Present Truth
November/December 2015

Dear Readers,
“Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:2). May the God of peace send you the Spirit of His Son, the Prince of Peace, to live in you and transform you completely into His image.
New Year: We have been preparing for a new section in Present Truth for the new year. My children are working with me to begin a “Kid’s Korner,” written and formatted by my children. Look for it in our next issue, which should be in your mail boxes very soon.
In This Issue:
The Light of the World
by Lynnford Beachy
My Conversion Story
by Demario Carter
Sample of Available Printed Publications
Is There Blood in Your Sanctuary?
by Rick Tyler
Something for the Young at Heart

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The Light of the World
by Lynnford Beachy

Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). God is delighted to see you shine. He wants you to flourish and prosper so that others will see your light and glorify your Father in heaven.
The purpose of a light is to brighten the area around it. When a candle is lit it would be silly to hide it under a basket. Instead, it is put in a prominent place so it can give light to the biggest area possible. Even so, God wants to place you in situations where the light of His love can be manifested as largely as possible. 
A Powerful Witness
One day when Jesus and His disciples arrived at the country of the Gadarenes they were met by a ferocious man possessed by devils, who was very well known in that area, for many men had failed in their attempt to bind him with chains, and nobody would pass that way for fear of him. After Jesus delivered this man, he “besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him. And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him” (Luke 8:38-40).
Jesus could have invited this convert to travel with Him, but he had a greater work to do among his friends and family. They knew what he was like before, so to see the transformation was compelling evidence for them to believe on Jesus. His witness was so powerful that when Jesus returned that way, they were waiting for Him and gladly received him.
This man was a light that could shine brighter and be more effective in his home town. God had a particular plan for him, and by shining where God wanted him, he had the greatest success possible.
The Source of Light
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world…” (John 8:12). Yet, we have already read where Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.” You are the light because His light is in you. He is “the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9). To shine, we need His light in us. A candle without fire cannot give light to others, even so, without Christ’s life enlightening us and affecting the way we live, we are as useless as a candle with no flame.
“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7). God is the true source of all light. When we walk in His light, our lives are transformed.
Walking in the Light
What does it mean to walk in the light? Jesus explained: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Those who walk in the light are those who follow Jesus. “My sheep hear my voice,” said Jesus, “and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Following Jesus is an identifying mark of a Christian. Jesus taught, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).
To walk in the light is to follow Jesus, and it is this process that makes us lights to those around us. When we see the light of God’s character, it has an affect upon our own characters. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory [character] of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). When others see God’s character manifested in the way we treat others or respond to difficult circumstances, it gives them a desire to have what we have.
Walking in the light gives us a purpose in life. It is not about me anymore; it is about falling in love with God and reflecting His character to those around me. Jesus expressed this in reverse when He said, “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth” (John 12:35). Someone who walks in darkness (apart from Christ) does not know where he is going, but those who walk in the light know where they are going, they have a purpose-driven life.
A New Life
Paul explained, “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Walking in the light, following Jesus, requires a new life, a transformation from the inside out. Jesus said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). In the new life, old things are passed away.
 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light” (Ephesians 5:8-14).
Christ wants to shine in our hearts. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). A light shining on the inside will be manifested on the outside. When Christ is living in your heart, it will be observable by those around you by the way you treat others and react to situations. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14, 15).
The Eye
Jesus explained, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single [simple, clear, sound, unclouded], thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22, 23). Jesus was not speaking about your physical eyes, but “the eyes of your understanding” which need to be “enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18).
The first sin on earth started because Eve was tricked into seeing things differently than they really are. Satan convinced her that the forbidden fruit would help her. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). Her perception of the fruit changed, so, naturally, her perception of God changed. If the fruit God had told her would hurt her, would actually help her, then God must be selfish and a liar.
God sent His Son to settle forever the questions about His character. He loves you “with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). All of our distorted perceptions about God need to change.
Jesus said, “Take heed therefore how ye hear…” (Luke 8:18). Here, Jesus was also speaking about our perceptions, but used hearing instead of seeing as an example. We need to be careful how we see and hear things, because our perceptions are often wrong. One absolute that should never change in our perceptions, regardless of how difficult life becomes, is that “God is love,” (1 John 4:8). All of His dealings are based upon His love for us. Keeping this in mind will help us to see clearly.
God loves you tremendously! He cherishes you. Paul explained how thoroughly the Lord loves us, likening His love to how a man should love his wife. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25). “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones” (Ephesians 5:29, 30). You are cherished by God. Regardless of your circumstances, you are being nourished by God to prepare you for an eternal home with Him.
Conclusion
You are the light of the world. You are to be a window for God’s character to shine out of to the community where you live. A light is not to be put under a basket or hidden somewhere out of sight. Instead, it is to be brightly shining where it can reach as many people as possible.
There is a mentality prevalent that causes people to hide themselves away like hermits. They think that in order to be safe during the soon-coming tribulation, they must have as little contact with others as possible. This mentality is based on fear and selfishness. Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35). We should be more concerned about the well-being of those around us than about preserving ourselves. How can we be the light of the world when we are hiding that light under a basket?
Friends, you have been transformed so you can be a light in the world. Please do not hide yourselves away so nobody can see the light within you. If the transformed man, whom Jesus told to be a witness in his community, had secluded himself in a cave like a hermit, how could he be a blessing to his friends and family?
A candle hid under a bushel soon goes out itself. Often people get so reclusive that they lose track of what is really important. They start to major in minors (they place much stress on unimportant side issues, and neglect the most important reason for living—to be a light for God’s glory to shine to those around). They become like the Jews who would “…strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24).
Wherever God has placed you, you are there for a reason: to be the light in your community. Do you know your neighbors? Do they know that you care for them and wish for them to be blessed? Someone shared a quote with me that I really enjoy. It says, “Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’”
If you have accepted Christ, then you are the light of the world to your community. You may be the only glimpse of heaven that some will ever see. Go out and share the light! “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising” (Isaiah 60:1-3).
Ministering to the needs of those around you will look differently for different people. It could be visiting a nursing home or a hospital and encouraging people. It could be getting involved in prison ministry, either personally (one of my favorite things to do), or by mail. It could be working to alleviate the suffering of the homeless, orphans or widows. It could be to volunteer on a fire department (my wife and I do this). It could be to visit your neighbors and ask how you can pray for them. It could be a kind word or action, or even a smile. There are many ways to let your light shine so those around will know you as one who desires their good. Pray for God’s guidance so your light can bless others and burn more brightly. Please get out and make a positive difference in the world.
Note: If you have any testimonies from your own sharing experiences, or ideas about how to outreach and bless your community that might benefit others, please send them to us so we can share them with our readers. We may not be able to share them all in this newsletter, but I am sure we, personally, will be blessed by each and every one.
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My Conversion Story
by Demario Carter

There was a song I heard in my childhood years that had a verse that said, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be?” This verse expresses the theme of my heart when I think of the goodness of God and all He has done for me. If it had not been for a God who loves his enemies, where would I be? And if it had not been for a God who looked upon me with pity and acted upon me with grace, then where would I be? Only God truly knows where I would be, but because I know where I was, I magnify Jehovah for where I am today. I stand and testify of a heart-changing God who has delivered my soul from the chains of darkness and joined it to the Son of Light. The Almighty Father has proved His love to me in ways that have left me so convinced that there is no greater love. And, as I reflect upon the saving grace that has produced my conversion, my heart is overwhelmed with a great debt that is due to His name. At a time when I thought that all hope was lost, the hands of God were directing the events of my life in order for His power to be seen.
The incidents that brought about my conversion are living monuments that bear witness to the patience, mercy, and forgiveness of the God who is as powerful today as He was in the days of Moses. On the ninth of June, 2000—a day that is far from being forgotten—an event occurred that would eventually change my life forever. On this day, I decided to engage in a criminal act, the likes of which I had never done before. I was barely eighteen years old, and a high school graduate for only nine days. Young and full of worldly aspirations, my reasons for participating in this crime were a combination of greed, pride, and the fear of rejection. I had a little concern about the consequences of my actions, but not enough to restrain my ambitions. So there I was, even in the brightness of the morning, endeavoring to experience a new dimension of the criminal life in an attempt to gain not only wealth, but also a higher degree of honor within my social group.
As I proceeded to engage in this crime, something suddenly occurred that was not a part of the plan. It just so happened that while I was leaving the scene, an officer was driving down the same street, headed directly toward the scene me. By the time I noticed him, it was too late to get into my vehicle. Therefore, I walked along the city street hoping that he would just drive by, but he did not. To my surprise and dismay, he stopped right beside me and stepped out of his car. After a short investigation, a foot pursuit transpired, after which I was arrested. So there I was, detained in the county jail. This was my first time incarcerated as an adult. The only other time I spent incarcerated was when I was sixteen years old, and even that was not even a true incarceration because it lasted for only a few hours, until my father arrived to get me. However, this time was different: hours turned into days, days into weeks, and weeks into months. But little did I know that the hands of God were directing the events in order for His power to be seen.
Prior to my trial, the District Attorney offered me a plea bargain that I did not accept because prison was included. At eighteen years old and weighing a mere 120 pounds, prison was the last place I wanted to be. I thought that if I were sent to prison, I would definitely come face to face with death. Not only did my body size influence my reasoning, but the fact that I had made many enemies throughout this entire process also strengthened my fears. Therefore, I decided to disregard the plea and place my life instead into the hands of the jury. Now, this was undoubtedly an unwise decision. The amount of time offered in the plea bargain was no match to the amount of time I could have received if found guilty of all eleven charges. But the hands of God were directing the events in order for His power to be seen.
After the selection of the jury, the trial was in full session. Evidence was brought forward, witnesses bore their testimonies, and arguments were exchanged between the District Attorney and my lawyer. After a two-day trial, the process of deliberation finally began. Before the jury began to deliberate, there was no doubt that I was guilty of all charges. Not only did the evidence prove my case, but the fact that I refused to testify on my own behalf also provided solid evidence of my guilt. So there I was, awaiting my fate. Now, if I had been convicted of all eleven charges, I would be incarcerated for the rest of my life. But the hands of God were directing the events in order for His power to be seen, and it just so happened that on the day before the deliberation, the uncle of one of the jurors died. As a result of this, the juror was overwhelmed with grief, which would not allow her to continue in the deliberation process. Therefore, she asked to be excused from the process and dismissed from her jury duties. After investigating the validity of her uncle’s death, it was determined that his death indeed occurred. So, in accordance with certain regulations, she was granted her request.
Now that this juror was dismissed, there were only eleven jurors remaining to decide my case. By law, at least twelve jurors must be present to deliberate and decide a verdict. Now that there were only eleven, I was given an option to either allow them to render a verdict or declare a mistrial. Well, considering the fact that all evidence was against me, and my guilt was apparent, I immediately declared a mistrial. As a result of this declaration, the District Attorney had several options to choose from: he could have dismissed my charges, filed a motion for a retrial, or offered me another plea agreement. As time passed, I prepared myself to face another trial. I knew that my charges would not be dismissed, and I thought that no better plea would be offered than the one that I had refused. But the hands of God were directing the events in order for His power to be seen.
Around a month after the trial, my attorney visited me with news regarding the status of my case. The report he brought was far beyond my expectations. Previously, the District Attorney attempted to provide the Labette Correctional Conservation Camp (boot camp) for me as an alternative to prison. But Boot Camp did not accept me because of the severity of my crimes. Following my trial, however, the Lord put it upon the heart of the judge to write a letter to the administrators of Boot Camp requesting that they accept me into their program. This resulted in great success, and, as a result of their acceptance of me, the District Attorney revised his plea bargain, which now granted me community probation upon the completion of the Boot Camp program. This was the news that my attorney presented. With exceeding joy, I immediately accepted the plea agreement. After spending six months in Boot Camp, I was released back into the community. This amounted to a total of fourteen months of incarceration.
Though I learned many life-improving strategies in Boot Camp, it was not enough to change my evil conduct. I did not learn the discipline needed to keep me out of the streets. And most importantly, I did not learn the reality of where a life of sin would end. Upon my release I continued to travel the path to destruction. Even though I was given a three years’ probation period, I did not abide by the terms laid out in the agreement. Instead, I continued to associate with the same social group, and I got heavily involved with alcohol. The motivation I gained from Boot Camp was applied to my endeavors to become rich, and due to my involvement with illegal drugs, I was slowly gaining wealth. So there I was, living free and prospering in many ways, but even though I was gaining the desires of my heart, deep down I was afraid. I did not want to live in fear for the rest of my life, yet my fears were not capable of restraining my egotistic ways.
A wise King once said, “He who covers his sins will not prosper” (Proverbs 28:13a). Fourteen months after my release, this proverb was proved true in my life. As a result of my continual engagement in illegal activities, I found myself sitting in the county jail again. This was the second time I had been arrested as an adult. The crimes that I committed this time were not as severe as the former crimes, but the amount of time I was facing was still great. However, the effects of this latter incarceration were different from the former. Immediately after my incarceration, I began to question myself and ponder the course of my life. Most disturbing to me was the thought of leaving my little girl, who was only two months old, in a world too large for her to live in without her father. I could not believe that I had abandoned her. For this and other reasons, my heart was severely broken, and I wept for many nights. “What am I doing?” “Is there a better way to live?” “Where will I end up in life?” These were some of the questions I asked myself as I sought the meaning of my life.
As I mentioned earlier, my second incarceration was in many ways different from the first. Since I was still on probation when I was arrested, my probation was revoked, and I was immediately transported to the Department of Corrections. Before my transportation, however, the Lord began to thoroughly impress my heart. While still in the county jail, I began to read the Scriptures with an earnest desire for change. I began to cry out to God, in desperation, for help. I began to realize that it was my own selfish desires that were ruining my life. No longer could I blame others for my problems; I knew that I was my biggest offender. As I read the Word, revelations filled my mind. I began to confess my sins and exercise trust in Jesus Christ. Little concern was given to the amount of time I was facing. I had experienced the peace of God that expelled many worries. I had come to realize that the hands of God were directing the events of my life in order for His power to be seen.
Upon my arrival to prison, I was comforted with the assurance that God was with me. I did not know what to expect, but I knew that I was determined to continue in His Word. After about a month’s time, I received a visit from my attorney, in which he informed me about the status of my new case. You see, somehow my new charges were dropped even before I was sent to the Department of Corrections, so the only reason why I was sent there was to finish the time appointed from my previous case. However, while I was in prison, my new charges were refiled. During his visit, my attorney related to me the amount of time I was facing. He informed me that I could receive at least fifteen years in prison if convicted. But little did he know that the hands of God were directing the events in order for His power to be seen.
After my attorney’s visit, I remained calm and peaceful. I related the news to some of my street associates who were also serving a prison sentence. They were amazed that I was facing such a large amount of time. And they were even more amazed at how I remained happy and unconcerned. They thought I was strange because of my change of conduct, and our association grew further and further apart until they finally recognized my sincerity. I was determined to live right, and I could not allow any man to persuade me to do otherwise. I had experienced the touch of God’s love, so neither life nor death could steal the joy that I had in my heart. Even with the thought of facing fifteen years, I concluded that nothing could separate me from the love of God.
As time passed, I was transported back to the county jail to face the new charges that had been refiled. I wasn’t there very long until my attorney visited me again, with news regarding the position of my case. To this day, I am amazed at the power of God and how He continually intervened in my life. To my surprise, two of the original three charges were not refiled. It seemed as if my attorney was not fully aware of this when he visited me in prison. What he thought was a fifteen years prospect was drastically decreased. Furthermore, my attorney informed me that the District Attorney was extending a plea agreement that consisted of only a thirty-four-months prison term, consecutive to my prior case. After pondering over the pros and cons, I eventually accepted the offer. I had already experienced the prison environment and was not troubled over the thought of serving a little more time. The peace of God was ruling in my heart, and I knew that nothing would happen to me aside from His will. I understood that the hands of God were directing the events in order for His power to be seen.
In the second half of Proverbs 28:13, King Solomon says, “...whoever confesses and forsakes [his sins] will have mercy.” Just as the former half of this proverb was proved true to me, so was the latter. I was eventually transported back to prison to complete both prison sentences. For the entire forty months of my incarceration, I spent my time developing a close relationship with the Father and his Son. Hours upon hours were devoted to studying, praying, and meditating. I began to see life in a very different way. I realized that all the recent events of my life were a part of God’s plan to gain my attention. If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, I would be either permanently incarcerated or six feet underground. But Jehovah’s love is immeasurable, and His judgments cannot be overturned. The Father is actively engaged in the administration of His saving grace. He is earnestly stretching out his arms to the lost sheep that are still wandering in the mountains and deserts of this world. And because of the fact that He has patiently labored for my deliverance, I am determined to labor with Him for the deliverance of others. By the grace of God, I will fight the good fight until the end. By His might, I will run with endurance. And until the day my breath departs, I will earnestly work to let the world know that the hands of God are directing events, in order for His power to be seen.
(Demario Carter is the founder of The Counsel of Prophecy ministry in Wichita, Kansas. You can reach him by email at gospelworker82@gmail.com. Editor)
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Sample of Available Printed Publications
These are just a few of the many publications we have available. Pamphlets marked with * are available in Spanish. See the July 2015 issue of Present Truth for more titles.

  	God’s Love on Trial
This 44-page book reveals how God’s love has been under attack by the invention of false theories about God that misrepresent His character. Here you will see why it is so important to know God.*	  	Finding Your Identity
This tract was the lead article in the June 2015 issue of Present Truth. It focuses on our need to find our identity in Jesus Christ instead of other people, our possessions, or talents. We have had many positive responses from this article, along with a request to turn it into a pamphlet.	
 	100 Bible Facts on the Sabbath Question
This 4-page tract contains thought provoking questions and answers about the seventh-day Sabbath from history and the Bible.*	   	The Incredible Love of God
This tract was the lead article in the January 2015 issue of Present Truth. It focuses on how deeply God loves us. We have had many positive responses from this article, so we decided to turn it into a pamphlet. It is one of the easiest tracts to share.	
 	Understanding the Personality of God
This 54-page book is a thorough Bible study on the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit of God, demonstrating that Jesus Christ truly is the Son of God who really died for our sins.		The Importance of Knowing the Truth About God
This 12-page booklet explains why it is so important to know the truth about God and His Son.	
	The Formulationof the Doctrine of the Trinity
This 24-page book is an examination of the history of one of the most mysterious doctrines ever to be taught in Christianity.*	   	What Must I do to be Saved?
A tract explaining the basics of salvation, along with Lynnford's personal testimony of how God delivered him from drugs and alcohol.	
    	A Time to Choose
This 28-page book identifies the beast, the mark of the beast and the number of his name. For indisputable Bible evidence on this important topic you must read A Time to Choose.	   	200 Omissions
A tract listing 200 omissions in most of the newer Bible translations.	
	What Happens After Death?
This 12-page booklet is an in-depth study into what the Bible says about the condition of those who have died.*		The Kingdom of Heaven
This 8-page booklet examines what God's kingdom is, and how we can be a part of it.	
	God’s Love Revealed in Hell
This 12-page booklet reveals what the Bible says about hades, hell, and gehenna fire.*		The Millennium
This 12-page booklet is a Bible study about the 1,000-year millennium as well as the rapture of God’s people.	

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Is There Blood in Your Sanctuary?
by Rick Tyler

Blood was an important symbol in the sanctuary in Israel. It was a symbol of the sacrifice that Christ would give for the remission and cleansing of the sins of His people. Each day the priests would make a morning sacrifice and take a portion of that blood into the Holy Place of the sanctuary and sprinkle it upon the curtain, or veil, that separated the two compartments. Each evening this service would be repeated and, again, the blood of the sacrifice would be brought into the Holy Place and some of the blood would be sprinkled on the curtain dividing the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. However, once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, known to the Israelites as Tishri 10 according to the Jewish calendar, the Jews were to observe what was called the annual Day of Atonement.
This annual Day of Atonement was for the entire nation of Israel. On this day a special sacrifice was made for the cleansing of the sanctuary. This ceremony signified the removal, or cleansing of all sin that had been transferred to the sanctuary by the people during the year. This was an important day also for each individual, in that each person in the entire nation was to search his own heart for any unconfessed sin, so that all sin could be done away with then and there, completely. One of the important differences on this day, in the ceremonious (?) sense, was that the blood of the sacrifice was brought into the Most Holy Place and the High Priest sprinkled it on the mercy seat, which was on the Ark of the Covenant; the very dwelling place of Jehovah (Exodus 25:22, 37:1-9, Psalm 99:1, Hebrews 9:24).
The question is, what did this blood represent? The blood was a symbol of the price Christ would pay for the forgiveness of the sins of His people. The Bible is very specific about what the blood represents. The Bible tells us, “…the blood is the life” (Deuteronomy 12:23). “But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat” (Genesis 9:4).
In these verses, God is giving us a command about not eating blood, and He is very clear about the blood being the life of the creature. (See also Leviticus 17:11, 14). Therefore, we can see that the very life of our Savior was shed for us when He died on Calvary, and Christ’s very life is presented on our behalf to His Father in Heaven as He intercedes for us. Jesus said, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).
Today, we know that Christ is in heaven, so what about those of us who are living here and now? How do we benefit today by Christ’s ministering for us? The Bible states, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Corinthians 3:16).
If we are, today, a living temple, or sanctuary, of the Living God who dwells in us, then we need the blood, or the life, of Jesus in us to be our mediator, or minister, for us now. The more we realize our sin, and our sinful nature, the more we understand the need for the very life of Christ to be in us and to dwell in us. This life of Christ is a spiritual life that can be given to us. That’s why Christ told us in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
Again, we read in 1 Corinthians 15:45 that Christ is made a life giving spirit for us. Notice Paul’s words, “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
Friends, this is how we have the spiritual blood, or the life of Christ, applied to us directly in our body, which is the sanctuary that God has created us to be. Christ is our mediator who lives within us so that our heavenly Father, who dwells in Him, may dwell in us also. This is how Christ is cleansing our sanctuary! What a tremendous gift from God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ!
(Rick Tyler works with Mark Martin and Ed Short at Prophecies of Hope in Staunton, Virginia. You can reach their ministry by phone at 540-296-4673, You can email Rick at: rick@prophecyhope.com. You can visit their website at: www.prophecyhope.com. Editor)
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Something for the Young at Heart
This month we are continuing a series of studies written by my children. In order to maintain the flow of the study, this crossword puzzle is not split into Across and Down sections—Across or Down is indicated at the end of each line. (The KJV is required.)	

To complete this crossword, please download the PDF version of this newsletter.
Love – by Rebekah Beachy
› “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his ____ for his friends.” John 15:13—17 Down
› “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall ____ your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:18—13 Across
› “And showing mercy to thousands of them that love me and keep my ____.” Deuteronomy 5:10—6 Across
› “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your ____, and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5—7 Down
› “Know therefore that the Lord your God, he is God, the ____ God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” Deuteronomy 7:9— 3_Across
› “Therefore you shall love the Lord your God, and ____ his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always.” Deuteronomy 11:1—15 Across
› “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to ____ in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to hold to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 22:5—5 Down
› “Take good ____ therefore to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God.” Joshua 23:11— 10_Across
› “I will love you, O Lord, my ____.” Psalms 18:1—2 Down
› “Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that ____ right.” Proverbs 16:13—19 Across
› “Love not ____, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.” Proverbs 20:13—16 Across
› “You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and ____ your enemy.” Matthew 5:43—1 Down
› “But I say unto you, Love your ____, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44—11 Down
› “No man can serve two ____: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24—14 Down
› “Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your ____ as yourself.” Matthew 19:19—8 Down
› “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your ____, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30—9 Down
› “And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is none other commandment ____ than these.” Mark 12:31—12 Across
› “Therefore does my ____ love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” John 10:17— 18_Across
› “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: ____ you in my love.” John 15:9—6 Down
› “If you keep my commandments, you shall ____ in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and ____ in his love.” John 15:10 (1 word)—4 Down

Note: If you or your children would like to participate in preparing Crossword Bible studies, send us a Bible study in the format above, with one word missing and replaced with a blank ____. Put the missing word at the beginning of the paragraph followed by a colon: (Make sure that you do not use the same word twice). Make sure each verse is relevant to the study and provide approximately 20 verses). If you send this to us we may be able to include it in an upcoming issue of Present Truth.
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Editor: Lynnford Beachy, PO Box 315, Kansas, OK 74347, phone: (304) 633-5411. Jim Raymond, phone: (407) 421-6025, e-mail: newsletter@presenttruth.info.