Non-Profit Org. Ozark Christian Schools of Neosho U.S. Postage PO Box 398, Neosho, MO 64850-0398 PAID Neosho, MO (417) 451-2057 -- www.obicollege.com PERMIT 154 Return Service Requested The STANDARD BEARER can help Him where God self to youn place g lives. Volume 48, No. 1 “A Founder D. C. Branham ” Jan./Feb. 2017 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). DECISION DAYS 2017 March 23-26 Theme: He wants it ALL Today “ALL thy Heart..., ALL thy Soul..., ALL thy Mind..., ALL thy Strength” (Mark 12:30). A time for prospective students to have a first-hand look at OBI. High School Juniors And Seniors Come Free. The faculty, staff, and students of Ozark Bible Institute and College invite you to attend and experience campus life at OBI. ♦ Sit In College Classes ♦ Experience Dorm Life ♦ Allow God Some Quiet Time In Your Life ♦ Hear The Overcomers Choir ♦ Attend Services Planned For You ♦ Get To Know The Instructors ♦ Eat In Our Dining Hall Special Speaker ♦ Bring Bedding, Bible, Personals Danny Swinnea For more information: OBI Registrar, Bonnie Stoner OBI, 906 Summit St, PO Box 398 Neosho, MO 64850-0398 (417) 451-2057, [email protected] www.obicollege.com Sponsors staying on campus must pre-register. Registration forms available at obicollege.com (click on resources/media tab/decision days). The President Writes 2 A Dozen will not be possible to overcome evil with Christian? Good Christians will Sermons From good. overcome and make it to heaven. Not Romans 12 As in the case with the entire New so good Christians may or may not. “Be Not Testament, our text not only gives us Instead of taking matters into your Overcome... But the command, but also a plan on how to own hands, put them into the Lord’s Overcome” implement this into our life! Two things hands. “Dearly beloved, avenge not “Dearly beloved, are essential when we are faced with yourselves, but rather give place unto something that needs to be fixed, a plan By Daniel E. Taylor avenge not wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is President yourselves, of action needs instructions and adequate mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” but rather give tools. In our text, the Bible tells us “how,” (Romans 12:19). place unto wrath: for it is written, and the Holy Ghost gives us the tools. Don’t let a desire for revenge Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith The challenge is to make yourself do it! overpower your Christ-like Spirit. We the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy I have the tools and know how to change have the Spirit of Christ working in hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give water filters under the kitchen sink, but I us, but we also have our human nature him drink: for in so doing thou shalt put it off because it is hard to do! We have trying to work against the Spirit. I’ve heap coals of fire on his head. Be not what we need to do in Romans 12:19-21, known people who searched the Bible overcome of evil, but overcome evil but it is asking a hard thing. for a Scripture they could take out with good” (Romans 12:19-21). Instead of taking matters into your of context to justify their desire for What usually happens when own hands, put them in the Lord’s revenge. I’ve heard people use milder we are hurt or offended? We want hands! In Romans 12:19 it says, “Dearly terms such as “exhortation,” but revenge! We may not be led away by beloved avenge not yourselves, but rather from the context of the conversation our passion to actually take revenge, give place unto wrath: for it is written, it sounded more like revenge. God but we would be glad to see some Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith is the only One qualified to mete calamity or loss befall the one who the Lord.” The first two words of verse out retribution (vengeance) for any hurt us. 19 are terms of endearment, “Dearly imagined wrongs done to us. Why? If we are noble enough to not beloved.” Paul started out chapter 12 Because He is the only One with a wish our enemy any evil, there is with “I beseech you therefore brethren” clean record Himself. not one person in one hundred not I command you, but I beg you. Paul Second Timothy 4:14-18 says, who wishes them good. Our text is pleading rather than demanding. Do “Alexander the coppersmith did tells us to not only restrain ourselves you know why? Because the Christian me much evil: the Lord reward him from retaliation but to control our duties he is proclaiming in Romans 12 according to his works: Of whom be bitter feelings and display a genuine are such that they can only be governed thou ware also; for he hath greatly concern for the well-being of those from the individual’s heart. All the rules withstood our words.” I think Paul is who trouble us and hurt us. Wow! of fellowship or standards of conduct in feeling his own debt in these verses. While studying this verse, my the world could not guarantee compliance “At my first answer no man stood with first reaction was what Elijah said with these duties in Romans 12. As soon me, but all men forsook me: I pray to Elisha when Elisha asked for a as a law is made it is human nature to try God that it may not be laid to their double portion. “You have asked a and avoid its restrictions. charge.” It seems Paul is realizing hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see The reason Paul makes such a heart- that he needs to eat his own cooking. me when I am taken from thee, it shall felt appeal is because obedience to the Have any of you preachers, teachers, be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not duties in Romans 12 are contingent on parents, found yourself faced with a be so” (2 Kings 2:10). each individual Christian’s desire to be a struggle to obey what you told others There is a parallel here to Romans good Christian! they should do? There is an 12:19-21. We are challenged with This summary of duties in Romans (Continued on page 3) a hard thing! To not be overcome of 12 run cross grain to our human nature. Daniel E. Taylor, Editor-in-Chief evil, but overcome it with good. There They are like the filter under the sink. We Wallace E. Joice, Editor Carol J. Joice, Graphic Art is one thing we must do if we are to know how, and we have the tool, but it is Bimonthly publication of Ozark Christian meet this challenge. We must keep the discomfort and strain we don’t like. Schools of Neosho. Printed in the U.S.A. We are a our eyes on the One who can give us So we put it off. nonprofit religious organization. Any contributions are appreciated and are tax deductible. what we need! It is this simple; if we So, the question is not, are POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The don’t keep our eyes on Jesus, then it we a Christian, but are we a good Standard Bearer, PO Box 398, Neosho, MO 64850. The President Writes Continued From Page 2 3 ——— alternative to hitting them where it done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this love nor know God! “Their feet are hurts. It is called, “Hurting them was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:50-54). swift to shed blood:” (Romans 3:15). where it helps!” When Jesus died, things happened which Which means, stand firm on the “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, unnerved the hardened Roman soldier. He gospel of peace. Which means that feed him; if he thirsts, give him drink: had overseen the torture of Jesus without the church’s message is one of peace, for in so doing thou shalt heap coals remorse, until he put it all together and peace in our heart, peace on earth, of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20). realized, “This was a just man—the Son of and peace among ourselves. It is hard to accept the fact that painful God!” The last seven words of verse fifty- I have an old pair of work boots I lessons are often the most helpful. four are those of a man feeling the burning wear in the garden. I never tie them. Doing something positive and kind to embarrassment of knowing “I’ve been a You know why? So I can kick them someone who has been negative and skunk.” I’ve done a just man wrong. off easily. Some folks do that with unkind to you is hard to do. I think The curses or the pleas of innocence their spiritual shoes. They wear them the principle must be viewed in its by the two thieves made no noticeable loose so they can kick them off easily! context. This is a Christian principle impression on the centurion, but when I’ve read ninety percent of which should be exercised in the Jesus prayed for His Father to forgive the the people who set out to hike the church in general. It may not work soldier; when Jesus comforted the penitent Appalachian Trail, which is a distance too well among the vilest in the world.