[Biblemat] The Messenger Vol 2 Iss 3

Sat Jan 20 18:19:52 CST 2007

The Messenger

Published Weekly by Main Street Church of Christ

306 West Main Street, Newbern, TN 38059   731-627-3514

bibleanswers at charter.net                                    www.mainstreetchurchofchrist.org

Bulletin Editor: T. Sean Sullivan

VOLUME TWO::ISSUE 003::January 21, 2007  

ARTICLE ONE: Why Study The Bible?

ARTICLE TWO: Ignoring God?

Why Study The Bible?

Everyone one of us knows what a Bible is, we likely all have one and the most of us use it regularly.  We have a Bible in our home and we read it there. Some of us  take one to work  or perhaps keep one there and read it when we can.  We certainly bring it our services to use as we read and study together. The question may be, "Why all this reading and studying?" It appears to be the same book that we have had for many years, and yet we are still pouring over it pages.  Or, "what are we looking for in that book?" 

We could answer those questions in short order. On the other hand you may be surprised to know what some are looking for in their Bible. There are those who are studying for the scholastic knowledge it provides just like any other textbook. They study the writing style instead of what is written. They study how the teaching was conducted instead of what was actually taught. Others study the Bible in attempt to find a reason to not believe it. They search for contradictions, or they search for scriptures to twist into the shape of their false doctrines (2 Peter 3:16). Still others study the Bible to find the lowest price ticket to Heaven. They search the scriptures trying to discover some secret loophole that will guarantee free passage to Heaven-seeking to determine the absolute minimum requirements of salvation. This is not why we study, is it? We may need to refresh our minds as to the underlying reasons of our desire to study.

A Book From God

When you hold the Bible you are holding the greatest of all written volumes. We have already noted that our Creator will judge our actions. God is a great and final Judge who will determine, for our souls, eternal punishment or eternal life in His glory. We have also discovered thus far that God is, "a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." We must then desire to show ourselves approved of God.  God is please when His will is done. We have that will for man recorded on the pages of the Bible. If we study and do His will we will be acceptable to Him (Matthew 7:21-23). If we stubbornly decide to chart our own course we will fail Him and be separated from, "all that is good" for eternity. Jeremiah 10:23 tells us that we are not capable of direct our own steps. Proverbs 14:12 declares that what may seem right to man will lead to death. We must not seek our own opinions but rather seek what God has set as right. We must take these delivered words seriously. We must give ourselves entirely to them in study and life (1Timothy 4:13). Our reaction to them has serious consequences (2 Peter 3:10-14). We search to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15). 

The Most Important Facts Are Within

We study to find the identity of our Creator. We can see that there is a creator. The design and continuity of the world around us demands an intelligent designer. The Psalmist records the fact that the world around us declares His handiwork, therefore His existence (Psalms 19:1:6). By the works of creation we know that a "higher being" existed but we cannot know who our Creator is or what He desires of us. This is where we need a second source of information. We need some communication from our Creator. That communication is recorded in this book-the Bible. We know it is the right source. The very first words declare an identity the Creator. Genesis 1:1 begins, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  God's role in our creation is mentioned several other places through the text (Psalm 100; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:24-27). 

We are not left with an identity alone, we are given much more to help us know our Creator-God.  We are told throughout the Scriptures that God is an all-powerful being. God is     capable of all things that He wills (Revelation 4:8-11). He is a loving Father (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). He is a judge of eternal sentences (2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-46). He is also a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). 

It Holds the Hope

Our desire to please God results in our study and conformation to His will. In this, we find that we must glorify God. We glorify God by bearing fruit (John 15:8). We bear fruit in different ways. We can bear fruit on a personal level. We can personally grow. We grow in understanding and wisdom and maturity as servants of God. This growth is a direct result of our study and application of the word. We are to desire the sincere milk of the word so that we might develop as we should (1 Peter 2:1-3). Our development should bring us to a point in which we are able to teach others (Hebrews 5:12- 4). This teaching is the other way we bear fruit for God. We teach others the way to please God and they themselves become servants. Through study we bear fruit saving ourselves and those who will hear what we teach (1 Timothy 4:16).  

We do not search for the minimum requirements. There are no expressed limits of fruit bearing that must be accomplish accept "much." We will truly be disciples if we bear much fruit (John 15:8). We are each entrusted with certain abilities that we must use to our fullest in God's service. Our search is for every possible thing that we can do to please our Creator.

Conclusion:

             Why do you study the Bible? Is it in attempts to prove it wrong? Is it to learn how to teach or write better? Is it to prove a false conclusion you have already come to? Or is it to know God, to know what God expects of you and know how to serve Him better?  I hope the second set of reasons is yours. ~tss

Ignoring God?

            If we were to divide up our whole State into two categories: 1) Those who listen to God. 2) Those who ignore God. Which one would you be in? I believe that we all desire to be counted with the listeners, don't we?

But then there are some situations that we find ourselves in the other category. It is hard to listen to God and do what is right when we take on the wrong goals in this life. Goals like: "being fashionable" or "being cool" make it difficult to be a "listener". In this life we need to make the clear choice of listening to God always, we need to make that choice now, and we need to stick with our choice.

Let's examine the preparation for this new determination and also some areas wherein failures are common. Not to revel in other's failures but to take warning unless we too begin to close our ears to God.

Desiring To Be A Listener:

Listening to God requires determination. Especially in our world that seems more determined to ignore and/or forget God every day. Our determination will be met with the necessity of changing our heart. We cannot be like others, we must change from self-centered and take on self-denial (Matthew 16:24-25). We must change from self-serving to wanting what God wants (Psalm 119:97-105). We must change from selfguided to be willingly instructed by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3).

Listening to God requires diligence. We cannot pick and choose when we will listen and when we won't. It is easy to listen sometimes. Diligent effort is required at other times. It is hard to listen when no one else wants to. It is especially hard when we have not been listening to then determine that we must begin to listen. It is then that our 'friends" typically make it very difficult on us (1 Peter 4:1-4). We learn, however, that they will answer to God for their wrong-doing; if we give in to their taunts we will be beside them in that judgment (1 Peter 4:5). If we take on diligent determination we will find God's reward (1 Peter 4:that they will answer to God for their wrong-doing; if we give in to their taunts we will t our '13-16)

Listening To God About Modesty:

Modesty is all about your presentation: Modesty includes your clothes, your speech, and your attitude in both. Modestly presenting your body must include appropriate clothing. Adam and Eve understood what nakedness was (Genesis 3:7). In Genesis 3:21 records that God provided tunics that covered their nakedness. We naturally are aware of our presentable parts and unpresentable parts. God instructs us through the New Testament scriptures in what to wear and how to wear it. We must listen to God's instruction. According to 1 Timothy 2:9, clothing is to be modest, appropriate, and moderate. Both men and women must conduct themselves with modesty (1 Timothy

4:12).

Modesty is not just about clothes. Part of presenting yourself properly must include appropriate speech. The world is given over to lewd speech and coarse jesting. Jesus tells us that our words reflect our heart (Matthew 15:18). We should have better hearts and therefore we should have a better pattern of words (James 3:2, 9-10, 13-18). Paul's exhortations in Ephesians 4:29-32 point us toward the speaking of "worthy" words.

Our attitude in modesty must be one of respect for God and for ourselves. We must listen to God and be modest. It is not easy to stand alone in righteousness, we must be mindful that the world is heading for destruction and we want something better for your soul (Matthew 7:13-14).

Listening To God About Morality:

God directs us toward the right moral choices. The world promotes an ever-changing standard of morality. We cannot accept the world's standard (Romans 12:1-2). Our lives are supposed to be better-'holy and acceptable to God".

God's standard has not changed since the beginning. God has always set a standard for what we do with our bodies. Moral use of the body includes appropriate sexual relations:

Marriage is the only place for sexual desires to be exercised (Genesis 2:18, 21-24). Inappropriate sexual relations are sinful:

Before marriage is fornication; in addition to marriage is adultery; with the same sex whether male or female is homosexuality--all of which will condemn a soul (Galatians 5:19-21).

We can listen to God and be morally good. Before we are ever involved, we must decide to do what is right and stick with our choice (Like Joseph in Genesis 39:6-13 who determined to do what was right). If we are already involved in immoral activities we must realize that it is sin; repentance is what we need.

Conclusion:

Christians are special people because they choose to listen to God. God has given His word to the whole world, few are willing to listen, those who do, reap the rewards. Christians are different than the world around them because they put forward special effort in their life: to be moral and modest, to be "listeners to God".

We must make a determinant effort to diligently follow God's will. We must listen to God always in all things. There is no time for us to close our ears and ignore His direction. Are you listening to God or will you ignore His invitation to obey Him and find His promised hope? ~tss

If you are enjoying The Messenger and you know someone else who would like to receive it. Please forward it to them or send me their email address and I will add it to the list.   Sean

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