Vol. 35, No. 7  July, 2011

    THE GLORIES OF CHRIST
             (Psalm 45:1-8)
  By Dr. George Mills

“My heart is inditing a good matter. I speak of the things which I have made touching the king; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Thou art fairer than the children of men. Grace is poured into thy lips, therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness, and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies. whereby the people fall under thee. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter. Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness, therefore God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.”(1-8).
“So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord, and worship thou him.” (v11).

This Psalm is indeed Majestic! It portrays the GLORIES of CHRIST. Volumes have been written about this Psalm and it is the source of many beautiful hymns and poems. I can add but very little to that which has been written. Today, please allow me to share with you some wonderful thoughts from this passage. May God open our hearts together.
WHO IS THIS UNNAMED KING?

1. HIS IDENTIFICATION.
With his pen, the Psalmist will paint for us word pictures of this King.
 Who is this FAIR ONE? Who is this One whose lips are filled with Grace? When a Psalm is quoted in the New Testament, this identifies the Psalm as being Messianic or, it is a prophecy about our Lord Jesus Christ. This Psalm is quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9, thus identifying this young king as our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus told us to look for Him in the Old Testament. “And He said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law Of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the PSALMS concerning me.” (Lk. 24:44). The Bible, (KJB) is a Book about Him!

2. HIS INCARNATION. His next picture…
“Thou art fairer than the children of men.” All men are born sinners. All men
are born with the nature of Adam. All of Adam’s race are fallen. But this One is the Fair One, the Pure One. This speaks to us of the Incarnation. Christ is virgin born. He does not have the nature of Adam. His nature is Divine, pure, “above his fellows.” Man does his best to remove the Pure, virgin birth from the scriptures, but man will have to tear out many, many pages in order to do so. In fact, it cannot be done. His birth was pure, His life was pure. “In Him is no sin.”  His next picture..

3. HIS HUMILIATION.
The spices mentioned in this text speak of His humiliating life. “All thy garment smell of myrrh..” Myrrh is a root word for “bitterness.” At the time of His birth, wise men came from afar bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and MYRRH. The gold speaks of His Deity. The frankincense speaks of His intercessory ministry of prayer. The MYRRH speaks of the bitterness that will lead Him all the way to the cross. From the time that Herod issued the decree that all children from two years old and under were to be killed, bitterness was His close companion. Religion hated Him. The government hated Him. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” (Jn. 1:11). Myrrh was used to anoint His body for burial after the awful events and sufferings of the Cross, (Jn. 19:39). Hatred and bitterness were His lot then, and so it is today. You either love Him, or hate Him. The Aloes and Myrrh made up the embalming ointment for the body of the Lord Jesus. These spices picture for us the BITTERNESS, and the HUMILIATION.

But His humiliation is past. He will never suffer humiliation before sinners again. He is victor over death, hell, and the grave.

4. HIS CONFRONTATION.
The pen of the ready writer will paint for us another word picture…
“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh..” There is a battle raging. The forces of wickedness continue to assault the forces of righteousness. Sometimes the battle rages openly, and at times, very subtly, but the battle rages…

(A) THE WARFARE..
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12). The closer we get to the time of the coming of our Great King, the hotter the battle rages. According to our text, the King loves Righteousness and hates wickedness. Oh yes, there is a great warfare, and sometimes it looks like the enemy is about to gain the upper hand, but he is a defeated enemy. His time is limited.

(B) THE WEAPON. “Gird thy sword.”(v3), Of course we know from the testimony of Scripture that the Sword is the Word of God. His Weapon against this world system never changes. With His mighty Sword He will smite the nations of the world, (Rev 19:11-21). While the battle rages down here, I believe it best that we make sure that we have the right weapon. Of course I am referring to the Old King James Bible. It is the True, and Proven weapon. What it has done in the past, it will do for us today, and tomorrow. When Saul tried to arm David with his armor, David laid that aside because that armor had not been proven. (1Sam 17:38-40).
“Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies.”

5. HIS ADMINISTRATION.
“The scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.”(v6). The sceptre is a baton, a symbol of royal authority used by the king. While listening to the arguments in the king’s court, all the king needed to do is to lean his scepter to one side or the other, and to whatever side he leaned his sceptre, that became law! The Laws in our King’s kingdom are right! His administration is right! Follow His rules and you will learn how to live, how to get along in society. You cannot trust the promises of earthly politicians, they change. You can trust the rules of our King. He tells us how to raise our family, how to act, how to dress, and what we should eat. He covers everything in His Administration. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it.” “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. Submitting yourselves one to another. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor thy father and mother.” “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be the king, as supreme, or unto governors…honour all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.” His scepter, His rules are right!

6. HIS EXALTATION.
“My heart is indiding a good matter.” I am writing about something real good. “Out of the Ivory palaces.” The king lives in the place of Ivory Palaces. You can read about His kingdom in Revelation, chs. 21-22. He left the Ivory Palaces and came to this world. When He won the victory over every enemy, He returned to Ivory Palaces to prepare a place for those of us who have placed our faith and trust in Him alone. Someday He will return and receive those who have received Him and take us to that place of Ivory Palaces, (John 14:1-6). Today, He wears the crown of King of kings, and Lord of lords. He is EXALTED. “His Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom.”

7. HIS INVITATION.
“GRACE is poured into Thy lips.” (v2).
Yes, I am a GRACE preacher. All of the GRACE of God was poured into Christ. He is full of GRACE and TRUTH,” (Jn. 1:14-17). His GRACE is offered to all men everywhere. It matters not where you are, and what condition your life may be in, God’s Invitation of GRACE is extended to you.
The second half of this Psalm pictures a Wedding. “She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework. The virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing they shall enter into the king’s palace.” (v14-15).
What a glorious picture of that wedding that will take place one day. To try to explain it all is hopeless. To anticipate it is Glorious. His invitation to the wedding is extended to YOU! You must reply. In your own words, tell Him that you receive His offer of Salvation as a free gift. Then, and only then will you be prepared for TIME and ETERNITY. (John 1:12).
V11 says, “He is thy Lord, worship thou Him.” Everything about our Lord and King is Righteousness, Justice, and Peace. I thank God that I gave Him my life over 50 years ago.
No wonder the Psalmist said, “My heart is inditing a GOOD matter.”

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    THE GLORIES OF CHRIST
        By Pastor George Mills
    (Adapted from Psalm 45:1-8)

“Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously.”

Who is He who rides so grand,
  With sword gird at His side,
Whose Truth is spread to every land,
  And whom kings of earth deride?

Who is He with speech of Grace,
   With fragrant garments rare,
With radiant Glory in His face,
   And His throne beyond compare?

Who is He who rules so grand,
   Through all His vast domain,
With golden scepter in His hand,
   And whose kingdom will remain?

Who in majesty does ride,
   Whose arrows pierce the heart,
And with His sword He will divide,
   As kingdoms fall apart?

From Ivory Palaces above,
   He came to bring His calm,
With myrrh and aloes to show His Love,
   And with cassia, His healing balm.

Who is this king with girded sword,
   Whose lips with Grace are poured?
This is Christ the Living Word,
   He is the living Lord.

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His Speech Graceful, His Glory is Majestic, His Reign is Righteous, His Scepter is Right, His Garments are Royal, His Power is Mighty! He is LORD of lords and KING of kings!

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  HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
         July 4, 1776-July 4, 2011
               235 years young

       HEAR COMES THE FLAG!
 (Author unknown, but amen, and amen)

Here comes the flag,
  Hail it.
Who dares to drag,
  Or to trail it?
Give it hurrahs—
  Three for the stars,
  Three for the bars.
  Uncover your head to it!
  The soldiers who tread to it,
     Shout at the sight of it.
  The justice and right of it,
  The unsullied white of it,
  The blue and the red of it,
  And tyranny’s dread of it!

Here comes the flag,
    Cheer it!
    Valley and crag shall hear it,
    Fathers shall bless it,
     Children caress it.
All shall maintain it,
No one shall stain it,
Cheers to the sailors who fought on the wave for it.
Cheers to the soldiers that were always brave for it.
Tears to the men who went down to the grave for it.

HERE COMES THE FLAG!

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During the 49 months of his Presidency, Abraham Lincoln issued nine separate calls to public penitence, fasting and prayer and Thanksgiving. He believed that the God of Heaven should be acknowledged as the Sovereign Ruler of this nation.

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         FROM MY HEART
           By Mildred Mills

               SEASONS

Spring has come and gone and the hot summer of Florida has set in. I have already started counting the days until the weather cools and the leaves begin to fall. That is my favorite season of the year. Then of course our Florida winter will come and go and we start all over again. Seasons change and God is with us through them all. We have seasons of trouble in our lives and God is there with us through it all. Seasons change, so here comes the happy times. God is still with us and He delights in our joy.
Whatever you might be going through, whether it be happy times, or troubled times, the season will change. We have to remember that God is with us through it all. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. The season you may find yourself in today might seem hard to endure but remember, seasons change, but God never changes. He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever and will be with us in every season of life.
 If you have never asked Jesus to come into your heart, why not do that right now. Tell Him you know that you are a sinner and ask Him to save you. He will cleanse you of your sin and make you His child and then you also can claim His promises…
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).
“For He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5).
 
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  “IF THE FOUNDATIONS BE DESTROYED.” (Psalm 11:3)
             Pastor George Mills

“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” If the Bible asks a question, the Bible answers that question.
Who are the righteous? These are the ones who have placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” (Ro. 4:5).
Born again Christians are the Righteous. We have been made righteous in Christ. God has declared that to be so. So “What can the righteous do?” It seems that daily there is another attempt to destroy the great foundations of this society. Immorality, unrighteousness, vain imagination, clear violations of God’s Holy Word are the normal for our day and time…So, “What can the righteous do?” The answer; “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still, and he that is RIGHTEOUS, let him be RIGHTEOUS STILL.” (Rev. 22:11). Just keep on living for Jesus no matter what comes. Keep on doing what you know is right to do. Keep winning souls. Keep the Faith. Keep on witnessing. Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Salt keeps back corruption. Satan is limited. As long as the Church is here doing what we are supposed to be doing, Satan is limited. Today, my faith in Christ is stronger than ever. My trust in His Word (KJB) grows stronger every day. What can the righteous do? KEEP RIGHT ON DOING RIGHT! We are on the winning side. Righteousness will prevail!

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TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
           By Ashley Stevens

WAITING FOR GOD’S TIME

Have you ever prayed for something and God didn’t answer that prayer till months or even years down the road? Normally, we get very frustrated when God doesn’t do it in our time, but one thing that we need to understand, it isn’t our time, it’s God’s time. God knows when the time is right. God knows what is best for you! We need to learn to be patient and wait on God. Maybe that one thing that you are praying for isn’t in God’s will for your life. We need to accept that and believe that God has the right plan for us. If it was up to us as Christians, we would want God to lay out His plan and let us see every bit and piece of it. I am sure that we would also find some places in that plan where we would complain, but we should not do that. That is just part of the Christian walk with God. We have to wait on God’s time.
The hardest thing that I believe for a Christian to learn is; God is patient. I am sure that most of us have sat around and complained and whined because God did not send us what we wanted as quickly as we wanted it. I call this a “wish I knew what I know now” type situation. I have recently evaluated my life and looked at all of the events that have happened to me in my walk with Christ. I remember a time where I sat around and complained about my life saying, “God, why don’t I have this, why can’t I have that, and why me just sitting around feeling sorry for myself.” In this past year, God has put so much in my life, and has blessed me with so many things. I wish that I wouldn’t have complained so much back then. The key word I learned from all of that is patience.
We need to learn to have patience, like God has with us. We always look at us waiting on God, but really, God is waiting and being patient with us. When God looks down on you would He be proud of you or disappointed? All of the sins that we have done and all of the complaining that we do, would He be proud? I am sure that God is waiting patiently for us to go out there and witness to people, invite someone to church, and spend more time with Him and in His Word.
Now, believe God has a plan for your life and be patient and wait on Him to show you that plan. You may have done wrong in your life and you are paying a price for that, but God still has a plan for you and He will change your life and direction if you let Him.

May God Bless America as we celebrate the birthday of our great nation. Don’t ever forget the saying; “We are all one nation UNDER GOD.”
May God bless your life each and every day.
Until next time,  Ashley Stevens

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This has been a busy, fast, exciting year. It seems like only yesterday when 2011 began, now it is half way over. It is kind of you to take time to write this ministry. Every letter is received with gratitude. Every offering we receive, well, we just don’t know how to say THANK YOU enough. Every call, every letter, or personal comment is an encouragement. I believe with all of my heart that this ministry is worthy of your prayers and support. Thank you so very much!

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  ISRAEL’S LOST SONG
         Pastor George Mills

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea; we wept when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For they that carried us away captive required of us a SONG, and they that wasted us required of us mirth saying, sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Psa. 137:1-4

God’s people are a singing people. We have much to sing about. All of the beautiful Psalms were sung by the Jews. In fact, the Book of Psalms was their hymn book. The Israelites were a redeemed people. They sang the song of the redeemed on this side of the Red Sea. God had lifted them up out of the land of Egypt, that land of captivity and had put a song in their mouth. They sang as they wandered through the wilderness. But now, in our text, they have lost their song. This is a pitiful lot as they walk captive down to Babylon. Downcast and defeated, they listened to their captors ridicule them. They said, “Sing us one of your songs,” “We can’t sing,” they replied. “How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Do you know the root problem of these Jews? THEIR MEMORY HAD FAILED THEM. They forgot the blessings of God. They forgot the songs of God and began listening to the songs and music of this world.
AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS! It is no friend to the Christian. This text is not outdated, it is timely. Too many professing believers have begun to listen to the world’s music. We have lost our sweet song, the song of the redeemed. We have HANGED OUR HARPS. Our memory has failed us. We so soon forget that the music of this world is off key and not in tune with God. REMEMBER, REPENT, and RETURN is the admonition to the Church at Ephesus, (Rev. 2:1-7). As a Christian, if you have lost your song, return to that first love. You know, that love you had for Christ when you realized that your sins were forgiven. With open arms He is waiting. Join in with David as he cried; “Restore the JOY of thy salvation.” Return to that first love. START SINGING AGAIN!
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                  MY SONG
 By Pastor George Mills
“With my song shall I praise Him.”
                (Psa. 28:7)

Ever will I sing of Thee,
   Thou Precious Lamb of Calvary,
I will never lose my song,
   It shall be mine through ages long.

I shall never reach the place,
   Where I forget His saving Grace.
My song shall praise the Living One,
   Who gave for me His only Son.

I’ll sing aloud and shout with glee,
   And praise the One who died for me.
Whose blood was shed to set me free,
   O praise thee Lamb, of Calvary.

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A great Christian leader once said, “Christians fail, because memory fails.”

We forget that He saved us from the PENALTY of sin.
We forget our prayer life.
We forget our Bible, (KJB).
We forget our Church attendance.
We forget to witness to others.
We forget His promises
We forget the presence of the Holy Spirit
We FAIL because MEMORY fails!

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                 ONE WAY
Recently at an intersection, I saw a directional sign. This was an arrow with the words, ONE WAY. To turn the wrong way may well mean an accident, or worse. The thing that caught my attention was the condition of the sign. The elements, mildew, road tar, dust and dirt had almost obscured the sign. The words ONE WAY were not readable.
You know, the way to Heaven is not many ‘ways’, it is ONE WAY. Jesus said “I am THE WAY.” He is not one of the ways; He is not the best way, He is the ONLY WAY. Today, many doctrines, many religions, have obscured the ONE WAY sign. Robes, candles, human experiences, works, baptisms and other doctrines of men all cover up the ONE WAY sign to Heaven. To turn the wrong way on a one way street may mean death. To turn on a street marked “SINCERE” may be sincerely wrong.
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              BENEDICTION
Heavenly Father..Bless every reader of this publication. Give comfort and guidance to those who need such. We offer our prayer for inmates in various institutions. We pray that many will be saved and many will be encouraged. Heavenly Father, we offer our prayers for our neighbors. Many storms and tornados have demolished so many homes, churches, schools, businesses. We ask for your comfort in every case. And may we see REVIVAL in our time.
     Through Christ our Lord, Amen.