Promise of Divine Help

The servants of Christ are to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial for their faith. Their preparation is to be made day by day, in treasuring up in their hearts the precious truths of God’s Word, in feeding upon the teaching of Christ, and through prayer strengthening their faith; then, when brought into trial, the Holy Spirit will bring to their remembrance the very truths that will reach the hearts of those who shall come to hear. God will flash the knowledge obtained by diligent searching of the Scriptures, into their memory at the very time when it is needed.
You are now to get ready for the time of trial. Now you are to know whether your feet are planted on the Eternal Rock. You must have an individual experience, and not depend upon others for your light. When you are brought to the test, how do you know that you will not be alone, with no earthly friend at your side? Will you then be able to realize that Christ is your support? Will you be able to recall the promise, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world”? There will be invisible ones all about you bent upon your destruction. Satan and his agents will seek in every way to make you waver from your steadfastness to God and His truth. But if you have an eye single to His glory, you need not take thought as to how you shall witness for His truth.
Young men and women, are you growing up to the full stature of men and women in Christ, so that when the crisis comes, you cannot be separated from the Source of your strength? If we would stand during the time of test, we must now, in the time of peace, be gaining a living experience in the things of God. We must now learn to understand what are the deep movings of the Spirit of God. Christ must be our all and in all, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Maranatha p. 255
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Prayer Requests
—-My sister is having knee replacement surgery today. Please pray that it will be successful and that her recovery will be quick and fairly painless. Rose
—–Please pray for Lloyd and Deloris that God will supply all their needs especially Deloris who is recovering from hip surgery. M
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Dear Friends,

When I was seven, my mother took me to Wisconson Dells on her vacation. We had a wonderful time. There were so many things to see and to do, that I didn’t get bored at all. I loved all the boat rides down the river to view the beautiful rock formations along the way. Occasionally the boat pulled up to a dock and we all got out and took a walk through some cool, damp, narrow canyon.

We brought back many souveniers from that trip, but my favorite was a record we made. On one of the street corners was a booth, something like the old telephone booths, only about four times as big. A sign on the outside of the booth had attracted my mother’s attention. It read, “Record your own record.” We went inside. There was recording equipment as well as a slot to put the money into that would start the machine.

My mother mailed that little record to my grandparents, who listened to it for awhile, then gave it to my mother, who, in turn, gave it to me when I became a teenager. I had it until it was destroyed in the fire we had when Ronnie Jay was a baby. That record meant a lot to me. It brought back memories of the wonderful time I had had on that vacation. I loved to hear that seven year old voice and marvel that I could ever have sounded so childish saying w’s for r’s. The equipment had also recorded my mother’s whispered voice, giving me the words to say.

Throughout the centuries, beginning at Moses and ending with John, God spoke through His prophets of old. Peter tells us, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:20, 21 Paul adds, “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:4 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 1 Tim 3:16-17

Our Great and Loving Creator sent us a record, a record that we should read and meditate upon daily. We do not have to be in darkness, for He has given us a Light. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” Ps 119:105,130 On each page, from Genesis to Revelation, His voice is recorded with its message of love, mercy, and grace. How much we need to study it with a heart that is receptive to His Spirit, that same Holy Spirit that moved upon man to write it in the long ago.

John, at the end of his gospel tells of Thomas’ experience and then draws a lesson for us, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 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 name.” John 20:24-31 “This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” 21:24,25

God’s Holy Word will direct us along the path to Heaven. Without it we would fall off into the dark and wicked world below. Our Dear Saviour speaks of this, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” ” Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Matt 7:13, 14; Luke 13:24 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:9-11

May we hold God’s Word as our only rule of faith taking it just as it reads, not coming to it with any preconceived ideas, but allowing it to interpret itself as Isaiah tells us, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Is 28:10. May we daily “study to show [ourself] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 May we follow the One Who is revealed therein that very soon we may walk with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.

Rose