Vol. 74, #10 Oct 2019 Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Daniel 2:20-21 INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Faith of Moses page 3 Monthly Sermon page 4 Counting the Cost page 6 "Because you came, I met Jesus..." page 6 ACCFS: The Church and Singleness page 8 Are You Ready and Available? page 10 Adorning Ourselves with the Ornament of a Meek and Quiet Spirit page 46 Remembering Our Spiritual Heritage page 62 The Light of Hope page 63 Correspondence For November issue (news from Sept 16-Oct 15) To Our Readers Due: October 20, 2019 Our Future The Silver Lining “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book 1523 County Road 400N written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw Congerville, IL 61729 a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in USPS 496780 earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open Published Monthly by the Apostolic and to read the book, neither to look thereon.”Rev. 5:1-4 Christian Church of America As we read in Revelation, we get a window into the future. What Counselors: if this story ended at Revelation 5:4 above? What would our future Rick Plattner, Jeff Grimm look like? Words can’t really describe the hopelessness that would ensue. Thanks be to God it wasn’t the end, in that “the Lion of the Official Apostolic Christian Church tribe of Juda, the Root of David, (Jesus Christ) hath prevailed to open the Website: book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Rev. 5:5 www.apostolicchristian.org Because of this, we can now sing and praise Him. “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, Send correspondence only and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Rev 5:13 (no payments) to: Let us come before His throne and worship Him in every aspect [email protected] of our lives. We are truly blessed. (email is preferred) Jeff Grimm, along with Rick Plattner, counseling elders The Silver Lining 1523 County Road 400N Congerville, IL 61729 The Silver Lining subscriptions are due from the Ph: 309-657-4455 following churches: Periodical non-profit postage paid Alto SEND PAYMENTS to: at Roanoke, IL 61561 and additional Athens Apostolic Christian Publications post offices. The subscription rate is Iowa City P.O. Box 52 a donation. Send zip number with Ft. Myers Eureka, IL 61530 address. Remember to send changes Washington Notice: Once your name is on our of address. Send both old and new subscription list, it stays there until you addresses (with both zips). Suggested donation: notify us to remove it. Online reading $18/subscription. costs nothing. Individual payments are acceptable, but we prefer to get one Postmaster send address changes to: payment from your church treasurer. The Silver Lining 1523 County Road 400N Congerville, IL 61729 Front Cover: Grandview Drive, Peoria, IL Back Cover: Fall berries, central IL. Both photos - Sis. Denise Romersberger, Washington, IL 2 SILVER LINING October 2019 Writings based on God’s Word Light from the Word The Faith of By faith, Moses chose to us. Moses was taken into his new Moses declare his loyalty, defending an family by the priest of Midian, Israelite who was being attacked Reuel, whose name means, “Friend “By faith Moses, when he was by an Egyptian, thereby aligning of God”. In a similar manner, we are come to years, refused to be called himself with the people of God. taken into fellowship by the church. the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;” While the Word is clear that we By faith, though exiled from the Hebrews 11:24 cannot condone the sinful act of world, we find safety, friendship, As I began thinking about murder, Moses’s loyalty to God’s and accountability, in the church writing this article, I was mowing people was clearly demonstrated. family. The church is a friend of the front yard and I marveled at Although he hoped it would not God and will shelter us, though how different life is today than become known, it became common we live as pilgrims and strangers it was in the days of Moses. The knowledge and Moses fled to the in a foreign land. Moses could neighborhood was peaceful, the wilderness. Is this all that different have chosen to move on and find grass green, and supper was in the from our own experience? Even something better than to live as a making. I wondered how I could those who are raised by believing nomadic shepherd in the wilderness. possibly write about Moses’ faith parents are “adopted” by the But, by faith, he chose to associate from the perspective of a suburban world. The devil is like Pharaoh’s with the “Friend(s) of God”. home in 21st century America. My daughter, taking us in and treating By faith, Moses chose to obey mind went to the desert of Sinai us royally – as long as we do not God. He had eyes to see and ears and the burning bush. An adopted align ourselves with the people of to hear when a voice spoke to Egyptian noble exiled to the desert God. Like Moses, if by faith we him out of a burning bush. After tending sheep. A bush that was demonstrate loyalty to the people forty years of preparation in the burning but not consumed. The of God, we will find ourselves no desert, the Lord called him to voice of God. The faith to lead an longer accepted by society and go back to Egypt and demand entire nation out of slavery to the we will become separated– in a freedom for his people. Moses had promised land. How can these social wilderness rather than a a choice. Continue in his now- things be relevant to us? geographical wilderness. Choosing comfortable life in an established They are extremely relevant. to reject the world and align with household or risk everything to go If we can see them through the people of God requires faith. back to Egypt. He felt incapable spiritual eyes, we will see that the By faith, Moses chose to and raised all kinds of questions decisions that Moses faced are associate with the friends of God. and objections to God. The Lord decisions that we all face, and we We can see that God provided answered all of Moses’ concerns. can understand that his experiences for Moses as he escaped to the Moses had a choice to make. By are not that different than ours. We wilderness by connecting him faith, he obeyed God. In our will also comprehend that faith is a with a family that respected and time, the Word of God is like that critical element in decision-making, honored the one true God. We burning bush. It is full of a fire only becoming active when we are can be assured that even though that burns but does not consume. faced with a choice. Let’s consider we may be isolated in a social If we are willing to take notice Moses’ choices. wilderness, He will provide for — Please turn to pg. 58 October 2019 SILVER LINING 3 Monthly Sermon Sermon by Bro. Trent Meiss, Jesus came, and time just keeps going on.” We think, Eureka, IL, August 11, 2019 “Will the Lord ever return? Will he ever come back and take his children home?” There are things that we Daniel 8 & James 2:14-26 look at and say, “It seems like it’s close. It seems like it’s Greetings and love. Thankful to be able to be in close.” There are people that can study these things, God’s house together and worship and honor him. pointing to different parts of it, and say, “Here this The Bible is open into Daniel 8. happened and here this happened. This is the next Just a little bit on the Old Testament reading… thing that happens,” but when it comes down to it, we open to these scriptures sometimes with a lot what’s the important thing? The important thing of different prophecies, and I wish I understood is that we’re ready, isn’t it? the important thing is better some of the things that Daniel was talking that we understand that there is a heaven and a about here, some of the history and maybe how hell and that we understand there is going to be a some of how this ties in. Daniel was there in the day of great judgment. Babylonian empire; he was taken out of Judah to a When we opened the Bible this morning at foreign country. We can read a lot about Daniel – the the table, it opened in Revelation and some of the faith that he had, along with Shadrach, Meshach, judgments to come. Sometimes when we read though and Abednego, the wisdom that God gave them those things they seem far off, distant, it’s just a ways throughout their time there – and we also realize that out there, and we think. “Well, it might happen Daniel was given much insight into things to come.