Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, of Rockford, has scheduled a series of Special Services during the week of June 2-9. Bro. Edward Byrd, of Harrison, Arkansas, will be our guest speaker.
    We cordially invite others in the area to SHARE OUR BLESSINGS during this week of Bible Studies, prayer and praise.
    Though I have no idea as to what subject Bro. Byrd will be pursuing, I am fully confident that his messages will be a blessing and Christ -honoring. "COME THOU WITH US AND WE WILL DO THEE GOOD!" E.G.

    Since our church does not maintain a separate bank account for the CLARION HERALD, and, since IRS surveillance of banking records is making bankers a bit jittery, it is becoming difficult to deposit checks made out to the CLARION HERALD in our regular account. Thus, we would deeply appreciate it if future checks sent in support of this ministry could be made out to the "Landmark Missionary Baptist Church".
    Thank you so much for your continuing, faithful support of this printing ministry! E.G.

    In the book of Hosea, one finds a very graphic portrayal of the heartbreak that comes through disregard of God's Word.
    Evil practiced without shame leads to greater evil, (vs. 11). It is important to remember that God had appointed, for Israel, ONE specific place where worship was to be made to His name, (Deut. 12:5-14). This was God's order for ancient Israel; He would accept them, and their worship, ONLY in the ONE PLACE that he had specifically appointed that it should be offered.
    The Lord, who changes not, is just as particular about our worship today. He has appointed the place where He will accept US and OUR WORSHIP; it is in HIS HOUSE - the church that He established during His earthly ministry. Each member of His body, so far as is physically possible, should be present for worship, praise and mutual edification EVERY TIME the doors are open for service - and not merely because the pastor insists on its importance!
    1) It is the command of God's

Word, (Heb. 10:25; comp. Jn. 14:21; I Jn. 5:3; Psa. 111:10; 119:34, 99-104; Rev. 22:14).
2) You NEED the fellowship of your brethren arid the nourishment of God's word.
3) Your brethren NEED the encouragement of your presence and influence.
4) The body cannot adequately reflect the glory of Christ without the proper functioning together of EVERY BODY-MEMBER.
5) You have BEEN REDEEMED - bought with a price! Thus, you belong to God, and have NO RIGHT to act contrary to His commandment!
6) You are responsible to SET A CONSISTENT EXAMPLE before your weaker brethren and a lost world!
7) You must give an account of the stewardship of your life.
8) Your unfaithfulness will be a discouragement to others and a stumbling-block to sinners.
9) Though you may so "mislay God" as to ignore His word, despise

His gracious provisions and spurn His love, you still MUST GIVE ACCOUNT for every idle word, every neglected opportunity, every rebellious thought and every unfulfilled spiritual obligation!
10) It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, who is "a consuming fire"!
11) Refusal to honor God, by regular attendance at His house, will lead to further rebellion.
    The plurality of altars erected in Israel could only be regarded as INSTRUMENTS FOR THEIR SINNING! (10:1; 12:11; comp. Jer. 2:28). The same principle applies to a multiplication of churches that the Lord has not established! Though they may impress the world, and appeal to the carnality of weak Christians, there is NO WAY that God will accept something designed to supplant, or compete with, what He HAS commanded. Anything undertaken contrary to His specific command IS SINFUL.


    Though highly privileged to receive God's law, Israel considered it "a strange thing", (vs. 12). "I have written to him" is God's own witness to the DIVINE INSPIRATION of the Scriptures, (Job 32:8; 2 Tim. 3:16; I Pet. 1:10-12; 2 Pet. 1:16-21). Since He has communicated His own mind to us IN WRITING, we are responsible to follow the instruction of the Scriptures, (Isa. 8:20). This communication was, at the first, specifically addressed TO ISRAEL; God was teaching the nation: by precept, types, shadows and by the prophets, (Hos. 12:10; 6:5)

    That which God spoke represent-atively, to Israel, the prophets and apostles, is FOR OUR BENEFIT! (I Cor. 10:11; comp. Rom. 4:23-25). This small nation, at the very center of the earth, was divinely chosen to be the messenger of God's grace to ALL OTHER NATIONS! In an effort to prepare them for this mission, He wrote for them "the great things" of His law - literally, "the 10,000 things of my law". What an inexhaustible mine of the riches of divine grace! How marvelously, lovingly and faithfully God provided for them! But His law was regarded by them as "a strange thing"! (Hos. 2:13; 4:6; 13:6; Jer. 6:19; 8:8-9).


    There is little wonder that Israel's worship was rejected, (vs. 13). Because of its insincerity it was rejected. In a formal, presumptuous way they sacrificed flesh (Hos. 5:6; 9:4; Jer. 6:20-21; 7:21- 26). But their hearts were not in what they did. Thus, the Lord refused to accept their offerings.
    Because the Lord had a controversy with His people they were INSECURE; they were NOT SAFE! He promises to REMEMBER their crookedness, (7:1-2; 9:8-9). He will VISIT their sins, (10:2). The result will be that they will "return to Egypt" - though not necessarily in a literal sense. The suggestion is that supreme misery is about to befall them.


Because of their unfaithfulness

to the Lord, Israel will be brought to shame - reduced to emptiness, so stripped of her vain glory as to walk in nakedness - being saved "yet so as by fire", Hos. 8:14).
    It is not at all unusual for men to build their temples "in forgetfulness of God". This obviously is not a LITERAL forgetting; men do not forget God in a literal sense. Yet, many references are made to such forgetfulness, (Deut. 4:9; 6:10-12; 8:11; 9:1, 4, 7). In the light of these verses, it appears that this forgetfulness involves a PERSONAL NEGLECT of what is accepted intellectually; failure to make intellectually accepted principles the central rule of one's life.

1) Neglect, within the family, to train up one's children in the way of the Lord.
2) Finding satisfaction in something that is contrary to God's order.
3) The manifestation of self- righteousness and pride in one's rebellion - to the extent that one actually claims that GOD IS BLESSING that which is contrary to His commandment!

    Thus, in a very real sense, men so "mislay" God that they become oblivious to Him! That was not only the trouble with Israel, it is the trouble of many confused believers in modern times. That is the chief trouble; God is forgotten, mislaid, lost as to any evidence of His ACTIVE POWER - touching life to condition, inspire, drive and build it up.
    Though acting religiously, Israel

is seen by the prophet as SIN- NING WILFULLY! A multiplication of religious institutions is never any sure evidence of spiritual prosperity. Temples are often built from unworthy motives: out of superstition, spite or desire to honor man instead of God. Even if one exchanges the word "palaces" for "temples" (as some do), the meaning is the same. A multiplication of palaces, as a sure evidence of divine approval and blessing, NEVER proves that God is pleased with what His rebellious people are doing. It only evidences His LONGSUFFERING!
    Men also demonstrate forgetfulness of God when they undertake their own defenses - forgetting that "the battle is the Lord's". But God, the forgotten Cod, will not forget the unconfessed and Un- forsaken sins of His people. The fire of divine indignation will blaze against the cities of Israel.

It will utterly devour that in which they have put their trust.
    From Nebuchadnezzar to Saddam Hussein, the Lord has humbled the pride of those who trusted in their own might. The safety of men and nations is to be found in the moral conduct of its people and the guardianship of the true and living God. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain!" E.G.


    A recent letter from Pastor Willard Spilman announces that the Colorado Family Camp 1991 is scheduled for July 1-5. Sponsored by Bethel MB Church, of Arvada, CO, two speakers will be featured each day: Bro. K.D. Ward in the afternoon and Bro. Edward Byrd each evening. Anyone desiring information should contact:

    After a number of lengthy delays, the editor's Outline Studies in Ephesians (a plastic spiral-bound book of approximately 100 pages) is now ready for distribution.
    Because of high postage costs, I must ask $3.00 for a single copy, $10.00 for 4, or $25.00 per dozen, postpaid.
    
This ministry is not designed "for profit", but as a service to other brethren and churches who desire a careful study of this Ephesian letter. E.G.