[Biblemat] Walking in the Light (4/6/08)

Sat Apr 5 23:07:38 CDT 2008

Walking in the Light

"For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light."
"The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the
simple." 

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with
one another...."
(Psalm 36:9; 119:130; 1 John 1:7a)

April 6, 2008

www.thetfordcountry.com <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> 

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INFORMATION: My WEB Site  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com has just been updated to include the articles and
sermons listed below. All the sermons posted each week to my web site are in
.pdf format.  The PowerPoint charts are also included with ALL the sermons
that are posted to the web site. To access the sermons page, visit the site
and click on "Richard's Page" and then click on "sermons." Please visit the
"Reference Works" links page for updated links to various Bible study
resources. If you are a newcomer to the area or wanting information
concerning the San Juan church of Christ here in Montrose, Colorado, then
click on the San Juan church of Christ Web Site at
<http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org. Thank
you for visiting my web site and as always, your comments are welcome. 

If you know of someone that would like to receive the "Walking in the Light"
electronic bulletin each week, please send an e-mail message to
<mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com  with their
name and e-mail address and I will add them to the list.

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CONTENTS:

"Our Personal Responsibility" (Richard Thetford)

"Unscriptural" (Norman E. Sewell)

"Evidence of Pardon" (Richard Thetford)

SENTENCE SERMONS

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OUR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Richard Thetford

Christians have a serious responsibility to ensure that we continue to do
only those things in which God has authorized. The apostle Paul said: "So
then each of us shall give account of himself to God" (Rom 14:12). Knowing
that we will stand before God in judgment, we better make sure that we are
doing ALL of the Lord's will. Fathers today need to have the same kind of
attitude that Joshua had when he said "...but as for me and my house, we
will serve the LORD" (Josh 24:15). When we first decide to do the Lord's
will (Matt 7:21; 6:33), then we are on our way to being the kind of
responsible individuals that God would want us to be.

For What Are We Responsible?

We are responsible for several things and these include but are not limited
to knowledge, faith, words, teaching, conduct, influence, and stewardship.
God may have overlooked the ignorance of long ago but He now commands that
all men repent and be determined to follow Him (Acts 17:30). We are also
responsible to gaining faith and the only way to do that is by "hearing" the
word of God (Rom 10:17). James 2:14 says: "What does it profit, my brethren,
if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?"
One that has a genuine Bible faith is one that will prove his faith by his
actions (works). Since we will give an account for the things we say (Matt
12:36-37), it would behoove us to ensure that we say only those things that
would be pleasing to God. We show that we are responsible when we become
obedient to those who have rule over us (Heb 13:17). Our conduct is another
area in which we can show how responsible we are. If we do those things in
which we know are good and pleasing to God, then we are practicing our
responsibility toward Him (James 4:17). Then of course our influence shows
whether or not we have learned our personal responsibility (Rom 14:12-13).
May we all strive to learn individual responsibility so we can be pleasing
to God in all aspects of our life.

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"UNSCRIPTURAL"

Norman E. Sewell

We often use terms like "liberal" and "conservative" to describe attitudes
and ideas in the political realm, and similar attitudes in regard to the
Bible. We generally understand their meaning, especially in politics, but it
seems they are not always understood in matters regarding scripture. And
different people use such words as "conservative" in a relative sense. They
refer to themselves as conservative simply because others are more liberal
than they are. Just as the term "anti" was used years ago to refer to those
who were against certain practices, liberal and conservative are sometimes
used more to prejudice than to accurately describe a person's stand.

Could there be a better way both to understand, and to express our concerns
over practices we think to be wrong?  And, what makes certain practices
wrong in religious matters? What makes a practice right or wrong is whether
it is approved of God or not! This should be the only concern - does God
accept this action or does He reject it? If any action is accepted by God we
should be able to determine that easily and quickly. All that would be
required would be for us to find some reason in the Bible to do the thing
suggested or planned. Failing to find some Bible reason (generic or
specific) to do it we should then consider it not approved by God. Only by
what God has revealed can we possibly know what He wants.

Scriptural is not really a term found in the Bible, yet it describes an
important principle. Webster's Dictionary says of the word, "pertaining to
or contained in the Bible"  and then adds the words "scriptural authority."
For a thing to be scriptural it must be found in the scriptures in some way.
If we can't find that thing described in scripture in some way we can
honestly say it is "unscriptural" or without scriptural approval. While
words like "liberal" and "conservative" are sometimes prejudicial and open
to definition, "scriptural" and "unscriptural" seem more clear.

Problems may still be encountered in the process of determining what is
approved and what is not, but each thing can be tested by comparing it to
SCRIPTURE. Some will always want to argue, "The Bible doesn't say not to,"
but the test still stands. Can we find it in the scriptures or not? Paul
wrote that "no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God" (1
Corinthians 2:11b). Any attempt to claim we know what God approves apart
from what the Spirit has revealed fails by the same test. If the Holy Spirit
didn't reveal it, in some form, then we have no way of knowing that God
approves.

So, as we try to convince friends that their religious practice is wrong,
wouldn't it be better to use a term like UNSCRIPTURAL, meaning, you can't
find it in the Bible?

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EVIDENCE OF PARDON

Richard Thetford

Does having a "good feeling" about something prove that it is acceptable to
God? The apostle Paul is a very good example of this. In Acts 23:1, he
thought he was right when in actuality he was wrong. "And Paul, earnestly
beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good
conscience before God until this day" (See also Acts 26:9). Feelings are
deceptive and therefore cannot be relied upon as something that is an
evidence of pardon. Only by DOING God's commandments can we have assurance
that He will keep His promises (Isaiah 55:6-7). No one can question God's
willingness and power to pardon those who obey Him. In 1 John 2:3-5 it says:
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the
truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love
of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." Our feelings may not
be correct. God's Word is correct. Salvation is gained by those who obey His
commands (Heb 5:9).

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SENTENCE SERMONS

"God brings people in deep water, not to drown them, but to cleanse them."

"Keep both feet on the ground and you won't have far to fall."

"No one knows of your honesty and sincerity unless you give out some
samples."

"The devil is never too busy to rock the cradle of a sleeping saint."

"If you aren't big enough for criticism, you are really too small for
praise."

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

"Some folks look ahead, some look back, but most folks look confused."

"A Bitter world cannot be sweetened by a sour religion."

"A lot of people waste too much sympathy on themselves."

"Every moment you are angry, you lose one minute of happiness."

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SERMON

NO SERMON (Spring Gospel Meeting with Norman E. Sewell)

Sermons can viewed at my web site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/>
www.thetfordcountry.com

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Meets at:

1414 Hawk Parkway, Unit C
Montrose, CO   81401
(970) 249-8116

 <http://www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org/> www.sanjuanchurchofchrist.org

ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

SUNDAY
Bible Study....................10:00 A.M.
Worship.........................11:00 A.M.
WEDNESDAY
Bible Study......................6:30 P.M.

Evangelist
Richard Thetford

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:Richard at Thetfordcountry.com> Richard at Thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com/> www.thetfordcountry.com

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RICHARD THETFORD

1491 Canyon Drive

Ridgway, CO  81432

(970) 626-5558

E-Mail:  <mailto:richard at thetfordcountry.com> richard at thetfordcountry.com

Web Site:  <http://www.thetfordcountry.com> www.thetfordcountry.com

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