One of God’s Great Men

On heaven’s record of noble men the Saviour declared that there stood not one greater than John the Baptist. The work committed to him was one demanding not only physical energy and endurance, but the highest qualities of mind and soul. So important was right physical training as a preparation for this work that the highest angel in heaven was sent with a message of instruction to the parents of the child.32The Ministry of Healing, 379.

They were to faithfully co-operate with God in forming such a character in John as would fit him to perform the part God had assigned him…. John was the son of their old age, he was a child of miracle, and the parents might have reasoned that he had a special work to do for the Lord and the Lord would take care of him. But the parents did not thus reason; they moved to a retired place in the country, where their son would not be exposed to the temptations of city life, or induced to depart from the counsel and instruction which they as parents would give him.33Child Guidance, 23.

In the wilderness, John could the more readily deny himself and bring his appetite under control, and dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And there was nothing in the wilderness that would take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John, even after he had closed every avenue in his power through which he would enter. But his habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist him.

The book of nature was open before John with its inexhaustible store of varied instruction. He sought the favor of God, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him, and kindled in his heart a glowing zeal to do the great work of calling the people to repentance, and to a higher and holier life. John was fitting himself, by the privations and hardships of his secluded life, to so control all his physical and mental powers that he could stand among the people as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the wilderness that had surrounded him for thirty years.34The Spirit of Prophecy 2:47.
Conflict and Courage p. 270
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for a very important board meeting that will be happening on Tuesday. JT
—-I would like to ask for prayers for my dad. He has gone almost 24 hours without a drink. He is trying to quit. Praying that God will help him through this. Jessica
—-Please be praying for my siblings: Nathan, Nick and Julie. They are fighting over their dad’s estate and it got pretty bad when their dad’s live-in girlfriend got into the argument about money. I’m glad I’m not involved, but it hurts my heart that they are being absolutely crazy over money.
My husband is asking for prayers. He is an accounting major, but has to take a course in finance and this particular professor seems to have a problem with the accounting department, which isn’t my husband’s fault. Jennifer
—-Prayers Appreciated. Connie
—-Please pray for an important decision Mike needs to make by Monday. Pray also for Fran’s health concerns. Rose
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Dear Friends,

When Ron and I were first married in the 1960’s we would often talk about the last days. As I look back upon that time, I realize that we had no idea how bad things were going to get. Even now, I doubt that we can comprehend how much worse it will get before the end.

Jesus foretold the conditions that would exist just before His return. He said, “as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt 24:37-39 What were those far-off days like? “The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Gen 6:5, 6 Think of it! The people were so wicked that God was sorry He had created man in the first place. Such will be the condition at the end of the world.
Jesus used another illustration of end-time conditions. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30 We all know the main sin of Sodom, so that will go without comment. However, Ezekial reveals a cause of their abomination hat we do not think about: “pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Eze 16:49, 50
James words are also applicable to this time. The greed of man has oppressed the poor. Just before Jesus comes, their greed will be punished. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:1-8
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28

Rose