it was night.” (Jn. 13:30)
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1. THE WORK OF MARY. “She hath wrought a good work on me.”
 I shall obey our Lord’s command given in Mark 14:9 that; “Wheresoever this gospel is preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.”
There is no counting the number of messages preached or written about the WORK OF MARY. This has been a constant source of encouragement for believers through the ages, and I trust for many who read this today.
I feel very sure that the messages I have heard and read on this text have a great influence on my thoughts as I write this. We have been going through the Gospel

 of John in our morning Service here at Yukon Baptist Church. We have reached
 John, ch. 12 where this WORK OF MARY appears one of three times in the Word of God; Mt. 26:6-13, Mk. 14:1-9,
Jn. 12:1-11. We will visit all three in this message. While there are many others mentioned in the text, I choose to single out THE WORK OF MARY and THE WASTE OF JUDAS.

“Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom He raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” (Jn. 12:1-3). Jesus’ head and feet were anointed with the ointment, (Mk 14:3).

A. HER WORK WAS PURE. Her work came from a PURE sincere heart of Love for Christ. Christ knows what is in man, He knows the sincerity of the heart. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the

heart.” (1Sam 16:7). “He knew what was in man.” (Jn. 2:24-25).  Christ had raised Mary’s brother Lazarus from the
dead, (ch. 11). She was grateful. This was her way to express her gratitude.  Did you begin this day in thanking God for His Love and Mercy for you? He woke me up this morning. He did not have to do that, but He did! He saved my soul almost 50 years ago. My life is filled with sweetness and good things. I Praise His Holy Name. It is recorded of a past society in Romans, ch. 1, “Neither were they thankful.” Mary’s work is the PRIME EXAMPLE of expressions of love and appreciation for Christ. He did not choose some great work, some large building program, or a University, or one of many great works that men do. These are great. I would never make light of any work done for Christ, small or great. But Jesus pointed to this selfless act of love for His kindness.
 In Luke Ch. 7:37-50, a woman anointed Jesus’ feet with ointment. The woman was grateful that Christ had forgiven her sin, (Lk. 7:48). Jesus gave the illustration of two debtors. One owed five hundred pence and the other owed fifty. When they had nothing to pay, the creditor forgave them both. “Tell me, which will love him most?” Simon answered, “I suppose that he to whom He forgave the most.” Jesus said, “Thou hast rightly judged.” “Wherefore I say unto thee, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much, but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” My dear friend, if you know Christ in free pardon of your sin, He deserves our best. He deserves that we serve Him out of a PURE HEART. There was nothing hypocritical, or phony, or pretense about her act of love. Let every heart serve Him in sincerity, truth, and Love out of a PURE HEART.
B. HER WORK WAS PUBLIC.  Unashamedly, before all she bowed before His feet and worshipped Him. She anointed Christ with the best she had. Our Lord has been plagued with “Secret Disciples” since He began His earthly Ministry. “Many believed on Him, not openly for fear of the Jews.” It is recorded John 19:38, “Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but SECRETLY for fear of the Jews.” Oh yes, He had many followers. Some were in the house and some were with the crowd outside. “Because that by reason of him (Lazarus) many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus.” (John 12:11) but only one bowed at His feet and PUBLICLY worshipped Him. Hatred was in the room, religion was in the room, evil plans were in the room, priests and protestors were there, but nothing mattered to her, Mary worshipped Him PUBLICLY, and unashamedly.
C. HER WORK WAS PERSECUTED.
“To harass, to grieve, to afflict or cause injury.” Judas Iscariot rebuked her and said to Christ, “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?” Christ said, “Leave her alone.” Judas called this act “a waste of ointment.” (Mk. 14:4). May I say that you cannot waste anything on Jesus. Whatever you do for Him out of a heart of gratitude is never wasted. Sure, others may see your work, and when they see what you do, they will find fault. They will call you “prideful, or vain, or self seeking, naïve” or a thousand other things. BUT DO IT ANYWAY! JUST DO IT! It does not matter what you do, others will find fault. Others will talk about you, mock you, PERSECUTE you. But if it is for Jesus, JUST DO IT! Down through the years I have had fingers pointed at me, and even to this day; “Why does he do what he is doing, and why is he doing it the way he is doing it? If I listened to all of this, I would never have gotten the first thing done. JUST DO IT! I heard of a man who said to Evangelist D.L. Moody, “I just don’t like the way you do things.” Mr. Moody replied, “I don’t like the way I do things either. How do you do them? The man answered, “Well, er, ah, I don’t really do them.” Moody replied, “While I don’t like the way I do things, I like the way I do things better than I like the way you don’t do them.” And so it goes. Whatever you do others will not approve. If I listened to the voice of others I would not have printed the first edition of the WILDERNESS back in 1976. I would not have started the Church In The Wildwood Broadcast, I would not have used the internet, nor reach into the various prisons, nor send the first Bible (KJB) to Africa. Jesus told us to “Take this Gospel to the world.” That’s what I am trying to do. The Bible warned about the apostasy, the turning away from the truth (the Bible) to fables. (2Tim 4:1-5). We stand for the PURITY, the INTEGRITY of the Word of God PRESERVED and given to the English speaking people of the world in the King James Bible. There is a price to pay for this. Others mock, “You need to come up to date,” But, as I have said, just do what you can, while you can! And remember this; your Judge is not down here. One day every believer will stand at the Judgment seat of Christ to give account of our work down here. Our motives, intentions, our works will be judged Righteously, and rewarded accordingly, (Ro. 14:10-12, 1Cor. 3:11-15). If it’s out of a heart of love for Jesus, JUST DO IT!
D. HER WORK WAS PRICELESS.
“Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?” Three hundred pence would equal about a year’s wages. We know the price of the ointment used on Christ 2000 years ago. But can a price be placed on Christ’s approval? Something that has been such an influence to others for all these centuries, can we price that? Can we price encouragement or example? I think not. From her heart there was a profuse, pouring forth, liberal, bountiful gift for her Lord. I believe that the best thing that could ever enter our hearing would be the words our Lord said of her, “She hath done what she could.” These six words have stirred thousands of discouraged souls to a life of victory. PRICELESS INDEED!
E. HER WORK WAS PUNCTUAL.
Her work was on time. She did what she could do at the best and only time she had. I believe that she got the message about His impending death on the cross. Others did not. I believe that she was filled with excitement just waiting for the right moment, and that moment came.
“Then said Jesus, let her alone, against the day of my burying hath she kept this.” (Jn. 12:7). In Mark 16:1-6, after the crucifixion and burial of Christ, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, the mother of James and Salome came to the tomb with spices that they might anoint the body of Jesus. When they arrived at the tomb, they saw the stone was moved. They were told by a young man, (perhaps an angel, Mt. 28:1-6) “He is risen, He is not here.” They had good intentions, they wanted to do the right thing, but they waited too late. Sound familiar? We too have good intentions, but so often, we wait until it’s too late.  Mary alone was privileged to anoint the body of Jesus before Calvary. Oh yes, we plan to fill a Sunday school class with boys, but some other time. Young girls desperately need Christian examples and teaching, and some plan to build a class of young girls, BUT, and then it’s too late. Whatever we plan to do for Christ, get to it. Time is passing.
F.  HER WORK WAS PERPECTUAL.
Mary did what she could, when she could, and Christ said, “She hath wrought a good work on me.” (Mk. 14:6). Her work did not end there. Her work continues to this day. Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” (Mk. 14:9) Jesus said take this gospel to the nations, to Europe, Asia, Africa, China, to the islands of the sea. Take this gospel to the north, to the south, go east until you meet west. Tell the world this gospel; The Virgin Birth, Sinless Life, Vicarious Death on the Cross, the Burial, the Resurrection, the Ascension of Christ. Tell the world! And while you are telling this gospel, be sure to mention the work of this woman, known only to a few in a small village. A small work in the eyes of man, but quite large in the eyes of Christ. She has encouraged countless in ages past to do what we can, while we can,

Only one life will soon be past,
  Only what’s done for Christ will last.

2. THE WASTE OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.
It is not easy to find the right place to begin with the story of Judas. Judas called Mary’s work a “waste.” There has never been a greater waste than that of the life of Judas Iscariot.
It is believed that Judas was a disciple of John the Baptist. He must have been a very nice young man. Usually soft spoken, known and respected by all. In John 13:21-30, Jesus said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.” The disciples began asking, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus gave them a clear answer; “He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it, and when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop, Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, that thou doest, do quickly.” “He then having received the sop went immediately out, and it was night.” Jesus plainly told them who the betrayer was, but no one in the room suspected Judas. He seems to be the kind of a fellow that everyone liked very much and trusted. No one suspected Judas. There is no way to measure the great potential of Judas Iscariot. But no one knew that he had betrayed their trust and had been stealing money from their treasury. “Now this man (Judas) purchased a field with the reward of iniquity.” (Acts 1:18) He had been investing in real estate with stolen money.  He was the father of “religious charlatans.”  Believe me he has many sons and daughters active today!

Now, this is just some food for thought… The place of our text is the village of BETHANY. The house at Bethany was the house of Simon, the leper, (Mt. 26:6).
Judas Iscariot was called, “Simon’s son,” Jn. 12:4, 13:26. So it is very likely that Judas Iscariot, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were brothers and sisters, and that Simon was their father. There is no record that Simon was a believer in Christ, and we know that Judas was never a believer, but Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were believers. Jesus said, “I am come to send fire on earth, and what will I, IF IT ALREADY BE KINDLED.” “From henceforth there shall be FIVE in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.” (Lk. 12:49-53).There at the house of Simon the leper you have the fire already kindled. Three against two, and two against three. But as far as Judas is concerned, a wasted life for one who had great potential. He betrayed our Lord for thirty pieces of silver. “He brought the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood, and they said What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and went and hanged himself,” (Mt 27:4-5) With the thirty pieces of silver, the priests bought the potter’s field to bury strangers in. This potter’s field is not to be confused with the real estate Judas was buying in Acts 1:18. He HANGED himself. What a tragic end to a life that could have done so much.

BUT, has the world seen the last of Judas? Before I close this, think on these things. I cannot be dogmatic on these but they are at least food for thought and Bible study…
 In John 17:12, Jesus prayed, “While I was with them in the world I kept them in Thy Name; those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost BUT THE SON OF PERDITION that the scripture might be fulfilled.” Jesus referred to Judas as THE SON OF PERDITION.
Paul, in referring to the Antichrist in 2Thess 2:3 called him THE SON OF PERDITION.  
In Rev. 17:8, the beast (Antichrist) ascends out of the bottomless pit and shall go into PERDITION, identifying him with Judas Iscariot. This rising from the bottomless pit suggests a resurrection. Satan copies everything about Christ. So, has the world seen the last of Judas?
Many identify the two witnesses of Revelation 11 as being Elijah and Moses resurrected and coming back to earth during the tribulation to oppose the Antichrist three and one half years and be killed by him. If Moses and Elijah return to earth, why not Judas also?  JUST THINKING!
How tragic was the life of Judas. A nice young man with personality and ability. Think of the many times he had opportunity to trust Christ. Think of the miracles he witnessed. Time and time again he said NO.
In John 12:37, “He had done so many miracles before them, yet they BELIEVED NOT.”
In John 12:39, “Therefore they COULD NOT Believe.”
They WOULD NOT believe, and there came a time when they COULD NOT believe. It is dangerous for one to hear the Gospel of Christ and not respond to the Grace of God. The heart gets a little harder each time. This is why it is recorded; “TODAY, IF YOU WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEART.” So many, many lives have been tragically wasted because they put off salvation too many times.
And you, my dear friend. Have you responded to the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ? If not, TODAY is your day. Christ is there, wherever you are. He is there in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If there is a desire in your heart to receive Christ, God put that desire there. Receive Him today. Tell Him that you receive Him. He will hear the cry of your repentant heart. You can turn from a life of WASTE to a lifelong WORK for Christ.
Begin TODAY to live FOREVER!

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        FROM MY HEART
          By Mildred Mills

WORDS CAN HURT OR BLESS

The entire third Chapter of James tells us how hurtful our words can be. Remember when we were kids and things didn’t go our way and one of our siblings or little friends would blast us or we would blast them with; “Sticks and stones may break my bones but WORDS will never hurt me!” Remember that? Well, words do hurt, they burn like fire when they are hurled at you. Please read the entire third Chapter of James. Verse six tells us, “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” When we get up in the morning and speak, we have set the course for the day. It may be a happy day, or it may be a hateful, bad day. It all depends on our words. Is it, “Good morning, did you sleep well?” Or is it, “You snored all night, you woke me up when you turned the light on and I’ve been awake ever since.” The things we say, the words we speak either sets a fire or causes calmness about us. Even a child is effected by our words. Our Grandsons nine and five years old sometimes spend the night with us and I take them to school the next morning and in doing so  I’ve learned that words spoken in the early mornings make a difference in their day. For instance, if I enter their room with , “get up, get up, we are going to be late for school,” or “You should have gone to sleep when I put you to bed,” or “No time to play around, just get in the car!” These words set the course for them to have a bad day. They will be irritable and nothing seems to go right for them the rest of the day. On the other hand, if I get up and enter their room with a soft voice and let them know it’s time to rise and shine and get ready for a fun day at school, I set a different course. I begin to tell them what a good day they are going to have. I tell them what fun we will have when I pick them up and before you know it they are up and dressed and ready for their day. WORDS make a difference! We hurt or bless others with our words. Let me say right from the start I have never been at a loss for words. I am known to speak my mind, I try to tell it like it is, I tell the truth when I speak and I hate the telephone because I believe it is another tool for the devil to use to promote gossip. However, I love to talk! It’s not the talking that hurts, it’s what you say when you talk. I’m sure that I have stung others a few times with my words (well, maybe more than a few times) and so have you. We need to be careful according to the 3rd Chapter of the Book Of James. “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5) How many times have we heard the words, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, just say nothing at all.” We have heard it many times but do we practice it?
Good news, WORDS don’t have to hurt, WORDS can be such a blessing. Many times I have seen someone in a waiting room at the Doctor’s Office and their countenance showed fear. Fear of the test results or just waiting out what the results had already revealed. Of course, I begin to talk and they respond and before you know it they have a smile on their face and it seems as though for a moment they have forgotten why they are there. This happened so many times during my Chemo days. You sit there and watch new patients come in and they are scared to death and to them, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Prov. 25:11). Words don’t have to be hurtful; they can bring us joy, happiness, contentment, hope and peace if fitly spoken.
Let’s try to lift up the downhearted with our words, words of encouragement are needed in every life. We all need to hear a word of kindness and maybe the words, “Good job” is what we need to hear.
Be a blessing to someone today with a word fitly spoken. My prayer is, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.”
(Psa. 19:14).

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                     THE GOSPEL

“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Ro 1:16).   Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel. We should never be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the only means whereby sinners can be saved. The Gospel is the truth that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He arose from the dead on the third day. (1Cor 15:1-4). The Bible further states that if you will confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, and from the heart call upon Him as your Saviour, “Thou shalt be saved.” The Bible further speaks about Repentance toward God and Faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Why not, wherever you are while reading these words turn to Christ with all of your heart. Receive Him as your Lord and Saviour? I repeat, why not do that right now? Be saved today by your own personal Faith and trust in Christ, and begin a brand new life.

        Begin TODAY to live FOREVER!

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       HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY.      
                November 26, 2009

              By Pastor George Mills

With grateful hearts we thank our God,
   For gifts from up above,
For blessings bountiful and free,
   And of course, for Thy Great Love.

Thank you God for thy Great plan,
   Of Salvation full and free,
Salvation’s plan for everyone,
   A plan for even me.

Thank you God for your Holy Word,
   A guide from ages past,
A guide for all of us today,
   Until we’re home at last.

Thank you God for Calvary’s lamb,
   His blood poured on the sod,
His blood alone could but atone,
   And bring us home to God.

Thank you God for answered prayer,
   From Thy Great Throne of Love,
Thank you God for each time you send,
   Your blessings from above.

Thank you God for life within,
   Through Holy Spirit power,
Thank you God for that small voice,
   To help in every hour.

Thank you God for this great land,
   Where freedom rings within,
Stamp the phrase, “In God We Trust”
   In the heart of every kin.

Thank you God for family sweet,
   We love them everyone,
Thanks most of all for thy Great Gift,
   The Gift of thy Dear Son.

             <<<<>>>>

      The MIRANDA warning says,
         YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
To all accused of a crime, these rights must be made known to them.

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

God has such a warning in His Great plan of dealing with sinners. There are 14 indictments against man in Romans 3:10-23.

1. You have the right to remain silent. No one will ever try to make you confess Christ. You must do that willingly.
2. Anything you say can and will be used against you on judgment day.
3. You have the right to speak to an attorney. The court will recommend an attorney who has never lost a case.
4. An attorney has been provided for you, He doesn’t charge one cent. His Great Love for man motivates Him.

Just cast yourself upon the mercy of the court. Claim no right except the rights purchased at Calvary. Just tell the Judge of all the earth that you are a guilty sinner with nothing to offer. Accept His FREE PARDON today.

Be FREE! Begin TODAY to live FOREVER!

Vol. 33, No. 10 October, 2009

“AND LO, THOU ART UNTO THEM AS A VERY LOVELY SONG.”
                 (Eze. 33:32)
          By  Dr. George Mills

The 33rd Chapter of Ezekiel is a very interesting chapter in a very intriguing Book. Just a brief outline of the Book;
1. Ch. 1-24, Prophecies before the Babylonian captivity.
2. Ch. 25-32 Prophecies against the surrounding nations.
3. Ch. 33-39, Prophecies of the restoration.
4. Ch 40-48 Prophecies of the new Temple.
This Chapter, dated about 587 B.C. or, some 2500 years ago, could be given today’s date because it describes the condition of the human heart in every generation. The Prophet had been appointed to be a watchman unto the House of Israel, (v1-9). He takes his calling very seriously as did the great Prophets God sent to the people. We can read about the heart of Isaiah as he cries; “Here am I, send me.” (Isa 6:1-11). We have read about the tears of the weeping Prophet Jeremiah, (Jer. 9:1). Habakkuk states, “I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower..” Hab 2:1). The Prophet’s concern was the backslidden condition of the people, and the invading armies set on destroying the nation. Let me share with you three simple points from this text.

1. The condition of the land.
2. The concern of the Prophet
3. The certainty of judgment.

1. THE CONDITION OF THE LAND.
FIRST, let’s see some good things…

A. The people attended Worship Services. “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people.” (v31) Just like every Sunday across this land, people flock to churches to listen to a message.

B. They expressed love for the things of God and His people. “For with their mouth they show much love.”(v31)  Today, many people will openly and readily express their love. They say, “Oh how I love my Pastor. His speech is eloquent; he has such a way with words. like a very lovely song.”

C. They enjoyed spiritual things. “And thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument, for they hear thy words.” (v32) Today, many people will attend Revival meetings, and various services because a favorite speaker is in town, they will listen to the
Music and Message, and speak about the eloquence of the preacher, his wisdom and the way he paints word pictures, and the loveliness of the singer’s music.

D. The people were not charged with being forgetful. They did come to service, “As My people.” (8:1, 14:1, 20:1).

“Yes, we adore our preacher, “He is unto us as a very lovely song.”

2. THE CONCERN OF THE PROPHET.

A. Their enthusiasm was very shallow. “But their heart goeth after covetousness.” (v31). “They hear thy words but they do them not.” (v32).
They liked what they heard, but as soon as the service ended, everything is back to normal. Oh, maybe some went forward in an invitation and rededicated themselves to the Lord, “But their heart goeth after covetousness”

B. They talked bad against the Prophet when he was not near. They liked his messages “The children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses and speak to one another, everyone his brother saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the Word that cometh from the LORD. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them.” (v30-31). Wherever two or more were gathered and talking, the conversation was against the Prophet. Things have not changed through the centuries. I once pastored in a small town. Most of the people in that town worked in the Mill there. They came to church on Sunday, but Monday through Friday the conversation through the Mill was what was wrong about the Church, the Preacher, and the Program. I am reminded of the Parable of the sower, “Behold, a sower went forth to sow. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.” (Mt 13:3-4) “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which receiveth seed by the way side.” James cautioned us to “Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any man be a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” (Ja 1:22-24).

C. They talked against God.. They said that “God is not fair in His judgment.”
“Yet the children of thy people say, the way of the Lord is not equal. “When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.” (v17-19). “What’s right about that? They say. That’s not fair!” The Prophet reminds the people, “God will judge every ONE after his ways. (v20).  God knows what is fair and right and He will always do that which is right to each one according to his/her own ways and obedience.
In v24, they said “we have more of a right to the land than Abraham had. He was just one man, we are many.” The Lord reminds the people of their sins;

“Thus saith the Lord GOD, ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols and shed blood, and SHALL YE POSSESS THE LAND?” (v25).

Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile everyone his neighbor’s wife, AND SHALL YE POSSESS THE LAND?” (v26).

God simply asks, “Do you honestly think that you can commit this kind of sin, that this is your lifestyle, and you still claim right to the land?” NO! Let’s note the sins listed.

(a) “Ye eat with the blood” The meat was strangled. The blood was still in the animal. This was a violation of The Law. Daniel refused to eat the King’s meat (Da 1:8) because the animal was strangled.

(b) “Ye worship idols.” When they left the services of the Lord, they returned to their idols.

(c) “Ye work abomination.” That which is loathsome, disgusting, detesting to God. This includes all that which God had said, “Thou shalt Not.” In our text in v26, this speaks about sexual sins.
When the nation turned to idolatry, which is sin, which always turns to lust, and the end of this is death. Sexual sins have destroyed many societies before and are destroying our own homeland.

(d) “Ye defile everyone his neighbor’s wife.” This is the sin of adultery. God gave warnings that this is not to be tolerated in the land, Adultery destroys the home. The home is basic to the survival of any society. As the home goes, so goes the nation.
God said that when the land is destroyed by their captors, those that find shelter in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field shall be devoured by beasts, and they that are in the forts and caves shall die of the pestilence. (27-29).

(d) Covetousness. “Thou shalt not covet.” Paul said that “Covetousness is idolatry” (Col 3:5)
The nation in Ezekiel’s day had not only broken God’s Law, they trampled on it, and yes, defied God. Man cannot violate the Law of God and get by.

“Oh Yes, we adore our preacher; He is unto us as a very lovely song.”

3. THE CERTAINTY OF JUDGMENT.

“With their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after covetousness.” The MOUTH and the HEART are not in agreement.
May I say that I am more than grateful for each one who says that he/she is a Christian, and goes about life, living out what they profess to be.  God bless you! Keep on keeping on!

Dear Pastor, Keep preaching the Bible, (KJB). No doubt, to many you will be as “a very lovely song.” Nothing more. But some will be genuine.

Dear Teacher, keep teaching the Bible, (KJB). No doubt, to many you will be “as a lovely song” Nothing more. But you will reach some.

Dear Sweet Mother. Keep on teaching the children the Bible stories about David, and Daniel, and Samson, and Gideon, and Samuel. Teach them to pray and to trust God and His Word. I know, to many, you will look so nice. What you do is appealing, but that’s not for us. No doubt, to many you will be “as a lovely song.”

Teen agers and young adults. Live for Jesus. Take your Bible (KJB) to school, or to work. Let everyone know that your Faith and Trust is in the Christ of your bible. No doubt that to many of your fellow students you will be “as a very lovely song.” You look good, but that’s not for me.” But you will win some!

Judgment day is ahead. When? We do not know, but it is coming.

“And when this cometh to pass, (lo it will come) then shall they know that a Prophet has been among them.” (v 33).

When judgment comes they will know that they have not listened to a Hireling Singer of Songs, but to a Prophet of God.

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. The world was no friend to the nation in Ezekiel’s day, the same is true today! The world and all of it’s attractions, influences, music, bibles, seeks our admiration. Make sure that the Cross stands between.

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THINK ABOUT IT. When the HEART and MOUTH are not together. The hands and feet have no idea as to what to do. This is why so many stumble!

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           FROM MY HEART
              By Mildred Mills

          HE CARES FOR YOU

Some of the saddest words in the Bible are found in Psalm 142:4, “No man cared for my soul.” This Scripture came alive to me one day as I read the local newspaper. A man was found dead, all alone, in a filthy, skid row hotel. He was known to drink and probably died drunk. He had no family, never been married and his Mother and Dad, five sisters, and one brother had died years before. But the thing that caught my eye was the name Mills, that happens to be my husband’s name. I read the article to my husband and he immediately knew who this person was. This person was an uncle that had left home many years ago as a young man and never returned. He left Mama, Dad, sisters, and brother and chose a life of sin and died alone without family or friends. My husband never met him but was told of his uncle Tommy and his way of life. It was a sad story to hear of his addiction to alcohol and the lonely path it had led him down. He had left his family many years ago and never returned. He was a lonely man with no one to care for him. He was found dead at the end of that path that Satan had taken him down. I kept thinking, if only we had known him. We could have loved him and could have told him that Jesus loved him. We could have cleaned him up and bandaged his wounds and just let him know that we cared for him, and we cared for his soul. But it was too late. We never met him and all I could think of was “No man cared for my soul.” That Scripture came alive in my heart that day. I would like to say to you the very words I would have said to uncle Tommy. “God cares for your soul. He gave His Son to suffer and die for your sin. That’s how much He cares for you. Jesus died to pay for your sin. Why don’t you accept His love and ask Him to come into your heart and save your soul this very day. He cares for you. He cares for your soul.”

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro. 5:8)

“For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the lord shall be saved.”
(Ro. 10:13).

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         HE CARED FOR ME
        By Pastor George Mills

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He
careth for you.” (1Pet 5:7).

When lost in my sin, and there was no friend
   And no one to hear my plea,
On Christ I did call,
Now He is my all,
   Thank God that He cared for me.

When life is so drear, and no friend is near,
   For refuge, to Him I flee,
Christ is ever so near,
And ready to hear,
   Thank God that He cared for me.

With promises true, each day they are new,
   No matter what men may say,
His Word stands the test,
Above all the rest,
   Thank God that He cares day by day.

 I’ll trust Him in life, in trial and strife,
   His great guiding hand I will see,
Then I’ll say on that shore,
When all trials are o’er,
   Thank God that He cared for me.

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ANSWERS…Bible issue:
“The Words of the Lord are Pure Words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth PURIFIED seven times. Thou shalt keep them O LORD; thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” Ps 12:6-7.

More and more Publishers, preachers, teachers, etc refuse to believe that we have the Perfect Word of God. The Bible (KJB) is the Perfect Word of God. They keep trying to find it! They keep trying to correct it.. Have you ever seen such confusion over the issue of the Bible? There seems to be no end to the “versions” that are coming to the market place every day.
I saw just last week that the N.I.V. is being “up-dated” I believe for, the third time. It will be available in 2011. People somehow have the idea that these ‘versions’ are simply up-dated ‘versions’ of the King James Bible. THIS IS NOT TRUE!. Our King James Bible came from the RECEIVED TEXT passed on through the centuries, and on to us. This Text has been through the FIRES and PRESERVED.
Every other ‘version’ comes from two manuscripts, (a) SINAITICUS, and (b) VATACANUS. Both of these were born in Alexandria, Egypt, altered by men like Origen, and Eusabeus, in the third century. The early Church refused these manuscripts and they slowly passed off the scene. Constantine Von Tischendorf discovered two of said manuscripts; SINAITICUS in 1844, and VATICANUS in 1849..
Two Anglican Textual critics; WESCOTT and HORT, (according to their own writings their salvation is doubtful) anyway they wrote a New Greek text from these two manuscripts in 1881. From this new text,
known as the CRITICAL TEXT, beginning in 1889 with the E.R.V. this flood of new ‘bibles’ began. One defender of the CRITICAL TEXT sent me a booklet. “No major doctrine has been perverted in this century.” he said.  This is NOT TRUE.
EVERY MAJOR DOCTRINE has, in some way been weakened with each new ‘version.’ I believe that when the Antichrist comes on the scene, he will have to have a “bible.” Believe me; he has his choice waiting for him. As I say wherever I go, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR BIBLE!
(KJB) that is!

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“BRETHREN, PRAY FOR US”

Please allow me to share with you some of the Ministry of the WILDERNESS. We need the prayers of God’s people everywhere.

WILDERNESS Monthly Publication. This issue is Vol. 33, No. 10. That means this Publication is now over 33 years young. This Publication has been mailed across the nation to homes, schools, Churches, etc, and before the internet, as I remember, 33 foreign lands. God has blessed and sustained through the years. We have never had any kind of financial backing, only the generosity of a local Church and many friends out there. I have enjoyed planning, research, studying and everything that goes into getting this out monthly. It is never easy but it is a joy to share some things with folks out there. This Publication has a “ripple” effect. It is used in various ways by others. This is always an encouragement to us.. BRETHREN, PRAY FOR US.

WILDERNESS Gospel Tracts. I began writing my own Gospel Tracts back in 1966. I have never kept up with the number Of Tracts we have sent out. We have never charged anything for our Tracts, or for anything we try to do through this Ministry.
Our Tracts are sent to various places as folks request them. At This time I keep only about a dozen in print. It is always a joy for us to receive one of our Tracts with the back page filled in indicating that this one had received Christ.

WILDERNESS Broadcast Ministry. The Church In The Wildwood Broadcast began in 1966. This has not been continuous. This has been mostly Missionary radio. By way of the Internet we began posting our broadcast on our web site. It amazes me that wherever there is a computer available, anywhere in the world, people out there can hear this broadcast.

WILDERNESS Internet Ministry. The Wilderness Monthly Publication has been posted on our web-site for several years. If you visit our web-page, and go to “PUBLICATION ARCHIVES” you will find, I believe, five years of messages on various subjects. thewilderness.org.
As I checked our webalizer statistics page this morning, September 18, our site indicates that 6,174 have visited so far this month. That is an average of 356 per day. These are not large numbers to report by any means, but Praise be to God for each one. This also includes 33 countries of the world this month. A’int God Good!.

WILDERNESS Prison Ministry. Our Publication is sent, in bulk, to as many prisons as requested. We do what we can to help inmates who have come to know Christ. We cannot do much, but we are happy to do what we can. We have WILDERNESS Booklets that some seem to be helped by.

WILDERNESS Bibles for Africa. A couple of years ago, I received a request from Western Africa for some Bibles, magazines, literature, note paper, and anything we could send to help workers in villages. These folks have never asked for any kind of assistance other than Bibles. This is a Work of Faith, and Labor of Love. Every week we send at least two small packages to Africa. Daily I receive requests. I am always at least 6 months behind in this effort. Thank God for those who give to this ministry.

It is a real joy to be able to share these things with as many as we can. I am amazed at what God has done. I well remember back almost 50 years ago when I got saved. I was a tall, bashful young man who was always ready to say, “I CAN’T.” But I found that GOD CAN!
God bless you! Wherever you are, BRETHREN, PRAY FOR US. Thanks for every prayer, every word of encouragement, and of course, we could do nothing with the Gifts of God’s people. Thanks, and God Bless!

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> 

The next time you feel like God can’t use you just remember…

Abraham was too old
Isaac was a day dreamer Jacob was a liar
Leah was ugly
Moses had a stuttering problem
Gideon was afraid
Samson was a womanizer
Rahab was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
David had an affair and was a murderer
Elijah was suicidal
Jonah ran from God
Naomi was a widow
Job went bankrupt
Peter denied Christ
The disciples fell asleep while praying
Martha was worried about everything
The Samaritan woman was divorced
     At least 5 times
Zachaeus was too small
Paul was too religious
Timothy had an ulcer
          AND
Lazarus was dead!

Now, no more excuses. God can use you to your full potential. Besides, you aren’t the Message.

(Submitted by an inmate in Florida State Prison, Raiford Fla.)

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ARE YOU SAVED? ARE YOU SAVED FROM THE PENALTY AND POWER OF SIN? IF NOT, WHY NOT?

If you are not saved, it is not because there is not a need for you to be saved:
“For ALL have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” (R0 3:23)

“As it is written there is NONE righteous, no NOT ONE.” (Ro 3:10)

You NEED to be saved.
If you are not saved it is not because there is no way for you to be saved.

Jesus said, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” (Jn 6:37)

He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the father but by me.” (Jn 14:6)

If you are not saved it is not because there is a better time for you to get saved.

“TODAY if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart.” (Heb 3:15).

If you are not saved, the NEED is right, the PLACE is right, the TIME is right. Today, now, wherever you are, Christ is there in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He will come into your life at your invitation and make life worth living. Trust Him today while you have TODAY. He will hear the cry of the repentant heart. “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 Him, in your own words that you BELIEVE, that you RECEIVE Him.
Begin TODAY, to live FOREVER!

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> 
If you have made that decision to receive Christ, let me know. I will be happy to send you a small booklet; GOD’S GREAT PLAN FOR YOU” I believe this will help you get started right on the road to FOREVER!

  Vol. 33, No. 9  September, 2009

WHY DID GOD CALL THE RICH FARMER A FOOL?
“Thou FOOL, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”

 There are so many good qualities about this man that it may cause one to wonder “why.”
It is for sure that I am not the only one who has asked this question. I have heard and read messages by men of God who examined the life of this man with this question in mind. Today, let us look into his life and see the good, the bad, and the great failure. I believe that this is the second appearing of this man in the Scriptures.

“The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, What shall I do, because I have no room to bestow my fruits? And he said, this will I do, I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him,
THOU FOOL, this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:16-21).

1. HIS POSSESSIONS. v21-22.
(A) There is nothing wrong with   
possessions. The Jews taught that possessions were a sign of Godliness and good health. But Jesus said that a man’s life “consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”
“His ground brought forth plentifully.” Good fortune seemed to be his lot in life.It is believed by many, (myself included) that this man appears three times in the Scriptures. In all three instances his attitude toward possessions seems to be the same. Let’s see his first appearing before Christ…

“And when He, (Jesus) was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to Him and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?  There is none good but one, that is, God.. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest, go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven, and come, take up the cross and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:17:22).

I believe that this first meeting was when this man was much younger. There, he weighed his possessions against eternity and concluded that his possessions were much more important. Jesus was not interested in his possessions. He only showed this young man that he already had a “god.”
There is nothing in this passage, or elsewhere in Scripture that suggests that there is anything wrong with possessions.
The issue was that He had a “god” and his “god” was greed, as the text will reveal. He went away from Christ sorrowful.  He evidently continued with his life the way it had always been.

(B) He evidently worked hard.  Crops do not just automatically grow. He had to till the soil, he had to sow the seed, he had to weed and water. Any farmer knows that a successful harvest is the result of hard work.

(C)  He evidently provided well for his family. This too is very good. We are plagued with “dead beat dads” who seem to care very little about their family’s health and welfare. They seem to be content on letting the family survive the best they can.” But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1Tim 5:8). This farmer provided well for his family.

(D) He prepared for the future. “I have much good laid up for many years. Take thine ease.” Nothing is wrong in planning for the future. We should do our best to see that when old age comes, or death calls us, whoever is left behind has been provided for.

(E) He also lived a good moral life. In that first meeting, when Jesus quoted the commandments, this man said, “All of these have I observed from my youth.” (Mark 10:20). Jesus quoted only the commandment that dealt with man’s relationship to man. He did not quote the first commandment (Thou shalt have no other god before Me’) because He knew that this man had a god. Everything about this man seemed to be good, but…

2. HIS PROBLEM…

“What shall I do?” Riches and wealth produce anxiety. Three things that make up his problem…

(A) Covetousness.  “Take heed and beware of covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Lk 12:15).

(B) Selfishness. In this text, this man used “I” and “my” about a dozen times. There is no mention of others. No mention of the poor, his neighbors, or Lazarus at his gate. The spirit of self seeking is the spirit of this world.” Let’s get what we can, all we can, while we can.”

(C) Ingratitude. I suppose that I should have made this point (a) instead of point (c). Ingratitude is the base of all sin. Adam and Eve were not thankful. We inherit their nature. The Bible says, in the indictments against man in Romans 1, “Neither were they thankful.” (Ro 1:21) “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy Name, O Most High,” “A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a FOOL understand this.” (Ps 92:1-6)
Now, we may not be rich with great possessions, but we can have the same spirit about us.

3. HIS PRICE. He had to pay an awful price.  Perhaps as he slept comfortably on his pillow, that voice was heard, “THOU FOOL, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
Some things he learned too late.

(A) The span of life. He thought that he had MANY YEARS. The Bible says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow, for it is soon cut off and we fly away.” So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”  (Ps 90:10-12) Seventy to eighty years. And those years just “fly away.”

(B) The certainty of death. “As it is appointed to man once to die.”
To every one of us there comes an abrupt summons to leave everything behind. We know not that hour.

4. HIS PREPARATION.
So, why did God call this man a fool?

(A) He left God out of His life. No time for God. How do I know that? “The FOOL hath said in his heart there is no God. (Ps 14:1) God called him” Thou FOOL.” Let me ask; what’s the difference in one saying “there is a God,” but not serving God, or one saying “there is no God.” There is no difference. Both end up at the same place.

(B)) He prepared for time.  “He thought within himself.” “I have much goods for many years.”
It is great to be prepared for life, but greater to be prepared for eternity. It is for sure that we will spend eternity somewhere. Believe me, you do not want to spend it in hell with the unsaved. Perhaps his intentions were good, but as someone has said, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”

(C) He assumed tomorrow. That’s poor preparation. As I have said, it is good and right to prepare for tomorrow, but we have no promise of tomorrow for our self. We just do not know. He thought he had many years, and prepared for many years. The Bible has many cautions, “Boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”(Pr. 27:1). James taught us to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.” (Ja. 4:13-15).

(D) He underestimated the value of his soul. That’s poor preparation. Matthew 16:26 asks two questions;

a. “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

b. “Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

The contrast in those two questions is not the body, but the soul. The body without the soul is not worth very much. Maybe a couple of dollars. But the soul is priceless. May I say unto you “Don’t neglect your soul!” Make sure that your soul is safe and secure in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ. He died for us that we might LIVE forever. I believe it was Missionary Jim Elliot who said, “He is no FOOL who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” There is no losing in Christ. I sincerely hope that if you do not know Him as your Saviour, that today, you will, by Faith alone, ask him into your life. Tell Him that you receive Him. He is there, wherever you are. Your soul is your most priceless possession. Your soul is YOU. Your body houses your soul for awhile. Don’t make the same mistake as this farmer made.

4. HIS PLEADING. The third appearing of this man is found in Luke 16:19-31.
“There was a certain rich man which was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus which laid at his gate full of sores. And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table; moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich also died and was buried. And in Hell he lifted up his eyes being in torments and seeth Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.” 
Please take time and read all of that text in your Bible.

He is pleading for himself, but too late. This man came to Christ as a young man, full of the vigor of youth. He came to the right Person, at the right time, with the right question. He received the right answer. (Mk 10:17-22). He went away from Christ sorrowful. He went on about his life, building for time, not thinking about his soul. The second time we see him is when God said, “Thou FOOL! This night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
And the third time we see this man is in hell as he pleads for water.

He pleads for his five brethren. I never want to see them again! I do not want them to come to this place.
I believe that his pleading is for all lost men everywhere.

Christ refers to the Word of God, “They have Moses and the Prophets, let them hear them.” “Nay Father Abraham, if one went unto them from the dead, they will REPENT.”  “And He said unto him, if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

God gave us His Word, the Bible, (KJB). We must come to God the Bible way.  One did rise from the dead! He died as the sacrifice for our sin. He alone paid that awful price. We must believe His Word about the Vicarious death of Christ, His Burial, and His Glorious Resurrection, (Ro 10:9-13). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved.”

I must close this message. My space is running out. The invitation of God is open to you. God forbid that one day or night you hear that voice say, “THOU FOOL, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” Don’t face eternity without Christ!  May God bless you!

<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>> 

THINK ABOUT IT…The man in our text knew the value of his crops, but he did not know the value of his own soul. When that summons comes, and it will
come unexpected, unannounced, and unalterable, will you go immediately into the Presence of Jesus? Or will you join with this man and the multitudes who did not consider the value of their own soul?

THINK ABOUT IT, while you have time to Think About It. Perhaps this man said, “Some other time. But that time never came.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE
                Luke 17:32
       By pastor George Mills

Our Lord chose this incident in the life of Lot and his wife to give a picture of the times of the end. Why did He choose her? The 17th Chapter of Luke has other examples. Why her? Again, our Lord is much wiser than I. He knows all things. He knows the beginning and ending of all things, and everything in between. So He challenges us to “REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.” I shall try to examine the days of Lot. I have stated in print and in preaching that there are no signs that precede the Rapture. Christ could come for His Church at any moment of any day. However, I do believe that the apostasy that began years ago will continue on it’s downward course. The attacks on the Word of God, versions, and versions, and versions, and more coming, to me is the clear sign of the times., (2Tim 3:1-5) (2Tim 4:1-5)  The 17th Chapter of Luke deals with the Tribulation period and the coming of Christ back to the earth at the end of the Tribulation period, and not the Rapture.
 Our Lord told us to examine the days of Noah, and Lot to see how the days will progressively worsen.
The days of Noah were days of violence, of home life corruption, of forsaking Marriage vows, (Gen 6:1-13, Eze. 16:49).
The days of Lot were marked by days of extreme sexual perversion.  Homosexuality at it’s worse seemed to be the accepted lifestyle in the days of Lot. May I add this just now; God loves the sinner, but He hates the sin. There is still enough Power in the Gospel to deliver anyone from sexual perversion, or any sin that has man in bondage.
I see also in the days of Noah and Lot the Spirit of God was striving with man. Yes, He is still speaking to hearts, Gen 6:3.
These Texts serve to remind us of the Inspiration of the Scriptures. Things are just as God said they would be. But what about Lot’s wife? There was a command for Lot and his family to leave Sodom before judgment fell on those cities.  “Escape for thy life, and LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE.” (Gen. 19:17). But His wife LOOKED BACK from behind him and she became a pillar of salt.”

Why Lot’s wife? What did she do to become one of the danger signs of the ages? First, some good things I see;

1. She was the wife of a man of God. Of course we would not know much about his spiritual life except for the writings of Peter; “God spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly. And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. For that Righteous man dwelling among them, in SEEING and HEARING vexed his righteous soul from day to day.” (2Pet 2:1-9).  The Bible says that Lot was a just man. He knew God. The best message I can find there is the fact that living in a home of a man of God, being married to, or being children of a righteous man does NOT make one righteous. Faith in God is a decision each one has to make for oneself.

2. She raised two virgin daughters in the midst of a corrupt and ungodly society. Please read Genesis 19. When the men of Sodom found that Lot had two visitors, they proceeded to capture them. They surrounded Lot’s house and shouted to Lot; “Bring them out that we may KNOW (sexually) them.” Lot then offered his daughters to the crowd in place of his visitors.  “I have two daughters which have not known man.”  Can you imagine that? In a society so corrupt, so filled with sexual perversion that God had to destroy those cities, a Mother managed to raise two virgin daughters. These are some things I find on her “good side.”

The command was to “Escape for thy life, LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE.” But she looked back and she became a pillar of salt. I guess one of our great problems of life is looking back. Jesus warned, “No man having put his hand to the plow, and LOOKING BACK is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk 9:62). If a farmer plows his field while not keeping his eyes ahead, each row he plows will be going in all kinds of directions making things difficult for sowing and reaping.

SHE LOOKED BACK IN UNBELIEF. God had said that these cities would be destroyed. She should have had her eyes straight ahead and her mind on God for fulfilling His Word as He said. May I ask, where are YOU looking? Are your spiritual eyes on the skies?

SHE LOOKED BACK IN REBELLION. She knew the Command of God. There was no mistaking. God’s Command is always clear. This was rebellion on her part.

SHE LOOKED BACK ON HER POSSESSIONS. In Genesis 13:5-11 it is stated that Lot had flocks and herds and tents. Lot would be a wealthy man of that time. All of her possessions were burning in the judgment flames.

SHE LOOKED BACK ON HER SOCIAL LIFE. It is recorded that “Lot sat in the Gate of Sodom.” (Gen 19:1) His position would be something like the Mayor of the city. She saw the temporal, not the eternal.

SHE LOOKED BACK AND BECAME AN EXAMPLE OF THE END TIME. God’s judgment has already been announced. “The wicked shall be turned into hell and all the nations that forget God.” But most of the population of the world is looking back. This world and this ungodly system, like Sodom is doomed. Yet so many look upon it with admiration.

Lot lost his wealth, his work, his witness, his Wife. His descendants became enemies of the people of God.

We do not know the name of Lot’s wife, but her influence is clearly seen in that period. REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE. A Pillar of salt is not a fit monument for a Mother.

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE…
“Set your affection on things above and not on things on the earth.” (Col 3:2)

“The world passeth away and the Lusts thereof.” (1Jn 2:17)

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 6:33).

The judgment of God did not fall on Sodom until Lot was safely out of the city. The Judgment of the Tribulation period will not fall on this earth until the Church is safely carried away. In our text today we do not see a Mother frantically trying to rescue, to make sure her family was safely out of the city, SHE LOOKED BACK.

     REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE!

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WELCOME HOME CAPTAIN SPEICHER

Today is Saturday, August 15,  2009.

Yukon Baptist Church is located one block west of the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Last evening the remains of Capt. Scott Speicher were flown in to the Naval Air Station. His family and friends were there waiting for his arrival. All Military honors were given to welcome home this fallen hero. Capt. Speicher’s Aircraft was shot down the first night of the first Gulf war, about 18 years ago. His body was not found until about 12 days ago. D.N.A. test proved that this was definitely Capt. Speicher’s remains. Capt. Speicher was brought here to his hometown to be buried. Early this morning he is to be transported from the Naval Air Station to the Veteran’s Memorial in downtown Jacksonville where the Governor, Mayor, and other officials will speak. Then he will be transported by his home Church, Lakeshore Methodist, and then on to his High School, N.B. Forest High, and then to Cecil Field Naval Air Station where he served, and then to his burial sight at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. When I arrived for work at my office today citizens had already gathered at the edge of the highway along the funeral route. Flags were everywhere. I could not keep the tears from flowing as I watched the show of affection. People were along the route as far as I could see. At the time his funeral procession was to leave the Navy Base for the above mentioned route, I walked from my office to stand with the others, with my hand on my heart and tears in my eyes. My, what a sight! Dozens of Jacksonville Police Officers with blue lights flashing, the crowd cheering, weeping, waving our Flag. My, what a show of affection as citizens welcomed this man home, and rightly so. But I could not help but to think and wonder just how it will be in Heaven when one by one the Saints are welcomed Home. What a time that will be!

ANYWAY, WELCOME HOME CAPTAIN SCOTT SPEICHER!

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                 FROM MY HEART
                   By Mildred Mills

            CHRIST IS THE ANSWER

Satan is always on the job seeking to destroy anyone and anything that has to do with God. I have known this since the day I gave my heart to Jesus. But sometimes I become more aware of his evil doings and seems lately he has really gotten on my nerves to put it lightly. When this happens the Holy Spirit comes to my rescue and reminds me of the Scriptures I memorized years ago. One of my favorites is 1John 4:4;

“Ye are of God little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”
Another favorite when Satan rears his ugly head is Romans 5:20;
 “But where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound.” In other words,
          “CHRIST IS THE ANSWER!”
I would like to share with you a precious poem written by Maxine Clark. I keep it on my refrigerator door to be read by all that may enter my little kitchen. Read it, copy it and put it in a place where it can be seen and read by others.
 
Sin can take a pure, sweet child
   And fill his thoughts with wrong,
And form a thief, a gangster, or
   A drunkard all life long.

Christ can take that same sweet child
   And save his soul from sin,
And mold a life of usefulness
   And service unto Him.

Sin can take an honest man
   Give him suggestions sly,
Till slowly he does untrue things
   Not really knowing why.

Christ can take a sin ruined life,
   Forgiving all the past.
Transform it to a life of purpose,
   Respect and love that lasts.

Sin can nearly wreck a home
   And rob of all its joys;
But Christ can restore with faith and hope
   For parents and girls and boys.

Sin can mar and leave its scar,
   And brightest future blight;
But Christ can change a hopeless life
   To courage and delight.

Christ can take all sin away,
   But will the heart refill
With wondrous beauty of Himself
   If we obey His will.

 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”
(2Corinthians 2:14)

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Vol. 33, No. 8 August, 2009

THE THREE MUST’S OF JOHN 3.
 By Dr. George mills

1. The Sinner’s MUST. v7.
2. The Saviour’s MUST, v14.
3. The Servant’s MUST, v30.

This three point outline I use for this message was given to me almost 50 years ago by a beloved Pastor, Bro. Owen Ganey, now with the Lord.

There are some things in which we do not have any choice. I had no choice in my natural birth. I had no choice concerning what family I would be born into, I had no choice about the color of my eyes, hair, how tall I might be, and so forth. In the things concerning our eternal destiny, in the things concerning our relationship to God, we certainly do have choices. The choices that I want to share with you today are not optional; they are not a matter of “should” they are a matter of “MUST.”

1. THE SINNER’S MUST, v7. “Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye MUST be born again.” The words, “Born again” are commonly used today. Back in the

1970’s when Jimmy Carter was elected
as our President, he used the term “Born again” frequently. In fact, most of his cabinet used the term. We had a real baptism of that phrase. However, when someone of the press asked about the
meaning of “Being Born Again,” most could not give a sensible answer as to it’s meaning. In fact, many, many church members of today cannot give a good answer as to the meaning when asked about being “Born Again.” Today, let us see what the Bible,(KJB) has to say about the New Birth and settle forever the meaning of, “Ye MUST be Born Again.”

(a) The sinner MUST be born again in order to SEE the Kingdom of God. “Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (v3). To SEE the Kingdom means, to Understand, to comprehend. Without the new birth, the lost man is lost in sin and cannot see. “In whom the god of this world (Satan) hath blinded the minds of them that believe not lest the light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them.” (2Cor 4:4).

(b) The sinner MUST be born again in order to ENTER the Kingdom of God,

(v5).  “Except a man be Born Again he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” The Kingdom of God is not an earthly Kingdom as we think of kingdoms. “For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, joy and peace
in the Holy Ghost.”
First, let’s look on the negative side; what the New Birth is NOT..

(A) RELIGION. Many have the idea that if they join some local Church, or group and begin attending, that is an outward sign that they have been “Born Again.” Wrong! This is fine in it’s proper place, but becoming “religious” is NOT being Born Again. Many, many who attend Church services somewhere quite frequently have never been Born Again. I am nobody’s judge, but I do believe that we must have that experience with ourselves and with Christ, that He alone is Saviour, and that we have definitely received Him. “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).. Many groups hold to the idea that “born of water, and of the Spirit” (v5) speaks of Water Baptism, that Water Baptism is a must in order to be born again. Wrong! Water Baptism never saved a single soul. The New Birth is a Spiritual Birth and can be produced by Spiritual means only. The Spirit, v6, is the Holy Spirit, (see 6:63). The Water is the Word, (1Pet 1:23) “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible seed by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever.” The flesh CANNOT produce the Spiritual. When a lost sinner hears the Word of God.  The Holy Spirit takes that Word and enlightens the sinner as to his need and points him to Christ. When that lost sinner believes with all his heart, the Holy Spirit births that lost sinner into the family of God. Then and only then, he/she, is a member of God’s family. RELIGION and works of religion had nothing to do with it. Jesus was speaking to a very RELIGIOUS man in this text. He was a Pharisee, very, very religious. If our Salvation is determined by Water Baptism, in this most wonderful chapter about Salvation, why didn’t our Lord mention water baptism? This would have been the proper place. He said nothing about baptism. No!  Salvation is by Faith alone in the Author and finisher of our Salvation, who was standing before the Pharisee that night.

(B) REFORMATION. The New Birth is NOT reforming, quitting, stopping, starting, doing, going, etc. The Work is Done! If we try to reform, and do better, or do our best, that will end in frustration. So many people across the land come to the place of frustration with their lives and vow to turn over a “new leaf.” They begin attending Church somewhere and begin to reform their lives. They try to stop this, or that, and try doing good things. All very good, in it’s place. Reformation without regeneration ends in frustration. Like Baptism, Reformation never saved a soul.

(C)  RIGHTEOUSNESS. Meaning; “Our right living.” Our Righteousness is as filthy rags. Our Righteousness does not measure up to Christ and His Righteousness.  Remember, Jesus was talking to a very righteous, (humanly speaking) man. He was a Pharisee. Jesus said “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven. (Mt. 5:20). The Righteousness of the Pharisees and Scribes was surface only. Their heart was not right with God. They depended on what they could do for themselves. “Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside of them may be clean also.” (Mt 23:25-26). All of these things we have discussed, and so much more are good in their proper order, but none of these can reach into the heart of a lost sinner and transform that sinner into a Child of God. Dear friend, don’t trust your Works, Church membership, or your Baptism. Trust the Living Christ alone.

The New Birth is MYSTERIOUS. Who can explain it? Who can explain the wind? I sometimes watch the trees near my home. I see some trees moving in the wind while in other trees nearby, hardly a leaf moves. I have watched in amazement. How can the wind move among the trees like that? We cannot understand that. “So is everyone that is born of the Spirit.” (v8) We cannot see the wind, but we can see the affects of the wind. We can see the affect of a life that has been transformed by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

The New Birth is MIRACULOUS. It is not just a theory, but a reality. If you are a sinner, without Christ, this is your MUST!  This is your choice. “Ye MUST be born again.” The New Birth is a reality for you the moment you receive Christ, by Faith. “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 alone can save you and make life worth living. I trust that you will call upon Him, TODAY! You can begin TODAY to live FOREVER!
Ye MUST be Born Again.”

2. THE SAVIOUR’S MUST. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so MUST the Son of man be lifted up.” (3:14).
The term “lifted up,” has a different meaning than that which is used in many places today. To say, “We are to lift up Jesus” is not exactly the right terminology. To “lift Him up” is to nail Him to a Cross.
“Jesus said unto them, when ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then ye shall know that I am He.” (Jn 8:28)
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (Jn 12:32).
“How sayest thou, the Son of man must be lifted up?” Who is this Son of Man?”
(Jn 12:35).
All of these terms, “Lifted up,” Have the same meaning. They each refer to the Cross of Calvary where Jesus was crucified for our sin.
Christ came to do that which was ordained in Eternity past; that is, to give His Life as the only sacrifice for Sin.
“We are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold…But with the precious Blood of Christ…Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world.” (1Pet 1:18-20, Rev 13:8, Rev. 13:8). Satan knew that Jesus was The Christ, and did his best to keep Him from the cross. But for this purpose He came. Nothing could prevent the great event of the cross. Christ could not have changed His mind. The cross was settled in eternity past. He MUST be lifted up.
The Lord Jesus referred to an Old Testament example in Numbers 21:5-8. In that text, the Israelites had sinned in their murmuring and complaining. God sent serpents among the people and much people of Israel died. When the people confessed their sin, God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and set it high upon a pole. If a serpent had bitten any man, when that man looked to that brazen serpent, he would not die. That was the only cure for sin. May I say unto you that upon a hill called Calvary, there was a Saviour, crucified, bearing our sin and judgment. He is God’s only cure for the sin of the world. He was lifted high on a cross for all to see. All in the eternal plan of God. The Message of the Cross is LOOK AND LIVE!
But the debate continues today…”Why did Jesus come to this earth?” Some will say, “To give us an example as to how we should live.” He most certainly was that, and so much more. But we are not saved by following His example, or trying to walk in His steps. And others will say, “He came to start a new religion. Judaism was dead, something new was needed.” He did not come to start a building program, or an educational system. He did all of these and much more, but He came to earth to be nailed to the cross. This is THE SAVIOUR’S MUST.

3. THE SERVANT’S MUST. v30, “He must increase, I must decrease.” These are the words of John, the Baptist. He had the attention of the crowd. But John knew that he must step aside. (Jn 1:15-17) Losing our life in Christ is the way to find life. (Lk. 19:23-24).  He MUST decrease, Christ MUST increase. This is the key to happy, successful Christian living. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him DENY HIMSELF and take up his cross and follow me.” Self denial is the key to living. This is the reason why there are so many “drop outs” along the way. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thy will.” We cannot offer God anything less. As I have said so many times before, the key to the Apostle Paul’s Great life was the word “committed.” “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have COMMITTED unto Him against that day.”(2Tim 1:12)  He must increase!

(A) His life was committed to God’s WILL.. “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” Jesus said it this way, “Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 5:33).

(B) His life was committed to God’s WORK.. God’s Work is Evangelism. Getting the message of the Cross to the nations of the world is the greatest Work in all the world. Are you, in some way involved in that?

(C) His life was committed to God’s WORD. His message to Timothy was “Preach the WORD, be instant in season, out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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 unto fables. But watch thou in all things, do the work of an evangelist.” (2Tim 4:2-5). Stay true to the WORD, The KJB.  The winds of strange doctrines are blowing from every direction today. Stay with that which has brought us this far and will take us Home…
The SINNER’S Must; the New Birth.
The SAVIOUR’S Must; The Cross
The SERVANT’S Must; To die to self.
Not optional, but MUST!

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   YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN
        By Pastor George Mills

“Except a man be Born Again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (Jn. 3:3)
“For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but Righteousness, and peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Ro. 14:17)

To understand the Kingdom’s great plan,
   The plan of God for fallen man,
To enter the Kingdom, our labor is vain,
The Spirit of God makes the way very plain,
   Ye must be Born Again.

A new life of Faith, all covered by Grace,
   And led by the Spirit’s sweet voice,
Oh the wonder of peace,
And all cares to release,
   Since I claimed Christ, my only choice.

Born in His Kingdom, His child now, I am,
   His Righteousness imparted to me,
Safe in His care,
His joy now I share,
   Life now is abundant and free.

He was lifted up high, for all passing by,
   From Calvary, to the most distant place,
His Cross in plain view,
His promise for you,
   Salvation to all, by His Grace.

Born of His Spirit, washed in His Blood,
   Cleansed and made whiter than snow,
His Word is my stay,
Kept safe day by day,
   Because of Calvary’s flow.

Righteousness, Peace, and Joy within,
   Free from sin’s awful stain,
To live here by Grace,
Until I see His Dear Face,
   Since I have been BORN AGAIN.

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THINK ABOUT IT…It’s a new world! Everything is different, since we have been BORN AGAIN!

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    YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK
             By Pastor George Mills

NOT WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE, BUT WHAT YOU THINK, YOU ARE!

I have printed, in this Publication, some other thoughts along this line. For instance;

(A) YOU ARE WHAT YOU SAY. Not what you say you are, but what you say, you are!
Jesus said, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the Mouth Speaketh.” (Mt 12:34).
Whatever is inside you, or me, sooner or later “Thy speech betrayeth thee.” Our speech tells what part of the country we are from. It tells about our education, our habits, our hobbies, etc.
 If you are a Born Again Christian, your speech will reflect that fact. You will readily tell others about your Faith in Christ.
If you are a pretender, your speech will let you down.
If you are filled with hatred, your speech will tell on you.
If you are a hypocrite, your speech will betray you. Whatever is inside the heart of man, sooner or later, and sometimes at the very worst time, your speech will let you down. We do not have to be around someone very long in order to find out about that person, he/she will tell.

(B) YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT. This is the motto of one of the Diet Plan Organizations.
This is very true. As I write, I have to point to myself. We live in a nation of people who have health problems, problems that mainly come from poor dieting habits. Fast foods, animal fat, cakes, donuts, and you name it. I believe that the Bible (KJB) lists the proper foods for us to eat and enjoy good health. Read Deuteronomy 14:3-28. I believe that these dietary laws are as up to date as this morning’s sun. We cannot improve on what God said. Don’t eat seafood that does not have fins and scales. Don’t eat that which lives on the bottom of the sea.. Don’t eat animal fat, etc. The sun has been shining down on the wonderful fruit trees, and vines, filling each fruit with healthy vitamins from God. But, we had rather have our candy, or cake, or donuts..  Now, these dietary laws have nothing to do with our Salvation. We are saved by Grace through Faith in Christ alone and not because of our diet. But many, many across the land today are sick in various ways because of poor dieting habits. YES, in so many ways, we are what we eat.

(C) YOU ARE WHAT YOU READ. This sign is posted over the door of some libraries. There is a multitude of good reading material today on every subject. But the influence of wicked writers is seen in so many choices today. Magazines that are filled with all ungodliness are accepted as being alright. Check the magazine rack at the grocery store check-out counter. Many convicted rapists and killers have stated that what they had read greatly influenced their lives and ultimately their deeds.. God gave us a Wonderful Book to read. A Guide through life. Read it to be wise. Obey it to be Right, healthy and strong. Children should be warned over and over about the literature available to them.

(D) YOU ARE WHAT YOUR FRIENDS ARE. We become so much like those with whom we associate. We soon begin to take on their ideas, habits, and so much of their lifestyle. The Bible again is clear, In the Book of First Corinthians, Ch. 15; Paul is sharing the truth about the resurrection. Some at Corinth did not believe in the resurrection, v12-15. Paul is careful to caution the Corinthian believers, “EVIL COMMUNICATIONS CORRUPT GOOD MANNERS.”(V33) In other words, the company you keep will have a great influence on you and what you believe. Christian young people, Choose your friends wisely. As a boy growing up, my Mother cautioned me many times; “You will be known by the company you keep.” Choose your friends wisely!

(E) YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR. This too is the motto of a clothing chain. “Clothes Make the Man”(or woman).Our clothes, or in many cases, lack of the same, tell much about who we are, and what we are. I am saddened that the sloppiness of the society we live in has invaded the ‘church world.’ We should represent our lord Jesus with the very best we have. On and on I could go with this, BUT, to our subject. All of the above have so much to do with what we are, but…
YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK, or, WHAT YOU THINK, YOU ARE! The Old Testament Proverb says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Pr 23:7) Everything we do stems from our thought life. Every ungodly act, deed, lifestyle, habit. Thefts, murders, robberies, etc, began with a thought.

An alternate sexual lifestyle begins in the thought life. The thought left unchecked becomes an act, an act ultimately becomes a lifestyle. And on and on it goes.

Drug addiction and everything that has mankind in bondage begins in the thought life. We are born with a fallen, Adamic nature that has this downward inclination. This is why Jesus said, “YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”.

Some years ago a Popular Book; THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING, was written. This captured the minds of many.
The author set forth the idea that if we began to think right, we will be right. That sounds good, but the sinner needs FIRST to be BORN AGAIN before he can start to think as the Bible teaches. As a Christian, NOW we have the Mind of Christ. He tells us about the things we should think of, (Phil 4:4-9).
Our thought life can be controlled “Casting down imaginations, (thoughts) and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ.” (2Cor 10:1-5).

Our Thought life can be renewed daily, (Ro. 12:1-3) God has given the Believer “All things that pertain unto life and Godliness.” (2Pet 1:1-10)..
“Keep thy heart (the seat of every emotion) with all diligence, for out of it are THE ISSUES OF LIFE.” (Pr 4:23). Being BORN AGAIN we have a NEW HEART. Now we can “Trust in the Lord with all thine HEART and lean not unto thine understanding. In ALL THY WAYS acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”(Pr. 3:5-6)
All of these things we have discussed have to do with our PRAYER LIFE, and our BIBLE KNOWLEDGE. A Vital, meaningful PRAYER LIFE means that we take our issues of life to God. A WORKABLE KNOWLEDGE of the Word Of God, (KJB) means that He gives answers in His Word about our issues of life. God bless you. Have a great day IN CHRIST. Guard your thought life. After all, it is WHO you are!

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               FROM MY HEART
                  By Mildred Mills

      THE BUSY DAYS OF SUMMER

No such thing as “Lazy Days of Summer” around our house! The Grand Kids are out of school and of course they love to spend time at Mimi and Papa’s house so that spells BUSY!
Our plans are many but not always carried through. A trip to the Zoo can easily be put off because of the sweltering Florida heat or the daily thunderstorms. The park is a fun place but not for long in 95 degree hot, humid weather. The pool is nice but we don’t have one! Sounds lazy and boring, huh?!? Not a chance. We substitute all of the above with short bike rides around the neighborhood, playing under the water sprinkler, digging in Mimi’s flower bed, having a peanut butter and jelly picnic out on the covered patio and best of all is our weekly trip to the Dollar Store. Nice and cool and very affordable, yes! Believe me, we stay busy. Busy, but not doing the things we planned. We could have stood the heat and made our way to the Zoo, but we did not want to leave the comfort of the air conditioner. All the things we planned to do were do-able but we wanted to stay in our comfort zone which is COOL AIR!
By the way, if you know me, you know I am not a hot weather person. I don’t like the heat. I was born in Florida and lived in Florida all my long life with the exception of a few years in Tennessee and Georgia. The colder the better is my way of thinking. So I won’t blame our change of plans on the Grands. Actually, they don’t care how hot it is, they just have fun all the time and everywhere no matter what the plan is.
Summer time is a time when families get together for picnics and fellowship. We see family members we have not seen in a while and we know they are still outside the family of God. They are not saved. Our plan was to talk to them about Christ. Summer time is a time we talk to our neighbors across the fence  or maybe have a cook out and invite them over planning to witness to them because we know they are lost and need to be saved.
Our plans were to tell these about Jesus, but there again we didn’t want to leave our comfort zone and maybe offend our neighbor or loved one by witnessing to them.
We that have trusted Christ are saved to tell others of the Christ that died for them. We changed our plan and talked about everything but their need of Salvation.
Let us not change our plans when it comes to telling others about Christ. The busy days of summer are almost over. Summer will soon be ended, but we have today and it is not too late, so let’s stay with the plan.
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved.” (Jer. 8:20)

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           ON THE SUNNIE SIDE
 By Sunnie Ann (Spence) Kimmel
 (From the WILDERNESS, March, 1999)

Being a Pastor’s daughter brings many fun privileges. My family houses Missionaries and guest speakers that come through our Church. A few weeks ago Mr. & Mrs. Vaughn stayed with us. Mr. Vaughn was the Vice President of an industry that bought Hollywood movies. Mr. Vaughn would screen the movies and buy them for his company. Then Mr. Vaughn got saved! He came to our Church and spoke about the evils of the Hollywood movie industry. Some Christians watch wicked movies made by Hollywood and their minds are filled with improper things. We cannot be too careful about what we bring into their minds. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” We need to make God’s standard our standard for what we watch and listen to. “Finally my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS.” (Phil 4:8).  AMEN!

Note. Sunnie Ann is our oldest Grandchild. On July 15, 2009, she gave birth to our first Great Grandchild, A boy (preacher boy) Carson David Kimmel, 8 pounds, 6 ounces. We praise God for the safe arrival of this wonderful gift of God…Pastor & Mrs. Mills.