November 27, 2020

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered Thanks for what thou hast denied
Thanks for storms that I have weathered Thanks for all Thou dost supply .
NOVEMBER 27 , 2020
Editor | Dr . Shelton Smith Vol . LXXXVI , No . 23

Pressing for Decisions

10

Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered Thanks for what thou hast denied

Thanks for storms that I have weathered Thanks for all Thou dost supply .

Under the Circumstances , Look Up

7

Faith That Overcomes

16

Beautiful Masks Disguise Satan ’ s Ugly Scheme

Beauty attracts ! Beauty allures ! Some of the highest efforts of mankind have been to create beauty . Millions of dollars are spent each year on advertising geared to mankind ’ s insatiable desire for beauty !
But wait ! Beauty is not a synonym for goodness . Beauty is one of Satan ’ s attributes , one of his greatest assets in drawing souls to sin . Of Satan , thus saith the Lord God :
“ Thou sealest up the sum , full of wisdom , and perfect in beauty .
“ Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God ; every precious stone was thy covering , the sardius , topaz , and the diamond , the beryl , the onyx , and the jasper , the sapphire , the emerald , and the carbuncle , and gold : the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in
R . PAUL MILLER
the day that thou wast created .”— Ezek . 28:12 , 13 .
Why , when man has so sought beauty , has the human race sunk so low physically , mentally , morally and spiritually ? In times past , segments of mankind dropped to awful depths of filthiness and bloodiness ; but never before has the whole world gone down together as it has now .
The efforts of this world of men to find their real trouble now are pitiful .
The scientist believes he can lift mankind with new instruments of speed , power and ease from the drudgery of labor . But the scientist has now let loose the power of the atom which threatens man ’ s own destruction .
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When the Persecutor Becomes the Preacher

“ And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues , that he is the Son of God .”— Acts 9:20 .
There was perhaps never a more amazed audience than that one which heard Saul of Tarsus preach his first sermon in Damascus . Saul was known far and wide as a hater of Jesus Christ and as a persecutor of Christians .
He had come to Damascus for the express purpose of laying waste the church , arresting all believers in Jesus Christ and dragging them to Jerusalem for punishment and death .
There was not any other so bitter an infidel as Saul of Tarsus ; and

Eternity AUSTIN L . SORENSON

DR . R . A . TORREY
yet on his first public appearance in Damascus , this same Saul of Tarsus preaches a sermon of tremendous power , declaring and proving that Jesus is the Son of God .
Will you please look at two things ; and if you will look at them earnestly and honestly , it will result in some of you being converted . The first thing I wish you to look at is the preacher himself . The second thing I wish you to look at is the preacher ’ s message .
I . THE PREACHER
The preacher was Saul of Tarsus . As you look at him , I wish to submit three good reasons why this particular preacher ’ s message should command attention and should be accepted .
1 . Because He Had Been a Hater of Jesus
Saul had not been brought up to believe that Jesus was the Son of God and therefore he did not
Continued on p 10 ▶

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

DR . RICK SAVAGE Bethel Baptist Church , Jackson , Tennessee

California ’ s Outrageous Thanksgiving Restrictions

In addition to California Governor Gavin Newsom ’ s unconstitutional orders which discriminate against churches and places of worship , he has now released onerous government restrictions on Thanksgiving gatherings .
The California Department of Public Health ’ s recent “ Guidance for Private Gatherings ” mandates that “ all persons planning to host or participate in a private gathering ” must comply .…
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said , “ The same Governor Gavin Newsom that has encouraged thousands of total strangers to protest together in the streets now wants to impede … the freedom of families and friends to enjoy their Thanksgiving holiday . For some families , Thanksgiving will not include grandma and the children or siblings . Imagine family members traveling for hours only to be restricted to a two-hour outdoor gathering without physical contact . What if the weather is too hot or cold or it rains ? For Governor Newsom to think he has authority to micromanage a private
Continued on p 2▶
When Lord Russell was being led to the scaffold to die as a martyr , he said to one standing by , “ Here , take this watch , my friend . I have no more to do with time . My thoughts are now on eternity .”
Have you ever considered eter - nity and the destiny of your soul ?
Eternity is “ the quality or con - dition of being eternal , endless duration ( duration without bounds or limits ).” Eternity cannot be measured by time .
In Isaiah 57:15 we read , “ For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity .” The Almighty is eternal .
Eternity ! Eternity ! How long art thou , Eternity ? As long as God is God , so long Endure the pangs of Hell and wrong ; So long the joys of Heaven remain . Oh , lasting joy ! Oh , lasting pain ! Ponder , O man , Eternity !
— L . M .
Continued on p 17 ▶
“ Therefore if any man be in Christ , he is a new creature : old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new .
“ And all things are of God , who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ , and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ;
“ To wit , that God was in Christ , reconciling the world unto himself , not imputing their trespasses unto them ; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation .
“ Now then we are ambassadors for Christ , as though God did beseech you by us : we pray you in Christ ’ s stead , be ye reconciled to God .
“ For he hath made him to be sin for us , who knew no sin ; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him .”— II Cor . 5:17 – 21 .
Notice these phrases in our text verses : “ who hath reconciled us … and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation ”; “ reconciling the world unto himself … and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation ”; “ be ye reconciled to God .”
God desires a stronger relation - ship with us than when the process of salvation began . When this goal is not remembered , the relationship drifts apart . God ’ s goal of forgiveness is reconciliation .
THE GOAL OF FORGIVENESS
“ A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city : and their
Continued on p 18 ▶