Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 28:19.
While in California in the year 1874, I was given an impressive dream….
I dreamed that several of the brethren in California were in council, considering the best plan for labor during the coming season….
A young man whom I had frequently seen in my dreams, came into the council. He listened with deep interest to the words that were spoken, and then, speaking with deliberation and authoritative confidence, said:
“The cities and villages constitute a part of the Lord’s vineyard. They must hear the messages of warning. The enemy of truth is making desperate efforts to turn the people from the truth of God to falsehood…. You are to sow beside all waters.
“It may be that you will not at once see the result of your labor, but this should not discourage you. Take Christ as your example. He had many hearers, but few followers.” …
The messenger continued: “You are entertaining too limited ideas of the work for this time. You are trying to plan the work so that you can embrace it in your arms. You must take broader views. Your light must not be put under a bushel or under a bed, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house. Your house is the world….
“Many countries are waiting for the advanced light the Lord has for them; and your faith is limited, it is very small. Your conception of the work needs to be greatly enlarged…. Go forward. God will work with great power if you will walk in all humility of mind before Him. It is not faith to talk of impossibilities. Nothing is impossible with God. The light of the binding claims of the law of God is to test…the world.”…
Time is short; and all who believe this message, should feel a solemn obligation resting upon them to be disinterested workers, exerting their influence on the right side, and never by word or action be found arrayed against those who are seeking to advance the interests of God’s cause….The light God has given us isn’t worth much to the world unless it can be seen by being presented before them.
Maranatha p. 24
““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`
Prayer Requests
—–Ginger fell off the steps yesterday morning watering her flowers. She broke her shoulder her upper humorous next to the ball. We need your prayers as she can’t see a doctor till Tuesday after swelling goes down etc. Then we schedule surgery to set it etc. Donovan
—– I AM STRESSED! Please pray for me. BJ
—– Our pastor will be leaving this June for a new district in Alaska. Please pray for him and his family as well as our church during this transition process.
“““““““““`
Dear Friends,
One day some years ago, we took a little walk at a local nature area that is within five miles of our house. As we walked along, we talked and laughed and just had a good time together. Suddenly Ron thought he saw a man walking two very large dogs around the curve on the path ahead of us. It was only a momentary glimpse, as there were bushes and other greenery obstructing his view. Eileen picked up her dog to protect him from the dogs that were soon to appear. We watched a little fearfully, hoping that the man was able to control such large animals and most of all, that they were not ferocious. Just then, the man and his “dogs” emerged from behind the trees. We began to laugh! What Ron had seen, was a man on horseback, leading another horse by its reigns!
Just as that quick glimpse gave Ron the wrong idea, so it is in a spiritual sense. If we look at one verse by itself, we may misinterpret what we read because we do not compare Scripture with Scripture, “for precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Isa 28:10 When we compare what each Bible writer has to say on a certain subject, we get a clear picture of God’s message to us.
Yet, how many times we read the Scriptures without asking for the guidance of the Very One Who guided those who wrote. “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 1:21 How often we open God’s Holy Word with our pre-conceived ideas and try to make it fit what we believe. When we do this, we lose the very message God has for us. David prayed, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Ps 119:105; 73:24 From Genesis to Revelation, it’s Author has filled His Message to us with the counsel so vital to our spiritual life, for “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, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim 3:16, 17
Jesus says, “Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.” Matt 13:52 God’s Word holds a Treasure beyond our hopes and dreams. It points the way to peace and happiness, yet how many times we become so busy with worldly pursuits, that we neglect studying the Scriptures altogether. With tears in His voice, our Great Creator declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6 This need not be. Our Loving Redeemer has provided all that we need to know His will, all that we need to be saved.
May we pray as did David, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” 119:18 May we, in these last days when all but the very elect will be deceived, ask the True Witness for the eye salve of spiritual discernment that He so freely offers. (Matt 24:24; Rev 3:14-20) May we daily “study to show [ourselves] approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” is my prayer. 2 Tim 2:15
Rose