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Ozark Christian Schools of Neosho PO Box 398, Neosho, MO 64850-0398 (417) 451-2057 -- www.obicollege.com Return Service Requested The STANDARD BEARER A place w here G od can help Himself to you ng lives.Founder D. C. Branham Volume 47, No. 6 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Nov./Dec. 2016 WISHING YOU AND YOURS A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! From the OBI Faculty, Staff, and Student Body CONVOCATION REPORT, 2016 Praise God for another great Convocation! The Spirit of God met us in every service. Brother Taylor started us out on the importance of the Bible in our preaching, and our walk with God. Brother Canter explained to us the difference between the carnal man and the spiritual man and our responsibility to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Brother Floyd preached great every morning, but I especially liked his sermon on “Having An Honest Talk With Your Soul.” Time is running out and there is a great need to make sure that we are ready for the coming of the Lord and our departure to meet Him. Brother Brimm did an outstanding job as usual in challenging the young people to re-establish the lost boundaries in their lives. Wow! If Brother Nathan Akers was nervous, you sure could not tell it as he challenged his generation to keep the pledge instead of taking the parachute. Brother Randy Snow started his message off with the title, “I Have Come To Encourage You.” Well, he sure accomplished what he came to do with the help of the Lord. I felt such an encouraging and lingering spirit of unity in the altars. It was one of those altar services so good that you lost track of time and did not want to see it end. We had some family business to take care of as the school and the alumni honored Sister Edna White for 25 years of service, and Brother Gene Canter for 35 years of service. We are believing the Lord to richly reward them for their sacrifice for His Kingdom. The congregation was informed that we are believing God for Brother Don Snow to be able to receive our gratitude for his service to the church and school at graduation. It was so good to see Sister Snow in the services worshipping God and getting blessed. I am always amazed at the dedication of God’s servants year after year as they pour their lives into the labor at Ozark Bible Institute and College. As a school, we would like to personally thank each individual for your attendance, and your giving to the work here. The financial needs of the meeting were met, and a wonderful offering for missions and pledges for the trips of Ozark Christian Missions have been made for the upcoming year. Our hearts are full of gratitude and worship for our Savior who has blessed us with such a great group of people to labor with in the harvest. Please mark your calendars and come be with us next year if the Lord tarries. Thank you and God bless you. By Mike Shelton OBI Academic Dean Nathan Akers challenging us to take the pledge instead of bailing out.

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  • Ozark Christian Schools of NeoshoPO Box 398, Neosho, MO 64850-0398(417) 451-2057 -- www.obicollege.com

    Return Service Requested

    The STANDARD BEARER

    “A place where God can help Himself to young lives.” Founder D. C. BranhamVolume 47, No. 6

    “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).Nov./Dec. 2016

    WISHING YOU AND YOURSA HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

    From the OBI Faculty, Staff, and Student BodyCONVOCATION REPORT, 2016

    Praise God for another great Convocation! The Spirit of God met us in every service. Brother Taylor started us out on the importance

    of the Bible in our preaching, and our walk with God. Brother Canter explained to us the difference between the carnal man and the spiritual man and our responsibility to walk in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Brother Floyd preached great every morning, but I especially liked his sermon on “Having An Honest Talk With Your Soul.” Time is running out and there is a great need to make sure that we are ready for the coming of the Lord and our departure to meet Him. Brother Brimm did an outstanding job as usual in challenging the young people to re-establish the lost boundaries in their lives. Wow! If Brother Nathan Akers was nervous, you sure could not tell it as he challenged his generation to keep the pledge instead of taking the parachute.

    Brother Randy Snow started his message off with the title, “I Have Come To Encourage You.” Well, he sure accomplished what he came to do with the help of the Lord. I felt such an encouraging and lingering spirit of unity in the altars. It was one of those altar services so good that you lost track of time and did not want to see it end. We had some family business to take care of as the school and the alumni honored Sister Edna White for 25 years of service, and Brother Gene Canter for 35 years of service. We are believing the Lord to richly reward them for their sacrifice for His Kingdom. The congregation was informed that we are believing God for Brother Don Snow to be able to receive our gratitude for his service to the church and school at graduation. It was so good to see Sister Snow in the services worshipping God and getting blessed. I am always amazed at the dedication of God’s servants year after year as they pour

    their lives into the labor at Ozark Bible Institute and College. As a school, we would like to personally thank each individual for your attendance, and your giving to the work here. The financial needs of the meeting were met, and a wonderful offering for missions and pledges for the trips of Ozark Christian Missions have been made for the upcoming year. Our hearts are full of gratitude and worship for our Savior who has blessed us with such a great group of people to labor with in the harvest. Please mark your calendars and come be with us next year if the Lord tarries. Thank you and God bless you.

    By Mike Shelton OBI Academic Dean

    Nathan Akers challenging us to take the pledge instead of bailing out.

  • The President Writes 2

    (Continued on page 3)

    By Daniel E. TaylorPresident

    The Incarnation:“The Word

    Made Flesh”

    “ I n t h e beginning was the Word, and

    the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-14). The Christmas season is upon us. The time of the year when God came to the world in the form of a baby. “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” God came near! Paul Harvey on his radio program helped us get a picture of what the Incarnation was about with this

    story: One raw winter night a man heard an irregular thumping sound against the kitchen storm door. He went to a window and watched as tiny, shivering sparrows, attracted to the evident warmth inside, beat in vain against the glass. Touched, the farmer bundled up and trudged through fresh snow to open the barn for the struggling birds. He turned on the lights, tossed some hay in a corner, and sprinkled a trail of saltine crackers to direct them to the barn. But the sparrows, which had scattered in all directions when he emerged from the house, still hid in the darkness, afraid of him. He tried various tactics: circling behind the birds to drive them toward the barn, tossing cracker crumbs in the air toward them, retreating to his house to see if they’d flutter into the barn on their own. Nothing worked. He, a huge alien creature, had terrified them; the birds could not understand that he actually desired to help. He withdrew to his house and watched the doomed sparrows through a window. As he stared, a thought hit him like lightning from a clear blue sky: If only I could become a bird-one of them-just for a moment—then I wouldn’t frighten them so. I could show them the way to warmth and safety. At the same moment, another thought dawned on him. He had grasped the whole principle of the Incarnation. A man becoming a bird is nothing compared to God becoming a man. The concept of a sovereign being as big as the universe He created, confining Himself to a human body was, and is, too much for some people to believe. But you and I believe it and that makes all the difference. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). Jesus came to reveal to us what God is really like. He is the complete Revelation of God. He is the way, He is the truth, and He is the life! He is the Living Word that enables us to understand the written Word. We were

    like the birds in Paul Harvey’s story. And Jesus came and showed us what God was really like! Is an orange sweet or sour? How should I know if I have not tasted it? Taste and see that the Lord is good. Jesus is the revealer of truth. You cannot know God unless you try and experience Him through Jesus. Before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He existed in heaven with His Father. Before Adam and Eve sinned, Jesus knew He would have to shed His blood to save fallen man. Jesus has cared about every soul in this world since He helped His Father create Adam. “The light shineth in darkness” reminds me of Rembrandt’s painting of the nativity. The light emanates from the face of the baby in the manger. The other figures grow increasingly more shadowy, the farther they are from the Christ child. John’s gospel is for the express purpose of helping us know and believe in Jesus. “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31). John wasn’t the only disciple to witness about the glory of “the Word made flesh.” In 2 Peter 1:16, Simon Peter said, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” John shows us twenty characteristics of God revealed in the Incarnate Son!• The Lamb of God• The Temple of God• The anti-type: Serpent Lifted Up• To the woman at the well, I Am• The Judge of all the earth• I Am the Bread of Life• I Am the Water of Life

  • 3———

    The President Writes Continued From Page 2• I Am the light of the world• I Am the Good Shepherd• I Am the Resurrection and the Life• The King’s Triumphant entry• The Perfect Example• I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life• I Am the True Vine• The Precursor of the Comforter• The Great Intercessor• The King of Truth• The Willing Substitute• The Resurrection and the Life• The One we must love and follow for the rest of our life “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). Paul points out a very beautiful thing in this verse. First, who is it that condemns us? God. Who is God? Jesus. The same Jesus that died for our sin, that rose for our justification,

    that is at this moment at the Father’s right hand, and He is interceding for us; making us and our prayers acceptable! “For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (Psalms 103:14). This assures us of His sympathy and help! He was tempted in all points like us, “yet without sin.” He is a High Priest that can be touched by our infirmities. When you tell the world about your sins, they say, “You made your bed, now lay in it.” Jesus says, “Take up thy bed and walk.” “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:1-2). A simple definition of the incarnation is: God becoming a man so He could help us! “Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name

    Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). A man shall be a hiding place from the wind, and a shelter from the storm! The Incarnation is about God wanting to come near to us in a way that we can relate to and understand. Young preachers, Sunday School teachers, that is the basic message of Christmas. J. W. Moore was told this by the preacher it happened to: He said that when he first got out of seminary, he wanted to show everybody how educated he was, so in his first appointment after graduating from theological school, every Sunday he would quote great theologians such as Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, Rudolph Bultmann, and Reinhold Niebuhr. After several Sundays of that, Tyrone said, “Sister Jones pulled me aside and said, ‘Tyrone, we don’t care about all of that. Just tell us about Jesus.’”

    ADRIENE BELT, OBI Senior I am so thankful for Ozark Bible Institute and College, for all the things I have learned and am continuing to learn. Over my summer break, I had the opportunity to teach a children’s Sunday school class for about eight weeks, and I realized just how helpful my classes at OBI have been. I’m a senior this year, and I am looking forward to seeing what God will do in my life this school year. If there is one thing I have been taught while being here, it would be the fact that there is always more to learn.

    STUDENT TESTIMONIES

    PRESTON MOREINO, OBI Junior This past summer God opened the door for me to intern with Pastor Randy Snow, and go on a missions trip to Zambia. God proved Himself faithful to me in many different ways. While at Faith Tabernacle, I saw God move in hopeless situations, save lost souls, and raise up His next generation of young people. In Zambia, I was blessed to be a part of playing with shoeless children, feeding hungry kids, and sharing the love of the Father with the fatherless. God is good, and I plan to keep helping my home church, as well as returning to Zambia to see the incredible things God has in store.JAALA COOPER, OBI Senior This has been an exciting and informative few years in my life! I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work in both our Children’s Church and Youth Group at Bible Holiness. This has been a lovely time of putting into practice the things I’ve learned at OBI. As I enter my senior year, I’m looking back at my three previous years at school, and I realize how much those years have changed me. Doctrinally, foundations were laid my freshman year. Sophomore year showed me how to better love my Lord and all of His people, providing a good frame. Junior year I learned more about practical

    ministry, adding solid walls and roof. Now I am getting ready to finish this building of my ministry so it can be used by Christ.

  • 4OBI Guatemala Update

    By MikePennington

    OBI GuatemalaField Director

    Donation CouponYes I would like to Contribute to OBI Guatemala’s mission work.

    � One Time Gift $_____________� Monthly Gift $______________

    � Toyota Work Pickup $______________Thanks and God Bless you is our prayer!

    Radio

    $275 eac

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    General

    operatio

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    $3000 e

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    Pastoral prayer during graduation

    Two mothers from Mexico and parents from Nicaragua

    Brother Craig Benner brings the message at graduation

    Fourteen 2016 graduates

    FINISHINGTHE COURSE “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be

    offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Timothy 4:5-7). The apostle Paul encourages Timothy in this passage of Scripture in

    regard to his calling into the ministry. He addresses spiritual alertness, patient endurance in difficulties that may arise, his ministerial work ethic, and the fulfillment of his ministry. Paul knew that he was about to leave this world for the next, and he could assert that he had fought evil well, finished his course, and maintained and guarded the faith. The year 2016 is drawing to a close. Decisions have been made in our lives this year that affect eternity for ourselves and others that we influence. May God grant us the moral character to continue to press

    on in His kingdom until the finish line. Fourteen young people finished their course at the Bible School in Guatemala and graduated on October 8. There were a lot of visiting pastors, family and friends at the ceremony. Brother Craig Benner, who served as director for the school 25 years ago, was the speaker. We appreciate the spirit that was present as these students finalized their Bible school training to go out into the harvest field for our Savior. Keep them in your prayers. Thanks for all that you do for this ministry.

    For souls, The Penningtons

    Toyota Work Pickup goal of $10,000, about $8,600 already received.

  • Ozark Christian Missions Report 5

    By Rachel Prihoda2006 OBI Graduate

    “TO WHAT PURPOSE

    IS THIS WASTE?”

    “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon

    the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste?” (Matthew 26:6-8). We were reading Matthew, chapter 26, during our classroom daily Bible reading and as my students read over this story, I just couldn’t seem to forget the mental picture the story inspired. The Biblical eating area is filled with the guests of Simon the leper, pressed around Jesus, listening to His every word, as they devour the food before them. The unnoticed woman quietly, shamefacedly, subtly makes her way to her objective. Her heart pounds and her palms sweat as she finally arrives behind Him. All at once it seems as if her pounding heart is all that is heard in the room as, one by one, curious eyes finally notice her standing there cradling her most valued possession—the precious alabaster box. Soon in the hush which fills the room, all that is heard is the Master’s voice, teaching and admonishing those about Him. He is aware of her, but knowing her heart He gives her the opening she needs to do what she must. Her hands tremble as she fumbles with the expensive box, but sudden strength fills her hands as she breaks the box and allows her priceless worship to anoint her Lord’s head. Now the Master’s voice

    falls silent, but as the aroma of the adoration fills the room, something else fills the hearts of those sitting around. Astonishment, questions, and shock fill the mind, but shame and conviction fill the heart. To cover the shame and conviction, soon one of the twelve demands, “To what purpose is this waste?” The disgust and disdain that drips off of the question is clearly evident, even though we were not in the room to see the rest of the disciples nod and voice their agreement. You see from their perspective, it WAS a waste. Something done that had no meaningful outcome. In Mark it tells us that only “some” had indigestion, oops sorry, indignation over the sacrificial action. Can you image what the others thought of her? Can you image the picture of heartfelt worship that was forever imprinted on their mind? This question is sometimes asked of missions trips. “To what purpose is this waste?” Especially of SHORT term mission trips. Why waste good money to send someone for such a short period of time? Could not the money be used for the missionaries already on the field? While I agree missionaries can always use funding, I do not agree with the “waste of good money.” A missions trip for anyone, but especially for ministers in training, is always a positive investment! First of all, any amount of money, effort, or outreach done for our Master is constructive for His Kingdom. Secondly, the impact on the individual who experiences ministry in a different culture is forever imprinted on their mind. In our given “safety zone” of ministry, we often fall into a rut of living the life or ministering the ministry. In our comfort zone, we have normalities we rely on, but when these are taken away we acquire new experiences

    which stay with us for a lifetime. A face takes on a glow with the knowledge that Someone (Jesus) loves them. The excitement dancing in the eyes as they receive a long-awaited Bible. The exhilaration that makes their bodies dance for the sheer thought that someone would travel around the world, just to come to their small village and talk to them. The anticipation of approval as the culturally prepared meal is set before the distinguished guest. These experiences, whether good or bad, will change the way ministry is approached and carried out. These memories replace the normalities and give an individual a renewed reason to keep on, keeping on. Thirdly, short-term missions trips not only impacts the person going, but it is a chance to “have compassion and pull them out of the fire.” Missions trips, or better said, ministry opportunities are an opportunity to change a life of those receiving the message. Those people who have not heard of the Gospel, hear the message. Those who won’t come to church to hear the local preacher, come to see. Those who are discouraged, can go on. This is what ministry is about, not just in our safety zone, but to the far reaches of the world. Fourthly, missions trips are a chance to help strengthen the full-time missionaries in their ministry. Full time missionaries live outside of their comfort zone. For the missionaries and their families, it is often a breath of fresh air to have a team come along beside and help bear the burden of souls. This assistance encourages missionaries more than just an “extra” offering for a special project. Yes, for some people, it is considered a waste to take a short-term missions trip. Something done with no meaningful outcome. But to Jesus, it is not a waste. Just like the expensive worship poured out on Him, He knows the costs of everything we do for Him. And He sees it as beautiful.

  • 6———

    Echoes From The Past

    (Continued on page. 7)

    THEFOUNDATION

    FOR HOLYLIVING

    God expects His peo-ple to live holy lives. That

    is the plain teaching of the Bible. It is hard to understand how some Christians can reject it.

    GOD EXPECTS HOLINESS Notice three portions of God’s Word which should remove all doubt about God’s require ments in this area. First, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to him-self a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). We believe this cleansing is done on this earth. Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world!” The life of holiness is possible now in spite of the evil world around us. And Jude 24 helps establish that God expects holiness in His children, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” But how does holiness come? What are its dynamics? The Psalmist asked a relevant ques-tion and immediately suggested the an-swer: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). This answer seems very simple, but I be-lieve there is more here than meets the casual glance. Let us consider a few por-

    tions of the Word which, if diligently heeded and applied, will produce a cleansed way―a holy life. Romans 6:6 strikes at the very heart of the matter: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be de-stroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” It is obvious that the “old man” is the source of all our trouble. Thank God, the “old man” has been crucified, and the “body of sin” has been “destroyed” (rendered inactive or inoperative). We are told in Romans 6:10 that when Christ died, “He died unto sin;” so when we died with Him, we also died unto sin. In verse 11, we are further told to “reckon”―to calcu-late―ourselves “to be dead indeed unto sin.” We are not told to hope or wish ourselves dead unto sin, but to reckon it to be a fact. As we do this hour by hour and day by day, we find that the power of the sinful nature is actually broken. It is like the situation recorded in 2 Samuel 3:1, “There was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.” Could we not para phrase and say regarding the sanctified soul, “Now there was long war between the flesh and the Spirit, but the Spirit waxed stronger and stronger, and the flesh waxed weaker and weaker” (Galatians 5:17).

    HOLINESS THROUGH THE INDWELLING CHRIST

    There is a step farther in the dy-namics for holiness. We have seen the death of the “old man,” but now, in his place, we see the ever pres-ent, glorious, victorious, indwelling Christ. “I am crucified with Christ: never theless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20). He thinks, sees, hears, goes, and does through me!

    A proper realization and appropri-ation of this glorious fact can produce nothing but ho liness in every area of our lives. The verse continues: “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” As in the case with the “old man,” when we reckon or calculate hour by hour and day by day the presence of the indwelling Christ, the reality of His presence becomes increasingly precious and effective. There is another passage of Scrip-ture which sheds light on this subject. In the latter part of the seventh chap-ter of Romans and the first verses of the eighth chapter, Paul introduced several laws. One of these is “the law of sin and death,” which is in our members (Romans 7:23). This law operates through the “old man” and brings one into grueling captivity. It appears to be a hopeless situa-tion. But, Hallelujah, another law is introduced in Romans 8:2, and it pro-vides us with complete freedom. It is called “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” It is definitely stated that this law makes us “free from the law of sin and death.” When we are free from this terrible bondage, we are free to live a life of holiness. We can allow this blessed liberating law to operate by giving ourselves to prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. As we walk hourly and daily in the light of this fact that “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus” is operating within us, what is potential in God’s provision becomes actual in our experience.

    HOLINESS THROUGH THE INDWELLING SPIRIT

    Let us consider one further dy-namic for holiness. It is found in Ro-mans 8:3,4. The law of God, which is holy and just and good would like to work holiness

    By W. H. KeslerOBI’s first

    Academic Dean

  • 7———

    Echoes From The Past Continued From Page 6

    Alumni In Action Continued From Page 8

    he killed a thousand Philistines and piled them up in heaps. Great victo-ries every one; victories that he would remember in the days to come. As Christians in our struggle for deliver-ance, we also have encountered our fair share of afflictions. We too have had to face our roaring lions, and with the help of the Lord we have escaped from Satan’s clutches. We have, with the help of the Lord, ripped up the gates that barred our deliverance and carried them away. When we were outnumbered, the Lord provided the weapons that would give us complete victory.

    Samson’s Strength As we read through the chronicles of Samson’s exploits, we find the one common refrain was that “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him.” The se-cret to all of Samson’s victories can be attributed to the work of the Spirit in his life. He would experience the unquestionable power of the Spirit in order to accomplish tasks far beyond his physical ability. On every occa-sion the Spirit would move on him, and through its power he would de-feat enemies and win great victories.

    Samson’s Solution Samson stands face to face with a greater number of Philistines than he has ever faced before. But with hands bound and an enemy shouting in his face, the Bible tells us that “the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands (Judges 15-14). “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19). The weapon of choice on this day was the jawbone of an ass that Samson used to defeat a thousand Philistines. It was the greatest victory that Samson had experienced up to this point. God will be faithful to bring victory out of the great trial of your life. While Samson was rejoicing over this current victory, he soon faced an even greater enemy. This enemy was different than anything that he had ever faced before. Every other obstacle of his past could be overcome with power and might. He would just put his mighty hands upon it and with the strength of the Spirit he would crush, break, or lift. Now he faces an internal enemy that he could not put his hands on, the enemy

    was thirst. All of Samson’s strength and power could not defeat this en-emy. After all of the victories that he had come through, he would now per-ish at the hands of an invisible force. Have you ever faced an enemy that was like nothing you’ve ever faced before. All of the secrets that have led to your past victories seem to be ineffective against this enemy. Samson’s victory came from a most unlikely source. Like Dave Roever, we may en-counter an obstacle that is greater than anything we may have faced in our life. We, like Samson, may be ready to despair that we might even be saved. What Samson found was that victory sometimes comes from the most unlikely sources. Who would have ever imagined that a well could spring up in a jawbone of an ass. Your source of victory, may be unusual to say the least, “...but will with the temptation also make a way to escape...” (1 Corinthians 10:13). You will find His grace and His strength will fight for you when all else has failed. Start looking for your unconventional escape.

    An Unconventional Escape(Continued from page 8)

    within us. It cannot do so because our sinful flesh simply will not cooperate. The holy law of God and the sinful flesh of His creatures always clash. Usually the flesh wins. This leads to worldly and unholy living. But God has the answer. “What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the like ness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” What God condemns, we should reckon and calculate to be condemned. Je-

    sus once cursed or condemned a fig tree. Immediately it began to dry up from the roots. May we believe God and see com-monly practiced, yet unholy, conduct be-gin to dry up from the roots! And we must not overlook the glo-rious pos sibility suggested in verse 4, “That the right eousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This is holi-ness! This God-pleasing righteousness is not fulfilled by us but in us. It is ac-complished by the indwelling presence of the living Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our part is to realize and appro priate the fact that the “old man”

    has been crucified, the “body of sin” has been destroyed, and the resurrect-ed Christ has been enthroned within.

    CONCLUSION I have endeavored to show that God expects holiness in the lives of His people. We have looked at the dynamics whereby this overcoming, victorious, holy life may be ours in practical day-by-day experience. May God give us the perception to see what He desires. And may He help us to apply His provision to ac-complish within our lives the stan-dards He requires.

    THE FOUNDATION FORHOLY LIVING

    (Continued from page 6)

    6

  • Alumni In Action

    2015-2016Officers

    Randy Snow, [email protected]

    Mark Hutson, [email protected]

    Sheila Shelton, [email protected]

    ANNOUNCEMENTS & PRAYER Please remember Brother & Sister Don Snow in your daily prayers for healing and strength. Also please remember Brother Wallace Joice as he is deal-ing with heart issues.

    BIRTHS Blake and Amanda (Schmidt) Long a new baby girl, Ro-salie Gracelyn July 9, 2016.Jared and Vicki (Guy) Myrick had twin boys, Harrison Glen, Grant Charles July 26, 2016. Tommy and Andrea (Hutson) Hammond a new baby boy, Thomas Reed III (Tripp) July 27, 2016.

    David BrimmOBI Graduate 1984

    Ben and Leah (Mosier) Brenner had twin girls, Aubrey & Ashlyn August 25, 2016. Nathan and Melanie (Laudel) Sherer a new baby Girl, Hayleigh September 21, 2016. Timothy and Keirstan Miles a new baby boy, Talon Austin September 24, 2016.

    WEDDINGS Jeremy Stoughton and Susanna Shaffer August 12, 2016. Ryan Whitley and Ashley Snow September 16, 2016. Ben Childs and Andrea Patton September 17, 2016. Phillip Holloway and Jordan Satterwhite September 23, 2016. Anderson Richardson and Bethany Derr October 1, 2016. Jon Paul Ramey and Robin Bennett October 29, 2016.

    ANUNCONVENTIONAL

    ESCAPE “And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

    And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance into the hand of thy ser-vant: and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised? But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water there-out; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore he called the name thereof Enhakkore,

    which is in Lehi unto this day” (Judges 15:15-19). The story of Dave Roever is stir-ring to say the least. Eight months into his tour of duty in Vietnam he was burned beyond recognition when a phosphorus grenade exploded in his hand as he prepared to throw it. Af-ter numerous surgeries and fourteen months in the hospital, he survived to tell of his miraculous recovery. Though many of us have experienced trials in our lifetime, few of us can say that we have experienced any-thing close to the story of Dave Ro-ever. While most Christians may never encounter such an enormous test, there may be some who are ex-periencing trials like they have never

    experienced before. In the text that we have presented to you, Samson is faced with a trial like he has never experienced before. Let us look first at Samson’s Sur-vival, then Samson’s Strength, and lastly, Samson’s Solution.

    Samson’s Survival In Samson’s struggle to deliver the people of Israel from the hold of the Philistines, he encountered many conflicts. In each of these encoun-ters, Samson relied on his strength and power to defeat the enemy. He used his bare hands to rip apart a roar-ing lion and with the strength of his mighty arms he picked up the gates of the city and carried them away. With the jawbone of an ass (Cont. on pg. 7)

    Thanks to the OBI Alumni for their kind rec-ognition of my twenty five years working at OBI. The flowers and gift card were greatly appreci-ated. I enjoyed my interaction with the students and am thankful for the many lasting friendships made over the years. I loved them all! PS “And I dare say I fed them lots of cookies.”

    I wish to thank all the alumni and the administration and faculty and everyone who contributed to the honor given me at convocation for my years of service at 0BI.

    Edna White, OBI Librarian Gene Canter, OBI Instructor and OCM Director

    RETIREMENTS

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