Dothan, Israel

     "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.   Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:12-14).

     The born again child of God has had a door opened by faith into a new world that is invisible to the rest of mankind.

     In II Kings the sixth chapter is an interesting story.   The king of Syria discovered that the prophet, Elisha, was revealing all his plans to the king of Israel, with whom he was at war.   "Where is this Elisha?" he asked.   "He's in the town of Dothan," they told him.   So the king sent a great army with horses and chariots to surround the town of Dothan.   The next morning, when Elisha's servant got up and went outside, there he saw a great army of enemy all around the town.   "Alas, my master!   What are we going to do?" he cried out.   Elisha said, "Don't be afraid.   There are more on our side than there are on theirs."

     Of course that servant thought his master had gone off his rocker.   He knew the few people in the town of Dothan would gladly turn Elisha over to the enemy to save themselves.

     Then Elisha prayed God to open the eyes of his servant that he might see.   "And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

     I recently noted in a daily paper that one of the best selling, paper-back books today is one by Billy Graham titled, "Angels, God's Secret Agents."   It simply gives the Bible teachings about angels, and we find that the primary business of angels in this world is watching over the children of God.   David says, "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalms 34:7.

     Rich people may have an amah, or a nannie, or a governess to care for their children at all times.   Kings and presidents have well armed guards keeping close watch over their children at all times.   And God, who is far greater than them all, has innumerable angels, who watch after His children at all times.   Of these angels it says in Hebrews 1:14 "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?"   In other words, they are servants sent out to wait upon God's children.

     But angels are not all that is in this invisible world, invisible to the natural man but visible by faith to the child of God.   There is also the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.   Jesus said, (John 14:16-17) "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

     Jesus says that the world cannot receive Him, "because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him."   The world of the Spirit of God is invisible to the natural man, and he knows nothing about that world.   He must be born again, born of the spirit. John 3:6-7.

     To the child of God the Holy Spirit is the "Comforter."   But there is even a greater meaning in the original word, "parakletos," from along side of and called, which a Greek lexicon defines as, "one called or sent to assist another."   So the Holy Spirit is there to assist the child of God.   He cheers the sad of heart, He revives our spirits, He gives us strength to overcome, He guides us in the right way, He even gives us a fortaste of heaven while we are still here on earth. Ephesians. 1:13-14.

     However the person in that invisible world, who is nearest and most real to every child of God, is the person of the Lord Jesus Himself.   He says in John 14:18-19, "I will not leave you comfortless(orphans in the original):   I will come to you.   Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:   because I live, ye shall live also."

     The world did see Jesus in the flesh, but it sees Him no more.   However the child of God sees Him even today.

     Before Jesus left His disciples He gave them the Great Commission, (Matthew 28:18-20) and He ended with these words, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."   (Amen means, "It's the truth".)

     Did you ever notice that little word, LO?   It means, behold or see.   After Jesus ascended to heaven the disciples went back to Jerusalem to the upper room.   They were not discouraged.   They were not orphans.   They beheld their Master still with them there, and they remained there all the next week in "one accord in prayer and supplication," talking with their Master.

     To the born again man, Jesus is the "Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24.   "For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5.:   Isn't this wonderful that the child of God is never an orphan.:   David says, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." Psalms 27:10.   How sad and lonely this old world can be to one without Christ, but what a comfort to know Him, to live in Him, to walk hand in hand with Him day by day.   The world may laugh at such as foolishness, but they can't see this friend we have in that invisible world.

     Futhermore Jesus goes on to say, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23.:   So God the Father and God the Son are both abiding with the child of God.:   What wonderful safety!:   What wonderful security!

     In John 10:27-29 Jesus says, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:   And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.   My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.   There is absolute safety and security for the child of God.   Others may not see, but he rests safe in the great hands of Jesus, which are covered over by the great hands of the Father, who is greater than all.

     Have you been born again?   Have you a personal acquaintance with the Lord Jesus Christ?   Have you entrusted your soul into His keeping?

     Paul says, "For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (II Timothy 1:12)   Can you not get your eyes of faith open and see Jesus, how He died for you on Calvary, how He shed His blood for your sins to redeem you from condemnation in hell?   When your eyes have been opened to this, you will find a new world coming into view, a world that is eternal.

     Paul says in II Corinthians 4:18, "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."   Here is the important thing.   The material world all about us, which the people of this world all seek after, these things are but temporal, that is, they are confined to time and will soon pass away.   Like bubbles they will vanish.   But the things which are not seen are eternal.   They are the things of the invisible world of the born again man.   They are the things that last.   They are far better.   While you have the opportunity, make the better choice.   Look to Jesus as your Savior.   He is very near, if you'll only look and see.   Launch out into that new world, not seen by natural man, the world of the born again man.

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     We are all looking forward to the fellowship meeting at Cloverdale Baptist Church in Cloverdale, Oregon.   They hold this two day fellowship meeting every year in June.   The editor of this paper looks forward to this meeting every year.   For him it is like going home.   Pastor Randy Winesbourgh tells us this year the days are Thursday June 24th, and Friday June 25th.   The fellowship starts with lunch at noon on Thursday and ends with lunch at noon on Friday.   In between there will be preaching, special music, sleep Thursday night, breakfast Friday morning and even some testimonies.

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     We're thankful that the weather is again warming up and the outdoor activities have begun again.   Last weekend, the annual motorcycle rally was held again, and as before, with the help of some of the men from Bodine, we passed out gospel tracts.   The interesting thing is several people in the crowd made a point of telling us they remember the tracts from last year and were expecting to see us again this year.   One man even followed one of our men to ask for more tracts for his kids at home.   Please pray for fruit from this outreach.   We've yet to see anyone from the rally attend our services, but we praise the Lord for the opportunity to present the gospel.

     Please continue to pray for us as we serve our Lord here in these difficult times.   May the Lord bless you.

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Letters To The Editor

The Graybearded Balding Has-been

     This bird's value to the flock is often questioned and most often by himself.   To him everything has to relate to days gone by.   Every subject elicits a response which begins, "I remember-" followed by a tale which may or may not be pertinent.   He has stories about most any subject which he will share at the drop of a hat and he'll furnish the hat.

     He can tell you about getting old and he can expound on the subject of Grace, but he has a problem trying to grow old gracefully.   The thing which seems to upset him most is being reminded by others that he isn't a young rooster any more.   He is painfully aware of the fact but doesn't like to be reminded of it.

     He does have great value to the flock however.   We are willing to share our great store of wisdom if they will just let us do it!.

     WILL YOU TAKE A POSITIVE STAND FOR LANDMARK DOCTRINES, HISTORIC BAPTIST INDEPENDENCE AND DIRECT MISSION PRACTICE?   THEN SIGN UP FOR A SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS PAPER AND SPREAD THE TRUTH AS IT IS IN THE WORD OF GOD.