Voice of Truth International, Volume 80

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The Voice of Truth International

Staff:

Byron Nichols Jerry Bates Louis Rushmore Layout Editors: Betty Burton Choate Bonnie Rushmore Typesetting: Gay Nichols Computer Consultant: Bradley S. Choate Editor: Associate Editors:

Spanish Edition:

Managing Editor: Rafael Barrantes

Telugu Edition:

Managing Editor, Translator:

Joshua Gootam

Tamil Edition: Managing Editor, Translators:

Benny Martin, S. Rajanayagam

English Edition in India and Braille Edition:

Managing Editors, Philemon Rajah

and Kingsly Rajah

Hindi Edition

Managing Editor, Earnest Gill

Paite Edition

Managing Editor, Thang Lien

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Staff Writers: George Akpabli Felix O. Aniamalu Rex Banks Wayne Barrier Paula Bates Roy Beasley Mike Benson Maxie B. Boren Ron Bryant Charles Burch Kyle Butt Ron Carter Frank Chesser Betty Burton Choate Glenn Colley Lance Cordle Sunny David Jerry L. Davidson Hans Dederscheck David Deffenbaugh Clarence DeLoach, Jr. Bill Dillon Bobby G. Dockery Hershel Dyer Earl Edwards Demar Elam Raymond Elliott Reuben Emperado David Everson Royce Frederick E. Claude Gardner Alex Gibson Joe D. Gray Gary C. Hampton

Jack Harriman Parker Henderson Gordon Hogan Mike Ireland Wayne Jackson Ancil Jenkins Jeff Jenkins Jimmy Jividen John Kachelman, Jr. Dayton Keesee Dalton Key Michael L. King Mack Lyon Joe Magee J. Randal Matheny Cecil May, Jr. Colin McKee Hollis Miller Loy Mitchell Stan Mitchell Kevin L. Moore Owen D. Olbricht David Pharr Neal Pollard Bonnie Rushmore Rebecca Rushmore David A. Sargent Stanley Sayers David Tarbet J.J. Turner Ken Tyler Allen Webster R.H. Tex Williams

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The churches of Christ salute you (Romans 16:16).

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Godly Leaders and Followers: Both Are Essential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¶V ZRUGV LQ -RKQ “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you…But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your

remembrance all things that I said to you.” 2WKHU SHUWLQHQW YHUVHV LQFOXGH -RKQ DQG 7KHLU WDVN ZRXOG QRW EH HDV\ EXW LW ZRXOG EH PDGH SRVVLEOH DV ORQJ DV WKH\ ZHUH DWWHQWLYH WR WKH 6SLULW¶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¶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¶V FKXUFK LI KH UHIXVHV WR DOVR EH D IROORZHU 6HFRQG E\ WKH VDPH WRNHQ IROORZHUV IUHTXHQWO\ DOVR SURYLGH PDUYHORXV OHDGHUVKLS DV RWKHUV DUH LQIOXHQFHG SRVLWLYHO\ E\ WKHLU GLVSOD\ RI KXPLOLW\ DQG MR\IXO VHUYLFH ,W LV LQGHHG HVVHQWLDO WKDW WKH /RUG¶V FKXUFK KDYH ERWK JRGO\ OHDGHUV DQG IROORZHUV =

Associate Editorial

The Temple of God -HUU\ %DWHV 0DQ\ &KULVWLDQV WKLQN ZH QR ORQJHU KDYH D WHPSOH ZKLFK LV WUXH DV IDU DV D SK\VLFDO EXLOGLQJ LV FRQFHUQHG +RZHY HU ZH GR KDYH D WHPSOH DOEHLW D VSLULWXDO WHPSOH ,Q &RULQWKLDQV 3DXO ZURWH “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.â€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“In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.â€? â€œâ€Ś For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My peopleâ€? (2 Corinthians 6:16). *RG ZDQWV WR KDYH IHOORZVKLS ZLWK PDQ DQG ZH VKRXOG ZDQW WR KDYH IHOORZVKLS ZLWK *RG +RZHYHU LI ZH DUH JRLQJ WR KDYH IHOORZVKLS ZLWK *RG WKHQ DJDLQ ZH PXVW EH LQ WKH FKXUFK 7KH FKXUFK LV DOVR D SODFH RI ZRUVKLS ,Q 3HWHU 3HWHU ZURWH “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer up

spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.â€? ,W ZDV LQ WKH WHPSOH WKDW WKH -HZV ZHQW WR ZRUVKLS *RG DQG WR RIIHU WKHLU VDFULILFHV /LNHZLVH ZH ZRU VKLS *RG DQG RIIHU VSLULWXDO VDFULILFHV LQ WKH FKXUFK “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Himâ€? -RKQ *RG ZDQWV +LV VHUYDQWV WR ZRUVKLS +LP \HW LQ RUGHU WR ZRUVKLS +LP ZH PXVW EH LQ WKH FKXUFK 1RWLFH WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI WKH FKXUFK ,I ZH DUH JRLQJ WR PHHW *RG KDYH IHOORZVKLS ZLWK *RG RU WUXO\ ZRUVKLS *RG WKHQ ZH PXVW EH LQ WKH FKXUFK 7KLV PDNHV WKH FKXUFK H[WUHPHO\ LPSRUWDQW GRHV LW QRW" +RZ GR ZH HQWHU WKH FKXUFK" “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit’’ &RULQWKLDQV 7KH ERG\ LV WKH FKXUFK (SKHVLDQV WKXV ZH DUH EDSWL]HG LQWR WKH FKXUFK WKH SODFH ZKHUH ZH PHHW *RG :H DOVR PXVW UHDOL]H WKDW “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, whose temple you areâ€? &RULQWKLDQV 7KLV LV D PRVW VROHPQ ZDUQLQJ 7KLV EHFRPHV SODLQ ZKHQ ZH FRQVLGHU KRZ VHULRXV *RG ZDV DERXW NHHSLQJ WKH 2OG 7HVWDPHQW WHPSOH SXUH *RG JDYH YHU\ VSHFLILF LQVWUXFWLRQV UHJDUGLQJ KRZ WR EXLOG WKH WHPSOH DQG ZKR FRXOG HQWHU WKH WHPSOH $OO WKH YHVVHOV RI WKH WHPSOH KDG WR EH VDQFWLILHG ZLWK EORRG DQG WKH SULHVWV KDG WR EH FOHDQVHG *RG FRPPDQGHG WKDW DOO VKRXOG “reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lordâ€? /HYLWLFXV “But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lordâ€? 1XPEHUV ,I *RG ZDV WKLV FRQ FHUQHG DERXW NHHSLQJ WKH SK\VLFDO VDQFWXDU\ KRO\ KRZ PXFK PRUH FRQFHUQHG LV +H UHJDUGLQJ WKH KROLQHVV RI +LV VSLULWXDO VDQFWXDU\ :H PXVW EH FDUHIXO WR NHHS *RGÂśV WHPSOH RU VDQFWXDU\ KRO\ :H GR QRW GHILOH LW E\ SK\VLFDO LPSXULW\ DV LQ WKH ROG WHPSOH EXW ZH FDQ GHILOH LW E\ VSLULWXDO LP SXULW\ 6XFK ZRXOG LQFOXGH FRQWLQXDOO\ SUDFWLFLQJ DQ\ VLQ HVSHFLDOO\ VH[XDO LP PRUDOLW\ &RULQWKLDQV RU EULQJLQJ DQ\ XQDXWKRUL]HG SUDFWLFH RU VHUYLFH LQWR *RGÂśV VDQFWXDU\ $QRWKHU VLQ ZKLFK GHILOHV *RGÂśV WHPSOH LV GLYLVLRQ 7KLV PLJKW EH VXUSULVLQJ WR PDQ\ EXW 3DXO ZURWH “But you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere menâ€? &RU LQWKLDQV " &HUWDLQO\ QRWKLQJ FDUQDO RU ZRUOGO\ VKRXOG HQWHU WKH VDQFWXDU\ <HW LW LV QRW DW DOO XQFRPPRQ WR KHDU RI GLYLVLRQV LQ WKH FKXUFK VWULIH HQY\ RU MHDORXV\ DPRQJ EUHWKUHQ :KHQ ZH DOORZ GLYLVLRQV DQG VWULIH WR HQWHU WKH FKXUFK ZH DUH GHILOLQJ *RGÂśV WHPSOH DQG *RG ZLOO GHVWUR\ XV &RULQWKLDQV :KHQ ZH GHILOH WKH WHPSOH *RG ZLOO QR ORQJHU GZHOO LQ LW DQG ZH DUH OHIW DORQH ZLWK QR SODFH WR PHHW *RG 6XUHO\ ZH GR QRW ZDQW WKDW WR KDSSHQ WKHUH IRUH ZH PXVW EH FHUWDLQ WKDW QRWKLQJ XQKRO\ HQWHUV WKH FKXUFK “Because it is written, Be holy for I am holy.â€? (1 Peter 1:16) =

Associate Editorial

The Nuts and Bolts of Pornography /RXLV 5XVKPRUH 7KH ZRUG ³SRUQRJUDSK\´ PHDQV ³WKH GHSLFWLRQ RI HURWLF EHKDYLRU DV LQ SLFWXUHV RU ZULWLQJ LQWHQGHG WR FDXVH VH[XDO H[ FLWHPHQW´ Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ,W FRPHV IURP WKH FRPSRXQG *UHHN ZRUG ³SRUQRJUDSKRV ´ ³SRUQH´ PHDQ LQJ ³SURVWLWXWH ´ ³ZKRUH´ RU ³KDUORW´ DQG ³JUDSKR´ PHDQLQJ ³WR ZULWH´ 7KH ZRUG ³SRUQRJUDSK\´ HQWHUHG WKH (QJOLVK ODQ JXDJH LQ DERXW ,W LV QR ZRQGHU WKHQ WKDW WKH ZRUG GLG QRW DSSHDU LQ WKH HDU OLHVW (QJOLVK WUDQVODWLRQV RI WKH %LEOH ZKLFK SUHGDWH $OWKRXJK VXEVHTXHQW WUDQVODWLRQV RI WKH %LEOH GR QRW LQFOXGH WKH ZRUG ³SRUQRJUDSK\´ HLWKHU ELEOLFDO LQVWUXFWLRQ GHILQLWHO\ ZDUQV DJDLQVW LW )LUVW WKRXJK OHW¶V DWWHPSW WR TXDQWLI\ ³SRUQRJUDSK\´ VR WKDW ZH FDQ VHH PRUH FOHDUO\ WKH VFRSH RI LWV UHDFK DQG DIIHFW *HQHUDOO\ SRUQRJUDSK\ LV W\SLFDOO\ FDW HJRUL]HG DV ³VRIW SRUQ´ DQG ³KDUGFRUH SRUQ´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“good and acceptable and perfect will of God” 5RPDQV 1.-9 ,Q DGGLWLRQ SRUQRJUDSK\ GHVHQVLWL]HV PHQ DQG ZRPHQ DERXW WKH LQWHUSHUVRQDO

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

DQG ZULWLQJ GHSLFWLQJ QXGLW\ LQWHUFRXUVH DQG VH[XDO SHUYHUVLRQV 2QO\ FRQWHPSRUDU\ WHFKQRORJ\ DQG PHGLD KDYH PRGHUQ L]HG WKH YHQXHV DQG WKH HDVH ZLWK ZKLFK SRUQRJUDSK\ LV YLHZHG 7KH GHYLFHV KDYH FKDQJHG EXW PDQNLQG LV WKH VDPH²FRUUXSWHG WKURXJK WKH VDPH WKUHH DY HQXHV RI VLQ E\ ZKLFK PHQ KDYH DOZD\V EHHQ DOOXUHG -RKQ 3RUQRJUDSK\ LV LQIHFWLRXV DQG UHVLVWDQW WR H[SXOVLRQ LW GXOOV WKH SHUFHSWLRQ RI UHDOLW\ DQG KDV DOWHUHG WKH FRQVFLHQFH RI WKH ZRUOG %LEOLFDO SULQFLSOHV ZRXOG KDYH XV H[SXQJH IURP RXU OLYHV SRUQRJUDSK\ DQG EH RQ JXDUG DJDLQVW LWV DSSHDO )RU LQVWDQFH -HVXV VDLG “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you;

for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hellâ€? 0DWWKHZ 2XU /RUGÂśV ZRUGV VWULNH DW WKH KHDUW RI SRUQRJUDSK\²â€œlustâ€? +H DOVR LQGLFDWHG WKH QDWXUH RI YLHZLQJ ZRPHQ LQ VXFK D ZD\ LW LV D SUHFXUVRU WR WKH SK\VLFDO VLQ RI DGXOWHU\ 7KHQ -HVXV XQGHU VFRUHG WKH VHULRXVQHVV RI OXVW ZLWK WKH K\SHUEROH H[DJJHUDWLRQ LQ VXFK LQVWDQFHV RI JRXJLQJ RXW RQHÂśV RZQ H\H LI WKDWÂśV ZKDW LW WDNHV WR DYRLG WKDW VLQ 9LVXDO VH[XDO H[FLWHPHQW RXWVLGH RI PDUULDJH LV IRUELGGHQ )URP WKH ZRUGV RI RXU /RUG LQ 0DWWKHZ DERYH DV ZHOO DV IURP 0DUN LW EHFRPHV FOHDU WKDW RQH GRHV QRW KDYH WR SHUIRUP H[SOLFLW SK\VLFDO DFWV WR FRPPLW VLQ EXW RQH FDQ FRPPLW VLQ LQWHUQDOO\²ZLWKLQ KLV RU KHU RZQ PLQG “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.â€? +RZHYHU ZH DOVR FRPPLW VLQ ZKHQ ZH DSSURYH WKH VLQIXO DFWLYLWLHV RI RWKHUV 5RPDQV DQG QR WUXO\ SLRXV SHUVRQ ZRXOG GLVPLVV DV VSLULWXDOO\ LQFRQVHTXHQWLDO YDULRXV JUDGDWLRQV RI SXEOLF XQGUHVV WR IRUQLFDWLRQ DGXOWHU\ DQG HYHU\ FRQFHLYDEOH PDQLIHVWDWLRQ RI FDUQDO GHEDXFKHU\ :H FDQQRW DSSURYH RI VLQ DQG UHPDLQ LQQRFHQW RXUVHOYHV :H PXVW “flee sexual immoralityâ€? &RULQWKLDQV ZKLFK LPSOLFLWO\ ZRXOG SUHFOXGH RXU DSSUHFLDWLRQ RI LW DFWHG RXW E\ RWKHUV :H PXVW EULQJ “every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christâ€? &RULQWKLDQV DQG ZH PXVW FKRRVH WR “mediateâ€? RQ “anything praiseworthyâ€? “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these thingsâ€? 3KLOLSSLDQV :H QHHG WR SROLFH RXUVHOYHV WR YLHZ WKH ZRUOG DQG LWV HQWLFHPHQWV QRW WKURXJK WKH FRUUXSWHG OHQVHV RI XQJRGOLQHVV EXW LQVWHDG DV $OPLJKW\ *RG YLHZV WKHP :H QHHG WR VFUHHQ WKH WHOHYLVLRQ VKRZV WKDW ZH ZDWFK WKH PRYLHV WR ZKLFK ZH JR RU YLHZ RXU XVH RI WKH ,QWHUQHW WKH SODFHV WR ZKLFK ZH JR RXU PXVLF O\ULFV DQG YLGHRV DQG WKH FRPSDQLRQV ZLWK ZKRP ZH VSHQG WLPH ,W PD\ EH QHFHVVDU\ IRU XV WR UHHYDOXDWH ZKDW ZH SHUFHLYH DV EHDXWLIXO WR FRLQFLGH ZLWK ZKDW *RG GHHPV DV ORYHO\ DQG KRQRUDEOH =

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Measures of the Spirit - & &KRDWH 'HFHDVHG 7KH DSRVWOH -RKQ VDLG RI &KULVW “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Himâ€? -RKQ :KDW GRHV -RKQ PHDQ ZKHQ KH WDONV DERXW *RG JLYLQJ WKH 6SLULW WR &KULVW ZLWKRXW PHDVXUH" 0HDVXUH ZRXOG LPSO\ OLPLWDWLRQ ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV KDG *RG JLYHQ &KULVW RQO\ ÂłD PHDVXUH´ RI WKH 6SLULW WKDW ZRXOG KDYH PHDQW WKDW +H ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ OLPLWHG DV WR ZKDW +H FRXOG GR HYHQ WKURXJK WKH SRZHU RI WKH 6SLULW %XW *RG GLG QRW JLYH +LP WKH 6SLULW “by measureâ€? EXW ÂłZLWKRXW´ PHDVXUH 7KDW PHDQV WKDW QHLWKHU *RG QRU WKH 6SLULW ZRXOG SODFH DQ\ UHVWULFWLRQV RQ +LP ZKHQ LW FDPH WR WKH XVH RI WKH SRZHU RI WKH 6SLULW &RQWLQXLQJ LI *RG JDYH WKH 6SLULW WR &KULVW ZLWKRXW PHDVXUH WKDW ZRXOG RI QHFHVVLW\ LPSO\ WKDW WKH 6SLULW ZDV JLYHQ WR RWKHUV ÂłE\ PHDVXUH´ $QG LQGHHG WKLV LV ZKDW KDSSHQHG 7KHVH LQFOXGHG WKH DSRVWOHV WKH RQHV RQ ZKRP WKH\ ODLG WKHLU KDQGV DQG DOO ZKR KDYH EHHQ EDSWL]HG LQWR &KULVW 2XU /RUG UHFHLYLQJ WKH 6SLULW ZLWKRXW PHDVXUH ZDV DEOH WR GR PLUDFOHV LQFOXGLQJ FDVWLQJ RXW GHYLOV DQG UDLVLQJ WKH GHDG FDOPLQJ WKH VWRUP\ VHDV WXUQLQJ ZDWHU LQWR ZLQH ZDONLQJ XSRQ ZDWHU HWF ,Q DGGLWLRQ WR DOO RI WKHVH -RKQ ZURWH “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His nameâ€? -RKQ %XW SHUKDSV HYHQ EH\RQG HYHU\WKLQJ HOVH ZDV WKH IDFW WKDW -HVXV KDG WKH DXWKRULW\ WR EHVWRZ WKH SRZHU RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW RQ RWKHUV +H DORQH FRXOG baptize WKH DSRVWOHV ZLWK WKH +RO\ 6SLULW 7KH DSRVWOHV ZHUH JLYHQ WKH SRZHU WR lay their hands upon certain disciples WKDW WKH\ PLJKW KDYH a miraculous measure RI WKH 6SLULW EXW WKH\ FRXOG QRW baptize DQ\RQH ZLWK WKH 6SLULW )XUWKHUPRUH WKRVH ZKR UHFHLYHG WKH OD\LQJ RQ RI KDQGV PHDVXUH RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW E\ WKH DSRVWOHV FRXOG

God QRW SDVV WKDW SRZHU RQ WR RWKHUV +RZ GR ZH NQRZ WKHVH WKLQJV" 7KH 6FULSWXUHV FOHDUO\ WHOO XV LI ZH SD\ DWWHQWLRQ WR ZKDW LV ZULWWHQ 6R OHWÂśV WDNH D ORRN DW WKRVH ZKR UHFHLYHG WKH PHDVXUHV RI WKH 6SLULW 7KHUH DUH PDQ\ ZKR EHOLHYH WKDW DOO RI WKH /RUGÂśV SHRSOH IURP WKH DSRVWOHV ULJKW RQ GRZQ WR WKH &KULVWLDQV RI RXU GD\ UHFHLYHG RU VKRXOG UHFHLYH the baptismal measure RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW 0DQ\ HYHQ SUD\ IRU WKDW EDSWLVP :H DUH JRLQJ WR VHH WKDW WKLV LV QRW D YDOLG H[SHFWDWLRQ )LUVW RI DOO NHHS LQ PLQG WKDW &KULVW SURPLVHG WR VHQG WKH &RPIRUWHU RU WKH +RO\ 6SLULW XSRQ WKH DSRVWOHV RQO\ +H GLG QRW PDNH WKLV SURPLVH WR DOO RI +LV IROORZHUV RI WKDW GD\ RU WR DOO ZKR ZRXOG IROORZ +LP LQ WKH IXWXUH :KHQ ZH WXUQ WR WKH ERRN RI -RKQ ZH UHDG “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginningâ€? -RKQ $JDLQ +H VDLG “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto youâ€? -RKQ *RLQJ RQ +H VDLG “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak; and He will shew you things to comeâ€? -RKQ 1RZ WR ZKRP ZDV WKH /RUG VSHDNLQJ LQ WKHVH YHUVHV" ,I \RX ZLOO UHDG WKH FRQWH[W DQG QRWLFH ZKDW -HVXV LV VD\LQJ LW LV YHU\ REYLRXV WKDW +H LV VSHDNLQJ WR +LV DSRVWOHV WR WKRVH ZKR KDG EHHQ ZLWK +LP IURP WKH EHJLQQLQJ -RKQ 7KH TXHVWLRQ WKHQ LV WKLV 'LG WKH /RUG NHHS +LV SURPLVH" %HIRUH ZH VHH ZKDW ILQDOO\ KDSSHQHG SOHDVH FRQVLGHU WKHVH VWDWHPHQWV &KULVW PDGH WR WKH DSRVWOHV MXVW SULRU WR +LV UHWXUQ WR WKH )DWKHU LQ KHDYHQ “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on highâ€? /XNH &RXOG WKLV VWDWHPHQW DSSO\ WR DQ\RQH OLYLQJ WRGD\" 2I FRXUVH QRW /XNH ZURWH WKLV DOVR “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after that He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: to whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God; and being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly

God baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days henceâ€? $FWV 7KHQ -HVXV VDLG “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earthâ€? $FWV 6XUHO\ ZH FDQ VHH LQ WKHVH VWDWHPHQWV WKDW -HVXV SURPLVHG WKH DSRVWOHV WKH SRZHU RI WKH +RO\ *KRVW 7KDW EHLQJ WUXH ZKR UHFHLYHG LW" 7KH DSRVWOHV RQO\ RU DOO EHOLHYHUV LQ JHQHUDO" ,Q $FWV ZH UHDG “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utteranceâ€? $FWV 5HDGLQJ RQ WKURXJK WKDW FKDSWHU ZH VHH WKH DSRVWOHV SUHDFKLQJ WR D ODUJH FURZG RI SHRSOH $SSUR[LPDWHO\ RI WKHP REH\HG WKH *RVSHO DQG RQ EHLQJ VDYHG WKH\ ZHUH DGGHG E\ WKH /RUG WR WKH FKXUFK $FWV :H DOVR KDYH WKLV VWDWHPHQW “And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostlesâ€? $FWV &RQWLQXLQJ WR UHDG WR WKH ILIWK FKDSWHU RI $FWV YHUVH WKH VSHFLILFDWLRQ LV DJDLQ PDGH FRQFHUQLQJ WKRVH ZKR ZHUH GRLQJ PLUDFOHV “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people.â€? 7KH FRQFOXVLRQ WKHQ LV WKDW RQO\ WKH DSRVWOHV UHFHLYHG WKH EDSWLVPDO PHDVXUH RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW %XW WKH\ ZHUH RQO\ WZHOYH LQ QXPEHU DQG WKHUH ZDV PXFK WR GR ,Q WKH QH[W FKDSWHU $FWV WKH DSRVWOHV DVNHG WKH GLVFLSOHV WR FKRRVH IURP DPRQJ WKHP VHYHQ PHQ RI KRQHVW UHSRUW IXOO RI WKH +RO\ *KRVW DQG ZLVGRP 7KH IDFW WKDW WKH\ ZHUH ÂłIXOO RI WKH +RO\ *KRVW´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“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and

God you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’�] DQG ZKDW WKH\ QRZ UHFHLYHG WKURXJK SUD\HU DQG WKH OD\LQJ RQ RI WKH DSRVWOHVœ KDQGV" $FWV VKRZV WKDW LW ZDV RQO\ WKH DSRVWOHV ZKR UHFHLYHG WKH EDSWLVPDO PHDVXUH RI WKH 6SLULW $FWV VR ZH NQRZ WKDW WKHVH VHYHQ KDG QRW EHHQ EDSWL]HG ZLWK WKH +RO\ 6SLULW +RZHYHU DW WKH WLPH RI WKHLU EDSWLVP LQ ZDWHU LQ WKHLU REHGLHQFH WR WKH /RUG WKH\ KDG UHFHLYHG WKH QRQ PLUDFXORXV PHDVXUH RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW DV SURPLVHG WR DOO FRQYHUWV LQ $FWV 1RZ DV VSHFLDOO\ VHOHFWHG PHQ WKH\ UHFHLYHG WKH OD\LQJ RQ RI KDQGV PHDVXUH RI WKH 6SLULW WKDW RQO\ WKH DSRVWOHV FRXOG EHVWRZ 7KLV HQDEOHG WKHP WR GR FHUWDLQ PLUDFXORXV ZRUNV E\ WKH SRZHU RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW ,Q FRQFOXVLRQ OHW LW EH XQGHUVWRRG WKDW WKHUH LV RQO\ RQH PHDVXUH RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW WRGD\ DQG LW LV WKH QRQ PLUDFXORXV PHDVXUH WKDW LV JLYHQ WR DOO ZKR REH\ WKH /RUG :H ZLOO GLVFXVV WKHVH PDWWHUV IXUWKHU LQ IROORZLQJ OHVVRQV = - & &KRDWH EHJDQ SXEOLFDWLRQ RI The Voice of Truth International LQ

Measures of the Spirit 7KH XQOLPLWHG PHDVXUH “For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him� -RKQ 7KHUH ZDV QR OLPLW WR ZKDW &KULVW ZDV DEOH WR GR WKURXJK WKH SRZHU RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW

7KH EDSWLVPDO PHDVXUH but wait for the promise of the Fa-

ther, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence� $FWV 7KH 6SLULW HPSRZHUHG WKH $SRVWOHV WR SHUIRUP PLUDFOHV WR VSHDN E\ LQVSLUDWLRQ WR JLYH PLUDFXORXV SRZHUV WR RWKHUV

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God

The Wrath of God %HWW\ %XUWRQ &KRDWH :H KXPDQV DUH PDGH LQ WKH LPDJH RI *RG 0DQ\ WKLQJV DUH LQFOXGHG LQ WKLV GHVFULSWLRQ :H DUH PDGH LQ +LV LPDJH LQ WKH VHQVH RI EHLQJ LPPRUWDO VRXOV LQ OLNHQHVV WR +LV HWHUQDO HVVHQFH :H FDQ WKLQN WDON PDNH MXGJPHQWV OHDUQ DQG JURZ LQ NQRZOHGJH DQG DELOLWLHV :H IHHO WKH HPRWLRQV RI ORYH SHDFH KDSSLQHVV SDLQ DQJHU :H NQRZ ULJKW IURP ZURQJ JRRG IURP HYLO $QG DV (FFOHVLDVWHV VD\V ³He has put eternity in our hearts.´ , VHOGRP JR WR D WKHDWHU IRU D PRYLH EXW IURP WKH FRYHUDJH , KDG VHHQ RI D QHZ ILOP FDOOHG ³6RQ RI *RG´ , GHFLGHG WR VHH WKDW RQH SUHSDUHG WR JHW XS DQG ZDON RXW PLG PRYLH LI WKH OLWHUDU\ OLFHQVH EHFDPH EODVSKHPRXV >, GRQ¶W XQGHUVWDQG ZK\ DQ\ ZULWHU RU ILOP PDNHU ZRXOG EODWDQWO\ FKDQJH WKH VWRU\ OLQH IURP ZKDW WKH 6FULSWXUHV VD\ FHUWDLQO\ QR PDQ LV JRLQJ WR EH DEOH WR LPSURYH RQ WKH LQVSLUHG UHFRUG @ $Q\ZD\ , ZHQW DQG WKRXJK WKHUH ZHUH PLQRU YDULDQWV IURP 6FULSWXUH >LW ZDV VKRW LQ 0RURFFR DQG WKH WRPE LV SLFWXUHG DV EHLQJ LQ D PRXQWDLQRXV W\SH SODFH LQVWHDG RI LQ D JDUGHQ«@ WKH PHVVDJH LWVHOI ZDV SRZHUIXOO\ SRUWUD\HG , FULHG D ORW VRPHWLPHV IURP MR\ VRPHWLPHV IURP WKDQNVJLYLQJ DW WKH ORYH DQG FRPSDVVLRQ VKRZQ VRPHWLPHV IURP JULHI DW WKH KRUURUV LQIOLFWHG RQ -HVXV 7KH EHWUD\DO WULDOV DQG FUXFLIL[LRQ $V , ZDWFKHG WKH YHU\ JUDSKLF SRUWUD\DO RI ZKDW RXU /RUG PXVW KDYH HQGXUHG ² WKH PRFNHU\ WKH EUXWDOLW\ WKH RXWULJKW PHDQQHVV RI KHDUW RI KLV WRUPHQWHUV ² , IHOW WKH ³SXVK EDFN´ WLJKWHQ XS LQVLGH PH $QG , WKRXJKW ³:KHQ WKH\ ZHUH GRLQJ WKRVH KRUULEOH EODVSKHPRXV WKLQJV +H FRXOG KDYH MXVW ZLSHG WKHP RII WKH IDFH RI WKH HDUWK ZLWK RQH EUHDWK :KDW VWUHQJWK +H KDG WR H[HUFLVH WR HQGXUH VXFK DWURFLWLHV DW WKH KDQGV RI HYLO GHJHQHUDWH ZRUPV ´ $QG , UHPHPEHUHG WKDW *RG KDV HPRWLRQV WRR 7KH 6FULSWXUHV PHQWLRQ +LV DQJHU PRUH WKDQ WLPHV VRPHWLPHV DGGLQJ WKH DGMHFWLYH ³ILHUFH´ 2Q RQH RFFDVLRQ EHFDXVH RI WKH UHEHOOLRQ RI WKH ,VUDHOLWHV “…the Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this

God people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them’” ([RGXV . :DWFKLQJ WKH SRUWUD\DO RI WKH WULDO DQG FUXFLIL[LRQ P\ LQVLGHV NQRWWHG XS DQG , ZRQGHUHG ³+RZ FRXOG *RG EHDU WR VHH VXFK PHDQQHVV GRQH WR +LV 6RQ" +RZ FRXOG +H KDYH UHIUDLQHG IURP MXVW FRQVXPLQJ WKHP DV +H KDG ZDQWHG WR GR WR ,VUDHO"´ $QG WKHQ , WKRXJKW ³7KDW ZDV ZKDW 6DWDQ ZDV WU\LQJ WR GR ² WR SXVK *RG WR WKH SRLQW WKDW WKRVH HYLO PHQ ZKR ZHUH FUXFLI\LQJ +LV 6RQ ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ DQQLKLODWHG ´ $QG LQ WKH SURFHVV WKH one means RI VDYLQJ WKRVH ZKR ZRXOG ORYH DQG REH\ +LP ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ HUDGLFDWHG 2I FRXUVH *RG NQRZV DOO WKLQJV DQG +H ZDV QRW DERXW WR OHW 6DWDQ ZLQ WKDW YLFWRU\ 6R -HVXV HQGXUHG ZKDWHYHU WKH\ GLG WR +LP ² DQG *RG HQGXUHG WKH KRUURU RI VHHLQJ DQG IHHOLQJ DOO RI LW GRQH WR +LV RQO\ 6RQ %XW DW WKH ODVW +H FRYHUHG WKH ZRUOG ZLWK EODFNQHVV IRU WKUHH KRXUV 0DWWKHZ DQG WKHQ ZKHQ -HVXV FULHG RXW “It is finished” DQG FRPPLWWHG +LV 6SLULW WR *RG D WUHPHQGRXV XSKHDYDO WRRN SODFH 7KH 6FULSWXUHV UHFRUG WKLV DV GR VRPH VHFXODU KLVWRULDQV Evidence from the Roman historian Phlegon: ³,Q WKH WK \HDU RI WKH QG 2O\PSLDG WKHUH ZDV D JUHDW HFOLSVH >*UHHN (./(,36,6@ RI WKH 6XQ JUHDWHU WKDQ KDG HYHU EHHQ NQRZQ EHIRUH IRU DW WKH WK KRXU WKH GD\ ZDV FKDQJHG LQWR QLJKW DQG WKH VWDUV ZHUH VHHQ LQ WKH KHDYHQV $Q HDUWKTXDNH RFFXUUHG LQ %\WKLQLD DQG RYHUWKUHZ D JUHDW SDUW RI WKH FLW\ RI 1LFDHD ´

The historian Thallus in 52 A.D.: ³2Q WKH ZKROH ZRUOG WKHUH SUHVVHG D PRVW IHDUIXO GDUNQHVV DQG WKH URFNV ZHUH UHQW E\ DQ HDUWKTXDNH DQG PDQ\ SODFHV LQ -XGHD DQG RWKHU GLVWULFWV ZHUH WKURZQ GRZQ ´

$UFKDHRORJLFDO GLJV FRQILUP WKH HIIHFWV RI WKH HDUWKTXDNH ³9DUYHV ZKLFK DUH DQQXDO OD\HUV RI GHSRVLWLRQ LQ WKH VHGLPHQWV UHYHDO WKDW DW OHDVW WZR PDMRU HDUWKTXDNHV DIIHFWHG WKH FRUH D ZLGHVSUHDG HDUWKTXDNH LQ % & DQG DQ HDUO\ ILUVW FHQWXU\ VHLVPLF HYHQW WKDW KDSSHQHG VRPHWLPH EHWZHHQ $ ' DQG $ ' ´ >IURP ³1HZV´ E\ -HQQLIHU 9LHJDV@

1RZ VDOYDWLRQ KDG EHHQ DVVXUHG²WKH VDFULILFH RI EORRG KDG EHHQ PDGH ² DQG *RG¶V UHVSRQVH GLG WZR WKLQJV WKH LPPHGLDWH WUDXPDWLF XSKHDYDO RI WKH HDUWKTXDNH FRQYLQFHG HYHQ WKH KDUGHQHG 5RPDQ FHQWXULRQ “Truly this was the Son of God” 0DWWKHZ DQG LW VXUHO\ PXVW KDYH EHHQ HYLGHQFH RI WKH UHOHDVH RI *RG¶V SHQW XS DQJHU DW WKH KRUURU RI ZKDW PHQ KDG GRQH WR +LV 6RQ %XW +H GLGQ¶W NLOO WKHP DOO DV WKH\ GHVHUYHG ² +H OHW WKHP OLYH $QG DFFRUGLQJ WR 3HWHU¶V PHVVDJH LQ $FWV VRPH RI WKRVH ZKR KDG FULHG VR YHKHPHQWO\ ³&UXFLI\ +LP &UXFLI\ +LP ´ ZHUH WKH ILUVW RQHV WR EH FOHDQVHG LQ EDSWLVP E\ WKDW EORRG = %HWW\ %XUWRQ &KRDWH LV WKH ZLGRZ RI - & &KRDWH DQG D FR ZRUNHU ZLWK WKH :RUOG (YDQ JHOLVP WHDP LQ :LQRQD 0LVVLVVLSSL 86$

God

The Hand of God %REE\ 'RFNHU\ ³Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save‌´ ,VDLDK

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God ³,Q UHDVRQ¶V HDU WKH\ DOO UHMRLFH $QG XWWHU IRUWK D JORULRXV YRLFH )RUHYHU VLQJLQJ DV WKH\ VKLQH 7KH KDQG WKDW PDGH XV LV GLYLQH ´ 7KH +DQG RI 3URYLGHQFH 7KH KDQG WKDW PDGH XV LV DOVR WKH KDQG ZKLFK VXVWDLQV XV ³In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind´ -RE 2I D FHUWDLQW\ ZH PD\ NQRZ WKDW *RG¶V KDQG LV LQ LW DOO 7KH KDQG RI SURYLGHQFH LV D KDQG RI EOHVVLQJ DQG SURWHFWLRQ ³God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble´ 3VDOP ³Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow´ -DPHV +LV KDQGV KDYH UHSHDWHGO\ RSHQHG WKH ZLQGRZV RI KHDYHQ DQG SRXUHG IRUWK DEXQGDQW JLIWV WR PDQNLQG 0DODFKL 7KH +DQG RI 6DOYDWLRQ 0DQ UHEHOOHG DJDLQVW WKH ORYLQJ KDQG RI *RG DQG VLQQHG ³Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned´ 5RPDQV 6HH *HQHVLV %XW *RG LQ +LV PHUF\ GHVLUHV WR VDYH WKH VLQQHU +H VWDQGV ZLWK RXWVWUHWFKHG KDQGV LQYLWLQJ WKH VLQQHU WR FRPH WR +LP ³All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people´ 5RPDQV 7KH PLQLVWU\ RI -HVXV ZDV WKH XOWLPDWH GHPRQVWUDWLRQ RI *RG¶V RXWVWUHWFKHG KDQG RI HQWUHDW\ WR D ORVW ZRUOG 6HH 0DWWKHZ %XW *RG GRHV QRW VDYH ZLWKRXW WKH VLQQHU¶V FRQVHQW ZKLFK LV HYLGHQFHG E\ KLV DFFHSWDQFH RI *RG¶V KDQG RI VDOYDWLRQ E\ REH\LQJ WKH *RVSHO RI &KULVW ³)URP VLQNLQJ VDQG +H OLIWHG PH :LWK WHQGHU KDQG +H OLIWHG PH )URP VKDGHV RI QLJKW WR SODLQV RI OLJKW 2 SUDLVH +LV QDPH +H OLIWHG PH ´ ,Q 6KDNHVSHDUH¶V SOD\ Henry V WKHUH LV D FRQYHUVDWLRQ EHWZHHQ .LQJ +HQU\ DQG WKH (DUO RI *ORXFHVWHU EHIRUH WKH %DWWOH RI $JLQFRXUW LQ ZKLFK +HQU\ VRRWKHV *ORXFHVWHU¶V IHDUV WKDW WKH )UHQFK ZLOO DWWDFN EHIRUH WKH (QJOLVK IRUFHV DUH UHDG\ *ORXFHVWHU VD\V ³, KRSH WKH\ ZLOO QRW FRPH XSRQ XV QRZ ´ 7R ZKLFK .LQJ +HQU\ UHSOLHV ³:H DUH LQ *RG¶V KDQGV EURWKHU QRW LQ WKHLUV´ $FW 6FHQH 0D\ *RG JLYH XV IDLWK WR VD\ WKH VDPH = %REE\ 'RFNHU\ LV D ZULWHU DQG SUHDFKHU LQ )D\HWWHYLOOH $UNDQVDV 86$

Evidences

Physical Evidence for the Flood 'DYLG (YHUVRQ

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The Word Of God

Not By Bread Alone! 3HUU\ 1 +DOO ³But He answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God’” 0DWWKHZ <RX ZLOO UHFRJQL]H WKHVH ZRUGV RI -HVXV DV +LV UHVSRQVH WR RQH RI WKH WHPSWDWLRQV RI 6DWDQ VKRUWO\ DIWHU WKH /RUG¶V REHGLHQFH LQ EDSWLVP -HVXV KDG IDVWHG IRU IRUW\ GD\V DQG QLJKWV DQG KDG JURZQ YHU\ KXQJU\ &DSLWDOL]LQJ RQ WKLV FRQGLWLRQ 6DWDQ VRXJKW WR VHL]H WKH PRPHQW VHHNLQJ WR SODQW GRXEW LQ WKH PLQG RI &KULVW 7KH HYLO RQH KDV XVHG WKLV PHWKRG VLQFH WKH JDUGHQ “Hath God said?” 6R KH FRPHV WR XV ZLWK KLV HYLO ZKLVSHUV VHHNLQJ WR EUHDWKH GRXEWV LQWR RXU VRXOV ² GRXEWV RI WKH WUXWK RI *RG¶V UHYHODWLRQ GRXEWV RI *RG¶V ORYH DQG SRZHU GRXEWV RI RXU RZQ VWDQGLQJ EHIRUH *RG %XW ZH PXVW VWHDGIDVWO\ UHVLVW KLP WKDW KH PLJKW IOHH IURP XV -DPHV +XQJHU LV RQH RI WKH JUHDWHVW GULYHV IRXQG LQ PDQ “Command that these stones be made bread.” %UHDG LV DQ Satan comes to us with his HVVHQWLDO IRRG WR PDQ¶V SK\VLFDO ZHOO evil whispers, seeking to breathe EHLQJ -HVXV UHFRJQL]HG WKLV LQ +LV doubts into our souls—doubts of UHVSRQVH WR WKH GHYLO EXW +H DOVR the truth of God’s revelation, doubts NQHZ WKDW WKHUH DUH VRPH WKLQJV PRUH of God’s love and power, doubts LPSRUWDQW WKDQ EUHDG ² RXU YLFWRU\ RYHU of our own standing before God. 6DWDQ RXU UHODWLRQVKLS WR *RG “It is written.” +HUH ZH KDYH WKH ILUVW UHFRUGHG ZRUGV RI -HVXV IROORZLQJ +LV EDSWLVP +H ZDV WKH PLJKW\ 6RQ RI *RG WKH &UHDWRU RI WKH XQLYHUVH IXOO RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW +H EHJLQV +LV HDUWKO\ PLQLVWU\ ZLWK WKH SURIRXQG EXW VLPSOH ZRUGV “It is written.” +H PHHWV 6DWDQ KHDG RQ ZLWK WKH VZRUG RI WKH 6SLULW 6R ZH PXVW QRZ 2XU KHDUWV DQG PLQGV PXVW EH VDWXUDWHG ZLWK WKH :RUG RI *RG RXU PHPRULHV ILOOHG ZLWK D “thus saith the Lord”. 7KH :RUG KLGGHQ LQ RXU KHDUWV WKDW ZH PLJKW QRW VLQ DJDLQVW *RG ZLOO EH DW KDQG LQ WKH KRXU RI WULDO DQG WHPSWDWLRQ :H PHHW WKH HYLO RQH DV D ³PDQ´ ZKR GRHV QRW OLYH E\ EUHDG DORQH DQG ZH GHIHDW 6DWDQ EHFDXVH ZH OLYH E\ HYHU\ ZRUG WKDW SURFHHGV RXW RI WKH PRXWK RI *RG )RU WKLV UHDVRQ RXU HOGHUV WHDFKHUV DQG SUHDFKHUV HQFRXUDJH RXU GDLO\ VWXG\ RI *RG¶V :RUG DQG RXU SDUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ DOO RXU %LEOH FODVVHV DQG ZRUVKLS SHULRGV &KULVW LV WKH EUHDG RI OLIH +LV ZRUGV DUH VSLULW DQG WKH\ DUH OLIH :H ZLOO ORVH RXU OLYHV LI ZH VHHN RQO\ WKH HDUWKO\ EUHDG ,I ZH HDW RI +LP ZH ZLOO QHYHU KXQJHU DQG ZLOO OLYH IRUHYHU -RKQ = 3HUU\ 1 +DOO LV D *RVSHO SUHDFKHU OLYLQJ LQ 7\OHU 7H[DV 86$

The Word Of God

Information — Inspiration — or Transformation? The Bible is for our transformation!

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The Tree of Bible Facts

The Word Of God

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Salvation

God’s Faithful Children 'DOH *ULVVRP “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saintsâ€? 3VDOP 7KLV YHUVH IURP WKH 3VDOPV FDXVHV RXU PLQGV WR UHIOHFW RQ WKH PDQ\ &KULVWLDQV ZKR KDYH SDVVHG IURP WKLV OLIH :H NQRZ WKDW LQ VSLWH RI WKH JUHDW VWULGHV LQ WKH ZRUOG RI PHGLFLQH GHDWK FRPHV WR HYHU\RQH -XVW DV VXUHO\ DV ZH DUH ERUQ ZH ZLOO GLH XQOHVV RI FRXUVH WKH /RUG FRPHV DJDLQ GXULQJ RXU OLIHWLPH 7KH ZULWHU RI WKH +HEUHZV OHWWHU WHOOV XV “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgmentâ€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ÂśV FKXUFK DQG IRU WKH SURPLVH RI HWHUQDO OLIH WKDW KDV EHHQ JLYHQ WR WKH IDLWKIXO 5HDG 5HYHODWLRQ -RKQ LQ 5HYHODWLRQ GHVFULEHV WKH SHDFH WKDW WKH IDLWKIXO ZLOO HQMR\ LQ KHDYHQ “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 passed away.â€? +HDYHQ LV VR ZRQGHUIXO WKDW RQFH ZH JHW WKHUH ZH ZLOO QHYHU ZDQW WR UHWXUQ WR WKLV ROG ZRUOG RI VRUURZ DQG VLQ :H ZLOO EH ILOOHG ZLWK SHDFH DQG MR\ IRUHYHU :KDW D ZRQGHUIXO IXWXUH LV SURPLVHG WR *RGÂśV IDLWKIXO FKLOGUHQ = (GLWRUÂśV 1RWH 'DOH *ULVVRP Âą ZDV D ORQJWLPH VWDII ZULWHU IRU The Voice of Truth International +H ZDV D GHYRWHG VHUYDQW RI *RG KDYLQJ VHUYHG DV DQ HOGHU DQG KDYLQJ EHHQ IHUYHQW LQ SHUVRQDOO\ WHDFKLQJ WKH ORVW DQG HQFRXUDJLQJ RWKHU &KULVWLDQV WR GR WKH VDPH )RU PDQ\ \HDUV KH ZDV D YLWDO SDUW RI WKH /RUGÂśV FKXUFK LQ 'H[WHU 0LVVRXUL 86$

Heaven is so wonderful that, once we get there, we will never want to return to this old world of sorrow and sin.

Salvation

Casual Seekers at the Narrow Gate &HFLO 0D\ -U

:H VKRXOG VKLIW RXU DWWHQWLRQ ZH DUH WROG IURP WKH HSLVWOHV WR WKH ERRNV RI WKH *RVSHO DQG WKXV WR -HVXV 2QH LQWHUHVWLQJ HIIHFW RI SD\LQJ JUHDWHU DWWHQWLRQ WR -HVXV LQ WKH *RVSHO DFFRXQWV LV D VWURQJHU HPSKDVLV RQ WKH QHFHVVLW\ RI REHGLHQFH DQG FRPPLWPHQW IRU WKRVH ZKR ZRXOG EH LQ WKH NLQJGRP -HVXV RIWHQ FDOOV SHRSOH WR GLVFLSOHVKLS RU LV DVNHG ZKDW RQH PXVW GR WR EH +LV GLVFLSOH +H QHYHU WHOOV DQ\RQH Âł-XVW LQYLWH 0H LQWR \RXU KHDUW ´ RU Âł6D\ WKH VLQQHUÂśV SUD\HU ´ -HVXVÂś FDOO LV DOZD\V IRU DFWLRQ IRU LPPHGLDWH DQG FRQWLQXHG REHGLHQFH IRU WRWDO FRQVHFUDWLRQ :KHQ DVNHG “Lord, are there few who are saved?â€? &KULVW UHVSRQGHG “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be ableâ€? /XNH -HVXV KHUH FRQWUDVWV ÂłVWULYH ´ ÂłODERU IHUYHQWO\ ´ RU ÂłDJRQL]H´ ZLWK ÂłVHHN ´ ÂłGHVLUH ´

Salvation 6HHN LV QRW DOZD\V DQ LQDGHTXDWH ZRUG ,Q VRPH VD\LQJV WR VHHN -HVXV RU VDOYDWLRQ LV FDOOHG IRU (YHQ WKHQ KRZHYHU FRQWH[W RU D PRGLILHU PD\ VXJJHVW PRUH WKDQ FDVXDOO\ ORRNLQJ DURXQG “Seek firstâ€? 0DWWKHZ “Seek diligentlyâ€? /XNH 7KH FRQWUDVW RI VWULYH DQG VHHN LQ /XNH VXJJHVWV FDVXDO VHHNLQJ ZLOO QRW GR 2QH PXVW ODERU HDUQHVWO\ WR HQWHU :H GR QRW ILQG RXUVHOI RQ WKH URDG WR KHDYHQ E\ DFFLGHQW 7KH EHVW WUDQVODWLRQ RI ,VDLDK VD\V “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called a Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it; the fool shall not wander in; no lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it‌ but the redeemed shall walk there.â€? 7KH ZDQGHULQJ IRRO OLNH WKH XQFOHDQ DQG WKH GHYRXULQJ OLRQ ZLOO QRW EH RQ WKDW KRO\ KLJKZD\ 7KH JDWH WR WKH URDG WKDW OHDGV WR OLIH LV QDUURZ 0DWWKHZ :H PXVW VTXHH]H WKURXJK ZLWK HIIRUW DQG RQ SXUSRVH 7KRVH EOHVVHG WR HQWHU WKH NLQJGRP DUH WKRVH ZKR KXQJHU DQG WKLUVW IRU ULJKWHRXVQHVV 0DWWKHZ 2QH ZKR GRHV QRW ORYH -HVXV PRUH WKDQ IDWKHU PRWKHU FKLOGUHQ RU HYHQ KLV RU KHU RZQ OLIH FDQQRW EH +LV GLVFLSOH /XNH *RGÂśV :RUG LV WR EH GHVLUHG DV D QHZERUQ EDE\ WKLUVWV IRU LWV PRWKHUÂśV PLON 3HWHU 7KRVH ZKR ORYH WKH WUXWK DQG HDUQHVWO\ VHHN LW ZLOO EH DLGHG E\ *RGÂśV SURYLGHQFH WR ILQG LW EXW ZH DUH ZDUQHG WKDW +H ZLOO VHQG VWURQJ GHOXVLRQV WR WKRVH ZKR GR QRW ORYH WKH WUXWK WR WKRVH ZKR VHHN WKHLU SOHDVXUH LQ HYLO 7KHVVDORQLDQV *RG KHOSV XV ILQG ZKDW ZH GLOLJHQWO\ GHVLUH 1R RQH FDQ HDUQ VDOYDWLRQ LW LV D IUHH JLIW RI JUDFH 5RPDQV UHFHLYHG E\ IDLWK (SKHVLDQV %XW D SXUSRVH RI 3DXOÂśV SUHDFKLQJ LV WR HYRNH “the obedience of faithâ€? 5RPDQV -HVXV VDLG “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heavenâ€? 0DWWKHZ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?â€? /XNH “If you love me, you will keep my commandmentsâ€? -RKQ .LQJ $VD FDOOHG WKH SHRSOH RI -XGDK WR HQWHU D FRYHQDQW “to seek the Lord with all their heart and with all their soul.â€? $QG WKH\ VRXJKW +LP ZLWK WKHLU ZKROH GHVLUH DQG +H ZDV IRXQG E\ WKHP DQG WKH /RUG JDYH WKHP UHVW &KURQLFOHV 6R WRGD\ UHVW LQ +LP ZLOO IRXQG E\ WKRVH ZKR VHHN +LP ZLWK WKHLU ZKROH KHDUW = &HFLO 0D\ -U LV 'HDQ (PHULWXV RI WKH %LEOH 'HSDUWPHQW DW )DXONQHU 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ 0RQW JRPHU\ $ODEDPD 86$

Salvation

Time )UDQN &KHVVHU )URP RXW RI WKH ERVRP RI HWHUQLW\ FDPH WLPH *RG “inhabiteth eternity” ,VDLDK ZKLOH PDQ GZHOOV LQ WLPH (WHUQLW\ JDYH ELUWK WR WLPH DV D WHPSRUDU\ DUUDQJHPHQW IRU WUDQVLHQW KXPDQLW\ “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” 3HWHU LV 3HWHU¶V ZD\ RI VD\LQJ WKDW WLPH PHDQV QRWKLQJ WR *RG *RG ZDV QRW \RXQJHU ZKHQ WLPH EHJDQ QRU ZLOO +H EH ROGHU ZKHQ WLPH HQGV “In the beginning” PDUNV WKH FRPPHQFHPHQW RI WLPH WKH XQLYHUVH DQG PDQ *HQHVLV $W WLPH¶V LQFHSWLRQ WKHUH ZDV QR EDFNZDUG ORRN IRU SULRU WR WLPH LV HWHUQLW\ (YHU\WKLQJ PDWHULDO LV OLPLWHG E\ WLPH DV LV WLPH LWVHOI IRU WLPH¶V ILQDO VXQVHW ZDV SUHGHVWLQHG LQ HWHUQLW\ 7LPH LV QRW HWHUQLW\¶V LQWHUOXGH IRU HWHUQLW\ LV ZLWKRXW EHJLQQLQJ RU HQG ,I WLPH¶V GXUDWLRQ LV D ELOOLRQ \HDUV LW ZLOO RQO\ EH D PLFURVFRSLF SHEEOH RQ WKH XQHQGLQJ VKRUHV RI HWHUQLW\ :KHQ HWHUQLW\ ELGV JRRGE\H WR WLPH WLPH ZLOO QRW EH PLVVHG 7KHUH ZLOO EH QR YRLG WR ILOO 0DQ¶V ERG\ LV ELUWKHG IRU WLPH KLV VSLULW IRU HWHUQLW\ 7KH PRPHQW KH HQWHUV WKH GRRU PDUNHG ³/LIH ´ KH FRPPHQFHV D KDVW\ H[LW WRZDUG WKH GRRU PDUNHG ³'HDWK´ +LV GD\V RQ HDUWK SDVV ZLWK PRUH VZLIWQHVV WKDQ D “weaver’s shuttle” -RE D IOHHLQJ “shadow” -RE RU D GLVVLSDWLQJ “vapor” -DPHV 7LPH PDUNV KLP DW ELUWK DQG FODLPV KLP DW GHDWK 7LPH UXVKHV RQ XQFKHFNHG DQG XQDOWHUHG FDUU\LQJ HYHU\ PDWHULDO REMHFW WR LWV LQHYLWDEOH HQG 5XVW GHFD\ DQG GHDWK DUH LWV SHUSHWXDO FRPSDQLRQV :H DUH DOO UXQQLQJ RXW RI WLPH 7KH RQO\ WKLQJ WKDW UHDOO\ PDWWHUV LV DUH \RX SUHSDUHG WR PHHW *RG" $UH \RX UHDG\ WR JR" :KHQ WLPH LV VZDOORZHG XS LQ HWHUQLW\ ZKHUH ZLOO \RX EH" “Behold, now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation” &RULQWKLDQV = )UDQN &KHVVHU LV D ZULWHU DQG SUHDFKHU ZRUNLQJ ZLWK WKH 3DQDPD 6WUHHW FRQJUHJDWLRQ LQ 0RQWJRPHU\ $ODEDPD 86$

We are all running out of time. The only thing that really matters is, are you prepared to meet God?

Salvation

%OHVVHG ,QVXUDQFH 3DWULFN 0RUULVRQ , KDYH EHHQ VXUURXQGHG E\ &KULVWLDQV P\ ZKROH OLIH )URP WKH WLPH , HQWHUHG LQWR WKLV ZRUOG P\ OLIH KDV UHYROYHG DURXQG FKXUFK UHODWHG DFWLYLWLHV ² IHOORZVKLS ZRUVKLS VLQJLQJ HWF 3UDLVLQJ *RG LQ VRQJ KDV DOZD\V EHHQ RQH RI WKH IRQGHVW PHPRULHV RI P\ FKLOGKRRG DV ZHOO DV RQH RI P\ IDYRULWH WKLQJV WR GR HYHQ QRZ $V D OLWWOH IHOORZ VRPHWLPHV , GLGQ¶W NQRZ RU XQGHUVWDQG WKH PHDQLQJ RU WKH LPSRUW RI WKH ZRUGV RI WKH VRQJV WKDW ZH ZRXOG RIWHQ VLQJ 2QH RI WKRVH JUHDW ROG K\PQV WKDW , PLVKHDUG ZDV WKH VRQJ “Blessed Assurance.” , DOZD\V WKRXJKW ZH ZHUH VLQJLQJ WKH ZRUGV ³EOHVVHG insurance ´ (YHQ WKRXJK , PD\ QRW KDYH IXOO\ XQ GHUVWRRG WKH ZRUGV , DP QRW VR VXUH WKDW , ZDV UH DOO\ DOO WKDW IDU RII LQ ZKDW , ZDV VLQJLQJ 7KLQN DERXW LW :H EX\ LQVXUDQFH LQ RUGHU WR SXW RXU PLQGV DW HDVH :H KDYH OLIH LQVXUDQFH KHDOWK LQVXUDQFH DXWR PRELOH LQVXUDQFH GLV DELOLW\ LQVXUDQFH KRPH RZQHU¶V LQVXUDQFH DQG RQ DQG RQ WKH OLVW FRXOG JR 7KHUH LV SUREDEO\ LQVXUDQFH IRU RXU LQVXU DQFH :K\ GR ZH VSHQG VR PXFK PRQH\ LQVXULQJ RXU OLYHV DQG RXU SRVVHVVLRQV" ,W¶V EHFDXVH ZH ZDQW UHDVVXUDQFH *RG KDV JLYHQ

Salvation XV VSLULWXDO LQVXUDQFH DVVXUDQFH WKURXJK WKH RIIHULQJ RI -HVXV &KULVW IRU RXU VLQV +LV SURPLVHV DUH VXUH 3HWHU “And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the endâ€? +HEUHZV “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance foreverâ€? ,VDLDK %HFDXVH RI *RGÂśV IDLWKIXOQHVV WR NHHS +LV SURPLVHV ZH FDQ GUDZ QHDU ZLWK D WUXH KHDUW LQ IXOO DVVXUDQFH RI IDLWK +HEUHZV :KHQ ZDV WKH ODVW WLPH \RX GLG DQ LQVXUDQFH FKHFN XS" (YHU\ RQFH LQ D ZKLOH LW LV JRRG WR WDNH LQYHQWRU\ RI RXU OLYHV DQG WDNH QRWH RI DQ\ FKDQJHV LQ RUGHU WR PDNH VXUH WKDW ZH KDYH SURSHU FRYHUDJHV LQ RXU SROLFLHV 6R WRR PXVW ZH GRXEOH FKHFN WR PDNH VXUH WKDW ZH KDYH WKH ULJKW VSLULWXDO LQVXUDQFH &RULQWKLDQV +RZ LV \RXU VSLULWXDO LQVXUDQFH"

When you choose to stand with God, you have the assurance that He is on your side. Though all the world may forsake us, Jesus will stand with us. :KHQ \RX JLYH \RXU OLIH RYHU WR *RG \RX FDQ UHVW DVVXUHG WKDW \RXÂśUH LQ JRRG KDQGV -HVXV UHPLQGV XV RI WKH YDOXH RI SODFLQJ RXU VRXOV LQ WKH KDQGV RI *RG “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s handâ€? -RKQ :KHQ \RX FKRRVH WR VWDQG ZLWK *RG \RX KDYH WKH DVVXUDQFH WKDW +H LV RQ \RXU VLGH 7KRXJK DOO WKH ZRUOG PD\ IRUVDNH XV -HVXV ZLOO VWDQG ZLWK XV 7LPRWK\ “If God be for us, who can be against usâ€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ÂśV VDOYDWLRQ WRGD\" <RX FDQ KDYH WKLV ÂłEOHVVHG LQVXUDQFH´ WKURXJK -HVXV &KULVW = 3DWULFN 0RUULVRQ SUHDFKHV IRU WKH 6L[WK $YHQXH FKXUFK LQ -DVSHU $ODEDPD 86$

Salvation

Lost Things %RE 3OXQNHW :H DUH IRUHYHU ORVLQJ RXU SRUWDEOH SKRQH 2I FRXUVH ,¶P WROG LW¶V ULJKW ZKHUH \RX OHIW LW ,¶P QRW VR VXUH DERXW WKDW 2XU SKRQH KDV OHJV DQG ILQJHUV , NQRZ , IRXQG LW WKH RWKHU GD\ ZLWK WKH FKRFRODWH ILQJHU SULQWV RQ LW LQ WKH WR\ ER[ :KHQ , PDVKHG WKH EHHSHU LW VHHPHG WR VD\ ³*HW PH RXW RI KHUH ´ ,VQ¶W LW JUHDW WKDW \RX FDQ SUHVV D EXWWRQ DQG WKH SKRQH ZLOO EHHS" :RXOGQ¶W LW EH JUHDW WR KDYH D EHHSHU IRU \RXU NH\V DQG JODVVHV DQG VRFNV DQG DOO WKH WKLQJV ZH ORVH" 7KHUH LV D PRQLWRU DYDLODEOH QRZ IRU SDUHQWV ZLWK OLWWOH FKLOGUHQ ZKR SOD\ LQ WKH \DUG )RU WKRVH ZKR ORVH WKHLU FDU LQ WKH SDUNLQJ ORW WKHUH LV D EXWWRQ \RX FDQ SUHVV WKDW ZLOO VRXQG \RXU KRUQ :K\ GR ZH ORVH VR PDQ\ WKLQJV" :HOO LW¶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¶W KHDU 6DGO\ WKHUH DUH VRPH LQ WKH FKXUFK DQG SHUKDSV LQ WKH IDPLO\ ZKR ZDQW WR JHW ORVW 7KH\ KDYH SXUSRVHO\ ZDQGHUHG RXW RI WKH UDQJH RI WKH EHHSHU :H GR SUD\ WKDW WKH\ ZLOO FRPH KRPH DJDLQ 5HPHPEHU WKDW WKH EHHSHU RQO\ WHOOV \RX ZKHUH WKH SKRQH LV ,W GRHV QRW WHOO \RX ZK\ LW LV WKHUH ,W GRHV QRW UHVWRUH WKH GHDG EDWWHU\ QRU GRHV LW NHHS LW IURP KDSSHQLQJ DJDLQ :H PXVW OHDUQ IURP WKLV 2XU /RUG ZKR FDPH WR VHHN DQG VDYH WKH ORVW VDLG RI 1DWKDQLHO “I saw you under the fig tree” -RKQ &KULVW QHHGV QR EHHSHU +H NQRZV ZKHUH \RX DUH = %RE 3OXQNHW SUHDFKHV IRU WKH &ROEHUW +HLJKWV FRQJUHJDWLRQ LQ 7XVFXPELD $ODEDPD 86$

Sadly, there are some in the church and perhaps in the family who want to get lost. They have purposely wandered away.

The Church

What Does the Bible Teach? 6XQQ\ 'DYLG 7KH %LEOH WHDFKHV WKDW &KULVWLDQV DUH D SHFXOLDU SHRSOH 3HWHU 7KH\ DUH D SHFXOLDU SHRSOH EHFDXVH WKH\ GR QRW IROORZ WKH VWDQGDUG VHW E\ WKH ZRUOG EXW DUH WU\LQJ WR OLYH E\ IROORZLQJ WKH VWHSV RI &KULVW DV WKH\ DUH WDXJKW 3HWHU &KULVW VDLG WKDW +LV IROORZHUV DUH in WKH ZRUOG EXW DUH QRW of WKH ZRUOG DV +H ZDV QRW RI WKH ZRUOG ZKHQ +H ZDV RQ HDUWK -RKQ 7KH DSRVWOH 3DXO ZURWH WKDW RXU FLWL]HQVKLS LV LQ KHDYHQ 3KLOLSSLDQV 6XUH RQ HDUWK ZH DUH FLWL]HQV RI WKH FRXQWU\ ZH OLYH LQ DQG DV &KULVWLDQV ZH DUH D UHVSRQVLEOH SHRSOH LQ RXU QDWLRQ 2XU ILUVW UHVSRQVLELOLW\ KRZHYHU LV WR *RG DV &KULVW WDXJKW LQ 0DWWKHZ :H PXVW WKHUHIRUH WU\ WR OLYH GDLO\ RXU OLYHV RQ HDUWK LQ VXFK PDQQHU WKDW WKURXJK DOO RXU DFWLRQV *RG¶V QDPH PD\ EH JORULILHG 0DWWKHZ $V &KULVWLDQV ZH DUH DOVR UHVSRQVLEOH WR RXU IHOORZ EHLQJV &KULVW WDXJKW “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” 0DWWKHZ :H ZDQW RWKHUV WR VSHDN ZHOO RI XV DQG WR GR JRRG IRU XV DQG VR ZH VKRXOG GR OLNHZLVH WRZDUGV RWKHUV :H GRQ¶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“Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’

The Church says the Lord. ‘Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’� 5RPDQV $V &KULVWLDQV ZH EHOLHYH WKH JRYHUQPHQW LV GLYLQHO\ RUGDLQHG RI *RG 7KLV PHDQV ZH DUH WR GLVFKDUJH RXU GXW\ DV ODZ DELGLQJ FLWL]HQV HYHQ LI HYLO PHQ DUH VHUYLQJ LQ KLJK SODFHV :H EHOLHYH WKDW *RG LV VXSUHPH DQG QRWKLQJ LV KLGGHQ IURP +LV H\HV $V REHGLHQW FKLOGUHQ RI *RG ZH WU\ WR OLYH SHDFHDEO\ ZLWK DOO PHQ WDNLQJ QR WKRXJKW RI YHQJHDQFH RU UHYHQJH :H WUXVW LQ *RG DQG HYHQ LI D W\UDQW LV RQ WKH WKURQH ZH PXVW IROORZ ZKDW *RG KDV WDXJKW XV LQ +LV %LEOH 5RPDQV VD\V “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same for he is God`s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God`s minister, and avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.� $JDLQ ZH UHDG “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord`s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by Him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men — as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king�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

The Church

Spiritual Leaders — Essential Characteristics 5RQDOG ' %U\DQW

Spiritual leaders are sensitive to the fact that they are to lead, not drive. They talk to the congregation in a manner that serves to honor God and strengthen the body. Instead of working to control people and events, they endeavor to mold the hearts and lives.

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The Church

The Church that Jesus Built &KDUOHV ( %XUFK 7KH FKXUFK WKDW -HVXV EXLOW ZDV D VXEMHFW RI SURSKHF\ 7KH SURSKHW ,VDLDK VWDWHG “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountain, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go up and say, come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalemâ€? ,VDLDK )URP WKLV SURSKHF\ ZH FDQ OHDUQ VHYHUDO WKLQJV )LUVW LW ZDV WR EH LQ “the last daysâ€?. 7KH DSRVWOH 3HWHU VDLG WKH HYHQWV RI $FWV ZKHQ WKH FKXUFK ZDV HVWDEOLVKHG ZHUH LQ WKH ODVW GD\V 6HFRQG ,VDLDK ZDV VSHDNLQJ RI WKH /RUGÂśV KRXVH )URP 7LPRWK\ ZH ILQG WKDW WKH /RUGÂśV KRXVH ZDV WKH FKXUFK 7KLUG LW ZDV WR EHJLQ LQ -HUXVDOHP ,Q $FWV ZH ILQG WKDW WKH FKXUFK KDG LWV EHJLQQLQJ LQ -HUXVDOHP 7KHUHIRUH ZH FDQ VD\ WKDW ,VDLDK ZDV IRUHWHOOLQJ WKH FRPLQJ RI WKH /RUGÂśV FKXUFK %HIRUH RXU /RUG ZDV FUXFLILHG +H PDGH D SURPLVH $IWHU 3HWHU KDG FRQIHVVHG +LP WR EH “the Christ, the Son of the living Godâ€? 0DWWKHZ -HVXV VDLG â€œâ€Ś upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hades shall not prevail against itâ€? 0DWWKHZ 2XU /RUG KHUH SURPLVHG WR EXLOG +LV FKXUFK 1RWLFH ZKDW +H VDLG “I will build my church.â€? :KHQ +H VDLG “Myâ€? ZH NQRZ LW ZDV WR EHORQJ WR +LP 7KH DSRVWOH 3DXO WROG WKH (SKHVLDQV HOGHUV WKDW -HVXV SXUFKDVHG LW ZLWK +LV RZQ EORRG $FWV 7KHUHIRUH ZH NQRZ WKDW WKH /RUGÂśV FKXUFK EHORQJV WR +LP QRW WR PDQ $JDLQ QRWLFH -HVXV VDLG “I will build My church.â€? +H GLG QRW VD\ Âł, ZLOO EXLOG 0\ FKXUFKHV ´ +H XVHG WKH VLQJXODU IRUP ZKLFK VWDQGV IRU RQH -HVXV QHYHU LQWHQGHG IRU WKHUH WR EH PRUH WKDQ RQH UHOLJLRQ XSRQ WKH HDUWK 7KLV LV ZK\ +H FRXOG SUD\ IRU XQLW\ DPRQJ DOO EHOLHYHUV “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent meâ€? -RKQ $IWHU &KULVW FDPH IRUWK IURP WKH JUDYH +H VDLG “All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earthâ€? 0DWWKHZ $69 7KHUHIRUH LI &KULVW KDG UHFHLYHG DOO DXWKRULW\ 12 21( (/6( KDV DQ\ DXWKRULW\ WR VWDUW D UHOLJLRQ GLIIHUHQW IURP WKH /RUGÂśV FKXUFK 7KH PXOWLWXGH RI GLIIHUHQW UHOLJLRQV WRGD\ FRQIOLFW ZLWK WKH SODQ *RG KDG IRU DOO WR EH XQLWHG -HVXV ZLOO GHOLYHU XS +LV FKXUFK WR WKH )DWKHU DW WKH HQG RI WLPH. “Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and powerâ€? &RULQWKLDQV :LOO \RX EH LQ WKH GHOLYHUHG XS FKXUFK" = &KDUOHV ( %XUFK LV D UHWLUHG SUHDFKHU RI WKH *RVSHO OLYLQJ LQ 6W (OPR $ODEDPD 86$

The Church

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But how do we arrive at truth in religion? Can we vote on it? Can we go by feelings? Is it right if everyone does it?

Doctrine To Live By

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My “Enemy” %HWW\ %XUWRQ &KRDWH How often is it true for all of us: “I am my own worst enemy.”? No outside force can hurt me As I hurt myself… I am the one Allowing the attitudes That close the longed-for doors; It is my pessimism That darkens my sunny days; I waste the hours of my life Procrastinating, Intending to do But never buckling down; It is my smallness That limits vision, My jealousies stunting friendships, My mouth that causes trouble, My lack of perception That never sees me as I am, My good intentions That this “enemy” neglects. I am what I am. I cannot be bigger than myself. I cannot be what I am not. Yes, as Pogo said, “We have met the enemy, And he is us.” I am my own worst enemy. I must take myself with me Wherever I may go And be with others only what I am… The lesson I must learn: If I want my world to be improved, I must improve myself.

Christianity In Action

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,Q D KRUURU ILOP FDOOHG Âł7KH 6KLQLQJ´ ZDV SURGXFHG DQG RIIHUHG WR DXGLHQFHV DFURVV WKH ZRUOG ,W KDG WR GR ZLWK JKRVWV RU VSLULWV ZKR ZHUH GLVWXUELQJ PRUWDOV WKDW ZHUH RFFXS\LQJ D KRWHO Âł7KH 6KLQLQJ´ ZDV WKH VXSSRVHG PDQLIHVWDWLRQ RI RFFXOW SRZHU LQ WKH ILOP DQG RI FRXUVH DOO RI LW ZDV WKH IDQFLIXO LQYHQWLRQ RI ZULWHUV DQG SURGXFHUV %XW D UHDO WUXH VKLQLQJ LV GHVFULEHG LQ *RGÂśV :RUG *RG SURPLVHG WR VKLQH RQ PDQ DQG LQ WXUQ GHPDQGHG D VKLQLQJ IURP PDQ ,Q ,VDLDK *RG LVVXHG +LV SURPLVH IRU WKDW VKLQLQJ DQG FDOOHG RQ +LV SHRSOH WR VKLQH +LV OLJKW WR RWKHUV The Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,â€? says the Lord. “As for me,â€? says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendant’s descendants,â€? says the Lord, “from this time and forevermore.â€? “Arise , shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. ,VDLDK

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Christianity In Action z 7KRVH ZKR DUH WXUQHG WR ULJKWHRXVQHVV “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Fatherâ€? 0DWWKHZ z 7KRVH ZKR OLYH MXVWO\ “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect dayâ€? 3URYHUEV z 7KRVH ZKR GR WKH JRRG ZRUNV RI *RG “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heavenâ€? 0DWWKHZ z 7KRVH ZKR OLYH WKH VHUHQH OLIH “...you will be God’s children without fault. But you are living with crooked and mean people all around you, among whom you shine like stars in the dark world. You offer the teaching that gives lifeâ€? 3KLOLSSLDQV 1HZ &HQWXU\ 9HUVLRQ Âł7KHUHIRUH +H VD\V “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you lightâ€? (SKHVLDQV +H JLYHV XV OLJKW +LV VKLQLQJ WKDW ZH PD\ JLYH WR RWKHUV “the light of His gloryâ€?. :H VKRXOG WDNH WR KHDUW WKH ZRUGV RI WKH 3VDOPLVW “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with himâ€? 3VDOP 0\ EURWKHU %RE 0F.HH ZURWH D VRQJ WLWOHG “You Will Shine As The Starsâ€? WKDW KDV WKH WKHPH RI JRLQJ WR VKLQH WKH OLJKW RI WKH *RVSHO WR RWKHUV 7KH FKRUXV RI WKDW VRQJ LV Âł+LV SHRSOH VKLQH DV EULJKW VWDUV ZKHQ WKH\ JR IRUWK WDNLQJ +LV *RVSHO WR RWKHUV DQG DFFRPSDQ\ LW XS ZLWK D OLIH WKDW VKLQHV LQ JRGO\ OLYLQJ ´ = &ROLQ 0F.HH ZRUNV LQ EHKDOI RI WKH /RUGÂśV FKXUFK LQ ,QGRQHVLD

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Christianity In Action

How Jesus Saw People 1HDO 3ROODUG Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvestâ€? 0DWWKHZ ,Q WKHVH IHZ YHUVHV WKH +RO\ 6SLULW WKURXJK 0DWWKHZ SDLQWV D EHDXWLIXO SLFWXUH +H SUHVHQWV KRZ -HVXV VDZ WKH SHRSOH +H HQFRXQWHUHG DV +LV SXEOLF PLQLVWU\ JDLQV PR PHQWXP +RZ -HVXV VDZ SHRSOH JLYHV XV DQ H[DPSOH RI KRZ ZH VKRXOG VHH WKHP WRR +H VDZ WKHP DV hurting 0DWWKHZ 7KHLU KXUWV ZHUH OLWHUDO IURP VLFN QHVV WR GLVHDVH 7KRVH KXUWV PDWWHUHG WR -HVXV DQG +H WRRN DFWLRQ +H KHOSHG WKH KXUWLQJ :H QHHG WR DSSURDFK SHRSOH WKH VDPH ZD\ VHQVLWLYH WR WKH KXUWV WKH\ KDUERU 7KH KXUWV PD\ EH SK\VLFDO EXW RIWHQ WKH\ DUH VRFLDO DQG HPRWLRQDO :H FDQQRW DV &KULVWLDQV EH FDOORXV DQG XQIHHOLQJ WR WKHLU KXUWV ,QVWHDG ZH PXVW WUHDW WKHP DV ZH ZRXOG ZLVK RWKHUV WR WUHDW XV 0DWWKHZ +H VDZ WKHP DV hopeless 0DWWKHZ +H GLG QRW VHH WKHP DV D ORVW FDXVH EXW UDWKHU DV SHRSOH LQ VHDUFK RI D KRSH WKDW HOXGHG WKHP 7KH\ ZHUH ZHDU\ VFDW WHUHG DQG ÂłVKHSKHUGOHVV´ <HW WKLV FRQGLWLRQ GUHZ -HVXVÂś FRQFHUQ +H ZDQWHG WR JLYH WKHP JXLGDQFH DQG DVVLVWDQFH +H VWLOO ZDQWV WKDW IRU WKH PXOWLWXGHV WRGD\ EXW +H ZRUNV WKURXJK XV :H QHHG WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH KRSHOHVVQHVV DQG WKH ODFN RI GLUHF WLRQ RI WKH PXOWLWXGHV ,W VKRXOG GUDZ RXU FRQFHUQ +H VDZ WKHP DV a harvest 0DWWKHZ 7KH\ ZHUH QRW MXVW D QXPEHU EXW WKH\ SURYLGHG SOHQWLIXO RSSRUWXQLW\ -HVXV ZDQWHG +LV GLVFLSOHV GLVSDWFKHG WR PLQLVWHU WR WKDW PXOWLWXGH +LV FRQFHUQ KDV QRW DEDWHG WRGD\ +H ZDQWV XV LQ WKH KDUYHVW ILHOGV UHDFKLQJ WKH KRSHOHVV DQG KXUWLQJ <HVWHUGD\ GXULQJ RXU PLVVLRQV PHHWLQJ WKHUH ZDV D PRVW XQXVXDO ÂłEHQHYR OHQFH FDOO´ /HW PH MXVW VD\ ÂłKLV´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

Christianity In Action

Do We Dare to Answer Christ’s Question? $UGURQ +LQWRQ “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?” 0DWWKHZ 7KHUH LV WKH TXHVWLRQ ³:KDW GR \RX GR PRUH WKDQ RWKHUV"´ ,Q LWV FRQWH[W WKH TXHVWLRQ FRQFHUQV JRLQJ EH\RQG ORYLQJ WKRVH ZKR ORYH XV DQG EH\RQG KHOSLQJ WKRVH ZKR KHOS XV +RZHYHU WKH TXHVWLRQ KDV DOO VRUWV RI SRVVLEOH DSSOLFDWLRQV 0RVW SHRSOH DUH FRQWHQW WR EH W\SLFDO ² QR EHWWHU DQG QR ZRUVH WKDQ WKH PDMRULW\ DURXQG WKHP +RZHYHU &KULVW FDOOV +LV IROORZHUV WR excellence, QRW mediocrity. %DFN WR WKDW TXHVWLRQ ZKDW DQVZHU FRXOG ZH JLYH WR LW ULJKW QRZ" :KDW LV RXU UHFRUG LQ VXFK PDWWHUV DV ZRUVKLSLQJ DQG VHUYLQJ *RG" :KDW DERXW HIIRUWV WR OHDUQ DQG XQGHUVWDQG WKH WHDFKLQJV RI *RG" :KDW DERXW IDLWKIXOQHVV DQG GHSHQGDELOLW\ DV FKLOGUHQ RI *RG" :KDW DERXW SXWWLQJ LQWR SUDFWLFH WKH FKDOOHQJLQJ DQG GLIILFXOW VDFULILFLDO OLIHVW\OH RI &KULVWLDQLW\" ,Q DOO WKHVH PDWWHUV DUH ZH VWULYLQJ IRU H[FHOOHQFH RU DUH ZH FRQWHQW MXVW WR UHDFK WKH SUHYDLOLQJ OHYHO LQ RXU ZRUOG" ,I \RX DUH GHWHUPLQHG WR PHDVXUH \RXUVHOI VSLULWXDOO\ E\ VWDQGLQJ EHVLGH RWKHUV WU\ UHDFKLQJ RXW D OLWWOH IDUWKHU IRU WKH SHUVRQ E\ ZKRP \RX VWDQG 0LOOLRQV OLYH LQ QDWLRQV ZKHUH DQ\RQH SURIHVVLQJ IDLWK LQ &KULVW IDFHV VHULRXV SRVVLELOLWLHV UDQJLQJ IURP SROLWLFDO UHSUHVVLRQ WR YLROHQW SHUVHFXWLRQ 5HDG WKH DUWLFOH LQ 5HDGHU¶V 'LJHVW IRU $XJXVW ¶ The Global War on Christians, pp. 50-55 ² DQG ZLWK WKH SDVVLQJ \HDUV WKH ZDU KDV RQO\ LQWHQVLILHG :H KDYH JURZQ FRPIRUWDEOH DQG FRPSODFHQW LQ WKLV QDWLRQ :H QHHG WR UHUHDG WKH IDPLOLDU SDUDEOH LQ /XNH DQG GHWHUPLQH WR EH PRUH OLNH WKH 6DPDULWDQ DQG OHVV OLNH WKRVH ZKR “passed by on the other side” ,Q WKH EDWWOHJURXQG IRU ULJKWHRXVQHVV IRU WUXWK DQG IRU WKH NLQJGRP RI *RG ZH QRW RQO\ QHHG WR VWDQG XS DQG EH FRXQWHG ZH QHHG WR VWDQG WDOO ,Q WKH VDPH VHUPRQ LQ ZKLFK -HVXV DVNHG WKH TXHVWLRQ ZH KDYH QRWLFHG +H ZDUQHG “Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” 0DWWKHZ 7KHVH ZHUH UHOLJLRXV SHRSOH EXW ZH PXVW JR EH\RQG WKHLU OHYHO = $UGURQ +LQWRQ SUHDFKHV WKH *RVSHO LQ 5RRVHYHOW 2NODKRPD 86$

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Christianity In Action

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If instruments of music were brought in after the days of the New Testament, and thus without sanction, authority, or even consideration from inspired penmen, they came too late and with no justification.

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Who’s Who at Rome %RE 3ULFKDUG 7KH ODVW FKDSWHU RI 3DXOÂśV OHWWHU WR WKH 5RPDQV LV VRUW RI D Âł:KRÂśV :KR´ RI WKH FKXUFK DW 5RPH 3DXO PHQWLRQV VRPH GLIIHUHQW PHQ DQG ZRPHQ ZKR KH GHVFULEHV LQ D QXPEHU RI ZD\V +H EHJLQV E\ VD\LQJ “Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.â€? +H VDOXWHV “my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia unto Christ.â€? +H VHQGV JUHHWLQJV WR “Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.â€? +H DOVR VDOXWHV “Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord,â€? DV ZHOO DV “Apelles, approved in Christâ€? 5RPDQV 'HVSLWH KLV VWDWXV DV WKH DSRVWOH WR WKH *HQWLOHV 3DXO UHFRJQL]HG WKDW KH QHHGHG RWKHUV WR KHOS KLP VXFFHHG LQ PLQLVWU\ +H UHPHPEHUHG RWKHUV DQG WRRN WKH WLPH WR WHOO WKHP KRZ PXFK WKH\ PHDQW WR KLP %HVLGHV KLV HSLVWOHV WR LQGLYLGXDOV VXFK DV 7LPRWK\ 7LWXV DQG 3KLOHPRQ KLV JHQHUDO OHWWHUV DUH ILOOHG ZLWK WKH QDPHV RI LQGLYLGXDOV ZKR KHOSHG KLP DORQJ WKH ZD\ 3DXO ZDV OLNH HYHU\ *RVSHO SUHDFKHU ZKR KDV FRPH DORQJ VLQFH ² ZH DOO QHHG WKH KHOS DQG VXSSRUW RI RWKHUV PDQ\ RI ZKRP DUH WKH XQVXQJ EHKLQG WKH VFHQHV VRUW RI SHRSOH RQ ZKRP \RX FDQ DOZD\V FRXQW 1RW RQO\ ZDV 3DXOÂśV PLQLVWU\ HQULFKHG E\ WKH KHOS RI RWKHUV , NQRZ WKDW , KDYH EHHQ EOHVVHG LPPHDVXUDEO\ DQG FRXOG KDYH GRQH OLWWOH RI ZKDW , KDYH EHHQ DEOH WR DFFRPSOLVK ZLWKRXW WKH KHOS RI RWKHUV +RZ ORQJ KDV LW EHHQ VLQFH \RX VHQW D QRWH WR VRPHRQH WR RIIHU WKDQNV IRU WKH KHOS DQG VXSSRUW \RX KDYH UHFHLYHG DV 3DXO GLG" :KR ZRXOG EH RQ \RXU Âł:KRÂśV :KR´ OLVW" $QG KRZ DERXW WKDQNLQJ WKH /RUG" “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto Godâ€? 3KLOLSSLDQV 2XU SUD\HUV DQG VXSSOLFDWLRQV QHHG WR EH EDWKHG ZLWK WKDQNVJLYLQJ /HW WKH /RUG DQG WKRVH ZKR KDYH KHOSHG \RX NQRZ \RX FDUH = %RE 3ULFKDUG SUHDFKHV IRU WKH 2[IRUG &KXUFK RI &KULVW LQ 2[IRUG $ODEDPD 86$

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The Root of Pride .HYLQ &DXOH\ “But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rageâ€? .LQJV , NQRZ D OLWWOH ELW DERXW DQJHU DQG SULGH ,W LV D VHW RI VLQV WKDW , KDYH VWUXJJOHG ZLWK IRU PDQ\ \HDUV , DP IRUWXQDWH WKDW RYHU WKH \HDUV , KDYH KDG VRPH JRRG EURWKHUV KHOS PH ZLWK WKHVH LVVXHV 6RPH KDYH KHOSHG PH RXW RI UHDO FRQFHUQ RWKHUV QRW VR PXFK EXW *RG KDV EHHQ ZRUNLQJ DOO WKDW WLPH DQG , DFFHSW +LV FRUUHFWLRQ LQ ZKDWHYHU IRUP LW FRPHV 7KH URRW RI SULGH LV WKH HJR DQG WKH HJR LV EDVHG LQ WKH IOHVK &RQVLGHU -HVXVÂś ZRUGV LQ 0DUN “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.â€? 3DXO WHOOV XV WKDW WKHVH DUH DOO ZRUNV RI WKH IOHVK *DODWLDQV 3ULGH LV GHFHLWIXO DQG LQVLGLRXV DQG LW LV HDV\ WR EH GHFHLYHG E\ SULGH :H WHQG WR UDWLRQDOL]H RXU EHKDYLRU DQG SUDFWLFH VHOI MXVWLILFDWLRQ 7KLV LV ZKDW 1DDPDQ GLG $IWHU KH ZHQW DZD\ IURP (OLVKD KH UDWLRQDOL]HG KLV DQJHU E\ WHOOLQJ KLPVHOI WKDW KH ZDV ZRUWK PRUH WKDQ ZKDW *RG KDG WR RIIHU KLP D VHYHQ IROG EDSWLVP LQ WKH -RUGDQ 5LYHU +H WKRXJKW KH ZDV LQFUHDVLQJ KLV YDOXH E\ FRPSDULQJ KLPVHOI WR WKH SURSKHWÂśV KDQG ZDYLQJ JHVWXUHV DQG KLV RZQ KRPHODQG +H UHDOO\

Daily Christian Living RQO\ FKHDSHQHG KLPVHOI $ SHUVRQ LV VR PXFK PRUH YDOXDEOH WKDQ DQ LPSUHVVLYH VKRZLQJ RU D FOHDQ ULYHU 7KLV LV ZK\ SULGH LV VXFK D SUREOHP LW UHGXFHV SHUVRQV WR WKLQJV DQG FDXVHV XV QRW WR ORYH RXUVHOYHV DV *RG ORYHV XV DQG *RG ORYHV XV PXFK PRUH WKDQ ZH ZLOO HYHU NQRZ $IWHU DOO +H JDYH WKH OLIH RI +LV 6RQ IRU XV -RKQ +RZ PXFK ZDV WKH 6RQ RI *RG ZRUWK" 7HOOLQJ RXUVHOYHV WKDW ZH DUH ZRUWK OHVV WKDQ ZKDW *RG WHOOV XV ZH DUH ZRUWK LV WKH ZRUVW NLQG RI VHOI GHFHLW EHFDXVH ZH FDQÂśW SURSHUO\ ORYH RXU EURWKHU LI ZH GRQÂśW ORYH RXUVHOYHV -HVXV VDLG “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyselfâ€? 0DWWKHZ :H FDQ PDNH DQ HIIRUW DW LW EXW ZH ZLOO QRW JHW YHU\ IDU EHIRUH ZH EHFRPH GLVFRXUDJHG ZLWK RXUVHOYHV DQG JLYH XS 7KH IOHVK LV GHFHLWIXO PDNLQJ XV WKLQN WKDW ZH DUH ZRUWK VRPH ZRUOGO\ REMHFW 7KLV LV ZK\ WKH DSRVWOH 3DXO WROG XV QRW WR EH GHFHLYHG E\ LW “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlastingâ€? *DODWLDQV 3ULGH VRZV WR WKH IOHVK DQG LW ZLOO GHVWUR\ XV LI LW JRHV XQFKHFNHG , KDYH RIWHQ KDG WKLV TXHVWLRQ DVNHG WR PH RYHU WKH \HDUV Âł,V WKHUH VXFK D WKLQJ DV JRRG SULGH"´ 5HFHQWO\ D IULHQG WROG PH WKDW KH QHYHU UHDG VXFK LQ KLV %LEOH ,ÂśYH QHYHU UHDG VXFK HLWKHU , KDYH UHDG WKLV YHUVH “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fallâ€? 3URYHUEV ,ÂśYH DOZD\V UHDG WKLV YHUVH DV LI WKH ZRUGV ÂłGHVWUXFWLRQ´ DQG ÂłIDOO´ ZHUH YHU\ EDG WKLQJV DQG LW GRHV GHSHQG XSRQ ZKDW NLQG RI GHVWUXFWLRQ DQG IDOO RQH KDV EXW PRUH UHFHQWO\ ,ÂśYH OHDUQHG WKDW ÂłGHVWUXFWLRQ´ DQG ÂłIDOOLQJ´ FDQ EH YHU\ JRRG WKLQJV LI GLUHFWHG LQ WKH ULJKW ZD\ 3DXO ZURWH “And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon meâ€? &RULQWKLDQV 7KHUH LV DOZD\V KRSH EXW OHW XV QRW WKLQN WKDW ZH FDQ VLQ WKDW JUDFH PD\ FRPH 5RPDQV = .HYLQ &DXOH\ ZRUNV ZLWK WKH .HQVLQJWRQ 5RDG &KXUFK RI &KULVW LQ +DWWLVEXUJ 0LVVLV VLSSL 86$

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the Àesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever. -RKQ

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Living Together Without Remorse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³DOWHUQDWH OLIHVW\OH´ ZLWKRXW UHPRUVH VKH DVNHG PH ZKDW , WKRXJKW )251,&$7256 ,W PXVW EH DVVXPHG WKDW GXULQJ IRXU \HDUV WKH\ KDG FRKDELWHG RXWVLGH RI PDUULDJH *RG ZDUQV WKDW WKLV DFWLRQ LV IRUQLFDWLRQ “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body” &RULQWKLDQV )RUQLFDWRUV DUH HQJDJHG LQ WKH ZRUN RI WKH IOHVK *DODWLDQV ,Q D WUXH UHODWLRQVKLS EHWZHHQ FRXSOHV WKUHH DUH LQYROYHG ² PDQ ZRPDQ DQG *RG -HVXV VDLG “What therefore God had joined together…” 0DWWKHZ 7KLV WDOHQWHG \RXQJ ZRPDQ KDV OHIW *RG RXW RI WKH FLUFOH 6KRXOG WKHUH EH FKLOGUHQ ERUQ WR WKRVH RXW RI ZHGORFN WKH\ ZRXOG DOZD\V EHDU WKH VWLJPD RI EHLQJ DQ ³LOOHJLWLPDWH FKLOG´ ,Q WKLV NLQG RI UHODWLRQVKLS WKHUH LV QR FRPPLWPHQW EXW LQ PDUULDJH ZKHQ FRXSOHV VD\ ³, GR ´ WKH\ DUH FRPPLWWHG WR HDFK RWKHU ,Q WKH IDQWDV\ UHODWLRQVKLS RQH SDUW\ FDQ ZDON DZD\ EHFDXVH WKHUH LV QR FRPPLWPHQW RU OHJDO UHTXLUHPHQW 4XHVWLRQV WR FRQVLGHU :KDW LV WKH DWWLWXGH RI RQH¶V UHOLJLRQ WRZDUG WKLV SODQ" :KDW GR PRWKHUV WKLQN RI WKH GDXJKWHU¶V SUDFWLFH" ,I D ZRPDQ KDV GDXJKWHUV ZRXOG VKH DSSURYH RI VXFK DFWLRQV" 7KH DQVZHU JLYHQ E\ WKLV \RXQJ ODG\ LQGLFDWHG QR FRQFHUQ ZRXOG EH JLYHQ WR FRKDELWDWLRQ E\ DQ\RQH 6KH EHOLHYHV WKDW LQ (XURSH WKLV LV D FRPPRQ SUDFWLFH 0$55,$*( $ 3,//$5 2) 62&,(7< 0DUULDJH WKDW LV DSSURYHG RI *RG LV D VWDEOH SLOODU RI D VWURQJ QDWLRQ ,OOLFLW UHODWLRQV FRQWULEXWH WR WKH ZHDNHQLQJ RI D QDWLRQ 7KLV SUDFWLFH LV DOUHDG\ OHDGLQJ WR ZHDNQHVV LQ QDWLRQV 7RGD\ RQO\ DERXW ILYH SHUFHQW RI WKH SRSXODWLRQ LQ (XURSH DUH ³FKXUFK JRLQJ´ +RZ ORQJ FDQ D QDWLRQ VXUYLYH WKDW FRUUXSWV GLYLQH PDUULDJH" 7KH

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Marriage Is Honorable in All 5RGQH\ 1XOSK “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” +HEUHZV 6DGO\ ZH OLYH LQ D WLPH ZKHQ PDQ\ GR QRW VHH PDUULDJH DV DQ KRQRUDEOH MRLQLQJ WRJHWKHU RI PDOH DQG IHPDOH ,Q PDQ\ KRPHV PDUULDJH LV YLHZHG DV D SULVRQ LQVWHDG RI SUHFLRXV +RZHYHU WKH ZULWHU RI +HEUHZV DIILUPHG WKDW PDUULDJH ZDV LQ IDFW DQ KRQRUDEOH XQLRQ ,QWHUHVWLQJO\ WKLV LGHD RI KRQRUDEOH FDUULHV ZLWK LW WKH LGHD RI VRPHWKLQJ ³RI JUHDW SULFH SUHFLRXV HVWHHPHG´ 7KD\HU :K\ ZRXOG WKH +RO\ 6SLULW GHFODUH PDUULDJH WR EH KRQRUDEOH" First, marriage is honorable in its derivation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econdly, marriage is honorable in its duration. 6DGO\ ZH OLYH LQ DQ DJH ZKHUH PDQ\ GR QRW UHYHUH WKLV *RG JLYHQ XQLRQ *RG +LPVHOI RUGDLQHG PDUULDJH DQG +H H[SHFWV XV WR XSKROG WKDW VDFUHG XQLRQ IRU OLIH -HVXV LQ +LV PDVWHUIXO WHDFKLQJ JDYH EXW RQH UHDVRQ RXWVLGH RI GHDWK IRU WKLV KRQRUDEOH LQVWLWXWLRQ WR HYHU EH VHSDUDWHG FI 0DWWKHZ ³8QWLO GHDWK GR XV SDUW´ PXVW QRW EH MXVW D FDWFK\ SKUDVH XWWHUHG DW D ZHGGLQJ FHUHPRQ\ 7KH PDUULDJH ERQG FRQWUDU\ WR ZKDW PDQ\ EHOLHYH LV D OLIHORQJ FRPPLWPHQW 0DUULDJH LV QRW GLVSRVDEOH 2IWHQ $PHULFDQV UHMRLFH ZLWK WKHLU PDWHV XQWLO VRPHWKLQJ ³EHWWHU´ FRPHV DORQJ +RZ VDG DQG KRZ WUDJLF &RQWUDU\ WR ZKDW PDQ\ $PHULFDQV VD\ ZKLFK LQFOXGHV VRPH IDOVH WHDFKHUV DQG SUHDFKHUV RI *RG¶V :RUG WKH %LEOH VWLOO VD\V “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth” 3URYHUEV 7KH SUHFLRXV UHODWLRQVKLS JLYHQ E\ *RG LV IRU EHWWHU RU IRU ZRUVH DQG XQWLO GHDWK GR XV SDUW 0DUULDJH LV KRQRUDEOH LQ LWV GXUDWLRQ $OWKRXJK VXUURXQGHG E\ D ZRUOG WKDW GRHV QRW UHYHUH DQG XSKROG WKH SUHFLRXVQHVV RI WKH PDUULDJH ERQG PD\ ZH DV *RG¶V FKLOGUHQ XQGHUVWDQG WKDW PDUULDJH LV WUXO\ DQ KRQRUDEOH UHODWLRQVKLS ² KRQRUDEOH LQ LWV GHULYDWLRQ DQG LQ LWV GXUDWLRQ PDUULDJH LV KRQRUDEOH LQ DOO 0D\ *RG EOHVV RXU PDUULDJHV DV ZH KRQRU DQG FKHULVK WKHP IRU OLIH =

The Christian Home

The Journey of Motherhood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¶V RZQ ERG\ 7KHUH LV D VHQVH RI P\VWHU\ DQG ZRQGHU GXULQJ WKH PRQWKV RI SUHJQDQF\ DV WKH PRWKHU EHFRPHV PRUH DQG PRUH DZDUH RI WKH WLQ\ SHUVRQ LQVLGH KHU 7KHUH LV WKH MR\ DQG DPD]HPHQW RI ELUWK DQG WKH OLIH FKDQJLQJ H[SHULHQFH RI UHFHLYLQJ WKH EOHVVHG FKLOG LQWR RQH¶V DUPV IRU WKH ILUVW WLPH ,W LV WUXO\ D ZRQGHUIXO WKLQJ WR EHFRPH D PRWKHU 7KH MRXUQH\ FRQWLQXHV LQ VHOI VDFULILFH ,Q WKH OLYHV RI PRWKHUV ZH JHW FORVH WR WKH VHOI VDFULILFLQJ QDWXUH RI &KULVW 6XUHO\ PRWKHUV ³OD\ GRZQ WKHLU OLYHV´ IRU WKHLU FKLOGUHQ DV WKH\ VXEPLW WKHPVHOYHV ERG\ DQG VRXO WR WKH QHHGV RI WKH FKLOGUHQ *RG KDV JLYHQ WKHP )URP PLGQLJKW IHHGLQJV WR FDULQJ IRU D VLFN FKLOG WR FKDQJLQJ PXOWLWXGHV RI GLDSHUV WR EDWKLQJ WR FOHDQLQJ XS VSLOOV WR SURYLGLQJ D WD[L VHUYLFH IRU VRFFHU JDPHV OLWWOH OHDJXH DQG J\PQDVWLFV PRWKHUV JLYH WKHPVHOYHV GDLO\ LQ SXUVXLW RI WKHLU FKLOGUHQ¶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¶V SRZHU ZRUNV WKURXJK WKHLU LQIOXHQFH LQ HYHU ZLGHQLQJ FLUFOHV DIIHFWLQJ WKH OLYHV RI DOO WKH\ WRXFK 7KH SRZHU RI KHDYHQ LV LQ WKH KDQGV RI PRWKHUV ,Q WKHLU OLIH¶V MRXUQH\ WKH\ DUH EOHVVHG QXUWXUHUV VHOI VDFULILFHUV VRXO VKDSHUV DQG D VWUHQJWK WR RXU ZHDU\ VRXOV 7KDQN *RG IRU JRGO\ PRWKHUV :H QHYHU VWRS QHHGLQJ WKHP = 'DQ 5 2ZHQ LV WKH SUHDFKHU IRU WKH %URDGZD\ FRQJUHJDWLRQ LQ 3DGXFDK .HQWXFN\ 86$

The Christian Home

Bring Children to Jesus -LP 3RODQG 7KH WRXFK RI -HVXV LV HVVHQWLDO WR WKH \RXQJ &KLOGUHQ WHDFK XV KRZ WR DFFHSW WKH NLQJGRP RI *RG &KULVW -HVXV LV WKH .LQJ 3HRSOH ZHUH EULQJLQJ WKHLU FKLOGUHQ WR -HVXV VR +H FRXOG WRXFK WKHP 0DUN UHFRUGV “Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them: but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’ And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.â€? :H DUHQÂśW WROG KRZ ROG WKH\ ZHUH EXW ZH DVVXPH WKDW WKH\ ZHUH XQGHU WZHOYH ZKLFK ZDV WKH -HZLVK DJH RI UHOLJLRXV DFFRXQWDELOLW\ 7KHLU SDUHQWV KDG VHHQ DQG KHDUG RI DQG H[SHULHQFHG ZKDW -HVXVÂś WRXFK FRXOG GR +LV WRXFK KHDOHG WKH OHSHU 0DUN KHDOHG DIIOLFWLRQV 0DUN PDGH PDQ\ ZHOO 0DUN DQG PDGH WKH PXWH WR VSHDN DQG WKH GHDI WR KHDU 0DUN %XW -HVXVÂś GLVFLSOHV WULHG WR NHHS WKH \RXQJ FKLOGUHQ DZD\ 7KH\ UHEXNHG WKH RQHV ZKR EURXJKW WKHP WR -HVXV :K\" 3HUKDSV WKH\ IHOW -HVXVÂś WLPH ZDV WRR YDOXDEOH WR EH VSHQW RQ FKLOGUHQ 6RPHWLPHV SHRSOH GHQ\ WKH WRXFK RI -HVXV WR WKHLU FKLOGUHQ EHFDXVH WKH\ IHHO WKDW WKHLU WLPH DQG HQHUJ\ DUH WRR YDOXDEOH WR XVH IRU %LEOH WHDFKLQJ DQG GHYRWLRQV ZLWK WKHP <HW LW LV ZKHQ WKH\ DUH \RXQJ WKDW WKH\ DUH WKH PRVW RSHQ WHDFKDEOH DQG LPSUHVVLRQDEOH :KHQ -HVXV VDZ WKHP KROGLQJ WKH FKLOGUHQ EDFN IURP +LP +H ZDV “greatly displeasedâ€? +H ZDV PRYHG ZLWK LQGLJQDWLRQ -HVXV GHVLUHG WR KDYH FKLOGUHQ EURXJKW WR +LP 0DUN

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If young children are kept from Jesus’ touch by our ignorance and neglect of their spiritual training in His Word, then the world will touch them. Satan’s workers will teach them to covet, hate, cheat, lie, sass, curse, deceive, lust, doubt, and distrust.

Hey You Kids!

Purpose in Life $OH[ *LEVRQ +HOOR DJDLQ 7RGD\ , ZDQWHG WR JR RYHU D VXEMHFW , SHUVRQDOO\ VWUXJJOH ZLWK D ORW DFWXDOO\ WKDW EHLQJ a purpose in life. 1RZ WKLV LV D VXEMHFW WKDW KDV D ORW²DQG , PHDQ D ORW ² RI SRWHQWLDO GHSWK VR MXVW EHDU ZLWK PH EHFDXVH ,¶P JRLQJ WR PRYH NLQG RI IDVW RQ WKLV RQH :KHQ PRVW SHRSOH WDON DERXW SXUSRVH LQ OLIH WKH\ XVXDOO\ DUH ORRNLQJ IRU ZKDW WKH\ DUH VXSSRVHG WR GR DQG ILQGLQJ WKHLU FDOOLQJ LQ WKLV ZRUOG :LWK UHVSHFW WKLV LV QRW WKH JUHDW SXUSRVH LQ OLIH /HW¶V WDNH D ORRN DW WKLV IURP D VSLULWXDO SHUVSHFWLYH you are not a body with a soul, \RX have D ERG\ DQG are D VRXO DQG WKDW VRXO LV LPPRUWDO ZKHUHDV \RXU ERG\ LV QRW 6R IRU \RX WR EH ORRNLQJ IRU D FDOOLQJ IRU WKH OLIH RI WKDW ERG\ LV NLQG RI VKRUWVLJKWHG :LWK IHZ H[FHSWLRQV PRVW RI XV DUH QRW JRLQJ WR OHDYH D ODVWLQJ OHJDF\ LQ WKH PDWHULDO VHQVH RQ WKLV HDUWK ,I \RX ILQG \RXU ZD\ LQWR WKH KLVWRU\ ERRNV JUHDW <RX ZLOO EH UHPHPEHUHG IRU D ORQJ WLPH EXW ² IRU WKH UHVW RI XV ² ZHOO FDQ \RX WHOO PH PXFK DERXW \RXU JUHDW JUDQGSDUHQWV RU JUHDW JUHDW JUDQGSDUHQWV" 3UREDEO\ QRW DQG WKH\ DUH your own ancestors! 7KRVH RI \RX ZKR FDQ VKRRVK ,¶P PDNLQJ D SRLQW WKDW LW GRHVQ¶W WDNH ORQJ IRU ZKDW \RX¶YH GRQH LQ WKLV OLIH WR IDGH LQ WHUPV RI LPSRUWDQFH

Hey You Kids! “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.â€? -DPHV -RE H[SODLQHG LW OLNH WKLV “Oh, remember that my life is a breath! My eye will never again see good. The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be. As the cloud disappears and vanishes away, so he who goes down to the grave does not come up. He shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymoreâ€? -RE 6R ZKHUH GRHV WKDW OHDYH XV" :HOO DV D VRXO \RX ZLOO ILQG WKDW WKH WKLQNLQJ KHUH LV QRW DERXW ZKDW \RX do VR PXFK DV \RXU character. ,I WKH RQO\ WKLQJ \RX WDNH ZLWK \RX ZKHQ \RX GLH LV \RXU OLIH H[SHULHQFH ZKLFK KDV VKDSHG DQG GHILQHG \RX DV D VRXO WKHQ WKDW EHFRPHV RQH RI WKH PDLQ IHDWXUHV RI \RXU HWHUQDO GULYH %XW ZK\ VKRXOG WKDW PDWWHU" :HOO KHUHÂśV WKH VHFRQG SDUW H[SHULHQFH QRW RQO\ EXLOGV FKDUDFWHU EXW KHOSV ZLWK WKH PDLQ UHDVRQ ZK\ *RG FUHDWHG SHRSOH LQ WKH ILUVW SODFH :H DUH WROG “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourselfâ€? /XNH 7R ORYH VRPHRQH \RX KDYH WR KDYH D UHODWLRQVKLS DQG WKH W\SH RI ORYH GHVFULEHV WKH W\SH RI UHODWLRQVKLS LW LV 6R ZKDW GRHV FKDUDFWHU KDYH WR GR ZLWK WKDW" 2N VR QRZ ZH WLH WKH WZR WRJHWKHU \RXU FKDUDFWHU SURYLGHV GHSWK WR WKRVH UHODWLRQVKLSV :DQW SURRI" ,I \RX KDYH HYHU ZRUNHG D KRXU GD\ \RX DQG , FDQ WDON DERXW KRZ PXFK LW VXFNV WR EH WKHUH WKDW ORQJ DQG KRZ DOO \RX ZDQW WR GR ZKHQ \RXÂśUH GRQH LV JR KRPH ZDVK XS HDW DQG VOHHS ,I \RX KDYHQÂśW ZRUNHG D GD\ LQ \RXU OLIH WKHQ \RX KDYH QR UHDO ZD\ WR UHODWH WR PH RQ WKDW VXEMHFW ,WÂśV WKH VDPH WKLQJ LI \RX KDYH QHYHU EHHQ LQ D FRPPLWWHG UHODWLRQVKLS WKDW KDV JRQH WKURXJK ORYH DQG DQJHU JRRG GD\V DQG EDG JDLQ DQG ORVV DQG VR RQ WKHQ KRZ DUH \RX JRLQJ WR WDON ZLWK PH RQ HTXDO IRRWLQJ DERXW ZKDW LW LV WR EH ² DV WKH %LEOH VD\V ² RQH IOHVK ZLWK DQRWKHU SHUVRQ" ,Q WKH VDPH ZD\ DV ZH UHODWH EHWWHU ZLWK RQH DQRWKHU WKURXJK H[SHULHQFHV ZH DOVR UHODWH EHWWHU WR *RG WKURXJK WKRVH VDPH H[SHULHQFHV LI ZH ORRN DW WKHP LQ WKH ULJKW OLJKW 7KDW LV EHFDXVH HYHQ WKRXJK LW LVQÂśW WKH VDPH WKLQJ DV ZKHQ , WDON WR \RX DERXW ORYH ZRUN RU ZKDWHYHU DOO RI WKRVH H[SHULHQFHV DOORZ PH WR EHWWHU XQGHUVWDQG *RG IURP WKH VWDQGSRLQW RI KRZ +H KDV EHHQ LQYROYHG LQ OLIH DQG ZKDW +LV ORYH DFWXDOO\ LV , FDQ KHDU WKH ÂłKXK´ RYHU WKDW VWDWHPHQW VR OHW PH FOHDU LW XS D ELW :KHQ \RX H[SHULHQFH VRPH ELW RI OLIH LI \RX look for a lesson RU LQSXW IURP *RG \RX ZLOO ILQG LW DQG WKDW ZLOO KHOS \RX EHWWHU UHODWH WR *RG YLD \RXU H[SHULHQFH

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Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).

Textual Studies

A Still Small Voice 0D[LH % %RUHQ .LQJ $KDE RI WKH NLQJGRP RI ,VUDHO UHLJQHG IURP DERXW WR % & +H ZDV WKH PRVW GHYLOLVK RI DOO WKH ZLFNHG NLQJV WKDW JRYHUQHG WKH QRUWKHUQ WULEHV IRU WKH \HDUV WR % & WKH\ H[LVWHG DV D VHSDUDWH HQWLW\ IURP WKH WZR VRXWKHUQ WULEHV FDOOHG -XGDK +LV HYLO DQG SHUQLFLRXV ZD\V ZHUH H[FHHGHG RQO\ E\ KLV ZLIH -H]HEHO D GDXJKWHU RI (WKEDDO NLQJ RI WKH =LGRLDQV .LQJV 6KH ZDV VHOILVK XQVFUXSXORXV YLQGLFWLYH DQG FUXHO ²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¶V OLIH UHVXOWLQJ LQ WKH IDPRXV HQFRXQWHU RI (OLMDK DQG WKH SURSKHWV RI %DDO DW 0W &DUPHO .LQJV (IIRUWV ZHUH LQWHQVLILHG E\ $KDE DQG -H]HEHO WR NLOO (OLMDK DQG WKH ZDU\ SURSKHW NQRZLQJ WKLV ZHQW VRXWKZDUG WR %HHUVKHED UHTXHVWLQJ RI *RG WKDW KH PLJKW GLH .LQJV /HDYLQJ WKH YLFLQLW\ RI %HHUVKHED (OLMDK MRXUQH\HG IRUW\ GD\V DQG QLJKWV WR 0W +RUHE ORGJLQJ LQ D FDYH *RG DVNHG KLP “What are you doing here, Elijah?” YHUVH ,Q UHVSRQVH WR WKH SURSKHW¶V DQVZHU WKH $OPLJKW\ 2QH FDXVHG D VWURQJ ZLQG WR SDVV WKURXJK VR SRZHUIXO DV WR EUHDN XS PDQ\ RI WKH URFNV %XW *RG +LPVHOI ZDV QRW LQ WKH ZLQG 7KHQ WKHUH ZDV D PLJKW\ HDUWKTXDNH EXW *RG ZDV QRW LQ WKH HDUWKTXDNH HLWKHU $IWHU WKH HDUWKTXDNH D ILUH EXW QHLWKHU ZDV *RG LQ WKH ILUH )LQDOO\ “a still small voice” WROG (OLMDK WR JR DQG DQRLQW (OLVKD WR WDNH KLV SODFH DVVXULQJ WKH SURSKHW WKDW WKHUH ZHUH VHYHQ WKRXVDQG RWKHUV LQ ,VUDHO WKDW KDG QRW ERZHG WKHLU NQHHV WR %DDO .LQJV :KLOH WKH PLQLVWU\ RI (OLMDK KDG EHHQ DFFRPSDQLHG E\ PLUDFOHV DQG GHPRQVWUDWLRQV RI *RG¶V SRZHU \HW DW WKDW SDUWLFXODU WLPH LQ KLV OLIH *RG VDZ ILW WR VSHDN WR KLP ZLWK ZKLVSHUHG LQVWUXFWLRQV DQG DVVXUDQFH WKDW KH PLJKW FRPSOHWH KLV ZRUN QREO\ DQG HIIHFWLYHO\ DV LV VHHQ LQ .LQJV $IWHU SODFLQJ

Textual Studies KLV PDQWOH XSRQ (OLVKD (OLMDK ZDV WDNHQ XS LQWR KHDYHQ LQ D FKDULRW RI ILUH E\ D JUHDW ZKLUOZLQG .LQJV

:LWK :L K WKH K DERYH E VFULSWXUDO L O FRQWH[W LLQ PLQG L G UHODWLQJ O L WR WKH K FLUFXPVWDQFH L RI I WKH “still small voice” \RX FDQ LPDJLQH P\ VXUSULVH DW DQ LQWHUYLHZ , KHDUG RQ WKH $%& ³*RRG 0RUQLQJ $PHULFD´ VKRZ UHFHQWO\ 7KH LQWHUYLHZ WRRN SODFH ULJKW DIWHU WZR FHOHEULWLHV KDG GLHG RQH D IDPRXV EDVHEDOO SOD\HU DQG WKH RWKHU D JXLWDULVW DQG VLQJHU IRU D ZHOO SXEOLFL]HG ³5RFN EDQG´ 7KH WZR EHLQJ LQWHUYLHZHG ZHUH D SULHVW DQG D UDEEL ZKR KDG IRUPHG VRUW RI D WZR PDQ FRDOLWLRQ ³WR SURPRWH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DQG JRRG ZLOO´ 7R VXP LW XS WKH\ MXVW FRXOGQ¶W VHHP WR VD\ HQRXJK JRRG WKLQJV DERXW WKH WZR GHSDUWHG RQHV LJQRULQJ WKHLU OLIHVW\OHV DQG OHDYLQJ WKH LPSUHVVLRQ WKH\ ZHUH ERWK LQ KHDYHQ ² WKH UDEEL WDNLQJ WKH “still small voice” 6FULSWXUH FRPSOHWHO\ RXW RI FRQWH[W DQG DSSO\LQJ LW DV LI *RG KDG FDOOHG WKH WZR KRPH LQ VXFK WRQHV 7KH KRVWHVV RI WKH VKRZ WKHQ JXVKHG DSSURYLQJO\ RYHU WKHLU FRPPHQWV , WKRXJKW ³+RZ VDG WKDW SHRSOH NQRZ VR OLWWOH DERXW WKH %LEOH DQG DUH VR HDVLO\ FRQYLQFHG WKDW UHJDUGOHVV RI KRZ SHRSOH OLYH *RG LV JRLQJ WR WDNH HYHU\ RQH WR KHDYHQ ´ $ UXGH DZDNHQLQJ LV FRPLQJ IRU WKH YDVW PDMRULW\ +RZ WUDJLF 5HJDUGOHVV RI KRZ ULFK RU IDPRXV D SHUVRQ PLJKW EH HYHU\RQH QHHGV WR UHPHPEHU ZKDW WKH %LEOH SODLQO\ GHFODUHV “Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth unto the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap eternal life” *DODWLDQV DOVR QRWH $FWV &RULQWKLDQV = 0D[LH % %RUHQ LV D *RVSHO SUHDFKHU DQG DQ HOGHU LQ WKH %URZQ 7UDLO FRQJUHJDWLRQ LQ %HGIRUG 7H[DV 86$

Textual Studies

A Charge for the Ephesian Elders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¶V JUHDWHVW FRQFHUQ ZDV QRW IRU KLV VDIHW\ EXW ZLWK FRPSOHWLQJ WKH VSHFLDO PLQLVWU\ -HVXV KDG JLYHQ KLP ² SUHDFKLQJ WKH NLQJGRP +H QHYHU H[SHFWHG WR VHH WKH IDFHV RI WKRVH HOGHUV DJDLQ +H FDOOHG WKHP WR IDLWKIXOO\ ZLWQHVV WKH FRQWHQW RI KLV SUHDFKLQJ DW (SKHVXV +H KDG SUHDFKHG WKH ZKROH WUXWK WKXV UHOLHYLQJ KLPVHOI RI DQ\ UHVSRQVLELOLW\ IRU WKRVH ZKR PLJKW KDYH UHPDLQHG LQ VLQ He charged them to watch out for their own spiritual well-being, as well as to watch out for every sheep in God’s flock at Ephesus. 3DXO FKDUJHG WKH HOGHUV WR ZDWFK RXW IRU WKHLU RZQ VSLULWXDO ZHOO EHLQJ DV ZHOO DV WR WDNH FDUH RI HYHU\ VKHHS LQ *RG¶V IORFN DW (SKHVXV 7KLV ZDV VSHFLILFDOO\ EHFDXVH WKH\ KDG EHHQ JLYHQ RYHUVLJKW RU PDGH ELVKRSV RYHU WKH IORFN SXUFKDVHG ZLWK -HVXV¶ EORRG )DOVH WHDFKHUV HYHQ IURP ZLWKLQ WKH HOGHUVKLS ZRXOG GUDZ DZD\ GLVFLSOHV WKXV ZDWFKIXOQHVV ZDV LPSHUDWLYH 3DXO XUJHG WKH HOGHUV WR UHPHPEHU KLV RZQ ZDWFKIXO VHUYLFH RI WKUHH \HDUV GXULQJ ZKLFK KH ZDUQHG WKHP GD\ DQG QLJKW HYHQ ZLWK FU\LQJ 3DXO LQVWUXFWHG WKHP WR WUXVW *RG DQG +LV :RUG ZKLFK ZRXOG KHOS WKHP JURZ VWURQJHU DQG LQKHULW HWHUQDO OLIH +H UHPLQGHG WKHP WKDW KH ZRUNHG ZLWK KLV RZQ KDQGV WR VXSSRUW KLPVHOI DQG GLG QRW FRYHW DQ\RQH¶V PRQH\ +H XUJHG WKHP WR ODERU WR VXSSRUW WKHPVHOYHV DQG KHOS WKH ZHDN UHPLQGLQJ WKHP WKDW -HVXV VDLG “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” $IWHU NQHHOLQJ ZLWK WKHP LQ SUD\HU 3DXO WHDUIXOO\ GHSDUWHG $FWV = *DU\ & +DPSWRQ SUHDFKHV IRU WKH 6LZHOO 5RDG &KXUFK RI &KULVW LQ -DFNVRQ 0LVVLV VLSSL 86$

Textual Studies

The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth .HYLQ / 0RRUH )URP D PRXQWDLQ QHDU &DSHUQDXP WKH FHOHEUDWHG ³6HUPRQ RQ WKH 0RXQW´ ZDV SUHDFKHG E\ RXU /RUG -HVXV UHFRUGHG LQ FKDSWHUV ± RI 0DWWKHZ¶V *RVSHO ,Q WKH RSHQLQJ ZRUGV EOHVVLQJV ³EHDWLWXGHV´ DUH SURQRXQFHG RQ WKRVH H[KLELWLQJ FHUWDLQ YLUWXHV ZLWK WKH DIILUPDWLRQ LQ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” 1.-9 7KH WHUP ³EOHVVHG´ LV WUDQVODWHG IURP WKH *UHHN makarios VLJQLI\LQJ WKRVH ZKR DUH ³IRUWXQDWH´ DQG FRQVHTXHQWO\ ³KDSS\´ GXH WR KDYLQJ UHFHLYHG D EOHVVLQJ 7KH EOHVVHG RQHV LQ WKLV YHUVH DUH “the meek” praeis QDPHO\ WKRVH ZKRVH VWUHQJWK LV XQGHU FRQWURO DQG LV H[HUFLVHG LQ D JHQWOH NLQG EHQHYROHQW PDQQHU ,Q ZKDW ZD\ DUH WKH\ EOHVVHG" “For they shall inherit the earth.” 7KLV VWDWHPHQW KDV JHQHUDWHG D JUHDW GHDO RI FRQIXVLRQ DQG GHEDWH RYHU WKH FHQWXULHV HVSHFLDOO\ ZKHQ ZUHQFKHG IURP LWV FRQWH[W DQG LQWHUSUHWHG WKURXJK WKH GLVWRUWHG VHQVH RI SRSXODU SUHPLOOHQQLDO WKHRULHV %XW E\ UHPRYLQJ RXU VW FHQWXU\ VSHFWDFOHV DQG YLHZLQJ WKH ZRUGV RI -HVXV IURP WKH SHUVSHFWLYH RI +LV RULJLQDO DXGLHQFH WKH PHVVDJH EHFRPHV PXFK FOHDUHU 7KH EOHVVLQJV RI YHUVHV DUH EUDFNHWHG EHWZHHQ WKH UHSHDWHG EOHVVLQJ RI YHUVHV DQG “For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” 0DWWKHZ DORQH HPSOR\V WKH H[SUHVVLRQ “the kingdom of heaven,” ZKLFK LV V\QRQ\PRXV ZLWK “the kingdom of God” FI XQGHUVFRULQJ WKH KHDYHQO\ RU VSLULWXDO QDWXUH RI *RG¶V NLQJGRP 7KLV VSLULWXDO NLQJGRP HTXDWHG ZLWK WKH FKXUFK WKDW -HVXV SURPLVHG WR EXLOG ZDV WR EH UHDOL]HG ZLWKLQ WKH OLIHWLPHV RI WKH /RUG¶V LPPHGLDWH GLVFLSOHV FI 0DUN 1RW ORQJ DIWHU WKHVH DIILUPDWLRQV ZHUH PDGH WKH FKXUFK RI &KULVW ZDV HVWDEOLVKHG $FWV DQG LWV PHPEHUV DUH UHFRJQL]HG DV FLWL]HQV RI WKH KHDYHQO\ NLQJGRP &RORVVLDQV (SKHVLDQV 3KLOLSSLDQV HWF 7KH SURPLVHG EOHVVLQJV RI 0DWWKHZ UDWKHU WKDQ EHLQJ ZLWKKHOG IURP *RG¶V SHRSOH IRU PLOOHQQLD LQWR WKH IXWXUH DUH PRVW FHUWDLQO\ DYDLODEOH WR FLWL]HQV RI WKH /RUG¶V NLQJGRP LQ WKH KHUH DQG QRZ 7KH\ VKDOO EH FRPIRUWHG &RULQWKLDQV WKH\ VKDOO EH ILOOHG ZLWK ULJKWHRXVQHVV 5RPDQV WKH\ VKDOO REWDLQ PHUF\ 5RPDQV WKH\ VKDOO VHH FRPSUHKHQG *RG ZLWK SXULW\ RI KHDUW -RKQ DQG WKH\ VKDOO EH FDOOHG VRQV RI *RG *DODWLDQV 7R WKHQ LQWHUSUHW WKH SURPLVH RI 0DWWKHZ DV VRPHWKLQJ WKDW LV XQDYDLODEOH XQWLO WKH GLVWDQW IXWXUH LQ D \HW WR EH HVWDEOLVKHG HDUWKO\ NLQJGRP LV WR PLVV WKH SRLQW

Textual Studies 1RWH KRZ WKH /RUG JRHV RQ WR GHVFULEH WKH IXWXUH GZHOOLQJ SODFH RI +LV IDLWKIXO RQHV “for great is your reward in heaven…” YHUVH L H WKH VSLULWXDO UHDOP ZKHUH WKH KHDYHQO\ )DWKHU UHVLGHV YHUVHV 1RWH DOVR WKH FRQWUDVW -HVXV PDNHV IXUWKHU LQWR WKH GLVFRXUVH “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” :KDW WKHQ LV PHDQW E\ WKH VWDWHPHQW “For they shall inherit the earth”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arets RFFXUV WKURXJKRXW WKH WH[W DOWKRXJK LW LV QRW FRQVLVWHQWO\ WUDQVODWHG LQ PDQ\ RI RXU (QJOLVK YHUVLRQV 6RPHWLPHV LW LV UHQGHUHG ³ODQG´ DQG VRPHWLPHV LW LV UHQGHUHG ³HDUWK´ EXW E\ UHFRJQL]LQJ WKH IDFW WKDW LW ZDV WKHLU KRPHODQG IURP ZKLFK WKHVH H[LOHV ZHUH VHSDUDWHG LW LV DSSDUHQW WKDW LW ZDV ³WKH ODQG´ LQ ZKLFK WKH\ ORQJHG WR GZHOO YHUVHV E DQG ³WKH ODQG´ WR ZKLFK WKH\ ZRXOG UHWXUQ YHUVHV D )URP WKLV SHUVSHFWLYH WR “inherit the land” LV V\QRQ\PRXV ZLWK *RG¶V IDYRU SURWHFWLRQ EOHVVLQJV DQG SURYLGHQWLDO FDUH YHUVHV $V D EULHI VLGH QRWH WKH +HEUHZ ZRUG olam WUDQVODWHG ³IRUHYHU´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“Blessed are the meek,” L H WKRVH ZKR UHIUDLQ IURP KRVWLOLW\ DQG YLROHQFH “For they shall inherit the earth >JH ODQG@.” 7KH PHHN ZKLOH LQKDELWLQJ WKH ODQG RU GZHOOLQJ XSRQ WKH HDUWK DUH WKH RQHV ZKR WUXO\ HQMR\ GLYLQH IDYRU SURWHFWLRQ EOHVVLQJV DQG SURYLGHQWLDO FDUH FI

Textual Studies 7KH /RUG GHYHORSV WKLV LGHD IXUWKHU LQ D ODWHU GLVFRXUVH “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life� 0DUN FI 0DWWKHZ 6XUHO\ ZH FDQ DSSUHFLDWH ZK\ WKH PHHN DUH VR EOHVVHG = .HYLQ / 0RRUH WHDFKHV %LEOH DW )UHHG +DUGHPDQ 8QLYHUVLW\ LQ +HQGHUVRQ 7HQQHVVHH 86$

Going from or Going to :DGH :HEVWHU 6RPHRQH REVHUYHG Âł,I \RXU WUHDVXUH LV RQ HDUWK \RX DUH JRLQJ IURP LW LI LW LV LQ KHDYHQ \RX DUH JRLQJ WR LW´ %ODQFKDUG -RKQ *DWKHUHG *ROG 'XUKDP (QJODQG (YDQJHOLFDO 3UHVV S $UH ZH JRLQJ IURP RU JRLQJ WR RXU WUHDVXUHV" , EHOLHYH WKDW WKLV LV D TXHVWLRQ WKDW HDFK RI XV QHHGV WR VHULRXVO\ FRQVLGHU 7KH 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW PDNHV LW FOHDU WKDW RXU WUHDVXUH LV VXSSRVHG WR EH LQ KHDYHQ ,Q WKH 6HUPRQ RQ WKH 0RXQW -HVXV GHFODUHG “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be alsoâ€? 0DWWKHZ ,W VHHPV FOHDU WKDW PDQ\ LQ -HVXVÂś GD\ KDG WKHLU WUHDVXUHV RQ WKH HDUWK )RU WKHP OLIH ZDV DOO DERXW WKH WUHDVXUHV WKDW WKH\ KDG KHUH /XNH 0DPPRQ ZDV WKHLU PDVWHU 0DWWKHZ 7KH ULFK \RXQJ UXOHU LV D JUHDW H[DPSOH RI D PDQ ZKR KDG KLV WUHDVXUH XSRQ WKH HDUWK 0DWWKHZ UHFRUGV “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessionsâ€? 0DWWKHZ )RU WKH ULFK \RXQJ UXOHU IROORZLQJ -HVXV ZDV JRLQJ from UDWKHU WKDQ to KLV WUHDVXUHV , DP DIUDLG WKDW PDQ\ WRGD\ DUH OLNH WKH ULFK \RXQJ UXOHU 7KH MRXUQH\ WR KHDYHQ ZRXOG LQYROYH JRLQJ IURP UDWKHU WKDQ WR WKHLU WUHDVXUHV 7KHLU DIIHFWLRQV DUH RQ WKLQJV RQ WKH HDUWK UDWKHU WKDQ RQ WKLQJV LQ KHDYHQ &RORVVLDQV /HWÂśV QHYHU IRUJHW WKDW ZKDWHYHU WUHDVXUHV ZH KDYH KHUH ZLOO RQH GD\ EH OHIW EHKLQG 7KH RQO\ WKLQJV WKDW ZH ZLOO KDYH IRU HWHUQLW\ DUH WKH WKLQJV WKDW ZH KDYH ODLG XS LQ KHDYHQ =

Bible Characters

A Young Servant Girl %RQQLH 5XVKPRUH

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Are You a Fool? 'ZLJKW )XTXD :DLW D PLQXWH , GR QRW NQRZ RI DQ\RQH ZKR OLNHV WR EH FDOOHG D IRRO :H VKRXOG QRW LQ DUURJDQFH RU DQJHU FDOO DQ\RQH D IRRO 0DWWKHZ +RZHYHU WKH %LEOH FDOOV VRPH PHQ IRROV 7KLV ZH QHHG WR NQRZ )LUVW WKHUH DUH $7+(,67,& )22/6 “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no Godâ€? 3VDOP $WKH LVP DJQRVWLFLVP DQG VNHSWLFLVP DUH RQ WKH LQFUHDVH %XW ZKHQ DOO PHQ VWDQG EHIRUH *RG DW WKH MXGJPHQW WKH\ ZLOO FRQIHVV +LP 5RPDQV ,W LV IRRO LVK WR GHQ\ +LP QRZ ZKHQ ZH ZLOO VWDQG EHIRUH +LP WKHQ “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men him I will confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heavenâ€? 0DWWKHZ 6HFRQG WKHUH DUH (*27,67,&$/ )22/6 “Professing themselves to be wise, they became foolsâ€? 5RPDQV ,Q WKHLU DUURJDQFH WKHVH WKLQN WKH\ GR QRW QHHG *RGÂśV :RUG 6ROR PRQ ZURWH “The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wiseâ€? 3URYHUEV ,W LV IRROLVK LQGHHG WR DUURJDQWO\ WXUQ IURP *RGÂśV ZD\ “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man

who walks to direct his own stepsâ€? -HUHPLDK 7KLUG WKHUH DUH ',62%(',(17 )22/6 $V WKH 0DVWHU VWUHVVHG WKH LPSRUWDQFH RI REHGLHQFH +H GLYLGHG KXPDQLW\ LQWR WZR FODVVHV ² WKH ZLVH DQG WKH IRROLVK 0DWWKHZ 7KH XQZLVH EXLOGHU KHDUV +LV :RUG EXW GRHV QRW REH\ LW ,W LV IRROLVK WR EXLOG RQHÂśV KRXVH OLIH RQ WKH VKLIWLQJ VDQG RI GLV REHGLHQFH “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heavenâ€? YHUVH )RXUWK WKHUH DUH 5,&+ )22/6 7KH 0DVWHU VSRNH RI VXFK D PDQ LQ WKH SDUDEOH LQ /XNH +H OHIW *RG RXW RI KLV OLIH +H ZDV VDWLVILHG ZLWK WKH PDWHULDO +H JDYH QR WKRXJKW WR VSLULWXDO RU WR HWHUQDO WKLQJV +H OLYHG OLNH KH KDG D SHUSHWXDO OHDVH RQ OLIH +H GLGQÂśW “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?â€? YHUVH ,W LV IRROLVK WR OLYH DQG GLH XQSUHSDUHG WR PHHW *RG 'RQÂśW EH IRROLVK %HOLHYH LQ *RG 5HFHLYH +LV FRXQVHO 2EH\ +LV ZLOO 3XW +LP ILUVW LQ \RXU OLIH = 'ZLJKW )XTXD SUHDFKHV IRU WKH )LQGOD\ FRQJUHJDWLRQ LQ 6SDUWD 7HQQHVVHH 86$

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How Do We Quench the Spirit? -HUU\ $ -HQNLQV %LEOH VWXGHQWV DUH YHU\ NHHQO\ DZDUH WKDW WKH +RO\ 6SLULW GZHOOV LQ WKH &KULVWLDQ LQ WKH VDPH PDQQHU DV WKH )DWKHU DQG WKH 6RQ ,Q DSRVWROLF GD\V WKHUH ZHUH WKRVH ZKR UHFHLYHG +RO\ 6SLULW EDSWLVP $FWV $FWV RU WKH +RO\ 6SLULW E\ WKH PLUDFXORXVO\ LPSDUWHG PDQQHU UHFHLYHG E\ WKH ³OD\LQJ RQ´ RI WKH DSRVWOHV KDQGV $FWV 7RGD\ &KULVWLDQV DUH LQIOXHQFHG QRW LQGHSHQGHQWO\ EXW WKURXJK WKH :RUG :KHQ 3DXO ZURWH WR WKH &KULVWLDQV LQ 7KHVVDORQLFD KH DGPRQLVKHG WKHP “Quench not the Spirit” 7KHVVDORQLDQV 7KH ZRUG ³TXHQFK´ sbennumi PHDQV ³WR H[WLQJXLVK ´ $ IRUP RI WKH ZRUG ZDV HPSOR\HG E\ WKH IRROLVK YLUJLQV WR GHVFULEH ZKDW ZDV KDSSHQLQJ WR WKHLU ODPSV EHFDXVH RI LQVXIILFLHQW RLO 0DWWKHZ 2QH ZRXOG TXHQFK D ILUH E\ WKURZLQJ D ZHW EODQNHW RYHU LW ,W LV SRVVLEOH WR H[WLQJXLVK WKH LQIOXHQFHV RI WKH +RO\ 6SLULW LQ RXU KHDUWV 7KH FRQWH[W RI 3DXO¶V DGPRQLWLRQ VKRZV LW LV SRVVLEOH WR TXHQFK WKH 6SLULW LQ D QXPEHU RI ZD\V :H TXHQFK WKH 6SLULW ZKHQ ZH GHVSLVH SURSKHFLHV 5HIHUHQFH KHUH LV WR SUHDFKLQJ (YLGHQWO\ WKHUH ZHUH WKRVH ZKR UHJDUGHG WKH SRZHU RI ZRUNLQJ PLUDFOHV RU RI VSHDNLQJ LQ XQNQRZQ WRQJXHV DV D PXFK PRUH HPLQHQW HQGRZPHQW WKDQ WKDW RI VWDWLQJ WKH WUXWKV RI UHOLJLRQ LQ ODQJXDJH HDVLO\ XQGHUVWRRG :KHQHYHU WKH SUHDFKLQJ RI WKH :RUG LV PLQLPL]HG RU GLVFRXQWHG RQH LV TXHQFKLQJ WKH 6SLULW :H TXHQFK WKH 6SLULW ZKHQ ZH GR QRW SUD\ UHJXODUO\ 3DXO KDG HQMRLQHG WKDW SUD\HUV EH ZLWKRXW FHDVLQJ 7KHVVDORQLDQV 7KLV GRHV QRW PHDQ FRQVWDQWO\ SUD\LQJ IRU RQH PXVW KDYH WLPH WR HDW VOHHS DQG ZRUN ,W GRHV QRW PHDQ WKDW ZH DUH WR EH LQ D FRQVWDQW DWWLWXGH RI SUD\HU ,W PHDQV VLPSO\ WKDW RQH LV WR SUD\ RQ D UHJXODU EDVLV 'DQLHO SUD\HG ZLWKRXW FHDVLQJ DV LQGLFDWHG LQ WKH VWDWHPHQW “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” 'DQLHO :H TXHQFK WKH 6SLULW E\ QRW UHMRLFLQJ LQ HYHU\ FLUFXPVWDQFH RI OLIH 2XU UHMRLFLQJ LV QRW WR EH OLPLWHG WR VRPH VSHFLDO RFFDVLRQ RU ZKHQ D QRWHZRUWK\ FRPSOLPHQW RU JLIW LV JLYHQ $ &KULVWLDQ FRQVWDQWO\ ILQGV MR\ WKDW KLV VLQV KDYH EHHQ IRUJLYHQ DQG WKDW KH KDV D 6DYLRU OLNH -HVXV ,W LV WKH SULYLOHJH RI

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What Attitude Should the Christian Have toward Racism?” 0DUN 1 3RVH\ &KULVWLDQLW\ ZDV ERUQ LQWR D ZRUOG ILOOHG ZLWK UDFLDO SUHMXGLFH ,W RFFXUUHG PDQ\ WLPHV EXW WKH PRVW REYLRXV ZDV WKH DWWLWXGH RI WKH -HZV WRZDUG WKH *HQWLOHV *RGOL QHVV DEKRUV DQ\ DVVXPHG UDFLDO VXSHULRULW\ 7KH %LEOH SURYLGHV XV ZLWK DQ ³HTXDO L]DWLRQ IDFWRU´ IRXQG LQ 5RPDQV “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” 7KLV ELEOLFDO SULQFLSOH LV WUXH UHJDUGOHVV RI UDFH 7KH HOHPHQW RI VLQ LQ RXU OLYHV FXWV DFURVV HFRQRPLF UDFLDO DQG LQWHOOHFWXDO ERXQGDULHV &KULVW EURXJKW HTXDOLW\ WKH EDVLV RI ZKLFK LV REHGLHQFH QRW VNLQ FRORUDWLRQ &KULVW KDV EURNHQ GRZQ WKH ZDOO EHWZHHQ XV (SKHVLDQV GUDZLQJ PDQ NLQG LQWR RQH ERG\ E\ +LV GHDWK RQ WKH FURVV $FWV *RG LV QR “respecter of persons” EXW +H H[DPLQHV PDQ RQ WKH EDVLV RI KLV ULJKWHRXVQHVV $FWV *RG PDNHV QR GLVWLQFWLRQ RQ WKH EDVLV RI UDFH DQG IRUELGV WKH VDPH LQ XV ,Q IDFW +H PDGH D FRQQHFWLRQ EHWZHHQ HYHU\ KXPDQ EHLQJ DW FUHDWLRQ DV SURFODLPHG LQ $FWV “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” -DPHV WDXJKW “Hold not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ with respect of persons” ,Q Y KH ODEHOHG GLVFULPLQDWLRQ DV VLQ 7KH EORRG RI &KULVW LV FRQWDFWHG LQ EDSWLVP ZKHUHLQ DOO EDUULHUV DUH GH VWUR\HG ZLWK WKH REHGLHQW EHLQJ PDGH one in Christ *DODWLDQV 3H WHU YLRODWHG WKLV SULQFLSOH DQG ZDV UHSULPDQGHG E\ 3DXO *DODWLDQV 2E VHUYH KRZ -HVXV UHVSRQGHG WR DOO SHRSOH /XNH DQG OHW XV EH PRWLYDWHG WR DFWLYDWH WKH ³*ROGHQ 5XOH´ E\ WUHDWLQJ RWKHUV DV ZH ZDQW WR EH WUHDWHG 0DW WKHZ +XPLOLW\ ZLOO QRW DOORZ XV WR WUHDW DQ\ KXPDQ EHLQJ DV LQIHULRU 3KLOLSSLDQV :H PXVW DVVXPH WKH GLVSRVLWLRQ RI -HVXV 3HWHU 7KH ZD\ ZH GHDO ZLWK WKLV PDWWHU FRXOG FRVW XV RXU HWHUQDO VDOYDWLRQ =

Charts and Outlines

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â€œâ€ŚLet the peace of God rule in your hearts‌â€? A. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesusâ€? 3KLOLSSLDQV B. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in theeâ€? ,VDLDK C. “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee; The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peaceâ€? 1XPEHUV D. “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend themâ€? 3VDOP

II. â€œâ€Śye are called in one body‌â€? $ 3DXO PDGH LW SODLQ WKDW ZH DUH FDOOHG E\ WKH *RVSHO 7KHVVDORQLDQV % 7KH RQH ERG\ LV WKH FKXUFK &RORVVLDQV 6HH DOVR (SKHVLDQV & :KHQ D SHUVRQ REH\V WKH *RVSHO FDOO WKH /RUG DGGV KLP WR +LV FKXUFK $FWV ' 7KH *RVSHO FDOOV HDFK SHUVRQ WR EHOLHYH -RKQ UHSHQW FRQIHVV 0DWWKHZ DQG EH EDSWL]HG 0DUN III. â€œâ€Śand be ye thankful.â€? 6HH DOVR &RORVVLDQV $ ÂłGiving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christâ€? (SKHVLDQV B. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning youâ€? 7KHVVDORQLDQV C. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable giftâ€? &RULQWKLDQV D. â€œâ€Śneither were thankful‌â€? 5RPDQV &RQFOXVLRQ , KDYH WKUHH TXHVWLRQV IRU \RX WRGD\ ,V WKH SHDFH RI *RG UXOLQJ LQ \RXU KHDUW" $UH \RX LQ WKH RQH ERG\" $UH \RX WKDQNIXO" =

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From The Heart OF...

On Air or Online Since 1934 -RG\ $SSOH

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V.E. Howard began preaching on the radio in 1934, and continued for over 61 years. In 1995 he turned over the work to the West Fayetteville church.

Winford Claiborne began preaching in 1943, and spoke on the radio as early as 1947. He became the voice of International Gospel Hour in 1995.

From The Heart OF...

TOMORROW

Jody Apple began working parttime with International Gospel Hour in August 2013. Currently he focuses on raising funds and maximizing our use of the internet and social media.

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â€Śâ€œabout 92% of consumers ages 12 years and older listen to the radio each week.â€? That’s about 242 million people — and they’re tuning in an average 2.5 hours per day. 'RHVQÂśW 5LFKPRQG KDYH DQ\ FRQJUHJDWLRQV" <HV D IHZ ² D YHU\ VPDOO QXP EHU RI &KULVWLDQV FRPSDUHG ZLWK WKH PLOOLRQ SHRSOH OLYLQJ LQ WKH 5LFKPRQG PHWURSROLWDQ DUHD %XW EHFDXVH \RX VXSSRUW ,QWHUQDWLRQDO *RVSHO +RXU ZH FDQ ÂłYLVLW´ WKH KRPH RI WKLV PDQ ZKR PLJKW KDYH QHYHU YLVLWHG RXU ZRUVKLS VHUYLFHV RU %LEOH FODVVHV \HW +H LV KHDULQJ WKH WUXWK WKDQNV WR \RX 2XU SDUW" 6WXG\ ZULWH OHVVRQV UHFRUG EURDGFDVW UHVSRQG WR OLVWHQHUV FUHDWH ZHEVLWH FRQWHQW UDLVH VXSSRUW DQG NHHS LQ WRXFK ZLWK \RX <RXU SDUW LV MXVW DV LPSRUWDQW ² EHFDXVH \RX PDNH WKLV ZRUN KDSSHQ ZLWK \RXU JHQHURXV FRQWULEX WLRQV 7KDQN \RX IRU KHOSLQJ XV VSUHDG WKH *RVSHO RI &KULVW -HVXV )LQDOO\ ZH DVN \RX WR SUD\ IRU ,QWHUQDWLRQDO *RVSHO +RXU 3UD\ IRU RXU HO GHUVÂś ZLVGRP SUD\ IRU EURWKHU :LQIUHGÂśV VWUHQJWK SUD\ IRU RXU IXQGUDLVLQJ HI IRUWV SUD\ IRU -RG\ÂśV ZRUN SUD\ IRU RXU VWDIIÂśV FRQWLQXHG ZRUN DQG QHYHU IRUJHW WR SUD\ IRU RXU OLVWHQHUV = ,QWHUQDWLRQDO *RVSHO +RXU 3 2 %R[ )D\HWWHYLOOH 71 ,QWHUQDWLRQDO*RVSHO +RXU FRP )DFHERRN FRP ,QWHUQDWLRQDO*RVSHO+RXU -RG\$SSOH#,QWHUQDWLRQDO*RVSHO +RXU FRP

Radio Is Alive and Well! Shouldn’t we utilize every form of media that has the capacity to reach today’s massive and diverse population? That includes radio.

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