National Sword of the Lord Conference is just 3 weeks away!

Join us for the 2016 National Sword of the Lord Conference!

All Sessions Are Free

No Registration Fees

Practical Workshops

Nursery Provided

Tuesday Workshops Include:

• Bus Ministry - Jeff Fugate
• Reaching Adults - Norris Belcher
• Soul Winning - Ray Shutt
• Home and Family - Jim Townsley
• School of the Prophets - Dr. Shelton Smith
• Ladies Seminar - Betty Smith and Janet Walsh
• Music Seminar - Sterling Walsh

Thoughts on Cancer

Dr. Curtis Hutson, our second President and Editor, was diagnosed with cancer in 1992. During his 3 year battle, he continued to preached across the nation winning countless souls to Christ. He penned these words that have encouraged so many through the years. We would like you to share this post to help those that are battling cancer.

• Cancer can hurt you, but it cannot harm you.
• Cancer can shorten your earthly life, but it cannot affect your eternal life.
• Cancer can steal your days, but it cannot steal your dreams.
• Cancer can cause you to be immobile, but it cannot keep you from being immovable.
• Cancer may make you weak, but it cannot take away the joy of the Lord which is our strength.
• Cancer can incapacitate you, but it cannot captivate you.
• Cancer may bring pain, but it cannot keep you from praising the Lord and rejoicing in His name.
• Cancer may make you look bad on the outside, but it cannot change the inside where you have everlasting life and the very presence of God Himself in the Person of the Holy Spirit.
• Cancer may take your physical life, but it cannot destroy the everlasting life which is given to you the moment you trust Christ as Saviour. As a matter of fact, it can't even diminish it. It is just as real in your weakest moment as it was the day you trusted Him as Saviour.
• Cancer may put you in the grave, but it cannot keep you there. There shall be a resurrection.
• Cancer may destroy the physical tabernacle in which you live, but it cannot touch the heavenly mansion that is being prepared for you.
• Cancer may cause a temporary separation from your family and friends, but it cannot stop the blessed reunion that is going to take place someday when all of God's children are called on to Heaven either by way of death or the rapture.
• Cancer may weaken your body to the place where you cannot even say to your dearest friends, "I love you" but it cannot keep you from loving.
• Cancer, at times, may cause you to want to give up; but it cannot keep you from going up. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
• Cancer may follow you to the graveyard, but it cannot follow you beyond.
• Cancer may rob you of strength, but it cannot rob you of your Saviour.
• Cancer may make you weep for the night, but it cannot take away the joy that is coming in the morning.
• Cancer may temporarily separate you from friends, but it cannot separate you from the love of God.
• Cancer may confuse your mind and understanding, but it cannot confuse or change your standing with the great Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ which has been settled by a simple act of faith in Him.
• Cancer may stop your labors, but it cannot undo your works.

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth...that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."
—Rev. 14:13

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."—Romans 8:38,39

Backsliding Christians. Why Do We Do It?

Why do Christians fail God and fall into sin?

• Some allow themselves to be hurt by others. Too often we get our eyes on others instead of Christ; and when they fail, we, in turn, follow them. Satan uses others as a stumbling block.

• Because they neglect the house of God. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, and ye see the day approaching.—Hebrews 10:24,25

• Some fail to discipline themselves against temptations. We ought to avoid, stay away from, and stay clar of areas where we are weak. Romans 14:13 says, "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way."

• Often our memory fails us. We need to remember our salvation experience, answered prayer, God's blessings and rewards. Remember the pit from which we are digged and the rock from which we are hewn (Isaiah 51:1).

• Some backslide because of coldness of heart. We grow cold, indifferent, apathetic, lukewarm, and lose our first love.

• Unconfessed sin causes backsliding. The psalmist cried, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18). As Christians, our responsibility is to follow Galatians 6:1-3; Matthew 18:15-19; and James 5;19 and 20 in helping to restore those who have backslidden.

The King Who Gave Away Everything

Jesus Christ was born in the poorest of circumstances but the air above was filled with hallelujahs of the heavenly host. His lodging was a cattle pen, but a star drew distinguished visitors from afar to do Him homage and present Him with rich gifts.

His birth was contrary to the laws of life. His death was contrary to the laws of death. No miracle is so inexplicable as His life and teaching.

He had no cornfields or fisheries, but He could spread a table for five thousand and have bread and fish to spare. He walked on the waters, and they supported Him.

His crucifixion was the crime of crimes, but on God's side no lower price than His infinite agony could have made possible our redemption. When He died, only a few men mourned; but a black crepe was hung over the sun. Though men trembled not for their sins, the earth beneath shook under the load. All nature honored Him; sinners alone rejected Him.

He preached His Gospel for only three and one-half years. He wrote no book and had no money back of Him; yet after two thousand years He is the one central character of human history, the perpetual theme of all preaching, the pivot around which the events of the ages revolve, the only Regenerator of the sinful human race.

Was it merely the son of Joseph and Mary who crossed the world's horizon two thousand years ago? Was it merely human blood that was spilled on Calvary's hill for the redemption of sinners and which has worked such wonders in men and nations through the centuries?

What thinking man can keep from exclaiming "My Lord and my God!"
—Keith L. Brooks

Mall Marked Jesus Down

A few years back a nine-inch model of Jesus as a baby appeared in many stores. The doll was "packaged in a straw and satin crib with a picture of the Bethlehem manger and appropriate biblical texts."

But the doll was not a success—people probably felt that to merchandise such a thing was carrying the commercialism of Christmas to a new low—and at least one store, in an effort to unload its supply of the dolls, cut the price rather drastically.

One woman who was comparing prices in various stores excitedly reported to a neighbor, "The mall has marked Jesus Christ down fifty percent."

Strangely enough, this is quite similar to what is happening today. This sounds all too familiar: moral corruption in high places; legalized abortion; prayer taken out of schools and replaced with drugs and guns; displaying manger scenes in public places forbidden; the word blood taken from many hymnals—"too gory"; new Bible versions omitting "virgin" from the Old Testament and "begotten" and "Propitiation" from the New; worldly music in the pulpit on Sunday; preachers who have gone soft; churches catering to the culture—anything to play down Christ, the Bible and the old-time Faith.

Yes, Christ has been marked down drastically—even more than fifty-percent!

So it behooves us who believe in the old-time religion to proclaim it this Christmas with clarity and conviction!
- taken from December 4, 2015 issue of the Sword of the Lord Newspaper

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