Vol. 36, No. 6     June, 2012

“ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR IN ALL THINGS.” (Titus 2:10b)    
                By Dr. George Mills

This Text is a wonderful commission, but I have found it very hard for me to comprehend. On the one hand, it is very simple. To ADORN something is to “make that something beautiful, or make it more beautiful than it is.” On the other hand, for me to adorn the Doctrine of God is something that I cannot do. I would have to understand more than I know. I  would have to have abilities that I do not have. The Doctrine of God is complete and is the most beautiful work in all of God’s creation. How can I possibly adorn, or make beautiful the Doctrine of God? How can I make it more attractive? How can I make it more appealing? How can I improve on what God has done? How can I make Truth more than what it is? Truth is truth. Anything short of truth is not truth. Anything added to truth is not truth.
First, let us define the Doctrine of God. What is it?

The Doctrine of God is the “Truth revealed in His Word. It is NOT the thoughts, but it is every Word, every single Word.”  The Doctrine of God is “The faith once delivered to the saints.”  (Jude 3). This is the faith that we are to contend for. To contend for something is to be in battle, and to battle is not something beautiful. But man in his wisdom has been trying for centuries in many ways to ADORN, or to make beautiful, to make  more attractive, to make more appealing. the Doctrine of God. May I share with you some of the many efforts of man, and the things man cannot do…

1. WE CANNOT ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD  BY ADDING ANYTHING TO IT.
If you study the Book of Titus from which we get our text you will see how the Judaizers had followed the Apostles and began to teach that something had to be ADDED to their doctrine. (“They of the circumcision” 1:10).

Judaizers taught that one must keep the Law and be circumcised in order to be saved.

And there were unlearned believers that taught that Grace is a license to sin.

These errors had to be corrected. Paul told Titus that he had left him in Crete to organize the church (set in order) and teach sound doctrine.
His message was to be three fold…

A) God’s Grace to sinners, (Ch. 2:11).
B).The Holy life that follows true faith, (2:12)
C).The daily expectation of Christ’s return,(2:13)

Man’s attempt to bring in LAW to ADD to GRACE does NOT ADORN the Doctrine of God, This corrupts sound doctrine, (2:1). And ALL false doctrine has it’s roots in the attempt of mixing LAW and GRACE.

WE CANNOT ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD BY ADDING ANYTHING TO IT!!!

2. WE CANNOT ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD BY TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM IT.
 Oh yes, I am amazed in these latter years at the great attempts to TAKE AWAY great doctrines from the Holy Book we call the BIBLE, (KJB). We  stand in amazement at what has been done to the “Truth revealed in His Word.” They have TAKEN AWAY the thee’s, the thy’s, the thou’s, in fact, over 63,000 words have been TAKEN AWAY.  Many references to the Virgin Birth, the Lordship of Christ, and the devilship of  Satan, the Resurrection of Christ and His Second coming have been TAKEN AWAY. Oh yes, there is more to come. Man in his efforts has been trying to make the Doctrine of God look good by TAKING AWAY. “We want it to be more appealing, to be relevant. After all, doctrine divides, but experience unites.” (so they say). (By the way, the blood has been TAKEN AWAY over 40 times).
Yes, doctrine does divide. It divides the right from the wrong.

WE CANNOT ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD BY TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM IT!

3. WE CANNOT ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD BY GOING AROUND IT.
 I could not help but think of the days of Josiah when he commissioned that the House of God was to be repaired and cleansed. The Temple had become a warehouse for storage of heathen idols, and paraphernalia used in idol worship.  Hilkah, the High priest brought the message, “I have found the Book of the Law in the House of the LORD.” (2Kings 22). When the Word of God was read to the King he rent his clothes and commanded that the priests should seek the face of God concerning this Book. God put off judgment coming to Judah because the young King Josiah made a covenant with God, the Temple was cleansed,  and the idols were burned. I suppose that the Book of the Law was found where it should have been, but it had been covered up by “junk.” More and more piled upon it. The nation had gone AROUND THE DOCTRINE OF GOD. I am afraid that we are in the middle of the days as spoken by the Prophet Amos, “Behold the days come saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (Amos 8:11).

4. WE CANNOT ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD BY BRINGING SOMETHING ALONG SIDE IT.
Many have come to the conclusion that what mankind has thought of, when brought along with the Bible, that these things actually make the Bible look great. Now, we can search through dozens and dozens of version after version and find the words we need to fit in the situation we face. We bring along commentaries, dictionaries, theories, philosophies, dogmas, ideas. We bring in the Greek, the Hebrew, the sayings of ancient ‘religious’ men and elevate these to a position much higher than the Bible and say “Look how good these things make the DOCTRINE OF GOD LOOK.” Don’t be so confused by these things. Of course, there are so many, many more things to say, but space is short.
Now, getting back to the commandment to “ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD.”
How can I? What can I do? What can I do to ADORN the Doctrine of God?

FIRST, I BELIEVE THAT I MUST SURRENDER TO IT.
The Doctrine of God is far beyond my reach or ability to improve, to add to, or to detract from it. I must surrender to it. To see a lost sinner, hell bound and hell deserving, and to see that lost sinner bow in humble subjection and receive the message of God, and that one rise to be a trophy of His Saving Grace, That is ADORNING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD. Getting all wrapped up in His Saving Grace. Am I writing this to someone who has never received Christ? Don’t waste another moment. Tell God that you believe His Message of the Cross of Redemption. He will hear your heart’s cry. He will save you from the penalty and power of sin, and give you a reason for living.

SECOND I BELIEVE THAT TO ADORN THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IS SEEN IN OUR LOVE FOR IT.
“Oh how I love thy Law.” I love the Bible. I wish that I knew it Better. I have been reading and studying for over 50 years. I am still learning. It is common for me to see things I never saw before. I may have read them but really never saw them.

I love to PREACH the DOCTRINE OF GOD. Every word. Paul told young Timothy to “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 hear sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.: (2Tim 4:1-5). We have come to that place today, but I still love to preach “Thus saith the Lord.”

I love to PUBLISH the DOCTRINE OF GOD.
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings , that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.” (Isa. 52:7). This is what the Ministry of the “WILDERNESS” is all about. We started PUBLISHING the Gospel of Grace back in 1976. We are sending it as far as we can, while we can, and time is running out. This small PUBLICATION along with our Tracts, booklets goes into countries of the world and places I have never heard of. Thanks to the internet, multiplied thousands read about the DOCTRINE OF GOD every day.  I Believe that’s ADORNING THE DOCTINE OF GOD.

I love to PROCLAIM the DOCTRINE OF GOD. I know that I have mentioned preaching, but proclaiming goes farther than preaching. Preaching as we commonly refer to is mainly limited to an auditorium. That’s where the “Church In The Wildwood Broadcast”  comes in. This started back in 1966 and has allowed us to proclaim His Message far and wide. This ADORNING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD gets better and better.

THIRD, I BLEIEVE THAT ADORNING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IS SEEN IN OUR COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER HEARD.
Most of the world has never heard a clear message of the Gospel of Grace. We stay busy on our programs, promotions, prizes while millions die daily without ever hearing. We must obey our Master’s voice to tell the nations. Will you pray for us? Will you be faithful on your field of service? I am not a date setter, or sign seeker, but I believe that time is running out.

FOURTH, I BELIEVE THAT ADORNING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IS SEEN IN THE LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE WHO TRY TO LIVE IN HOLINESS..
“For the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present evil world.”
Now, we may enhance the beauty of something by decorations, but the simple Beauty of the Gospel is seen in the clean, pure lives of the ones who have believed the Message. The music of the world, the  styles, the dress codes, the thinking of this world has been brought into the church and man seems to be so “carried away” in all of this, but the people of God who love our Lord Jesus want to live that Holy, clean, pure life that brings honor to His great Name.

FIFTH. I BELIEVE THAT ADORNING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IS SEEN IN OUR LOYALTY AND COMITTMENT TO IT.

The Word of God, (KJB)  is truth beyond all measure and is the final authority in all matters. Paul said to Timothy; “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest  to behave thyself  in the House of God , which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the Truth.” (1Tim. 3:15). Our responsibility is to obey it’s teachings, to Honor the Author and Finisher and send it’s message to the regions beyond. May God bless us together as we strive to hold high the Banner of God, until He comes!
Let us ADORN the DOCTRINE of God!

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. This warning has been included in every edition of the WILDERNESS since the beginning over 35 years ago. We want to remind everyone about the subtle tricks and traps of Satan. His attack against the Word of God at first was subtle, (Gen. 3:1) but today it is open and aggressive. I hope and trust that everyone who knows anything about us know that we stand firmly upon the inspiration of the Bible. I do not mean just any bible, or any of the new ‘versions’ on the market today. We cannot keep up with the number of subtle attacks upon the Person of Christ, His Work of redemption, or His eternal position in ages past and future as written into new versions. God gave the English speaking people of the world a Bible (KJB). This Book, without promotion was elevated to it’s high position and has influenced every area of society. This Book has been proclaimed around the world. This is the Book our grandparents used. This Book is translated from the Received text (Textus Receptus). The Textus Receptus is in Koine Greek, not classical Greek. Since the Bible (KJB) has brought us this far, I believe that it is capable to take us all the way home.

“It is the TRUTH revealed in His Word. It is NOT the thoughts, but it is every Word, every single Word”

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We wish to express our thanks to those of you who pray for and support this Ministry. Believe me, you are appreciated more than you know. Without your prayers we could do very little.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! With your help,  every day around the world, several thousand dial our website, read our publication, or listen to our Broadcast. Again, THANK YOU!                      Pastor Mills

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  I THOUGHT ABOUT OUR LORD TODAY
            By Pastor George Mills

In tender moments as I prayed,
     My mind was filled with glee.
To think Christ left His Home above,
To bring to us His Peace and Love,
     And to suffer willingly.

I thought about His Gift today,
     Of His Love for you and me.
I thought about the way He came,
About the way He bore our shame,
     And the price he paid to set us free.

I thought about His Body there,
     Nailed to a wooden cross.
I thought about the pain He bore,
And that He suffers pain no more,
     And how He suffered for our loss.

I thought about the Blood He shed,
     There, poured on the sod.
I thought about sin’s payment there,
And all our sin that He did bear,
     And bought us peace with God.

I thought about my fellow man,
     The ones who have never heard.
About the way He came and died,
And that they too, will with Him abide,
     If only they believe His Word.

I thought about my life today,
     And I gave it to His great Plan.
That all may know,
That He came so low,
     To rescue fallen man.

I thought about what joy awaits,
     Over there for you and me.
When at last we see His face,
And thank Him for His saving Grace,
     And for His Love, so full and free.

          Yes, I thought about our Lord Today!

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              FROM MY HEART
                 By Mildred Mills

          AS MANY AS IT TAKES
Spring is here and I am working with my flowers once again. My ferns looked awful. They were in hanging baskets and seemed to be hanging between life and death!  A little bit of life but not enough to take off and flourish. I thought about throwing them in the trash and buying new ones, but they were trying so hard to live, so I decided to give them another chance at life—a beautiful life. I went to work on them and took them out of the baskets to find that they were root bound. The roots were all bound up and no matter how hard they tried to live and become that beautiful plant they once were, they were stuck! I cut the roots loose, gave them some new potting soil, watered them and put them in the right spot so they could grow and be beautiful once again. I was talking as I worked and no one was with me except God and the ferns, so you guessed it, I was talking to the ferns! I said, “Now I have given you a second chance, but if you don’t make it this time, you are out of here!” Well, God spoke (not audible) in that still, small voice and said to me, “How many chances have I given you and you still fail Me at times?” Strange how God can get to me, even in the flower garden when I’m minding my own business. I agreed with Him and thanked Him for the many, many, many times He has given me another chance at life. I looked around at the salvaged ferns that had been cut loose from the bonds that were choking the life from them and they were swaying back and forth in the wind, happy as could be and it seemed as though they were saying to me, “Gotcha!” Oh well, I am very thankful that I was reminded of the many chances that God has given me to try again. He forgives us and gives us as many chances as we need. Are you trying to live for Him but find yourself bound down in some besetting sin that keeps you from flourishing as a child of God should? Cut the bonds that are holding you back and begin to live again! God is there with another chance just for you!
“His promises are new every morning.”
How many chances will God give to His children? AS MANY AS IT TAKES!  Thank you Father for your Goodness and Mercy.
“It is of the Lord’s Mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, Great is Thy Faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23).
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9).
“Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His Mercy from me.” (Ps. 66:20).
                HAPPY GARDENING!

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          TEEN TALKS THAT MATTER
                 By Ashley Stevens

  HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS
Teenagers, it is very important for us as Christians, the ones who have been saved through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to live a life that is honoring and glorifying our Lord and Saviour. In order for us to live a life like that, God has made it easier for us by establishing a number of general principles in His Word for our guidance and to help us make some tough decisions that we cannot make on our own. The right decision is the decision which is right in the sight of God, or which pleases God.. This means that the right decision may not always seem right in the sight of man, but it is right in the sight of God. In the Bible it tells us in the Book of James, Ch. 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbradeth not; and it shall be given him.” What we need to do is seek God and the Bible for those answers, and ask God for guidance for the decision that you have to make. However, God has blessed us with the knowledge of knowing whether some things are right or wrong. For example, stealing, lying, murdering, and committing adultery. These are all examples in which we, as Christians, don’t need to second guess ourselves on. For all the other decisions that you may have to face in life, turn them all over to God, for He knows what is best for you.
 May God bless your life each and every day!

Until next time,                         Ashley Stevens   

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                HE CARETH FOR YOU
                 By Pastor George Mills

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

Today, let us look into the Word of God and find hope where there seems to be no hope, and comfort where there seems to be no comfort, and answers where there seems to be no answers. What a Loving Saviour we have. “He careth for you.” Some of you have suffered a great loss lately. The loss is so great that no one can understand. There is an old beloved hymn entitled, “DOES JESUS CARE?” I remember my Mother singing that song just about every day when we were growing up. We lived in deep, hurting poverty in those days. We lived in a three room shack with no electricity, and just one water faucet on the back porch. There was no poverty program in those days and we had to work out a living the best way we could. As I listened to my Mother sing that old hymn, DOES JESUS CARE? It was as though she was crying out of her poverty, “Lord, do you know about us? Lord do you really care?” And of course, she would sing the chorus;
 “Oh yes He cares, I know He cares,
 His heart is touched with my grief.
When the days are weary, the long night dreary,
I know He cares for me.”
Is life always fair? Most times, the answer is No! So many times Christians get the wrong end of the deal. Many times Christians are wronged. So, in life we may not be able to find someone who cares, or one who would even try to care. Thank God for a Loving, Kind, Caring Saviour. Let me share with you some ways in which “He cares for you.”

HE CARED FOR YOU IN THE FACT THAT HE BORE ALL OF YOUR SIN ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY.

He bore ALL sin, past, present, and future sin. He bore them all on His Cross. Paul was amazed with this fact. He wrote, “But commendeth His Love toward us in that when we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Ro. 5:8). It does not matter how entangled your life may be, or whatever may have you in bondage, Christ paid the supreme sacrifice in order that we may have victory. “He is able to save to the uttermost.”
When there was no other way, He made a way. He cared for you by giving His life for you. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.(Jn.15:13).Don’t trust your feelings, or your situation. Don’t trust your friends, TRUST CHRIST.

HE CARED FOR YOU IN THAT HE GAVE YOU THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYER.

“And whatsoever ye ask in my Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son..” (Jn. 14:13). Christ is now in Heaven as our Faithful High Priest. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16).In recent days I have been there, and I found that Grace met me there. When no one can help, when no one can understand, Christ can! He will meet with you in your prayer. You can go boldly into His presence. He bought that right of access for you on the Cross. Just think about that! You do not have to dial some “800” number, or some religious headquarters. You do not have to find someone to pray for you. Christ cares for YOU! Talk to Him today!

HE CARED FOR YOU IN THAT HE GAVE YOU HIS WORD AS A SURE GUIDE THROUGH LIFE.

The Bible, (KJB) is the most wonderful Book in all the world. The Bible contains the mind of God. God can give answers where there seems to be no answers. In Romans 15:4 Paul writes about the “comfort of the scriptures.” In the Book you will find comfort. Read your Bible. Let God show you some wonderful passages of hope, hope that you cannot find any other place. “Unless Thy Law had been my delights, I should have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts, for with them, Thou hast quickened me.”(Ps. 119:92-93). Are you filled with questions and looking for answers? He cared for you in that He gave you his Book.

HE CARED FOR YOU IN THAT HE GAVE YOU THE POWER OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT.

Jesus said, I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you.”(Jn.14:18). Jesus came into your life at your invitation. When you believed, when you received Him by faith (Jn 1:12) He came in to dwell in you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He is with you and in you. Now, that’s a matter of fact and not feelings.(Eph. 1:13). Now you can say with the Apostle John, “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.” (1Jn. 4:4). The comfort of the Holy Spirit is there with you. Get to know Him. He is that friend that”sticketh closer than a brother.” He cared for you in giving you the assurance of His presence. He said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” (Heb. 13:5). Christ is there with you. Cast your care upon Him for “He careth for you.”

HE CARED FOR YOU IN THAT HE GAVE YOU A WELL ROUNDED HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

The future is in His hands. He has His plan laid out in His Word. Down here, the future doesn’t look very good. Disease, poverty, crime, immorality, addictions, and a thousand other things cloud our view. Maybe world war 3 is on the horizon. But let us not look through cloudy skies. Look through the Word of God. He promised that one day He will return for His own and take us to a place of REUNION, and REJOICING. Have you lost a loved one recently? Is everything going the wrong way? Fret not. “Our hope is in the Lord.” A bright and glorious future awaits the Child of God. “Be patient therefore brethren unto the coming of the Lord.”  (Ja. 5:7).
And can I be speaking to someone who may not be saved, who may not have any hope, or anyone to turn to? As I have said, “Christ is there, waiting for your invitation. He will not knock down the barriers of your heart and come in unbidden. He will come in when you ask, and trust Him alone. Do that just now and begin TODAY to live FOREVER.

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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.
But 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 can 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 man may say.
His Word stands the test,
Above all the rest,
     Thank God that He cares day by day.

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

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ANSWERS….”Your belief about the Church and the tribulation?”
My position has been stated many times in this publication. The great tribulation is a time of wrath and judgment. Read revelation chs 6-19. This will be a time of wrath. Paul clearly states over again that the Church is NOT appointed to wrath. (1Thess. 5:1-11). The tribulation is a time of judgment. The Church has already been judged. Christ bore our judgment on the Cross. Future judgment for the Church is for reward, or loss of reward according to our faithfulness. Let us be faithful, fruit bearing Christians.”How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that bringeth good tidings” (Isa. 52:7) Let us stand with beautiful feet and clean hands, looking for the appearing of Christ and not fearing the antichrist!