I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. Acts 20:32.
What is genuine sanctification? Read Exodus 31. In that chapter we shall understand the term, for God Himself has defined it. The Lord Jesus had given the special directions how to build the tabernacle. As the children of Israel had been compelled to work on the Sabbath, the sacredness of the day was not preserved. As slaves in Egypt, they had largely lost the knowledge of the Sabbath. This is the reason the commandments of God were given in awful grandeur upon Mount Sinai. The Lord would guard His Sabbath in particular, and He knew the people would forget the commandment of the Sabbath, and in their zeal the workmen would say, “This work is the Lord’s, and under His supervision, and we can do His work without observing the Sabbath….” Therefore the seventh day was distinguished as God’s memorial and was to be kept holy unto the Lord that the people “may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify” them. This is genuine sanctification….
But the work must needs go deeper, take firmer hold of the life and of the character. Some have thought they could easily persuade a sinner to give up his idols, to keep God’s commandments, to believe Jesus is soon to come in the clouds of heaven. When they can awaken no interest, no desire to search the Scriptures to see if these things are indeed truth; when they see no conviction assured in the minds of those who transgress the law of God; when they are frequently met with flimsy excuses, with indifference or decided opposition and ridicule; when their hearers turn aside to heap contempt upon God’s holy law, they become discouraged. Where they looked for success, they found defeat….
Oh, how many lessons those young in the faith will have to learn in the exercise of winning souls to Christ! Some will learn in defeat and failure the lessons they would not otherwise have learned, but a few repulses have so chilling an influence that the spark of grace almost becomes extinct in their own souls and they think it does not pay to make efforts to save souls, and they no longer shine as lights in the world. The thought of turning souls from the errors of their ways, the sense of obligation to impart to others the precious light of truth, dies, and they do nothing….
These difficulties, opposition, disappointments and discouragements they must meet again in a more decided, intense manner, but they must be firm as a rock to principle. If we are Christians, we must be Christlike, we must reflect light.—Letter 19c, April 20, 1874, to W. C. White.
The Upward Look p. 124
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Prayer Requests
—-Please continue to pray for Hannah who is in ICU and her family. Rose
—-Please pray that God will give us wisdom in an upcoming decision. RJ
—-I need prayers for my marriage. Kristina B
—-I pray that you all will join me in prayer that God will work in a mighty way to open my children’s hearts and minds to the need for a relationship with Him. They were raised to know God but they each have gone their own way. Pray please, that God will work in a mighty way in their hearts and minds. Kathy
—-Please pray for Dahlia and Hannah who live fifteen miles from the erupting volcano. Also please pray for the people and animals of Australia who are suffering because of the fires. Rose
—-Our dog, Zoey, has an auto-immune disease that lifts the nail off the quick and is very painful. We have been giving her medicine and sometimes she seems better but she is not up to normal yet. She still likes to run but I can tell she doesn’t feel as good as she should. Buddy
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Dear Friends,
This morning I was going through a folder on my email labled “Things to Keep” and found the words to a song that Esther wrote when she was a teenager. I thought I would share it with you this morning. May it be the prayer of our hearts.
Rose
A New Heart

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17.
Assimilation is a law of human nature. Satan works with untiring perseverance to use this law, ordained by God to be a power for good, to forward his plans. He seeks to blend together righteous and unrighteous principles in order that through this union sin may lose its offensive appearance. He mixes chaff with the wheat.
The righteous should associate with the wicked only to restore the principles of truth which have been almost obliterated. He who seeks to help and bless others must depend wholly upon the unseen yet all-essential supply of grace and strength. He must cooperate with God if he would be successful in saving the souls ready to perish. He must associate closely with divine agencies, drawing by faith the grace so much needed to resist the elements of unrighteousness.
Christ saw Satan patterning after heaven by the use of human association, thus extending the contagion of evil, and He determined to make His church a resisting element. His people are not to borrow the forms and customs of the world, but are to be instinct with the principles which make the church on earth a symbol of the church in heaven, a channel through which heaven’s rich blessings can flow.
Untold good may be accomplished by the righteous working with and for the wicked; but too often those who ought to lead sinners to God do not draw with Christ…. Church members are under a solemn pledge to form characters different in every way from the characters of worldlings. If a change does not take place in them prior to their union with the church, there is danger that, though they have joined the church, they will assimilate with worldlings. Satan triumphs when he sees the leaven of the world working in the church, to the destruction of its purity and holiness.
It is God’s plan that in His church heavenly influences shall be reinforced and stimulated by the cooperation of the members with Him. His people are to increase in strength and efficiency, knowing that the atmosphere which surrounds the souls of righteous believers is the same as the atmosphere in the heaven of purity and light and love. Through Christian fellowship they are to form their characters, assimilating them to the character of Christ. According to their faith will be their Christlike meekness and lowliness. As God’s people seek to fulfill this plan, they are answering the prayer of Christ, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”—Manuscript 27a, April 19, 1900, “God’s Purpose for His People.”
The Upward Look p. 123
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Prayer Requests
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. B
—-After a year of prayerful deliberation, our family has accepted a call to Weimar. Please pray for us as we transition! Pastor Rich
—-PLEASE PRAY FOR MY FAMILY… ALL ARE NOT WELL. PRAYERS ARE SERIOUSELY NEEDED. THING ARE OUT OF ORDER… NO SAFETY.. Daniel
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Dear Friends,
How cruel is the heart of mankind without the Spirit of God dwelling there. The news is full of tragedies too heartbreaking to mention. There is no longer any safety upon this sinful, old planet.
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, how little did they realize the results of their disobedience. It seemed like such a little test. Yet, that small act of disobedience was the pivotal moment in their experience. From that small act, came a great change.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve had good fellowship with their Creator. At the time for evening worship, He came to this brand new planet in His great universe and conversed with them. But after their disobedience, just hearing Him walking in the garden brought a new feeling to their heart. It was a feeling of fear and dread. God’s Word tells us, “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Gen 3:8-11
God knew what had happened, but He gave them opportunity to acknowledge their transgression. Instead, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, and, ultimately they blamed God. “And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.” vs 12-14
How good and kind our Loving Father is! Before He told His erring children of the consequences of their sin, He gave them the promise of a Saviour! “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” vs 3:15
“Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. vs 16-19
From that point, death began. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever” 21, 22
From that one little sin, the close communion they had had with God became a more distant one. “Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” From that moment the world began to deteriorate and mankind became “worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” 2 Tim 3:13
But God does not leave us in such a pitiful state. He has provided a Way. Jesus is the “way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6 Let us thank Him for sacrificing His own life, so that we may have a restored relationship with our Creator. Let us serve Him from a heart full of gratitude and love. Let us place our hand in His and let Him lead us to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34.
There are those who cherish a spirit of envy and hatred against their brethren, calling it the Spirit of God. There are those who go up and down as talebearers, accusing and condemning, blackening character, inspiring hearts with maliciousness. They carry false reports to the doors of their neighbors, who, as they listen to the slander, lose the Spirit of God. Not even the messenger of God, who bears to the people His truth, is spared.
This sin is worse than the sin of Achan. Its influence is not confined to those who cherish it. It is a root of bitterness, whereby many are defiled. God cannot bless the church till it is purged of this evil that corrupts minds and spirits, the souls of those who do not repent and change their course of action.
He who is renewed after the Spirit of Christ will not only love God; he will love his brethren also. Those who make mistakes are to be dealt with according to the directions given in the Word of God. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
Plainly and faithfully evil is to be reproved. But let the one who takes up this work first be sure that he is not himself separated from Christ by evil works. He must be able to restore the erring in the spirit of meekness. Unless he can do this, he should not attempt to correct or reprove his brethren, for he will make two evils in the place of curing one.
Let men be careful how they treat the purchase of the blood of Christ. Let them not forget the prayer offered by the Saviour just before He left His disciples for the long struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let them not forget the high estimate He has placed on human beings by purchasing them at the sacrifice of His life. There are many who seem willing to wound and bruise the hearts of their brethren. Are they following the example Christ has left them? Where in the record of His dealing with men do they find themselves sustained in showing so little forbearance and patience in dealing with their brethren? …
That which distinguishes Christians from worldlings is the manifestation of Christlikeness, which by its pure influence cleanses the heart from selfishness.—Manuscript 52, April 18, 1902, “Fragments.”
The Upward Look p. 122
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Prayer Requests
—-I desperately need prayer for one of my son’s safety. Someone has threatened one of my son’s life and this person has had people killed before but this person has never been caught. The police know. Please pray for this person to be arrested and dealt with for their past crimes. But especially please pray for my son’s safety and for him to be right with God at all times. Thank you so much for your prayers. Connie
—-Please pray for Scott that he will charge from his wicked ways and that he will have an encounter with the Lord before its too late. Rosemary
—-Please pray for my daughter, she will be having a duct removed from her breast and although the dr says cancer is rare, all kinds of cancer runs in our family. Sandra
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Dear Friends,
Some years ago, Ron, Ronnie Jay, and I were at the store. They were at customer service returning something defective. I was getting a few items. While waiting in line, Ron started a conversation with a lady who had a beautiful little girl in the shopping cart. As they talked, this lady explained that she was babysitting the child. Her parents had died in a motorcycle accident and the grandmother was raising the child.
At this point, I came over to where Ron and Ronnie Jay were. Ron told me about the tragedy. I expressed my sympathy to the lady. She then began saying to the child “Mom and Tim are angels, aren’t they and we pray to them don’t we?.” The little girl looked at her with surprised eyes and said, “no.” I was shocked, but instead of asking the lady if she’d like to get together some time and study what the Bible says about praying, I kept quiet. On the way home from the store, I realized that I had missed an opportunity. By my silence, I had denied the truth. I had denied the Only One Who and hear and answer our prayers. How sorry I felt.
How often we do the same by our words or actions or silence. How many times we hesitate to speak a word for the One Who speaks for us. (1 John 2:1, 2) Do we share Him with others, or do we pretend that we don’t even know Him? Do we try to rationalize away our denial? Jesus said “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 10:32,33 Paul warns, “if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Tim 2:12 Those are solemn words. Words that have eternal consequences.
Often we do not know ourselves and think that we would never deny our Lord. That was Peter’s experience. When Jesus told His disciples that they would deny Him, Peter stood up and proclaimed that although everyone else would deny Him, he never would. “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” Mark 14:29-31 Peter could not believe it, but when he was “backed into a corner,” he denied his Master. He denied the One Who was giving His life for him.
When Peter denied Jesus, the Bible says, “Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matt 26:75 That was the start of a new life for Peter. From that moment he stood firm for his Saviour no matter what the consequences might be.
May we never deny our Dear Saviour in any way. May we pray that we will recognize opportunites for sharing the good news with others and have the courage to do so even in a store. May we “let [our] light so shine before men, that they may see [our] good works, and glorify [our] Father which is in heaven.” Matt 5:16.
Rose

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. Matthew 23:8.
Some days ago I received copies of a number of testimonials written for Brother N_____ by different men in official positions. I read these testimonials. In the night season a representation passed before me. Brother and Sister N_____ were looking over these testimonials. As they were talking together, there stood by their side, not the One who appeared to Brother N_____ on a certain occasion—the Messenger of heaven—but an evil messenger, who insinuated into Brother N_____’s mind the belief that his brethren wanted to get control of his property, and to put him and his wife out of the work…. The messenger said that they had been turned out in their old age in order that these brethren might carry on the work they had begun. Sister N_____ accepted this statement. Many false reports were received as truth. Next, Brother N_____ was represented to me as writing letters containing these false reports….
Then the scene changed. I heard words of counsel addressed to Brother N_____ by his brethren, but he was not willing to receive help from those who had always been his sincere friends. It was represented to me that Brother and Sister N_____ were both deceived by the enemy. They had become subject to his temptations, and were deceiving themselves to their own hurt. One stood by the side of the tempted ones, and said, “Have you lost sight of Him who said, ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28-30)? Will you, by envy and evil surmising, spoil the good work that has been done?”
My brother and sister, you now have the word of counsel from the Messenger of God. You are in danger, by yielding to jealousy, of counterworking the good work you have done. Stop right where you are. The Lord has helped you. He has worked in your behalf….
Addressing you, the Lord’s messenger said, “Cease to heed the suggestions of the enemy. Be led by the Lord. Walk in the way of His providence. Do not betray the work into the enemy’s hands by yielding to his evil suggestions. Look to Jesus…. In no case turn from your brethren, who have been your true friends.—Letter 61, April 17, 1902, to a couple who had pioneered work in the Southern States.
The Upward Look p. 121
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray that Jerry can soon get a job. I
—-Please pray that our children will become more earnest in their Christianity. D
—-Update I went to the hospital they have been running tests and they still don’t know what’s wrong and it’s a lot of pain and pressure on my left side lung breast area. I will be staying the night and then doing another stress test in the morning please keep me in prayer. K
—-I request your prayers for healing. Helen
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Dear Friends,
Yesterday, Ron had to go in for dental work and was miserable for the rest of the day. It reminded me of years ago when Ronnie Jay had a tooth with a cavity. His sister suggested that he go to the dentist. When I found out, I urged him to go to the dentist. Weeks went by. It began to bother him a little, so he asked me to take a look. It was a BIG cavity. Still he didn’t want to go. I understood. I also avoid going to the doctor or dentist as much as possible.
One morning as we were driving into work together, I told him the story about his great-great-grandfather. He had an abscessed tooth but refused to go to the dentist. That abscessed tooth pumped its poison into his bloodstream and he died of septicemia.
Ronnie Jay decided to go to the dentist after all. The dentist looked at the x-ray and shook his head. The tooth was too far gone to save. That tooth and his wisdom tooth had been fighting for the same space for years. As I sat there, I began wishing that years ago when the dentist had first suggested that he have his wisdom teeth pulled, I would have done so, but it looked like he had enough space in the back of his mouth, so I had figured that the dentist was just trying to “pad his pocket.” Because the tooth with the cavity was jammed up against his wisdom tooth, it got in such a bad condition, the dentist had to drill it into pieces and had a very difficult time getting all of it out. I felt so responsible…..
The Bible speaks of a group of girls who suffered because they had put things off as well. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” Matt 25:1-13
May we never put off accepting God’s Great Grace. May we never utter those dreadful words, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer 8:20 May we “give diligence to make our calling and election sure: for if we do these things, we shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10, 11
Rose

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. Colossians 3:12, 13.
[During the] hours of the night, while others are sleeping, I am praying that the responsible work committed to my trust may be so unselfishly and faithfully done that God will approve. The anxiety is not with me what others may think or what others may do, but What shall I do to glorify God? and Will my work bear the inspection of God? Is every high look removed from me? Is my heart in harmony with Jesus, the humble Man of Calvary? I am weeping and praying and working, trying my motives and feelings in the light of eternity, and if I am saved at last, it will be through the matchless love of my Redeemer.
Oh, how great has been that love that would endure such self-denial, such self-sacrifice for me! All we can do will be little enough, and we may well say we are unprofitable servants. Just as surely as we exalt ourselves and take the highest seat, God will humble us in some way very trying to human nature….
My husband, we must cultivate the spirit of Christ. There are many who profess the truth who need its sanctifying influence upon their hearts. Upright dealing and an exalted profession may characterize the life, but a want of true kindness, nobility of soul, conciliatory deportment, will neutralize all the good they are capable of doing. A sour, censorious religion finds no example in the religion of Christ….
Kind words, pleasant looks, and unselfish courtesy we must cultivate, for it will invest our character with a charm that will secure us respect and increase our usefulness tenfold more than were we otherwise in words and deportment….
An account we will have to render to God by and by, and we do not want to be ashamed of it because it bears the stamp of inconsistencies of impulse, of selfishness. We want to have an eye single to God’s glory, and our soul temple cleansed of selfishness, … and we assimilated to His divine image. Let us grow in grace. Cling with faith to Jesus Christ and we shall be upheld by His power.—Letter 22, April 16, 1880, to James White, her husband, who had just retired as General Conference president.
The Upward Look p. 120
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for D who is having depression problems. B
—-I am asking prayer for healing. Helen
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Dear Friends,
While I lived with my grandparents, I had a friend named Gary. He lived several blocks away, but was,from the age of five, allowed to come to my house to play. His parents were older, as were most people in the neighborhood and I think they were probably glad to have somebody for him to play with.
One day as we had just started playing together, he announced to my mother, that he had been at his cousin’s house and had been exposed to polio. (This was before Dr. Salk’s vaccine.) My mother was filled with dread. She sent him home and told him not to come back for a month. At first, I didn’t understand why she had been so “mean.” After she explained, I was glad that she had banished him until she was sure that he had not caught it.
Just as my mother reacted quickly to keep me safe from a terrible disease, so we must guard our children against unsafe associates. Just as she sent Gary away, so we must not allow anything in our home that might lead our children (or us) astray. We are to keep ourselves and our children separate from those distractions that could cause us to be infected with sin. Even though our little ones, may not understand at first, when they are older, they will thank us. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov 22:6
Paul tells us, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Cor 6:14-7:1
There is more to the above text than just refraining from marrying a non-believer or having a non-believing business partner. It is a principle that must be a part of every aspect of our life. The evil one has a multitude of distractions that can cause us to become infected with a virus far more deadly than the polio that Gary was exposed to. Therefore, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil 4:8
“What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Ps 34:12-15 May we guard carefully our children as well as ourselves from the evil one who walketh about as a hungry lion seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8) May we “give diligence to make [our] calling and election sure: for if [we] do these things, [we] shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto [us] abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11
Rose