Many people seem to have difficulty in keeping their thoughts pure and their minds free from things they know are not according to the life of a Christian. If we closely follow the Word of God on this, as well as on other lines, we will have no trouble whatever. We are told to "gird up the loins of our mind." We can have the mastery over them if we just will. It depends much on what we permit our minds to feed and dwell upon. We will always have pure, holy and good thoughts and our minds will be pure and stayed on God and heavenly things if we obey the injunction in Philippians 4:8-"...Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Why allow our minds to dwell on impure or unholy things when there are so many good things of which to think?

If we would keep the loins of our minds girded up and, as an impure or unholy thought comes, banish it at once, there would be no crop of impure thoughts, for the soil of our minds would be continually kept pure. Nor should we listen to impure or unholy language, for it will make a greater or less impression on our minds that will have a reflection, and often when we want our minds for clean, pure thought, the enemy will try to bring these things to us to scatter and hinder the pure, holy thoughts we want for our profit. Neither should we indulge in, nor listen to impure and unprofitable stories or gossip. All these things have their influence, and the reflection on the soul and spiritual life is harmful.

Let us guard our thoughts as well as our words. Let every thought be so pure that we would not be ashamed to have it written out that all might see it. This is not impossible, for He whom we serve has promised that every thought shall be brought into subjection to the obedience of Christ. (II Corinthians 10:5.)

Question: Bro. Wayne: There is a controversy in our town between the churches concerning the second work of grace. There are some who believe that when you get saved you "get it all." Then there are others who teach a definite second work. Is it possible for you to address this subject in the Question and Answer column?

ANSWER: Dear Brother: In order to answer this question I would like to concede to some writings by the late Bro. O. B. Wilson Jr., which ascertains that these two works of grace require two different actions on our part to receive them.

The first step in salvation is a genuine repentance for sins committed. When this is thorough, complete and genuine, then God injects a faith into the penitent, broken heart to believe in Jesus Christ and His blood atonement for his forgiveness, salvation and the washing away of his sins. Then God, for Christ's sake, justifies the repentant sinner (absolves him from guilt of his committed sins) and counts him innocent in His sight because of his faith in what Christ did.

The forgiving of sins committed is not the sum total to the solution of the sin problem. There is another type of sin we did not commit that every person has, which cannot be repented of because we did not commit it and are in no way responsible for it. It is a genealogical thing. It is transmitted from generation to generation from Adam clear on down through the generations of humankind until now. Sin brought about a change in man's moral nature. In God's moral likeness and image, as he was created, he was possessed of "...righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:24. (See also Colossians 3:10.) Now, instead of this "righteousness and true holiness," he becomes depraved and corrupt in his moral nature. (Ephesians 4:22, 25-31.) The fact that the moral likeness and image of God was effaced from the human soul by this means, is evidenced by the fact that when we obtain the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ we are said to be RENEWED in that image. (Colossians 3:10.) In other words, it is a restoration to the image of God-hence we conclude it had been lost. As a result of this the moral nature of all mankind was affected in this way and became depraved and corrupt. Sin has become universal as a result of the sin of this first pair. (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Romans 11:32; Galatians 3:22.)

The Scriptures conclude something about sin being hereditary, a depravity of nature to be handed down through the generations of mankind from the original parent. Genesis 5:3 says that "Adam...begat a son in his own likeness, after his image." His moral likeness and image was now depraved and corrupt and he could only transmit what he had.

For a thing to be hereditary it must be inherent in a child at birth, and not something acquired later on in life. Hence, this depravity of nature must be in the infant child at birth. Thus we see that the infant child just born is already one step below the plane on which God created man in His own likeness, after His image. However, we must not confuse this hereditary sin (or seed of sin, or principle of sin) with sin acquired or committed-one's actual transgressions for which he repents when seeking salvation. Some find the idea of our inheriting a seed of sin objectionable on the grounds that they cannot conceive of an infant child just born into the world being a guilty sinner. That is exactly right, but just what these people are doing is confusing sin inherited with sin committed. Inherited sin is never productive of guilt. Even though the infant child possesses within him the germ or seed of sin from his first parent, Adam, he remains in a state of perfect innocence before God until he reaches an age of accountability to know right from wrong, and by an act of his own free will does the wrong thing. This is confirmed by a scripture in James 4:17, "Therefore to him that KNOWETH to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." But he had to KNOW it before it became sin to him. Further in John 3:19, Jesus said, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." NOTE: The condemnation and guilt came when the light (knowledge of right and wrong) came to them and they rejected the right and chose to continue in the wrong. When the child comes to the age of accountability before God and falls into willful disobedience to God's law and becomes guilty of sin and a partaker of the sinful life, this is more than just the nature or principle, which in itself is not productive of guilt, but is the fruit of that nature or the projection of it into a way of life of actual sins committed which brings guilt and condemnation upon the soul. This, then, takes him a second step lower than the plane on which man was created.

God devised a plan of salvation by which man is restored back to the Edenic state in which man was created in the likeness and image of God and which was lost when sin entered into this world by the willful choice of our foreparents, by which they apostatized from God. (Genesis 3:1, etc.) And not only so, but Adam's sin brought about a change in man's moral nature and it became depraved and corrupt instead of having the righteousness and true holiness he had possessed before. Further, this morally depraved nature was transmitted to all generations of the human race. (Genesis 5:3; Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12.)

Now, it must be evident unto all that there are just as many steps going up the stairs as there are coming down. Since man has fallen two distinct steps below his created state, it would surely be evident that there would be two separate, distinct steps in his getting back to the original state of the likeness and image of God. Indeed there are two parts to our salvation; two separate and distinct works of grace-justification and sanctification. Justification is the first step up and is the forgiveness and absolving from guilt of all our actual sins which we have committed when we properly repent of them and put our faith in the merits of the all-atoning blood of Jesus Christ for salvation. But it does not deal with that inherent depravity. Neither could it, because we could not repent of it, inasmuch as we were in no way responsible for it. Neither is it possible to recognize it so long as our conscience is crowded with guilt and condemnation for unforgiven sins. But after we are justified and absolved from guilt and are at peace with God and our burden of sin gone, it is then, in our efforts to live a holy life according to New Testament standards, that we become aware of the conflict going on within us.

The sanctifying work and grace of God is ordained in God's plan of salvation to meet this need and purge out that old depravity of nature and purify the heart and affections and fill us with the Holy Spirit and an indwelling, abiding Comforter, empowering us to meet all our problems of life and overcome them and enabling us to live a victorious, triumphant holy life according to New Testament standards. Then it must be evident unto all that one's salvation is not complete without this second grace. Some have lost out entirely with God because they did not press on into this experience when they became conscious of its need. When we become conscious of a real conflict within as we endeavor to live a holy life pleasing to God, then we are face to face with a decision in our Christian experience; either go on and die out to the self-life and consecrate our life to God for divine service and sacred use and lay ourself on the altar of sacrifice or service, or draw back unto perdition. (Hebrews 10:39.) It is either go on or go back; we cannot remain the same.

Hebrews 10:14 says, "He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." We see here that sanctification is the completion of our salvation. Hence, we can never say we are complete without this experience. In Acts 15:8-9, we find that God gave the Gentiles the Holy Spirit even as He had given Him to the Jews on Pentecost and PURIFIED their hearts by faith. Justification delivers from the power of sin and cleans up and purifies the outward life, but it takes a definite inner working of the Holy Spirit in the heart to purify the heart from its inherent depravity. This is what sanctification is: a genuine, thorough cleansing of the heart by the Holy Spirit, and then Him taking up His abode in the heart thus cleansed.

KY-Faith Publishing House: May God richly bless everyone. My husband will soon be 86 years old and he has heart problems and a lung disorder. Please remember him in your prayers.

As for myself, I will soon be 75 years old and God has blessed me with good enough health that I can still do my housework and care for my husband, even though he can care for himself a lot, but his memory is failing.

Remember me and my two sons, and all their families, in your prayers.

God bless you all,

-Wilma Horsley

MI-Dear Bro. Wayne and Sis. Mary, and all of you dear ones: Greetings in the love of Jesus, our dear Savior. I am so sorry to hear about Bro. Bob Sallee passing away, but now he is with the Lord in heaven, and I pray for his family who are in sorrow. It is very hard to give up loved ones. May God give them strength at this time!

I need a healing touch. I have been feeling badly, but the Lord has been with me and helped me.

I get so lonely. I miss my dear mother and father. It is hard to not have them, but they are with God, and I will see them again when I die. It isn't good to live alone, but God does watch over His own.

May God bless each and every one of you in body and soul.

Yours in the Lord,

-Sis. Olive Getterson

OH-Dear saints: I am so thankful that Jesus never fails! I am so glad He has given me truth and led me into the way of holiness.

Please pray for me. I have been told I have MS, but Jesus is the great Healer. I am in His hands.

Please pray for the Sandusky, Ohio, church. There is much sickness. In His service,

-Robert E. Myers

NC-Dear saints: I received your Faith and Victory magazine. I enjoyed reading it. Please send me a book and tract list, and a free sample of tracts. Also, please pray for my family. I am a widow and live alone. I have unsaved children and loved ones who need the Lord. Pray for my oldest son who has been sick for a while.

May God bless you and the work there. Keep it up. -Lura Wingler

Dear God: There is no way to express what I feel. How grateful I am! You know how I feel even though I can't vocalize it. You have closed my eyes to a world of wickedness, sin, sorrow and despair, and opened them to a beautiful place that I never have to leave. It is far more beautiful than a sunset or a lovely field. The place you have brought me to can never be fully valued because it never stops. It is limitless! Christian love,

-(Name Withheld)

WV-Dear Bro. Wayne and saints in the Church of God: I would like to take this time to thank my dear Lord and Savior for His love, mercy and blessings to me. First, I would like to thank my dear Lord for the truth, and for dealing with my soul. I had lived in Massachusetts, and the Lord moved me to West Virginia. I was not saved, and knew nothing about God. The Lord was working, and I had no idea what was going on. There's a scripture in the Bible that says, "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but God looketh on the heart." I Samuel 16:7. I thank the Lord that He could see what was in my heart. I hadn't lived in West Virginia very long until someone invited me to church. I hadn't been going to church very long until I sought for the Lord. It is the best thing that I have ever done in my life. I know in my heart that if I hadn't gotten saved when I did, that my life would be in a mess today. Oh, how I praise God for the truth!

I would like to thank the Lord for a battle that He has brought me through. On January the 21st I became sick, and it progressed into pneumonia. We cannot see what is ahead of us, and I did not know how bad things were going to get, but I knew in my heart that my God would take care of me. I was in my home for about two weeks, very sick. I had never been in a situation where I could not take care of myself. I would like to thank Bro. Marty and Sis. Tammy Clevenger, Bro. Nathan Carver, Bro. Jim White and Bro. Lloyd Cassell for the burden they carried for me. If it wasn't for them and the Lord, I don't think I would be here today. Bro. Marty and Sis. Tammy took me into their home. I was in bed for 11 days. I made a promise to the Lord that if He got me through this I would put my testimony in the paper to glorify His name. The Lord gave me a scripture, "Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." Psalm 37:25. Praise God, the Lord did heal my body and gave back my strength. There are not enough words to say how much I appreciate God's mercy and love. If there is anyone out there who needs help, I want you to know that God is the answer. The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons. He loves you just as much as He loves me. The only thing you have to do is take the first step, and He will do the rest. I know we are living in perilous times, and I don't feel like it's going to be long before the Lord returns.

I would like to thank everyone in the Church for their love and prayers during my sickness. May God have mercy on this world is my prayer.

Love and prayers,

-Sis. Donna Simonin

MO-Dear Ones: Just a line to let you know that we do thank the saints for their prayers and love. The Lord has been so good to us.

Bro. Audie looked like he was near the end several times, but the Lord helped him and he is still with us.

The other day, David, a helper and I were working in the woods, and a tree fell across my back. The Lord was there to bless me and I did not get hurt. He has been so good to help us through problems like that many times.

We cannot thank Him enough for what He does for us. My main aim is to live a life that will take me home to be with Him when the time comes. It is living the Christian life that leads others to Him.

One of my sisters was at the Guthrie Assembly meeting in December, and she was very impressed with the way things were conducted. I talked to her family the other night and they plan to come to the Monark Springs, MO, camp meeting this year....

We do not get to go to meeting as much as we would like to, but the Lord knows our heart. We love to get to be with the saints and hear God's Word.

Pray for us. -Clayton and Roberta Gaines

OK-Dear Bro. Wayne: We are thankful our Lord brought you back safely from your trip to the Philippines. As we travel this world we only see a part of it, and this world is only a part of the great creation God has made. We see and think, "What a mighty God we serve!" to have made all this and still have Him as our personal God and Savior. Of all the great things He has done, and is still doing, it humbles our hearts to know He still has the time to hear and answer our prayers-we are so unworthy of such a great sacrifice that was made for us-what a wonderful Savior!

-Bill and Ruth McMakin

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but, far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

In the Old Testament, God's people were commanded to fast and afflict themselves once a year. In the New Testament, Jesus tells us when to fast: "But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days." Luke 5:35. We're living in those days right now.

There are many different ways to fast: some people fast for twenty-four hours, some fast from a certain meal every day for a week, some fast from bedtime until the evening meal. Some people drink water when they fast, some don't; some people fast from a favorite food or activity for a specified length of time; some people are physically not able to skip meals at all. All these things are matters of personal choice and don't really affect the result of the fast; the important thing is that we learn to afflict our souls in our fasting.

To afflict means "to distress with mental pain; to trouble greatly or grievously; to defeat; to humble." This we must willfully do to our souls in order to accomplish "God's chosen fast." I especially like the definition "to defeat;" the only way to defeat self is to afflict it. Self loves spiritual comfort and ease and grows fat and flourishing on them, while sorrow and trouble trim it quickly down to size. The soul is just the opposite; it atrophies with comfort and gets stronger in affliction.

In the 58th chapter of Isaiah, God spoke to the Israelites about their manner of fasting and how much it displeased Him. They carried out an appearance of fasting, but made no attempt to change their hearts or their sinful ways. In verse five He says, "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul?" The margin says, "To afflict his soul for a day?" The fast that God has chosen for us is a fast that brings results, both in our own souls and in the souls around us-not just a day of going hungry, done once a week and forgotten between times, but a permanent commitment to afflicting our souls. "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" Isaiah 58:6-7.

All of these precious spiritual blessings belong to us, but the Word plainly states that we will not obtain them except by fasting and afflicting our souls. In Matthew 17:21, Jesus, explaining to His disciples why they did not have power over Satan, says, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." This proves that there are things we can get from God by fasting that we cannot get any other way. I heard a minister preach on this scripture once, and he said, "Do you think this means that we should hope, if a strong attack from Satan comes upon us, that it will come on a day when we're fasting? No! it means we should do our homework! If we know we need to fast in order to have power with God, let's do it-think of it ourselves and decide to do it, instead of waiting for a heavy trial and then wishing we had more power." Certainly there's time for fasting to meet a specific challenge, but if we are already undergoing the regular discipline of fasting and afflicting our souls, the power will be there when a sudden trial comes.

James 4:9 says, "Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness." God commands each one of us to do this. He doesn't mean for us to be sad and disheartened all the time, or go around discouraging others with our mourning, but in our souls to maintain an attitude of being afflicted, and mourning, and weeping: for lost souls, for people in trouble, for our own shortcomings, for healings, and most of all for Zion. It is a serious thing to neglect this, because some of these conditions are not going to be changed in any other way. Amos 6:1 says, "Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion!" And Hosea 10:12 says, "Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord." Fallow ground is ground plowed and left unseeded, that will soon be taken over by weeds. If we ask Him, the Lord will show us the places in our hearts that are lying fallow, so that we can bring forth more fruit for Him.

My prayer for all of us is that we continue to fast in the way that God has chosen for us, because that's what brings us victory over sin and self. Are we afflicting ourselves, sorrowing and mourning and loosing the bands of wickedness, or are we just going hungry once in a while? God isn't interested in seeing how long we can go without eating, or how loud our stomachs can growl, but He is interested in seeing us change to become more like Him. When we truly fast as God wants us to, we will see results.

Dear Readers:

This June issue of the Faith and Victory is being produced while the Oklahoma State camp meeting is in progress here in Guthrie. This makes for a very busy schedule for the Print Shop workers, who sometimes work both during the day and evening during press time, and who also wish to attend the meeting. But the work is done cheerfully and with the hope that the printed Word will be a blessing to those who read it.

While the U. S. economy may seem stable, and many people enjoy the fruits of career success, the general condition of our country has not fared as well. Social values have declined and time-honored institutions, such as universities and colleges established years ago on Judaic, Christian principles, have lost their way in the fog of "political correctness." Many are also wondering what is happening in our public school systems when so much violence is perpetrated by the students attending them.

These conditions can be dismaying if they become our focus, but is all lost? Not to the Christian, for II Corinthians 1:20 says, "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen." The old-time preacher, C. H. Spurgeon, used to tell the story of a man who when asked how he had faith, replied, "This is how I believe: I fall flat on the promise; I can't fall any lower."

God is interested in our welfare, and His integrity is constant. His character can be likened to the claim of a printer of old, whose trademark was, "I never disappoint." God has proven Himself to all generations, and He will still be encouraging, inspiring, and answering prayer right up until the time when this world is called into judgment.

When you are tempted to be downhearted because of what you see and hear around you, claim the promises of God, and "look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28.

Quite a number of former Print Shop workers have notified us of their intention to attend the workers' reunion on July 11. It will be gratifying to see those whom God has used in the past to publish His message.

Progress is being made on the new Print Shop building. We believe we will have it to a state of completion equipped to accommodate the workers' reunion.

The latest project has been the laying of over 2,000 square feet of floor tile. We have also done a little landscaping. Other undertakings before the reunion will be to make the restrooms and kitchen operable, bring natural gas into the building, and complete heat and air systems.

At this time our plans are to make the September Faith and Victory paper a special edition commemorating our 75th anniversary of operation, and to include a report and pictures of the workers' reunion.

I encourage former workers who have not already done so to send in memories of their involvement in the printing work so they can appear in this special issue.

We thank all the saints who have informed us of their prayers on our behalf due to the loss of our co-worker, Bro. Bob Sallee. The extra workload which his absence leaves is secondary to the loss of his affiliation. There are times when sadness settles suddenly upon each of us here, but our hearts are always comforted when we think of what Bro. Bob is enjoying. We solicit your continued prayers, especially for Bro. Bob's wife, Sis. Irma, and their children.

The gospel work in Malawi, Central Africa, which Bro. Bob had a part in getting started, has not been forgotten. Lord willing, negotiations will soon be in progress for having thousands of two different tracts printed in the native language for distribution there, as well as to the people of Mozambique.

Lord willing, Bro. Michael Smith will be returning to Africa the last part of August. In addition to spending time in Malawi, he plans to spend a couple of weeks visiting the saints in Ghana and Nigeria.

Please keep this work and Bro. Michael's burden in your prayers. -Wayne Murphey