POINTS OF TRUTH CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES

Newsletter

Crusade Church of God

P.O. Box 102, Russellville, AR 72811 USA Ph. 479-498-4524 Email: lasiter@pointsoftruth.com www.pointsoftruth.com

A People of His Presence

By: Larry R. Lasiter

"Hello?". . .

"Hi Dad, this is Michael." . . .

"Hi Son, it's great to hear your voice, how are you?"

"I'm doing fine, I just wanted to let you know that I made the Dean's list."

"That's wonderful son, your mother and I are so proud of you. When will you be able to visit, we miss you so?"

"I'm not sure Dad, I am so busy with school and I promised some friends that I would join them for a ski weekend next week."

"Well, please be careful son, and call us when you get back."

"I will Dad, I love you, tell mom I love and miss her too, and I will keep in touch, goodbye."

After Michael earned his degree in business management he was offered a lucrative position with a well respected company in a city 1500 miles from his parents home.

Through the years Michael thought of his father much. Remembering the times they spent together fishing, playing ball or just enjoying each other's company. He often reminisced of the times his father would give of his time to teach him how to do something, or explain how something worked.

In a world practically devoid of parental affection and guidance, Michael knew that he had been blessed with a father who cared about him and loved him deeply.

Michael never neglected to keep his promise to keep in touch with his parents. He called them by phone regularly, and always remembered to send a note or card at the appropriate times assuring them that he was thinking of them.

It was only after his father's death that Michael began to ask himself some very difficult and hard questions.

His father had suffered a fatal heart attack and lived only a single day afterwards.

Michael tried desperately to get to his father's bedside before he passed away but arrived too late to see his father alive one last time.

His mother told him that his father fought valiantly, trying to cling to life just long enough to feel his son's touch one last time.

Michael's heart was pierced, and he wondered "If I really loved my father as much as I believed, then why is it that I have not hungered for his presence, his touch, as he hungered for mine?" "Why have I been content with a long-distance relationship with my father when he wanted so badly to embrace me, to touch me, to spend time in my presence?"

It seemed Michael was always too busy, though his father was always there anxiously waiting, willing to make time.

Still, the hard questions remained unanswered,- "Why did I not hunger and thirst for my father's presence as he hungered and thirsted for mine?" "Why didn't I value his presence as he valued mine?"

How precious is a father's love for his children. When God brought His children out of bondage in Egypt He assured them- "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14)

My friends, our Heavenly Father still desires to have a people of His presence. A people who will willingly receive the consuming fire of the Lord that it may purge and purify them, allowing them to come ever closer to Him.

John the Baptist said of himself and of Jesus, "I baptize you with water, but He that comes after me will baptize you with spirit and with fire." (Luke 3;16)

It is the fire that will test every man's work. (1 Cor. 3:12) It is the fire that is able to purge the dross and impurities from the gold and silver of our devotion.

Let those who have an ear to hear pray, "Father, send your fire that it may consume me and prepare a place in me for your manifest presence."

Surely God values a people who want more than a long-distance relationship with Him. Clearly, our Father prefers dialogue over monologue.

How wonderful it must have been for Him to hear Moses say,- "I pray Thee, show me Thy glory!" (Exodus 33:18)

Of the twelve Apostles only three were given the honor of seeing Jesus manifested in glory, notice,- "And six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, "It is good for us to be here." (Matthew 17:1-4)

Can there be a people today that can endure the manifest presence of a holy God? That, like Peter could say "It is good for us to be here?" The answer is "yes", if we are obedient to the command to "be holy for I am holy", to allow God to purify us. Remember Jesus' promise,- "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8)

God told Moses that His presence would go with him. Possessing the manifest presence of the Almighty is greater than merely having the indwelling of His holy spirit.

Moses had the indwelling of the holy spirit, as also did the seventy elders whom were chosen to assist Moses, yet they went up the mountain to experience the manifestation of the presence of the Lord. Notice,- "Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they beheld God, and they ate and drank." (Exodus 24:9-11)

Of Christians, Paul says, we have not come to Mount Sinai but to Mount Zion,- "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, AND TO GOD, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel." (Hebrews 12:22-24)

Yes, brethren, we receive an unshakeable Kingdom and can only enter into God's presence holy and pure, for our God is a consuming fire, Notice,- "Therefore, since we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, LET US SHOW GRATITUDE (Praise of Thanksgiving), BY WHICH we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a CONSUMING FIRE." (Hebrews 12:28-29)

As David said, "Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving, and His Courts with Praise."

One cannot enter into God's presence in an acceptable way without entering with the praise of thanksgiving.

Notice that Paul said that "Showing Gratitude" is "By Which" - "we may offer to God an ACCEPTABLE SERVICE."

Praise and Thanksgiving is the altar of service which the fire of the Lord rests upon, ready to receive our spiritual sacrifices of devotion.

Let us understand that God does not accept spiritual sacrifices offered on "Strange Fire." (Leviticus 10)

God inhabits the Praise of His Saints.

Dear brethren, are your Sabbath Services filled with Praise and Thanksgiving? Are you offering a Praise which God can inhabit? We cannot come before our Father in an intellectual manner, we are His children. We must come before Him with the meekness of a child.

When Moses spent time in the manifest presence of God, his face radiated with glory from the experience. And sadly, even the radiance of God's glory on Moses face frightened the children of Israel so that he had to veil his face in their presence.

After delivering His children out of bondage in Egypt, God told Moses to tell them,- "If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6)

Notice that God did not say "I will give you a priesthood from the sons of Levi," but that the whole nation would be a Kingdom of Priests. (I believe of the order of Melchizedek) This was the offer of the Abrahamic Covenant which Christians have since entered into,- "And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)

Moses delivered the wonderful news and told Israel to "consecrate yourselves today and tomorrow and wash your garments, and get ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people." (Exodus 19:10-11)

They were excitingly getting ready for the manifestation of the presence of Almighty God. To actually hear His voice speak to them.

But when the glory of the Lord descended the mountain quaked violently,- "And all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, and when the people saw it they trembled and STOOD AT A DISTANCE. Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us YOURSELF and WE WILL LISTEN, but LET NOT GOD SPEAK TO US lest we die." (Exodus 20:18-19)

Moses pleaded with them saying "God is only testing you!" "He is only instilling fear so you will not sin."

God's chosen children would listen only to Moses not to God. They felt as though they could not endure hearing His voice. They "stood at a distance," wanting only a "long-distance" relationship with their God.

They had no hunger for the manifest presence of God. God wanted to reveal His glory, He wanted His children to receive His presence, but it simply pushed them out of their "comfort zone."

They had rejected the Abrahamic Covenant. They had rejected being His anointed, Royal and Holy Priesthood ministering in His presence.

What about our "comfort zone" today among the people of God? Are we comfortable only with learning and studying about God? About His ways?

Israel wanted to learn about God, about His ways, receive His protection and blessings, but they did not want to behold His presence or hear His voice. They were comfortable only when Moses was between them and God. They wanted veiled from God's presence, and even asked that Moses veil his face so that they may not see even the reflection of God's glory. But this is not what God wanted, was it?

Because of these transgressions, God made a different covenant, the Sinai Covenant based upon inferior promises. The Sinai Covenant included the Ten Commandments but also had 613 laws called the Book of the Covenant.

These were added because of the transgressions associated with rejecting the first Covenant, notice,- "Why the (Book of the) Law then? (Gal.3:10) It was added because of transgressions. . .until the Seed (Jesus) should come to whom the promise had been made." (Galatians 3:19) It was the first Covenant that carried the offer of the Promised Seed, which is Jesus sown in us by the power of the holy spirit. It is the seal of God, which connotes our ownership to Him and our earnest of eternal life. It is our hope for glory.

After Moses received the terms of the second Covenant, the Sinai Covenant, he read the Book of the Law to the children of Israel.

After hearing, the children were happy and in agreement. God then instructed Moses to build an Ark to house the Covenant. The Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God in stone, were to be placed inside the Ark, under the Mercy Seat. (Showing its enduring nature) The Book of the Law (Book of the Covenant) was to be written on dried animal skins and placed on the outside of the Ark.

Israel would be sealed in the Sinai Covenant until Jesus would come and then the Abrahamic Covenant would be offered Israel again.

John writes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1) John goes on to say that this Word, namely Jesus Christ, came to His own (Israel) and His own received Him not.

As we understand, only a remnant of Israel believed and accepted Jesus, the "Promised Seed" which came through the first Covenant. As the story goes, we see that God turned then to the Gentiles and many of them received the Covenant ratified by the blood of Christ.

God then instructed Moses to construct a Tabernacle for the dwelling of His presence. Inside would be the Holy of Holies where the manifest presence of God would dwell, and the Holy Place containing a Golden Lamp Stand, a Table of Incense and the Table of Shewbread also called the Table of Presence.

Upon this Table would rest twelve loaves of bread, one representing each tribe of Israel.

Now notice, although these loaves were in the House of the Lord, they were separated from His presence by a thick veil which covered the entrance into the Holy of Holies where His presence abided.

So brethren, we can regularly come to the House of God to worship but never pass through the veil and into His manifest presence. We can find that our "comfort zone" is in the Holy Place and not the Holy of Holies.

But He has invited us in.

Like Michael's father, our Heavenly Father hungers for our presence so much that He laid down the life of His only Son to make it possible. Like Michael's father, our Heavenly Father desires more than a regular check-in.

He has purchased our way, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of His Son. But we must come into His presence holy, pure and with the meekness of a child.

Please don't be content as Israel was to "stand at a distance." God is calling His children to come near, to be touched by His presence. To be purified with His consuming fire.

As Christians, we are one with Christ. We are His Body. We are not twelve loaves in the Holy Place, but are in fact, one holy, unleavened loaf designated for the Holy of Holies, notice,- "For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." (1 Corinthians 10:17)

We are "in Christ" and Christ stands in the Holy of Holies with His own shed blood in order that you and I may enter and enjoy His presence in fellowship.

When Jesus gave His precious life for you and me, the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. We now have access to the very presence of God. Let us come before Him with praise and thanksgiving.

God said of David, "He is a man after My own heart."

What did David do differently from other obedient, faithful men of God?

We may think of Moses of whom God said was "His friend." Abraham may come to mind when we remember that God calls him the "father of the faithful." Or perhaps, the devotion of Daniel as he was thrown into a den of hungry lions.

But the one quality that David possessed that God found irresistible was his joyous heart for praise.

David once said, "I will praise You in the morning." then later said, "I will praise You in the morning and the evening," then still later said, "I will praise you in the morning, at noon and in the evening," and then finally, "I will praise you continually."

David also had a burning desire to build a dwelling place for the presence of God.

Though God would not allow him to construct it, He promised that his request would be realized during the reign of his son, Solomon.

Likewise, let us pray, "Father, create in me and in my congregation a place for the dwelling of Your presence."

David once said, "I would rather be in the House of the Lord than any other place."

Quite a statement for a King!

As Christians, do we feel the same way? Would we rather be in the House of God than any other place? Do we look eagerly look forward to Sabbath Services, anxious to worship and release our lips in praise and thanksgiving?

Let us examine the attitude of a man after God's own heart.

"As the deer pants (longs for) for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." (Psalm 42:1-2)

"He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors, Me; And to him who orders his way aright, I shall show the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23)

"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! Awake, my glory; Awake, harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to Thee among the nations." (Psalm 57:7-9)

"O God, Thou art my God; I shall seek Thee earnestly; My soul thirsts for Thee, my flesh yearns for Thee." (Psalm 63:1)

"Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise Thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name." (Psalm 63:3-4)

"Let the godly one exult in glory; Let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth." (Psalm 149:5-6)

"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being." (Psalm 146:1-2)

There is "the sound of joyful shouting, and salvation is in the tents of the righteous." (Psalm 118:15)

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing." (Psalm 100:1-2)

"How blessed are those who dwell in Thy House! They are ever praising Thee." (Psalm 84:4)

"O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms." (Psalm 95:1-2)

"Come let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts." (Psalm 95:6-8)

"Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:3-6)

"Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and Lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;" (Psalm 149:3-4)

Dear Brethren, let us examine our approach to God. For He truly takes pleasure in His children and He finds a habitat in their praises.

Our Father loves us with an everlasting love and draws us near with His lovingkindness, notice,- "I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore i have drawn you with lovingkindness." (Jeremiah 31:3)

He is longing for a people to touch with His love and affection and He says,- "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

Let us diligently seek him and prepare a place in us. . . that we might be a people of His presence.

Quotes that Inspire

"Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, it is the realization and appreciation of how much you already have."

"Lord God, these men take away my life full of misery, but You will give me life everlasting." Maurice Blanc, Martyred 1547

"Humanly speaking, we know that no one likes to suffer physically. But I know that if the Lord leads me into it, He will give me the strength to survive it." Li De Xian

A Christian prisoner in Cuba was asked to sign a statement containing charges against fellow Christians that would lead to their arrest. He said, - "The chain keeps me from signing this." The Communist officer protested, "But you are not in chains!". . ."I am" said the Christian. "I am bound by the chain of witnesses who throughout the centuries gave their lives for Jesus Christ. I am a link in this chain. I will not break it."

"One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences. . .The Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All the thrills of religion and none of the cost. Is the Life-Force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet seen?" C. S. Lewis

"My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. . .If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning." C. S. Lewis

"For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better." Apostle Paul, beheaded in Rome 65 AD

"We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling short-changed. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the holy spirit!" Apostle Paul, to the Romans

"I live in a land ruled by the false teaching of Islam. My people are blinded, and I was chosen by God to be His voice. I count all that I have suffered nothing compared to the endless joy of knowing Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Zahid

"I never knew all there was in the Bible until I spent those years in jail. I was constantly finding new treasures." John Bunyan, imprisoned 12 years in England 1660's.

"Eighty-six years have I served the Lord Jesus Christ, and He never once wronged me. How can I blaspheme my King who has saved Me?"

The proconsul threatened, "I have wild beasts ready, and I will throw you to them if you do not change your mind." "Let them come, for my purpose is unchangeable," replied Polycarp. Polycarp, disciple of John, burned 168 AD

"Satan is very clever. Always his strategy is to confuse reality, to make evil seem good. . .I suppose the temptation (in Eden) has been replayed again and again in the history of the human race, and probably in each of our lives. The specifics are different, but the strategy is often the same. How many times has the serpent tempted you to think, "A good God wouldn't keep me from this, would He?" Gladys Hunt

"Repent!" Pleaded Jesus. Two people denied Jesus the night before His death; Judas and Peter. Both wept for their mistake. What was the difference between the two? Judas turned away from God and judged himself. Peter repented, went back to God, and let Him forgive and restore him. Never underestimate the power of Jesus to forgive.

Behold Your Deliverer

By: Larry R. Lasiter

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

What a marvelous statement. My Friends, do you know that you have a deliverer and that He has already defeated the works of the Devil? Notice, Paul said, "do not let yourselves" be enslaved. It is your choice. It is within your power through the power abiding within you if you have received the holy spirit.

Those who are in Christ Jesus have been set free indeed from the bondage of sin. Sin, and death has no power in Christ.

He is the resurrection and the life and if we are in Christ, then our life is hidden in Him. Notice,- "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4)

Notice also what Paul said to the Galatians,- "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me." (Gal. 2:20)

We must receive by faith the understanding that sin can no longer have rule in our lives. "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body AS DEAD to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire and greed, which amounts to idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)

We need only to stand firm in the victory brought to us through Christ, submit to God and resist the Devil, he is a defeated foe.

As Christians, we live by faith, so when the Devil tells you that you are in the flesh and must satisfy the lusts of the flesh, we must remember that the Devil is a liar and the father of lies. He does not want you to know who you are in Christ Jesus. It is a mystery to me but God's Word says that those in Christ are already "raised up with Him, and seated with Him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6) Though I can't seem to comprehend clearly, I receive this statement, in faith. May God's Word be true and every man a liar, Amen?

The Devil is quick to tempt you with the thought that you need to satisfy an unlawful desire, a lust. He will tell you that you are addicted to sin and must satisfy your addiction.

But in Christ Jesus there is no sin and there are no addictions, but deliverance from them. Don't allow Satan to entice you to leave the spirit to seek contentment in the flesh.

The Devil is also equally quick to bring accusations against you for doing what he tempted you to do. But God says, "Greater is He (Jesus) that is in us than he (Satan) that is in the world." And "No weapon formed against us will prosper."

Now, Brethren and friends, do you accept these empowering Scriptures?

As Christians, we are in Christ, Christ is in us and Satan is defeated, and awaiting judgment. He has no power over you and can seriously tempt you with sin only when you do not resist him.

Repentance means we are committed to turning from our former life of sin. When we repent, we are making a conscious decision to turn away from unlawful desires.

When one repents he realizes that he does not have a desire to live in sin anymore, but to live holy as his heavenly Father is holy.

It is important to understand that the Devil cannot tempt you with something you don't want.

Therefore if you are continually struggling with sin you may have not yet fully come to real repentance. You may wish that you did not have a desire to sin, but if the unlawful desire is there, it is much like the children of Israel looking back longingly at Egypt after God had delivered them from bondage there.

Though God tests us, He does not tempt us with unlawful desires. God does reveal to us many changes we must make in our walk with Him that will bring bountiful blessings. Satan will seek to entice us to sin in order that we may be accursed. But in Christ there is no condemnation. (Romans 8:1) BEHOLD YOUR DELIVERER!

Faithful Christians make mistakes but they do not practice sin. A Christian's WILL belongs to God not to himself nor to Satan. Therefore the Devil cannot touch him for he has been bought by the precious blood of Jesus and belongs to God. Notice,- "We know that no one who is born of God sins, but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him." (1 John 5:18)

We are in Christ by receiving of the Holy Seed through the agency of the holy spirit.(Gal. 3:16) And in Christ there is life and deliverance, but in the flesh there is bondage to sin resulting in eternal death.

Notice,- "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial, for once he has been approved he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God" for God cannot be tempted by evil and He Himself does not tempt any one. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived is gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren." (James 1:12-16)

Again, Satan cannot tempt you with something you do not desire.

He tempts you with your "own lust."

If you truly repent, turning from sin, agreeing with God that sin is evil and should be utterly despised, then as John says, the Evil One cannot touch you. As Christians we are commanded to put away our former lusts. When we take that step of faith God is faithful to strengthen and empower us to overcome through the blood of Jesus. BEHOLD YOUR DELIVERER!

Many years ago, God delivered a nation out of the bondage of slavery. The children of Israel were suffering cruelly in Egypt under the iron hand of Pharaoh. If you are only a new Bible student you have certainly come to understand that Pharaoh was a type for Satan, Egypt was a type for sin, and the wilderness of Sinai was a type for the world.

We are familiar with the fact that God's own people, the Children of Israel became slaves in Egypt. But how did this happen? They had lived in the land since the days of Joseph as a free people, so how did they become enslaved?

Remember Pharaoh represents Satan. Now notice Exodus 1:8-10,- "Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, "Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and MIGHTIER THAN WE. Come let us deal wisely (deceptively) with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war join themselves to those who hate us". . .So they appointed TASKMASTERS over them to afflict them with hard labor."

Understand that the Pharaoh knew that the Children of God were "mightier" than Him (Satan) and Egypt, (sin) and also understand that Israel did not know it.

Surely, becoming enslaved was a gradual process which only began with Taskmasters, which only amounted to job foremans. But with each concession, enslavement was inevitable.

After receiving a "slave mentality" it was possible for Pharaoh to make horrible demands, such as cast every male child born into the Nile where the Crocodiles were waiting. And the Children of God obeyed these unspeakable commands because they had received a "enslaved mentality", they felt they had no choice, yet Pharaoh and Egypt knew they were stronger and mightier than they. It was only after the Children began to cry out for a deliverer did God hear and answer.

When the fullness of time had come, the Lord made Himself known to a very humble man called Moses and instructed him to go to Pharaoh and say to him, "The Lord God of our fathers says "Let My people go into the wilderness that they may worship Me." We too, Brethren, have been set free in order to worship Him. Let us enter His Gates with Thanksgiving, His Courts with Praise.

POINTS TO CONTEMPLATE

1. We have a Deliverer in Jesus.

2. We are already delivered - the provision is there because the provider is there.

3. The Devil is a deceiver and a liar - and is defeated.

4. In Christ, you are no longer bound by sin, but are free.

5. Satan cannot tempt you with what you do not want. He tempts you through your own lusts. Put them away!

6. New Creatures in Christ cannot be touched by Satan.

7. We are victorious in Jesus - And we will move in the direction of our most dominate thought. Think Freedom!

NEWS, Letters & Odds `n' Ends

Letter From Adearthic

"I had to laugh when reading your essay." (The Bible, Ancient Myths or Word of God) You wrote,- "Obviously, Utnapishtim represented Noah and Mt Nisir represented Mt. Ararat. The names are different because the Epic of Gilgamesh was written in the Chaldean language and the Biblical account in Hebrew."

Here we have evidence that the Bible is NOT the breathed word of God, and yet you use it to claim that it is. (Chuckle) Our earliest copy of Genesis dates to 598 BC. Even if we ascribe its authorship to Moses (doubtful in itself) that is STILL 750 years AFTER the cuneform was tooled. Clearly, the Gilgamesh Epic is the more accurate version, yet it contains multitudes of gods, and different place names! HA! HA! Cheers, Adearthic

Dear Friend, WARM GREETINGS IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS THE SON! Hope this email finds you well and in good health. Thank you for writing and giving me an opportunity to address my article and the Bible.

I did not mean to give the impression that the Babylonian epic and the Bible account of a worldwide flood were the same documents written in different languages. The Bible teaches that following the flood a large number of people engaged in building a tower which, in their estimation would reach to Heaven. The first century Jewish historian, Josephus, records what had been passed down orally for centuries and says that the tower was built as protection against another worldwide flood, to make a way to avenge God in the event it happened, and Josephus goes on to say that water-proof mortar was used to seal between the stones.

The Bible records, that because of this mentality, God created the many languages we now have today. Thus when the workers could no longer communicate they dispersed taking the flood account with them.

Some became great city-empires like the Chaldeans and recorded their account. But it wasn't until after they became a city-nation that they recorded on tablets what they obviously knew previously. Similarly, that is what happened when Moses recorded the account found in Bible, it is the Israelite account of the flood.

It should not matter that it was recorded on a scroll before or after another account, because like the Babylonian epic, it was recorded after Israel became a nation, though it was known before. There are over 80,000 cultures that have stories of an ancient flood, but many were passed down only by oral tradition.

Now, My Friend, concerning the Bible and particularly Christianity. Let me say that I am confident that you have observed that Christianity is not usually a religion that one accepts by careful and thorough study over a lengthy period of time.

Unlike people whom I have known who accepted Buddism, Hinduism, Islam, Wicca, etc, Christianity is accepted usually before a real investigation into the Bible.

Curiously, Real Bible study usually begins after the acceptance of Christ. Whereas these other religions are practiced only after a wealth of information has been explored, unless of course you were born in it.In Christianity, dramatic, spontaneous conversion is the norm, not the exception. People who were earlier the same day, Buddists, Hindus, Muslins, practicioners of Wicca, Atheists, Satanists, etc suddenly, and dramatically become Christians. These converts don't even know yet all that the God of their religion requires of them, yet they are already committed and eager to learn. It is a amazing enigma.

The Bible explains in Jesus' own words, "No one can come to me unless the Father call him." John 6:44

Before that moment, it was absolute foolishness to them.There are millions of testimonies from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds,- In a single instant their lives were powerfully changed. In an instant, atheists and those of other religions suddenly become Christians.And the change is so powerful that hundreds of thousands willingly suffer martyrdom each year for their belief in Christianity.

My Friend hear some of their testimonies.

WOMAN PRISONER IN SIBERIAN, 1960: "God, accept all my sufferings, my tiredness, my humiliations, my tears, my nostalgia, my being hungry, my suffering of cold, all the bitterness accumulated in my soul. . .Dear Lord, have pity on those who persecute and torture us day and night. Grant them, too, the divine grace of knowing the sweetness and happiness of Your love."

JIM ELLIOT, speared by headhunters, Ecuador, 1956: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

RICHARD WURMBRAND, Romania, 1940-1960: "Without fear we sang in prisons 30 feet beneath the earth. We were terribly hungry, beaten, and tortured. The Communists were good at torturing us. We would say to each other, "The Communists beat us very well, - let us do our work well, Let us sing well."

IVAN MOISEYEV, martyred in U.S.S.R,, 1972: "Angels are transparent. If an angel stands before you with a man behind him, the presence of the angel does not keep you from seeing the man. On the contrary; Looking at a man through an angel makes him more beautiful. I see my torturers through an angel. In that way, even they become lovable."

A Communist officer told a Christian he was beating, "I am almighty, as you suppose your God to be. I can kill you." The Christian answered, "The power is all on my side. I can love you while you torture me to death." (From the book "Jesus Freaks")

IGNATIUS, devoured by wild animals in Rome, 111 AD: "My dear Jesus, my Savior, is so deeply written in my heart, that I feel confident, that if my heart were to be cut open and chopped to pieces, the name of Jesus would be found written on every piece."

RICHARD WURMBRAND, Romania 1940-1960: "While in jail, we sang. Once the director of the prison entered our cell, furious. "I was told that you sing subversive songs here. Let me hear one, " he commanded. We sang these moving words; "O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame bowed down. . ." he listened to the end, then turned and left without saying a word. Later he became a brother in the faith." My Dear Friend, that is my prayer for you, that you too will become a brother in the faith of Jesus Christ, who willingly offered up His sinless life for you and for me. All in order to bring us into communion with Him and the Father in spiritual worship and devotion. He loves His children. I pray that you now are hearing for the first time the call of your Father to come to His Son and receive eternal salvation. "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

My Friend, God loves with an everlasting love, and he draws us near with His lovingkindness. (Jeremiah 31) Come to Him. Pray "Father I confess that I have done wrong things, but I am ready today to commit my life to you, forgive me. I receive the precious sacrifice You gave for me in Jesus and I believe that you are now passing me from death to life, and are inscribing my name in the Lamb's Book of Life. Amen"

Dear Friend, notice also that although you took pleasure in correcting me about my article, even laughing, I was not, and am not offended. I realize fully that I am only a man who finds that he is mistaken at times.

Though, I don't know you, I love you because my Heavenly Father loves you and gave His only Son for you. I would embrace you if you were here. That is the power of the cross of Christianity.

The ability to love those who don't love you.

It is a comfort and a peace that surpasses the understanding of our intellect. May you come to Christ and receive the missing dimension of your soul, and may God richly bless and keep you always.

Your Friend in Christ's Service, Brother Larry

Points From a Sermon: A King left His ten sons with a caretaker while he went on a journey. While he was away the caretaker noticed that the King's fourth son was different and not as outwardly appealing as the other sons.

The caretaker also noticed that his own son had a better outward appearance than the King's fourth son. After pondering about it, the caretaker decided that it was in the King's best interest to remove the fourth son and replace him with his son. By this act he felt as though he had done his duty to his King.

When the King returned, He commanded that His sons be brought in. One by one they came, but immediately, the King knew His fourth son was missing, and did not recognize the one standing in His fourth son's place. And the King said, "Where is my fourth son, put him back in his place of honor at once!"

The caretaker said, "Please forgive me, Master, I thought it best to give you my own son instead, for he is much more appealing in appearance."

The King replied, "But it is My son who I gave birth to, it is him who has the characteristics of His Father, and it is him that is blessed and sanctified by His Father, the King."In this analogy, the fourth son is the Sabbath Day, the fourth Commandment

"Gifts From God" by Jerry Boston, Little Rock, Arkansas

It is not the Music, it is the Worship: Those who visit our services here in Russellville, often comment on how much they enjoy the inspiring song service. It recently occurred to me that it is not really the song service, but the worship in it that is bringing the blessing to people, for God inhabits the praise of His saints. Let us loose our lips in praise!

Baptisms: Dustin McNeese, Jennifer Lasiter and Michael Lasiter PRAISE THE LORD!

Sarah's Paper Heart

Sarah was given a heart when she was born. It was given to her by her Father.
It wasn't necessarily spectacular looking, but it represented her heart. This heart had a hole in the center of it, and she knew she would have to fill it.

She loved the big red heart made of construction paper, and carried it everywhere with her.

When she got older she tried many things to try to fill not only the hole inside her paper heart, but the heart inside her.

Days grew long and her heart became tattered as she tried drugs, boyfriends, and sex to fill her heart.

Years went by as Sarah would meet different guys, each time she met one, she would tear off a piece of her heart and give it to them, hoping that they would love her back.

She would say, "You and I would make a cute couple, so I'm going to give you a piece of my heart" "You are exactly the kind of person I'm looking for, I hope we get married someday!" She would tear off a piece and gave it to them, Little by little she tore off pieces of her heart.

One day she finally found fulfillment in Jesus Christ, she experienced more joy and love than anything else before from him. She grew to love Jesus and her heart became filled and new. He fit just like a perfect puzzle piece.

Though Sarah found fulfillment in Christ, there was still a longing inside of her to lovingly give her heart away to a mate.

She told all of her friends that she had made a commitment to practice abstinence until marriage, she was not going to have sex again until her wedding day.

Sarah finally found the man of her dreams, Tom. He was all she ever wanted in a guy, it seemed he was created perfectly for her. He had waited also.

Tom and Sarah excitedly decided to get married after a period of courtship. Sarah walked down the aisle beaming, holding her little paper heart of construction paper and made her way to Tom's side.

When the pastor started the ceremony, different guys she had dated in the past came and stood next to her. "What's this?" Tom asked shocked. Sarah looked confused and exclaimed to Tom, "I've waited much of my life for you!" She went to give Tom her heart to show him, and when she looked at it, she realized there was so much of it missing that it didn't look like a heart anymore. She sighed and said, "I've waited much of my life for you, but each of these guys hold a part of my heart!"

Feast of Tabernacles 2000

Yorktown Bay Retreat

Near Hot Springs, Arkansas

October 14-21

Nestled in the beautiful Ouachita Mountains of Central Arkansas, this retreat offers the Feast goer a true family atmosphere in a beautiful, serene setting. Yorktown Bay will become a small community of Brethren all living and sharing meals together in fine fellowship, activities and worship. This retreat is surrounded on three sides by the crystal clear waters of Lake Ouachita which offers swimming, fishing and boating. Feast goers will be only minute from the famous resort city of Hot Springs.

The Festival is sponsored by Points of Truth Christian Ministries along with the Church of God at Little Rock. Points of Truth Christian Ministries is associated with the Church of God Fellowship, an unaffiliated congregation in Russellville, Arkansas. Points of Truth Christian Ministries will provide Sail boats, Canoes and Paddle Boats daily completely free for feast goers. We will also provide shuttles to and from the three tiny Bay islands on two afternoons via Party Barge. Special meals will be served at no cost following services on the first and last Holy Days.

Those of you who enjoyed observing the Feast in times past at Big Sandy, Texas, will love Yorktown Bay. Brethren will experience a true feast atmosphere as collectively, the family of God comes before Him in fellowship and worship for eight days. Hope to see you there.Register soon to insure that you get the accommodations that you need.

By TELEPHONE: 501-498-4524

By MAIL: Points of Truth, P.O. Box 102, Russellville, AR 72811 By EMAIL: lasiter@pointsoftruth.com

BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH YOU

There are lots of photographs and detailed information at our Web Site: www.pointsoftruth.com

Email: lasiter@pointsoftruth.com