Dear Fellow Pilgrims:Greetings to you in the precious name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!This morning, I am struck (again) by the importance of hidingGod's Word in our hearts. We are to hear, meditate on, and to obeyGod's Word. While that may seem "elementary," in its message it ismy observation that this, along with the neglect of prayer, is theweak spot for the believer in these days of Apostasy.The neglect of God's Word and of prayer, leads to living a worldly,humanistic life. Consider these scriptures, prayerfully, and seewhat God speaks to you. As Mary said to the servants at the Weddingof Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, "Whatsoever He(Jesus) saith unto you, do it!" (I am making comments after eachverse and offering corroborating scriptural illustrations.)PSALM 1:1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of theungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seatof the scornful.(This means we do not follow the humanistic (human-centered) answersthat the world offers from psychology (even so-called Christianpsychology, which is an oxymoron), nor do we follow the world'sphilosophy, in our search for truth.) We do not go to the world forour help! Our help cometh from the LORD! Consider what the ApostlePaul wrote in regard to this:Colossians 27 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith,as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vaindeceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,and not after Christ.9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.Paul warned us, under the unction and anointing of the Holy Ghostsome 2,000 years ago, that we were to continue to the teaching (ofGod's Word) not to be "SPOILED THROUGH PHILOSOPHY AND VAIN DECEIT,AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD,"How many Christian Colleges do you know of that offer courses in theworld's philosophy or in humanistic psychology? They offer so-called "Church Growth" courses, which are nothing, less than businessmanagement techniques that one could learn at any secularuniversity. God deliver us! God help us! We have preachersgraduating from our Bible Colleges who know not the God of ourFathers. Consider the Book of Judges 2:10-23In addition, observe with me how analogous to the Apostasy in thedays of the Judges is to these last days before Christ returns.Judges 210 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers:and there arose another generation after them, which knew not theLORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD,and served Baalim:12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which broughtthem out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the godsof the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves untothem, and provoked the LORD to anger.13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and hedelivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and hesold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that theycould not any longer stand before their enemies.15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was againstthem for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn untothem: and they were greatly distressed.16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them outof the hand of those that spoiled them.17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they wenta whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: theyturned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeyingthe commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was withthe judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies allthe days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of theirgroanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that theyreturned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, infollowing other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; theyceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said,Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which Icommanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of thenations which Joshua left when he died:22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep theway of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them outhastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.PSALM 1:22 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth hemeditate day and night.The truly born-again child of God delights in God's Word. Itpreoccupies his or her thoughts. Decisions are made in light of theWord of God. God's Word is a sustenance for the soul. Job said thatGod's Word was more necessary than his necessary food! Any realChristian will live that way!Job 2312 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; Ihave esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.PSALM 1:33 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, thatbringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall notwither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.The godly man or woman will be stable, secure in God, secure in theWord. As Jesus taught, "built upon the Rock." Consider also thisfrom Matthew 7:13-29:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broadis the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which goin thereat:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadethunto life, and few there be that find it.15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing,but inwardly they are ravening wolves.16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes ofthorns, or figs of thistles?17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupttree bringeth forth evil fruit.18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupttree bring forth good fruit.19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, andcast into the fire.20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter intothe kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father whichis in heaven.22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we notprophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and inthy name done many wonderful works?23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart fromme, ye that work iniquity.24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeththem, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon arock:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon arock.26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth themnot, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house uponthe sand:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew,and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, thepeople were astonished at his doctrine:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as thescribes.PSALM 1:44 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the winddriveth away.Those who are ungodly do not dwell in God's Word, they do notmeditate in it, and they do not obey it. The fruit of one's life isthe ultimate witness. It is what is done in secret that will bejudged, not the public 'persona' or the 'spin' that people put outthere as there Christian witness. It is how we live privately beforeGod that counts.PSALM 1:55 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, norsinners in the congregation of the righteous.When the Judgment finally arrives, the ungodly are not going to enterinto heaven. I realize that there is a new Universalism/Inclusivismteaching in the Neo-Pentecostal Church. Carlton Pearson, and others,are now teaching that God will ultimately save everyone. Do notbelieve that lie. The Bible is clear in the Book of the Revelation20:10-15:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fireand brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shallbe tormented day and night for ever and ever.11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, fromwhose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found noplace for them.12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and thebooks were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book oflife: and the dead were judged out of those things which were writtenin the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death andhell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judgedevery man according to their works.14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is thesecond death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was castinto the lake of fire.PSALM 1: 66 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of theungodly shall perish.May God help us to seriously pray and remain in His Word. Hell andeternal damnation is literal!I am citing H.S. Miller in his book THE CHRISTIAN WORKERS' MANUAL,page 25 (now out of print and in public domain--I know because Italked to the former publisher--Christian Publications of Camp Hill,Pennsylvania.) Brother Miller wrote the following in 1928 that theChristian is...and needs:1. A warrior (II Timothy 2:3-4) and needs A sword (Ephesians 6:17)2. A husbandman (II Timothy 2:6) and needs Ever-fruitful seed (Isaiah55:10-11)3. A workman (II Timothy 2:15) and needs A chest of tools (II Timothy2:15, 3:15-17)4. A Vessel (II Timothy 2:21) and needs A cleanser (Ephesians 5:26-27)5. A servant of the LORD (II Timothy 2:24) and needs Power (Matthew4:4; John 6:63)6. A preacher, or herald (II Timothy 4:2) and needs A message of goodnews (Ephesians 1:13)7. A laborer (I Coirinthians 3:9) and needs a Hammer and a fire(Jeremiah 23:29)8. A sower (Luke 8:5) and needs Seed (Luke 8:11)9. A teacher (Hebrews 5:12) and needs Understanding (Psalm 119:97-100)10. A watchman (Ezekiel 3:17) and needs A warning cry (Ezekiel 3:17)11. A witness (Acts 1:8) and needs A Testimony (John 5:39)12. A light-bearer (Philippians 2:15) and needs A light (Psalm119:105, 130).13. A pilgrim (I Peter 2:11) and needs A protector (Psalm 17:4,119:11)14. A fisher of men (Matthew 4:19; Luke 5:10) and needs Bait (Acts13:5, 7, 26, 44, 48, and 49).15. A shepherd (John 21:15-17; I Peter 5:1-4) and needs Food for theSheep (I Peter 2:2; Acts 20:32).May we all "hide God's Word in our hearts, that we might not sinagainst Thee."In Jesus' name,Brother Stephen York
