Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. Psalm 24:3, 4.
A soul united with Christ … will war against all transgression and every approach of sin. He becomes every day more like a bright and shining light, and more victorious. He goes on from strength to strength, not from weakness to weakness. {Mar 50.2}
Let no one deceive his own soul in this matter. If you harbor pride, self-esteem, a love for the supremacy, vainglory, unholy ambition, murmuring, discontent, bitterness, evil-speaking, lying, deception, slandering, you have not Christ abiding in your heart…. You must have a Christian character that will stand….
There must be thorough conversions among those who claim to believe the truth, or they will fall in the day of trial. God’s people must reach a high standard. They must be a holy nation, a peculiar people, a chosen generation–zealous of good works. Christ has not died for you that you may possess the passions, tastes, and habits of men of the world….
No man enters the portals of glory but he who sets his heart thitherward. Then let the questions come home, Do you mind earthly things? Are your thoughts pure? Are you breathing the atmosphere of heaven? Do you carry with you the miasma of pollution? … Are you earnest and devoted, serving God with purity and in the beauty of holiness? Ask sincerely, Am I a child of God, or am I not? …
We need a thorough reformation in all our churches. The converting power of God must come into the church…. Put not off the day of preparation. Slumber not in a state of unpreparedness, having no oil in your vessels with your lamps…. Let not the question remain in perilous uncertainty. Ask yourselves earnestly, Am I among the saved, or the unsaved? Shall I stand, or shall I not stand? He only that hath clean hands and a pure heart shall stand in that day.
It is the privilege of every son of God to be a true Christian moment by moment; then he has all heaven enlisted on his side.
Maranatha p. 50
““““““““““““““““““““`
Prayer Requests
—–Prayer Request from Ted Wilson, General Conference President [sent in by Diane]
Let us spend quiet time in prayer asking for God’s direct intervention in our lives and the church as we face the last days of earth’s history. We want Jesus to come soon and we want to be used by Him in all that we do. We need to earnestly plead with the Lord for the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. We need to pray for so many things including: our humility to recognize God as the leader of our lives. —The Advent movement to accomplish His last-day work.— General mission outreach.—The proclamation of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 and the fourth angel’s message of Revelation 18. Revival and reformation.—“Mission to the Cities” initiatives around the world.—Comprehensive health ministry.— Integrated media and communication evangelism outreach.—Expansion of publishing ministries outreach.—Personal ministries outreach.— Increased stewardship promotion and faithfulness around the world.— Pastoral and evangelistic meetings worldwide.—Children’s ministries outreach.—Women’s ministries outreach.—Youth ministries outreach (including the growing “One Year in Mission” program).—Family ministries outreach.— Humanitarian and relief services outreach.—Religious liberty outreach.— Educational outreach.—Chaplaincy outreach.— Spirit of Prophecy promotion and reading,—2014 Annual Council agenda and activities.—The 2015 GC Sessions.
““““““““““““““““““““““
Dear Friends,
While I lived with my grandparents, I had a friend named Gary. He lived several blocks away, but was,from the age of five, allowed to come to my house to play. His parents were older, as were most people in the neighborhood and I think they were probably glad to have somebody for him to play with.
One day as we had just started playing together, he announced to my mother, that he had been at his cousin’s house and had been exposed to polio. (This was before Dr. Salk’s vaccine.) My mother was filled with dread. She sent him home and told him not to come back for a month. At first, I didn’t understand why she had been so “mean.” After she explained, I was glad that she had banished him until she was sure that he had not caught it.
Just as my mother reacted quickly to keep me safe from a terrible disease, so we must guard our children against unsafe associates. Just as she sent Gary away, so we must not allow anything in our home that might lead our children (or us) astray. We are to keep ourselves and our children separate from those distractions that could cause us to be infected with sin. Even though our little ones, may not understand at first, when they are older, they will thank us. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov 22:6
Paul tells us, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
There is more to the above text than just refraining from marrying a non-believer or having a non-believing business partner. It is a principle that must be a part of every aspect of our life. The evil one has a multitude of distractions that can cause us to become infected with a virus far more deadly than the polio that Gary was exposed to. Therefore, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
“What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Ps 34:12-15 May we guard carefully our children as well as ourselves from the evil one who walketh about as a hungry lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) May we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure: for if [we] do these things, [we] shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11
Rose