What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
We are not our own. We have been purchased with a dear price, even the sufferings and death of the Son of God. If we could understand this, and fully realize it, we would feel a great responsibility resting upon us to keep ourselves in the very best condition of health, that we might render to God perfect service….
We believe without a doubt that Christ is soon coming…. We have no doubt, neither have we had a doubt for years, that the doctrines we hold today are present truth, and that we are nearing the judgment. We are preparing to meet Him who, escorted by a retinue of holy angels, is to appear in the clouds of heaven to give the faithful and the just the finishing touch of immortality. When He comes He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time.
When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give them holy characters…. This is all to be done in these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us….
We are now in God’s workshop. Many of us are rough stones from the quarry. But as we lay hold upon the truth of God, its influence affects us. It elevates us and removes from us every imperfection and sin, of whatever nature. Thus we are prepared to see the King in His beauty and finally to unite with the pure and heavenly angels in the kingdom of glory. It is here that this work is to be accomplished for us, here that our bodies and spirits are to be fitted for immortality.
Maranatha p. 80
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Prayer Requests
—–Please keep my mother in prayer. She is having surgery today. Tom
—– Please pray for the following evangelism events that are taking place in the near future: Diane
- West Lenexa, KS (Sep 5 – 27)
- Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR (Sep 5 – Oct 11) Dr. Ron Clouzet will present Prophecies Decoded, an area outreach to Vancouver and Portland. This will also be a field school for graduate students at Andrews University. Ten of the 17 students will be preaching simultaneous meetings. Thanks for everyone’s prayers.
- The Edge, MN (Sep 5 – Oct 11)
- Pensacola, FL (Sep 6 – 27) Jordan Street Adventurer and Pathfinder Clubs during our recruitment period as God directs hearts and lives to become creative and powerful servants for Him.
- The Edge, MN (Sep 5 – Oct 11)
- Lexington, KY (Sep 8 – Oct. 1) Creation Seminar with Hiram Rester
- Hot Sprints, AR (Sep 11 – Oct 7)
- Mt. Ida, AR (Sep 11 – Oct 7)
- Ketchum, OK (Sep 12 – 26) Bible Prophecy seminar
- Buffalo, MN (Sep 12 – 28)
- Hamilton, Bermuda (Sep 13 – 20) JESUS LA ESPERANZA PARA BERMUDA featuring Elder Ernest Castillo, Vice President, North American Division. City Hall, Hamilton, Bermuda. First Hispanic campaign in the history of Bermuda.
- Source of Life, MN (Sep 13 – Oct 5)
- Park Rapids, MN (Sep 14 – Oct 14)
- St Paul Eastside, MN (Sep 14 – Oct 14)
- Detroit, MI (Sep 18 – Oct 25) Many churches throughout the greater Detroit are starting a prophecy series titled “Unlocking Revelation”
- Orlando, FL (Sep 25 – 28) NAD Women’s Convention
- Hutchinson, MN (Sep 25 – Oct 12)
- Christ our Righteousness, MN (Sep 26 – 18)
- Duluth, MN (Sep 26 – Oct 18)
- Kenyan Community, MN (Sep 26 – Oct 18)
- New Britain, CT (Sep 27 – Oct 11)
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Dear Friends,
Two weeks after my seventh birthday, my mother took me to Wisconsin Dells for a vacation. It was not as commercialized as it is now, but there were stil many things to see and do. We had a wonderful time. My favorite activity was the boat tours where we could see the beautiful rock formations on the cliffs along the river. Occasionally the boat pulled up to a dock and everyone got out and followed our guide through some cool, damp, narrow canyon.
We visited many gift shops and brought back lots of souvenirs. Most were lost or ruined within a short time, but one souvenir I had until we lost everything when our house burned down in 1979. As we were walking along the street, we saw something about twice the size of a telephone booth. A sign on the outside of the booth read, “Record your own record.” We went inside. There was recording equipment as well as a little slot to put the money into that would start the machine. My mother whispered what I should say, and in a childish voice I repeated every word.
My mother mailed that little record to my grandparents, who listened to it for awhile, and then gave it to my mother. She kept it until I was a teenager. Then she gave it to me. That record was very special to me. It brought back memories of the wonderful time I had had. Throughout the years, I would sometimes listen to that little record until I nearly had it memorized. I loved to hear that seven year old voice even though I couldn’t say my “r’s” right and it sounded really funny. All I can remember now is, “Hello, Gwandpa and Gwandma. I had a nice west last night and a Daiwy Queen.” The equipment had also recorded my mother’s whispered voice, as she was giving me the words to say. That always brought a smile to my face. Eileen was the only one of my children who got to listen to that little record. It amazed her that I had ever sounded like that.
Our Great and Loving Creator gave us a record, a record that we would do well to read daily. We do not have to be in darkness, for He has given us Great Light. From Genesis to Revelation, His voice is recorded, that we may know the Way to Life Eternal. Without it we would fall off into the dark and wicked world. God’s Holy Word is a record of the lives of many of God’s followers throughout the time span of more than four-thousand years. It was written over a period of more than 1500 years by over forty men. Throughout the centuries, beginning at Moses and ending with John, the Scriptures were written similarly to that little record my mother and I recorded in 1952. Peter explains, “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, “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
As we read the stories of God’s dealings with the patriarchs and prophets who lived so long ago, we can recognize His dealings with us. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor 10:11 “For 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 Through meditating upon their lives, we can follow their example in the good things and avoid making the same mistakes that they did.
David reminds us, “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. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.” “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” Ps 119:105,130,11; 19:7-11
May we take God’s Holy Word as our only rule of faith and practice. May we “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 daily study the Scriptures with a heart that is receptive to His Spirit, that the same Holy Spirit that moved upon man to write it in the long ago may fill us with light to the Glory of God. (Matt 5:14-16)
Rose