Vol. 39, No. 12 December, 2015

THE BLESSED MAN

By Pastor George Mills

“Blessed is the man that doeth this and the son of man that layeth hold on it, that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing it.” (Isa. 56:2).

The word, “Blessed” meaning, “Happy” or, “Spiritually prosperous.”

Today, as I write this, I must say that I am a man most richly blessed. Now, I do not live in a large mansion, or have a large bank account, or drive an expensive automobile. I am about as common as a man can be, financially, that is! But I am a man most blessed. Since I have been saved, over 55 years now, I have seen God’s blessings in so many ways. He has given me the best help-meet (wife) that a man could ask for. He has given us four wonderful children, eleven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. He has given us life, health, strength, and His Blessings have been showered upon us. He has given me long life. Yes, I am a man most richly blessed. There is no way that I can adequately describe for you how richly He has blessed me. I Praise His Holy Name for this.

I want to be a Blessing. This Publication will be sent across the land, and into many foreign lands. I want to be a blessing to you, wherever you are. I trust that this Christmas season we

will join our hearts together in Praise to our Heavenly Father for the Gift of His Love, born of

a virgin, who lived a sinless life, who was rejected by men, who was nailed to a cross, bearing the sin of the world, dying, buried, but arose victoriously from the grave, and is the Giver of Eternal Life. What a Blessing!!

Now, let us look to the Scriptures and see just a few of the ways He has blessed us…

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT TRUSTETH IN THE LORD, AND WHOSE HOPE THE LORD IS.” (Jer. 17:7). I am so grateful for the day in my memory when I TRUSTED Him. I believed about Him all of my life. I heard from a child that Jesus died for the sin of the world. I heard about the Bible, and all of the great things of Scripture. I attended churches as a young boy growing up. Yes, I heard many things about Jesus. I heard about His death on the Cross and his resurrection. But as a young man I wandered the path of life that most take. I walked the sidewalks of many cities, tried everything that Satan offered, but I found no real joy in anything. But in a small Church in Jacksonville, Fla. In August 1960, I knelt in prayer and I asked Christ to be my Saviour. That day I TRUSTED Him alone. To know about Him did not mean much, to TRUST Him was everything! Have you TRUSTED Him? Life begins and takes on real meaning the day that you TRUST Him. Have you Trusted Him alone to be your Saviour, your King, your Lord? If you have not done that, this is the only day that you have. Tomorrow may never be here. “Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your heart,” (Heb. 4:7). You may be a church member, baptized, a worker, and live a good life. But real life comes when you TRUST Him! Oh how wonderfully Blessed is the life of those who TRUST Him.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN.” (Ro.4:9).

The word “impute” means “to charge to one’s account,”now when one has TRUSTED Christ, His Heavenly record is clean. His sin is forgiven. He will never face his sin again! If you will take time and read the sins of man listed in Romans, chs.1-3, you will find yourself in there somewhere, that is, before you were saved. Christ paid all of that debt of sin by His sacrifice on the Cross. That’s something we could never do. Now, this is taken from the experience of Abraham, who, by Faith alone, believed God apart from any work of any kind., (Romans 4:1-16) (Genesis 15:1-6). Where sin was once imputed to Abraham’s account, now Righteousness is imputed. And so it is with us today. The word “Reckon,”(Romans 4:9) simply means that we believe what the Bible says about us. I can almost hear the words; “Now preacher, you give everyone the right to sin and to live the way he pleases and God will not hold him accountable.” I did not say that. Lost sinners who will not receive Christ will have eternity to pay for their sin in the place called hell. Those of us who claim Christ pay for our mistakes in this life. Read Hebrews 12:1-12. Your Heavenly record is clean, all paid in full in Christ’s finished Work. I do not believe that one wants to continue in sin after they receive Christ. Our “WANT TO” changed. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold,, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17). If you want to continue in that lifestyle, better check up! “Did I receive Christ, or did I just say some words?” God deals with His children in His way as our Heavenly Father.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY, NOR STANDETH IN THE WAY OF SINNERS, NOR SITTETH IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL.” (Psa. 1:1-6).

In this text there are Two Men, Two Ways, Two Destinys.

THE WAY OF THE GODLY MAN…

“He walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Blessed is the man who does not go to the world to get his advice. His counsel is the Word of God (KJB). There, he meditates night and day. He is wiser then his enemies. He has more understanding than his teachers.” (Psa 119:97-105).

“He Standeth not in the way of sinners.” Sinners are not his choice of friends. He may be a friend of sinners, but not a friend with sinners. He does not accept the principles and practices of the ungodly.

“He sitteth not in the seat of the scornful.” Some put off Salvation, then doubt, then reject, then deny. This man outwardly mocks God.. The Godly man does not sit with him.

THE TWO DESTINYS…

The way of the Godly man, the Righteous man, is like a tree planted by waters that bring forth fruit Whatever he does shall prosper, and he will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever.(Ps 23:6).

THE WAY OF THE UNGODLY MAN….

The ungodly are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.” The sinners and ungodly are promised no part in the rewards of the Godly.”(Ps 1:5). God concerns Himself with the Righteous. (Ps 1:6). The Righteous shall shine as the stars.

“BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION, FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM.”

(James 1:12)James is writing about Trials, Testings, Temptations, and Triumph. Here are some valuable lessons for every child of God.

EXPECT TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS AND TESTINGS…

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.” James 1:2)

Not “if “trials come, but “when” trials come.”

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” (1Pet. 4:12).

Some of the great men and women of God suffered many trials and testings. Read about the honor roll in Heaven in Hebrews, Ch. 11. It would be very difficult to list the names of the ones who went through bitter trials for our learning. I choose to mention just one which we are very familiar with; the Apostle Paul.. He lists shipwrecks, beatings, imprisonments, scourging, things we cannot imagine. Read Second Corinthians 11:33.

The early church went through great sufferings and tribulation….But the Gospel went around the known world. Paul stated that the things that happened to him, happened for the furtherance of the Gospel. (Phil 1:12).

OUR HELPS IN TRIALS AND TESTING…

PRAYER..(James 1:5-6). Never slack up in your prayer life. If you do not understand what is happening to you, “Ask of God,” He will give you wisdom. PRAY about everything!

THE WORD OF GOD. (James 1:21-23). As we have stated the Godly man searches the Word. He meditates day and night. He seeks the Mind and Will of God. James says that we are to

receive the Word with meekness, and “continue therein.”

THE HOLY SPIRIT. Not mentioned in our text in James, but there is One within every believer who knows our case, who helps in our Prayers, and is our Teacher of the Word of God. He takes the things of Christ and shows them to us.(John 16:13-16). The Holy Spirit is our Best Friend. Get to know Him. Listen to His still voice within you.

THE PURPOSES IN TESTING..

This reveals our faith. What kind of faith we have. “Knowing that the trial of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:3). Jesus asked His disciples, “Where is your faith?”

What kind of faith do we have?

A DEMONIC FAITH? “Oh yes,” some say, “I believe in God!” So what, the devils believe in God, and tremble. Just to say, “I believe in God” will not get you to first base. WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO WE HAVE?

A DEAD FAITH? James repeats himself, (James 2:17, v20, v26). Faith without works is dead!

Just to speak about faith is nothing. We must have the faith that, believes, and is alive! Like the Faith of Abraham., who Believed God.

WHAT KIND OF FAITH DO WE HAVE?

A DYNAMIC FAITH? “Abraham believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.”

TESTINGS, TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS reveal what kind of faith we have. “Knowing that the trial of your faith worketh patience.” Endurance, a faith that never fails. God is working in the life of every believer.

GOD IN OUR TRIALS AND TESTINGS…

God never tempts us. (Ja. 1:13).. He does not tempt us with something fleshly and lustful.

Temptation is that desire within us to do wrong. This is known as the “old nature, the old man, this body of sin,” (James 1:14). Have you ever heard it said, “The devil made me do it?” Don’t blame the devil. He gets the blame for everything. James reminded us to look into the mirror, (James 1:23-25). “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:15).

SATAN TEMPTS US TO BRING OUT THE WORST IN US. A backslidden christian is his best weapon against the Church.

GOD TESTS US TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN US. God has an image in mind. (cont’d pg 4)

“That we might be conformed to the image of His Son.” (Ro. 8:29.

Gutzon Borglum was the man responsible for the Presidential carvings on Mount Rushmore. Before he began his work, Mr. Borglum saw the images in the Mountain. He just had to go to work and cut away everything that did not look like one of the presidents. When the work was finished, well, just look at one of the pictures, or see the sight personally.

God cuts away everything in our lives that does not look like Christ.

BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURETH TEMPTATION, (TRIALS & TESTINGS).

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD.

BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN.

BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKETH NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY. NOR STANDETH IN THE WAY OF SINNERS. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF GOD!

Yes, as I have said, I am one who has been Blessed of God….That BLESSED MAN!

May I ask you personally, do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour? Have you TRUSTED HIM? If you have not done that, Why not, right now, tell Him that you receive Him. He is there, where you are, in the person of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps there is that strong desire in your heart to know Christ. 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.” Receive Him today. Become one of the millions who can say, “I AM BLESSED!”

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BLESSED

“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” (Romans 4:7-8).

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ONE DAY I NEEDED HIM

By Pastor George Mills

“And call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver thee and thou shalt Glorify Me.”

(Psalm 50:15)

One day I needed Him and He was there,

No one else could understand

The hurt that I did bear,

Then I turned to Christ and said,

“Oh hear my urgent prayer.”

One day I needed Him, and He was there.

Of all the things in life that caused me care,

For this one thing so deep,

I found no one to share,

Then I called upon the Name,

Of the One in Heaven, fair,

One day I needed Him, and He was there.

He was there, for He said that He would care,

This hurt, this loss, this thing,

Much more than I could bear,

And just like the Tender, Loving,

Kind Shepherd, Fair,

One day I needed Him, and He was there.

His Word that He would all my burdens share,

Was tried and proved by me,

The day I found Him there,

Just as He did on His Cross,

When our sin He did bear,

One day I needed Him, and He was there!

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FOREVER IN HIS PRESENCE

By Pastor George Mills

“In Thy presence is fullness of joy.” (Ps 16:11).

Forever in His presence,

Oh how happy we will be,

Face to face with Christ our Saviour,

There to live eternally,

Every fear is gone forever,

Every tear is wiped away,

There, forever in His Presence,

In the dawning of that new day.

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THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM?

OR

THE GOSPEL OF GRACE

Which one, it cannot be both. They are not the same. I heard one preacher say, “Let’s preach both to make sure we are right.” The Gospel of the Kingdom is an earthly message to an earthly people. The Gospel of Grace is a Heavenly message to a Heavenly people.

First, there was the Gospel of the kingdom. John the Baptist came on the scene preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom; “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand..” (Mt. 3:1-2). John was pointing to Christ…”There is your King. Look to Him. Check His credentials.”

Jesus preached the Gospel of the Kingdom; “Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Mt. 4:17). Jesus came when He was supposed to come, with all the credentials of Messiah. He healed, He opened blinded eyes, He raised the dead. He did many miracles to show the nation, “Here is your King.” The twelve disciples preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, (Mt. 10:1-8). They preached, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Then Jesus sent out seventy disciples to preach the “Gospel of the Kingdom.”(Lk 10:1-12). Israel rejected their King. He was not what they wanted. Jesus was crucified and buried, but He arose from the dead. Then, in the first seven chapters of the Book Of Acts, the Gospel of the Kingdom was still preached. Peter said to the nation, Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord and He will send Jesus which before was preached unto you.” (Acts 3:19-20). The Kingdom was offered again and the nation refused to repent and receive their King.

Now the Gospel of the Kingdom has been set aside and there was a turning to the gentiles. For about 2000 years the Gospel of Grace has been preached. The Gospel of Grace is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1Cor. 15:3-8). That’s the Gospel of Grace we preach. Belief in that Gospel, trusting that Gospel and nothing else is the Power of God unto Salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Ro. 1:16). The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached again after the Church has been called out from here, (1Thess 4:13-18). After the Church is gone, the Gospel of the Kingdom will go all over the world. During those days the antichrist will rise to power. The Gospel of the Kingdom alerts Israel and with the world conditions at that time, will cause many to reject the antichrist. This will infuriate the antichrist and he will enter the rebuilt temple and will demand to be worshiped as God, The Gospel of The Kingdom will call the Jews to their homeland. Read Matthew 24. That great chapter deals with Israel at the end time.. Now, today there is a common call on TV for finances to get the “Gospel of the Kingdom” to all nations BEFORE Jesus can come back.. Let me say that Jesus could have returned at any time in history. He could come today. Nothing has prevented His coming in the past, or prevents His coming today. It is all On His schedule.. We preach the Gospel of Grace and not the Gospel of the Kingdom. These Gospels are not the same. The coming of Christ in the rapture of the Church is imminent. It may be today! “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

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MY HOPES FOR THE NEW YEAR, 2016

Pastor George Mills

My hope for this New Year is that this Publication, the WILDERNESS will go further, reach more people, be an influence in the lives of Children of God everywhere.

Of course with each passing year we are closer to the coming of Our Lord. My hope is still that “blessed hope” the Glorious return of Christ

My hope for the New Year is that we elect a President who will lead from the front. My hope is that we will see Judges appointed who will defend the Constitution, not change it. We will see people elected to office who will lead this nation back to greatness. And let us stop throwing our Policemen under the bus!

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FROM MY HEART

By Mildred Mills

MERRY CHRISTMAS—HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas is almost here and we hope you and your family will have the best Christmas ever! This special day goes by so fast, the day we celebrate our Saviour’s Birth. Gifts are opened, and the dinner is all over with and we have a brand New Year ahead of us. We look back on the past year and think of all the happenings in our lives, good ones and some not so good, but God has seen us through them all. We could have done so much more for Him, but prayerfully we will do more this coming year. We can’t dwell on last year, but we can “start all over” with the New Year., and make our lives count for Him. Only what is done for Christ will last! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year and remember, His promises are new every morning. “Just start over!”

“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.” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

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START OVER

When you’ve trusted God and walked His way,

When you’ve felt His hand lead day by day,

But your steps now take you another way–

Start over.

When you’ve made your plans and they’ve gone awry,

When you’ve tried your best and there’s no more try,

When you’ve failed yourself and you don’t know why–

Start over.

When you’ve told your friends your plan to do,

When you’ve trusted them and they didn’t come through,

And now you’re all alone and it’s up to you–

Start over.

When you’ve failed your kids and they’re grown and gone,

When you’ve done your best but it’s turned out wrong,

And now your grandchildren have come along–

Start over.

When you’ve prayed to God so you’ll know His will,

When you’ve prayed and prayed and you don’t know still

When you want to stop because you’ve had your fill–

Start over.

When you think you’re finished and you want to quit,

When you’ve bottomed out in life’s deepest pit,

When you’ve tried and tried to get out of it–

Start over.

When the year has been long and successes few,

When December comes and you’re feeling blue,

God gives a January just for you–

Start over.

Starting over means victories won;

Starting over means a race well run;

Starting over means God’s will done;

Don’t just sit there–

Start over.

Author unknown

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Recipe for….

YOUR GREATEST CHRISTMAS EVER…

REALIZE that you are a sinner before God.

“For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.”..

RECOGNIZE that Christ alone can save you from the PENALTY and POWER of sin, and ultimately from the presence of sin.

RECEIVE CHRIST TODAY. “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons Of God, even to them that believe on His Name.” (Jn. 1:12).

Put those three points together and you will indeed HAVE YOUR GREATEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

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AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. The world seeks to take Christ away from Christmas,and Christmas away from Christ. At this season of gifts and giving, remember the GIVER and the GIFT that HE gave..God gave His Son to die that we might not die, but have life abundantly.

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DEALING WITH DESCENDANTS

By Pastor George Mills

Descendants= “A person who is an offspring of a family group.”

There are many growing themes, or theories “about “ancestral curses.” This teaching is that if there is some kind of a”trait” or “weakness” such as alcoholism that this may well be because of a curse in our historical lineage. The reasoning of this teaching;“Visiting the iniquity of the fathers unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me..” (Ex 20:5).The teaching is that if someone in our family line is struggling with such an awful thing that must be because God put a curse on them because of some great sin and what we must do is to identify this trait, confess this trait, and ask God to stop it and not let it pass on to the next generation. I wonder what kind of Salvation is being offered today. There seems to be an endless list of things we are supposed to do. The Bible says :If any man be in Christ, he is a ‘new creature, old things are passed away and behold all things are become new.”(2Cor 5:17). Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and incurred a sinful nature. That sinful nature was passed to their children, thus reaching all men everywhere. Let me say that there is a four-fold curse in Genesis: a curse upon the serpent, a curse upon nature, a curse upon the woman and a curse upon the man.. Jesus died under that curse, and any curse of the Law.; “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us for it is written CURSED is everyone that hangeth upon a tree.” (Gal. 3:13). And may I add that He redeemed us from any and all curses. The text in Ex 20 is taken from the Old Testament Law. The gentiles were never under the Old Testament Law “He showed His Word to Jacob, His statutes and judgments to Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation, And as for as His judgments, they have not known them.” (Psa 147:19-20). It is true that children have to pay an awful price because of sinful parents. For instance, children of drunken parents have a bitter price to pay. The Israelites had to go into captivity because of the failure of their fathers. But each generation is accountable, not for their fathers, but for themselves.. God is in the blessing business. No one can cause a curse to come upon anyone. Being under an ancestral curse, other than that original curse of sin and it’s penalty is another :religious hoax.” Jesus took care of that curse in His finished work of Calvary.

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CORNERS

Thou shalt not wholly reap the corners.”

Lev. 19:9

I am aware that God wants total commitment from us, but I do not believe that He is too demanding in our lives as some think Him to be.. In this text God did not ask for the entire harvest, He only asked for the CORNERS. “Leave the corners for the poor and needy. Let them glean there. That’s His pattern, not the whole thing, just a part. We must work most of the day, then home to take care of some chores, some family time, so God did not ask for the whole day, just a corner. Begin your day with Him. Read His Word for a few moments, and seek His Blessings and guidance for the day. A few moments here and there to speak to someone about Christ. Not the whole day, just a corner. Not the whole week, just one day. A day set aside for Him, to worship Him, to attend His Church, to rest. God made our body. He knew that our body needs rest, so He ordained a day. No shopping, no business, no working. Not the whole week, just a corner. Not the whole paycheck, just a corner. God can do more with 10% than we can do with 100%. Not the whole thing, just a corner. You see, God is not too demanding!

AND THE WORLD IS A WILDERNESS…It is no friend to the Christian. Satan demands all…100%. God is not the taskmaster that some take Him to be, but Satan is!

“My son, forget not my Law, but let thine heart keep my commandments, for length of days and long life and peace shall they add to thee.”

(Pr. 3:1-2).