For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16.
There is a power for good in intellect, if it is conformed to the mind of Christ, sanctified and controlled by the Spirit of God. But intellect alone cannot give a fitness for heaven, or enable us to reach the divine standard. In order for a man to be what God desires him to be, he must have a pure, noble character. The right that one has to claim that he is a man is determined by the use that he makes of his intellect. Before man can be acknowledged as a laborer together with God, he must get out of and away from the self-confidence that claims much and gives little….
Human beings have no right to think that there is a limit to the efforts that they are to make to represent the goodness and love of God in the work of saving souls. Did Christ ever become weary in His work of soul-saving? Did He ever draw back from self-denial and sacrifice? When church members bring into their lives the self-denial that Christ brought into His life, when they put forth the continuous, persevering efforts that He put forth, they will have no time and no inclination to weave into their experience the false threads that would spoil the pattern….
We are to watch, and work, and pray, never letting self obtain the mastery. We are to be ready, through watchfulness and prayer, to spring into action in obedience to the Master’s command. Wherever we see work waiting to be done, we are to take it up and do it, constantly looking unto Jesus….
For Christ’s sake, watch and pray, and during the year that we have just entered, strive to restrain all harsh words. Resolve that you will not speak words that will cast a shadow over the lives of others. Do not stop to ask whether those around you appreciate your efforts to deny self. Open the windows heavenward. Think of Christ, and try to please Him….
Satan will use every possible device to make you like himself, and thus separate you from the One who gave His life for you. Evil angels will strive for the mastery in your life. If you have not on the whole armor of God, you will be overcome. Shall it be thus, or shall you sign the pledge that you will not be intemperate in word or in spirit, that you will keep the divine Pattern ever before you?
This warning was not given by the apostle without a purpose. We should all feel that it is our duty to stand at our post, on guard over ourselves, lest the evil agencies warring against us shall be successful in leading us to say and do that which will please the enemy.—Letter 11, January 10, 1905, “To Those Assembled at Council in Nashville.”
The Upward Look p. 24
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Prayer Requests
—-Three prayer requests…Joseph – seeing a neurologist this afternoon.
Thelma – having knee surgery this morning. Taylor – recovering from a heart attack. Joe
—-My mother is going to the hospital this morning, for a dead infected kidney removal. Her system is very complicated with possibility of a second stroke or a heart attack despite the quad bypass 2 years ago. We are apart. PLEASE pray for Gods blessing on this to be a success and all according to his will. Wendy
—-Please pray for my friend Darcy’s sister Marcy who is having a biopsy on some lumps they found recently. They are growing and very painful. Debra
—-I’m asking for prayers for my son-in-law Jeremy who is in the ER after nearly passing out at work. He has extremely low blood pressure and they do not know what is wrong with him. Today is the first day of camp meeting and my daughter is one of the staff. Please keep them and all involved in prayer. Kathy
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Dear Friends,
Ron’s has bursitis in his shoulder that gives him a lot of pain. Even though he is going to physical therapy for it, he still needs to take a pain reliever for it. Because his body has become used to the aspirin that he normally takes for fibromyalgia pain, it no longer is effective. I suggested that he switch to ibuprophen for awhile, but he is hesitant to do so. Whenever he takes that pain reliever, he has very vivid dreams. These dreams are so real and scarey that he is bothered by their memory. I can understand why he is not sure that he wants to take it.
Normally, dreams “evaporate” before we even awaken or shortly thereafter. They are nothing more than insignificant “mind doodles” that keep our brain healthy. In fact, scientists have done studies where they did not allow thier subjects to dream. Within days, they begin to hallucinate. This showed the scientists how important having dreams are for us psychologically.
There are times, however, when dreams are more than just the natural part of sleep. Some dreams are especially sent from our Great Creator. He uses every means possible to get His children’s attention. Over the millennia, patriarch and prophet have received special dreams that have had great meaning for us as well as for those living at the time.
Some dreams were sent to bring hope and comfort such as Jacob’s dream of the ladder that reached all the way to Heaven. (Gen 28:12-15) This dream, given so many years ago, still has meaning for us today. Our Dear Saviour is the Ladder from earth the Heaven. He tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 1:51;14:6
Some dreams bring a warning such as the wise men’s being “warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” Joseph also was given warning at that very same time. “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matt 2:12,13
Heathen kings were also given dreams by the King of Kings. Some of those dreams were strictly for their time such as when King Abimelech and the Pharaoh in Abraham’s day were warned to restore to Abraham his wife. Others received dreams that had world-wide significance such as the Pharaoh’s dream of a coming famine in Joseph’s day. (Gen 41) This famine, the Bible tells us, “was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.” vs 56,57
One heathen king that was especially used by the Great King of the Universe to open the future, not only to himself, but also to us, was Nebuchadnezzar. The second chapter of Daniel gives the account of this event. As this king was going to sleep, he was wondering what should come to pass after he was gone. He that reveals secrets made known to this man what would come to pass from his time all the way to the end of the world. What a privilege! God revealed to this ancient monarch that his kingdom would not stand forever, but would be succeeded by others—Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Rome divided. Finally, “shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” vs 44 Later Daniel was given more dreams that filled in more details concerning the same time period (chapters seven through twelve). They are well worth studying.
What a wonderful God we serve! He declares “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isa 46:10 What a comfort this is! We can trust Him to guide our life for He alone knows the future. He can never be taken by surprise. He has a solution for all of the problems that perplex us.
May we remember that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 46:1 May we cast all our care upon him; for he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) May we declare as did David, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Ps 139:1-4
Rose

Keep the Pattern Before You