In our haste to get into print on time last month, we completely neglected any mention of our Fellowship Meeting over Thanksgiving. All present seemed to agree that it was a good meeting. Though the attendance was much smaller than what we have come to expect from previous years, the fellowship was sweet.
    To have Bro. Lonnie Ford with us for a full week of special revival services was a real blessing, challenge and encouragement to the church. His messages were superb!
    Other speakers during the Fellowship Meeting included brethren: Ken Murphey, Melvin Ford, Homer Bryan, Charles Loper, John Coleman and Eugene Tanker.


    Since our December issue of the CLARION HERALD we have learned that Bro. Roger Murrell, of the West Bronston Baptist Church, Bronston, Kentucky, has announced his call to the mission field in Madeira where he plans to work with missionary Edgar Potter.
    Roger, Donna and six children hope to be leaving for Madeira as early as possible - perhaps before

    It is a heart-touching experience to see a great man moved to tears! "Jesus Wept!" He chose, and delighted, to walk in the footsteps of sorrow - that He might heal the broken-hearted - turning aside from His own path of personal suffering to "weep with them that weep".
    Bethany! The scenes recalled by that word speak volumes of consolation for yearning and desolate hearts. What majesty is seen in those tears! He has just been speaking of Himself as "the resurrection and the life". The next moment He is weeping beside a human tomb - melted in anguished sorrow beside those who are bereaved. Ah! the tragedy of SIN! He understood it so much better than any other who ever lived among men!     See Him stop a funeral procession outside the little city of Nain, and hear him read its lesson to bereaved myriads "Let the widows trust in me!" Consider the farewell discourse to His disciples, when, subduing all His own sorrows, He thinks only of preparing them to face life courageously after He is taken from them, (Jn. 13-16). And remember the brief pause in

that silent procession toward Calvary, when He attempted to dry the tears of those who followed Him with heavy hearts, (Lk. 23:28). And think of that marvelous epitome of human tenderness, in the deepest of all crises, when He lovingly looked down upon the anguish of His mother - providing her a son and a home! (Jn. 19:26-27).
    Who, apart from Him, could ever imagine such sympathy? Son! Brother! Kinsman! Saviour! ALL IN ONE! The majesty of godhood is almost lost in the tenderness of a Friend. And the heart of Him who now sits on high beats responsively to the most humble of His sorrow-stricken people.
    "I am poor and needy, yet the Lord carries me on his heart", (Psa. 40:17, margin). Let us be ready, like our sympathizing Lord, "to deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also, and him that hath no helper", (Psa. 72:12). Sympathy costs so little! But its

recompense is great in the priceless consolation that it imparts.
    Consider Paul, a recently shipwrecked prisoner for Jesus' sake - chained to a soldier and about to stand before the wicked Caesar - his life at stake. He reaches Appii Forum and the Three Taverns, discouraged and distressed. But brethren come sixty miles, from Rome, to offer their sympathy and fellowship. His heart is cheered! His spirit is restored! He thanks God and takes courage! (Acts 28:15).
    May this same Christ-like spirit so move our hearts that we will delight in each opportunity to visit the house of discouragement and mourning - that we may bind up the widow's heart, and dry the orphan's tears. Our Lord Himself "looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but He found none!" (Psa. 69:20). It shows how dearly He valued sympathy - and that in its most common form - though an ungrateful world denied, even that, to Him.
    How long since YOU wept over the wretchedness of sin? And the tragedy of those who are riding its waves to destruction?

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summer of this year. Doubtless, their going will be a real encouragement to the Potter Family and, by the Lord's grace, a step forward in the progress of the true Gospel in a land where it has previously met with staunch opposition.
    Anyone wishing to assist in this may send their contribution to the West Bronston Baptist Church, Box 314A, Bronston, KY 42518 designated for the Murrell's. E.G.

Scripture Lesson: I Corinthians 6:12-20.

    INTRODUCTION: "Legalism" involves an attempt to live up to "the letter" of a system of laws, rules and regulations - "thou shalt's" or "shalt not's" - meticulously endeavoring to attain or maintain, a certain acceptable standard. It finds no real joy in that which the law permits - being weighted down by a "spirit of bondage" and fear.
    "License" is the opposite of legalism. It throws off all restraints and lives as it pleases without any regard for right or wrong, moral or immoral. It certainly has no intention of becoming its "brother's keeper". "Live and let live!" is its motto. The only consideration is its own desire and pleasure. Yet, it soon becomes evident that nothing can satisfy it for very long. It becomes more and more difficult to find anything that satisfies - that which it found pleasing at the first, soon becoming repulsive and insufferable.
    "Christian Liberty" involves a conscious freedom, from bondage to legalistic "rules and regulations", to self, to the allurements of the world and to Satan. It is a liberty that is safeguarded from license by one's love and respect for the Christ (through whose loving sacrifice he has found deliverance), and by the indwelling Holy Spirit - the Administrator of Christ's affairs on earth - who has come to direct our steps in the way of peace; our lives into the conscious enjoyment of that for which they were divinely fashioned.

I. THE LESSON BEGINS WITH PAUL'S ENUNCIATION OF A GENERAL PRINCIPLE THAT HE FOLLOWS IN HIS EXERCISE OF CHRISTIAN LIBERTY, (vs. 12).

1. "ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL FOR ME", he says - the first- principle of Christian Living.
1. This appears to be his response to the Epicurean philosophy that was running rampant at Corinth, which said: "Everything is lawful! Don't worry about reins or restraints; just let yourself go; express yourself!"
2. Paul insists that every gift and power of the human life is lawful for the Christian.
3. The Christian is not required to deny the activity of ANY natural power or function of his body; he may exercise every one.

guilt - not just an isolated part of him which "couldn't help it, because it was made that way!"

3. Sins of the intellect, sins of the spirit, or sins of the body - all involve the WHOLE MAN in their guilt.

  E. THE VERY POWER THAT RAISED JESUS, OUR LORD, FROM THE DEAD IS AVAILABLE TO MAKE US TRIUMPHANT OVER THE FLESH RIGHT NOW! (vs. 14).

1. He reckons us to be raised already, and "seated in the heavenlies" in Christ Jesus! (Eph. 1:3; 2:6; Phil. 3:20).
2. And Paul teaches that the enlightened mind will recognize "the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe" - is RESURRECTION POWER, RIGHT NOW! (Eph. 1:18-23; Rom. 8:11).

III. BY A SERIES OF CHALLENGING QUESTIONS PAUL PROBES THEIR INTELLECTUAL DISHONESTY - the disobedience of their unbelief, (vs. 15-18).

1. "DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOUR BODIES ARE THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST", (vs. 15a)? He has us WHOLE, or not at all!
1. Paul is not speaking of a literal, physical relationship - for it is quite obvious that our physical bodies were never intended to be connected to His physical body.
2. The reference is, evidently, to the relationship that exists between Christ and those who have identified themselves with Him - his plan and purpose for this age - in a local, New Testament church, (Eph. 1:22-23; Rom. 12:5; I Cor. 12:12-14, 27; Eph. 5:30, 32).
3. Thus, it is seen that our being joined to the Lord involves a spiritual union wherein we become ONE with Him in spirit, (vs. 17) - having His mind; his desire being our dearest pleasure, (Jn. 17:21-23; 10:38; Rom. 8:9-11; Gal. 2:20).


2. "SHALL I THEN TAKE THE MEMBERS OF CHRIST, AND MAKE THEM THE MEMBERS OF AN HARLOT", (vs. 15:b)?
1. "God forbid!" is Paul's response. Perish the thought! Let it never be so!!
2. Such shameful degradation of the Holy Son of God is something too horrible for one to consider!


3. "WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT HE WHICH IS JOINED TO AN HARLOT IS ONE BODY?"
1. The physical union in sexual relationship (which, in God's plan, is limited to the marriage relationship) identifies the two involved as being "one body" - "for two, saith he, shall be one flesh", (vs. 16b; Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:5).

2. But the relationship through which one is joined unto the Lord is a spiritual one - involving oneness of spirit, attitude and thought.

IV. FINALLY, PAUL URGES A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY EVERY CHILD OF GOD SHOULD "FLEE FORNICATION", (vs. 18-20).

1. WHOEVER COMMITS FORNICATION (involving sexual relations with anyone other than one's own marriage-partner) SINS AGAINST HIS OWN BODY, (vs. 18b).


2. THE BODY OF ONE WHO IS A MEMBER OF CHRIST IS A "TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT", (vs. 19).
1. He is "indwelt" by the Spirit of God.
2. He does not belong to himself.
3. HAVING BEEN "BOUGHT WITH A PRICE" (the precious blood of Jesus), WE ARE TO GLORIFY GOD.
1. In our bodies - by honorable living.
2. In our spirits - by attitudes that reflect his love and concern for the welfare of ALL MEN.
3. For both (body and spirit) we are responsible to God; since they belong to Him, we must give account of our stewardship over their use.