September 18, 2020 | Page 2

2 SWORD OF THE LORD September 18, 2020 September 28–Sword’s 86th Birthday Yes, this month marks 86 full years of the miracle ministry of the Sword of the Lord. From its inception in 1934 until this very moment, it has been a faith-based, Christ-exalting, Bible-preaching, revival and soul-winning work. It was birthed in the vision and wisdom of Dr. John R. Rice and both Dr. Curtis Hutson and I have continued to build upon the legacy he handed to us. With the news - paper and our publishing of materials, we are providing a funda - mental witness that encircles the globe. That is the reason I continue to say that we are “your missionary to the world.” Thankfully the Lord has enabled us to serve in that capacity for a very long time. All three editors—Dr. Rice, Dr. Hutson and I—could not have done very much at all except for the help of folks who believe in us, stand by us and support us. Believe me, after more than 25 years here, I can testify forthrightly, as I do often, that the partnership of our friends makes the difference for us. On September 28 the Sword of the Lord will have its 86th birthday. We are thankful for the privilege of ministry every day of the year. To know the Lord is so incredibly wonderful. To enjoy the blessing of the Chris tian life is an exper - ience beyond measure. To serve the Lord under the mandates of His Great Commission is absolutely a daily delight. When we come to work each morning, the staff and I are always aware that what we do that day will reach into hearts and homes north, south, east and west. To cities great and small across the plains, over the mountains and beyond the oceans, we will make our way to mailboxes everywhere. The newspaper, our soul-winning club, the books, the pamphlets, the gospel tracts, the conferences, the on-air presence and more will minister to people in all walks of life. Again, we are grateful, so thankful for all we get to do. So in this Sword birthday edition, let me again thank you for your friendship and for all you do to help us do what we do. Amen! Amen! Amen! The National Sword Conference Review and Report After so many years of having the Sword of the Lord Conference in a large auditorium with a large crowd, we set about to do the 2020 Conference with a small onsite attendance but broadcast worldwide. The Facebook Live audience and the Fundamental Broadcast Network radio audience made it possible for people all around the world to tune in. We received online comments from 36 states and 20 other coun - tries from the Facebook web cast. Those countries were Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cam - bodia, Dominican Republic, France, Guam, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Kenya, Myan mar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Philippines, Qatar, Uganda, United Kingdom. We are still hearing from people and are thankful for every communication received. Here is a brief review of the week. I opened on Monday night with my message entitled “When I Went to the Church House I Finally Figured It Out” (Ps. 73:16, 17). The second message on Monday night was given by Evangelist Richard Harper. Taken from Numbers 13:1–14:10, it was entitled “How to Be a Loser.” On Tuesday morning Matt Morrison, co-pastor at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Walkertown, North Carolina, brought a message from II Kings 2:13 entitled “And He Picked Up the Mantle.” The 11:00 message was by Dr. Mike Allison taken from Jeremiah 10:21 entitled “Brutish Pastors.” Then on Tuesday night Dr. Norris Belcher preached a message entitled “The Voice and the Hands” from Genesis 27:18–22. Dr. Jeff Fugate preached “That They Might Set Their Hope in God” from Psalm 78:1–7. Wednesday morning we heard DR. SHELTON SMITH, President, Editor MARLON SMITH, Executive Vice President BART WALKER, Treasurer JIMMY BARRETT, Customer Service Manager CONTACT US Customer Service Book sales, Subscriptions, Address changes, Gifts 800-247-9673 fax [phone] [email protected] Advertising 615-893-6700 fax [phone] [email protected] Conferences 615-893-6700 fax [phone] [email protected] Editorial 615-893-6700 fax [phone] [email protected] Correspondence to columnists should be sent in care of the Sword of the Lord, PO Box 1099, Murfreesboro, TN 37133-1099. Web Site www.swordofthelord.com (USPS 531-160) (ISSN 0039-7547) AMERICA’S FOREMOST REVIVAL PUBLICATION DR. JOHN R. RICE, Founder-Editor 1934-1980 DR. CURTIS HUTSON, President-Editor 1980-1995 SUBSCRIPTION RATES United States: one year $19.95 Canada and Foreign: $29 U.S. per year SWORD OF THE LORD (ISSN 0039-7547) (USPS 531-160) is published biweekly by the Sword of the Lord Foundation, 224 Bridge Avenue, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Periodicals Postage Paid at Murfreesboro, TN and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Sword of the Lord PO Box 1099 Murfreesboro, TN 37133-1099 Publication Mail Agreement #41347012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: PO Box 503 RPO West Beaver Creek Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6 Dr. Jayson Godsey, pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Cadillac, Michigan, as he preached on “This Crisis Hour” from II Timothy 3:1–5. Dr. Dan Carr, Sr., pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Gulfport, Missis - sippi, preached on “In Season, Out of Season” (Gen. 8:22). On Wednesday night our first preacher was Dr. Mike Wells, pastor of Parkside Baptist Church, Mesquite, Texas. He preached on “What to Do in a Decaying Nation” (Ps. 11:3). The second preacher was Dr. Lou Rossi, pastor of Granite Baptist Church in Baltimore, Mary land. From the text Luke 21:1–8, he preached “Be Not Deceived.” On Thursday morning at 10:00 we heard Dr. Dennis Leatherman preach “Little Is Much When You Put It in Jesus’ Hands” (John 6:1–14). At 11:00, Dr. Jon Jenkins preached “We’ve Got to Bear Down If We Are Going to Win Our Crown” (II Tim. 4:5–8). At the Thursday night services Evangelist Dr. John N. Hamblin preached “But Who Weeps Over Our City?” (Luke 19:41). Then we heard Dr. Joe Arthur, the pastor of Harvest Baptist Tabernacle, Jones - boro, Georgia, preach “Faith Always Wins” (Gen. 41:51, 52). At my School of the Prophets, where we teach and train on all things related to church, we had three afternoons of ninety minutes each. I was assisted by Dr. Fugate, Dr. Wells, Dr. Godsey and Dr. Allison. In every service we had David Chamberlain at the piano. There were solos par excellence by Lonnie Moore, Terry Lawson, David Barnes and Melanie Smith. We had special music from the Marlon Smith Family, the Barnes Family and several trios, quartets and duets by combinations of the folks already named. Oh, such music! So good, so sweet, so beautiful, so blessed. My, oh, my, what joy, what delight, what blessing we received and we did enjoy! Here are just a few of the comments we received. “Thank you for streaming this week. My wife and I were blessed by every evening service.” (Eric C.) “Thank you for broadcasting the Conference!” (Greg P.) “Marvelous preaching. May God richly bless you, Dr. Smith. We love you. Praise the Lord for the week. Amen!” (Evangelist Bob Jones, Chattanooga) “Thanks for streaming all week.” (Tracy W.) “I needed this great preaching this week. Thank you!” (Corina H.) “Sword staff: Thank you for making streaming work this week. We love y’all. Amen and amen.” (Ron Whitlock, Sr., Georgia) “Thank you, Sword staff. We need some fire in our bellies.” (Earl W.) “Thank you for streaming the Conference. It has been a tremendous blessing!!!” (Dan and Davina B., Kentucky) “Dr. Smith, thank you for video and audio presentations.” (Billy Ray W.) “Amen! Thank you for this wonderful meeting. Would love to attend one day physically, Lord willing.” (Jonathan M.) “Thanks, Sword of the Lord, for livestream.” (Janice P.) “Thank you and praise the Lord from Lighthouse Baptist Church, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.” (Pamela G.) “Thank you for the video and audio presentation of the Con - Continued on p 3▶ Noteworthy News ■ Continued from p 1■ County officials posted a four-page letter on the front door of the church, in which the county admitted sending the spies into the church service and declared their worship “unlawful.” Did you every think America would reach a point at which singing… would be an “unlawful” act worthy of a $5,000 fine per incident? Or that governmental officials would send spies into a church with the intent of shutting down that church? North Valley Baptist complied with Newsom’s orders for a long time. But after 26 weeks, in a county with 2.1 million people, only 224 have died—a third of which were in nursing homes. The massive death toll Newsom and other scaremongers predicted never arrived. During that time, North Valley Baptist • Stopped having in-person worship services • Closed the K4–12 Christian school • Closed the college that trains men and women from all over the country • Closed the bus ministry that has brought 1.5 million people to church • Closed the jail ministry • Closed the public-school ministry • Closed ministry to 14 rest homes • Closed door-to-door visitations • Closed hospital visitations • Closed all children’s ministries • Closed Sunday school Pastor Jack Trieber said, “Little children and parents are weeping. They want to come to church. You can’t make laws against the church. We have the right to worship. But more than a right from the Constitution, we have a command from God. “…Health is important, but spiritual health is supreme. And because we have been locked out of this county’s churches…suicide is up, domestic violence is up, drug addiction is up, homelessness and alcoholism are up. We need to get back to worshipping God. I am commanded to worship God. I plead with you.…Back off! Open up the spiritual environment of this valley immediately.”… Governor Newsom’s orders allow the church to feed, shelter and provide social services, but the same people in the same building cannot worship. In other words, nonreligious services are acceptable but religious services are banned. People can receive food but not take communion. People can be housed overnight but cannot hold a short worship service [or] Bible study, or meet for prayer. People can receive counseling to find work but cannot be counseled on finding eternal life. The same governor who encourages mass protests, bans all worship, even in private homes. The same governor who says the church can meet to provide secular services, bans the church from having religious worship.… No pastor or churchgoer should have to wonder if [he] will be criminally charged for attending worship. There are many more churches being attacked, and likely many more fines and criminal charges to come—not just for the brave pastors and congregants I have mentioned, but for the growing number of churches that have decided to TAKE A STAND against California Governor Gavin Newsom’s illegal and unconstitutional restrictions against religion. Here are the actual, verifiable facts about Newsom’s orders: On March 19, Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order and Public Health Order that “directed all Californians to stay home except to go to an essential job or to shop for essential needs,” which includes a total prohibition on religious worship services, regardless of the number attending or whether social distancing and personal hygiene practices were followed, including attendance at in-home worship services. The governor does not consider religious services to be “essential” so people cannot leave their homes to go to church or to other homes for a Bible study. On July 6, the governor issued yet another revised “Worship Guidance” document which states unequivocally, “Places of worship must therefore discontinue singing and chanting activities and limit indoor attendance to 25 percent of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees.” On July 13, Governor Newsom banned ALL WORSHIP for any county on the County Monitoring List, which covers about 80 percent of the population. This “no worship” ban includes private homes with anyone who does not live in the home. Governor Newsom’s orders affect all churches and places of worship, even home Bible studies and fellowships. It is now even worse than “no singing” because all in-person worship is banned, including home Bible studies and fellowship with anyone who does not live in the home. Imagine this: it is criminal in California to go to your neighbor’s home to pray with them or have a Bible study. —Mat Staver, LIBERTY COUNSEL Corporations Like Goodyear Pandering, Discriminatory Practices A concerning training tool made its way from Goodyear’s corporate headquarters in Akron, Ohio.… The training tool? A slide unveiling the company’s new “zerotolerance” policy against “Blue Lives Matter,” MAGA Attire and more. …WIBW-TV in Topeka…reported that Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company has a serious problem with supporting the police—or even supporting the president. Acceptable notions, according to the company, include Black Lives Matter (BLM) and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender pride (LGBT). Unacceptable notions, however, include Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, MAGA Attire and political[ly] affiliated slogans or material.… Continued on p 16▶